Chapter 13

“What on earth…?!”

Through the open window, Admiral Lee Yeom-ik could be seen in the distance, clutching the note with a flustered expression.

Originally, it had been tucked into the cupboard so he would discover it naturally during his meal. Regardless of the method, the delivery was a success.

Good.

Nodding inwardly with satisfaction, the observer slipped away from the surveillance post.

[What is it? It’s not time for the shift change yet.]

His fellow eunuch, who was on standby, projected his voice via sound transmission.

[Sorry.]

He rubbed his lower abdomen, feigning distress.

[My stomach hurts too much. Could you cover for me for just a moment?]

In principle, leaving one’s post was strictly forbidden. But in the field, reality often superseded rules.

[…It can’t be helped.]

His colleague sighed and nodded.

[You owe me one.]

[I’ll take one of your shifts later.]

[Deal.]

He walked quickly toward the latrines, acting as if his need were urgent.

The facility in this secluded area was intended for lower servants and currently bore a sign reading ‘Under Repair.’ Inside, it was pitch black, without so much as a single lit oil lamp.

However, swallowing dryly with nervous anticipation, the eunuch stepped over the rope barrier and entered. Scanning the darkness, he cleared his throat and spoke into the shadows.

“My, this winter will be cold…”

A moment later.

Thud, thud.

A soft knocking sound came from the other side of the partition.

Gulp.

The eunuch swallowed hard before uttering the pre-arranged code phrase.

“But midsummer will be even hotter, won’t it?”

From outside, a direct question returned immediately.

“The item?”

There were ventilation gaps at the top and bottom of the wooden stall. Due to the angle, he couldn’t see the other person’s face. However, eunuchs were men who spent their lives bowing their heads; they were accustomed to recognizing people by their feet.

Through the bottom gap, he saw wooden clogs and sun-blackened insteps. Habitually assuming the other was of low status based on the footwear, he reported.

“It was delivered to him accurately. I just came from witnessing him check the item.”

“Is it certain that the Boss obtained the document?”

The ‘Boss’ referred to the Head Eunuch, Gongsun Taerang.

“It is. I confirmed it twice.”

He had several scripts prepared for different contingencies. In the scenario where Gongsun Taerang obtained the document, the eunuch’s role was to ensure the note Admiral Lee received had been hidden in his quarters in advance.

“Do not worry,” the eunuch continued. “Although the Target was escorted to a new location… the procedure for organizing the surveillance team took place before that, so I knew the location first.”

That was the trick. That was how he had planted the note beforehand, making it appear as if it had been there all along.

“So it was not difficult to hide the note in advance.”

“I see.”

The voice on the other side seemed satisfied.

“May the grace of the Medicine Fairy be with you.”

At those words, the eunuch closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and replied reverently.

“May the protection of the Medicine Fairy be with you as well.”

When he opened his eyes and unclasped his hands, the presence outside had already vanished.

Chirp, chirp.

The sound of summer insects filled the silence. With a much cooler expression, the eunuch moved to return to his post.

***

After confirming the eunuch had left, the large-built figure hidden in the shadows stripped off his shabby clothes. He removed the wooden clogs and hid them deep within the bushes. Returning to his original attire, he moved swiftly toward the opposite side of the Imperial Palace.

How long had he walked through the alleys, avoiding passersby? Finally, an elegant mansion surrounded by heavy security revealed itself.

“Ahem. Is anyone there?”

As he cleared his throat at the entrance, a court lady quickly ran out to greet him.

“You have come?”

The oil lamp in her hand illuminated his large build and the military officer’s official robe he now wore. His insteps were blackened not from poverty, but because he trained barefoot under the scorching sun.

“I am on duty today, so I stopped by to pay my respects while passing. Is he inside?”

“Yes, he is.”

“Guide me.”

Following the court lady, he asked in a hushed tone, “…Has the surveillance increased?”

The court lady glanced up to scan the surroundings before whispering back. “…As we heard, the number of eunuchs who appear to be the Head Eunuch’s men has increased significantly around here.”

“…Be careful, and careful again.”

The court lady nodded and stepped back as he knocked on the door.

“It is me.”

“Come in.”

The voice answered immediately, as if waiting for him.

As the military officer opened the door and entered, the person sitting inside stood to greet him.

“Welcome.”

The officer placed a fist over his chest, offering a formal military salute.

“It is nothing, General.”

“For General Geum Mun-hwi, I can do even more than this.”

Iron Lion General Geum Mun-hwi.

He was the very person who had escorted the Imperial Son-in-Law to the Wongakjeong. Charged with guarding distinguished guests of the Imperial Family, he resided here in his palace quarters rather than at his home in the capital.

“Actually, it wasn’t for me.” General Geum Mun-hwi smiled mischievously. “Did you not step forward because it aids the revival of the Fairy Order?”

“No, that is…”

Geum Mun-hwi waved his hand, cutting off the denial good-naturedly. “How did it go?”

The officer straightened his posture. “It was handled cleanly. I heard he visually confirmed Admiral Lee Yeom-ik checking the note.”

“Good. You worked hard.”

“Not at all.”

Normally, the tight-lipped officer would have withdrawn at this point. But this time, he couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

“But, General.”

“What is it?”

“How on earth did you know in advance that the Head Eunuch would obtain that document?”

“That is…” General Geum Mun-hwi looked troubled.

The officer hurriedly waved both hands. “No. I asked a question unbecoming of my station.”

“No, it’s not that,” Geum Mun-hwi said with an awkward expression. “It’s just that it wasn’t my prediction. It was another person’s foresight, so I don’t fully understand the depths of it either.”

“…Is that so?”

“If I were to explain what I do know…” Geum Mun-hwi stroked his beard. “The Head Eunuch is a man of extraordinary intuition. He would definitely be monitoring the Imperial Son-in-Law who contacted the Grand Young Master of the Sword Clan.”

“Then, naturally…!” The officer nodded in admiration. “If the Imperial Son-in-Law handed over a document, the Head Eunuch would have moved to secure it at all costs.”

Geum Mun-hwi nodded. “To ensure that outcome, the Imperial Son-in-Law handed the document to Admiral Lee at the last possible moment, only after the eunuch sent by the Head Eunuch had arrived.”

If that happened, Admiral Lee, having no time to conceal the document securely, would be forced to hide it hastily on his person.

“But then…” The officer scratched his head. “In the first place, couldn’t he have just asked for Admiral Lee’s cooperation in advance?”

“The Head Eunuch is a frightening man.” Geum Mun-hwi smiled bitterly. “Admiral Lee’s clumsy acting would never have been able to deceive him.”

“Ah…!”

To deceive the enemy, first deceive your allies. To fool the Head Eunuch, Admiral Lee had to truly be driven into a corner.

“Anyway,” Geum Mun-hwi continued, “that is how we were able to pass the note—prepared in advance according to the script—to Admiral Lee.”

“If the situation had deviated from that script…?”

“Of course, notes suitable for every possible contingency were prepared.”

Geum Mun-hwi opened a drawer. Inside lay nearly a dozen notes, each accompanied by instructions for specific scenarios.

Fwoosh!

Geum Mun-hwi tossed the unused notes into the brazier meant for destroying documents.

“…Amazing.” The officer stood with his mouth agape. “Who on earth devised all these plans?”

“Someone you know well.”

“Me…?”

To the puzzled officer, General Geum Mun-hwi smiled and said, “The Leader of the Fairy Order.”

The Leader of the Fairy Order. Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon of the Luoyang Sword Clan.

“Ah…!”

It was the moment a believer’s faith deepened.

***

As the officer left, a voice called out from the hallway.

“Are you there?”

“You called.”

As soon as General Geum Mun-hwi spoke, the court lady who had guided the officer earlier entered the room.

“I need you to deliver this secretly.”

Geum Mun-hwi folded a note that read ‘The ship is cruising along the route’ and handed it to her. It was a coded message indicating that everything was proceeding smoothly according to plan.

“…To whom and where should I deliver it?”

“If you go near Yan’an Palace, there will be court ladies waiting because fabrics from outside did not arrive on time.”

“To whom among them should I deliver it?”

“It doesn’t matter who.”

“…!”

The court lady was deeply involved in the operation, yet even she was surprised. Their influence in the Imperial Palace was spreading like roots beneath the surface.

“Those court ladies are the people of Chancellor Kang Sang. Use the secret code when making contact.”

The Imperial Son-in-Law was being thoroughly monitored by the Head Eunuch, and Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon was far away. But it didn’t matter. The outstanding figure named Chancellor Kang Sang was standing firm right in the center of the palace.

The Grand Young Master had painted the big picture, and the detailed brushstrokes currently reshaping the Imperial Capital were being guided by the Chancellor’s hands.

***

The North, Liaoning Province. Shenyang. Moyong Clan Villa.

“So…”

Xianyu Hyeong-bi, the Governor-General of Jilin, pressed her hand to her forehead.

“I understand that the Grand Young Master intentionally let the document fall into the Head Eunuch’s hands.”

Her head throbbed. Even for figures of Governor-General rank, following the complexity of this scheme was overwhelming.

“But—”

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Mak Gu-ju, the Governor-General of Liaoning, interrupted. “How on earth did you grasp the information about each general of Heilongjiang written in that document?”

Xianyu Hyeong-bi nodded, adding to the question. “Information on personal details that even the Head Eunuch—who shows an obsessive attachment to intelligence—does not know? No powerful figure exposes weaknesses that others can exploit. Even we possess almost no such information.”

“Haha.”

Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon laughed.

“Most of the content written in that document was my creation.”

“…Pardon?!”

“…?!”

Xianyu Hyeong-bi jumped up from her seat involuntarily, and Mak Gu-ju’s jaw dropped.

“Of course, the basic framework was factual. But the details? All plausibly fabricated.” The Grand Young Master smiled at the stunned officials. “After all, even I do not know everything.”

“No, then—!”

This time, Xianyu Hyeong-bi pushed Mak Gu-ju aside to shout. “What on earth did you want, Grand Young Master?!”

Her voice rose in frustration.

“Admiral Lee, who was supposed to send the letters to persuade the generals, has been imprisoned! Furthermore, the generals of Heilongjiang have withdrawn their troops and retreated! Now, who is going to persuade them?!”

“Aren’t they already persuaded?”

“…Huh?”

“…What does that mean?”

Seeing the bewildered expressions of the two Governor-Generals, Yeon So-hyeon’s laughter grew louder. Exposed to too much information at once, they were missing the obvious conclusion.

“I moved Admiral Lee to move the most persuasive and credible person available: the Head Eunuch.”

“You mean…?!”

The Grand Young Master nodded.

“What I wanted from the beginning was for all the troops of Heilongjiang to withdraw.”