Chapter 525
Chapter 525
Chapter 525. Facing Each Other Yet Again (6)
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
Hm? Made his brother die? What in the world does that mean?
Mister Meng Cheon continued speaking.
“The Young Palace Head I have seen is someone who keeps his mouth shut. And you are also someone who will not give up unless I tell you the truth…… so I am telling you this.” (Meng Cheon)
“I will listen.” (MC)
“In truth, I am the younger of a pair of twins. And of those born as twins, one cannot be raised in this palace.” (Meng Cheon)
Ah…….
Come to think of it, when I was being educated by Young Palace Head Bing Haerin before, I heard about this.
According to one theory, twins mean two flames.
If there are two fires, it becomes blaze.
It also means a great fire, but it can also mean suffering.
Perhaps because of that, in Zhurong Palace, when twins are born, they select people who keep their mouths shut and have one of them raised outside.
Usually, the one raised outside is the younger one.
“My brother was an extremely affectionate person. So he would often come find me and play with me.” (Meng Cheon)
“…….” (MC)
“But was it around seven years ago? My brother’s complexion began to grow worse and worse. I questioned him many times, but my brother absolutely refused to tell me.” (Meng Cheon)
“…….” (MC)
“Then five years ago, to be precise when my eldest brother went to the Northern Sea Ice Palace for the conference, I was suddenly summoned to this palace. And from Father, I heard news like a bolt from the blue. My brother had died…… so now I was to take his place.” (Meng Cheon)
If so, when he said he killed his brother, perhaps…….
“Suicide?” (MC)
“Yes.” (Meng Cheon)
He nodded.
“Father did not tell me about it, but I came to know through the people in my residence. And about whose fault it was that he made that choice.” (Meng Cheon)
“…….” (MC)
No words of comfort would come out.
Because any words of comfort would feel like pretense or deception.
“My eldest brother’s torment killed my younger brother. And Father called me here in order to keep that a secret. As you know, in this palace, suicide is an extremely disgraceful thing.” (Meng Cheon)
“Do you resent your father by any chance?” (MC)
“I do not.” (Meng Cheon)
He shook his head.
“Though I could not live in this palace and had to stay outside, my life was comfortable and abundant. My father and mother did not come often, but they would come sometimes, cherish me, and look after me carefully.” (Meng Cheon)
“…….” (MC)
“And it was a choice to avoid placing the dishonor of having committed suicide upon my brother, so why would I dislike that? It is what I would have wanted too.” (Meng Cheon)
“Then why do you say you do not wish to sit in the seat of Young Palace Head?” (MC)
“I told you, did I not? I do not wish to grant that man’s request.” (Meng Cheon)
“Then it is not the position of Young Palace Head itself that you dislike.” (MC)
“No.” (Meng Cheon)
“Then the solution is simple.” (MC)
At my words, he looked at me and tilted his head.
“If your father commands it, you will obey. Because that would not be Mister Meng Hyun’s request, but your father’s command.” (MC)
At my words, he blinked.
“Uh…….” (Meng Cheon)
“I am right, am I not? You said you have no ill feelings toward your father.” (MC)
“That is true, but…….” (Meng Cheon)
“To be honest, the reason I said I would persuade Mister Meng Cheon…… mm, may I call you that?” (MC)
“Yes. It does not matter. Twins of this palace only have one name.” (Meng Cheon)
“I see. In any case, the reason I said I would persuade Mister Meng Cheon was not for that man’s sake, but for this Zhurong Palace.” (MC)
In truth, there is also my own gain, but saying that would be a bit much.
“Is Zhurong Palace not the rival of the Northern Sea Ice Palace? Losing a rival is a sad thing.” (MC)
“……I see.” (Meng Cheon)
“By the way, I thought Mister Meng Hyun had done many wrongs, but had not committed a crime deserving death…….” (MC)
I smiled bitterly.
“He did commit a crime deserving death.” (MC)
By the way, did the Palace Head, their father, truly not know that the second son had committed suicide because of the eldest son’s torment?
He probably knew it all.
And yet the reason he kept it secret and let it pass was probably because revealing it would only uncover the second son’s dishonor.
In other words, deposing Mister Meng Hyun from the position of Young Palace Head was not an impulsive decision.
The Palace Head truly endured a great deal.
I said to him,
“Mister Meng Hyun probably will not live very long. Still, I think he should know about the sins he committed before he dies.” (MC)
At my words, he nodded.
“I think the same.” (Meng Cheon)
The next day.
I received a reply from Master.
Master was delighted by the things I had discovered, and at the same time, he showed many emotions.
Regret and longing toward the Palace Head of Zhurong Palace.
Relief and anger at having uncovered that the culprit was the Blood Cult, and so on…….
However, since we did not know what force the Blood Cult had disguised itself as, or which force it was attached to, he told me to continue being careful.
And he also said he would stop by Zhurong Palace before long.
I am looking forward to the meeting between the two of them.
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A few days later.
The Palace Head of Zhurong Palace returned.
Naturally, it was a great victory.
The head of the Black Lotus Gang’s Boss was stuck on the spear Chief Administrator Hae Dalman carried.
Thus, the Black Lotus Gang, which had plunged the Yunnan region into terror in my previous life, disappeared.
“You have worked hard.” (MC)
At the greetings from me and Young Palace Head Bing Haerin, he nodded.
“Thank you for your consideration. I will make sure the conference can begin as soon as possible.” (Palace Head)
“Yes.” (MC)
And a few days later.
I heard that Mister Meng Cheon had become the Young Palace Head.
That turned out well.
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Mid-April.
At last, the conference began today.
Sitting in front of me were Mister Meng Cheon, no, Young Palace Head Meng Cheon, and Mister Hae Hong.
Mister Hae Hong also seemed to have suffered a great deal emotionally in the meantime, as he had lost a lot of weight.
He had been forced into isolated training, and it must have pained him to hear about everything that had happened.
“Young Palace Head. These are the contents of today’s conference.” (Hae Hong)
But seeing him attend to Young Palace Head Meng Cheon more calmly than expected, I suppose he did not have much loyalty toward Mister Meng Hyun.
“Then let us begin the conference.” (Bing Haerin)
At Young Palace Head Bing Haerin’s words, Young Palace Head Meng Cheon replied.
“First, regarding the first agenda item…….” (Meng Cheon)
The meeting proceeded as smoothly as flowing water.
If Mister Meng Hyun had been in that seat, it probably would not have gone this smoothly.
Young Palace Head Bing Haerin had an extremely satisfied expression.
Through this conference, both the Northern Sea Ice Palace and Zhurong Palace once again confirmed each other’s territories, and the armistice memorandum of understanding proceeded as it was.
Well, unless something special happens, there is no reason for it to change.
After the conference ended, Young Palace Head Bing Haerin and I headed to our residence.
“To think it proceeded this smoothly! It is so nice.” (Bing Haerin)
“Is that so?” (MC)
“Yes.” (Bing Haerin)
She nodded.
“The conference five years ago was truly difficult, with him finding ridiculous faults. Honestly, that was just him delaying the conference somehow to see my face longer…… but it was truly irritating.” (Bing Haerin)
“Hahaha. I see.” (MC)
“By the way, that Mister is rather pitiful too.” (Bing Haerin)
At Young Palace Head Bing Haerin’s words, I did not answer and merely smiled.
Pitiful, huh…….
I had thought that too, but after hearing what Mister Meng Cheon said, that thought vanished completely.
Because I thought he was simply receiving back his own Karmic Retribution.
Before I knew it, we had arrived at the residence.
“Then I will see you later.” (MC)
“Yes. Rest well.” (Bing Haerin)
Because a banquet was scheduled to be held in the evening to commemorate the successful conclusion of this conference.
“Gareung?” (Hwasik)
“Kui!” (Geumryeong)
“Grr…….” (Hwasik)
Sounds of animals, no, spiritual beasts, came from my room.
I sighed and opened the door.
“What are you all doing here?” (MC)
As expected, inside my room…… hm? What is that?
A tiger cub?
For a moment, I was flustered, but from the tiger cub’s aura, I realized that this fellow was Hwasik.
It seems he usually stays in the form of a tiger cub.
I heard that Hwasik had performed tremendously in this punitive expedition against the Black Lotus Gang.
By the way, it seems Geumryeong is explaining something to Hwasik.
“Kui! Kui!” (Geumryeong)
“Grr?” (Hwasik)
“Kui!” (Geumryeong)
Geumryeong was bragging to Hwasik about everything he had seen until now.
Well, Hwasik has probably only been here in Zhurong Palace, but Geumryeong has followed me all over the empire.
That aside…….
“Why are you all here, of all places?” (MC)
“Kui!” (Geumryeong)
“You say this place is the safest and most comfortable?” (MC)
Since that was not wrong, I had nothing to say.
When Hwasik saw me, he quickly showed his belly and panted.
I gave a faint laugh, picked Hwasik up, placed him on my lap, and stroked his belly, and Hwasik went wild with delight.
Are you a puppy?
And Geumryeong was…….
Hmph, now he does not get jealous…… is not the case.
Even if he pretends not to be jealous, Geumryeong will not know it. That his own tail is not calm.
I took out a silver coin from my robes and gave it to him.
“Here, eat.” (MC)
“Kui!” (Geumryeong)
Only now has his tail become a little docile.
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Evening came.
For the banquet, I headed to the rear garden prepared in front of Zhurong Palace.
Since it was a banquet attended by everyone from the Northern Sea Ice Palace party and all of Zhurong Palace’s leading figures, a wide space was needed.
I sat at the seat of honor with Young Palace Head Bing Haerin and Miss Seo Hyang.
“I hope the friendly relationship between this palace and the Northern Sea Ice Palace will continue forever.” (Palace Head)
With the congratulatory address from the Palace Head of Zhurong Palace, the banquet began in earnest.
Before each person, pu’er tea, a specialty of Yunnan Province, had been prepared.
Originally, Zhurong Palace forbids alcohol.
Why?
Because they know their own tempers are quick.
If they drink, get drunk, and cause an incident, it will be a large one, so they forbid alcohol from the start.
And since this is a hot region, they get drunk quickly too.
It seems a little different from the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
The Seolpung Palace and the Northern Sea Ice Palace like alcohol enough to brew their own, such as Ice Lotus Wine.
Perhaps it is to endure the bitter cold of the North Sea?
They have been having a hard time for the past few years because of the prohibition order.
Still, the poor harvest will end soon, and the prohibition order will be lifted too.
I ate my fill and enjoyed the food.
Of course, Mister Meng Hyun was not present here.
Hm?
I felt this during the conference earlier too, but Young Palace Head Meng Cheon and Mister Hae Hong seem to get along well.
Since he was friends with the one who caused his brother to die, I thought he would dislike Mister Hae Hong too.
When the banquet broke up and we were returning, I quietly asked Young Palace Head Meng Cheon.
“Ah…… Mister Hae is someone I am grateful to.” (Meng Cheon)
“Yes?” (MC)
“Even while being scolded by my eldest brother, he still cared about me. And…… he said my brother also received help from him.” (Meng Cheon)
So there was no emotional rift between them.
The next day.
We finished our preparations to return.
And with the Palace Head of Zhurong Palace, the Great Lady, and many others seeing us off, we left Zhurong Palace.
At last, we are returning to the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
However, I intend to head not to the Northern Sea Ice Palace, but to the main headquarters in Hubei Province.
Because now that the fleet will soon set sail for trade with foreign countries, there is much to do.
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After Eun Seoho’s party returned.
Zhurong Palace quickly returned to daily life.
And Meng Cheon was officially appointed as Young Palace Head.
For the swift progress of the conference, he had participated as the representative at the Heat-Ice Conference in the capacity of Young Palace Head, but the formal appointment was now.
“I hope you will become a splendid Young Palace Head who supports this palace from now on.” (Great Lady)
At the Great Lady’s words, he answered.
“Yes. Mother.” (Meng Cheon)
“I am always sorry to you.” (Palace Head)
At the Palace Head of Zhurong Palace’s words, Meng Cheon shook his head and said,
“Please do not think that. I do not resent you, Father.” (Meng Cheon)
“I am grateful for that alone.” (Palace Head)
Suddenly, Meng Cheon recalled the words Eun Seoho had said to him.
“If your father commands it, you will obey. Because that would not be Mister Meng Hyun’s request, but your father’s command.” (Eun Seoho)
It had been a blind spot.
“Is Zhurong Palace not the rival of the Northern Sea Ice Palace? Losing a rival is a sad thing.” (Eun Seoho)
And the sincerity he showed.
In the end, he decided to become Young Palace Head according to his father’s command.
‘He was a strange person.’ (Meng Cheon)
The place he headed to immediately after finishing the Young Palace Head enthronement ceremony was Meng Hyun’s residence.
“Oh? You came?” (Meng Hyun)
Meng Hyun greeted him with a smile.
But to Meng Cheon, that sight was revolting.
‘Now you smile at me? With what shame?’ (Meng Cheon)
Thinking so, he responded.
“Yes. Hyung-nim.” (Meng Cheon)
“I heard. They said today was your Young Palace Head enthronement ceremony? That ceremonial robe suits you well.” (Meng Hyun)
“Thank you.” (Meng Cheon)
He sat in front of him and said,
“But Hyung-nim. Do you know that?” (Meng Cheon)
“……?” (Meng Hyun)
“I am not your first younger brother, but your second younger brother.” (Meng Cheon)
“What does that mean?” (Meng Hyun)
“It is a common story. Twins were born in Zhurong Palace, and the younger one was raised outside…….” (Meng Cheon)
Meng Cheon continued.
“And I am the one who was raised outside.” (Meng Cheon)
To Meng Hyun, this was a shocking story he was hearing for the first time.
“W-what does that…… then, the other one?” (Meng Hyun)
If one of them was raised outside, that meant there was another one who had been raised in this palace.
“Hyung-nim, you killed him.” (Meng Cheon)
“What does that mean? I killed him?” (Meng Hyun)
“He could not endure your torment and committed suicide. Father kept this secret and called me to this palace.” (Meng Cheon)
“…….” (Meng Hyun)
“Do you think I stayed in the library because you tormented me and I was trying to avoid it? I only did that because I did not want my identity to be discovered.” (Meng Cheon)
“…….” (Meng Hyun)
“Honestly, I considered keeping it a secret forever, but someone said this. That even if a person dies, he should know about the sins he committed before he dies. I think the same. That is why I am telling you.” (Meng Cheon)
Struck by a shock as if his head had been smashed, Meng Hyun could not say a word.
He had…… killed his younger brother!
“I, I only tormented him a little…….” (Meng Hyun)
“To you, Hyung-nim, it was a little, but for the one on the receiving end, it is hell.” (Meng Cheon)
“…….” (Meng Hyun)
“So, Hyung-nim. Do not even think of committing suicide. Live your entire life in that body, begging my brother for forgiveness. That is the best atonement you can make.” (Meng Cheon)
He rose from his seat and left that place.
Tak!
“Uaaaagh!” (Meng Hyun)
A desperate wail came from behind him.
For some reason, Meng Cheon felt as if his chest had been cleared wide open.
‘Brother, are you watching?’ (Meng Cheon)
It was a day in April when the sunlight shone as if resembling the smile of his twin brother, who had always smiled at him.