Chapter 7

“…”

“…”

After their silent conversation via sound transmission, the Acting Matriarch of the Seo Clan and her husband exchanged a final, decisive glance.

“I must be excused for a moment…” she announced, rising from her seat with a poised and graceful air.

The other patriarchs, deep in their own grave discussions, cast fleeting glances her way.

“…If the relationship between the Grand Young Master and the former patriarchs of the Sixteen Imperial Families is true…”

“Then does that not mean the Grand Young Master was the one who orchestrated the meeting between the Emperor and those old demons?”

“I wish to compose myself,” she said to a waiting maid.

“Of course. This way, my lady.”

As she followed the maid toward a private chamber, the other patriarchs quickly lost interest in her, returning to their urgent debate.

“A private chamber has been prepared for you here.”

The service was impeccable. The maid, a young woman with charming features, was polite in her bearing and elegant in her speech.

“If you require water, you need only give the word—.”

“The chamber is not necessary.” The door to the reception hall slid shut behind them, and in the now-empty corridor, the Acting Matriarch of the Seo Clan spoke again.

“If you desire a different room—?”

“No.” She cut the maid off once more. “Take me to see the Grand Young Master.”

“!”

The maid’s eyes widened. The Acting Matriarch’s tone was short and sharp. “Right now.”

“You wish to see the Grand Young Master right now?”

“Yes, that is what I said.” Annoyance flickered across the Matriarch’s face at the maid’s repetition. She was about to press the matter further, “This is an urgent matter, there can be no delay—.”

“Hehe.”

Her words were cut short by the maid’s soft laughter. Before the Matriarch could demand an explanation for the inscrutable sound, the maid spoke first.

“How unexpected. The military-focused Seo Clan was the fastest of them all. You are the first, Acting Matriarch.”

“You are…?!”

The woman standing before her was clearly no ordinary maid.

“I am a maid of Wongakjeong.” The maid smiled, elegantly gesturing to her own uniform. “My name is Il-ryeong.”

“…You are one of the Grand Young Master’s people.”

“Yes, I am.” A smile played on Il-ryeong’s lips as she gestured down the corridor. “If you wish to see my master, please come this way.”

As she followed the maid toward Yeon So-hyeon’s office, the Acting Matriarch’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. A maid from Wongakjeong was placed here in advance… And she said our Seo Clan was the first? The maid Il-ryeong’s steps were light and cheerful, but the Matriarch felt a leaden weight in her own. It was as if she had unknowingly wandered into the center of a vast spider’s web and had been dancing on its strands all along, a plaything in the intricate design of the man named Yeon So-hyeon.

“We have arrived.”

Il-ryeong opened a door and stepped inside. The Matriarch followed.

“A momentary intrusion.”

“Hm?”

The men already seated in the room looked up, their eyes widening at the sight of her. They are…? The Matriarch’s own eyes widened in recognition. Seated there were the two District Chiefs with whom the Seo Clan had a contentious history. But Yeon So-hyeon was nowhere to be seen. Wasn’t the Grand Young Master meeting with them? Then where is he?

As if reading her thoughts, the maid Il-ryeong pointed to an inner door. “My master is meeting with an important guest in his private office.”

At this, the two District Chiefs, who had been glaring at the Acting Matriarch, began to complain.

“But we were waiting first.”

“Why is the Grand Young Master seeing the Seo Clan before us?”

Il-ryeong waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, my. The order is not what’s important. It is my master’s will that matters. Surely you can wait a little longer?” She placed her hands on her hips. “Or would you rather leave now and reschedule for a later date?”

“!”

The Matriarch herself was taken aback. Spoken by a maid in any other house, such insolent words would have earned her a severe beating.

But…

“Reschedule…?”

“Ahem. Did we say we were unwilling to wait?”

“Just bring us more tea.”

“Yes, yes, of course. Please wait just a moment.”

The two District Chiefs were so utterly cowed that they were being pushed around not even by the Grand Young Master, but by his maid. The rumors circulating in the Imperial Capital must be truly extraordinary. Provincial officials might act like kings in their own domains, but in times of crisis, they were more sensitive than anyone to the political winds of the capital.

“Master, it is Il-ryeong.” The maid knocked softly on the office door. “The Acting Matriarch of the Seo Clan requests an audience.”

“…”

For a moment, the Matriarch worried he would refuse her, but then, his voice came from within.

“Let her enter.”

“Please, go inside.”

Il-ryeong opened the door for her.

“Thank you.”

As the Acting Matriarch of the Seo Clan stepped inside, the first thing she saw was Yeon So-hyeon, seated in the highest seat of honor in the office. And who is that…? Across from him sat a young man she did not recognize, someone who looked more like a boy than a man. He gave her a brief, polite nod before turning his gaze away, fiddling with his spectacles.

Spectacles… They were an expensive item. Given that the Grand Young Master is in the seat of honor, this young man cannot be of higher status. She mentally scrolled through the faces of the major figures of Luoyang’s prominent clans, but came up empty. Who is he?

“You wished to see me?”

Yeon So-hyeon’s voice cut through her thoughts. Right. I must focus on the Grand Young Master now. She collected herself and turned her full attention to him. “Yes, Grand Young Master.”

She placed a hand on her chest and bowed her head respectfully. This is the right decision. Pushing aside the last vestiges of doubt, she knelt before Yeon So-hyeon.

“As the Acting Matriarch of the Seo Clan, I have come to pledge our eternal loyalty to the Grand Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Clan.”

For a moment, silence descended upon the room.

“…Is that so.”

Unfortunately, unlike when he had granted her an audience, this time, Yeon So-hyeon did not give her an immediate answer. I was prepared for this much. A sense of humiliation pricked at her, but she quickly shook it off.

“I humbly ask that you accept our pledge of loyalty.”

She bowed her head even lower. Yeon So-hyeon had repeatedly forced them to recognize their place, and now, all that was left was to accept it.

“The loyalty of the Seo Clan…” Yeon So-hyeon finally spoke again, but he was not addressing her. “What do you think?”

His question was directed at the bespectacled young man sitting before him.

“M-Me, sir…?” the young man stammered, startled.

“Yes. I am asking for your thoughts.”

Though initially flustered, the young man adjusted his spectacles and began to speak. “The Seo Clan is a venerable and distinguished military family. They achieved considerable merit during the Northern War, but more than that…” His words, once started, flowed like water. His gaze shifted to the kneeling Matriarch. “Across dynasties, for generations, they have never forgotten their devotion to the empire. If their family traditions and precepts have not crumbled in this current generation, then their oath is of sufficient value. They would not be the ones to break a pledge of loyalty once given.”

Who was this young man, to pass judgment on an influential clan like the Seo Clan as if looking down from on high? And how did he know so much about their family precepts?

Yeon So-hyeon nodded. “So you have heard.” This time, he was speaking to her.

“Y-Yes, Grand Young Master! The precept of our Seo Clan is ‘Be as green and upright as the great bamboo.’” She lowered her head until it nearly touched the floor, a gesture closer to a full prostration than a simple bow. “The loyalty the Seo Clan pledges to the Grand Young Master today shall never be broken by any future patriarch.”

“Good.” The word of acceptance. “I, Yeon So-hyeon, will permit the Seo Clan to pledge its loyalty.”

“Th-Thank—.”

As she raised her head to express her gratitude, Yeon So-hyeon held up a finger to silence her. “In a military family, how does one prove loyalty?”

“…In our clan,” she replied, showing no offense at his completely informal tone, “we are taught to fulfill our duty as warriors and prove our loyalty by readily offering our lives on the battlefield.”

“Correct.”

Kneeling, she looked up at him with a hint of anxiety. Does he want us to offer our lives?

“However,” Yeon So-hyeon’s next words allowed her to breathe again. “I value your courage and wisdom in being the first to pledge your loyalty. For your first command, I will not demand your lives.”

She pressed her head to the floor once more. “Thank you, Grand Young Master!”

“The Seo Clan currently holds no command of any military legion, correct?”

“…Shamefully, that is so.” A military family that had been pushed out of politics could not be expected to produce commanders.

“Then I will give you your first command.”

“Please, issue your command.”

From above her, Yeon So-hyeon’s voice descended. “Attack the clans in charge of Luoyang’s defense.”

“!”

“And the Seo Clan will take their position.” His words continued. “I do not care if it is a political attack, a literal military assault, an exposé of past corruptions, or even a campaign of slander.”

The Acting Matriarch’s mind raced, processing the command, and she immediately grasped its intent. “…The clans in charge of Luoyang’s defense have close ties to the Second and Third Young Masters.” She spoke, her head still bowed. “Grand Young Master, you intend to strike at them while they are in disarray.”

“Correct.”

“Of course, the Seo Clan will obey your command, but…” She trailed off, a cold sweat beading on her brow and dripping to the floor. She was reluctant to question his first order, but to promise what could not be done would only lead to greater problems later. “It is possible for us to attack them at once, but to seize their position… that would mean for our Seo Clan to become one of the Guardian Families of Luoyang.” She pressed her head firmly against the floor. “That is beyond the capabilities of the Seo Clan…!”

That was a decision that could not be made by the Luoyang regional government, but one that had to come from the Imperial Capital. It was, from the very beginning, something beyond their power.

“You need not worry about that.”

She did not dare to look up, but she could sense a deep smile spreading across Yeon So-hyeon’s face.

“If you of the Seo Clan prove your loyalty sufficiently through this attack,” he said, his voice ringing with the finality of a declaration, “then the Seo Clan will become one of the new Guardian Families of Luoyang.”

The sheer, bottomless confidence in his pronouncement stole her breath away. …Is the Grand Young Master, sitting here in Luoyang, so certain that he can decide matters of the Imperial Capital?! The question of how did not even surface. Everything she had seen of him until now told her that she would only be able to grasp a fraction of his plans long after the results were already laid bare.

Therefore, “We will obey your command,” was the only thing she could say.

***

“You have finally brought one of Luoyang’s influential families completely under your command.” After she had left and a brief silence had passed, it was the bespectacled young man who spoke. “Congratulations, Grand Young Master.”

“It was a trivial matter.” Yeon So-hyeon’s casual demeanor made it seem as if the monumental event that had just transpired was truly of no consequence. “Now, let us return to our previous conversation.”

“…Yes, Grand Young Master.” The young man adjusted his spectacles. “The reason you summoned me here—.”

Yeon So-hyeon corrected him. “I did not summon you. To be precise, Kang Ho, it was you who came seeking me.”

The bespectacled young man named Kang Ho of the Central Inspectorate replied, “…You removed me from the operation. I had no choice, did I? Attacking the Great Immortal Merchant Guild would have been dangerous, but…”

“That is not the reason.”

“…Then.” He continued, his voice laced with tension. “I have heard from the Main Clan that a great cataclysm may be about to occur in the Imperial Capital.” He swallowed dryly. “Is this matter, by any chance, related to my grandfather, who has retired?”

A meaningful smile touched Yeon So-hyeon’s lips.

“It is.”