The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 444

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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 Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 444

Chapter 444. It Hurts Quite a Bit (3)

I concealed my alarm and spoke.
“No, no! How could I possibly accept an apology from the Crown Prince himself?”
“This is my apology, but it is also one from my father.”
“….”
This was even more unsettling.
If one searched the entire Empire, there would be scarcely a handful of people who had ever received an apology from the Emperor.
Just how much longer did he intend to use me?
“I have unintentionally caused you harm. I promise you that such a thing will not happen again.”
“Your benevolence is boundless.”
“Therefore, my father has said he will grant you whatever you desire as compensation. This includes the reward he promised before, as well as an apology for this matter.”
In that moment, I exulted inwardly.
Compensation!
What a sweet word it was.
But obtaining compensation also required a kind of negotiation. Through such negotiation, I could secure a greater reward than what I was originally entitled to receive.
“May I ask what compensation the Emperor originally promised to grant me?”
“Money and silk, and this entry permit token.”
The Crown Prince withdrew a jade tablet from his sleeve and placed it upon my knee.
Ordinarily, I had to present a temporary wooden entry permit whenever I entered the Imperial Palace.
But this was a permanent entry permit made of jade, and unlike the wooden token, it did not need to be returned.
In other words, it meant I could enter and exit the Imperial Palace whenever I wished.
The value of this entry permit was higher than one might think.
One might consider it merely a simple access token, but when the destination is the Imperial Palace, the matter becomes quite different.
Seeing my name engraved upon it, I realized it had been prepared in advance.
The fact that such preparations had been made suggested the Emperor was orchestrating something grand.
Surely he expected me to accept this.
Yet I assumed a guilty expression and offered the jade tablet back.
“I am afraid I cannot accept this.”
“Why not?”
“I cannot bear such a burden. Even now, I am summoned occasionally to enter the palace, and yet I am tested in this way. If I were to accept this… I am a weak-hearted person and could not endure any further.”
Seeing the Crown Prince’s visible consternation, I knew my assessment had been correct.
“The compensation I desire is not something so grand.”
“Then what do you wish for?”
I paused as if deliberating, then opened my mouth.
“In truth, I have unexpectedly acquired a certain item, and I wish for the Emperor to guarantee my ownership of it.”
“Will that truly suffice?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What is this object you speak of?”
“A silk wrapping cloth.”
“A wrapping cloth?”
“Yes. This is highly classified, but since it must be reported to the Emperor anyway, I shall explain. In truth, I discovered the legacy of the Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master in that place.”
“What? Is this truly the case!”
I glanced around before speaking in a hushed tone.
“Your Highness, please lower your voice.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
Of course, since I was conversing with the Crown Prince, my guards and his guards would be maintaining strict vigilance around us.
Still, there was no benefit in speaking loudly.
“There exists a crimson silk wrapping cloth that once held the Master’s legacy. I wish to possess it.”
“You desire merely that?”
“It is far from mere. It is the wrapping cloth that held the legacy of the revered Master. How could such a thing not be invaluable?”
“Hmm….”
The Crown Prince’s expression betrayed his bewilderment.
I understood that look. Yet when he learns the truth later, he may find himself bewildered for entirely different reasons.
The Crown Prince spoke.
“Even so, I fail to comprehend. Why request it as compensation when you could simply take it?”
“To prepare for unforeseen circumstances. Should Shaolin Temple claim the wrapping cloth as their own, I as a merchant would have no choice but to surrender it, would I not?”
“Hmm, that is a fair point.”
“Therefore, I beseech you to guarantee under the Emperor’s name that the ownership of this wrapping cloth belongs to me.”
I continued.
“Your Majesty is supreme above all in this Empire. No matter how formidable Shaolin Temple may be, how could they defy the Emperor’s decree?”
The Crown Prince nodded readily.
“I understand. Father has instructed me to grant you whatever you desire within reason. You could have asked for far more substantial compensation.”
“This alone is sufficient for me. And truthfully, does it matter what I receive? The mere fact that the Emperor has not forgotten his promise to me is cause enough for my gratitude.”
“If that is your conviction, then so be it.”
Excellent!
I clenched my hidden fist beneath the blanket, silently exulting within.
Thus, the ownership of the wrapping cloth was now irrevocably mine.
“By the way, you are truly an unpredictable person.”
“Your Highness?”
“Earlier you claimed to be a merchant, so naturally I assumed you would choose this unrestricted palace pass.”
Forgive me, Your Highness.
I am not someone who should draw close to the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor is already watching for opportunities to plant me as a stake within the palace, and you expect me to willingly approach it?
I smiled and replied.
“As I mentioned, Your Highness, I am not equal to such a burden.”
“A merchant with so little ambition—what shall we do? I wish the ministers of the Imperial Palace possessed even half your restraint.”
Well… Your Highness.
You’re saying something quite dangerous.
And no ambition, you say?
If His Imperial Majesty heard that, he’d be rolling on the ground laughing until his sides ached.
The Crown Prince examined the jade tablet carefully before speaking.
“In fact, Father left me a letter to read should you refuse to accept this tablet.”
With that, he withdrew a small envelope from his sleeve, broke the seal, and began reading the letter.
“….”
His expression grew slightly flustered, then he quickly returned the letter and picked up the jade tablet.
Why do I suddenly feel uneasy?
“It’s a bonus. Accept it.”
“Pardon?”
“Does a merchant not understand what a bonus is?”
“Ah, I understand, but….”
“This is yours.”
In other words, it was a gift bestowed by imperial decree.
When something is bestowed as an imperial gift, one cannot refuse it—so I had no choice but to accept it.
“I am deeply honored by Your Majesty’s grace.”
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve said that today.
The Crown Prince rose from his seat.
“Now that our business is concluded, I shall take my leave. Recover swiftly, and I shall see you at the Imperial Palace soon.”
“I….”
“Ah, there’s no need for formalities. And do recover quickly. If your recovery takes too long, Father may send the imperial physician.”
“….”
With that, the Crown Prince departed from my quarters, and I watched his retreating figure before looking at the jade tablet in my hand.
His Imperial Majesty.
Why must you be so clingy?
Still, since I’ve already accepted it, I might as well make the most of it.
But what was written in that letter to provoke such a reaction from the Crown Prince?

* * *

The Crown Prince departed from the Eunhae Trading Company Beijing Branch.
“Return to the Imperial Palace.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Only after boarding the carriage could he release a deep sigh.
‘Truly… a frightening fellow. Yet now I understand why Father favors him so.’

[So he got me. In any case, since I’ve already agreed, there’s nothing to be done. Give him the jade tablet he refused as a bonus. Then I’ll be able to see that fellow’s bewildered expression.]

In any case, I followed the Emperor’s words and was able to see Eun Seo-ho’s bewildered expression as he received the jade tablet.
And I realized one more thing.
[Father said it was a feigned illness, but his symptoms were so evident that I treated him like a sick person without realizing it…]
Certainly, Eun Seo-ho would be as formidable an ally as he was fearsome as an enemy.
[Could he become my person?]

Shortly after, the carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace, and the Crown Prince headed to the Emperor’s office.
“Did you have a good journey?”
“Yes, Father.”
The Crown Prince reported to the Emperor in detail about meeting Eun Seo-ho.
“…That is all.”
“I see. But Eun Seo-ho wanted a cloth wrapper as his reward?”
“Yes. It was the red silk wrapper that had been wrapping the legacy of the Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master, and he asked that the Imperial Court guarantee its ownership.”
“And you agreed to his request.”
“Yes. I could not refuse such a modest request—merely wanting that one thing.”
At those words, the Emperor unconsciously pressed his forehead with his hand.
The Crown Prince tilted his head and asked at the sight.
“Why are you doing that, Father?”
“Hmm… No, it seems I did well to attach that fellow to you.”
“Yes?”
“If you do even half of what that fellow does, you will never lose what you hold in your hands.”
The Crown Prince tilted his head.
He could not understand what the Emperor was saying at all.
“I don’t understand what you mean, Father.”
“You thought that fellow had no greed, didn’t you?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The Emperor smiled bitterly and explained.
“In truth, there is no one as greedy as that fellow. He obtains everything he desires while making others think otherwise.”
“…?”
“Crown Prince, that red cloth wrapper you permitted. It is the Hyeonro Map, a treasure of the Imperial Court.”
“What?”
“Five hundred years ago, the Emperor of that time received his life from the Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master and gave it as a gift—a treasure of the Imperial Court.”
At this, the Crown Prince was startled.
When Eun Seo-ho spoke of the Hyeonro Map, he had thought it was merely the wrapper surrounding the Master’s legacy.
But it was a treasure of the Imperial Court!
The Crown Prince knew well what the Hyeonro Map was.
Among the plans established to test Eun Seo-ho this time, there was also the matter of the Geumui Guard searching for that artifact.
However, though the plan was laid out that way, in truth there had been no expectation regarding that artifact.
It was an artifact whose whereabouts had long since become obscure, and even if records of it existed, the authenticity of those records remained uncertain.
That’s why I failed to recognize that the crimson cloth Eun Seo-ho mentioned was the Hyeol Ro Do.
“I, I apologize, Father. I should have been more perceptive….”
“It’s fine. Think of it as tuition paid at a bargain price.”
Only then did the Crown Prince begin to understand, at least somewhat, why the Emperor had assigned him to Eun Seo-ho.
Meanwhile, the Emperor sighed inwardly.
The Hyeol Ro Do was the finest of all artifacts, serving to guide the Emperor to safe escape routes when urgent situations arose.
The previous Emperor had followed the path revealed by the Hyeol Ro Do, which is how he encountered the Blood Kun Saint Sage and saved his life.
Furthermore, the Hyeol Ro Do also functioned as an exceptional protective talisman.
Whether due to the legend that it was dyed with dragon’s blood, nothing could tear or cut through the cloth.
‘An opportunity to obtain such an artifact, and yet I let it slip away like this… How regrettable.’
But what could be done?
It was already given.
Still, there was consolation in the fact that the artifact had fallen into Eun Seo-ho’s hands.
He had faith that such a person would never use it with malicious intent.
‘At least I granted him the unrestricted palace access token… shall I be satisfied with this?’

* * *

Several days passed.
I stretched and rose from my seat.
“Is it alright for you to be getting up?”
At that moment, Palgap entered my quarters and asked, and I nodded in response.
“Yes, my malingering is over now.”
I’d landed a small blow on the Emperor, and I’d obtained what I needed, so there was no further reason to feign illness.
Besides, if the Emperor sent his personal physician, it would be genuinely burdensome.
The Emperor must have realized that the cloth the Crown Prince promised me was an artifact.
His heart must have stung considerably.
But since he’d already spoken his word, he had no choice but to let it pass.
I engaged in serious training for the first time in a while. My body felt heavy from having been unable to train while feigning illness.
After moving my body so diligently, I washed, ate breakfast, and headed to my office.
It’s certainly hot, though.
Since it’s mid-August now, it’s still the height of summer.
By next month, cooler breezes should begin to blow.
The cooling fans sold quite well this year too. This time, I varied the colors somewhat.
Certainly, people showed a tendency to prefer more colorful, varied hues.
To be honest, the cooling fan is an overwhelmingly dominant product with no competitors.
But that doesn’t mean I should neglect research and development.
The moment I become complacent, I begin to fall behind.
The future is unknowable; to continue succeeding going forward, I must diligently dedicate myself to research.

Several more days passed.
Phew, I’ve handled all the urgent matters, so now I can finally catch my breath.
Just as I was thinking this, Palgap brought me a letter.
“Young Master, this is a letter sent by the Merchant Guild Leader.”
“Hmm? Father?”
I received the letter and unfolded it.
I had already sent word through Geumryeong that I had safely returned from Lanzhou, and I had even received a reply, so what was this?

[Seo-ho, I hope you are doing well. This time, Shaolin Temple has brought a large sum of money. They say it is money they borrowed from you, and they mentioned they are indebted to you, though I confess I don’t quite understand what they mean. And Shaolin Temple has formally invited you to visit.]

Shaolin Temple has invited me?
It’s likely related to the matter of the Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master’s Geom Chong.
Besides, I have something to deliver to them anyway, so I should make the trip.

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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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