Chapter 194
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 194
Chapter 194. Competition to Supply Silk to the Royal Family (7)
The empress asked with a faint smile.
“How did you know that I would be wearing red to the royal event?”
He had already thought of an answer to this question.
“It was just told to me by Lady Hyangbi.”
Hyangbi tilted her head, while the empress asked with an interested expression.
“Lady Hyangbi just told you?”
“Yes. I don't mean she told me with words. I'm sure Lady Hyangbi must have glanced at the silk for a moment.”
I continued.
“It means she liked it. But when she saw the Empress, she said she would refuse it. She didn't say she didn't like it or that it wasn't to her taste. She said she would refuse it. That means she can't choose that red silk.”
“I see...”
“Her Majesty the Queen Consort refused the silk to show her respect for Her Majesty the Empress, but I noticed something else. I think red is a color reserved for Her Majesty the Empress during major events at the palace.”
The Empress smiled at my calm explanation.
“You have a keen eye.”
“I'm just a remnant of a merchant.”
Baek Cheon Trading Company literally destroyed itself.
Perhaps because Eunhae Trading Company succeeded with the same theme right behind them, they became impatient, and on their second attempt, they had a conflict of opinions.
Was that a sign of things to come? On their third attempt, they went beyond a conflict of opinions and started yelling at each other.
Looking at the sour faces of the empress and her ladies-in-waiting, it didn't seem like the scores would be high.
The court official said,
“That concludes the fourth stage of the competition. Please return to your places, and we will inform you of the final competition in the near future.”
* * *
After the seven trading companies left, only those involved in the judging remained at the competition venue.
They gave scores to the Trading Company that had selected silk for them.
The highest score was five points, and each Trading Company had three chances, so the maximum score was 15 points.
The empress checked the scores they had written down and nodded.
It was just as she had expected.
“The result is already decided. The fifth stage of the competition seems meaningless.”
The difference was that overwhelming.
Soon, her gaze stopped at the name of one of the trading companies, and her expression turned cold.
She could not look kindly upon those who had done such dirty deeds in a competition she was presiding over.
And the empress was a bit vindictive.
* * *
The Baekcheon Trading Company was currently staying at an inn in Beijing. To be precise, they had rented the entire inn.
As a result, the people who had been staying there had to hurriedly pack their belongings and leave as if they were being kicked out, but the Baekcheon Trading Company didn't care.
It was the policy of the Baekcheon Trading Company, which was affiliated with the Martial Alliance, that those with power came first.
The best room in the inn was, of course, Namgung Bo's room.
“Damn it!”
Bang!
He slammed his table.
The table shattered and scattered.
Even he could see that he had ruined the fourth stage of the competition.
However, he couldn't say anything to the officers who had accompanied him.
They were all senior members of the Martial Alliance and were connected by bonds as strong as steel ropes.
If he shifted the blame or criticized them, as was his nature, the senior members who had formed ties with them would also turn their backs on him.
If that happened, his position as the next captain of the Baekcheon Trading Company would be lost.
It wasn't time yet.
He had to wait patiently.
However, Namgung Bo needed someone to take his anger out on, and the Eunhae Trading Company, which had disgraced the Baekcheon Trading Company, became that target.
And there was one more reason.
“If it weren't for the Eunhae Trading Company, I could still do it.”
Although he had ruined the fourth competition, his results in the other competitions were good.
He had to win this competition.
By any means necessary.
His eyes flashed.
“Chui!”
“Yes!”
At his call, a man named Chui entered his room.
Looking at the shattered table, it was clear that Namgung Bo was in a very bad mood.
He had to be careful.
Otherwise, he could end up like the table.
“You called?”
“Any news from our people in the palace?”
“Well...”
Seeing Namgung Bo's face turn fierce, he hurriedly replied.
“We have lost contact with them.”
“Lost contact?”
“Yes. I am trying to find out what happened.”
“I see...”
Namgung Bo had a hunch that the royal family had noticed them and dealt with them.
If that was the case...
“Chui.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We must force Eunhaesangdan to give up.”
“What?”
“Exactly what I said. They are a nuisance.”
* *
Several days passed after the fourth stage of the competition.
When I finished my morning exercises and left my quarters, Palgak bowed his head to me.
“Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.”
Today is my twentieth birthday.
That means it has been five years since I started my new life.
It feels strange, but time really flies.
I tidied myself up and headed to the dining room to eat breakfast. The Yeonjoon Trading Company also gathers together for breakfast.
I heard that this was a condition my grandfather set for my uncle when he married my aunt.
When I entered the dining room, my uncle was already there.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, did you sleep well?”
“Yes, uncle.”
“And congratulations. Today is your 20th birthday, isn't it?”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head in a clasped hands greeting, and my uncle smiled and said,
“I heard from your aunt. By the way, it's a special day, so I'm sorry you can't spend it with your family.”
“I think there are things you can't help when you're a merchant. Besides, you and my aunt are like family to me.”
“I'm glad to hear that.”
I meant it.
I visit Beijing often, so I feel as close to them as my own family.
“Come to think of it, the trading company seems to be doing well these days.”
“Thanks to your help, things have been going well since then. We even secured a new deal.”
“I'm honored.”
“It's all thanks to you.”
“No, it's because you are so capable that you were able to achieve such results.”
My uncle laughed heartily.
“I appreciate your words. By the way, you are in the final stage of the competition, aren't you?”
Yesterday, a court official visited and informed me about the fifth stage of the competition.
The final competition is tomorrow.
“Yes, I'm sure you'll do well until the end. I wish you success.”
“Thank you.”
Soon, my aunt and Hyung-nim Seon-mi also arrived at the restaurant, and everyone sincerely celebrated my birthday.
“Seo-ho.”
“Yes, Auntie.”
“I know everyone is busy, but today is your 20th birthday. It would be a shame to let it pass without celebration, so I thought we would have a banquet in the evening.”
“A banquet?”
“Yes, but it won't be anything grand. Just a small gathering for us to enjoy a delicious meal and have fun.”
“But everyone must be busy…”
“No matter how busy we are, we can spare some time for this.”
“That's right, Orabeoni.”
With even my cousins joining in, I couldn't be modest anymore.
“Thank you very much. I look forward to the dinner party.”
.
.
.
I was slowly walking around the Yeonjoon Trading Company.
Since the fourth stage of the test was different from what I had expected, I had no idea what the fifth stage would be.
So I tried to relax, but I had a bad feeling about it.
I never feel very good on my birthday.
Is it because I died on my birthday?
Maybe I'll feel better once I take revenge on the Martial Alliance and the Baekcheon Trading Company.
But today, I don't feel so good.
At that moment, a servant from the Yeonjoon Trading Company approached me.
“Captain, you have a letter.”
“What? A letter?”
“Yes, a child asked me to deliver this to you.”
I tilted my head in confusion and reached for the letter, but...
“Young master! It's dangerous! What if it's poisoned?”
Pal-gap stepped in and took the letter first.
“Huh?”
He wasn't wrong, but if that were the case, the servant who brought the letter wouldn't be fine.
However, Pal-gap looked serious, so I didn't argue and waited quietly.
Pal-gap took the letter first and checked it thoroughly for anything unusual before handing it to me.
“Why are you acting so strange? You don't usually do this.”
“I have a bad feeling about this letter.”
“...!”
At those words, my heart sank.
On the day I died at the age of thirty-nine.
I still remember the letter Jin-ho sent me at that time.
It said that he was waiting for me with my birthday dinner prepared.
When I received that letter, Pal-gap took it first and examined it thoroughly.
When I asked him why, Pal-gap tilted his head and said, “It's just that the letter looks a little ominous.”
If I hadn't ignored Pal-gap's words at that time, would the situation have been different?
“Young master? What's wrong?”
“No, nothing.”
I quickly shook my head to dispel my thoughts and opened the letter.
“...!”
“...
Damn it.
[We have kidnapped Kim-sook, the head of the Eunhae Trading Company. If you want to rescue Kim-sook, Eun-seo-ho, the captain of the Eunhae Trading Company, must come to the place below tonight with 1,000 nyang in cash, not a promissory note. If you report this to the authorities or come with soldiers, Kim-sook and his party will be killed.
”Hoo..."
I took a few deep breaths to calm myself.
Then my mind cleared.
I had experienced kidnappings and threats like this more than once in my previous life.
I couldn't let something like this faze me.
I immediately told Pal-gap.
“Find out where Geum-sook is. Right now.”
“Yes, sir!”
I thought I knew why I had been feeling uneasy today and why Pal-gap had been acting so strange.
It must be because of the letter.
It was from Baek Cheon Trading Company.
Not only did my intuition tell me so, but my logic also led me to the same conclusion.
There was only one place that would target me like this.
If it were simply for money, they wouldn't have sent a letter like that.
They want me to go alone and bring 1,000 pieces of silver.
These two things alone make their purpose clear.
They will kidnap or kill me when I am exhausted from carrying the silver.
1,000 pieces of silver is quite heavy.
If that happens, the Eunhae Trading Company will have no choice but to withdraw from the competition.
With their representative missing or killed, they won't be able to continue the competition.
By the way, they really are sloppy.
I wouldn't handle things this way.
Of course, I wouldn't resort to such petty tricks.
As I returned to my quarters and gathered my thoughts, Pal-gap entered and reported.
“Master Kim Suk says he left earlier this morning.”
“And his escort?”
“He was accompanied by a member of the Eunpung Corps.”
“He usually stays inside...”
“He said he went out to buy a birthday present for you, young master.”
“Ah...”
I felt even more sorry when I heard that he went out to buy my birthday present.
He was the one who taught me everything, so I never thought he would buy me a present...
But that's not important now.
Geumsuk is a very valuable member of our Trading Company.
He was also a strong supporter of Jungho.
Above all, she is a member of our Eunhae Trading Company, so of course we must save her.
However, I have no intention of taking the 1,000 nyang as requested in the letter.
Not only do I have no intention of giving those bastards my hard-earned money, but it is also necessary to catch them off guard.
I tapped my sleeve and called Geum-ryung.
“Geum-ryung, come here.”
“Kui?”
“Where is Geumsuk Hyeongsu being held right now? Do you happen to know?”
In response to my question, Geumryong jumped down to the floor and explained with his tail.
“So, you need something that belonged to Geumsuk Hyeongsu?”
“Kui!”
I immediately told him to bring me one of Geumsuk Hyeongsu's belongings.
“Kui! Kui. Kui!”
Then Geum-ryeong said something, and even without her tail explaining, I knew what she was saying.
“You want silver coins as a reward?”
“Kui!”
Yes, I can give you that much.
I handed Geum-ryeong the silver coins, and she eagerly took them and swallowed them.
At that moment, Pal-gap brought something belonging to Geum-sook.
Sniff, sniff.
Geum-ryung smelled it and spun around three times on the spot.
Then she looked westward and darted off.
About a moment later, Geum-ryung returned and grabbed the hem of my pants and pulled me.
“She wants me to follow her?”
“Kui!”
As I was about to hurry after him, I felt someone watching me.
If that was the case, it was only natural to take advantage of it.
I sent telepathy to Pal-gap, Yoo-eung-am, and Lee Pil.
I told them to act as if I were still in my quarters.
Then, I took only Seo-woo and Jin-yu with me and sneaked out through the window.
Following the instructions, we walked for about an hour and arrived at a quiet, dilapidated house.
It looked like an abandoned house, with parts of it collapsed.
Through the gaps, I could see Kim Haeng-su and the Silver Wind Warriors tied to pillars.
Thank goodness. They were still alive.
By the way, that bastard Namgung Bo. He went too far.
The men guarding them were none other than the Black Dao.
The Trading Company, which represented the Martial Alliance, hired the Black Dao?
Even while doing something like this, he won't dirty his own hands.
“Everyone knows the plan, right?”
“Of course.”
“Then let's go.”
How dare you do this on my birthday?
They're all dead!