Chapter 4: A Wind Through the Empress’s Palace

“……The Crown Prince has been a difficult child since he was young.

Crown Prince, still, I am your mother.

If parents cannot understand their children, they are worse than strangers.

However, I am sorry that there is not much I can do for you from this position.”

“Once I step down, I trust you will also cease that honorific speech.

That alone is enough for this child.

Please take good care of A-gyeom, Mother Empress.”

With relatively unadorned attire and jewelry, her elegant beauty, undimmed by the passing years, now held an even more austere aura as she sat with dignity.

The Empress, Seonu Ryeonghye, watched her son smile calmly and shook her head.

Both of her children had been mature and thoughtful since childhood, never causing her trouble or worry.

But considering that the imperial family was no ordinary household, even being born brilliant was truly extraordinary.

Seonu Ryeonghye was clearly aware of this fact.

Unless it was a special occasion, she had always treated her children as the Empress of the empire rather than as their mother.

She could not deny being a somewhat indifferent parent.

Nevertheless, as a mother, she could not help but worry about this decision that would completely change her child’s future.

But he was already an adult, and it was his path.

Having watched him build his own world since childhood and walk steadily along it, Seonu Ryeonghye decided to trust and support her son this time as well.

Like her two children, she had no attachment to the throne, so it was a choice she could accept without difficulty.

As if finally setting down a burden she had no choice but to carry, her son’s relaxed, smiling face was unfamiliar even to her.

Seonu Ryeonghye felt a certain relief.

She had come to this position through a meticulously calculated political marriage—a family with a long history but no real power, posing no threat to the imperial authority.

She had fulfilled her duties as Empress of the empire, but there was no personal happiness in it.

Crushed by pressure, she had merely adapted and resigned herself over time.

The emperor’s position, in the end, was both different and the same.

The current emperor had killed his brothers for the throne, but that was ultimately a means of survival, and even after ascending, he was weary with boredom.

Thinking that way, Hyeonwol’s current decision to give up the throne was something to celebrate for the sake of her son’s life.

However, the imperial throne was not merely the successor of a single family; it was an immensely heavy title.

The first in line for the current generation’s succession.

Even if the legitimate eldest son, Hyeonwol, said he would give up the throne, that title would not disappear.

Would the jackals seeking to eliminate threats leave him be?

It was obvious.

Probably until the next emperor ascended—or even after that, Hyeonwol would constantly face threats to his life.

Much more so in the future, when he would retreat to the background like a kite with its string cut, than now, when he had solid power backing him.

“…From now on, the winds will blow even fiercer.

Always take care of yourself, Gyeonghui.”

“I will bear that in mind, so please do not worry.

This child will take his leave now.

Mother Empress, please also take care of your health.

The weather has grown much colder lately.”

At the Empress using his courtesy name as a mother, Hyeonwol’s heart warmed as he was about to offer his final farewell.

A faint presence was felt outside the paper door a short distance away.

He had surely dismissed the attendants.

Tsk.

Before Seonu Ryeonghye could click her tongue softly, eyes with a hue similar to hers curved with a certain meaning.

She narrowed her similarly colored eyes briefly, catching his intention.

Then, as if there was no help for it, she raised her voice slightly and spoke.

“…This is what I wish to say.

Take good care of your health, Crown Prince.

Whatever anyone says, you are the foundation of the nation who will carry it on your shoulders.”

“There will be nothing to worry about, so please do not concern yourself, Your Highness the Empress.”

The reply came in a dry tone, the titles changed as well.

With the son bedridden for a week due to illness and the Empress not visiting him, this first meeting in a week to exchange greetings felt starkly desolate.

Hyeonwol had refused visits to buy time to assess the situation after his regression, but to the world unaware of the reasons, it appeared perfectly as an unfriendly relationship between mother and son.

Of course, this was precisely what the two had intended.

It was necessary to later portray a Crown Prince who had even lost his mother’s support, clearly incapable of recovery.

It would also solidify Hyeon-gyeom’s foundation and reduce the lingering threats to Hyeonwol.

The Empress would gradually draw Hyeon-gyeom closer and naturally shift her support to a different successor.

If she formally adopted Hyeon-gyeom as her son, that would be ideal, but with his own son alive and well, the picture wouldn’t be good.

Continuing his thoughts, Hyeonwol briefly felt a impulse—perhaps in the near future, he could feign death entirely and leave the palace.

The faces of his family quickly surfaced, and he hastily tucked the thought away.

Anyway, while this attitude was relatively similar to the previous Hyeonwol, Seonu Ryeonghye suddenly paused.

Even knowing that Hyeonwol’s somewhat chilly reply was an act mindful of the ears outside, she still did.

She realized she had already grown accustomed to her son’s relaxed demeanor.

Yet even as he spoke in that tone, Hyeonwol’s expression remained as warm and relaxed as before.

Seonu Ryeonghye unconsciously smiled faintly along with him.

Hyeonwol’s eyes widened briefly at that, then he composed his smiling face and turned towards the outside of the Empress’s palace.

Watching his neat retreating figure and the sunlight streaming through the window, Seonu Ryeonghye felt a new wind blowing.

For her son, and for herself.

***

Stepping outside the palace, Hyeonwol took a deep breath of the winter air enveloping him.

In five days, it would be the new year.

It was a time when the inner court would be run ragged preparing for the new year’s ceremonies, but fortunately for Hyeonwol, who had primarily handled military affairs during this period, the year-end settlements were done, and it was a reasonably leisurely time.

Of course, once the new year began and the new year’s banquet ended, things would get busy again.

But with a little time left, he should be able to handle a week’s backlog of work.

As he smiled faintly at Kang Ryun, who had been waiting outside and approached, his guard spoke with a puzzled expression.

“Seonu Hae and His Highness the Second Prince have arrived at the Eastern Palace.

By the way, you seem to be in good spirits, my lord.”

“Hmm?

Ah, well….

How could I not be in good spirits seeing friends I haven’t seen for a long time?

There are other things too, but still.”

At his beaming, smiling face, which was unfamiliar once again, Kang Ryun forced himself to look away.

Please, don’t smile so genuinely like that….

He never imagined he would miss the days of Hyeonwol’s habitual, contrived sneer.

Naturally unaware of Kang Ryun’s inner thoughts, Hyeonwol tilted his head at his guard, who had been pensive lately, and began to walk.

Over the past week, Hyeonwol had appeared to spend most of his time peacefully lying in bed, but he had been constantly racking his brains, reviewing past events pushed to the recesses of his memory and planning for the future.

Forcing himself to set aside the thoughts about state affairs that kept unconsciously springing forward, he had been diligently organizing information related to the martial world.

Just around this time, he recalled that some excellent prey were coming near the capital.

They were deeply connected to the martial world and held suitably high positions there, making them perfect for extracting information.

They were Hyeonwol’s maternal cousin of the same age—Seonu Hae—and the Second Prince, Hyeon-jin, also of a similar age with little difference in their birthdays.

Seonu Doyeong, the Empress’s only brother, was a rare case: a member of the imperial family who had turned his back on politics and made a name for himself among the Ten Great Masters of the orthodox martial world.

It was natural that his son, Seonu Hae, had been connected to various martial arts families and sects since childhood.

And the Second Prince, Hyeon-jin, due to having no power from his maternal relatives, had early on given up his right to succession under the influence of his mother—Consort In—who feared her son would be caught up in bloody affairs.

He had been traveling incognito through the martial world alongside Seonu Hae.

Especially during this period, Seonu Hae, through connections made during his travels, had come to serve the head of the Sichuan Tang Family, a prestigious martial arts family known for poisons and hidden weapons—Poison Star, Tang Ranju—as his adopted mother.

He was essentially rooted in the Tang Family, absorbing their secret martial arts.

Hyeon-jin, who followed him around, had also ended up staying as a guest of the Tang Family.

However, the point was that the new year was approaching, and they too had to attend the new year’s ceremonies.

It couldn’t be a better time to secure their cooperation in the upcoming information war.

For this reason, Hyeonwol had hounded Seonu Hae and Hyeon-jin, who had been dawdling about entering the palace for the new year, with letters, summoning them a full five days early.

The letters’ content was about wanting to see his long-unseen friends quickly, but with him being the Crown Prince, this was essentially a semi-forced command.

Considering how much the two had been enjoying their travels, he didn’t feel particularly sorry.

From now on, we’ll be struggling together, Hyeonwol thought with a dark inward smile as he quickened his pace.

But just as he was about to exit the Empress’s palace grounds.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

Kang Ryun’s voice sounded distant for a moment, and suddenly his vision spun.

Though he staggered a few steps, he managed to steady himself and avoid falling, but he had surely been seen by all the palace maids stationed at the Empress’s palace.

Supported by Kang Ryun, Hyeonwol pressed a hand to his slightly furrowed brow.

He had thought he needed to frequently play the part of a sickly Crown Prince, but faced with the reality that it was no longer an act, he felt a little hollow.

He gently shook off Kang Ryun’s support and stood upright with composure.

“…Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.

I was just a little dizzy….”

Pressing his brow firmly, he glanced sideways to where eunuchs and maids, who had been pretending not to notice him, were exchanging glances.

How many of them were Noble Consort Yu’s people?

Hyeonwol spoke in a low voice, loud enough for only Kang Ryun to hear.

“You know it’s an act, right.

Go along with it when this happens from time to time.

Like you trust your reliable Crown Prince, so you’re not greatly worried, but still a trace of concern shows through….

This is really going to be difficult.

But it’s fortunate you seem to have talent for it, isn’t it?”

At Hyeonwol’s soft chuckle, Kang Ryun let out a groan.

It was questionable whether that even was an act anymore.

“What on earth is my lord… haah.

Never mind.

Anyway, I will try.”

“Good.

Let’s go before Hae and Jin get angry.”

Regaining his calm demeanor, Hyeonwol began walking again.

Exiting the Empress’s palace with smooth steps, he pretended not to notice the faint, metallic taste rising from within.

***

And immediately after.

Hyeonwol felt a sudden wave of fatigue.

He could say with certainty it wasn’t because of his physical condition.

The cause was none other than the two little beasts… puppies? strewn about the Eastern Palace office.

They were already adults, so shouldn’t they be called dogs?

Hyeonwol quickly came to terms with it and looked at his two friends with a smile.

He had always known their personalities well, but watching their antics, which never fit the world’s context, evoked a certain bittersweet nostalgia for the 21st century.

It felt like the homeowner stepping into a mess after inviting two friends over to his place, who then proceeded to have a drinking party and passed out first…

“Ah?

Isn’t that His Highness the Crown Prince?

The person who hurried us to come quickly, then wasn’t even here when we arrived, making his younger brother and cousin wait for an hour, has finally come!

Ahaha!”

“…I apologize, Your Highness.

I tried to stop him, but….”

Hyeon-jin quickly spoke up, trying to clean up Seonu Hae’s outrageous nonsense—it was a wonder his tongue wasn’t twisted.

Of course, he looked just as thoroughly drunk himself.

Hyeon-jin usually took it upon himself to moderately control Seonu Hae’s rampages, but sometimes he would lose his senses along with him… a little.

No, quite often.

It happened frequently.

Behind Hyeonwol, who was silently observing the situation, Kang Ryun wearily pressed his forehead with a familiar gesture.

This kind of behavior from these two was nothing new.

“Since it was getting close to dinner time, we thought we’d have a pre-dinner drink before you, hyung-nim… Your Highness arrived.

We might have overdone it a bit… I apologize.”

“Why are you so stiff with a hyung whose birthday is barely different from yours, Gyeong-chan!

His Highness the benevolent Crown Prince will surely overlook this generously.

No matter what anyone says, we’re meeting after a whole year.”

Unlike Hyeon-jin, who retained enough reason to cautiously watch Hyeonwol’s reaction, Seonu Hae was simply the type who didn’t watch his step in the first place.

It wasn’t that he lacked awareness.

He just didn’t bother.

Hyeonwol laughed ruefully and shook his head.

After all, it was precisely those aspects that made them comfortable and likeable.

In the past, no matter what, he would have scolded them a few times for having a drinking party in the Eastern Palace office.

Now, he didn’t even have the will to do that.

Just seeing a scene he had lost long ago again was something, wasn’t it?

Right, let’s just focus on the positive…

Hyeonwol quietly approached the office desk—surprisingly, the very place Hyeon-jin and Seonu Hae had strewn with liquor bottles and snacks—sat down on a nearby long chair, lifted his legs, and began to take off his shoes.

The three people’s gazes, following Hyeonwol’s actions, filled with puzzlement.

And then, Hyeonwol went so far as to place a nearby cushion under his head and lie down right there, closing his eyes.

The gazes, shifting from puzzlement to embarrassment, began to waver intensely.

Ignoring them, Hyeonwol spoke drowsily.

“Right….

I’ve seen my long-unseen friends’ lively faces, so I’ll sleep a little until dinner.

Wake me when it’s ready….

You two keep drinking comfortably….

Haaah… This body is so exhausted from work, I’m dying of fatigue….”

Watching Hyeonwol breathe comfortably and fall into a deep sleep, Seonu Hae and Hyeon-jin felt their intoxication vanish in an instant.

Their flustered gazes poured onto Kang Ryun.

Had the Crown Prince eaten something wrong?

Kang Ryun was now at the point of being resigned to these reactions.

Even with the young masters’ telepathic messages flying at him, he brazenly pretended not to notice.

In the strange silence, the two, unsure what to do, were about to seriously interrogate Kang Ryun.

But as they started to rise, they were startled by Hyeonwol suddenly sitting bolt upright and froze in place.

Everyone’s attention focused on Hyeonwol again.

Hyeonwol, who had become the center of attention within minutes, picked up a clean cloth near his makeshift bed with a movement that ignored everyone around him.

He brought it to his mouth and coughed something up.

The red substance spreading on the cloth was vivid.

It was an unnaturally sticky blood clot.