Chapter 656
Chapter 656
Chapter 656. The Crown Prince’s Advisor (2)
Elder Gwimyeonpo drank down the Gangnyeong Grass decoction in the bowl in one long gulp.
“Krgh! That tastes good!” (Gwimyeonpo)
“It should. It’s water decocted from Gangnyeong Grass.” (Eun Seoho)
“I knew it! Gangnyeong Grass... wait, did you say Gangnyeong Grass?” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, the elder screamed.
“No! You mad bastard! Do you know how precious a spiritual herb Gangnyeong Grass is? Do you not know that it is something you cannot obtain even for a hundred million gold?” (Gwimyeonpo)
“I know.” (Eun Seoho)
I smiled and continued.
“But to me, your health is more important than Gangnyeong Grass, Elder.” (Eun Seoho)
“......” (Gwimyeonpo)
That was my pure sincerity, without the slightest falsehood.
After losing those precious to me so vainly in my previous life, I had realized it.
That no wealth was more precious than the people I cherished.
At my words, the elder seemed at a loss for words and stared at me blankly.
And then...
“Ahem, hmm...” (Gwimyeonpo)
He deliberately cleared his throat loudly.
Come on, Elder. You were deeply moved just now, weren’t you?
“On the day of your wedding, I will be sure to attend.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“You say something obvious. Were you not going to come?” (Eun Seoho)
“You brat, how do you really never lose a single word?” (Gwimyeonpo)
“In any case, please stay healthy. The wager you promised me before. I still remember it.” (Eun Seoho)
The content of the wager was finding out Elder Gwimyeonpo’s real birthday.
Seeing as that was chosen as the wager, it was certain that it would by no means be easy.
Not content with scraping up the Gangnyeong Grass decoction with his finger and eating it clean, the elder even sucked his finger.
“Tsk. The Crown Prince came by yesterday.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
“They say he is going to Nanjing this time.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
“That likely means His Majesty the Emperor is now beginning to think of the next generation. I have one request to make of you.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“What is it?” (Eun Seoho)
“In truth, once one becomes Emperor, one can no longer trust anything. Absolute power is a fine thing, but it also makes a person infinitely lonely. There is nowhere to open one’s heart.” (Gwimyeonpo)
I felt I knew what the elder wanted to say.
“So, I would like you to become the Crown Prince’s close friend.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“The Crown Prince’s close friend, you mean?” (Eun Seoho)
“To be precise, I suppose it would be an advisor.” (Gwimyeonpo)
The elder continued seriously.
“A lonely ruler always desires true counsel, but that very power makes it difficult to hear true counsel.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“......” (Eun Seoho)
“The jackals of the imperial court are bound to offer advice that benefits themselves.” (Gwimyeonpo)
Through the elder’s words, I could tell. The elder did not like the officials of the court.
“In worldly affairs, when something comes, something must go. If you grant my request, I too will grant yours.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“That is a difficult request.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued.
“A merchant like me values profit above all else. Perhaps I might offer advice for profit even more than the officials of the imperial palace.” (Eun Seoho)
“That does not matter.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Pardon?” (Eun Seoho)
“You say you work for your own profit, but looking at the results, they are good deeds.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“......” (Eun Seoho)
I had nothing to say.
“Hoho.” (Kwak Seohyang)
Beside me, Miss Seohyang laughed softly, and I put on an embarrassed expression.
“And it is also a more dangerous matter than one might think.” (Eun Seoho)
Because there was no way the people around him would leave the Crown Prince’s advisor alone.
“As expected, your judgment is swift. That is why I have no choice but to ask this of you all the more.” (Gwimyeonpo)
The elder nodded and continued.
“I ask this of you. I believe you will not refuse the request of this old man, who does not have many days left to live.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Did you not just drink Gangnyeong Grass decoction? It seems your lifespan has increased by at least a few years, though?” (Eun Seoho)
“......” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Ahem, that was a joke. Though I am lacking, I will try to become the best close friend I can be to His Highness the Crown Prince.” (Eun Seoho)
Being the Crown Prince’s advisor was like a double-edged sword.
Even so, the reason I accepted the proposal was because that side would make it easier to prevent the Empress’s death.
“And I will tell you my request next time.” (Eun Seoho)
“Do as you like.” (Gwimyeonpo)
.
.
.
After visiting Elder Gwimyeonpo, I returned to the trading company. After having a simple lunch, I took only Warrior Seowoo and Warrior Jin Yu with me and headed to the Changuin Escort Agency.
“Welcome.” (Agency Master)
The head of the Changuin Escort Agency welcomed me.
“Head Escort Jang Jin, whom you sent this time, was of great help.” (Eun Seoho)
“I am glad he was helpful.” (Agency Master)
“Here, this is the commission fee for the escort mission to Sichuan this time, including Head Escort Jang Jin and his party.” (Eun Seoho)
I took an envelope containing banknotes from my robes and placed it on the table.
He took it, checked the banknotes, and was startled.
“No! Is it all right for you to give us this much?” (Agency Master)
“I promised to pay generously. And since you unexpectedly had to go all the way to Sichuan and back, it must have disrupted the escort agency’s schedule as well, no? This amount takes that into account too.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is true, but... haha. If there is one thing our Changuin Escort Agency did well, it was choosing to do business with Eunhae Trading Company.” (Agency Master)
“Thank you for looking favorably upon our trading company.” (Eun Seoho)
A warm exchange continued like that, and I took out a red envelope from my robes and held it out.
After receiving it, he blinked.
“This is? Is it not a wedding invitation?” (Agency Master)
“I am getting married. The date has been set for this autumn.” (Eun Seoho)
“This is a great congratulations.” (Agency Master)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seoho)
I respectfully clasped my hands and accepted the congratulations.
“Where is Master? I heard he returned this morning after completing an escort mission. With Master’s personality, he must surely have come to the escort agency.” (Eun Seoho)
“You know him well.” (Agency Master)
The agency master gave a warm smile.
“Go to the training ground over there.” (Agency Master)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seoho)
I rose from my seat and headed to the training ground.
At the training ground of the Changuin Escort Agency, many people were swinging swords and honing their martial arts.
Master was standing still in one corner, holding a sword.
What stood directly in his line of sight was a scarecrow made of straw.
I could not tell what he was doing, but I felt that he should not be disturbed, so I stopped the person who was about to call out to Master.
And I quietly watched Master.
In truth, I was also curious about what method Master used to train.
How much time passed like that?
Master moved. No, that was not it. Master was simply standing still...
Srrrk. Thud!
The head of the scarecrow in front was cut off and slid down to the ground.
At that sight, I unconsciously touched my neck with my hand.
Because I remembered the fight with Ilsa Sword, whom I had met at the safe house where the Blood-Eyed Sword Ghost had been hiding.
The reason I had been able to live then was because Ilsa Sword had looked down on me and had not gone all out.
If he had gone all out...
I bit my lip.
“You do not look well. Did something happen?” (Master)
“Master.” (Eun Seoho)
At some point, Master had come in front of me.
“I, well...” (Eun Seoho)
I could not help hesitating over my answer.
But unable to withstand Master’s gaze as he looked steadily at me, I sighed and said,
“In truth, this time when I went to Sichuan, I nearly died.” (Eun Seoho)
“......” (Master)
After looking at me for a moment, Master said,
“Please follow me.” (Master)
The place I arrived at after following Master was a nearby river.
Master approached the riverside, picked up a pebble, and lightly threw it toward the river.
Tap! Taat! Taat! Taat!
Skipping stones. That is... water flowers.
“Oh dear. It only skipped four times. Would you like to try once as well, Young Merchant Leader?” (Master)
“I will.” (Eun Seoho)
I picked up a stone and threw it toward the river.
Taat! Taat!
“It only skipped twice. I thought you would at least manage three times.” (Master)
At that moment, without realizing it, my competitive spirit was kindled.
“I can make it skip three times too.” (Eun Seoho)
Like that, Master and I skipped stones for a long while, and around the time my arm was starting to ache, Master asked,
“Now, has your mind settled a little?” (Master)
“Pardon?” (Eun Seoho)
“When my mind was complicated, my father would take me to a snow-covered field, pack snow into balls, and compete with me to see who could throw farther. It was my father’s own way of comforting me.” (Master)
Master had suggested skipping stones to comfort me, just as Master’s father had done for him.
Whether that method had been effective, my agitated heart had settled like the river water flowing calmly.
“You said you nearly died, yes?” (Master)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
“Now that you seem to have calmed down somewhat, may I hear about the situation at the time?” (Master)
“Understood. I will tell you.” (Eun Seoho)
I explained what had happened at the time to Master in detail, and after listening to my entire story, Master opened his mouth.
“Ilsa Sword... he is an infamous one.” (Master)
“Do you know him as well, Master?” (Eun Seoho)
“I have faced him before.” (Master)
“Pardon?” (Eun Seoho)
“He crossed swords with me once and then ran away, saying it was no fun. He is a man who lives purely for amusement, but it seems his own death is not particularly amusing.” (Master)
I nodded.
“Then that means I must increase my skills further.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Master looked at me for a moment.
“Young Merchant Leader, though it has not been ten years since you began properly learning martial arts, you have already reached the peak realm. In truth, that is an astonishing thing.” (Master)
Now that I think about it... that is true.
“At present, this pace is already plenty fast. If you think too hastily, you may instead ruin things.” (Master)
“But I do not know when I may face him again, and that makes me uneasy.” (Eun Seoho)
“Do you still have the pill I gave you as a gift before?” (Master)
Come to think of it, when I became Young Merchant Leader, Master had gifted me a pill.
At the time, he had said it was a pill that protected the blood vessels from cold energy.
“Yes. I have it.” (Eun Seoho)
“If such a dangerous moment comes, take that pill. And you remember the method I taught you before, the method by which you can escape a crisis, yes?” (Master)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
He had said it was a method that applied One Point Profound Ice, and that if done well, it could block an enemy’s attack up to three times.
“If you make good use of that, you will see a way.” (Master)
Well, the dangerous part of the Great Art of Supreme Yin Ice Sea is when one forcefully raises one’s inner arts.
Because the blood vessels freeze due to excessive yin energy.
But according to Master’s words, even if my blood vessels froze, I should be able to preserve my inner arts and save my life.
Come to think of it, this is truly precious, isn’t it?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” (Master)
“Ah, it is nothing. Thank you for the advice.” (Eun Seoho)
· · ·
After the sun set and night grew dim.
Men wearing bamboo hats appeared at the bookstore Eun Seoho had visited that morning.
Whether because of the aura they gave off, or because of some instinctive sense, even the roughnecks of the bookstore avoided them from a distance without approaching.
They arrived at the pawnshop of the old man Gwimyeonpo, and the person among them clasped his hands.
“Elder. It is I, Ok.” (Crown Prince)
Perhaps having heard that voice, the door opened and the old man Gwimyeonpo came out.
“Come inside.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Yes.” (Crown Prince)
The one among them who had identified himself as Ok entered the pawnshop, took off his bamboo hat, and sat at the table.
He was the Crown Prince.
Although the old man Gwimyeonpo did not show courtesy to the Crown Prince, no one present pointed it out.
Because he had received the privilege of not having to show courtesy to anyone in the imperial family except the Emperor.
His real name was Hwangbo Hwi.
He was a person of the Hwangbo Clan, and he had thrown himself into the military at a young age.
And he had met the current Emperor, and that meeting had changed Hwangbo Hwi’s life.
“Imperial Father’s life changed too.” (Crown Prince)
The secret order of the previous Emperor that had been delivered to him, an imperial prince whose princely manor was in the borderlands.
The one who had risked his life to deliver it, and the one who had risked his life to bring him all the way to Beijing, was the old man before his eyes.
And now, he was Imperial Father’s one and only close friend.
Suddenly, he thought that he envied Imperial Father for having such a close friend.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Yes, Elder.” (Crown Prince)
“I am only grateful that you have come to visit this old man once again.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Please do not say such things. You are a benefactor of the imperial family, Elder. This much is only natural.” (Crown Prince)
“Your Highness will become a sage ruler.” (Gwimyeonpo)
At those words, the Crown Prince hurriedly waved his hand.
“Elder! Please take back those words! Imperial Father is still hale and hearty, so how could I say something so disloyal...” (Crown Prince)
“Here, you may throw away such useless loyalty.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“......” (Crown Prince)
“The fact that His Majesty is sending Your Highness the Crown Prince to Nanjing means His Majesty has already made up his mind.” (Gwimyeonpo)
He continued softly.
“Are you afraid of ascending the imperial throne?” (Gwimyeonpo)
At that question, the Crown Prince nodded.
“Yes. I am afraid. I do not have the same ability as Imperial Father. My ability does not even reach the tips of Imperial Father’s toes... so I am at a loss as to how I should govern the empire.” (Crown Prince)
“Also, that seat is a lonely one. Even if you feel yourself lacking, you cannot say you are lacking, and it is a seat where you cannot recklessly trust anyone or ask for help.” (Gwimyeonpo)
The old man Gwimyeonpo continued with a serious expression.
“Because he knows that, His Majesty the Emperor has placed Young Merchant Leader Eun Seoho near Your Highness the Crown Prince.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Pardon? Young Merchant Leader Eun Seoho?” (Crown Prince)
“That is right. What does Your Highness think of him?” (Gwimyeonpo)
The Crown Prince pondered for a moment before answering the question.
“...He is someone who does not take losses.” (Crown Prince)
“That is right. He is someone who does not take losses. That is why I asked him. I asked him to become the Crown Prince’s advisor.” (Gwimyeonpo)
“Pardon?” (Crown Prince)
The old man Gwimyeonpo smiled as he looked at the startled Crown Prince.
“If you need someone to discuss something with, seek him out. And listen to his words. Then, at the very least, you will not suffer a loss.” (Gwimyeonpo)
At those words, the Crown Prince could not help laughing hollowly inwardly.
“Elder... in truth, Imperial Father said the same thing.” (Crown Prince)