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Chapter 79
Money was the fastest way to solve problems.
If he could extinguish the flames of public opinion before they turned in Yeon’s favor, everything would be fine.
“Buy off some journalists to water things down, release some articles about economic instability, and poke the elders of the royal clan a little…”
The succession debate would gain momentum quickly.
As long as he rode that current skillfully, it didn’t matter if his own violent tendencies became an issue.
What could the prosecutors or the police do to the man who would become the next emperor?
“There’s no evidence, no witnesses. They can’t investigate me just on suspicion.”
Gradually, Byung felt at ease.
Suppressing his boiling pride, Seonmi asked,
“And Changdeok Palace?”
“Think of it as leaving it to Yeon for a while.”
“Will you be investigated?”
“If the royal audit authority is activated, I have no choice but to cooperate. The longer I avoid it, the longer the audit period stretches. Besides, you and your father-in-law have probably handled everything carefully. The documents will be fine, right?”
Byung grinned to himself. That was exactly why he had seated her in the position of Crown Princess.
Seonmi bit the soft inside of her cheek hard.
“Alright. Then I won’t worry any further. Do well.”
That much was sincere.
When rumors spread that an audit of Changdeok Palace was about to begin, a strange tension ran among the palace staff.
“Do you think the princess will really become emperor?”
“Shh, don’t say that. Do you think the traditions of the Korean Empire will change so easily? Be careful not to get on the Crown Prince’s bad side.”
“Traditions have always changed. The world is moving so fast, but you think the royal family has to be stuck in the Joseon era? I like the princess…”
“Watch your mouth.”
“Want to bet on who will be emperor? 100,000 won?”
“…Make it 150,000. I’m betting on the princess.”
The palace maid, who had been warned to be careful, immediately chose Yeon first.
“Hey! That ruins the bet. I’m betting on the princess too.”
The two maids locked eyes and snickered. In the end, the bet fizzled out.
“Let’s get back to work.”
They grabbed laundry baskets and headed to the laundry room.
A little later, Empress Nayoung appeared near where the maids had been talking.
Her expression was unreadable as she stared at the shadowed area for a long while.
Standing silently beside her, Chief Court Lady Yoon spoke cautiously.
“Your Majesty, I will make sure to issue strict warnings. These are the words of ignorant servants, so please don’t mind them too much.”
“Let them be. As you say, they are probably just ignorant chatter.”
Yoon’s eyes twitched slightly at Empress Nayoung’s unexpected reaction.
‘Does Her Majesty have other intentions?’
Lost in thought for a moment, Yoon was asked by Nayoung,
“Have you heard any news of the Emperor?”
Nayoung resumed walking as she spoke.
Yoon approached quickly.
To prevent confusion within the Korean Empire and the royal family, the exact status of Beom’s treatment had only been reported to the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
The condition was unexpectedly serious, and the royal clan might have reacted strongly.
Treatment was proceeding well, so there was no need to stir up more unrest.
“They say chemotherapy is showing results. They’ll be scheduling surgery soon.”
Relief crossed Nayoung’s face.
Though Beom and she now resembled a “show window” couple, it had not always been so.
When they were engaged at fifteen, it had been a pure first love.
Even at twenty, when they were married, Nayoung loved Beom deeply.
Being four years older, he had seemed like a mountain, a kind of idol to her.
Their relationship soured when Beom took a concubine for political reasons.
And when that concubine bore a son before Nayoung, she completely let go of her feelings for Beom.
But hearing that Beom had collapsed made it impossible to maintain composure. Her mind kept wandering.
“I should visit the hospital.”
“Yes, I’ll arrange the schedule.”
Even as Empress, she could not visit freely.
To live this tedious life until the end felt like having a stone pressing against her chest.
Nayoung silently tightened her steps.
It was almost time to meet Empress Dowager Oh at Jagyeongjeon.
Although they lived in the same Gyeongbok Palace, her mother-in-law rarely sought her out since the children had grown.
But why was she suddenly being summoned?
Even after decades in the palace, her heart still raced when standing before Jagyeongjeon.
“Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived.”
“Inform Empress Dowager.”
The news of Nayoung’s arrival spread inside Jagyeongjeon, and the doors opened one by one.
Empress Dowager Oh, dressed in colorless clothes, lifted her head.
Her face, gaunt from the past few days, finally seemed her true age.
Nayoung stepped forward slowly.
“Did you summon me?”
“The Empress may sit. Everyone else, leave.”
Her waving hand had no strength at all.
Whether good or bad, family was family. Nayoung’s nose tingled despite herself.
“Are you taking care of your meals?”
“My child is sick in the hospital. Do you think rice will pass through my throat?”
“You must eat. You are one of the pillars holding up the royal family.”
“That’s why I called you.”
Nayoung widened her eyes.
“Empress.”
Empress Dowager Oh’s voice was low and hoarse as she closed her eyes.
Nayoung’s shoulder muscles tensed instinctively.
“No, Nayoung-ah.”
“…!”
The last time Empress Dowager Oh called Nayoung by her name had been the winter before their engagement, when Nayoung was fourteen.
“I can’t do this anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nayoung, I am too old and tired. Why would I try to govern at my age?”
Nayoung’s eyes shook violently.
Even without her words, Nayoung knew what the Empress Dowager meant.
She took Empress Dowager Oh’s hand on the table.
It was stiff from a few days of neglect.
“Mother…”
Her voice was thick. She swallowed hard before continuing.
“You cannot. You are still strong, and your political sense is intact. You must hold the center of the royal family until His Majesty returns in good health.”
Nayoung spoke unusually passionately, yet the Empress Dowager’s stern face showed no sign of softening.
“Leave the work to the younger ones. The Crown Prince came today.”
“The Crown Prince?”
Nayoung pressed her lips together.
Did that wicked boy’s visit really drain the tiger-like energy from the Empress Dowager?
“He seems ambitious. I hear they’ve started auditing Changdeok Palace.”
Nayoung clenched her fists.
“The Emperor is ill, yet members of the royal family are biting each other. Yeon might lack a brotherly presence, but still, the Crown Prince must not be harmed. We must hasten preparations for abdication.”
“No.”
Nayoung’s firm opposition widened the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
Since being engaged at fifteen, Nayoung had never raised her voice or openly opposed her like this.
Does she still regard Crown Prince Byung as a concubine’s child?
Even though he had long been registered under the Empress, and the Emperor had repeatedly apologized for taking a concubine?
Beom had even abolished the concubine system to show his sincerity to Nayoung.
The Empress Dowager could not hide her displeasure.
“Empress, think of the Empire. Don’t let personal feelings cloud your judgment.”
“I speak for the Empire. If Empress Dowager prepares for abdication, I will use every authority I have to stop it.”
The Empress’s actual power was limited.
But if she openly refused abdication and questioned the Crown Prince’s abilities, the Korean Empire would fall into chaos.
Neither the Empress Dowager nor Empress Nayoung would yield an inch, their eyes locked in a silent battle.
Nayoung summoned all her strength to oppose the Empress Dowager.
Pulling herself together, she courageously spoke.
“Do nothing, Empress Dowager.”
A warning reminiscent of what she had just given.
The Empress Dowager flinched, surprised to hear such words from Nayoung.
Nayoung stood.
“If you truly cannot govern, then hand it over to me.”
If the Crown Prince, already cruel to Yeon, gained more power, what would happen?
Just imagining it was terrifying.
She emphasized her words.
“Consider abdication unheard of.”
The Emperor had entrusted regency to Empress Dowager Oh because he thought Nayoung was weak.
But seeing her now, Beom would have gladly entrusted her with the role.
Bowing in respect, Nayoung headed straight to the hospital where Beom was admitted.
A mother with a daughter was strong.
And to protect her child, she was willing to break her own shell.
That night, Yeon summoned Crown Prince Byung to Changdeok Palace.
