Chapter 54: Sweeping Dust

The Emperor asked the man a few more questions before dismissing him.

As the fisherman departed, carefully clutching his coin pouch, the horses set off once more.

The Emperor let out a sinister laugh from behind, making the hair on the back of Haeryeong’s neck stand on end.

He spoke in a fierce voice to Seok-hwan, who was following behind them.

“It seems the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Public Works have decided to openly ignore my words.”

“Seok-hwan, seize the Minister of Public Works and the High General.”

“Ensure they are detained so they can be interrogated as soon as we return.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Inform the Office of the Inspector General to collect the ledgers of all six ministries for an audit.”

“Instruct the Vice-Chief of the Inspectorate to investigate every single detail.”

“Let us take this opportunity to tear them out by the roots.”

While Seok-hwan moved back slightly to relay the orders to the other Black Shadow members, the Emperor rested his chin on Haeryeong’s shoulder.

“There is so much dust flying about in the court that I intend to do some cleaning before the Founding Festival.”

Haeryeong was not surprised.

The Emperor had been a man skilled in the politics of fear from the very beginning.

While it might not have much of an impact on the commoners, the Imperial Palace was thrown into an uproar every time the Emperor decided to wield his broom.

During the seven years Haeryeong had lived in the palace, such chaos had occurred at least twice.

Since he was originally unable to interfere in court matters, Haeryeong had only heard the rumors Iryeon picked up after the fact.

Every time, he had been afraid of him.

Even when he still harbored some shred of affection for the man, that fear had remained.

That was why he had been the first to step forward and prostrate himself for forgiveness when there was a problem with Yeonseo’s tribute.

In the end, he was forgiven, but even then, the Emperor had attached conditions.

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth once more.

At any rate, a bloodbath would likely ensue within a few days.

It was most bitter to realize that the Emperor’s cleaning was only just beginning.

Despite it being a matter that had little to do with him, his heart pounded with unease.

How had the Noble Consort managed to share a bed with such a man for all those years?

Was he not afraid of the Emperor?

Haeryeong thought of this even while knowing how tender the man was with the Consort.

Given how the Emperor acted when he pestered Haeryeong, his behavior toward the Consort was likely not much different.

But would the Emperor truly trust and forgive everything just because it was the Consort?

Looking at his recent actions, it was clear that was not the case.

Whatever the trigger, the Consort was slowly being pushed out of the Emperor’s favor.

One could tell just by looking at how the Emperor no longer set foot in the Consort’s Palace, which he used to visit until the threshold was worn down.

Instead, seeing him frequent the Empress’s Palace constantly, it seemed that the favor, which existed in name only, was indeed shifting bit by bit.

‘Sigh.’

Haeryeong let out a deep groan despite himself and furrowed his brow where the man could not see.

He did not even desire such favor.

What use was it to receive such a burdensome and fickle affection?

The Emperor would surely move on to another place whenever the opportunity arose.

Back then, he hadn’t known what kind of man he was, so he had actually envied the Consort who received his favor.

But now, he knew better.

Like a migratory bird, the Emperor would search for things that caught his fancy and fly away again someday.

He could not live by holding onto something so uncertain.

The Emperor was a man who would point a blade at Haeryeong’s throat at any given chance.

‘So, Haeryeong, you must not be deceived, no matter how tender he pretends to be.’

Haeryeong steeled his heart once again.

He etched it deeply into his mind that “what is good is good” was a phrase that only benefited the Emperor.

He vowed to remind himself over and over again, lest he become intoxicated by the man’s tenderness once more.

Bleeding from the heart after being betrayed by trust was an experience that only needed to happen once.

He would never trust the Emperor again.

He would never expect anything from him again.

Haeryeong gripped the pommel of the saddle with both hands, making a silent vow to himself repeatedly.

“Why do you sigh so?”

The Emperor, having heard Haeryeong’s lament, asked quietly.

“Your servant was merely worried that Your Majesty might be troubled by this matter.”

At the flatly spoken words, the Emperor squeezed his arm around Haeryeong’s waist with delight.

Covering Haeryeong’s back with his broad chest, he leaned in and whispered in his ear.

“I may be busy for a few days.”

“Still, I promise to seek out the Empress during mealtimes whenever possible.”

Haeryeong turned his head to meet his gaze.

There truly seemed to be a picture-perfect tenderness hidden in his eyes.

Haeryeong swallowed hard at the soft and affectionate gaze, which made it seem as if the man actually loved Lee Haeryeong.

“Are you being truthful?”

“What profit would there be for me to make a false promise like that?”

“Empress, looking at you, it seems you do not have even this much trust in me.”

“It seems Your Majesty constantly forgets that I have lost my memory.”

“Is it not only natural, considering it has barely been a month since your servant first beheld Your Majesty?”

The Emperor let out a chuckle and gave him a brief kiss.

“I have said that time is not what matters in the affection or trust between a husband and wife.”

“We share a bed every night and eat every meal together; if there is still no trust after all that…”

The Emperor grumbled with a feigned sense of neglect.

“And I told you not to call me that.”

Haeryeong let out a small laugh at his following words.

Since he was already addressing himself as “your servant,” what did it matter whether he called him “His Majesty” or “Your Imperial Majesty”?

As Haeryeong laughed, the Emperor’s expression became subtle.

Haeryeong turned his head back to the front, his neck stiff from looking behind.

Conscious of the Emperor’s intense gaze against his ear, Haeryeong began to sing softly.

“While taking a stroll on horseback by the river’s mouth,”

“My husband draws near and whispers into my ear.”

“He says there is no affection, nor trust, between the pair.”

“Oh, what am I to do?”

“I have yet to hear even a single word of love,”

“So how could trust ever spring forth from within?”

Hearing Haeryeong’s song, the Emperor laughed heartily.

Haeryeong had expected him to be angry, but he actually accepted this level of insolence.

Haeryeong secretly stroked his chest and swallowed a sigh of relief.

“Your words are correct.”

“I have yet to offer you a proper word of love.”

He spoke as he slightly increased the horse’s speed.

“But is the time not yet right?”

“For you have also forgotten all about the way you used to love me.”

Haeryeong felt relieved by his excuse.

What use would there be in receiving words of love that were neither sincere from the speaker nor desired by the listener?

“Your servant shall look forward to that day.”

“Let us do that.”

As they rode a bit further, the embankment construction work came into view.

Perhaps they had been widening the river beforehand, as earthen banks were exposed in various spots along the downstream stretch.

The construction site was in the middle of a busy operation, hauling and stacking stones in those areas.

The Emperor stopped the horse and dismounted, extending a hand to Haeryeong.

“I intend to meet with some officials before we leave.”

“Why do you not step down and rest for a moment?”

“I shall do so.”

Haeryeong ignored the offered hand and gripped the pommel to dismount on his own.

His thighs, which had been overworked from gripping the horse’s torso for so long, shivered violently.

Only then did his buttocks begin to ache as if they were breaking.

Seeing Haeryeong standing safely by the horse, the Emperor headed down with a few Black Shadow members.

Haeryeong took a water bottle from Han Su-yong, who had come to stand beside him, and wetted his throat.

“Nureongi. You worked hard running today. Have some water.”

As Haeryeong cupped his palm and poured water from the bottle, Nureongi whinnied and bobbed its head happily.

While Nureongi’s muzzle twitched as it sucked up the water, Haeryeong tilted the bottle further.

The small bottle was empty in an instant.

Nureongi seemed quite unsatisfied, but appeared refreshed nonetheless after wetting its throat.

When Haeryeong patted the horse’s neck, the animal let out a loud whinny and approached with teeth bared.

Snap.

He barely dodged the horse as it tried to give him a hard nip.

“Nureongi. I have told you several times that you must not do that.”

No matter how much he scolded it, Nureongi simply stared at Haeryeong with its round eyes wide open.

The frustration of being unable to communicate with the beast was equal to that of dealing with the Emperor.

Haeryeong turned his head at a strange sound from Han Su-yong, who was watching from the side.

Su-yong was covering his mouth and laughing, but quickly removed his hand and bowed when their eyes met.

“Your Highness, do you truly think a mere animal can understand such words?”

Haeryeong looked back at Nureongi and stroked its neck.

“Just as humans who speak the same language do not always understand one another, it is not as if animals who cannot speak are entirely incapable of understanding.”

“If I keep this up, the day will surely come when this fellow understands my words.”

“Will it not, Nureongi?”

Nureongi let out a snort and pawed at the ground.

The way it bobbed its head seemed like an affirmative answer, bringing a smile to Haeryeong’s face.

“Yes, yes. You agree with me, do you not?”

As Haeryeong patted the horse, the excited animal thrust its nose forward.

‘Do you want to be touched?’

He gripped the jaw and gently stroked the bridge of the nose; unlike usual, the horse accepted the touch obediently.

“Good. You are a good horse.”

“Nureongi, it seems you are finally maturing a bit.”

“I thought you were nothing but wild, yet you know how to be still.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Nureongi shoved Haeryeong with its nose.

The horse was incredibly strong.

Haeryeong, whose legs were already weak, could not withstand the force and was pushed back two steps.

Neigh!

The horse seemed to be laughing with its lips fluttering, which was quite spiteful.

The animal stomped its hooves and tossed its head frantically, making his previous praise seem utterly misplaced.

Haeryeong gave up on calming Nureongi and turned his gaze toward the surroundings.

Stepping two more paces away from the horse toward the beginning of the civilian houses, he saw rows of shabby thatched roofs.

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