Chapter 5: An Unexpected Visit

“So skinny, look at him.”

“That’s why you should eat properly.”

The comments continued one after another. It was warm-hearted meddling. Grateful yet embarrassed, Moon Hae-min quickly changed the subject.

“By the way… does something like this happen often?”

“What do you mean? A public execution?”

“…Yes.”

“Oh, it happens from time to time. His Highness the Grand Prince kills scoundrels outright.”

“That’s no exaggeration. He really means it, kills them!”

The crowd spoke with clear satisfaction. But Moon Hae-min felt slightly uneasy.

It wasn’t that he pitied the criminal. Someone who committed a capital crime deserved death.

But wasn’t it a problem if someone were executed for a crime that wasn’t quite deserving of death?

‘Usually they wouldn’t go as far as a public execution for a charge like that.’

As far as Hae-min knew, officials caught committing corruption were typically flogged, demoted, or dismissed.

Besides, falsifying ledgers to pocket money was a fairly common offense. It wasn’t commendable, but neither was it unusual. Yet to publicly execute a magistrate for it…

“It seems His Highness the Grand Prince has a very strict temperament.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Of course.”

“He never forgives those who commit crimes. No matter how high their status.”

“He’s as straight as a bamboo pole.”

For some reason, hearing that sent a chill down Moon Hae-min’s spine.

He wasn’t even a criminal.

But then it struck him, he was committing a crime.

He was deceiving Prince Byeokran by pretending to be Moon Hui-yul. If that wasn’t a crime, what was? He was a criminal.

‘…Then he wouldn’t forgive me either.’

If the truth were discovered, there would certainly be terrible consequences. All he could hope for was that before that happened, Song Seol would send “Moon Hee-yul” back to Hanseong.

****

That day, the atmosphere at the Songdo Provincial Office was as tense as thin ice.

The mood of Prince Byeokran was extremely foul.

For a magistrate to falsify records and satisfy his own greed, it was outrageous enough in itself. What angered him even more was that no one had noticed until matters had grown so serious.

Whether no one had realized the corruption, or they had noticed but kept silent, he did not know.

The latter would be worse, but the former was hardly better. If that were the case, it simply meant incompetence.

And in Song Seol’s view, there was no shortage of incompetence.

There were no capable people.

No one both upright in character and skilled in ability.

In truth, Song Seol didn’t even expect that much. Even if someone’s character was somewhat lacking, it would be enough if they simply performed their duties well.

Yet lately, even such people were hard to find.

Especially among the officials, far too many were inept at arithmetic.

What use was being good with words if they stumbled the moment numbers grew large?

Soon they would have to exchange diplomatic gifts with the Kingdom of Geum-o. If things continued like this, he doubted the counting and preparation would even be finished on time.

‘Songdo has so many people… so why are there so few capable ones?’

Lost in such thoughts, a faintly angry pheromone scent drifted from Song Seol.

The officials who could sense it moved cautiously. Even those who could not smell pheromones were perceptive enough to read the mood, and they kept silent like mice.

Then suddenly, a man’s voice drifted through the window.

“Isn’t it truly magnificent handwriting?”

“It is, certainly. But praising something copied from cheap novels as calligraphy…”

“No, no! The form of the writing matters, what does the content matter?”

“…Doesn’t the content matter as well?”

“I’m telling you it doesn’t! This handwriting surpasses even the finest calligraphers’ albums!”

The man’s voice grew louder.

“They say handwriting reveals a person’s character. So this copyist must surely have an excellent temperament. And do you know how brilliantly he adds annotations?”

“How would I know?”

“He must be very learned. I can tell just by looking at the writing.”

The longer the conversation went on, the more nervous the other officials became.

Yoon Seung-hyuk… that fool obsessed with calligraphy!
What good is recognizing great handwriting if he has no sense of the situation?
What if the prince becomes even angrier because of him?

Sure enough, Prince Byeokran spoke.

“Nak-hee.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Bring Yoon Seung-hyuk.”

“At once.”

Kim Nak-hee, the prince’s aide, left the office thinking that the prince would surely scold Yoon Seung-hyuk for his careless chatter.

But his expectation was completely wrong.

Instead of reprimanding him, the prince asked abruptly,

“Tell me about that copyist.”

“So Your Highness is interested in fine calligraphy as well!”

Oblivious as ever, Yoon Seung-hyuk brightened and began explaining.

“It was about fifteen days ago. I happened to visit a lending bookshop and discovered incredibly beautiful handwriting. I asked if they sold calligraphy scrolls, but they said they did not. So, regretting it greatly, I borrowed every book that copyist had transcribed.”

“Is that the book in your hands?”

“Yes. Would you like to see it?”

Yoon Seung-hyuk respectfully offered the book.

Flip.

Song Seol turned the pages.

“…”

The paper was worn thin from many hands.

Yet the writing upon it was elegant.

The strokes flowed freely yet remained precise and refined. It was easy to see why a collector like Yoon Seung-hyuk coveted it.

“This is not the handwriting of a mere copyist.”

“He does not seem like an ordinary person.”

Yoon Seung-hyuk spoke more seriously now.

“The shop owner says the man teaches children to read for free. That suggests he has little interest in money. Yet apparently he’s very good with calculations as well, adds and subtracts like he has an abacus in his head.”

“…”

“Oh, and they say he’s as handsome as white jade. Though I haven’t seen his face myself.”

That last piece of information was useless.

Still, Song Seol had grown interested in the copyist.

Returning the book, he asked,

“Where is this lending bookshop?”

****

“Ugh, it’s freezing.”

The weather was bitterly cold.

Moon Hae-min had already thought Songdo cold when he first arrived, yet it had somehow grown even colder. It was truly a harsh winter.

‘Once I’ve saved enough money, I’ll buy a padded coat first. A thick one.’

Hae-min did own an outer robe, but it was useless against the biting wind. He imagined wearing something thick like a quilted coat, a fur hat pulled down over his head, and even a scarf wrapped tightly around his neck.

He mentally calculated his savings.

If he combined the money he had brought with what he had earned from copying books, he could afford one padded coat.

‘Though I should repay what I borrowed first.’

The writing materials he had borrowed from Song Seol still weighed on his mind. Until he repaid that debt, he could not bring himself to buy even a pair of socks, let alone a winter coat.

“Brr…”

Another gust of wind struck him, this one especially vicious.

Hurrying his steps, Moon Hae-min made up his mind.

Even if he had to spend his emergency savings, he would buy writing supplies soon and repay the debt. After that, he would buy a padded coat.

Otherwise, he doubted he could survive the long winter ahead.

‘Fortunately, I’ve been earning money fairly well…’

Much of that was thanks to the bookshop owner. Thinking of the generous pay he received for copying texts, Hae-min felt grateful as he pushed open the shop door.

“Good morni-”

Moon Hae-min froze mid-greeting.

The shop was filled wall to wall with books. The air smelled faintly of ink, dust drifting through the dim light.

And standing in the center like a towering pillar was a large man.

It was Song Seol.

“…”

Just as Moon Hae-min recognized him, Song Seol recognized Moon Hae-min.

Dark eyes, sharp as if drawn with a brush, swept over him.

“…Greetings, Your Highness.”

Quickly regaining his composure, Hae-min bowed.

From the corner came a startled voice.

“Y-Your Highness…?”

Turning his head, Hae-min saw the bookshop owner, his face pale with confusion and fear. It seemed he had not realized the visitor was Prince Byeokran.

‘Though I’m not sure he came here as a customer…’

Hae-min had a strong feeling Song Seol’s visit was not unrelated to him.

His body trembled like when the cold wind had struck him earlier, but he forced himself to ask calmly,

“Your Highness, what brings you here?”

“I am looking for someone.”

“Who might that be?”

Song Seol’s gaze shifted.

Hae-min realized he was staring at his hands, or rather, at the book he was holding.

“A certain copyist.”

“…”

“Give it to me.”

Song Seol extended his hand.

From between the folds of his dark green robe emerged a large, steady hand.

Moon Hae-min looked at it silently.

He didn’t want to. Truly, he didn’t want to.

But refusing was impossible.

“…Here.”

Moon Hae-min handed over two books.

One was borrowed from this shop.

The other… was one he had copied himself.