HLCOB C43

Chapter 43

When he arrived at the mansion, Jaheon saw Choseon, exhausted, having fallen asleep.

“I heard that you persuaded the servants so that you could arrive earlier.”

He carefully pulled the blanket up to cover Choseon’s neck. He also made sure not to forget checking the brazier for warmth.

“It seems you were eager to see me quickly.”

Even on the day the house where she and her brother had lived burned down, Choseon had not cried this much. And yet now, she wept so deeply. Jaheon realized once more just how much Choseon had been holding back.

‘She could have just depended on me, allowed herself to be spoiled…’

Wearing a bitter expression, Jaheon wiped away the red-tinged tears at the corners of Choseon’s eyes. Only after he confirmed that her breathing had become steady did he leave the room. Watching the scene with satisfaction, Oh Juk-yeop followed Jaheon out.

“Indeed, seeing her in person must have put you at ease…?”

Yet, for the first time, Oh Juk-yeop was met with Jaheon’s threatening expression.

“Wha…?”

Grinning foolishly just moments earlier, Oh Juk-yeop stiffened immediately under Jaheon’s severe gaze.

“Y-young master?! Did I perhaps do something wrong?”

Jaheon lowered his eyes and asked, staring intently.

“Why did you bring Choseon to the Imperial Palace?”

Though his face was faultless and beautiful, Oh Juk-yeop felt cold sweat running down his forehead.

“T-that, the thing is…”

“You refuse to answer properly?”

At the sound of Jaheon’s chilling voice, Oh Juk-yeop confessed abruptly.

“T-the young lady requested it herself…!”

“…?”

“She said that rather than hiding, it would be better to face things openly… yes.”

At those words, the frightening glare faded from Jaheon’s face. Seizing the moment, Oh Juk-yeop added quietly.

“The young lady did not wish to bring trouble upon you.”

Jaheon felt a pang of self-reproach rising within him, sensing what thoughts might have driven young Choseon to come all the way to Luoyang despite her tender age.

“The young lady is your weakness, young master.”

Jaheon had come to Luoyang solely for Choseon’s sake, and it was here that his fame spread widely. In other words, Choseon was indeed Jaheon’s greatest weakness. And a weakness, when concealed, often became a fatal flaw. Sometimes it was better to reveal it.

Thus, Choseon’s judgment could not be dismissed as wrong.

It was truly better for her to be noticed by the Emperor than to catch the eye of petty men. Compared to the power Jaheon wielded, very few marriage proposals or assassination attempts had come his way. All of it stemmed from rumors that he was the Emperor’s favored companion.

Who would dare to touch the Emperor’s cherished aide?

Yet there was one problem.

‘The Emperor will surely try to use her…’

Indeed. The Emperor.

To maintain his power, the Emperor controlled people by every possible means. He had stripped power from the eunuchs, punished the Pure Stream scholars, and so he would have no qualms about exploiting Jaheon’s vulnerability—Choseon.

‘Damn it.’

Jaheon swallowed his curse.

When Choseon first came up to Luoyang, he believed he would be able to resolve everything. But he had failed. Perhaps he had even placed her in greater danger. And yet, doing nothing was no option.

Thus Jaheon made up his mind.

“I believe it’s time I prepare a house of my own.”

“…What?”

“I cannot continue to rely on Lord Wang forever, can I?”

In truth, Jaheon had not intended to separate from Wang Yun so soon. For the time being, he wanted to remain close and gradually lower Wang Yun’s guard.

‘The old man’s intuition is sharper than I thought.’

But since Cao Cao and Wang Yun had reached a temporary truce of sorts, continuing to linger under Wang Yun’s roof was hardly a wise choice. Moreover, a proper blade needed a suitable place to be sharpened.

“…But young master, will Lord Wang permit it?”

Asked Oh Juk-yeop, looking worried. To this, Jaheon merely laughed. The mansion where Jaheon now resided in Luoyang was increasingly filled with Wang Yun’s servants and retainers.

What had once been a house of utmost simplicity was now transforming into an estate more splendid than Wang Yun’s own in Bingzhou.

“And if he does not permit it?”

Jaheon sneered as he looked back at the sight.

“Am I not Lord Wang’s son?”

His adoptive son.

It was a card Wang Yun had surely intended to play someday. A way to bind Jaheon through filial duty, leaving no room for betrayal. Yet, this also meant Wang Yun could no longer deal with Jaheon as he pleased.

“A son need only fulfill his filial duty wherever he is.”

So long as he was filial, Wang Yun would have no grounds to prevent him. Thus Jaheon resolved to honor Wang Yun with utmost sincerity.

So that Wang Yun would be blinded by greed for power.

“Send word into the palace.”

When there was only one bait—the Han Dynasty—yet numerous hungry beasts rushing toward it, bloodshed was bound to erupt.

“I must prepare gifts for A-man and for the young master.”

Truly, the more beasts, the better.

In truth, Cao Cao’s next move was obvious.

Consort Ha.

The sole remaining justification for Jaheon’s authority was the Ha family. Preventing Lady Ha from becoming Empress was the clearest way to strike him down. Since Cao Cao’s true aim was not the restoration of the Han or the pursuit of political dominance but Jaheon’s submission, his move was predictable.

“You were right. That Cao Cao bastard was already working with Cao Chong.”

But the one making such an obvious move was none other than Cao Cao himself.

‘So, he really has been moving already.’

The only way to employ such a predictable tactic usefully was to lay it down before your enemy even realized. And Cao Cao had done so long ago.

“Several officials close to Cao Chong have severed contact with us. Is that all? Even the movements of the Filth faction are strange.”

Even without his former power, this was still the great Zhang Yang. Yet, for Cao Cao to maneuver so swiftly without Zhang Yang’s notice in the political world of Luoyang—it was proof of the aptitude deserving of the title ‘crafty hero of a chaotic age.’

‘Of course, when one keeps visiting Zhang Yang’s wife’s chamber, it is hardly difficult to draw out information…’

Recalling Cao Cao’s affair with Zhang Yang’s wife, Jaheon asked,

“So that is why you did not submit the petition for the Empress’s enthronement?”

The Empress.

To enthrone the Empress, mother of the nation, required the approval of the ministers.

“With so many potential opponents, delaying the petition was the only strategy left…!”

Zhang Yang bit down hard on his teeth as he muttered.

“That damned Cao Sung openly opposes Consort Ha’s enthronement! And quite a few ministers align with him!”

Indeed, had they realized Cao Cao’s ploy any later, it would have perfectly thwarted Ha’s rise as Empress.

“Those who belonged to the Filth faction were expected to side with the Cao clan, but…”

Zhang Yang stopped mid-sentence and looked at Jaheon.

“The problem is your foster father. Can he be trusted?”

At that, Jaheon laughed.

“Who knows?”

Politically speaking, Wang Yun should have had every reason to support Ha’s enthronement. The Empress’s position brought with it countless advantages and justifications. It was due to the Empress’s virtue that the Pure Stream faction was able to return to Luoyang once more.

However, from Wang Yun’s perspective, wary of Jaheon, the enthronement of Ha—who was close to Jaheon—was an awkward burden.

A chicken rib. Too little to feast upon, but too bothersome to discard.

“…It would be best not to expect much.”

At Jaheon’s answer, Zhang Yang’s tone sharpened.

“If Consort Ha fails to become Empress, it will spell disaster for both you and me, will it not?”

For Zhang Yang, Ha’s enthronement was his last chance.

If he failed to raise his in-law to the status of Empress, there would be no more paths of recovery left. The Emperor had already realized that Zhang Yang was working with Jaheon to enthrone Ha. Soon even the small shred of imperial favor he still retained would vanish completely.

“If you called me here only to spout hopeless talk, then…!”

“Young master Zhang.”

Just as Zhang Yang, brimming with irritation, burst out at Jaheon,

“Before long, Yuan Gonglu of Runan will attempt to counter the Cao clan by raising Yuan the legitimate son to Captain of the Cavalry.”

“…?”

Jaheon spoke in a low voice.

Captain of Cavalry.

This office commanded the imperial cavalry and, though less influential within the palace than the Commandant of Central Army who commanded the infantry, it served as a check against that position.

“…Huh?”

But it made no sense.

“Yuan Gonglu is only eighteen. The Yuan clan of Runan would never consider appointing him Captain at his age, unless they were mad!”

Even Cao Cao, after reaching an understanding with the Pure Stream faction, did not dare aim for the Central Army command. And yet here was someone proposing the cavalry command—a post of the same rank!

“But I myself was made Gentleman of the Palace at eighteen, and Cao Cao too entered officialdom at a young age. Is that not proof it is possible?”

Jaheon asked calmly.

“That was because you—and that damnable Cao Cao—had talent unnatural to the point of being sorcery! Why is your cunning wit failing you now of all times…!”

Enraged by the absurd proposal, Zhang Yang nearly shouted in protest when—

“…!”

He suddenly realized the truth.

Yuan Shu.

Styled Gonglu.

From a distinguished Runan Yuan clan whose lineage had produced four generations of Three Excellencies. It was a noble family so powerful that even when they allied with eunuchs, their stature did not falter. But recently, as the Cao clan and the Pure Stream surged, the Yuan’s old dominance within the Filth faction was shaken.

“…Ha.”

Zhang Yang burst into laughter.

“You mean to spread a rumor that the Runan Yuan clan intends to use Yuan Shu to oppose Cao?”

The moment such a rumor spread—that Yuan Shu was to be raised as Captain of Cavalry—whether true or false, the Yuan clan would find themselves in dire straits.

If they truly did recommend Yuan Shu for such a rank, the rumor that they opposed the Cao clan would be taken as fact.

But if they ignored it, they would be seen as failing to check Cao Cao’s military command, letting him consolidate full power. The Yuan influence would then transfer to the Cao clan.

Put simply, the moment the rumor circulated, the Yuan clan would be forced to decide.

Would they fight the Cao clan,

or bow their heads in submission?

Yet this Yuan clan had been openly displeased when Jaheon had earlier suggested a sale of posts. Only because he, a mere favorite, had dared propose appointments first.

“They will not endure it.”

Jaheon was certain.

No matter how great Cao Cao’s clan appeared, they were, in the end, still the family of eunuchs.

“Once again, they will never tolerate being ruled over by the lowborn.”

And with that, Jaheon was certain.