HLCOB C17

Chapter 17

Yirang.

When the emperor asked questions about state affairs, this was the office of the counselor who gave advice in response. Officially, it was a low-ranking position, but in reality, it was one that only those closest to the emperor could occupy.

It was because it was a post where just a single word could change the emperor’s mind. Furthermore, changing the emperor’s mind was the official duty of a Yirang.

Zhang Yang suddenly shot to his feet and shouted.

“…If it is Yirang, then they can interfere in state affairs, can they not?!”

Wang Bo, who had also grasped the unfolding situation, turned deathly pale.

“Wh-What in the world is this…? Should you not be restraining His Majesty? That young Lord hasn’t even gone through the Capping Ceremony yet, he’s still just a green sprout!”

“…And does Your Majesty look like one who would take heed just because we say so?!”

Zhang Yang bit down hard on his lips.

If the emperor was truly someone who would simply listen to Zhang Yang’s words, then that day he would not have resorted to pressuring him by dragging up his father’s name. However, they could not simply sit back and do nothing. Currently, Jaheon was sheltering under Wang Yun, who was a rising figure among the Qingliu faction—the group of literati and officials who strictly opposed eunuchs.

If things were left as they were, the Qingliu forces that had retreated into the provinces might raise their heads again in Luoyang.

“I must see His Majesty at once.”

Zhang Yang’s bruised cheek twitched as he forced a wry smile.

What bad taste.

Jaheon thought so as he looked at the emperor. He considered himself as someone who did not have the gentlest of dispositions, but the emperor was a step above him. To provoke the eunuchs into guarding against him, the emperor had suddenly conferred the office of Yirang upon him….

“Your Majesty, this will not do!”

…And to deliberately let him see first-hand how the eunuchs opposed his appointment—that too was the emperor’s spitefulness.

“Let them wait.”

“…?”

“They are people you must often see in the future. Should you not begin with meeting the eunuchs first?”

Recalling the emperor’s words, Jaheon looked at the three eunuchs who had come to the imperial study. One was the eunuch Wang Bo, whom he had just met earlier. The other two, judging from their words, seemed to be the eunuchs whom Emperor Ling had revered respectively as father and mother—Zhang Yang and Zhao Chong.

“Why should it not be permissible for Us to confer the position of Yirang upon Jaheon?”

The emperor, toying with long dice between his fingers, posed the question to the eunuchs.

“Your Majesty, the young Lord Im has not yet undergone the Capping Ceremony.”

The eunuch Zhao Chong was the first to speak.

“Therefore, granting him office is contrary to established law and custom, Your Majesty.”

Nodding to Zhao Chong’s words, the emperor turned to look at Jaheon.

“Jaheon, have you not had your Capping Ceremony?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“How old are you now?”

“I am eighteen.”

“Eighteen, you say….”

The snow-white dice rolled endlessly in the emperor’s hand. Then, clutching the dice, the emperor pointed at him with a finger.

“Though a little early, could you not simply undergo the ceremony now?”

“Your Majesty! Yet is it not the father of Lord Im, Wang Yun, who must officiate at that Capping Ceremony…?”

Even before Zhao Chong could finish his objection, the emperor, with a face full of irritation, threw Jaheon a meaningful glance.

‘Damn it.’

Jaheon swallowed back the curse. The emperor’s look had reminded him of a word from his memories as a modern man. Agro. What the emperor was doing was urging him to draw the eunuchs’ “agro”—their ire and attention. Suppressing a sigh, Jaheon opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty is the father of the populace. Even if I were to receive my Capping Ceremony from Your Majesty, there would be no problem.”

“But Lord Im, you’re still far too young…!”

“Does Lord Zhao dare say, then, that Your Majesty is not the father of the common people?”

“I—I mean not that…!”

Caught by Jaheon’s words, Zhao Chong floundered and raised his voice. The emperor, meanwhile, grinned and rolled the dice once again.

“Indeed. That is correct. Jaheon’s words are right. Then, let Us say that the Capping Ceremony shall be conducted in a brief form today, and as for your courtesy name—yes, it must be chosen.”

After thinking for a while, the emperor swept his eyes over Jaheon’s face. Avoiding the emperor’s gaze, Jaheon lowered his eyes and prayed silently in his heart.

‘Please, let it be something harmless.’

From his memories as a modern person, Jaheon knew well that the current emperor, Liu Hong, had rather peculiar literary tastes. And so, closing his eyes, he prayed earnestly that the emperor would not grant him some absurd courtesy name. After all, what way did he have to reject it? However much of a wastrel the emperor was, an emperor was still the emperor.

At length, the emperor opened his lips.

“What do you say to Huaseo (化曙)?”

It was, surprisingly, a decent name. It did not seem like something that would have been coined from Liu Hong, notorious for his fondness for vulgar literature. Jaheon was about to readily accept it.

“The character 化 (to transform) and 曙 (dawn). To become dawn. How does that sound? Does it not suit you?”

But then, an unexpected explanation followed.

“…?”

Jaheon was stunned.

And not only Jaheon; the eunuchs, too, cried out in alarm.

“Your Majesty! How could such a name be granted to a mere subject…!”

“This will not do!”

“How can words like those come from Your Majesty’s lips?!”

Huaseo—“the dawn arrives.” Another way of expressing it was Gaebyeok (開闢), a term signifying the beginning of a new era or dynasty. Jaheon swallowed hard. To think he would be given such a name…. Did the emperor perhaps know of his intention to raise Diao Chan as the most exalted of beings? He could not fathom the emperor’s true intent.

And yet, Jaheon still knelt down.

“Your Majesty, I beg you to put me to death.”

“…To kill you? Why would you ask that?”

“Such a name is too grand for me, unworthy as I am.”

At his reply, the emperor gave a disdainful laugh.

“Are you perhaps asking that, knowing full well that We will not kill you?”

“……”

Jaheon did not bother to answer the emperor who, despite knowing, prodded anyway. Still smiling, the emperor added.

“Then when you write it, let it be 花书—‘flower writing.’ But when spoken, let it be 化曙—‘becoming dawn.’ How would that be?”

It was nothing less than mockery.

“……”

At the ridicule, Jaheon’s brow twitched ever so slightly, which only caused the emperor to burst into laughter. Though Jaheon had met the emperor only briefly, his disposition was already more than evident. He was the sort to deliberately nettle people purely to watch their reactions, and, regardless of the eunuchs’ protests, he held fast to Huaseo.

‘Still… he gave me a name with “flower” in it.’

It was clear he would be mocked as the emperor’s male favorite. But even that was better than being associated with Gaebyeok. After careful thought, Jaheon finally let out a sigh and answered.

“…As Your Majesty pleases.”

Though insolent in tone, the emperor did not rebuke him. He only snickered. The sight left Zhao Chong and Wang Bo gaping, but they dared not speak lest they incur the emperor’s wrath. Who could stop the emperor when he had already made his decision?

“Your Majesty.”

But someone did open his mouth. It was Zhang Yang, the one with bruises still visible on his cheek. Jaheon regarded him with suspicion. Zhang Yang was among the most powerful of the Ten Attendants. How many in the capital could have laid such a slap upon him? Narrowing his eyes, Jaheon hit upon a possibility.

‘Don’t tell me….’

Despite Jaheon’s sharp gaze, Zhang Yang spoke smoothly and without a change of countenance.

“Though it is true that Im Huaseo is intelligent, has he not only just now undergone the Capping Ceremony? Would it not be wise to take some time before granting him office?”

“…Time, you say?”

“Lord Wang Yun, the foster father of Im Huaseo, was recommended for the office of Shiyushi. How then could his son immediately become a Yirang….”

“Does Zhang Attendant not know?”

Tilting his head, the emperor replied.

“Huaseo is not Wang Yun’s adopted son.”

“……”

“Huaseo merely dwells under his roof as a retainer and guest.”

Had it not only been a week since Jaheon had first come up to Luoyang? With no men of his own nearby, Zhang Yang simply had not known that fact. Startled beyond expectation by the emperor’s words, Zhang Yang glared furiously at Jaheon before hastily dropping his head in apology.

“This lowly servant did not know, Your Majesty. I was gravely mistaken and beg your pardon.”

Clicking his tongue, the emperor continued.

“Still, Zhang Attendant’s words are not without merit. Raise Wang Yun higher, then—recommend him for the office of Yushizhongcheng.”

“…?!”

“Is it not natural that a father-like figure should hold a higher rank than a son-like one?”

Struck speechless at this sudden promotion of Wang Yun, Zhang Yang squeezed his eyes shut. Who could have imagined that the emperor would so openly favor Jaheon, whom he had only just met? Rage boiled inside him, but he forced it down with difficulty.

“Truly, Your Majesty is wise.”

But it was none other than the emperor himself who held Zhang Yang’s leash tightly in hand.

“However, while it may not be problematic to promote the well-renowned Wang Yun to Yushizhongcheng, there is the danger that Im Huaseo’s office might invite talk among the officials.”

“…And what of that?”

“To prevent any unseemly matters from arising in the future, would it not be better if Im Huaseo’s outstanding talents were demonstrated clearly?”

“Hmm.”

Considering Zhang Yang’s words, the emperor inquired.

“Then how would you have Huaseo prove his ability, Zhang Attendant?”

“Your Majesty, did you not establish an academy at Hongdu for poetry and calligraphy?”

“That I did.”

“And did Your Majesty not admire the literary works of Cai Yong and recommend him as Yirang?”

Cai Yong.

He was one of the most celebrated men of letters in the late Han. There was no one in the empire who did not know his name. And yet, even Cai Yong had held the same post of Yirang. Just now, Jaheon too had been made Yirang.

‘Now….’

Hearing Zhang Yang’s words, Jaheon’s brow twitched.

‘He seeks to sow discord.’

Would a man over twenty years older than himself—Cai Yong—look kindly upon being given the same office suddenly shared by a boy like him? Impossible.

“Why not appoint Cai Yirang as examiner, and hold a special literary examination at Hongdu?”

And yet Zhang Yang, whether he knew or not, proposed flawlessly with utmost politeness.

“And let Im Huaseo sit for that examination. Should he score outstandingly well, then there would be none who could object to his holding the position of Yirang.”

But though his tone was courteous, Zhang Yang’s eyes glittered with venom as they fixed upon Jaheon.

Both of these are written and spoken similarly but with different tones and meanings 花书 (huā shū) 化曙 (huà shǔ)

花书 (huā shū) — “flower writing” or “flower book”

化曙 (huà shǔ) — “becoming dawn” or “transforming into dawn”

These are chinese so there’s shu instead of seo