Chapter 9: The Silent War and the Emperor’s Collection

The sun was bright, and birds chirped outside the window. Meanwhile, the Princess before him was glaring as if she would tear Song Bi Yeon apart right then and there.

Bi Yeon screamed internally. ‘Somebody save me!’

…Could it be that what the Emperor wanted was the Princess’s character education? If so, Yong Je Hyeon would have been far more suitable. How was he supposed to handle a child who clearly came here only to pick a fight!

Bi Yeon knew people of this sort well, but they were never pleasant to deal with. Moreover, the person sitting in front of him wasn’t just anyone. She was a “Superior” of such magnitude that if she decided to nitpick his words, there would be no end to it.

To be honest, it couldn’t be said that Bi Yeon wasn’t disappointed when he saw a Princess instead of a Prince. This was because he had been mentally sketching a plan to regain power using his new position as a Grand Preceptor of Horyu. To him, the Princess was… a “chicken rib”—something of little value but a waste to discard.

However, Bi Yeon had to prove his excellence to the Emperor through this opportunity. Admit it: he was the one in need. But when the person whose cooperation was essential before even starting acted this way, it became extremely difficult. At this rate, it would only lead to a waste of time. Bi Yeon felt the need to seize the initiative, even if it meant being a bit forceful.

“Am I wrong?”

“You speak so boldly just because you have a mouth. Do you have multiple lives?”

If there was one thing he hadn’t expected, it was that this provocation worked a bit too well. Seeing the veins popping on the Princess’s clenched fist, cold sweat trickled down Bi Yeon’s back. But as always, he maintained a facade of composure.

If he had to pick the most useful skill he’d gained through the storms of life, it would be learning how to hide his thoughts regardless of what was happening inside. Even as he imagined that fist flying into his face, he gathered his courage to add one more thing.

“With all due respect, the reason there is no clause restricting the succession by gender is not because of some great freedom, but because everyone naturally assumes the successor will be a Prince.”

“Shut up! What does a wretch like you know!”

Seeing the Princess’s face turn beet-red, Bi Yeon knew his tactic was a complete success. The Princess was a person whose emotional expressions were more honest than expected. He immediately shifted his tone to a soothing one.

“But unless Your Highness has no interest in the throne, how can you reject the Teacher personally appointed by His Majesty? As a child and a subject, shouldn’t you receive even a stone with joy if it is bestowed by the Emperor?”

Silence.

Having been hit where it hurt, the Princess remained quiet for a moment before letting out a huff.

“Teacher, indeed…. So, are you saying you are the stone?”

“Much better than a stone. I can speak, after all.”

“Crazy…….”

Silence followed for a while. However, a moment later, the Princess—who had maintained a cold and even rude attitude since the moment she entered the room—suddenly straightened her posture and spoke to Bi Yeon.

“……I admit I was rude. I apologize.”

Bi Yeon was even more surprised by the clean apology that flipped like the palm of a hand. He hadn’t expected the Princess to act this way so suddenly, and he found himself stuttering.

“Pardon? No…….”

“You have an excellent talent for grating on one’s nerves. That is something worth learning.”

“…….”

“But it is true that I have no leisure. In exchange for sending you, Imperial Father sent all the teachers I had to the Prince.”

Bi Yeon listened carefully to the Princess’s words and asked a question.

“Pardon me, but how old is the Prince?”

“I am nineteen, and Eun Hwi is eighteen.”

Bi Yeon quickly assessed the situation. A younger brother only one year younger was an incredibly powerful rival in a succession struggle. Perhaps the Princess before him was at a greater disadvantage.

At the same time, Bi Yeon realized a bitter truth. He wasn’t the only one who didn’t welcome the other. The Princess’s position had also become awkward by receiving him. While the “Chancellor of Mokju” was externally packaged as a gift from the Emperor, what if the Emperor actually had other intentions?

Does the Emperor want to build the Princess up? Or does he want to keep her in check?

If he used Bi Yeon as a tool for suppression… that would be extremely unpleasant!

“I see…….”

Did it mean the Emperor thought of him as a half-wit and evaluated him as someone who would clip the Princess’s wings? Moreover, looking at how things were going, the Princess certainly thought so. Realizing this, Bi Yeon felt a surge of stubbornness.

“It is meaningless for us to speculate on His Majesty’s intentions. However, if Your Highness cooperates with me, I will devote my entire being and loyalty to achieving your goals.”

This was a matter of pride. He was the man who had made even the foolish Won Ho reach a mediocre level. Bi Yeon had a goal to survive, and to survive, he first needed power. He had no other choice but the Princess before him. Whatever the Emperor’s intent, he would turn her into a golden rope.

“Since His Majesty gave me this opportunity, I intend to prove my usefulness to him and make him never regret bringing me here.”

Even if the Emperor had attached him as an obstacle, he would surely function as a stepping stone to help the Princess win. The Princess, grasping the hidden meaning at once, narrowed her eyes.

“…Were you not a loyal subject of Mokju? I thought you would hate being treated this way.”

“I am a loyal subject to the one who recognizes my worth.”

At that moment, seeing the Princess’s somewhat dumbfounded face, Bi Yeon realized the words he needed to say. Even if it felt dirty and cheap, he thought it wouldn’t be bad to gain a foothold here.

“……And it would be a great honor if that person were to be Your Highness from now on.”

A brief silence followed. Suddenly, the Princess burst out laughing. Bi Yeon was startled because he hadn’t expected her to laugh.

“My name is Young Eun Su. I’m telling you so you don’t make a mistake elsewhere, so remember it.”

“I shall keep it in mind.”

“To be honest, I had no intention of letting you live.”

Bi Yeon’s eyes shook violently. Was this some kind of Horyu-style joke? He hoped it was a joke. A cramp-like smile formed on Bi Yeon’s face.

“I am glad your mind seems to have changed.”

“I heard your brilliance troubled Imperial Father several times. But to be blunt, I am not interested in battles fought over border lines. Sometimes, a silent war is far more important. Do you understand what I mean?”

It was only then that Bi Yeon let out a sigh of relief. He showed the most relaxed smile from the bottom of his heart since entering the room.

“Your Highness, that is exactly what I have been doing my whole life.”

At that, the Princess gave him a smirk even as she glared.

“Arrogant fellow.”

The Emperor’s office was magnificent. At the very back and center sat a long desk made of jujube wood, with another auxiliary desk on its right and left. Centered on where the Emperor sat, the left side held petitions to be processed, while the right side held those that were finished.

From the distant entrance to the desk, massive display cabinets lined both sides like walls. Upon closer inspection, they contained not only beautiful ceramics and jewels but also taxidermy animals, unremarkable stones, and uniquely shaped broken shells. Anyone seeing it for the first time would surely find the combination puzzling.

The Emperor was processing the mountain of documents on his desk at a rapid pace. He was constantly reading and writing as he spoke to Grand General Su Jae Mun, who had been standing quietly for a while.

“And Yong Je Hyeon’s residence?”

“As you ordered, it has been prepared far from the palace and close to the training grounds. He will not have time for anything other than eating and sleeping.”

“I see.”

Long, thick-knuckled hands picked up a fine brush to fluidly review and comment on each petition. When he held a sword, his hands were like those of a cruel warrior, but when he held a brush, he looked more noble than any scholar. The Emperor asked without taking his eyes off the petitions.

“And Song Bi Yeon?”

“He seems to be getting along well with the Princess.”

“That child stayed quiet?”

“Hmm, besides asserting some discipline on the first day…….”

At those words, the Emperor, who had been busy writing, paused for a moment and let out a chuckle.

“Unless Eun Su has suddenly become foolish, it means she truly is getting along with Song Bi Yeon. Either way, it’s surprising.”

“Why is that, Sire?”

“A man like Song Bi Yeon, who was wholeheartedly loyal to the King of Mokju, wouldn’t get along with the Horyu Imperial Family. He must have another scheme.”

Su Jae Mun looked a bit confused.

“Then why do you keep him near? Did you not say it is best to eliminate future troubles?”

Only then did Young Tae Ryung lift his head. He gave Su Jae Mun a thin smile and said:

“Is it not interesting?”

“Pardon?”

“I have never in my life met a person who broke my strategies three times.”

At those words, Su Jae Mun quietly bowed his head. It seemed the Emperor’s eccentricity—his love for collecting unique and rare things, whether objects or people—was manifesting in this way. Su Jae Mun let out a small sigh, briefly thinking of the pretty-faced genius from the other nation. Then the Emperor spoke again.

“He is also the first person not to yield to bribes or threats. Do you know why he accepted my offer? Because I brought up the safety of his King. Well, thanks to that, I even gained Yong Je Hyeon.”

To be precise, from Young Tae Ryung’s perspective, Yong Je Hyeon was like a common iridescent stone—a bit of a waste to throw away and nice to have. Rare, but not non-existent in Horyu. But Song Bi Yeon was different. He possessed not only a steadfast character but even an appearance that was exceptionally unique.