It didn’t take long for the Demonic Spirit Subjugation Unit to be established.
After all, demonic spirits had already swarmed the inner and outer palace two times.
Normally, Emperor Woon Sung would have hesitated, since he was faced with resistance at every turn, but in this case, he seemed determined and pushed the matter forward.
Even if there was no outward threat of the rampaging demonic spirits, the high officials who usually raised their voices would have had no choice but to hold their tongues anyway.
As a result… a decree was soon issued calling for skilled demonic spirit hunters from all over the country. Within less than a month, famous demonic spirit hunters could be seen coming and going from the Truth Insight Terrace.
They were wrapped head to toe in cotton cloth, and even from a distance, they looked ominous.
They were hired hands who cut down cursed monsters, so they were all bound to be unusual. For most of them, this was the last resort. Demonic spirit hunting was a trade chosen by those who had led lowly lives.
“Good grief… What’s to become of the palace…? Those brutes who used to slice up corpses are now strutting in and out of Cheongdo Palace…”
“What else can we do? The demonic spirits have grown so powerful that we’re forced to rely even on such lowly hands.”
As I climbed the picturesque stairs to the Red Sky Pavilion, I could hear officials above me exchanging some words with each other.
I had come to attend the Emperor’s banquet, but the first thing I heard was a story of people cursing the demonic spirit hunters.
When I reached the top of the Red Sky Pavilion, the officials who were gathered around a table looked up and met my eyes. They then quickly turned away and cleared their throats awkwardly.
It had long since become ordinary for demonic spirit hunters to be openly disdained, but to speak so freely of them in front of the newly appointed commander of the Demonic Spirit Subjugation Unit was a bit much, even for them.
“Minister of Works and Chief Inspector, you both arrived early. The table is so full of drinks that it looks like a good place to have a drink.”
“Haha, Vice General, you are a little late today. No doubt it’s because you have your hands full. These days, no matter where you go, people always talk about the Vice General, and rightly so. You have become the pillar that supports Cheongdo Palace.
“You flatter me.”
The view from the Red Sky Pavilion was certainly splendid.
Sitting here, overlooking the Truth Insight Terrace directly below, drinking like this could make you feel as if the whole world was in the palm of your hand.
I looked up at the scenery of the White Immortal Mountain and accepted the glass of wine that the Minister of Works offered me.
“The weather has grown quite cold. It seems the Crown Prince’s birthday ceremony is drawing near.”
“Indeed, it is.”
“It’s about time for the Crown Prince to come of age and formally bring the princess consorts into the palace. It’s a blessed year, so the birthday ceremony will likely be even grander.”
As if he was trying to steer the conversation away from demonic spirits, the Minister of Work rolled his eyes and brought up the topic of the Crown Prince.
“Princess consorts in the palace…”
Hearing those words, I felt as if a veil had lifted from my mind.
“This year, his coming-of-age ceremony will also be held at the Crown Prince’s birthday ceremony.”
“…….”
***
As soon as Seol Tae Pyeong returned to the Hwalseong District, he went straight to find Yeon Ri.
Yeon Ri was in the kitchen, secretly making mooncakes with lard and sugar.
Bubble, bubble.
“……”
“……”
“…What are you eating?”
“Listen, Tae Pyeong-ah. The headmaid of the Heavenly Dragon Hall sent me some mung beans, pine nuts, and other beans as a gift, you see? So I thought I’d use them as stuffing, mix the leftover lard with sugar to make dough, shape it, bake it, and put the stuffing inside. Don’t you think it would make delicious mooncakes? Since the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, we should enjoy these symbolic foods and get through the coming winter together, so just let go for a second, Tae Pyeong-ah, I’ll be done in a moment, please, just put that down for a second.”
“These are perfect ingredients for making soup broth. It’s quite generous of the Heavenly Dragon Hall to send us such a gift.”
“Please, Tae Pyeong-ah! They’re my babies! My precious, precious creations…!”
Yeon Ri clung to Seol Tae Pyeong’s calves and started sobbing, but he mercilessly gathered the ingredients and was already mentally planning what kind of soup to make for dinner.
Once he cleared away the ingredients, Seol Tae Pyeong perched on the edge of the table and spoke.
“Some good news has come from the main palace.”
“Good news?”
“Once the Crown Prince’s birthday ceremony is over, he will start to bring the princess consorts into the palace. As a ruler, it’s important to find a good companion and leave many heirs; he can’t keep postponing it forever.”
Seol Tae Pyeong had a satisfied expression on his face for the first time in a while.
Ever since Seol Tae Pyeong had been appointed commander of the Demonic Spirit Subjugation Unit, he wore an expression that seemed ready to face death any day, but today he appeared uncharacteristically cheerful. Yeon Ri raised her head and looked past him; she was eyeing the mooncake ingredients behind him.
“In short, after the coming-of-age ceremony, the Crown Princess consorts will finally begin fulfilling their roles as his official consorts.”
“But I heard that Crown Prince Hyeon Won absolutely hates those crown princess consorts who were chosen by the high officials.”
“Well, that’s because he’s never met them one on one. If he were simply nudged into the palace for even a single visit, he’s still a man, after all. His opinion could very well change.”
Seol Tae Pyeong smiled and stroked his chin as if he was satisfied.
“Who are these princess consorts of the Four Great Palaces? Their looks alone could rival any fairy in the Heavenly Realm, and each of them has talents that make you wonder if they were loved by the Emperor of Heaven. They are all deep thinkers and have sharp minds, aren’t they?”
“.…..”
“Once the Crown Prince spends some time with them, his views are bound to change. He’ll realize that they’re not just empty figures placed there by political figures; each one of them is an extraordinary genius in her own right. And when that happens, the princess consorts will each be faithful to their own duties.”
In other words, he was implying that there would be no need to keep walking this tightrope with his life on the line.
But Yeon Ri couldn’t simply nod her head in agreement.
Having experienced countless cycles of reincarnation, Yeon Ri knew all too well.
In all those cycles, there had been ample chance for the Crown Prince to develop feelings for his princess consorts, but Crown Prince Hyeon Won had never once looked their way.
In the end, the princess consorts turned their affections toward Seol Tae Pyeong, but those endings were never happy. Whether disappearing in execution or perishing in flames at the hands of demonic spirits, none escaped their fate.
However, the bonds between souls that had formed one by one in those lives couldn’t be easily severed, even if the Crown Prince were to be drawn back.
Besides, just what kind of person was Crown Prince Hyeon Won?
For someone who despised his childhood as nothing more than being a puppet for high-ranking officials, the idea of giving his affection to the partners chosen by those very officials was like denying his own existence.
There was only one woman in the world who could soothe his wounded heart.
That was Seol Ran, the future Heavenly Maiden and Seol Tae Pyeong’s sister.
“You’re wearing a troubled expression, Yeon Ri-ah.”
“Rather than focusing on impossible tasks, why not try to find a realistic solution within the given circumstances … Tae Pyeong-ah?”
“Usually, it’s me saying that to you, but this time, you’re saying it to me.”
“N-No… I always have my own logic and reason when I suggest a solution…!”
“Your logic is always extreme, and your reasons are always absurd.”
“Anyway…!”
Clearing her throat, Yeon Ri took on a serious expression.
“Sure, things have been going relatively well this cycle… but that doesn’t mean Crown Prince Hyeon Won will actually develop feelings for the princess consorts… right?”
“I’ll make sure he does.”
“……?”
Seol Tae Pyeong wore an expression more serious than ever before.
His determination to connect Crown Prince Hyeon Won and the princess consorts this time was so intense it was almost unsettling.
What on earth had made him so serious?
Naturally, it was the repeated threats to his life.
“I’ve told you countless times. I’ve seen up close while working as the inner palace inspector just how extraordinary the crown princess consorts from the four palaces truly are.”
“Th-That’s true, but….”
“Fortunately, His Highness holds trust in me. If needed, he would appoint me to a position, and besides, my sister is Ran-noonim. If I say it’s necessary, he’ll listen to me.”
Though he didn’t want to meddle in petty affairs as a man of honor, given the situation, he had no other choice.
“Besides, even if I may not seem like it… I also know how to handle things with words when it matters. I don’t always wield my sword. Believe it or not, I’m a man who knows how to use his tongue too.”
“Yes… I’ll give you that, but… Tae Pyeong, don’t tell me….”
“I… might just have a knack for matchmaking as well… Yeon Ri-ah…”
This time, Seol Tae Pyeong was determined to risk everything to bring Crown Prince Hyeon Won and the princess consorts together.
Crown Prince Hyeon Won who was burdened by an unfortunate past was a tragic figure twisted by the isolation of his lonely position. As befitting a leading man in a romance novel, he had sharp and handsome features.
And the Vermilion Princess, the Azure Princess, the Black Princess, and the White Princess…each one of them possessed not only beauty but virtues and skills of their own.
They were all noble, refined men and women of stature, so with a little push, things could easily develop into a favorable atmosphere.
Along the way, any involvement they had with a man like Seol Tae Pyeong would fade into nothing more than a youthful delusion during a turbulent time in their lives. Eventually, the princess consorts would go on with their duties with the thought, “There was once a time when I had an unspoken delusion with such a warrior….”
Perfect.
It was such a beautiful image that it nearly brought tears to his eyes.
“Tae Pyeong-ah, you’re making a futile effort. Honestly, it’d be lucky if things don’t just get worse….”
“I’m serious, Yeon Ri-ah.”
“Well… at the very least, it’s true we need to get a closer look at the Crown Prince.”
Yeon Ri took a deep breath, then stood up suddenly from the table as she continued.
“We pretty much confirmed last time that the manifestation of the Plague Demonic Spirit resides within the palace, didn’t we?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s not something we can openly talk about, but honestly, any official of the Upper Third Rank or higher seems suspicious to me.”
If the Plague Demonic Spirit had possessed someone’s body and continued reincarnating in their place…
Then it would at least have to be someone able to monitor the inner workings of the Heavenly Dragon Hall and exert influence over the court’s affairs.
Otherwise, it couldn’t have interfered with Yeon Ri through countless cycles of reincarnation like this.
“To be honest, even Crown Prince Hyeon Won seems suspicious.”
“……”
The fact was, Crown Prince Hyeon Won’s position itself was just too advantageous.
His noble status and habit of rarely appearing outside the Crown Prince’s palace made it impossible to keep him under close watch.
On the other hand, if he wished, he could easily use his resources to gather information about the Heavenly Dragon Hall. If he were indeed the Plague Demonic Spirit’s incarnation, everything would fit together too perfectly.
“If His Highness the Crown Prince is the manifestation of the Plague Demonic Spirit, he would be aware of the fact that the world is caught in a cycle of reincarnation.”
“…But suspecting the Crown Prince of a country is a dangerous act. If we’re wrong, it’ll be straight to execution.”
“That’s right. That’s why we can’t confront him directly, but it would be good to subtly test him. Since you’re the Vice General, you should be able to request a private meeting with the Crown Prince.”
“Hmmm…”
“The chances are low, but just in case, you should be the one to probe him, Tae Pyeong-ah. Try to find out if he remembers any past lives. If he really does, we need a way to confirm it without arousing suspicion.”
Seol Tae Pyeong nodded seriously with a grave expression on his face.
“Alright. First, I’ll request a private audience. His Highness will grant it, won’t he?”
“And when you do, what will you say?”
“To be honest, it’ll be hard to confirm memories of reincarnation immediately. So, I’ll focus on what I can do.”
Seol Tae Pyeong lowered his voice. His expression was more solemn than when he faced an army of thousands of demonic spirits.
“I’ll convince him, no matter how many nights it takes, how extraordinary and virtuous the crown princess consorts from the Four Great Palaces truly are.”
“..….”
“I’ll show him what it truly means to be a heaven-sent matchmaking genius…”
“Tae Pyeong-ah… Sometimes, doing nothing at all is the better choice.”
Yeon Ri pressed her temples and sighed in exasperation.
***
“I will not enter the imperial harem.”
The next day, during a meeting convened to prepare for the Crown Prince’s birthday ceremony, Crown Prince Hyeon Won himself spoke directly.
I sat in stunned silence among the assembled officials. My eyes were wide open.
What did he just say?
“I am the Crown Prince of Cheongdo, blessed by the Heavenly Emperor, and the future master of this palace. My partner, who will continue the bloodline of Heaven, is someone I will choose for myself. How can the high officials decide such a matter based on political calculations?”
“Y-Your Highness…”
The flustered Under Councilor trembled as he spoke.
Everyone was aware that Crown Prince Hyeon Won didn’t show much affection toward the crown princess consorts of the inner palace, but no one expected him to so openly and firmly declare it.
No matter how much authority he wielded as the Crown Prince, even he could not blatantly disregard the laws of the palace.
“Your Highness… please reconsider. Entering the harem on the night of your coming-of-age ceremony is a strict tradition upheld in the palace for generations.”
“Does this tradition take precedence over a Crown Prince blessed by the Heavenly Emperor?”
“Y-Your Highness…”
The once unchanging Crown Prince Hyeon Won, who always seemed to drift aimlessly, had noticeably changed in recent years.
Rumors of this change had already circulated throughout the palace.
When the Under Councilor who just spoke faltered, this time Chief Councilor In Seon Rok came forward. He bowed his head as he addressed the council.
“Your Highness, the crown princess consorts of the harem were not chosen based on mere political calculations. They were carefully selected to be your consorts, taking into account both the Heavenly Emperor’s will and the harmony of earthly energies; they are the most noble and excellent women who are worthy of being Your Highness’s companions. The selection process was also harsh and difficult, so much so that even the maids of the inner court were astonished.”
“So, you’re Chief Councilor In Seon Rok?”
It had been a long time since Crown Prince Hyeon Won had appeared in the main palace.
Today, he seemed to radiate the dignity befitting a crown prince.
“Then answer me this: among the so-called noble women who were chosen without any political calculations and who are supposed to embody all these virtues, is In Ha-yeon, who now holds the position of mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace?
“….…”
“Is that woman from the esteemed Jeongseon clan truly seated in that position without any political conditions influencing her? How strange that she, like you, happens to hail from the same Jeongseon lineage.”
Chief Councilor In Seon Rok could not muster a single word in response.
Crown Prince Hyeon Won turned his gaze to the other high officials, who kept their heads bowed, and shouted.
“The one sitting in the position of the White Princess, the person named Ha Wol, is also a marvel, as she is from the influential and powerful Inbong clan. Ha! Do you still think of me as a puppet who innocently moves according to your what honeyed words dictate?”
“Y-Your Highness…”
“The sacred laws of the palace? Whenever high officials seek to conceal their ambitions and manipulate others, they always use such excuses.”
Sitting back on his throne, Crown Prince Hyeon Won drew a deep breath and spoke in a low resolute voice.
“I will choose my companion. Now leave at once.”
In the time he had been away, Crown Prince Hyeon Won’s personality had grown remarkably strong.
There was no need to question it. What had breathed life into him was none other than Seol Ran, who had once served as his headmaid.
“We should hold a grand birthday ceremony. Yes, but once the coming-of-age ceremony is concluded, I will return to the Crown Prince’s palace. Even if my father himself comes to persuade me, I will not change my mind.”
“Your Highness, even if you do not wish to take them as companions, would it not be worthwhile to meet the mistresses of the Four Great Palaces at least once? If you evaluate their merits and worth, your perspective might change.”
“I said, leave at once.”
Even if he did not intend to take a companion, just meeting and assessing them should have been acceptable.
That was a separate matter from being manipulated as a puppet by the high officials.
However, Crown Prince Hyeon Won showed a strange refusal to meet with the mistresses of the Four Great Palaces. Drawing such a firm line was in itself rather unusual.
I lowered my head and observed the expression on Crown Prince Hyeon Won’s face.
He frowned at the high officials before glancing sideways toward the palace corridor where the maids passed by.
Indeed.
He was likely scanning for any sign of Seol Ran among them.
Ah… !
I closed my eyes tightly.
The Crown Prince likely avoided meeting the crown princess consorts because he feared that if Seol Ran heard about it, she might doubt his sincerity and think of him as a frivolous man.
Rather than appearing like a ruler who flitted from one woman to another, he wanted to stand firm as a ruler who remained true to his principles.
Crown Prince Hyeon Won.
Was he, perhaps, the pure romantic of this era?
Still, there were limits to such behavior.
Please… act in accordance with your position!’
I clenched my teeth and swallowed my frustration.
How was I supposed to connect the crown princess consorts to someone so unyielding like this?
But I, Seol Tae Pyeong, was a man who thrived in the face of impossibility.
There was no way I would get tangled in this matter with the consorts only to end up executed.
I would forge my own path.
“Phew…”
I had been involved with the crown princess consorts more times than I could count, and no one knew better than I how valuable and extraordinary they were. Their abilities, their deep and vast potential…they were amazing.
I waited for the council meeting to end and then requested a private audience with the Crown Prince through one of his maids.
***
“It seems His Highness is in the main palace. I hear that he plans to meet with the Vice General in private after the meeting.”
Headmaid Hyeon Dang who was seated quietly in a corner spoke with her head bowed.
The Vermilion Princess who was shooting an arrow in the archery range of the Vermilion Bird Palace flinched at the news.
“Are you talking about now?”
Seol Tae Pyeong and Crown Prince Hyeon Won were meeting.
For some reason…she felt uneasy about that.
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