They had withdrawn into themselves because supporting the Emperor might get them killed as well, and they consoled themselves by supporting the Empress instead of the Emperor.
“Shouldn’t you be loyal to His Majesty and work for His Majesty’s sake?”
“His Majesty is in poor health and cannot manage state affairs. That is why we are discussing the succession. What, exactly, is so wrong about that?”
“This is about setting the foundation of the nation straight. Nothing is more important than this!”
“Not your own ambitions?”
“You bastard! Are you trying to mock us?”
“Do you think you’ll be safe after insulting us?”
“You became top scorer once, and now you’re full of yourself!”
They clenched their fists and trembled with rage. Jeok Wigang gave a small laugh and said,
“Keep this up and you’ll hit me, won’t you? What is this? Are you scholars, or just a gang of thugs?”
“Do not speak recklessly just because you have a mouth! We can drive you out this instant!”
“A mere official is going to drive out someone His Majesty personally appointed?”
“That is the power of our Hanlin Academy!”
“I have no intention of leaving. And His Majesty won’t have any intention of driving me out either.”
“Fine! Let us see how long you can keep that neck of yours held so stiffly!”
After saying so in furious voices, they all left the room at once.
The only one who remained was Ouyang Hu.
Ouyang Hu did not know what to do.
Among those who had sharpened their blades against Jeok Wigang and fought with him had been his own older brother.
“Don’t worry. I won’t kill him.”
That made it even more frightening.
“Please go easy on him. Big Brother.”
“I told you not to worry. I’ll handle everything. Still, consider yourself lucky. Since all they did was flap their mouths, I only dealt with them with words. It would’ve been great if one of them had thrown a punch, but they never did until the very end. Their patience was impressive, at least.”
The sight of Jeok Wigang saying that with a grin was terrifying.
“Keep my identity secret from your brother. You know what happens if you talk, right?”
“Yes.”
After answering, Ouyang Hu hurried out after his brother.
*****
A chill hung over the imperial palace lecture hall.
The Emperor sat on a silk-cushioned chair, looking down at the Hanlin Academy scholars.
“What is the matter? All of you seem displeased.”
“Your Majesty! This subject dares to make a report!”
“Speak.”
“Please dismiss Jeok Wigang, who passed as top scorer, at once!”
“What is this about? If you mean Jeok Wigang, is he not the man to whom I personally awarded first place?”
“His writing may be excellent, but his conduct is improper, and he shows no respect whatsoever toward his superiors! To govern the nation, one must first set the household in order. Please cast out the one who disturbs that household and set it right!”
“What did he do to make you say this?”
“He hurled words at us that we cannot even bear to put in our mouths!”
“Then what, precisely, were those words you cannot even bear to put in your mouths?”
“That, that is...”
How could they possibly say it in front of the Emperor?
“They were improper and private matters, so it is right that Your Majesty not hear them!”
“It does not matter. Say them. I will listen and judge.”
“Your Majesty!”
“That is an imperial order.”
The Hanlin Academy scholars were flustered by Zhu Seogi’s firm manner.
They were even more flustered because he had never once shown them this side of himself before.
“What is wrong? Were you not always telling me? You told me to stand proud at all times. I think I shall try living that way from now on. Now, hurry and tell me. I must hear what he said, and how he said it, for all of you to come rushing here like this.”
How were they supposed to say it?
What Jeok Wigang had told them was that they should give their loyalty to the Emperor.
If they said they were trying to drive him out because they disliked that, what would the Emperor think?
He would protect Jeok Wigang even more.
“He spoke ill of Your Majesty.”
At someone’s words, the scholars looked at him in shock.
Because that was a lie.
“He said Your Majesty has no power, is dragged around by the ministers, and is even sickly, so the appointment of the Crown Prince should be settled quickly in order to stabilize the nation. This can never be forgiven. His official post must be stripped from him, and he must be punished for insulting Your Majesty.”
At his words, the Emperor smiled and said,
“Judging by the reactions of the other scholars, what you say does not seem to be true. I shall ask the rest of you. Is what that scholar said true?”
None of them could answer easily. They only watched one another’s faces.
Then the scholar who had just spoken rose from his seat and said boldly,
“Are you doubting your subjects now? It is said that a loyal subject withdraws when his remonstrance is not accepted. If Your Majesty refuses to accept this subject’s remonstrance, then this subject shall withdraw.”
“That sounds rather like you are threatening me.”
“Your Majesty’s words are utterly undeserved.”
“I shall give you my decision. I have no intention of stripping Jeok Wigang of his post. On the contrary, I intend to give him a higher office and keep him by my side, so know that.”
“Your Majesty! If you keep him at your side, we fear you will be played by that wicked three-inch tongue of his! Please accept your subjects’ request!”
“A wicked three-inch tongue... Then let me ask you this. Am I the Emperor right now?”
“Your Majesty?”
“As I understand it, the Hanlin Academy exists to assist me and place my will above all else. Yet until now, I have never truly felt that. A few scholars did assist me, but now even they are gone.”
Zhu Seogi rose from his seat and said,
“Are you my subjects? Or are you subjects of the Empress or Noble Consort Man? Is there truly any subject here who acts for my sake?”
“Your Majesty! How can you say such a thing? We are all Your Majesty’s subjects!”
“Then I hope you will follow my will. I will not strip Jeok Wigang of his post. I have no desire to hear more, so let us end today’s lecture here.”
“Your Majesty!”
Despite the scholars’ cries, Zhu Seogi ignored them and left.
The remaining Hanlin Academy scholars looked at one another with grave expressions.
They were shaken.
Until now, the Emperor had never once refused their will.
Had they not been the only people he relied on in the imperial palace?
Yet today was different.
“Jeok Wigang must have bewitched His Majesty.”
“It seems His Majesty has fallen for him completely. What should we do?”
“If His Majesty will not drive him out, then we must make him walk out on his own.”
“How?”
“Let us assign every troublesome task to him. He will tire of it before long and run out of the palace himself.”
“That is a fine idea.”
“His Majesty will not be able to object if it is work he naturally ought to do.”
“What work should we assign him?”
“What is the work we hate most? Physical labor. What could be more humiliating than that?”
“Let us make him move without even a moment to rest.”
“First, we drive out Jeok Wigang. Then we continue the discussion on the appointment of the Crown Prince.”
“Good! Let us do that!”
The Hanlin Academy scholars joined forces to drive Jeok Wigang out.
At that moment, one scholar tilted his head and said,
“More importantly, did His Majesty not seem somehow healthier?”
“Hm? Now that you mention it, he neither coughed nor seemed short of breath.”
“Could his illness perhaps have been cured?”
“That cannot be. Even the imperial physicians shook their heads at His Majesty’s illness.”
“Then what was that healthy appearance we saw today?”
“Hmm. Could he have been deceiving us all this time? If he won over the imperial physicians and pretended to be ill, it would make sense.”
“Let us look into that as well.”
“Let us.”
*****
Jeok Wigang went to the imperial audience hall to meet the Emperor.
Just then, a loud voice rang out from inside.
“Your Majesty! How many times must I report this before you handle the budget properly?”
“I am sorry. I am doing my best, but the Ministry of Revenue keeps delaying matters, saying the budget is insufficient.”
“You must press them hard before they will listen! Is it not because you sit there looking so weak that everyone looks down on Your Majesty?”
“Minister of War! You are the one being rude to His Majesty right now!”
When Lee Jungwoo, the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy, finally stepped in because he could no longer bear to watch, the displeased Minister of War frowned as hard as he could and said in a cold voice,
“You be quiet. How dare a man who cannot even assist His Majesty properly step forward?”
The Minister of War was a martial artist who had once crossed battlefields.
When he glared at the Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy and released his pressure, Lee Jungwoo felt as if his blood had frozen, and his body stiffened.
“I am speaking with His Majesty. If you arrogantly step forward one more time, I will not let it pass.”
“Enough. This is all because I lack virtue.”
At Zhu Seogi’s words, the Minister of War grinned and said,
“It is fortunate that you know it. I was worried what I would do if you did not.”
At the Minister of War’s sarcasm, Zhu Seogi trembled.
“If you lack power, this subject will assist you.”
“How?”
“Please grant this subject a written order and command tally to move the army. If you do, this humble subject will move a million imperial troops and protect Your Majesty.”
At the Minister of War’s words, Lee Jungwoo cried out urgently,
“You must not! Your Majesty!”
At that, the Minister of War glared at Lee Jungwoo with a frightening face.
“I clearly told you not to step forward...”
“Khuh!”
Under the sudden, immense pressure, Lee Jungwoo choked and struggled for breath.
Even amid the pain, he did not stop giving his direct warning.
“You, you must not... You must never hand them over...!”
The Minister of War looked at the resisting Lee Jungwoo and said,
“Your Majesty. It seems you will need to appoint a new Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy.”
“Stop this.”
“Please grant me the written order and command tally. If you do, I shall stop and withdraw.”
“Th-this subject is f-fine. You must absolutely not hand them o— Kuh!”
With an even stronger pressure, Lee Jungwoo’s face began turning blue.
At this rate, Lee Jungwoo would stop breathing and die.
It was then.
The doors of the imperial audience hall opened, and Jeok Wigang walked in.
“And what are you supposed to be?”
Jeok Wigang did not answer the Minister of War’s question and simply walked toward him.
Seeing Jeok Wigang approach, the Minister of War released Lee Jungwoo.
“Did I not ask what you are?”
Jeok Wigang grinned and said,
“The death envoy who came to catch you.”
“What? Guh!”
Before he knew it, the Minister of War had been seized by the nape.
His heavy body rose straight into the air.
“Kuh, kuh!”
He struggled to pry Jeok Wigang’s hand away, but it was useless.
“L-let me go.”
“What are you? What kind of man are you, to do something like this without hesitation in front of His Majesty?”
“I, I am the M-Minister of War.”
“Ah, in charge of the military. I hadn’t seen you, so I thought you weren’t interested in power. Guess I was wrong.”
“I-I have no interest. I was only trying to p-protect His Majesty...”
“You know that makes no sense, right?”
Jeok Wigang looked at Zhu Seogi and asked,
“Your Majesty. May I educate this rude bastard as I see fit?”
At Jeok Wigang’s question, Zhu Seogi asked uneasily,
“C-can you do that?”
“I will make it so he cannot even breathe loudly in Your Majesty’s presence.”
Zhu Seogi, who trusted Jeok Wigang more than anyone, nodded as if he had made up his mind.
“Make him into a loyal subject.”
“Shall I take him outside and do it? It may be somewhat unpleasant to watch.”
“No. Do it before my eyes.”
“I obey your command.”
Then he looked at the Minister of War and said,
“Let’s start by relearning the proper manners for an audience with His Majesty.”
“Y-you bastard.”
“Earlier, I noticed you were standing awfully stiff.”
Jeok Wigang stretched his foot toward the standing Minister of War’s legs.
CRACK—
“Aaaaaagh!”
Both of the Minister of War’s knees shattered, and he collapsed where he stood.