"How did it go?"
"Th-that is…"
Nok-gi grimaced as he spoke.
"You can definitely prevent Wei Yan-ho from entering the palace, right? If necessary, you may kill him. I should have given you advance notice about that, shouldn't I?"
"Of course. However…"
"However?"
As Nok-gi's face contorted, Yeong-ban was terrified and pressed his head to the floor.
"Forgive me, but there is no way to touch Wei Yan-ho."
"What do you mean by that?"
"From the moment Wei Yan-ho entered Beijing, Lee Wang-ya has not left Wei Yan-ho's side for even a moment. To eliminate Wei Yan-ho, we would have to attack where Lee Wang-ya is."
"Damn bastard."
Nok-gi gripped the armrest of his chair tightly.
Nok-gi acknowledged that Lee Wang-ya was indeed a remarkable person. It was because such an extraordinary figure existed in this rotten imperial family that the imperial family could still maintain itself.
From his position of trying to manipulate the royal family at will, Lee Wang-ya was an enemy who absolutely had to be brought down, so he could understand his greatness all the more.
However…
If Lee Wang-ya had not been born as the emperor's son, would he have been able to wield such influence as he does now? Just because they were born with the blood of kings and generals, they started with indescribable advantages.
Nok-gi, who had crawled up from rock bottom, did not like this aspect of Lee Wang-ya. If he had not been royalty, he might have been able to admire him with a pure heart, but because he was royalty, he could not fully acknowledge his abilities.
"Are you saying infiltration is impossible?"
"It is possible."
"But?"
"…However, if our involvement were to be discovered, wouldn't the backlash be too severe? Moreover, looking at the situation coldly, infiltrating Wei Yan-ho's quarters, eliminating only him without being caught, and getting out—that would be impossible for anyone in the world."
"Hmm…"
Nok-gi nodded quietly. That was certainly true.
'That young brat…'
It was certain that the young fool Wei Yan-ho was still immature, but when it came to his martial prowess, he was among the finest in the world.
"So what is that bastard doing now?"
"…He seems to be preparing to enter the palace."
Nok-gi was becoming increasingly irritated.
"Are you saying we should just leave him be?"
"It seems Lee Wang-ya intends to have Wei Yan-ho ride in his carriage. Lee Wang-ya's imperial carriage is also preparing to enter the palace."
"And so?"
"…Grand Eunuch, we cannot attack an imperial carriage. Moreover, the Inspector's imperial carriage was bestowed directly by His Majesty. To attack such a carriage would be tantamount to committing treason."
"I told you that since you couldn't prevent him from coming to Beijing, you should at least prevent him from entering the palace. But you're saying you can't even do that?"
"Please kill me!"
Nok-gi's face twisted with rage.
'Wei Yan-ho, Wei Yan-ho…'
Wherever that bastard's name was heard, nothing went right. And now that bastard had finally appeared before him.
Nok-gi couldn't feel good about it because it seemed to herald his own destruction.
"Fine."
Nok-gi fanned his face with his fan several times. Then, with a somewhat calmer expression, he opened his mouth.
"Strange. If he's making a formal entrance to the palace, he wouldn't be able to ride in an imperial carriage. That means…"
Nok-gi smiled wickedly.
"Lee Wang-ya, Lee Wang-ya… making a mistake at the very end. You've forgotten that paths that deviate from propriety are bound to cause trouble, haven't you?"
Muttering to himself and giggling, Nok-gi turned his head and commanded Yeong-ban.
"Prepare a carriage and court robes."
"Pardon?"
"We're entering the palace. An opportunity has come."
Nok-gi rose from his seat.
"Grand Eunuch, what do you mean by an opportunity?"
"There's no time to talk."
Nok-gi waved his hand to cut off Yeong-ban's words and smiled ominously.
"I was thinking wrong. This isn't the kind of person you stop with such methods. To face him with what he considers his strength would be unthinkable even from a strategic standpoint. You shouldn't confront him with martial force. He should be confronted not with martial force, but with strategy."
"You speak truly."
"No matter how agile that bastard's body might be, the imperial palace is my domain. He'll have to learn what it means to enter it. Send word to the imperial court. Tell them to delay his audience until I arrive."
Nok-gi walked forward.
'To show weakness in front of this Nok-gi… Lee Wang-ya, you will regret this.'
***
"This is the imperial palace?"
"That's right."
"It's somewhat disappointing."
"Disappointing?"
"Yes. Since it's where the emperor lives, I wondered if even the walls were made of gold. But it just feels like a big hall—I don't particularly feel anything special about it."
"Tsk tsk tsk."
Lee Wang-ya clicked his tongue at Wei Yan-ho's words.
"Don't you know that the more luxurious the place where the emperor lives, the harder life becomes for the people? Since so many civil and military officials come and go, the size had to be increased, but making the palace itself glamorous is something that should be avoided. From the founding emperor onward…"
"Yes, yes, I've heard your good words."
He felt a tight pressure at the back of his neck.
'Endure it.'
Lee Wang-ya ground his teeth grittily.
The reason he had been able to bicker with Wei Yan-ho until now was because the people around them were those who could see such behavior without problem.
Either they were completely won over by his dignity and would never leak words to the outside, or they had no connection to him so whatever they said wouldn't matter.
But now it was different.
He was heading to the imperial palace with Wei Yan-ho in his carriage. If those entering the palace by the same route or the gossips surrounding the imperial family saw him bickering with a child young enough to be his son?
'Horrible.'
Lee Wang-ya shook his head vigorously. This wasn't something that could be handled just by his dignity falling to the ground. Even the imperial family's dignity would be buried in the dirt.
Although Lee Wang-ya usually valued modesty and tried not to put on airs, he wasn't stupid enough not to distinguish between damaging his own face and undermining the imperial family's dignity.
"Stop sticking your head out of the window!"
"It's stuffy in here."
"I understand, so put your head back in!"
"By any chance…"
Wei Yan-ho asked with slightly moist eyes.
"Are you embarrassed by me?"
"Do I really need to say that in words for you to understand?"
"Tch."
Wei Yan-ho plopped down in his seat with a sullen face. Lee Wang-ya felt devastated watching this scene.
'Really, is this okay?'
Although Moon Yu-hwan had strongly insisted and he had no choice but to follow his wishes, he was still negative about having the emperor and Wei Yan-ho meet face to face.
'They're too different.'
People usually grow close and feel affection for each other through commonality. There are other cases, but in most situations, compatibility is important. However, in Lee Wang-ya's view, Wei Yan-ho and the emperor were fundamentally different people.
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"That… you said that eunuch Nok-gi is clouding His Majesty's judgment."
"That's right."
"But why do you just leave that eunuch Nok-gi alone?"
"Just leave him alone! Can't you see that I'm doing everything I can to catch and kill that bastard right now?"
"That's what I don't understand. Why not just catch and kill him? It doesn't seem impossible with your martial skills."
"Ugh."
Lee Wang-ya groaned. It was puzzling how to explain where to start and where to end to this naive fool.
'Well, where would this guy's interest in such matters come from.'
"He has His Majesty's favor."
"Yes, yes, I know that. You said His Majesty has strange tastes and favors eunuchs."
"You fool! How dare you speak such nonsense!"
When Lee Wang-ya shouted with a frosty aura, even the great Wei Yan-ho flinched.
"You may joke with me and be rude to me. But if you try to slander His Majesty with that wicked tongue one more time, I will pull out your tongue by any means necessary."
"…Tch."
Wei Yan-ho sulked and retorted.
"Do I really have to go that far for someone who doesn't trust his own brothers and only likes eunuchs?"
"It's not that His Majesty doesn't trust his brothers. It's that he can't trust them because they are his brothers."
"What does that mean?"
Lee Wang-ya sighed.
"It would be difficult for you to understand. But let me tell you one thing: His Majesty not favoring me is not something to blame. Rather, the fact that he keeps me alive is remarkable."
"Huh?"
"…When you meet His Majesty, you'll understand. How great an anguish he carries."
"Hmm…"
Lee Wang-ya's face looked so bitter as he spoke that even Wei Yan-ho couldn't argue further.
"Can I really ask one thing?"
"Speak."
"What exactly are you trusting in me to have me meet His Majesty?"
"…Right?"
"No matter how I think about it, I don't understand. I'm not some cure-all medicine, and what would change just because I meet His Majesty? All I could do is perform tricks in front of him, and I don't think that would accomplish anything special."
"I think the same."
"Then please speak honestly."
"Honestly?"
"I mean, all this happened because of that eunuch Nok-gi."
"That's right…"
"But you can't openly kill that eunuch Nok-gi?"
"That's right."
"Then I could just kill him."
"…Hm?"
Lee Wang-ya's eyes widened.
"No matter how I think about it, that seems to be the only thing you could want from me. Just get me reasonably close and I'll take care of that eunuch Nok-gi myself."
"You fool!"
Lee Wang-ya opened his mouth wide, then closed it again.
'It's not a bad idea.'
No matter how much Lee Wang-ya was bringing Wei Yan-ho into the palace, as long as Lee Wang-ya didn't directly act, it would be difficult to hold him responsible. Being royalty was a position with such authority.
"Then what would you do?"
"Hehe, I can manage to escape well on my own. Just take good care of my family. As for me, well, I'm someone who could live well anywhere outside the Central Plains as long as I have a place to lie down."
"Stop talking nonsense, you fool! You're trying to use this as an excuse to leave the Central Plains and play around."
"…You're perceptive."
Lee Wang-ya smiled bitterly.
The fact that he was tempted for even a moment meant that such thoughts existed within him too.
'It must be the proper way or not at all.'
The moment the end justifies the means, ideals become corrupted. If he truly wanted to achieve his goal, the only thing he should choose was the proper path.
"Listen."
"Yes."
"Until now, I've indulged all your mischief. But not from now on."
Lee Wang-ya spoke with a serious face.
"The imperial palace is like a dragon's den and tiger's lair. One word from you could cost your family their heads. So never let your guard down and don't lose your manners."
"Ay, old man. No matter how stupid I might look, I know that much. Who do you take me for, a fool?"
"…Don't do that kind of thing, you bastard, Lee Wang-ya muttered inwardly."
Lee Wang-ya was becoming more and more anxious.