HLCOB C66

Chapter 66

To be frank, Yuan Shao was a difficult man to command.

Unlike Wang Yun, whose aim was clearly wealth and honor, Yuan Shao’s purpose was not so defined. His flaw was congenital, and it had birthed a hunger within him—yet none could say how that hunger might be satisfied. That was what made him so hard to handle.

Yet Jaheon had no other choice.

At this moment, the only man who could share his cause while possessing the grounds to stand against Cao Cao was Yuan Shao.

…Though not without his shortcomings.

Compared to the Yuan Shao of history, who had defeated Cao Cao and thundered forth as the Overlord of Hebei, the Yuan Shao before him fell short.

“What do you intend now?”

Such was clear even now.

Looking at Yuan Shao’s hand, which had not dared to seize his collar, Jaheon mused,

Perhaps I should forgive it—he moved sooner than he ought.

When Jaheon had pressed his wound, Yuan Shao had nearly crushed his throat. And yet now, he could not even grip his lapel. Like a child clutching something precious for the first time.

But Jaheon yielded nothing. Alighting from the carriage, he declared instead:

“Yuan Yirang.”

To one starved of affection, it was better to deny it, that they might be moved to seek it still.

“I shall send word when the time comes.”

With that calm parting, Jaheon bowed, then turned his steps toward his household, leaving Yuan Shao’s carriage behind him.

For now, I have bought myself a breath.

Only one thing remained.

So long as I can weave a convincing tale for Choseon about this affair…

And in that very instant—

“…Brother!”

In Jaheon’s modern memories, there was a saying: speak of the tiger, and it shall appear.

So too did Choseon appear before him.

“They said the Imperial Guards suddenly began conducting searches nearby, and then they said you had gone to the Mi Trading House—I thought you had stirred some disaster in Luoyang again…!”

Choseon, breathless from running, seized him and began to check his body in panic.

“……?”

When Jaheon did not respond, Choseon lifted her head. He was avoiding her gaze, his face carrying the look of one with no excuse. Seeing the frown crease her once-gentle brow, Jaheon forced a defense.

“It was nothing that could have harmed me.”

“……”

“I only moved, now that I am Shizhong, to settle certain complications, and to verify matters—”

“Because of the sums that vanished regularly from the trading accounts?”

“…Ahem.”

At her pointed question, Jaheon gave a dry cough.

“I did see there were flaws in the ledgers, so I filled them in. But is that what this is about?”

It was no exaggeration to say Choseon oversaw all the household’s finances. Naturally she would know her brother had schemes for that money. Still, Jaheon tried to change the subject.

“Come, it is cold. Let us speak within.”

“……”

But arms crossed, Choseon only narrowed her eyes at him.

It was not the first time her brother had drawn pursuers upon himself, but this was Luoyang, and now he bore the rank of Shizhong. There would be many more seeking his life. She had worried silently, though she had not spoken it. Her face now pouted in sullen reproach. At that look, Jaheon finally relented.

“…I am sorry.”

“And after that?”

“Next time, I shall tell you in advance.”

“You swear it?”

“Yes. I will not make you fret without reason again.”

Clasping her chilled hand, he guided her toward home and added,

“Forgive me. I had not thought the Throne would raise me to Shizhong so swiftly. I had to hastily set things in order. For some reason, the Throne is moving with great speed…”

At this, Choseon hesitated, then spoke.

“The palace has already sent me a jade tally.”

“……”

At that, Jaheon halted.

Guilt washed over him, and his grip on her hand tightened. Even with Yuan Shao now placed in the Imperial Guard, unexpected things could still occur, and his worry remained.

But fretting would change nothing.

“Choseon.”

There was only one thing he could do for her now: believe in her.

“…Do you remember what I told you?”

She nodded. Seeing this, Jaheon smiled and urged her,

“So long as you hold to those words, even if I am not there, you will face no great harm in the palace.”

On the night he had uncovered the Emperor’s designs, Jaheon had told her much. For though she entered the palace as a prince’s attendant, she would face not the prince, but the He clan and the Throne itself.

“And in that place, you will learn many things. Learn them all.”

For there was nothing to be gained, even from them.

“One day, what you learn shall shield you.”

He believed that those very experiences would guard her when chaos came.

Meanwhile, Cai Yong grew frailer by the day.

Enduring the Emperor’s caprice and dread, his very vigor was being drained from him, until he seemed little more than a withered leaf. His teeth shook loose, his weight fell. His daughter Cai Yan brewed medicines for him each morning.

At this rate, he would be gone before he could even finish annotating his beloved ancient texts.

If so, I must return home…!

And so Cai Yong tried countless times to resign and depart.

Do you dislike the Throne so? Then the Throne shall send you to a world where it does not exist.

But he had failed every time. For a world without the Throne meant only the next world.

How did my fate become so?

Thus he continued, forced to trail behind the Emperor as an “Instructor”—though in truth little more than a servant.

If only he could return to the days when he had known Jaheon.

Those had been happy days indeed.

Since meeting Jaheon, the Emperor had refrained from tyranny, but his self-indulgence remained unchecked. Just watching his conduct was enough to stifle Cai Yong’s chest. Lost in memories of less than a year past, he trailed behind in weary regret, when suddenly—

“Cai Shijiang.”

The Emperor called.

“Y-You called, Your Majesty?”

Startled, Cai Yong blinked. He realized, this was not the imperial study. Looking around, he saw they stood before the palace of the imperial prince. And there, the Emperor asked,

“Did you not say you wished to fulfill the true duty of your office?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. But why do you suddenly speak thus…?”

Though he could not fathom why this was said at the prince’s palace, Cai Yong hurried to accept the probing words.

“Your unworthy servant, granted the office of Shijiang by Your Majesty’s grace, would devote his meager learning to Your service…”

“Then I shall entrust to you part of the prince’s instruction.”

Cai Yong froze.

This was not what he expected.

“Th-The Imperial Prince…?”

“Cai Shijiang. Do you dislike the Throne’s decree?”

He shook his head desperately.

“N-No, Your Majesty, but how could one as lowly as I presume to instruct the prince…!”

The office of Shijiang was meant to instruct both Emperor and Crown Prince. But the heir had not yet been chosen. To teach the prince now would invite endless suspicion. And with his nights consumed by study and annotation, the court’s demands for explanations would be unbearable.

As he faltered, pale with dread, the Emperor asked,

“Then do you mean to say you cannot teach the Throne’s son?”

If he did teach the prince, then his every choice would weigh on the choice of heir. He longed to refuse, but could not open his mouth. The Emperor would only wield the charge of impiety against him. Truthfully, to have his head still attached was already fortune.

Cai Yong’s face crumpled.

“…As Your Majesty commands.”

He could not disobey.

And the Emperor smiled at him.

“While you teach the prince, devote yourself wholly to his instruction.”

“……?”

Cai Yong swallowed. Did this mean he could stay away from the Emperor, who drained his very life?

“And I shall place Huaseo’s sister as the prince’s attendant.”

“……?!”

The words struck like lightning.

“From tomorrow, she shall enter the palace to serve the prince.”

Which meant Choseon would learn at the prince’s side—and perhaps Cai Yong might meet Jaheon once more. His face brightened at the thought, which the Emperor noted with interest.

“Rumor abounds that Huaseo’s sister has become the prince’s attendant. And yet you know nothing of this, Cai Shijiang?”

“T-That…! This servant is dull-witted in court affairs…”

But Cai Yong was not dull.

He had simply spent what strength he had on appeasing the Emperor, leaving none for factional strife. Yet the Emperor did not let him go. His lips curled, pressing him further.

“If Cai Shijiang is dull to the court’s affairs, then all under heaven must be dull. Is it not your office to instruct the Throne?”

“Y-Your Majesty, I-I meant…!”

Struck by another bolt, Cai Yong strained his wits.

“I meant only that I am more witless than Your Majesty!”

He had to live.

That will alone forced from him a flattery he had never spoken in all his life.

“Your servant, so lacking, was nonetheless chosen by Your Majesty. To repay such grace, I shall pour every drop of my lowly learning into the prince!”

He could not let his head fall before he met Jaheon again.

Never.