The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 295

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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 295

Chapter 295. The Poem Thief (8)

When the Assistant Coordinator whispered something to the Tournament Announcer, his expression twisted into bewilderment.
What was happening?
I tilted my head in confusion.
The Emperor’s chosen theme had caught everyone off guard—Chu Il-gong’s face had drained of all color.
He scribbled something frantically, his eyes vacant and distant.
Just as I was about to focus my senses to eavesdrop, the Seo-woo Warrior beside me spoke.
“It appears… there may be a problem with the poem Chu Il-gong Poet has written.”
“What?”
“The Assistant Coordinator said, ‘Can this really be submitted as is? His Majesty the Emperor will surely be displeased.'”
Thanks to the warrior’s heightened senses protecting me, he had caught that exchange.
The Emperor sensed something amiss as well, and addressed the Tournament Announcer.
“Is there some problem?”
“That is… well…”
“It seems the poem itself is the issue. Let me examine it first.”
An Eunuch Official immediately rushed forward, received the paper with the poem from the Tournament Announcer, and presented it to the Emperor.
“Hmm, ‘To follow the will of one’s father is the beginning of filial piety…’ Who composed this poem?”
The Assistant Coordinator answered the Emperor’s question.
“That poem was written by Song Rok Poet.”
“Is that so?”
The Emperor nodded with satisfaction, folded the paper, and unrolled another one containing a different poem.
This one was written by Chu Il-gong.
“…”
The Emperor stared at it for a long moment, then his expression shifted to one of disbelief.
And then…
“Chu Poet.”
“Yes? Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Are you attempting to deceive me?”
“No, no, Your Majesty!”
“Then what exactly is this poem?”
Chu Il-gong, at a loss for words, immediately prostrated himself before the Emperor.
“I, I had absolutely no such intention, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor handed the paper with the poem to an Eunuch Official and commanded.
“Read it aloud.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Eunuch Official unfolded the paper and began reading the poem.
“Why did Yu Gong or whoever submit such a ridiculous theme? There’s nothing like that in the poem he wrote….”
Everyone, including myself, was horrified by the content.
It would have been better to submit a blank page….
Had he lost his mind? No matter how little sleep he’d gotten last night, how could he write something like that?
“And you claim this isn’t deceiving me?”
“I, I have committed a grave offense worthy of death!”
“I’ll give you one more chance. Write it properly this time!”
Thus Chu Il-gong was granted another opportunity. Though even with this second chance, what could he….
He grasped his brush with trembling hands.
Would I finally see Chu Il-gong’s true abilities?
Meanwhile, a question arose in my mind.
Just how little confidence did he have in his own poetry to steal from others?
Soon he composed a poem and handed it to the Eunuch Official.
“Read it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Eunuch Official began reading the poem.
Wow… he really can’t write.
Now I understand. Why he stole poems.
At least he had a clear grasp of his own limitations.
The spectators in the audience began murmuring.
“That poem is completely different from Mi Si-gaek’s usual style?”
“Why is that?”
The Emperor stared at Chu Il-gong for a moment, then commanded the Eunuch Official.
“Bring me all the poems Chu the Poet has written so far.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Soon the Eunuch Official went to the Poetry Contest Venue, carefully selected only the poems written by Chu Il-gong from the pile there, and brought them back.
“Read the first poem he wrote.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Eunuch Official read that poem.
“The colder the wind, the more joy the snow brings. Standing with one’s back to the wind….”
When the Eunuch Official finished reading, the Emperor turned to Chu Il-gong and asked.
“This poem uses wind and snow as its theme. Explain this poem.”
“I, I, this poem is, well….”
“….”
“W, well, the wind blows cold, but when I see the snow… the snow falling….”
Chu Il-gong stammered and repeated himself.
It was only natural.
Poetry contains profound meaning in every phrase.
How could he understand its true meaning when he hadn’t composed it himself?
At that moment, my eyes met Song Rok’s.
I smiled and nodded, then sent him a silent transmission.
– This is your chance to clear your name of this injustice.
He flinched at my transmission, but soon gave a light nod.
Then he prostrated himself before the Emperor and spoke.
“Gracious and benevolent Emperor! Though I am but a humble subject, I humbly request permission to explain that poem.”
“You wish to speak?”
The Emperor tilted his head as he regarded Song Rok, then granted him permission to speak.
“Very well, proceed with your explanation.”
“I am overwhelmed by your grace! That poem was written as I recalled those childhood days when I played with snow. Thus, I captured the emotions of how snow appeared through a child’s eyes….”
Song Rok spoke fluently, explaining the poem without hesitation.
By this point, everyone could sense that something was amiss.
“I see. But this poem bears Chu Il-gong’s name, so how do you know it so well?”
“I humbly beg your pardon, but that is not so, Your Majesty.”
“It is not?”
“That is correct. That poem… is one I composed.”
“What?”
The Emperor pointed to the place where the name had been folded five times to conceal it.
“This clearly bears the name of Chu Il-gong. So how can you claim you wrote it?”
“That is because….”
Just then, Chu Il-gong hastily cut him off.
“Y-Your Majesty! This man is a fraud. He is merely a plagiarist who admired my poem and….”
At Chu Il-gong’s words, I clicked my tongue.
No one would believe him now, yet he seemed oblivious to that fact.
“Chu Il-gong.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Be silent. Before I have that tongue of yours cut out.”
“Ugh!”
At the Emperor’s words, Chu Il-gong cowered. Then the Emperor turned to Song Rok.
“Very well, explain yourself.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Song Rok took a slow, deep breath and began to explain what had happened to him.
“…And so, when I was about to abandon everything and take my own life, Eun Seo-ho, the Small Guild Master, saved me. And he gave me the opportunity to clear my name of this injustice.”
At those words, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Eun Seo-ho? Isn’t that Seon Hyeop Mi-rang?”
“Of course it’s Seon Hyeop Mi-rang!”
At this, I felt my face flush with heat. Now that I thought about it, I had forgotten to tell Song Rok not to mention me.
But I couldn’t afford to show a bitter expression here, so my cheeks twitched as I struggled to maintain my composure.
Damn it.
I wondered how much the Emperor was laughing inwardly.
But the Emperor was still the Emperor. He maintained his stern expression and called out to Chu Il-gong.
“Chu Il-gong.”
“Yes? Yes, Your Majesty.”
He no longer even called him Chu Il-gong Poet.
“Is what Song Rok Poet said true?”
“That is… well…”
“An investigation will reveal everything. There’s no point in struggling.”
At those words, Chu Il-gong finally pressed his forehead to the ground.
“Please, take my life!”
He had realized that further resistance would only deepen the Emperor’s wrath.
And besides, denying it would be pointless—the Emperor was right that an investigation would expose everything.
From what I could see, there was clearly more guilt to uncover. That’s why he was so readily confessing to his crimes.
In any case, my plan had succeeded in exposing Chu Il-gong’s shameless transgressions in broad daylight.
“Your crime of deceiving the judges and mocking me by passing off another’s poem as your own is no light matter. Imperial Guards, hear me!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Imprison him! His punishment will be determined after the competition concludes.”
And so Chu Il-gong was dragged away to the Prison by the Imperial Guards.
Ah, what a relief.
.
.
.
The competition had ended.
As I had anticipated, Song Rok Poet claimed the final victory.
And those who had been eliminated after facing Chu Il-gong received consolation prizes.
Of course, paid from Chu Il-gong’s own coffers.
And I…
“The Emperor wishes to see you.”
I had to go meet with the Emperor immediately.
Soon after, I stood before the Emperor and paid my respects.
“I bow before Your Imperial Majesty. Long may you reign eternal!”
“Raise your head.”
“I am unworthy of such grace.”
As I lifted my head, the Emperor chuckled softly.
“Tell me, how does it feel to have become the hero who saved the life of an ill-fated poet and enabled his revenge?”
“What man would not be pleased to be called a hero?”
“Is that so? Your expression didn’t seem so pleased earlier.”
“That was… to keep myself vigilant.”
I continued.
“I am no hero, Your Majesty. Yet when the world calls me one, I feared I might come to believe it myself.”
“A strange fellow. But an amusing one, nonetheless.”
Praise… that would be it, wouldn’t it?
“Yes, and that Chu Il-gong fellow was the true purpose of this Poetry Competition, wasn’t he?”
I did not deny it.
“By the gracious wisdom of Your Majesty the Emperor, justice has been properly upheld. How could this not be a good thing?”
“You cunning bastard, you certainly know how to talk.”
The Emperor grumbled in that manner.
“I have sentenced him to complete confiscation of his assets and forced labor.”
Just as I had previously remonstrated, His Majesty the Emperor was actively utilizing forced labor sentences.
“While laboring in the salt ponds, he will surely reflect upon his wrongdoings.”
Since the salt distribution law, the Imperial Court has maintained strict control over all salt matters.
And the labor force is being supplied through forced labor sentences.
Salt production is extraordinarily difficult work.
For him, who had wounded others and squandered salt besides, this punishment seemed fitting and just.
Thus, the bitter karma that had tormented Yu So-ak, the Internal Chief Manager, came to an end.
“Regardless, thanks to you, I was able to discover quite a capable talent.”
“I am merely delighted to have brought joy to Your Majesty the Emperor.”
Even as I spoke thus, I worried inwardly.
Surely it wouldn’t be Song Rok the Poet, would it?
After all the effort I had invested, to have him plucked away would be lacking in merchant ethics….
“Ah, do not worry. It is not Song Rok the Poet.”
“Your Majesty?”
“First, he is not suited for practical administration. Second, I am not a lord who covets the rice cakes his ministers have labored to prepare.”
It seemed the first reason was the primary one.

Thus I concluded my audience and departed the Imperial Palace.
“Have you emerged, sir?”
“Yes.”
Palgap, who had been waiting before the Imperial Palace, approached.
“And Song Rok the Poet?”
“He is currently attending the celebration banquet.”
“His escort?”
“Yeo Eung-am Warrior accompanied him.”
Today’s celebration banquet was hosted by the Sebin Merchant Guild, which sponsored this competition, and our Eunhae Trading Company.
Those in attendance are the judges of this competition, those who assisted in its preparation, and eight poets including the champion.
Since the Jegal Family’s Grand Elder is also present, there should be no danger, but one never knows, so I asked who accompanied him as escort.
“Was it Hong Eun-ru? Let us go.”
It would be discourteous for the host of tonight’s banquet to be absent.

Shortly after, I arrived at Hong Eun-ru.
I greeted each of the attendees one by one, and as time passed, the atmosphere grew increasingly warm.
I turned my head to look toward the railing of the pavilion. Song Rok stood there, gazing out at the distance.
I approached him.
“Are you getting some fresh air?”
“Ah, yes.”
He nodded.
“I was by the brazier, and the wine seemed to be going to my head, so I thought I’d step out.”
“And how do you feel now?”
“Pardon?”
“Today, didn’t you reclaim the name of Mi Si-gaek that was stolen from you?”
“Ah….”
Song Rok nodded with a bright smile.
“It feels wonderful.”
“The punishment for Chu Il-gong has been finalized. His family’s assets have been confiscated, and he himself has been sentenced to hard labor in the salt ponds.”
“…Is that so?”
Yet his expression didn’t seem as pleased as I expected.
“You’re not happy? The man has received his due punishment.”
“To be honest… it feels complicated. I can’t help but think about what hardship his family must endure.”
Now that vengeance was complete, regret lingered in his heart.
“Don’t trouble yourself. They all lived well because of Chu Il-gong. If his family members have any sense at all, they’ve already secured means to support themselves.”
After all, we confiscated only Chu Il-gong’s assets, not those of his separated children.
“I’m being foolish, entertaining such thoughts.”
“The fact that you think such things means you’re a good person. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
I smiled.
“By the way, you haven’t forgotten our agreement, have you?”
“Of course not.”
“We’ll be departing soon, so make your preparations.”
“Understood.”
Song Rok and his family would be traveling with us this time.
I turned to observe the poets enjoying the banquet.
Some of them would soon receive imperial recognition from the Emperor.
Why did they seem slightly pitiful?
Of course, I had special plans for Song Rok.
In the merchant business, there are countless occasions when one must skillfully persuade trading partners.
And trading partners aren’t limited to merchants alone.
Sometimes they’re local gentry, sometimes imperial relatives. Most such people had a fondness for poetry.
So if I brought Song Rok, the victor of this Poetry Competition, and had him compose a few verses, the atmosphere would become considerably more favorable.
Then I’d seize that opening to conduct business.
I smiled, envisioning my flawless plan.
At that moment, I couldn’t help but flinch at the familiar face approaching the tavern.
Ah, no—Your Majesty the Emperor.
There was no word that you would be coming to this place, was there?

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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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