The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 62

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Red Dragon Sovereign – Chapter 62

Chapter 62 – Pruning (1)

Yi Hwan and Song Cheon-mu sat across from each other.
Song Cheon-mu’s expression was brighter than ever, and his eyes brimmed with reverence as he looked at Yi Hwan.
“Try to control your expression a bit.”
“That’s not easy, sir. Even sitting still, I can’t help but smile. Thank you for looking after our household, Your Highness.”
Clink.
Yi Hwan set down his teacup and met Song Cheon-mu’s gaze directly.
“Go back to the military camp.”
“Sir?”
“Wasn’t your dream to become an excellent general? If so, return to the camp and build your relationships with those people there. Don’t worry about things here.”
……
Had he not expected this?
Song Cheon-mu bowed his head.
‘If harsher troubles arise down the road, you could be put in danger.’
Yi Hwan couldn’t bring himself to say even that much.
Though it pained him to let the man go, he had no choice but to send him away for Song Cheon-mu’s own sake.
“Go pay your respects to your brother and sister-in-law, then leave at once.”
“Yes, sir.”
Song Cheon-mu rose and suddenly prostrated himself on the floor in a full bow. Yi Hwan hadn’t anticipated the gesture, but he simply watched in silence.
“I will wait only for the day you return, Your Highness.”
Shortly after, Song Cheon-mu departed.
Yi Hwan felt an unexpected hollowness in his chest and smiled ruefully.
That’s when Cheol Mu-ok entered.
“My lord, Tae-su has sent a summons to Wang Ji-gyeong.”
“A summons?”
“Yes. He’s been ordered to arrive by tomorrow morning, but even leaving at once would be cutting it close on time.”
Yi Hwan’s brow furrowed.
‘The magistrate of this region is on the Second Prince’s side. Is he planning something?’
“You should depart immediately, I believe.”
“It’s best to avoid government offices when possible. Go tell Wang Ji-gyeong he’s taken ill and ask for a few more days.”
“Can we manage that?”
“We can.”
“Understood.”
Cheol Mu-ok left.
Before long, he returned with Wang Ji-gyeong, who immediately opened his eyes wide upon entering and asked urgently.
“Is it really all right to ignore the magistrate’s summons?”
“First, we need to learn why the summons was sent at all. If we walk in blind, we might never walk out again.”
……!
“Has this happened before?”
“No, never. I have no idea what this is about!”
Yi Hwan took a sip of tea and continued.
“This is when you’re supposed to use your network. Mobilize all of your connections and find out the truth. I’ll look into it myself as well.”
“Ah, I understand.”
After Wang Ji-gyeong left, Cheol Mu-ok spoke.
“When are you meeting with Go Mi?”
“No specific time arranged. I can only hope she arrives as quickly as possible.”
Yi Hwan let his gaze settle into something colder and sank deeper into his chair.
“It seems the Hwang Ryong Trading Company is making its move.”
“After Wang Ji-gyeong came out strong at the gathering, something like this happens. It’s more than enough cause for suspicion. And since I’ve heard the magistrate here is connected to the Second Prince, shouldn’t we assume the Second Prince’s influence is at work?”
“We should.”
Yi Hwan interlaced his fingers, his gaze growing even colder.
‘Perhaps the clash will come sooner than expected.’

* * *

That night.
Go Mi, whom he’d been waiting for, came to find Yi Hwan.
Once again, she caught him off guard.
“Tae-su has sent a summons to Wang Ji-gyeong. Did you know?”
“How did you find that out?”
Yi Hwan let out a hollow laugh.
He’d been planning to press her for the reason behind Tae-su’s summons the moment she arrived. Yet here she was, opening the conversation first.
“I learned of it while investigating dealings between the Hwang Ryong Trading Company and the Second Prince’s faction.”
“Did you manage to find out why the summons was sent?”
“A grievance petition arrived at the magistrate’s office claiming that Wang Ji-gyeong had committed some injustice. However, I couldn’t discover the contents of the petition.”
“What about the petitioner’s identity?”
“That, too, I couldn’t uncover. Even those handling the matter didn’t know the details.”
Go Mi immediately changed the subject.
“But why didn’t you respond to the summons?”
“I had word sent that he’s ill and to delay it. There’s no point responding before I know what this is about—how else can I prepare a defense?”
Yi Hwan took a sip of tea.
Clink.
“Now I need you to act as an Inspector.”
“Me?”
“If my instincts are right—and they usually are—the Hwang Ryong Trading Company asked for help from the Second Prince, and he obliged. The reason, naturally, would be to squeeze Wang Ji-gyeong. That way, the Trading Company gains leverage to expand their usury operations.”
Go Mi nodded in agreement.
“What would you have me do?”
“Tie Tae-su’s hands—and feet, if you can. Better still if you can shut his mouth. To do that, you’ll need to unearth the illegal dealings between the Hwang Ryong Trading Company and Tae-su first.”
“I’ve already gathered more than enough evidence of that.”
“Then that’s settled.”
“Are you planning to go after the Second Prince directly?”
Yi Hwan smiled thinly.
“Think of it as pruning for now. Besides, this is your first inspection as an Inspector—do well.”
…….

* * *

The next afternoon.
Magistrate’s officers descended upon Wang Ji-gyeong’s residence. A commander’s voice rang out sharply.
“Wang Ji-gyeong! Come out at once and obey the magistrate’s command!”
As everyone recoiled from the sudden commotion, Yi Hwan stepped outside.
“The master is gravely ill and cannot take a single step, so speak with me.”
“What?”
The commander’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Yi Hwan from head to foot. Yet Yi Hwan spoke calmly.
“I am his proxy.”
“How dare you defy the magistrate’s summons! What is your reason?”
“I just told you—he’s gravely ill and cannot move. I sent word yesterday through a letter. Did you not receive it, or did you come anyway?”
“Take me to Wang Ji-gyeong! I will verify with my own eyes whether he is truly in such a state!”
“Follow me.”
Yi Hwan led the commander to Wang Ji-gyeong’s chamber. As they walked, he dropped a casual remark.
“It may be contagious, you understand. Are you certain you wish to enter?”
“What did you say—contagious?”
“The physician instructed that no one approach him.”
The commander hesitated, then raised his voice all the more.
“Open the door! I will verify from here!”
Yi Hwan opened the door.
The commander stiffened for a moment. Wang Ji-gyeong lay drenched in cold sweat, his complexion as pallid as a corpse.
Yi Hwan spoke evenly.
“How could one defy the magistrate’s command? Yet surely, no matter how strict the law, one cannot summon a man at death’s door. Once he recovers, he shall certainly respond to the summons. Until then, I trust you will grant him reprieve.”
It was then.
Wang Ji-gyeong, who had lain as if dead, began to cough violently.
“Cough! Cough!”
The startled commander stepped backward.
“Will you examine further?”
“No, no!”
Yi Hwan closed the door at last.
Thud.
Then he drew out a money pouch from his breast and pressed it into the officer’s hand.
“It’s not much, but please accept it. In exchange, I’d be grateful if you could explain the full circumstances to Tae-su.”
A slight cough.
Most men would have refused at least once, but the officer simply took the pouch.
“Then I’ll tell Tae-su he’s laid up sick. Though he’ll need to respond to the summons once he’s recovered!”
The officer departed.
When Yi Hwan entered Wang Ji-gyeong’s chamber, Wang Ji-gyeong opened his eyes to slits and stared at him.
“He’s gone?”
“He has.”
Up he sprang.
“I thought I’d die of this suffocation! And why is it so blasted hot?”
“The medicine will take until this evening to wear off. Try to have cold water brought and soak your body in it.”
In truth, Yi Hwan had prepared a special draught for Wang Ji-gyeong—one that drained the color from his face and made his body burn with fever, producing perspiration of its own accord.
“I’m following your lead, but I can’t bear this uncertainty. Are you truly certain this will work?”
“As I’ve said, the moment you walk into the magistrate’s office, no one can predict what will happen. Our best course is to resolve this from outside. Trust me and wait.”
Crack.
“It’s certainly that dog Yeom Yu-gwang stirring up trouble! As if I wouldn’t know he and Tae-su are hand in glove!”
Yi Hwan watched Wang Ji-gyeong’s outburst with composed calm and spoke plainly.
“It might have been the Second Prince who moved, not Tae-su.”
“The Second Prince!”
Wang Ji-gyeong’s eyes went wide.
“Which brings me to this—we may need a considerable sum. If matters come to it, we might have to grease palms to escape this crisis entirely, wouldn’t you say?”
“Would bribes even work?”
“I know something of Tae-su’s character. First we need to uncover what’s really happening. We can discuss money later. I’ll take my leave now.”
Yi Hwan returned to his quarters.
Cheol Mu-ok was waiting for him there.
“Go Mi and Ju Tae have followed the officer, as you instructed.”

* * *

Clop-clop-clop.
The smile never left the officer’s face.
‘This is the sweetest work there is, truly. I’ve been irritated by the lack of income, but this is the finest haul I’ve had in months.’
The first thing he did after leaving Wang Ji-gyeong’s residence was to check the pouch.
‘I thought it was silver, but gold? So Wang Ji-gyeong really is wealthy. Heh, heh, heh.’
The pouch contained not silver currency but rather substantial gold nuggets—an amount that, converted to silver, exceeded several years of official salary.
The officer hummed cheerfully to himself.
The world seemed beautiful today. How long had he been riding like this?
Thud-thud-thud!
A horse and rider approached from ahead, raising clouds of dust. The officer’s brow furrowed.
“What madmen ride so savagely on the Official Road?”
“I’ll stop them.”
Two soldiers stepped forward and shouted at the approaching riders.
“Halt!”
Neigh!
The two horses stopped just ahead.
It was Go Mi and Ju Tae, disguised with face coverings.
Before the soldiers could say anything, Go Mi drew out a tablet and produced it.
“The Magistrate’s envoy, is it?”
“…Inspector!”
The officer’s eyes widened fully. He recognized the tablet. He quickly composed his expression and posture, bowing his head.
“I didn’t know you were an Inspector! Forgive my rudeness!”
“Seize that man at once!”
“Yes!”
Ju Tae dismounted and approached the officer, who then cried out in alarm.
“Seize me? But what crime have I committed?!”
“We’ll sort out the charges when we arrive. Now get down from that horse, quickly!”
“But what on earth….”
Ju Tae looked up at the bewildered officer and spoke flatly.
“If you won’t comply, I’ll force you to.”
“W-wait, Inspector! There seems to be some misunderstanding! The Commander hasn’t committed any crime!”
“Quite the talker, aren’t you.”
Crack!
Ju Tae seized the officer’s leg and yanked hard, sending him crashing lifelessly to the ground.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Go Mi turned to the soldiers with one final command.
“The rest of you, come along!”
“Yes!”

* * *

The roof of the residence.
Yi Hwan and Go Mi stood side by side, both facing toward the Imperial Palace. After a moment, Go Mi turned to him and spoke first.
“I’ve confirmed that the officer who came with the summons is Tae-su’s nephew.”
“He’s secured, I trust?”
“Yes. And according to additional intelligence I’ve gathered, the connection between the Second Prince, Tae-su, and the Hwang Ryong Trading Company runs far deeper than anticipated. But are you certain it’s wise to proceed as planned?”
“The Second Prince must be kept from taking the front stage.”
“If his funding sources dry up, will he simply sit idle? We could provoke a backlash if we’re reckless.”
“Are you concerned for me?”
“Not only for you, but for the Crown Prince as well. The danger could reach him too.”
Yi Hwan smiled faintly and replied.
“The Empress is no Emperor, and the Second Prince even less so. I’ve thought this through carefully. Take this letter to the Crown Prince Palace and deliver it to him. And let’s arrange our next meeting at my sister’s residence.”
“Understood.”
Go Mi tucked the letter Yi Hwan offered into her robe and turned to leave. Yi Hwan started to say something else but stopped himself. Instead, he watched Go Mi disappear into the darkness, a bitter smile playing across his face.
“At least her consistency is unwavering. Heh, heh, heh.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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