TKEP 44🔐

Chapter 44

“Today?”

He had expected the exams to proceed quickly, but that it would be today itself caught him off guard.

“You have until the evening, so rest comfortably.”

That was it. Even Eun-gwan Oh seemed to have no information about the third exam.

But Seojun seemed to know.

“Three years as a mute, three years as a deaf… and the last one, three years as a blind?”

Whatever he saw, he would have to pretend not to. Seojun felt confident.

But that confidence shattered completely that evening.

The East Palace was noisy from morning.

“That bastard survived! He survived!”

Having received the results of the second exam, Byeong threw the vase on the table.

The Crown Princess Jin Sun-mi, drinking tea on the sofa, frowned. She set down her teacup and gestured for those around her to leave.

The palace staff, including Eun-gwan Kang, slipped away like the tide, leaving only the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in the East Palace.

Soft, restless breathing and sighs filled the empty palace hall.

“What tricks did he use? Do I really have to see that bastard sit in the position of the National Secretary?”

Byeong shouted toward Sun-mi.

“You assisted in setting the exam questions, didn’t you? The reason he survived is that His Majesty failed to pose the questions properly.”

It had been the Crown Princess who advised that having the relatives’ council and Byeong serve as the examiners would calm disputes with the emperor.

A daughter-in-law’s love, even for her father-in-law—she was using Byeong’s affection to her advantage.

Of course, Sun-mi didn’t feel grateful.

‘Our Majesty is truly foolish. He can’t distinguish between acting and sincerity. In that sense, the Empress Mama is truly difficult.’

Unlike Byeong, who had welcomed Sun-mi from the start, Empress Na-young kept her distance, maintaining proper boundaries.

‘If only I could get the Empress Mama on my side, I could easily see what that girl Yeon is up to.’

While Byeong raged, Sun-mi’s thoughts were elsewhere.

“Hey! Are you listening to me?”

In the end, Byeong realized she wasn’t listening at all.

“I’m listening. My ears are sore, though.”

“Then tell me. Is there a way?”

He was asking for a method to seat Park Won-young as the National Secretary instead of Kang Seojun.

Even as a second-best option, having Na Hyuk-jin supported by the relatives’ council wouldn’t be bad.

Sun-mi stared at Byeong silently. The firmness in her gaze brightened his face.

“Did you think of a good way?”

“I’m thinking. But Your Highness, I’ve become curious myself.”

Byeong asked bluntly, clearly disappointed.

“About what?”

“Why do you dislike Kang Seojun so much? Just because he ignored a few greetings?”

Being ignored was irritating, yes, but looking at Kang Seojun also triggered an instinctive aversion.

Not only did it feel humiliating, but even though he was supposed to be someone she could command, she felt subordinate to him.

She didn’t know why.

She couldn’t explain what even she didn’t understand.

So she spoke only of what she could explain.

“Just a few greetings? He didn’t ignore only me—he ignored the royal family, the Korean Empire itself. He’s an anti-establishment figure. Mark my words—he’ll definitely bring great harm to our royal family.”

A deduction that could have earned him praise if Seojun heard it: “Catching the mouse while backing up.”

But Sun-mi, unaware, saw it merely as wounded pride.

‘He can’t stand seeing someone better than him. He definitely doesn’t want him nearby. Even if he bows low, someone like Kang Seojun wouldn’t.’

If only a single drop of the emperor’s blood had mixed in, he’d naturally think that way.

‘What a waste.’

Yet, in a society where almost everything could be faked, royal bloodline laundering was impossible.

‘If I can’t have him, Yeon shouldn’t either.’

But she couldn’t dirty her own hands.

“I have only one piece of advice. Do what you do best, Your Highness.”

“Do what I do best?”

If someone displeased her, she would beat them, destroy them, or erase them from the palace.

“And the cleanup? You’ll handle that, won’t you?”

Byeong gave her a sly smile.

“As always,” she replied.

Though she pretended to be pristine, she was Byeong’s perfect accomplice.

Of course, her hands remained completely clean.

The cleanup was the responsibility of her father, the former prosecutor general, who had pushed her into the palace.

At twilight, Seojun sat on the veranda, gazing at the garden fading into darkness.

“Nervous?”

Perhaps worried about Seojun, who had been silent all day, Eun-gwan Oh spoke.

“No.”

“You seem deep in thought.”

“Understandable. The world will change starting tomorrow.”

Seojun referred to himself not as a National Secretary candidate, but as a preliminary National Secretary starting tomorrow.

Eun-gwan Oh smiled.

During the few days he had served Seojun, he recalled the feelings from when he first stepped into the royal court: those days of pride, believing the person he served would be the pillar of the Korean Empire, believing his actions and words were helpful.

But expectations and reality differed, and he became a purely administrative officer, doing only what was asked, cautiously.

After being dismissed, he avoided the royal household entirely… until Yeon called him.

“Number One Uncle, could you help me?”

The eunuch who had attended the Crown Prince in his youth would secretly give Yeon chocolate candies when Byeong mistreated her.

Hence the nickname Yeon gave him: “Number One Uncle.”

It was derived from his official name, contrasting with Byeong’s mockery of him as incapable because he was the fifth son.

For Yeon, he was Number One—and the nickname gave him strength.

Looking back on the past, he was now old enough to reminisce, yet those youthful, ambitious emotions returned, as if rejuvenated.

Seojun had the ability to inspire pride even in those who served him.

‘Our Crown Princess really chose well.’

Yeon had a good eye for people.

“Congratulations in advance.”

Seojun’s eyes narrowed.

“You don’t seem the type to believe in extravagant words.”

“They’re not extravagant. I think they’re very realistic.”

Seojun liked Eun-gwan Oh’s answer. Perhaps it was the man himself.

“If you become National Secretary, which palace will you be assigned to?”

“Near the Empress Dowager’s quarters.”

“Will you receive groom lessons?”

“Something similar.”

Oh explained that Seojun would receive training while preparing for his role, but it would be manageable.

“Any other questions?”

On the last night, Seojun asked many.

“Are eunuchs attached to a specific palace? Or to a royal they serve?”

“Usually to the palace, but since each palace has a master, they can be considered under the affiliation of whom they serve.”

“I see. Then what about you, Eun-gwan Oh?”

“Currently, I’m assigned to Candidate Kang Seojun.”

Seojun nodded, staring into the void, a trace of worry on his face.

Finally, he spoke.

“If, after today, you have no particular assignment… would you consider becoming affiliated with National Secretary Kang Seojun?”

Seojun’s first recruitment of talent.

Eun-gwan Oh postponed his answer.

But Seojun believed a positive sign would come soon.

If rejected, he would use the power of the National Secretary he would soon hold to bring him under his command.

Eun-gwan Oh already had Yeon’s trust, had the skill to secretly deliver messages, and could read his intentions well.

‘Even the royal court has good people amidst the bad.’

Seojun stepped toward the exam hall.

His expression was resolute. So far, the exams had been fairly easy for him.

All the prior strategy and concern with Yeon before entering the palace seemed almost unnecessary.

Now, however, he felt more tension.

‘Being the last exam, they’ll put some weight into it. If the Crown Princess’s prediction is right, His Majesty prepared the questions himself. It won’t be easy.’

Seojun sat with a tense expression.

Today, Park Won-young and Na Hyuk-jin neither quarreled nor caused any disturbance.

Unlike Seojun, they looked relaxed. Perhaps they had obtained some information.

‘Still, the results won’t change because of that.’

Shortly after everyone was seated, the examiners entered.

“Thank you all for coming this far.”

After delivering some useless words of encouragement, the examiner unfolded the exam paper.

[Diplomatic Issue Discussion]

Seojun raised an eyebrow at the obvious assignment.

‘Strange.’

Park Won-young gestured toward the examiner.

“A discussion on diplomatic issues? Just among us?”

He was already acting as if he were the preliminary National Secretary, arrogantly.

The examiner clasped hands politely and answered.

“Those to discuss with the candidates will be separate. Each will be taken to a private room.”