The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 91

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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 91

Chapter 91. For My Aunt (3)

Seon-il Elder Brother couldn’t respond to those words.
“It’s not like that, right?”
“….”
“Think carefully about it.”
“Who exactly is this person you’re serving?”
“You don’t need to know that.”
“You won’t even tell me that, and now you’re asking me to….”
“But I’ll show you the proof.”
“Proof?”
“When you return home, you’ll understand what that proof is.”
“….”
“Let’s go inside. The others will be waiting. Cheer up.”
After finishing his words, Du-jin Prince tapped Seon-il Elder Brother’s shoulder and entered the tavern room first.
Seon-il Elder Brother, who had been thinking for a moment, also went inside.
I bit my lip, lost in thought.
Unlike the reputation of being a talent close to estate-level, there was a reason why Seon-il Elder Brother’s exam ranking in my memory was near the bottom.
He had been coerced.
So the Murim Alliance had used Seon-il Elder Brother to place one of their people in a high position within the Imperial Palace.
But could such a despicable act have ended with just one occurrence?
Once they knew that coercion worked, they would have threatened Seon-il Elder Brother with similar demands countless times.
As a result, Seon-il Elder Brother’s personality naturally became pessimistic and cynical.
He must have lost his drive as well.
So the Murim Alliance had been an obstacle to the Eunhae Trading Company from this point onward.
Even though my aunt married into another family and left, she was still part of the Eunhae Trading Company. And my aunt had cherished me dearly since childhood.
Because of this, I was quite angry that Seon-il Elder Brother’s personality had changed due to the Murim Alliance’s petty schemes, and that my aunt had suffered heartache because of it.
Wait….
But why did the Murim Alliance want to place someone in the Imperial Palace?
For what purpose?
Suddenly, a major incident that would occur about thirteen years in the future came to mind.
I was able to prevent the poisoning of the Jegal Family Grand Patriarch because I remembered that incident.
It was the Empress poisoning incident.
And though a concubine beneath her became the new Empress, countless people suffered, and the culprit was soon caught.
But I don’t know if that culprit was the real one.
They only testified that they held a grudge against the Empress.
It was from that moment.
The Imperial Palace began to turn a blind eye to the Murim Alliance’s arrogance in a peculiar way.
It was obvious that Seon-il Elder Brother was involved in this genuinely troublesome affair.
“Damn it.”
“What troubles you, sir?”
Lee Pil asked at my reaction, and I exhaled a heavy sigh.
“It seems like a rather complicated situation is about to unfold.”
Still, I couldn’t simply stand by and watch.
If this scheme succeeded, the Murim Alliance’s influence would expand considerably.
For me, who had sworn vengeance against the Murim Alliance, it was an excellent opportunity to disrupt their plans.
Beyond merely thwarting the Murim Alliance’s scheme, I couldn’t allow Seon-il Elder Brother to suffer emotional wounds.
For my Aunt’s sake, if nothing else.
.
.
.
When I arrived home, something felt amiss throughout the residence.
“What’s happened?”
Palgap answered my question promptly.
“It appears that the trading partners we dealt with through the Yeonjun Trading Company have suddenly severed all transactions.”
“…What?”
The ‘evidence’ that Du-jin Prince had mentioned to Seon-il Elder Brother seemed to be precisely this.
In the end, Seon-il Elder Brother had chosen the trading company and family in this situation.
So they’re coming at us this shamelessly?

The next day.
I asked Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior to keep watch over Du-jin Prince.
When night fell, Lee Pil Warrior came to find me.
“He’s finally made his move.”
“Let’s go.”
I immediately followed Lee Pil Warrior.
And I traced the marks that Yeo Eung-am Warrior had left behind.
They were signs that only the Eunpung Corps warriors could recognize.
Soon I was able to meet Yeo Eung-am Warrior.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes.”
“He boarded a boat and headed that way.”
There was a boat on the vast lake. Du-jin Prince was aboard it, heading toward the center.
And from the other side, another boat was approaching Du-jin Prince’s vessel.
There would undoubtedly be a secret conversation between them.
I wanted to hear that conversation, but if we boarded a boat and went there, they would discover us.
Then the secret conversation would be for nothing.
I recalled the water techniques my Master had taught me.
The Taiyin Ice-Sea Transformation Heart Method and the Taiyin Ice-Sea Water Severing Technique.
So… I had to go myself.
I removed my outer robe and handed it to Lee Pil Warrior, saying:
“Please hold this for a moment.”
“What? What are you planning to—”
“I’ll be back shortly.”
I took a deep breath. Then, activating the Taiyin Ice-Sea Transformation Heart Method, I entered the water.
Gradually, my body began to grow cold.
I submerged myself completely beneath the surface.
Then I quietly approached the boat carrying Du-jin Prince and hid behind it.
Shortly after, a boat drew near to that location.
It was a dark night, and since the water technique my Master had taught me was based on the Traceless Step Method, no one detected my presence.
“You’ve come?”
“How did it go?”
“I sufficiently explained our position to Hong Seon-il Prince and warned him as well.”
“If he’s intelligent, he’ll understand. And I sent him the evidence too.”
“Yes, it will proceed according to his wishes. But which name should Hong Seon-il Prince write in his answer this time?”
“Song Chi.”
“According to my information, there were two of them?”
“Go Seong-il will be assisted by someone else.”
After a few more words were exchanged, the boat began to drift away again.
I felt my breath growing short.
It’s about time I headed back.
I quickly made my way back to the lake shore.
“My lord.”
As the warriors rushed toward me, I raised my hand to stop them.
Then I slowly circulated the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art to raise my body temperature, which had dropped precipitously.
“Haah….”
After exhaling fully, I spoke to them.
“Let’s return.”
I was grateful that I had learned the water technique my Master had taught me. Though my body had suffered, I had used it effectively.
And thanks to that, I had uncovered crucial information.
Song Chi.
Go Seong-il.
I committed both names to memory.
Now that I think about it, the name Song Chi sounds familiar from somewhere….
Ah… I remember now.
When the Empress was poisoned, wasn’t Song Chi the name of the official who served as a secretary in the Ministry of Justice?
I remember this because he came directly to our trading company to request cooperation.
I recall he had quite an arrogant demeanor.
During our conversation at the time, I learned that he had passed the imperial examination in the same year as Seon-il Elder Brother and had achieved first place.
What… So he didn’t even pass the examination on his own merits, yet he acted so high and mighty?
And the fact that he belonged to the Ministry of Justice also troubles me.
That means he was in a position to manipulate the culprit when the Empress was poisoned.
Usually, those who achieve first place begin at the Hanlin Academy. But the Ministry of Justice….
There was something he was aiming for.
I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak.

When I returned to my quarters at my Aunt’s Residence, Palgap looked startled and asked.
“My lord! Where on earth have you been, and why are you soaking wet like this?”
“Oh, I went for a swim. It was hot.”
Seeing my expression, Palgap let out a sigh.
As expected, his perception was sharp.
“I shall prepare water for you to wash, sir.”
After I finished bathing and emerged, Palgap spoke.
“Sir, someone came from the Imperial Palace earlier and left.”
“From the Imperial Palace?”
“Yes. An order for you to enter the Imperial Palace tomorrow, sir.”
“Is that so?”
I smiled wickedly.
A method had occurred to me—one that would both vex the Murim Alliance and allow me to conclude this matter cleanly.
.
.
.
The next day.
I headed toward the Imperial Palace.
When I announced my arrival at the palace gates, Eunuch Officials came out to receive me.
“Are you Eun Seo-ho, the Merchant Lord?”
“Yes.”
“Please follow me.”
I followed the Eunuch Official toward where the Emperor was. Since that previous incident, he no longer mocked me as a mere merchant—he now treated me with proper respect.
It felt refreshing.
Thus I arrived at Taihua Hall and paid my respects to the Emperor.
I did not report on the salt monopoly and the wind-measuring device before the ministers.
I had gone directly into the Emperor’s Office.
“I, Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company, bow before Your Majesty, the benevolent Emperor who rules these Central Plains. Long live Your Majesty, long live, ten thousand years!”
As I prostrated myself, the Emperor’s voice soon came.
“Raise your head.”
“I am overwhelmed by your grace.”
I lifted my head. The Emperor’s face came into view.
A year ago or now, his face remained youthful and vigorous.
The current Emperor had been protecting the throne even when I died.
“Yes, I have read the report you provided. The Wuyi Merchant Guild Leader is doing well.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
I presented the report I had prepared in advance.
“There are matters I was unable to record due to my inadequacy as a merchant, Your Majesty.”
“Bring it here.”
At the Emperor’s command, an Eunuch Official took the scroll from me. The Emperor then received it and unrolled it to examine it.
“Hmm….”
The Emperor rolled it back up and placed it on the wooden table as he spoke.
“I understand. I’ll take it into separate consideration.”
At those words, I chuckled inwardly.
The Emperor continued.
“I summoned you because there are several matters I wish to inquire about.”
“Please, ask away, Your Majesty.”
After exchanging several questions and answers, the Emperor asked me something.
“By the way, do you have no leave scheduled?”
“I regret to say that is correct, Your Majesty.”
“Heh, I see. Still, since you’ve come here, do enjoy the feeling of being on leave. In Tae-gam mentioned to me before that the moonlight on Stone Moon Lake in the early hours of the Hai period is quite beautiful.”
“Yes, I shall do so.”
“Then you may withdraw.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I left the Emperor’s office.
.
.
.
That night.
I headed toward Stone Moon Lake.
The additional report I had given the Emperor contained nothing of substance. It merely carried the meaning: ‘I wish to meet privately.’
After reading the report, the Emperor told me he would ‘take it into separate consideration.’
He understood.
And his later remark meant we should meet there.
At Stone Moon Lake in the early hours of the Hai period.
Stone Moon Lake is a body of water situated some distance from the Imperial Palace.
It is called Stone Moon Lake because the moon’s shadow reflects upon it only when the crescent moon rises.
As I stood there briefly, someone approached.
From his face, I recognized him as In Tae-gam, who served the Emperor at close quarters.
“Follow me.”
I followed him without a word and saw a man standing some distance from the lake shore.
Though he wore plain clothes, I could tell who he was.
“Shall I observe proper courtesy?”
“I have no taste for drawing unnecessary attention.”
“I did not know you would move about in disguise.”
“If others learned that you had requested a private audience with me, it would become troublesome. That’s why I wrote it subtly in the report, is it not?”
Truly, he is the Emperor.
His perception was remarkably keen.
“I am curious about why you requested this private audience with me.”
What would the Emperor say when he heard what I had to tell him?
“Your Majesty, I humbly request that you alter the procedures for this examination’s final presentation.”

* * *

Hong Seon-il exhaled deeply.
‘I have to go….’
Today was the day of the final presentation, the last stage of the civil service examination.
He questioned what meaning there was in taking the examination at all.
Even if he went to watch the presentation, he would not be able to demonstrate his true abilities.
It was because of what Du-jin, his old friend of many years, had told him.

“In this final presentation, change the name on your answer sheet. There is someone I serve. That person needs to place someone in the Imperial Palace. And it must be with excellent examination results.”

And the words that followed.

“If you help that person, they will provide great assistance to your Yeonjun Trading Company. But if you refuse, they will destroy the Yeonjun Trading Company in an instant.”

And soon after, when news arrived at the company that a trading partner had severed their business relationship, Hong Seon-il made his decision.
No matter how important conscience was, it could not compare to the company and family.
He rose from his seat.
He had to go to the final presentation to take the proxy examination as they had instructed.

“Have a safe journey.”
“Don’t be too nervous.”
“Don’t burden yourself.”
“Elder Brother! Safe travels!”
Whenever I took examinations in the past, receiving my family’s encouragement had always filled me with such reassurance.
But not today.
Today, my shoulders felt heavy.
My steps felt heavy too.
“Seon-il Elder Brother.”
“…?”
When I looked up, my cousin Eun Seo-ho stood before me.
And beside him stood Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song, whom I had taken as younger brothers.
I had originally planned to leave early, but circumstances had changed, so I decided to stay a bit longer.
“Please achieve good results, Elder Brother.”
“You will achieve good results, Elder Brother.”
At Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song’s encouragement, I silently nodded and gently ruffled their hair.
Then Eun Seo-ho spoke.
“Seon-il Elder Brother, the weather is quite beautiful today, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
The weather was indeed beautiful. I almost wished it would rain instead.
“I have a feeling something good will happen today.”
“Stop your nonsense and go.”
I carefully composed my expression and headed toward the Imperial Palace.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, I went through the necessary procedures and entered the examination hall.
Then I took my assigned seat.
Shortly after, when the Emperor appeared in the examination hall, I quickly rose and bowed respectfully.
The Emperor sat upon his throne and uttered unexpected words.
“This examination will proceed in a different manner than usual.”

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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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