Episode 780
Blood of the Empire (5)
It was an unconventional and incomprehensible proposal.
Even the emperor of the world could not understand why the emperor was pushing himself so hard. No matter how clever he was, the other person was also a magnate who had been waiting patiently for decades for an opportunity to change the world, and crucially, he had very little information about the imperial palace.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been looking up at the emperor in silence, lowered his head.
“The empire’s national power is weakening as it weakens, making it a situation like a flurry of wind.”
“know.”
“At times like that, it would be more appropriate for the central figures of the palace to come together as one, rally together, and join forces with the world to overcome the crisis.”
“It’s true in principle.”
“There are many nobles in this country. “It may not be as powerful as it used to be, but I think the priority is to join forces with them and unite the imperial family first.”
It was a euphemistic rejection.
At the point when he refused the Emperor’s request, which was not his request, Yeon Ho-jeong had already committed a mortal sin.
However, the prostrate officials swallowed their saliva once again at Yeon Ho-jeong’s words. They sensed that his words could benefit them as well.
“Do you really think that way?”
“That’s right.”
The emperor looked around at the officials and said:
“Ask the officials to retreat and wait in the fishway.”
“I accept your command!”
The officials carefully got up and left the royal palace.
As they left, Hwang Bo-jeok and the soldiers also left the royal palace together.
Now, only the emperor and Yan Hao-jeong remain in the royal palace.
Slurp.
The sound of fine silk rubbing against something.
A huge shadow darkened Yeonhojeong’s vision. The emperor arose from his bed.
Sreuk. Sreuk.
The emperor comes down the stairs step by step.
Yeon Ho-jeong lowered his head and his eyes deepened.
‘It wasn’t disheveled.’
You can tell what a person’s physical condition is just by the sound of their steps. It was close to the knowledge possessed by not only Yeonhojeong but also any expert.
‘My body is not broken.’
I heard that you have been addicted to hunting for decades.
Even healthy people are bound to lose their health if they indulge in cinnabar for a long time. No, even the world’s masters will get sick if they live like that without training.
But the emperor was not like that.
It wasn’t as deep as I was, but my breathing was very stable and my steps were light. Although she wore a loose-fitting dress, her body shape was not ruined.
It would never have been possible to maintain this condition if it had not been managed thoroughly. From the looks of it, I hadn’t even learned the Neigongsim method, but it was truly surprising.
“Raise your head.”
Yeon Ho-jeong straightened his back and looked up at the emperor.
“…!”
The eyes of the Son of Heaven and the God of War are intertwined as people.
No one knew what the shadow over the dragon statue was. Yeon Ho-jeong also could not properly see the face of the emperor sitting on the throne. I could have seen it if I concentrated on my strength, but I didn’t even try to do that.
And now Yeon Ho-jeong was finally able to see the emperor’s face.
‘young.’
It was difficult to intuit his age from his low, dignified voice.
However, just by looking at his face, I could believe that he was Ji Cheon-myeong’s age. If you look closely, you could almost believe that he was in his mid-forties.
I heard that the actual age of the emperor was over sixty. However, he maintained the same appearance. Even though he showed no signs of learning any internal skills, he was very young and healthy.
The eyes, which were neither big nor small, were brave and clear, like those of a lion. The bridge of the nose was high, the lips were moderately thick, and there were wrinkles on the face, but no blemishes.
It was a surprisingly impressive face. Although his appearance is not overpowering, it can be said to be truly an emperor-like appearance that exudes nobility and dignity.
The emperor smiled.
“It is indeed clearer to see it from up close than to look down from up there.”
What is clear?
“You have a very nice physique. “It doesn’t have a large and magnificent armament structure, but it is as hard as a rock.”
“….”
Yeon Ho-jeong said nothing.
The emperor, who was looking down at Yeonhojeong with a smile, turned his back and walked to the spot where Cao Chong was lying down.
Slurp.
The sound of Eui rubbing the floor sounded very chilling.
‘Amazing.’
Yeon Hao-jeong was inwardly surprised by the emperor’s distribution.
The emperor, standing in the position of Jo Chung, was showing his back to Yeon Ho-jeong.
Here, if Yeon Hao-jeong wanted to, he could stab the emperor in the back in an instant. Of course, it would be the same whether they turned around or not, but showing one’s back was itself a sign of confidence and proof of trust.
The emperor said, looking down at the floor from his seat.
“It may not be as good as it used to be, but Jo Chung’s family was a prestigious family that produced the Three Dukes several times over several generations.”
“….”
“It’s not just Chochung. “Ho Yu-jeong, who was sitting there, Jin-gung next to him, and even Heo Byeong in the center of the third row, each of them was a powerful person in the area and had the power of a king.”
“….”
“But what about now? “The appearance of those descendants.”
Yeon Ho-jeong answered honestly.
“It didn’t seem like anything special.”
The emperor nodded.
“It’s nothing special. Actually it’s worse than that. “As a child of a noble family, they have learned a lot, but they only use it for their own comfort and waste the wealth accumulated by their ancestors. When the treasury is empty, they use their petty power to suck up the blood of the people to fill a bigger treasury.”
“….”
“A hungry thief steals clothes and food and runs away. But these guys don’t have enough of the country’s treasures, and they are even squeezing out the blood of the people. “They are the worst and biggest thieves in the world.”
Yeon Ho-jeong was surprised to hear the anger in the emperor’s voice.
For some reason, I thought the emperor would always only have a languid and dignified voice.
The current emperor was not the Son of Heaven. He was angry as a person.
“It’s entirely my fault for letting those guys get to that point.”
“It was force majeure.”
“There is no such thing as force majeure for those in power.”
“….”
“It is all my fault that the people’s homes and lives were washed away by the flood, that the forest was burned down by lightning falling from the sky, and that the country was ruined by failing to prepare for an invasion by foreign forces.”
The emperor chuckled.
“It’s the position that takes responsibility for everything, so that position is a heavy one.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
I’ve heard something similar to that before.
‘Jongnam Jang Mun-in.’
I didn’t hear it directly. I vaguely remembered that Jongnam Jang Mun-in had said something like that when I was talking to Elder Three, who had come to visit me on a hint.
“Is it only the throne that does that? From the family, school, army, and martial arts sect, the leaders are all the same. “You can’t climb on it carelessly, you can’t get on it carelessly, and you can’t get away without it.”
“Haven’t you endured all that and persevered for decades?”
“Of course it is. But who will relieve the anger of the people who lived a life full of pain during that time?”
The emperor looked up at the ceiling.
“Every day felt like a year. Is this really the right path? Wouldn’t it be better to leave his name in history as a young emperor who was assassinated while fighting evil thugs? If he dies as an emperor, wouldn’t someone who is burning with loyalty and agreement come forward and take care of this country properly….”
” ….”
“But I realized. “It is unbecoming an emperor of a country to die for my own convenience in a situation where there is no one to take responsibility for.”
It was a difficult yet simple story.
In fact, the biggest and primary cause of this situation was the Three Churches. If you have to curse, it’s right to say it to them.
However, the emperor also cannot be free from criticism. Even if you die, you will be cursed, and even if you endure and persevere, you will still be cursed.
That was the responsibility of the head of government.
“I worked hard for that long and made a promise.”
“….”
“When the time comes, I will definitely turn the world upside down. And I thought. “In order to overthrow the world, it is right to tear down and repair the imperial palace first.”
The emperor looked back at Yeon Hao-jeong and said.
“Did you say that the priority is to unite with the nobles?”
“I did.”
“There is no such thing as nobility in this world that I see.”
It’s not a burden, it’s ‘me’.
It was a statement that coexisted with a fearful resentment and a sense of responsibility. It was a statement that could have been made because, as a person, not an emperor, he hated his own fate and the turbulence of the world.
“Etiquette, customs and common sense. These are just words that blind people’s eyes. “There are certainly times when those things are needed, but not now.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes lit up.
“Are you planning on letting that destruction begin as a small cause?”
The emperor smiled.
“You are great, but I trust the man who became your father more than you.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s face showed turbulence.
No matter what a person is, an emperor is an emperor. A man who sat in such a great position thought so highly of my father.
“I thought this after hearing the words your father spoke when he appeared and seeing the look in his eyes and the energy he showed. Ah, if I had just one loyalist like me, the decades of patience would have been cut in half.”
“…!”
“You are different from your father, but you are a great person in another way.”
The emperor closed his eyes.
“The noble family in the world I want to create is a place where people like you who have great abilities but are humble, use their wealth for the good of the world, and set an example by stepping forward to help others.”
“….”
“My dream is to have such families spread throughout the central plains and try to enrich the country.”
“….”
“I like the family you and your father are called Yeonga. “I hope that the Yeon family will become the cornerstone of a new world and an example for all people.”
After listening to it, it seemed like it wasn’t just a choice made for the sake of the preservation of the throne.
‘I think I’ve heard something incredible.’
Yeon Ho-jeong sighed.
The Emperor’s face hardened.
“By the way, you are amazing too. No matter how much the emperor’s dignity is not what it used to be, he refuses even when the master of a country offers to give him food. “There is no one like you in the history of the empire.”
“Children are not objects.”
“Who said it was an object? “In these difficult times, it is only natural to become in-laws and raise a family.”
Because he is a person who struggles with responsibility as an emperor, even such common words convey a sense of depth.
Yeon Ho-jeong laughed bitterly.
“Small people do not have the ability to make inner people happy. “What kind of wife would like a man like that, who often gets his hands dirty as he goes back and forth between the central plains on random days?”
“You are so romantic.”
“I just think about the minimum respect. “I am not able to provide even that to my close friends.”
The emperor chuckled.
“It would be nice to live comfortably.”
The emperor, who climbed the stairs again and sat down on the throne, spoke in a more serious voice.
“No matter what, the officials heard what I said as the emperor, so at least pretend to be worried.”
“Of course I will.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get married even if I die.”
“Who wouldn’t be concerned about being in-laws with the royal family?”
“Speak from the corner of your mouth that is raised.”
Yeon Ho-jeong cleared his throat.
The emperor smiled and nodded.
“Let’s just go out now. “I enjoyed today’s conversation.”
“It was an honor to meet you.”
“Think carefully about your marriage.”
“…All right.”
