The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 285

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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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The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 285

Chapter 285. Bold Investment (3)

“House Master, must you truly extract the Small Patriarch? Honestly, what benefit could his presence bring to the family?”
My blunt question drew a deep sigh from the House Master.
“You’re right—that boy is nothing but trouble. He harbors ambitions beyond his station, drove out his own brother, and now seeks to murder his nephew. And yet… he remains my son, and that weighs upon me.”
Ah… so the Second Brother didn’t leave the family voluntarily—he was cast out.
Wait, then you knew this happened and did nothing?
I recoiled inwardly at the revelation, but the House Master continued speaking.
“This is the heart of a parent. No matter how worthless or corrupted a child becomes, one cannot sever the bonds of blood.”
He speaks truth.
That is precisely why the connection between parent and child is called the heavenly bond.
“If you wish to extract him, you will need to offer the Emperor something substantial.”
“Indeed. Our negotiations with His Majesty are already strained. He has granted me two days. If I do not bring him what he desires within that time, then…”
As I suspected, the Emperor has seized this opportunity firmly.
At present, the Emperor’s power was nearly absolute—there was scarcely any limit to his authority.
Thanks to that fool of a Former Minister of Household and the Minister of Works providing the pretext, he succeeded in abolishing the Palace Sage Hall itself, and their subsequent conspiracy to restore it crumbled to dust.
Now the high officials crawl before the Emperor, watching his every expression.
With such dominance, he could scatter the Hebei Peng Clan like dust with a mere word.
Could it be… that he never intended to meet with me, but circumstances forced his hand?
Could the Emperor himself have…? It’s certainly possible.
Though the trap was of my own making, I feel no remorse.
Honestly, both the House Master and the Small Patriarch brought this upon themselves.
I recalled my previous life.
When the current House Master died, Peng Moon the Small Patriarch inherited the position.
From that point, the Peng Family began its rapid decline, and the gap between them and the Hwangbo Clan widened beyond hope of recovery.
A man who dreamed of revitalizing his family, yet destroyed everything through poor judgment.
Because of this, I could not help but speak to him.
“House Master, I must speak to you with utmost sincerity.”
“What is it?”
“Do you not find yourself contradictory in your own thinking?”
“What? Contradictory?”
“If you do not understand, let me put it plainly. Choose one role—be it father or House Master—and execute it decisively. Do not drift aimlessly between the two.”
“…”
I continued.
“Honestly, had you performed even one of these roles properly, would your Second Son have been driven out by his elder brother? Would your promising grandson have been forced to wander Kangho to escape persecution?”
“…”
“Earlier, when I suggested that we ought to protect Peng So-hyup, you spoke like a heartless patriarch. Yet now you sound like the most tender-hearted father in all the world. How curious, Gu Si.”
I had no intention of denying the parental sentiment the House Master expressed.
But contradictions were contradictions, regardless.
With each word I spoke, the House Master’s expression grew darker and more menacing. Yet I did not relent.
“Am I mistaken? If I am, would you not enlighten me as to where my reasoning fails?”
The House Master fell silent for a long while.
And well he might, for even he knew my words held truth.
“…Very well.”
The House Master opened his mouth with the expression of one who had seen all the world had to offer.
“Then what must I choose?”
“Why do you ask me such a thing? You have lived far longer than I, yet you pose this question to one still so young. Is that not somewhat unreasonable?”
“Shameful though it is to admit, meeting you today has taught me that age and longevity do not guarantee wisdom. You are right. I am precisely the sort of patriarch who cannot accomplish anything decisively—a deficient one.”
At least his capacity for self-reflection was swift.
Truthfully, I had expected him to grow angry and cast me out.
It seemed to me that the Hebei Peng Clan would not lack for those capable of offering counsel…
In that moment of observing the House Master with such thoughts, I understood the reason.
Was it that fearsome visage, so resembling a tiger?
Truthfully, without considerable courage, few would dare to offer counsel while facing such a countenance.
Or perhaps it was that air of absolute authority.
Though I stood as an outsider to the Three Great Families, those within would surely feel the weight of his position.
“So then, what do you believe I should do?”
“Are you prepared to listen seriously to the counsel I offer?”
“Of course.”
Well, his circumstances were dire enough.
The Emperor’s blade drew ever closer to the heart of the Hebei Peng Clan.
I spoke to him plainly.
“Then I would recommend that you choose to be the patriarch. Truthfully, it is already too late to play the role of an affectionate father.”
“….”
“That role should have been yours before your second son departed from this house.”
“Hmm, then… this child Peng Wen….”
“You must extract him.”
My words caused his brow to furrow deeply.
“What do you mean? Did you not just urge me to fulfill the role of patriarch? Does that not mean I should abandon this wretch Peng Wen?”
“House Master, is there any patriarch in this world who abandons a member of his own clan?”
“…?”
“To abandon him would mean the Peng Family protects none who bear the Peng name. How long could the Peng Family endure if it does not protect those who bear its name?”
For Peng So-hyup’s sake, the Peng Family had to endure.
“Moreover, through his mouth, he could provide the Emperor with pretense. He must be extracted at all costs.”
“Had you not been here, none of this would have occurred.”
“Have you forgotten what I said earlier? I merely attended a gathering.”
“….”
“And in the confrontation between Peng Moon Family Head and Peng So-hyup, Peng So-hyup achieved victory with my support as reinforcement.”
“In the process, the Imperial Court gains the benefit.”
“Even so, it’s fortunate the Imperial Court was the beneficiary. What if it had been the Black Path instead?”
At my words, he spoke harshly.
“Damn it, I don’t even want to think about it.”
“In any case, it’s only natural that the spoils of victory go to the victor, is it not?”
“That’s true enough.”
“Then formally remove Peng Moon Family Head from his position and appoint Peng So-hyup as the new Family Head. Handle Peng Moon according to your family’s internal laws. And finally, publicly declare that if anyone harms Peng So-hyup, the House Master will personally mete out punishment.”
I continued.
“If you promise me these three things, I will show you how to extract him.”

* * *

Peng Jin-song, the Patriarch of the Hebei Peng Clan, gazed at the spot where Eun Seo-ho had just been standing.
In truth, until this morning, he had no intention of meeting Eun Seo-ho.
Upon learning that his schemes had brought matters to this state, the mere sight of him threatened to ignite his rage and send him reaching for his blade.
But…

“If you bring me what I desire, I shall release your son.”
“…What is it that Your Majesty desires?”
“That is for you to discover. Must I spell it out myself?”
“….”
“If you truly cannot fathom it, ask that clever one I rather favor. He’s staying with your family, is he not?”

So he summoned Eun Seo-ho.
But he wanted to make Peng So-hyup pay the price for the headaches he had caused.
And curious about what had captured the Emperor’s favor, he tested him slightly.
As expected… he was no ordinary man.
And he understood instinctively.
Without Eun Seo-ho’s counsel, the Hebei Peng Clan would not survive its decline.
The words Eun Seo-ho had spoken to him still echoed vividly in his mind.
The more he turned those words over, the more his skin crawled.
All of this was of his own making.
In truth, until now, he had believed himself to be leading the family well.
No one had ever voiced discontent to him, nor offered counsel.
‘So I thought I was an excellent House Master… but I was wrong.’
He was not.
“At least I’ve awakened from this dream now. That’s fortunate.”
He shook his head, recalling the conditions Eun Seo-ho had set forth.
The first condition was something he had already promised—it was his duty to fulfill it.
The third condition too must be done, if only to correct the mistakes he had made.
The problem was the second condition.
To deal with Peng Wen, his eldest son, according to the family’s internal laws.
He recalled the family’s internal laws.
Laws established more strictly than elsewhere, given their proximity to the Imperial Palace.

[Any who become even remotely involved in treason, or who threaten the survival of the clan, shall have their dantian sealed and their right hand severed.]

As a father, he would have to issue an order to seal his son’s dantian and sever his right hand.
He smiled bitterly.
Truthfully, he still had not made a decision.
Then Eun Seo-ho’s words came back to him.

“If I may be so bold, I hope you will consider how you will be remembered after your time as House Master. Whether as one who made this clan strong, or as one who led it to ruin.”

The Previous Family Head, his own father, had often told him this.
That he must build a strong clan.
And that had become his lifelong aspiration.
But from the beginning, he had never possessed the qualities to lead this clan with strength.
Suddenly, he recalled the words of his eldest son—the one who had left home and vanished, or rather, been driven out by his younger brother.

“Father. Why did you say such things… why do you torment me so?”

For the first time, my son—who had always been obedient to my words—spoke with a hint of defiance.
And then….
It happened.
“You’re right. I cannot afford to make such a mistake again.”
Peng Jin-song steeled his resolve and shouted toward the outside.
“Who is out there?”
“Yes! You called for me?”
The Deputy Officer entered immediately.
“Contact the Law Enforcement Bureau. When Peng Wen returns, prepare to execute his sentence at once!”
“Execute his sentence, you say?”
“Sever his dantian and cut off his right hand.”
“Truly, is that your decision?”
“Yes. And….”
Peng Jin-song continued.
“For the crime of attempting to harm blood kin, he shall receive one hundred lashes.”
“Yes? But then Peng Kang-un as well….”
“That was self-defense.”
The Deputy Officer bowed his head at that firmness.
“It shall be done.”
“And add another one hundred lashes.”
“Yes? For what reason?”
“Because it was Peng Wen who harmed that boy.”
Peng Jin-song bit his lip. In truth, this was a punishment that should have been delivered long ago.

* * *

The day after I met with the House Master, he formally removed Peng Wen from his position as Small Patriarch and appointed Peng So-hyup in his place.
It meant he had accepted my proposal.
True to my word, I revealed to the House Master what the Emperor desired, and the next day, Scholar Peng and his entourage returned to the Peng Family Residence.
Upon hearing news delivered by one of Peng So-hyup’s messengers, we hurried toward the main gate of the Peng Family Residence.
Scholar Peng, escorted by Peng Family warriors as he entered through the main gate, appeared to have suffered no particular hardships during his confinement in the Prison by the Geumui Guard.
He looked perfectly fine, after all.
At that moment, the House Master approached from the other side.
“Father! Your son has returned.”
“You have come?”
“Yes, Father. I heard from my Paternal Uncle that you were deeply concerned and went to great lengths to secure my release. I am truly sorry for the worry I have caused you. I assure you, such incidents will not occur again.”
He seemed not yet to grasp the gravity of the situation.
The House Master’s expression hardened, and he issued a command as sharp as thunder.
“You live by the Emperor’s grace, yet you dared commit the treachery of drawing weapons against the Geumui Guard!”
“….”
“Moreover, you hired an Assassin to harm your nephew, and you brought harm upon your younger brother.”
“What? I have done no such thing!”
“Do you deny it when evidence stands before you?”
Papers scattered across the floor with a rustling sound.
Among them were not only the documents I had provided, but others as well.
Surely these were evidence from when he had harmed his Second Brother.
Scholar Peng’s face drained of all color at the sight.
“Did you truly believe I would remain ignorant of this?”
“….”
“Therefore, as House Master, I sentence you to two hundred lashes—one hundred for each transgression!”
“Ah, Father!”
“And!”
The House Master drew a sharp breath and spoke with absolute resolve.
“I sentence you to the severing of your dantian and the amputation of your right hand!”
“I am the Small Patriarch of the Peng Family! How can you….”
“As of yesterday, the Small Patriarch is no longer you—it is Kang Un-i.”
At those words, Peng Wen’s face twisted into something demonic.
In the next instant, he seized the sword of a nearby Warrior and swung it toward Peng Kang-un, the new Small Patriarch.
“Raaaagh!”
It happened in a heartbeat.
The blade clashed with a sharp ring.
A heavy impact followed.
“Ugh!”
But his desperate struggle failed.
His sword was blocked, his abdomen was kicked, and he collapsed to the ground.
The one who stopped him was Peng Kang-un’s new Guard Warrior—a man I had saved from death by curing his mother’s terminal illness and had accepted into service.
“Drag him away and carry out the execution!”
“Yes, sir!”
He was dragged away by the others.
Shortly after, the sharp crack of a whip and groans echoed through the air. His dantian remained intact, so he wouldn’t die from the lashing.
But perhaps the recent events had stripped away all affection, for the House Master showed not a shred of sympathy.
After all, the man had tried to kill his own grandson right before his eyes.
Was the matter of Peng So-hyup—or rather, Peng Kang-un the Small Patriarch—finally resolved?
Just as I felt relief wash over me, a strange sensation made me turn my head sharply.
What? This aura is…?

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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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