Chapter 2: The Emperor’s Peculiar Interest

In an instant, Bi Yeon blinked involuntarily and lowered his head.

He immediately felt a sense of humiliation at his own incredibly shallow reflex.

‘Over words like that!’

Song Bi Yeon’s eyes were blue and his hair was a brilliantly shining silver.

Mokju was a city developed around its harbor and had long lived off trade, so it was open to foreigners and possessed a diverse population.

However, even in such a place, Bi Yeon’s blue eyes and silver hair were far from ordinary.

Especially back when his status was lowly, these traits were perfect targets for people to find fault with.

He thought it was all in the past and that he didn’t care anymore, but hearing those words from such an unexpected person caused him to bow his head reflexively.

Shame washed over him, but the Emperor did not give Bi Yeon even a moment to dwell on it.

The man used the tip of his sword to tilt up the chin of the bowed Bi Yeon.

“Was it your scheme to send the soldiers into the Valley of Good and Evil?”

The Valley of Good and Evil was the name of the terrible ravine where Won Ho had secretly sent troops, resulting in massive casualties and today’s ultimate surrender.

Bi Yeon felt a surge of anger, but he managed to steady his breathing and answer.

“It was not.”

“Then what was your plan?”

He could vaguely see the man’s lips curving into a crooked smile.

The man’s voice was pleasantly heavy and smooth.

Bi Yeon felt the unfairness of the situation, but he thought such feelings were a luxury for the defeated.

He spoke as if vomiting out the words.

“……I planned to make it seem as if reinforcements were arriving shortly, so Your Majesty would not think we were surrounded. If I made you believe the path for food and supplies was open and reinforcements were coming, I thought you would abandon the valley operation.”

“The other regions were already in my hands; did you think I would be fooled by that?”

“One only needs to look outside the country, not inside. I assume you are aware that marriage talks for the princesses were being discussed with several nations. I thought it would be enough to hint that neighboring countries had formed a marriage alliance against Horyu.”

“And if I didn’t fall for it?”

“You would have.”

“Why are you so certain?”

Bi Yeon hesitated for a moment before speaking.

But soon, he let it out.

“……Because Your Majesty only fights battles you are certain to win.”

A clear trace of laughter instantly appeared on the man’s face.

Now, Bi Yeon could see him clearly.

Large, piercing eyes, thick eyebrows, and the black hair and black eyes characteristic of Horyu people.

He was a man with a strong set to his jaw.

What was striking was that this formidable man did not seem much older than Bi Yeon himself.

‘So this is the man I’ve only heard of…….’

In that brief moment, Bi Yeon compared Won Ho to this man’s presence and shook his head as if splashed with cold water.

After a while, the Emperor of Horyu withdrew his sword and burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha!”

Because the Emperor burst out laughing so suddenly, everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

The heavily bearded Su Jae Mun was no exception.

As the Emperor’s laughter continued for a long time, Bi Yeon suddenly realized he had answered with more detail than necessary to avoid looking stupid after being provoked by the word prisoner.

This time, true shame flooded him.

After laughing his fill, Young Tae Ryung, the Emperor of Horyu, spoke.

“Hearing that from the person who defeated me three times makes it quite interesting.”

He was no longer laughing when he said this.

“I wasted time and lives on a war for nothing. If I wanted Mokju, I should have sent an assassin to kill you first.”

Bi Yeon felt as if his heart were freezing, unable to tell if it was a joke or a threat.

He barely suppressed his trembling as the Emperor immediately turned around and spoke.

“Lord Won Ho will remain here, and the Lord’s eldest son and daughter shall marry into collateral branches of the Horyu Imperial Family. The rest of the bloodline will be exiled two thousand li away, and the remaining generals and soldiers will be reincorporated into frontier units after testing. Those who excel will be permitted to stay in Geumseong.”

The imperial decree was as expected.

Even a conquered territory needs managers, so locals are used as working-level officials while the victor’s nobles and generals are placed above them.

Since the common people tend to praise whoever is above them as long as their livelihoods aren’t threatened, it was not a bad method.

It was a strategy that could only be executed by someone with immense confidence, administrative ability, and loyal soldiers.

And it was for this reason that Bi Yeon had advised Won Ho to surrender.

They say it’s better to be alive in a field of dog sh*t than to be dead.

The situation wasn’t exactly hopeful, but it was better than dying.

And being a Lord was a better position than he had expected.

‘It’s a relief he wasn’t exiled three thousand li away.’

Now it was Won Ho’s subordinates who had to worry about exile.

However, Bi Yeon had a plan.

If the Emperor was arrogant enough to leave him alive, he would grind his teeth and wait for a future opportunity; if the Emperor tried to kill him, he would swap places with a similar corpse and flee.

Bi Yeon was confident either way.

But then, the Emperor suddenly said something strange.

“And you are coming with me to Geumseong.”

“……?”

Geumseong was the capital of Horyu.

Bi Yeon asked back instinctively.

“What?”

The Emperor’s mocking face was etched into Bi Yeon’s blue retinas.

As Bi Yeon looked up at him with a dazed expression, the Emperor smirked.

“I don’t leave loose ends behind.”

Doesn’t leaving no loose ends mean killing them?

Bi Yeon was so tense that a sharp pain throbbed in his stomach.

Why didn’t the Emperor just kill him with one stroke?

Was he planning a more horrific torture?

As Bi Yeon was led to the Horyu barracks by Su Jae Mun, the enemy general, who had been walking in silence, suddenly looked at him with a gaze of pity once they were away from others.

For someone who had been shouting so thunderously earlier, his tone was surprisingly kind.

“I regret that we meet again like this, but do not offend His Majesty. Isn’t it better for those who survived to stay alive? I am also someone who suffered quite a bit because of you, Chancellor, but I believe it would be a loss if you were to die.”

“…….”

Bi Yeon had nothing to say and simply stared at him.

Su Jae Mun, perhaps thinking Bi Yeon was taking his words to heart, quickly shoved him into a tent, sat him on a portable chair, and leaned in to whisper.

“No matter what His Majesty says, just say yes, yes, and you won’t die. Do you understand?”

Bi Yeon felt a bit offended that this man who looked like a bandit was talking to him as if soothing a child.

Furthermore, having that bushy-bearded face so close was somewhat overwhelming.

When General Su had come to Mokju as a diplomatic envoy, he had only exchanged a few formal greetings before getting straight to the point, so Bi Yeon hadn’t realized he was such an approachable person.

But right now, he seemed to be trying to coax and humor Bi Yeon.

Even if Bi Yeon had only lived half as long as Su Jae Mun, this was a bit rude.

Bi Yeon frowned involuntarily and asked.

“Do you have time for such idle chatter?”

When Bi Yeon gave him the cold shoulder, Su Jae Mun looked embarrassed.

“I don’t. I must head out as well.”

He said that, thought for a moment, and then spoke again.

“Ah, but before I go, I’m sorry, but please forgive me for this.”

Before Bi Yeon could ask what there was to forgive, Su Jae Mun pulled a long cloth from his sleeve and wrapped it around Bi Yeon’s mouth without warning.

“Wha—mph?!”

In an instant, he was gagged.

As Bi Yeon glared with his blue eyes in indignation, Su Jae Mun spoke.

“It would be troublesome if you bit your tongue and died.”

Mmmmph—?!

With his upper and lower lips forced apart, Bi Yeon protested in slurred sounds and rattled the handcuffs on his forward-bound hands.

He was demanding to know why he was being gagged when he was already handcuffed.

Su Jae Mun understood Bi Yeon’s meaning but simply raised an eyebrow as if troubled and changed the subject.

“I will untie it when it’s time to eat.”

Su Jae Mun babbled about things Bi Yeon hadn’t even asked and then vanished.

Left alone in an instant, Bi Yeon snorted in disbelief before sliding his body down against the back of the chair.

He was in a wretched state.

Noisy sounds drifted in from outside the tent, but he couldn’t think of anything right now.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t imagined a situation where he might be taken prisoner, but he hadn’t expected it to actually happen.

Horyu had already annexed four neighboring countries.

However, he had never heard of a common official, rather than royalty, being taken directly to the Imperial Capital.

For Bi Yeon, it was a relief, if one could call it that, that he had turned his back on his parents long ago and had no wife or children.

‘Bi Yeon……!’

His mouth felt bitter whenever he thought of Won Ho’s face, which had looked at him as if the world were ending just a moment ago.

If he had a family, he probably would have had to see that face several more times.

A long shadow cast on the tent fabric sighed and slumped over.

He had no information, nothing.

Bi Yeon realized there was nothing he could do right now.

And just like that, he leaned over the table and closed his eyes.