Chapter 6: The Fox and the Bear

At those words, Bi Yeon and Je Hyeon’s expressions crumpled simultaneously. Bi Yeon clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘”Rebels” is a bit much, isn’t it? If we’re being technical… the real rebels are those bastards standing behind you.’

Bi Yeon spotted several familiar faces in the rows behind the eunuch. Men who had been in the royal court of Mokju were now naturally wearing Horyu’s official robes. All of them were nobodies who had ranked far below Bi Yeon when he was Chancellor. If he had played his cards right and followed the trend of the times, their positions might have been swapped. Just as Bi Yeon was feeling a twinge of regret while lost in thought, a heavy blow struck the back of his knees.

“Ugh!”

Bi Yeon collapsed into a kneeling position. The sudden impact of his kneecaps hitting the floor was so painful that tears nearly welled up. Immediately after, Je Hyeon’s massive frame hit the floor with a heavy thud. Someone had kicked the back of their knees because they hadn’t knelt immediately.

Je Hyeon glared with a murderous intensity, yet he immediately moved to support Bi Yeon.

“Chancellor! Are you alright?”

“Yes, I am fine—”

But it was then.

“……Chancellor? To whom are you referring?”

A chilling bass voice drifted down from above.

Je Hyeon and Bi Yeon, who had been holding onto each other’s arms while slumped over, looked up at the same time. Someone was slowly stepping out from the darkness ahead. Simultaneously, dozens of officials in the hall bowed their waists, creating a sound like a wave of rustling silk.

The man, looking languid, seemed different from the fierce figure seen on the battlefield. A dragon embroidered with gold thread on a black background decorated his chest and back, its five claws clutching a jewel and its mouth agape. With every step the man took, the golden seas and the dragon of the heavens seemed to dance toward Bi Yeon. The aura of one who reigns over the world overwhelmed the assembly with terrifying pressure.

The Emperor, Young Tae Ryung, walked slowly and stopped exactly in front of Bi Yeon. He looked at Je Hyeon, who was still holding onto Bi Yeon with both hands, and asked:

“General Yong, did you just call Song Bi Yeon ‘Chancellor’? But of where exactly? The Chancellor of Horyu is not this man.”

“Th-that is……!”

Startled by the abrupt question, Yong Je Hyeon even began to stutter.

“Your Majesty.”

“I questioned General Yong.”

Bi Yeon tried to intervene, but the Emperor didn’t listen. Je Hyeon’s face turned bright red. Technically, Yong Je Hyeon had also been brought as a prisoner, yet the Emperor addressed him as “General” while speaking down to Song Bi Yeon by his name. The young martial officer seemed not to know how to navigate such a pitfall. In an instant, Bi Yeon shook off Je Hyeon’s arm, adjusted his posture, and bowed his head low.

“Please forgive the insolence.”

“Ch-Chancellor…”

“General Yong!”

With his forehead pressed to the ground, Bi Yeon turned his head just enough to glare at Je Hyeon. ‘I told you repeatedly in the carriage! Watch your mouth! Are you trying to rush your own execution by inviting a charge of contempt?’ The person who causes trouble and the person who receives the blame are rarely the same. At this moment, Bi Yeon was certain he was the latter.

Then the Emperor spoke.

“Lift your head.”

He thought for a moment and then addressed Bi Yeon with a new title.

“……Teacher Song.”

Then, he let out a short, scoffing chuckle. Bi Yeon’s face burned. “Teacher” was a general term used for those without an official rank. Normally, a person teaching the imperial descendants would be granted the title of Grand Preceptor (太師), but the Emperor clearly had no intention of going that far. Sure enough, Yong Je Hyeon’s face turned various shades of red and purple, feeling that Bi Yeon had been insulted. Although Bi Yeon wasn’t exactly pleased either, he lifted his head quickly and answered before Je Hyeon could spout more nonsense.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Song—!”

Je Hyeon, caught in an awkward position where calling him “Chancellor” was dangerous and “Teacher” felt wrong, bit his lip in frustration. Bi Yeon saw the Emperor smirk. It was a blatant sneer.

The Emperor’s voice, echoing through the vast hall, was deep and heavy, possessing a dignity that commanded everyone’s attention.

“Everyone here knows that I spare no effort in gathering talent.”

Song Bi Yeon sat kneeling beside Yong Je Hyeon, listening as quietly as a lamb led to the slaughter. Yong Je Hyeon seemed somewhat dazed, perhaps shocked that he had just been so pressured by the Emperor’s aura that he couldn’t bring himself to call Bi Yeon “Chancellor.” For Bi Yeon, the silence was a relief.

“What does it matter if we were born in different places or crossed blades across borders? What matters is that everyone in this room, regardless of their origin, has become a person of Horyu.”

Not even the sound of breathing could be heard in the hall. The atmosphere, a mix of fear and respect, was palpable. The Emperor’s words carried two meanings: the homelands of those born elsewhere had already been destroyed, and the capable among them had turned traitor to live enviable lives here.

As he spoke, Emperor Young Tae Ryung glanced at the two trophies kneeling before him with a satisfied smile. Placed side by side, they looked exactly like a silver fox and a bear. The Emperor preferred those with bamboo-like integrity over those who bowed too easily. Furthermore, they were capable.

Such individuals were rare, yet he had secured two this time. The joy of having such men eventually entrust their lives to him and submit was the greatest pleasure a ruler could enjoy. The Emperor looked at the tanned man kneeling before him and spoke briefly.

“I appoint Yong Je Hyeon as General of the Guard (衛將軍) and charge him with the defense of the Imperial Palace.”

The moment his name was called, Je Hyeon lifted his head slightly. He seemed to have finally snapped out of his daze. After a brief silence, he replied.

“……The Imperial grace is boundless.”

His voice sounded as if he were speaking through clenched teeth. However, Je Hyeon suddenly added:

“However.”

“However?”

“I have a condition.”

Young Tae Ryung snorted. Bi Yeon, sitting next to Je Hyeon, looked at his fellow countryman in horror, thinking the man had gone mad. To be honest, the Emperor’s appointment was shockingly generous. With all due respect to Je Hyeon, this was essentially a promotion compared to his rank in Mokju.

While it was true he was the heir to a prestigious family with famous ancestors, Je Hyeon didn’t have particularly noble blood or powerful connections. If Mokju hadn’t fallen, he might never have reached the rank of supreme commander.

But the position of General of the Guard in Horyu was different. Though it sounded like a mere bodyguard, this second-rank position was a direct path to success. Depending on one’s performance, one could become a feudal lord guarding the borders or the commander of the Imperial Guards protecting the throne itself. Of course, it would be difficult for someone from a conquered nation to lead the Imperial Guards, but with his skills, a comparable position was practically guaranteed. For a young general who would have withered away in Mokju like a hollow shell, infinite possibilities had opened up.

‘And you dare to set a condition?’

Bi Yeon recalled how he had nearly bitten his tongue out of gratitude when the Emperor said he would use him for his child’s education. ‘Was I lacking in dignity?’ But that couldn’t be it. Bi Yeon was a man who survived by his wits. He knew when to step in and when to back off, and he knew where the line was in a disadvantageous situation.

Bi Yeon changed his line of thought and reconsidered if Yong Je Hyeon was truly that remarkable.

‘……Maybe I should have stayed on closer terms with him?’

“……Please keep the promise you made that day,” Je Hyeon said with an unwavering posture.

Bi Yeon didn’t know what promise he had made with the Emperor, but suddenly the man looked impressive. Here Bi Yeon was, without a single official rank, being called “Teacher,” while this stubborn bastard had the guts to set conditions even after being given a post in the Capital’s primary defense. He must have something to lean on.

Bi Yeon felt a bit embarrassed remembering how he had told Je Hyeon to be grateful earlier because he got to ride in the carriage. Perhaps it was Song Bi Yeon who should have been the grateful one.

Then the Emperor, laughing softly, asked:

“Are you referring to your request to protect Teacher Song from a close distance?”

Bi Yeon’s jaw dropped. In his sheer bewilderment, he blurted out, interrupting the conversation.

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“……It seems the friendship between General Yong and Teacher Song is quite exceptional.”

At the Emperor’s pointed remark, Bi Yeon quickly gathered his wits and shook his head. ‘Ah, this is the problem.’

Yong Je Hyeon says all the things he wants to say, but Song Bi Yeon is the one who pays the price in animosity. Bi Yeon instantly returned to his usual calm, cold demeanor and spoke.

“General Yong, you do not need to worry about me.”

“Chan—Teacher, you do not realize what a dangerous position you are in.”

‘The thing making me most “in danger” right now is you.’