Morning arrived, and the entire manor was in an uproar.
The master of the manor was in a foul mood. His sleep had been restless, and for days, thanks to the mad prince who refused to leave the capital, his heart raced and his face flushed with frustration several times a day. Upon hearing the reason for the manor’s commotion, the Lord of Namakseong roared, “…What did you say?!”
An unthinkable incident had occurred. And in his own castle, his own manor, no less. The furious Lord of Namakseong’s face gradually paled.
“Is it truly true?!”
Seungmurang Jongsangye had been found with Jongmeoki Flower. And it was processed Jongmeoki Flower, no less.
“That damned fool!”
Jongsangye. He was someone who, despite having a foot in the palace, had taken on the role of a contact in hopes of picking up scraps. What good was his official position? His actions were no better than a vagrant’s.
And yet, he had caused a scandal. In Namakseong, of all places.
“Such rotten luck…”
Possessing a forbidden narcotic herb was grounds for punishment in itself. At the very least, he’d face dismissal. And Jongsangye didn’t even have a chance to defend himself.
Whether the news was true or not no longer mattered to the Lord of Namakseong.
The one who found him collapsed on the back porch, clutching Jongmeoki Flower, was one of the prince’s entourage. There was no way to silence the prince’s attendants with a few coins.
The Lord of Namakseong thought to himself: It’s over. Completely over.
The misfortune brought by the mad prince was steadily dismantling the wealth he had struggled to maintain.
He had to escape, somehow.
Meanwhile, Heoseokgyeom, the first to discover the fallen Jongsangye, thought: What a convenient incident.
In the city, having gone to bed late the previous night, getting up wasn’t easy. But I couldn’t afford to linger. From the morning breeze, it was Yu Geung who came to wake me.
When I opened the door, Yu Geung stood before me, speaking boldly despite the morning air. “I have something to report, Your Highness.”
Still half-asleep, I listened to Yu Geung’s report.
I already knew what he was going to say.
“Seungmurang was found in possession of Jongmeoki Flower, Your Highness.”
I had to feign surprise. “What’s that? Say it again.”
“Seungmurang was found in possession of Jongmeoki Flower, Your Highness.”
I burst out laughing. Yu Geung, with a serious expression, lowered his eyes.
“I’d better go confirm it myself.”
At my words, Yu Geung nodded and left the room. I got ready, then opened the door. With a creak, it swung open, and Yu Geung was waiting outside.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Suppressing my excitement, I composed my expression. As I walked through the manor’s corridors with Yu Geung in tow, the servants’ eyes on me seemed different from before. Was it my imagination?
Leaving the manor and walking through the corridor, I asked Yu Geung, “Nangjang Yu Geung.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’m curious about something.”
“Ask away, Your Highness.”
“How did Seungmurang get his hands on Jongmeoki Flower?”
The sunlight was dazzling. The morning stars were warm. I squinted.
Perfect weather for a nap under the shade with a mat.
Too bad I had work to do.
“We haven’t found out yet, Your Highness.”
“Oh? You didn’t ask? What’s Jungnangjang Heo doing? I’d have thought he’d be investigating on his own even without me.”
“He attempted to interrogate, but Jongsangye insisted he didn’t know anything.”
Of course he would. He genuinely didn’t know.
Even I didn’t know the exact source of that Jongmeoki Flower. Only Shin Gwiryeong, who managed to acquire the forbidden herb, would know its origin.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I chuckled.
“Well, let’s see if he can keep denying it in front of me.”
As I headed to Namakseong’s interrogation room, I spotted Jongsangye, trembling, already bound tightly with ropes, unable to move. Standing before him were the Lord of Namakseong and Heoseokgyeom. Heoseokgyeom’s face was paler than usual, and the Lord’s complexion was beyond saving, even with empty words.
The three of them bowed upon seeing me.
“Your Highness.”
“Grand Prince!”
Jongsangye’s face twisted as he spotted me.
“Were you well last night?” the Lord of Namakseong asked, his voice as subdued as his expression.
“Thanks to your care, I had no complaints.”
I gave a slight smile and turned my head. My gaze, shifting from the Lord, landed on Jongsangye’s terrified eyes.
“But to have such a surprising incident first thing in the morning.”
At my words, Jongsangye flinched, almost convulsing.
In a cold tone, I said, “Seungmurang Jongsangye.”
Jongsangye clamped his mouth shut.
“Y-Your Highness, G-Grand Prince.”
I didn’t respond to his stammering, just stared at him silently. It was an invitation to speak, but he might have interpreted it differently.
“Your Highness…”
Beneath his awkward smile, he couldn’t hide his despair.
“Lord of Namakseong.”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”
The Lord answered hurriedly, visibly shaken, unlike the day before.
“As a grand prince of this nation, with heavy responsibilities, how could I merely stand by and watch this?”
For a mad prince, my words were oddly appropriate, but it didn’t matter. My face was thicker than iron.
And no one could point out my reputation as a mad prince to my face. Isn’t that enough?
I continued confidently, “Have you interrogated him?”
Heoseokgyeom answered, “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Report.”
Heoseokgyeom shared what he learned. Jongsangye didn’t appear intoxicated by Jongmeoki Flower, and when asked about its source, he consistently claimed ignorance.
Possession alone was a serious crime. Whether he used it, didn’t use it, obtained it himself, or through someone else, there was no way for Seungmurang to escape this situation.
The Lord of Namakseong couldn’t be his savior either. A careless word could implicate him without a chance to recover.
Since I was involved, this matter would undoubtedly reach King Bonhyeon.
“I grant Jungnangjang Heo the authority to investigate this matter on my behalf. I also order the Lord of Namakseong to cooperate fully with the investigation.”
I locked eyes with the Lord.
“Lord of Namakseong.”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”
“Ensure I have no reason to suspect you. I genuinely believe you could be a good friend.”
A brief silence followed my words.
The Lord replied cautiously, “…I’m deeply honored. However…”
He glanced at the bound Jongsangye, whose eyes briefly flickered with hope.
But it was truly fleeting.
“Please retract the word ‘suspect.’ I swear to the heavens I know nothing of this vile affair and will serve Your Highness faithfully.”
I nodded. “I trust you.”
“I’m deeply honored. I will never betray Your Highness’s trust.”
The Lord abandoned Jongsangye. If Jongsangye was truly a contact for the Woo family, this incident would lead to the Lord being cast aside by Duke Mungong or other allies of the Second Prince.
Even if not completely abandoned, losing their trust was inevitable.
Aside from having Gaeyeohwa, he’d have little value left.
I smirked inwardly, mocking his situation where surviving now trumped worrying about being abandoned by Duke Mungong later.
He must know this himself.
Jongsangye’s body and hands trembled, perhaps from the fear of abandonment.
I pronounced his fate. “How could someone like you be entrusted with the solemn duties of the palace?”
Jongsangye’s face turned ashen.
“Y-Your Highness…”
I ignored his plea and continued, “Seungmurang Jongsangye deserves to be dismissed.”
At that, Jongsangye looked at the Lord, but what help could he expect? Would the Lord cover his mouth for him? There was nothing the Lord could do.
At best, maybe send some decent food to his temporary cell?
Ahem. The Lord’s cough was audible, responding to Jongsangye’s desperate plea with a throat-clearing.
“As of this moment, you are no longer Seungmurang.”
Jongsangye’s shoulders slumped, his soul seemingly drained, as if he’d died on the spot. His head drooped, strength gone from his neck.
I turned my gaze from Jongsangye, now staring at the ground.
“Jungnangjang Heo.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“With the Lord of Namakseong’s cooperation, find out if others are involved with Jongsangye and the Jongmeoki Flower.”
“Yes.”
Heoseokgyeom answered briefly but firmly, commanding Namakseong’s soldiers to leave the interrogation room as if it were natural. Despite his command being overridden, the Lord said nothing.
He only tried to placate me with words. “For such a disgraceful incident to occur while Your Highness is here… I have no face to show.”
“You have no reason to feel ashamed.”
I added gently, “Did you encourage or aid this man?”
The Lord waved his hands in denial. “It has nothing to do with me!”
“Of course, of course. I believe you. You have nothing to worry about.”
The Lord gave a wry smile. “Haha, I’m so worried about failing to serve Your Highness comfortably that I can’t calm my heart. How can you say I have nothing to worry about?”
“Thanks to you, my stay has been comfortable, so you needn’t worry about that either.”
I smiled and nodded. With that, Jongsangye’s matter was settled.
By sheer luck, I’d gained an unexpected advantage. My original plan was to persuade the Lord and Gaeyeohwa, even if it meant revealing some of my cards. Thanks to my men and good fortune, I didn’t need to show my hand.
But it wasn’t over yet. My goal remained unfulfilled.
The Lord of Namakseong had to lose Duke Mungong’s trust completely.
The benefit he’d gain from giving Gaeyeohwa to me had to outweigh what he’d get from Duke Mungong.
The only thing I could promise him in this deal was one thing.
I desperately hoped the Lord was a man quick with calculations.