Chapter 511
Chapter 511
Chapter 511. Heir (5)
After catching my breath, I continued speaking.
“The most important evidence in this matter was the poem written on the wall. Thus, with Poet Songrok’s cooperation, I selected the poets who had composed poetry and prose containing habits similar to those revealed in that poem.” (Eun Seoho)
“Similar habits?” (Emperor)
I reported Poet Songrok’s explanation to the Emperor exactly as it was.
“But there was a problem. Among those who participated in the preliminary round of this poetry and prose contest, as many as five people with similar habits emerged.” (Eun Seoho)
“As many as five?” (Emperor)
“Yes, Your Majesty.” (Eun Seoho)
I nodded.
“Then that must mean the culprit is among them. But you said the eyesight of the man named Namgung I-in whom you caught was damaged, did you not?” (Emperor)
“That is correct. So we must pick out the culprit relying only on his testimony and hearing, but the situation is not easy.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, the Emperor clicked his tongue.
“Elder Namgung Geonji, why did that bastard fail to hold back his anger and throw a fit, making matters come to this...” (Emperor)
That is what I want to say.
Suppressing the bitter smile that was about to emerge, I continued speaking.
“But I believe we may be able to identify the culprit without relying only on that.” (Eun Seoho)
“How so?” (Emperor)
“From here on is the main point.” (Eun Seoho)
I paused for a moment. Everyone looked as though they were dying of curiosity.
“One day, in a certain village, there was a renowned scholar and poet. But to a man named Na Jeongsu, he was appetizing prey. Because the higher his reputation was, the more widely Na Jeongsu’s own name would become known if he tore down his poetry and prose.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued explaining.
“But he could not readily seize an opportunity. Naturally so, because that scholar was a man of skill great enough to match his reputation. Even so, he was human, and because of that, he eventually made a mistake.” (Eun Seoho)
I paused briefly to breathe, then continued explaining.
“Naturally, Na Jeongsu did not miss that chance, and he wrote a poem criticizing and pointing out that mistake and pasted it on the wall. The scholar, whose pride was as strong as his skill, ultimately chose to take his own life and wash away his disgrace.” (Eun Seoho)
My explanation ended, but the Emperor still tilted his head.
“That is a matter I know as well. Was that not how that man Na Jeongsu built his infamy?” (Emperor)
“However.” (Eun Seoho)
I smiled faintly.
“That scholar, as excellent as his character was, also devoted himself to nurturing younger students.” (Eun Seoho)
“Younger students...?” (Emperor)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
Only then did the Emperor wear an expression as though he understood and slapped his knee.
“Oho! So that is it!” (Emperor)
“Yes. Those disciples were enraged that their master’s honor had been soiled and by their master’s death, and resolved to take revenge.” (Eun Seoho)
“But surely you cannot be certain of the culprits from only that?” (Master Jinyoung)
At Master Jinyoung’s words, I nodded.
“Of course, it is still only my conjecture. However... there was something in the poem written on the wall that kept bothering me.” (Eun Seoho)
“What is that?” (Master Jinyoung)
I recited that poem. I had seen it so many times that I remembered that much of it.
“Your poem tore apart the earth
and shredded even the heavens.
One who condemns others
must think that he himself
may also be condemned,
and if that condemnation kills another,
must he not be prepared for death himself;
did you truly not know?
Since you shredded another’s heart,
you too shall be shredded.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes, that was the poem.” (Emperor)
“This poem consists of ten lines in all.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Master Jinyoung counted them on his fingers and soon nodded.
“You are right.” (Master Jinyoung)
“That poem has an original text.” (Eun Seoho)
I took out the paper with the poem written on it from my robe and held it out.
At that, Master Jinyoung personally received and read it before passing it to the Emperor.
The Emperor also read it.
“Your poem tore apart the earth
and shredded even the heavens.
One who condemns others
must think that he himself may also be condemned,
and if that condemnation kills another,
did you truly not know that he himself must also be prepared for death?
Since you shredded another’s heart,
you too shall be shredded.” (Emperor)
After the Emperor finished reading aloud, I asked calmly.
“When compared with this, does something not seem a little strange?” (Eun Seoho)
“What do you mean?” (Emperor)
“The content is the same, but the original text has eight lines, while that poem has ten.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is true. The fourth and fifth lines were split, and so were the seventh and eighth lines.” (Emperor)
“That is correct. This was so that five people could each divide and write two lines.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, the Emperor’s eyes narrowed.
“What?” (Emperor)
“They used not a brush, but beaten tree roots as a brush to write the poem precisely so that this would not be discovered. But if examined closely, the thickness of the letters differs subtly.” (Eun Seoho)
From the moment I first saw that poem, I had felt a strange sense of incongruity.
And only recently had I been able to realize what that sense of incongruity was.
No matter how much one beat a tree stem and used it to write letters in order to disguise one’s handwriting, there is something that inevitably shows.
The writing pressure of the person who wrote those letters.
“They divided one poem among five people and wrote it on the wall. That is the proof that all five of them are the culprits in this critic murder case.” (Eun Seoho)
“......”
A brief silence flowed.
“Hahahaha!” (Emperor)
What broke that silence was the Emperor’s hearty laughter.
“To think you truly solved it! Impressive!” (Emperor)
“This is merely my conjecture.” (Eun Seoho)
“If it were merely conjecture, you would not have asked me to deal leniently with them. The leniency you mentioned at the start of this story must have been leniency for those disciples.” (Emperor)
He knows well.
“As expected, you are an outstanding talent.” (Emperor)
“Your imperial grace is immeasurable.” (Eun Seoho)
But why does cold sweat run down my back whenever the Emperor calls me an outstanding talent?
I bowed politely and said,
“There is one more thing I must tell you. In truth, the poem written on that wall is said to have been the death poem left by the deceased teacher.” (Eun Seoho)
“Oh dear!” (Emperor)
I continued speaking.
“At first, I thought it was a poem written by someone else, but that was not the case. However, the reason similar habits appear in that poem and in their poetry and prose is because they studied under the same teacher. When one learns poetry and prose from childhood, is it not natural to be influenced by one’s teacher?” (Eun Seoho)
Because of that, in the end, it had also become evidence showing the relationship between the five poets and the dead scholar.
“Though murder must not be committed, I do not think there is an absolute standard here.” (Eun Seoho)
“There is no absolute standard?” (Emperor)
“Yes. For example, is a person who punishes villains not called a hero? And Poet Na Jeongsu was a villain who tore apart the hearts of many people.” (Eun Seoho)
“...Mm, that is true.” (Emperor)
“Therefore, I earnestly request that you show them leniency.” (Eun Seoho)
.
.
.
The next day.
Those five poets were summoned to the county office. And Master Jinyoung and I personally met them.
“Why have you called us here?” (Jo Saeng)
The one who asked me in a trembling voice was a man named Jo Saeng.
Even if they tried hard to appear calm, did they think I would not know they were nervous?
“Would you not know better why I called you?” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, one of them let out a sigh.
“As expected... we should not have used a contract killer and should have handled it ourselves. Surely that man confessed about this matter.” (Poet)
His expression showed no regret about this matter.
At those words, I shook my head.
“I am sorry, but that is not it.” (Eun Seoho)
“It is not?” (Poet)
“Yes. It is true that we captured that contract killer alive, but due to certain circumstances, that man has lost his eyesight, so his testimony can no longer be trusted.” (Eun Seoho)
“Th-then how?” (Poet)
Soon, the five men glared at one another.
I waved my hand and explained.
“Ah, there was no traitor either.” (Eun Seoho)
“Then how?” (Poet)
“The poem written on the wall. That was the evidence in this matter.” (Eun Seoho)
“Pardon?” (Poet)
I explained it to them.
After hearing my explanation, they muttered with hollow expressions.
“To think that was what caught us by the ankle...” (Poet)
“We never even thought of that.” (Poet)
I said to them,
“I heard that it was the death poem of your late master.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is correct.” (Poet)
“In my view, perhaps your master was thinking of you, his disciples, until the very end.” (Eun Seoho)
“What does that mean?” (Poet)
“I mean that that death poem informed me that you were the culprits in this matter. So that your hearts would not rot away.” (Eun Seoho)
Master Jinyoung, who had been quietly listening beside me, spoke at my words.
“Young Captain Eun Seoho is right. Since my occupation is that of a martial artist, I have killed countless people. Even if the opponent is a villain, harming someone’s life can never be good for the heart.” (Master Jinyoung)
He continued.
“At first, one does not know it. But as guilt gradually begins to bind you, it ultimately ravages your mind as well. That is why, among those who have learned martial arts, there are some who cannot overcome the guilt of having killed people and make an extreme choice.” (Master Jinyoung)
I continued speaking.
“On top of that, it was a matter of secretly killing someone, was it not? So the pressure of that guilt must be enormous. But now that matter has been revealed like this. You will likely feel relieved instead.” (Eun Seoho)
“......”
One among them opened his mouth with a heavy expression.
“Hoo... Master urged us not to take revenge, but we simply could not endure it without taking revenge.” (Poet)
I quietly nodded.
Because I understood how they felt.
“Then what punishment will we receive? In any case, we committed murder, so it seems we cannot avoid execution.” (Poet)
“Who knows?” (Eun Seoho)
I smiled and said,
“I do not know well either. So go and study poetry and prose diligently.” (Eun Seoho)
“Pardon?” (Poet)
They all looked bewildered, but I did not explain any further and brought up something else.
“His Majesty’s imperial decree has come down ordering you to participate in the final poetry and prose contest.” (Eun Seoho)
.
.
.
A few days later.
The finals of the poetry and prose contest.
It was the third contest, held only among the poets who had advanced from the second contest.
Because the winner would be decided here, the Emperor personally appeared and encouraged them.
“I was very pleased while reading your poems and prose. But on the other hand, I am also filled with expectation. Because I believe you have not yet faced your limits.” (Emperor)
“......”
“I hope that you squeeze out your thoughts even further. Ponder, and ponder again. If you do, in the end, you will face brilliant glory!” (Emperor)
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!” (Crowd)
“Long live!” (Crowd)
“Long live!” (Crowd)
Those gathered there shouted three cheers of long life and offered the Emperor the utmost courtesy.
It was now the Emperor’s turn to step down from the platform, but he did not descend and continued speaking.
“I wish to use this occasion to reveal one truth to you.” (Emperor)
At this, everyone’s attention focused on the Emperor.
“Recently, there was an incident in which a man who had come to Beijing to participate in this poetry and prose contest was murdered inside the inner city.” (Emperor)
“......!”
At those words, everyone was startled and looked at the Emperor with eyes as wide as rabbits’.
In truth, since that story had caused an uproar in Beijing, there was no one among those attending this poetry and prose contest who did not know it.
But they had not imagined that the Emperor would speak of it in such a public place.
“The name of the dead man was Na Jeongsu.” (Emperor)
“......”
“That man was a harm to this empire.” (Emperor)
“......!”
Everyone was startled a second time.
They had all thought that Na Jeongsu was a piece of trash, but they had never dreamed that the Emperor would say so publicly like this.
“As Emperor, I feel sorry toward you all that I did not dispose of such a man in advance.” (Emperor)
At those words, everyone prostrated themselves on the spot and shouted.
“We are unworthy, Your Majesty. Please take back those words!” (Crowd)
“Please take them back!” (Crowd)
The Emperor looked at them for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“This time, I heard a very interesting story.” (Emperor)
From the Emperor’s mouth flowed a concise summary of what I had reported.
“I pondered what punishment I should give those five disciples.” (Emperor)
As I heard those words, I looked at the dead scholar’s disciples.
They, who had been called here not long ago, were now extremely tense.
“I have decided to make their punishment conditional.” (Emperor)
The Emperor looked toward where the five men were and continued speaking.
“If they do not lose their honor, I too will not punish them. But if they lose their honor, I will behead them.” (Emperor)
That was the Emperor’s response to my request to show them leniency.
At those words, the five disciples merely blinked. They too must not understand this situation.
But they would soon come to know.
That the only way for them to preserve their lives was to elevate their honor.
And that the Emperor had bestowed tremendous mercy upon them.
By the way... if it is the Emperor I know, he would not have said that solely for the purpose of showing them leniency.
There must definitely be some other meaning implied as well.
“I hope that those gathered here will have the heart to establish themselves and make their names known. And now, the final round of the poetry and prose contest shall begin.” (Emperor)
Establishing oneself and making one’s name known.
At those words, I found myself laughing without realizing it.
To establish oneself and make one’s name known meant, in other words, to enter government service.
Of course.
.
.
.
The finals of the poetry and prose contest began.
After seeing the start of it, I immediately headed to the Ministry of Justice.
Because I had to meet His Excellency the Minister of Justice and relay this matter to him.
“Hahaha!” (Lord Bang)
The moment he saw me, Lord Bang, the Minister of Justice, laughed and said,
“I heard. They say you played a tremendous role this time?” (Lord Bang)
“I heard as well. That you entrusted this matter to me because you were busy with work. So what could I do? I merely rushed east and west to uncover the truth.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Lord Bang laughed softly.
“Somehow, there is a thorn in your words.” (Lord Bang)
“......”
“Seeing this matter, I realized something. As expected, you are qualified.” (Lord Bang)
“Pardon? What qualification... do you mean?” (Eun Seoho)
“The qualification to become my successor.” (Lord Bang)
He grinned broadly.
“I, Bang Hyomyeong! I have decided to make you my successor.” (Bang Hyomyeong)
At those words, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Ah... should I really just run away?