At the foot of the White Immortal Mountain stood Taehwa Pavilion, which was a prime location to host grand banquets.
The banquet hall under the large pavilion was lavishly decorated with an array of delicacies, and every seat was occupied by high officials. All of them were figures of great influence.
For the senior officials in attendance, just counting the ranks of those gathered was enough to make people’s heads spin.
The security is tight.
Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong immediately assessed the number of guards stationed around the banquet hall upon seeing the scene.
It was customary to minimize the number of military officers stationed near the banquet hall to avoid disrupting the atmosphere of the event.
While soldiers from the Red Palace were on standby at the base of the White Immortal Mountain to respond to any emergencies, it would take at least ten minutes for them to reach the hall, even if they noticed something amiss and rushed over.
The problem was that there were twice as many guards stationed around the banquet hall as Cheong Jin Myeong had anticipated.
They said security became tighter after the attack by demonic spirits during a past birthday ceremony.
During the younger days of Crown Prince Hyeon Won, demonic spirits had raided the birthday ceremony, causing quite an uproar.
Since that incident, the number of guards assigned to protect the banquet hall during birthday ceremonies had significantly increased and this practice had continued to this day.
“The Vice General has instructed us to familiarize ourselves with the terrain centered around the outskirts of the banquet hall.”
Bi Cheon, the Adjutant of Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong whispered this to Cheong Jin Myeong.
Hearing this, the Black Moon Leader cast a sidelong glance and signaled toward the thicket. A member of the Black Moon Unit who had been lying in wait quickly disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
Black Moon members scattered across the foot of the White Immortal Mountain would systematically eliminate any potential variables near the Taehwa Pavilion.
“Even the high-ranking generals are here in droves. Is the Vice General truly planning to turn this banquet upside down?”
If it were a gathering of civil officials alone, it might be possible to subdue them through force somehow.
However, not only were there soldiers guarding the banquet’s perimeter, but also an assembly of the country’s s best generals.
Each of them possessed overwhelming martial strength that could only be described as monstrous, so it was far from easy to suppress them. This was the reason why, despite the gathering of so many influential figures, the number of guards was kept relatively small.
And at the seat of honor among the gathering of military officials sat the highest-ranking of them all.
Grand General Seong Sa Wook, the pinnacle of Cheongdo Empire’s military hierarchy, was leisurely swirling his wine glass and stroking his beard.
He was dressed in a plain white robe and exuded an air of weariness.
The old warrior, whose face was deeply etched with wrinkles and who had lost an arm, still carried a certain majesty in his appearance.
The sword at his side was proof that he retained the qualities befitting a military official.
Even in his old and decaying body that was long past its prime, he remained a formidable figure capable of taking on even highly skilled warriors alone.
His spirit is truly overwhelming. He seems even more experienced now than when I faced him in the Imperial Garden.
Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong swallowed dryly as he looked at Grand General Seong Sa Wook.
It was astonishing that a man so old, whose death could come at any moment, radiated such an imposing presence.
If he were to wield his sword with full intent, Cheong Jin Myeong felt he wouldn’t even realize he was dead before his head had been severed.
Vice General, I don’t know if plotting rebellion at a gathering like this is truly a good decision.
Cheong Jin Myeong steadied himself and his hand brushed over the dagger at his waist.
But, as his subordinate, it is my duty to follow the orders I’ve been given.
Closing his eyes briefly, he exhaled and then opened them to observe the procession of palanquins making their way up the hill.
The lead palanquin carried the Heavenly Maiden, the mistress of Heavenly Dragon Hall.
Leading the procession at the front was Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong who personally escorted the palanquin.
***
When Emperor Woon Sung arrived at the most luxurious seat in the Taehwa Pavilion, all those present rose from their seats and bowed deeply.
The Emperor who was draped in the imperial robe adorned with the Heavenly Dragon emblem looked down at his assembled subjects with an air of dignity and spoke in a solemn voice.
“Thank you all for coming together to celebrate the birth of my most beloved Crown Prince. Today is particularly important as it marks the day the Crown Prince has come of age and begins to learn the virtues of ruling in earnest. Could there be a greater blessing for Cheongdo?”
As the Emperor’s low voice resonated through the banquet hall, the gathered officials cheered at the same time.
“The star of today is not me, but the Crown Prince. I ask you to bless him and pray that he will become a wise ruler who will lead Cheongdo in the future.”
– Your Majesty’s grace is immeasurable!
– Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!
With this simple declaration, the Emperor signaled the start of the festivities and returned to his seat where he shared drinks with the high officials around him.
In the banquet hall below the most luxurious seat of the Taehwa Pavilion, the high officials raised their cups and drank toasts while a musical ensemble played elegant melodies.
Dancers entered, twirling fans as their robes flowed gracefully, and the refreshing breeze from the slopes of the White Immortal Mountain blew gently through the pavilion.
– ♪ ♩ ♬
The delicate sounds of string instruments wove through the mountain air.
Everyone savored the flourishing atmosphere and the beautiful scenery of the Taehwa Pavilion. They were fully immersed in the moment.
The Crown Prince’s birthday ceremony had only just begun.
After a brief period of socializing and a few rounds of drinks, the Crown Prince was to personally ascend the podium and conduct a ritual praying for an era of peace and prosperity.
Following that, the Heavenly Maiden would come forward to deliver a blessing speech for the Crown Prince’s future, and the three highest-ranking officials would pledge their continued loyalty.
In between, there would also be loyalty vows from the military officers, as well as vows from the scholars appointed to teach the Crown Prince the arts of ruling. And, of course, there would be several more toasts to be made.
The event that was expected to last over two hours required a steady supply of wine and additional food to be prepared.
As the maids busied themselves keeping the ceremony running smoothly, a familiar figure appeared in a corner of the room.
Swish.
A train of maids followed behind, carefully holding up the hem of a long court robe to prevent it from touching the ground.
With each measured step, an air of elegance radiated from her, leaving the maids watching her entrance to the banquet hall in awe.
It was no surprise.
Just last year, she had been one of the maids herself, tirelessly preparing for such banquets alongside her colleagues.
But now, she had risen to become the mistress of Vermilion Bird Palace, a figure who looked after them all. Her name was none other than Vermilion Princess Seol Ran.
– It’s the Vermilion Princess…!
– How can she look so beautiful in her court robe…!
– She’s even more beautiful than when she was a maid!
Normally, such a meteoric rise from a maid to the mistress of Vermilion Bird Palace would provoke jealousy and resentment.
However, Seol Ran’s gentle and noble character left no room for hostility. Not a single maid harbored ill feelings toward her. This went to show just how well she had treated everyone during her days as one of them.
It was as if every blink of her eyes carried the fragrance of flowers, and every sweep of her robe’s collar resembled the fluttering feathers of a Vermilion Bird.
She was truly a perfect fit for the role of Vermilion Princess and commanded the atmosphere wherever she went.
“When the blessing speech concludes, I suppose I should make my way to the banquet hall.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Even her voice, which had once been full of energy during her time as a maid, now carried a refined elegance. The maids watching her could not hide their heartfelt pride.
To them, she was already a legendary figure.
Even as a maid, she had been a paragon of diligence, proving that by dedicating oneself fully to one’s duties, even such heights could be reached.
She was an inspiration, a living example of a fairytale coming to life.
I’d like to see Tae Pyeong’s face before heading to the banquet hall, but he seems busy escorting the Heavenly Maiden.
With her face slightly covered by the collar of her robe, Seol Ran was lost in thought as she turned her gaze to the banquet hall.
It was then that a voice broke her thoughts.
“Your Highness, you honor us with your presence. His Highness the Crown Prince will surely be most pleased.”
There were not many in attendance who dared to speak freely with the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
Even an Upper Third Rank official or above had to bow deeply when addressing her.
However, as Seol Ran turned her head toward the source of the voice, she saw the Chief Councilor standing there. He was a man who commanded high authority even among high-ranking officials.
It was Chief Councilor In Seon Rok.
The head of the Jeongseon clan.
And the father of In Ha Yeon, the Vermilion Princess Seol Ran had replaced.
“…You must have endured quite a journey, Chief Councilor.”
“It is a joyous day, as His Highness the Crown Prince has come of age. I came gladly to celebrate.”
Seol Ran’s eyes narrowed slightly with her expression hidden by the collar of her court robe.
She was, after all, the protagonist of Heavenly Dragon Love Story, a woman born with extraordinary instincts.
Seol Ran who was blessed with innate intuition, a keen sense of danger, and the ability to discern the intentions of others, considered Chief Councilor In Seon Rok a figure to be wary of.
The reason was unclear.
Even so, she never let her guard down when dealing with him.
Of course, revealing such wariness would have been a mistake.
Instead, Seol Ran smiled brightly and asked after his well-being.
“I’ve heard remarkable things about the performance of the Jeongseon clan’s officials lately. Thanks to your guidance, it seems the talents of Cheongdo are working even harder at their duties.”
Though she spoke warmly and laughed, In Seon Rok remained expressionless as he replied.
“Vermilion Princess, you are the older sister of Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong, are you not?”
Why was he bringing up Seol Tae Pyeong all of a sudden?
Before Seol Ran could ask the reason, In Seon Rok spoke again with a serious expression.
“In that case… are you aware of the existence of the Plague Demonic Spirit?”
“…Huh?”
***
The Heavenly Maiden was the most exalted figure in Cheongdo.
She was always occupied with discerning the will of the Heavenly Dragon in the Heavenly Dragon Hall, and it was not easy to bring her all the way to the White Immortal Mountain, except for occasions like this national celebration.
“Thank you for your hard work! Vice General! I’ll inform the Taehwa Pavilion that the Heavenly Maiden has arrived!”
“Yes.”
Seol Tae Pyeong acknowledged the salute of the soldier standing guard at the entrance of the path leading to Taehwa Pavilion.
The soldier, seemingly honored just by exchanging words with the Vice General, wore a satisfied expression as he dashed off to signal the sentry at the outpost.
At his signal, the defensive formation behind the soldier opened, creating a path wide enough for the palanquin to pass through.
“High officials and military officers have gathered at Taehwa Pavilion. Since His Majesty is present as well, we’ve been ordered to thoroughly verify the identity of everyone entering.”
It was unlikely that anyone wouldn’t recognize the face of Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong, but rules were rules.
Another soldier who worked in pairs appeared determined to inspect the faces of every member in the procession one by one before allowing the group to pass.
“Someone harboring ill intentions might have slipped into the procession, so I’ll need to confirm the identity of everyone escorting the group.”
“It’s an important occasion, so it’s a necessary precaution. Go ahead and check each person one by one.”
“Would it be acceptable to inspect the inside of the palanquin as well? I only need to briefly open it to confirm the Heavenly Maiden’s identity.”
“Go ahead, inspect it.”
Seol Tae Pyeong gave his consent and glanced toward the outpost in the distance.
Given the size of the crowd escorting the palanquin, it seemed unlikely that the situation on this side could be clearly seen from afar.
The soldier bowed to Seol Tae Pyeong, walked into the procession, and stepped up to the palanquin with the Heavenly Dragon emblem engraved all over its surface. He then tapped lightly on the entrance.
“Your Highness! Apologies for the intrusion! I will be inspecting the inside for a moment!”
With that announcement, he opened the palanquin’s door.
“..…?!”
Inside the palanquin sat Heavenly Maiden Jin Cheong Lang.
However, she was not alone.
In the farthest corner of the spacious interior, Jin Cheong Lang sat gracefully, but surrounding her were numerous members of the Black Moon Unit, all clad in black cloth.
Heavenly Maiden Jin Cheong Lang used her Taoist magic to hide them in the darkness of the palanquin.
The sight resembled assassins poised for a mission. Each of them carried a dagger tucked at their waist.
“This, this is…!”
Before the soldier could say another word, one of the Black Moon members lunged forward and strangled him.
“Urgh… ugh…!”
Seol Tae Pyeong pressed down the hat of his military uniform and quietly observed the outpost.
He kept his head bowed, using the crowd escorting the palanquin to obscure the soldiers’ view of him.
The guards at the outpost had no idea.
The famous general of recent times, celebrated for his loyalty and countless meritorious deeds, Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong—
No one could have imagined that within the palanquin he led, numerous assassins lay hidden.
“Let’s go.”
The palanquin that was carrying the assassins proceeded toward the banquet hall of Taehwa Pavilion.
It was the treachery of a man thought to be the most loyal figure in Cheongdo’s history. A betrayal no one had foreseen.
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