The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 672

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

The Youngest Son of the Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 672

Chapter 672. Hwangbo Family (2)

That afternoon.
At the wooden table to my left, Yeon Ju-hyuk was diligently reviewing documents.
He possessed the qualities to become a capable administrator, yet somehow he had fallen into martial arts and taken me as his master. I couldn’t quite understand how it had come to this.
Still, I had gained a competent deputy officer, so I had no complaints.
I recalled the contents of a letter sent by Yeon Ju-hyuk’s father, the Honam Province Governor.

[I apologize for the embarrassment my son has caused you. However, his resolve is so firm that there is nothing more I can do. Therefore, I entrust my son to you, placing my faith in you. Use him as a deputy officer or as a servant—do as you wish. It is merely the consequence of his own actions, is it not?]

I chuckled inwardly.
How on earth had things come to this, that the Honam Province Governor would send such a letter?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Yeon Ju-hyuk sensed my gaze and lifted his head to ask.
“I’m curious about something.”
“What might that be?”
“Setting aside the Provincial Governor, how did you obtain your lady mother’s permission?”
“…I cried.”
I found myself asking reflexively.
“Pardon?”
“I mean… I threw a tantrum, crying and begging to be allowed to go.”
Yeon Ju-hyuk answered with an embarrassed expression.
But soon after, he continued with sincerity.
“The opportunity to become your disciple was that precious to me. I didn’t want to miss it, so I cast aside my pride and… yes, that’s what I did.”
“So your lady mother agreed to send you?”
“Yes. In exchange, she asked that I send letters four times a year and visit once to show her my face.”
I understood the lady’s feelings well.
I called to him with a firm expression.
“Yeon Young Master.”
“Yes.”
“If you fail to keep your promise to your lady mother, then on that very day, the bond between us as master and disciple will be severed.”
At my words, he hiccupped in surprise and asked.
“Why… why are you speaking so sternly?”
“Because it is that important.”
It is something a husband and father must do without fail.
As for the Honam Province Governor, he was right.
Use me as a Deputy Officer or as a slave—do as you wish.
So I suppose I can work you harder.
I recalled his words written at the end of the letter.

[And congratulations on your marriage.]

The sincerity behind those words made my feelings complicated.

That night.
An Eunuch Official visited the Beijing Branch, and I was summoned to the Imperial Palace by the Emperor.
I had a sense of why he was calling for me.
He certainly works fast.
The Emperor spoke immediately upon receiving my bow.
“Here is the imperial edict you requested yesterday.”
I respectfully received the edict from the Eunuch.
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”
“So when do you intend to depart for the Hwangbo Clan?”
“Once Your Majesty grants the imperial edict, I planned to leave immediately.”
“I had someone standing by, knowing you would say that.”
What?
“Bring him in.”
The Eunuch stepped outside and returned with a man.
He performed the highest courtesy before the Emperor.
Looking at him, I could only tilt my head in confusion.
That uniform—isn’t he a Geumui Guard?
“Rise.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”
He raised his head and looked at me.
His eyes were sharp and piercing, and his sturdy build spoke of someone with extensive combat experience.
I quickly clasped my fist in salute.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am So-sang Eun Seo-ho.”
“I am Hwangbo Seon-yu of the Geumui Guard.”
The Emperor nodded and issued his order to dismiss us.
“Hear the details on the way, and now go.”
With that, Hwangbo Seon-yu and I bowed respectfully and withdrew.

As I exited the building, Hwangbo Seon-yu, the Great Hero, spoke to me.
“How about a cup of tea?”
“That would be wonderful.”
“Then follow me.”
I walked alongside him, and soon we arrived before a building.
[Chung-ui Hall]
It was a place where those who wore the robes of loyalty gathered.
Yet it could not be explained by such a simple meaning alone.
This was, in fact, the headquarters of the Geumui Guard.
The Geumui Guard earned their name from the golden robes they wore, but they claimed that those golden garments represented their loyalty to the Emperor.
Thus, this headquarters bore the name Chung-ui Hall.
“Great Hero, am I permitted to enter this place?”
“It matters not. I invited you—who would dare object?”
From his words, I could discern that he held a rather elevated position within the Geumui Guard.
“Then I shall trust in you alone, Great Hero.”
He led me inside Chung-ui Hall and guided me to a chamber.
“This is my office.”
My intuition had been correct.
Even among the Geumui Guard, only a select few could possess a private office of such standing.
“What sort of tea do you prefer?”
“I drink any tea with equal appreciation.”
“Hmm, I think this would be fitting for today.”
He selected the tea leaves and began steeping the tea himself.
My pupils trembled at the sight.
No—why was he using such an expensive Biluochun in that manner?
“Drink.”
“I shall gratefully partake.”
Though I could guess the taste, I could not refuse, so I took a sip.
“….”
But I found I could not continue drinking.
I carefully opened my mouth.
“Dae-in, would it be permissible for me to… steep a fresh pot of tea?”
“Hmm? You?”
“Yes.”
“Then do so.”
At his words, I immediately emptied the remaining tea from the pot and retrieved the Biluochun again to steep it anew.
Trickle, trickle.
A Biluochun of entirely different character poured into the cup.
“Please, enjoy.”
I too poured tea into my cup and took a sip.
Phew, now my mind is finally settling down.
Hwangbo Seon-yu, the Great Hero, chuckled softly as he watched me.
“You’re quite an amusing fellow.”
What do you mean all of a sudden?
“Usually, when I brew tea poorly, people show one of two reactions—either they force a smile and drink it anyway, or they claim it’s delicious while refusing to touch it further. But you’re the first person I’ve met who actually brews a fresh cup and drinks that instead.”
Wait, does that mean you brewed the tea poorly on purpose?
“Now I understand why the Elder said you were an amusing fellow.”
“Are you referring to the Gwimyeon-po Elder?”
He nodded at my question.
“Indeed. He is a legend of the Hwangbo Family. The Emperor himself speaks of this habitually—without him, there’s a high likelihood the current Emperor would not exist.”
Such words could invite suspicion if overheard, but the fact that he speaks them so freely means the Emperor truly said such things.
“As you know, the Main House is in Jinan.”
I know it well.
The center of Shandong, where the Baek Yeom Merchant Guild is located.
And while I’m there, I absolutely must stop by Geumgyeru and have their spicy braised chicken dish.
“We depart tomorrow morning.”
“Understood. Is there anything special I should prepare?”
“What you need to prepare is…”
Hwangbo Seon-yu, the Great Hero, grinned widely and spoke.
“Simply handle one task on the way.”
That statement meant the Emperor had a reason for assigning Hwangbo Seon-yu as my guide.
No, wait! Your Majesty?
This isn’t right, is it?
But I can’t very well go confront the Emperor about it now.
The person before me holds a fairly high position among the Geumui Guard.
I’m in no position to refuse.
Damn it.
I sighed inwardly and asked.
“What task must I handle on the way?”
“I’ll tell you once we’re on the road. Now go rest.”
.
.
.
The next morning.
My Guard Warriors and I prepared to set out early in the morning.
This time, I would not be traveling with Seo Hyang.
Summer was approaching, and there were many matters to attend to.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“Yes, take care of yourself.”
I exchanged farewells with Eun Jung-ho first, then with Seo Hyang.
“I shall return shortly.”
“Travel safely.”
“While I am away, please continue to look after Yeon Young Master.”
“Of course. I shall ensure his education progresses diligently.”
Her smile as she said this sent an inexplicable chill down my spine, but it hardly mattered.
Seo Hyang wasn’t going to devour Yeon Ju-hyuk, after all.
She drew closer to me.
As she approached, my face flushed without my realizing it. Palgap was watching me with a peculiar expression.
Palgap, what is that look about?
But I could not afford to lose focus when her whispered words reached my ear.
“…I shall remember.”
Thus we departed the Beijing Branch and made our way to the appointed meeting place.
The appointed meeting place was in front of a tea house in Beijing.
After waiting there briefly, Hwangbo Seon-yu the Great Hero arrived.
“Already here, I see. And we still have a full hour to spare.”
“For a merchant, punctuality is everything.”
“Indeed. Hahaha!”
He laughed heartily.
“But… are you alone, sir?”
At my question, he nodded.
“It’s bothersome to travel with a large retinue.”
“I understand that solo missions are quite rare for you.”
“True enough, but you are here, are you not?”
In other words, since I and my Guard Warriors were present, he had deliberately chosen not to bring others along.
Looking at him now, his attire was that of an ordinary warrior, not a Geumui Guard.
To all appearances, there was nothing to suggest he was a Geumui Guard at all.
Could this be related to the task he mentioned we would need to accomplish on the way?
“Then, shall we depart?”
“Yes.”
We set out for Jinan in Shandong Province.
“By the way, Great Hero, what is the task we must accomplish on our journey?”
“It is nothing particularly difficult.”
He continued.
“Word has reached us that someone in Shandong Province is peddling the Emperor’s name. We need only verify the facts and apprehend him.”
“…Pardon? You mean there is a fraud?”
“Nothing is certain yet.”
Observing his reluctance to jump to conclusions, I could see that Hwangbo Seon-yu was a cautious man.
When an incident occurs, if one hastily determines the culprit and the crime before investigating thoroughly, there is a high risk of wronging an innocent person.
But if one refrains from making premature judgments and investigates methodically, the likelihood of such injustice diminishes greatly.
“Do you know who I despise most?”
“Would you not say that anyone harboring treacherous thoughts toward the Emperor is despicable?”
“Not quite.”
He shook his head as he spoke.
“Of course I despise such people, but what I hate most are swindlers. When a family is torn apart by con artists who prey on others, it happens in an instant.”
I nodded at his words.
As Hwangbo Seon-yu the Great Hero said, if anyone believed that swindlers merely extort money through lies and commit no direct murders, making their crimes seem lighter, it was only because they didn’t understand the reality.
They may not have wielded weapons directly, but it was no different from murder.
In fact, the aftermath was far more devastating than ordinary murder or robbery.
“That is why when I encounter a swindler, I do not grant them a merciful death. So I ask your understanding in advance. The process of dealing with a swindler may be somewhat brutal.”
“I understand.”
I nodded in agreement.
“I too believe they should not be allowed a gentle death.”
Hearing those words, I began to understand why Hwangbo Seon-yu the Great Hero moved about in such plain attire.
Swindlers are typically clever and perceptive, so they are equally quick to cover their tracks.
Thus, to reveal his true identity, he would not disclose that he was a Golden Robed Guard.
Even so, his clothing seemed far too modest, didn’t it?
Couldn’t he have dressed a bit more elaborately?
At that moment, Hwangbo Seon-yu the Great Hero spoke with a smile.
“And when we draw near to Shandong Province, I shall pose as your Guard Warrior.”
“…I understand.”
So that was the reason for the deliberately plain attire.
Somehow, this felt like I’d been played by the Emperor.
– Kwui! Kku!
Geumryeong’s voice transmission reached me.
It’s fine? You’re planning to extract compensation from the Emperor for this, aren’t you?
That’s Geumryeong for you.
You know me far too well.
– But extracting compensation from that Emperor is no trivial matter either.
– Kwui? Kku.
Is it really that difficult? I thought it was easy the way you extracted it so naturally.
“….”
I had nothing to say.

Our journey proceeded smoothly.
We passed through Hebei Province and entered Shandong Province.
You mentioned that the one selling the Emperor’s name operates near the Shandong border, didn’t you?
They certainly have audacious nerve.
Even though Shandong is somewhat distant from Beijing, it’s close enough that one can reach it by simply passing through Hebei Province—hardly a remote location.
“My lord.”
“Ah, yes.”
Hwangbo Seon-yu, the Great Hero acting as my Guard Warrior, had called to me.
“Warrior Seon-yu. Is there something you wish to say?”
And to be cautious, I had decided not to address him by his family name.
“It seems we should begin searching for an inn soon.”
“I see. Do you know of a good place?”
“I am from these parts, so I know well. There is a rather decent inn in that direction.”
We headed toward the place Hwangbo Seon-yu guided us to.
It was an inn located on the Marketplace Street, and it appeared quite respectable.
We settled into the inn called Songha-wol, a name as elegant as it was evocative.
Then we descended to the first floor to take our evening meal.
“What will you have?”
At the Shop Attendant’s question, I turned to Hwangbo Seon-yu.
“What would you recommend?”
“The specialty here would be the salty meatballs, would it not?”
“Prepare that and your house specialties.”
“Very well.”
As we waited for the food to arrive, I overheard the conversation of other patrons dining on the first floor.
“By the way, is that ointment really as effective as they say?”
“The Emperor himself is said to have praised it highly.”
“But then why is someone like that selling ointment in a place like this?”
“It seems he was caught up in court intrigue and had no choice but to leave the Imperial Palace.”
At those words, I lifted my head to look at Hwangbo Seon-yu.
The gleam in his eyes—that of a predator spotting its quarry.
It appeared our operation was finally beginning.

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