Chapter 26
26 The Secret Journey (1)
"What do you think?"
"There's no doubt about it."
Royal Secretary Im Soong-jae, who had rushed over after being urgently summoned in the middle of the night, examined the paper front and back several times before answering.
"This is high-quality paper made by the Royal Paper Workshop."
"...Paper supplied to the court in the hands of a commoner. How do you explain this?"
Sungjae frowned, pondered for a moment, and then slowly opened his mouth.
"Commoners are descendants of the nomadic people who settled in this country. Although they have lived on this land for a long time and speak Joseon, they still cannot abandon the customs and habits of the barbarians. Even ordinary commoners are ashamed to associate with them and do not intermarry."
"I know that much..."
"What is concerning is that they do not farm and have a tendency to wander from place to place, so there have been more than a few cases of robbery and theft."
"Robbery... Then, the disappearance of Scholar Lee Jang-gon of the Office of Special Advisers..."
"...It is certain that commoners attacked Scholar Lee as he was leaving the palace and stole his belongings. He was last seen at Geonchun Gate, which is in the same direction as the cattle market."
Sungjae spoke as if he had already concluded that the commoners were the culprits.
It wasn't as if his words were entirely without basis.
In fact, the Annals recorded that more than half of the hundreds of robberies and murders that occurred in the early and mid-Joseon period were committed by commoners.
"I will order the Royal Guards to be released immediately to capture them."
"N-No, that's absurd. How can you do that without any evidence..."
When Ji-young, who had been listening, interjected, Sungjae glared at her and held out the paper.
"No evidence? What is this, then, if not evidence? If we don't act quickly, the commoners who attacked the court official will escape."
"... ."
Ji-young had no choice but to shut her mouth at his fierce tone, but her doubts did not disappear.
The figures of the commoner woman Bong-dan and her father, whom she had met that day, were vivid in her mind.
The commoner woman who wielded her knife like a dance, dissecting a huge cow.
Could they really have attacked Scholar Lee and stolen his belongings?
Yeonsangun also frowned, unable to reach a conclusion easily.
"...What does the Royal Guard Commander think?"
Royal Guard Commander Shin Su-hyeok, who had also been summoned, cautiously added to Sungjae's conjecture.
"I am sorry to disagree, but my thoughts are somewhat different from the Royal Secretary's..."
At those words, Im Soong-jae frowned uncomfortably.
How could Royal Guard Commander Shin Su-hyeok, who was closest to the missing Scholar Lee Jang-gon, say such a thing?
"...Were you not close to Scholar Lee? And yet you say that?"
At Im Soong-jae's sidelong glance, Shin Su-hyeok responded in a calm voice.
"I say this because I know Scholar Lee well."
The missing Scholar Lee Jang-gon and Royal Guard Commander Shin Su-hyeok.
At first glance, these two people had no reason to be close.
A civil official and a military officer.
Moreover, there was little contact between an official who managed documents in the Office of Special Advisers, which was like the royal library, and the Royal Guard, the royal guard unit.
Nevertheless, there was one thing that tied them together:
That was 'martial arts.'
Lee Jang-gon possessed such outstanding martial talent that it was hard to believe he was a civil official.
In particular, the sparring matches between Lee Jang-gon and Shin Su-hyeok, which took place from time to time, were rumored to be so amazing that they left spectators gaping.
'A talent for command, why is this man in the Office of Special Advisers?'
That was what Shin Su-hyeok had thought the first day they crossed swords.
Lee Jang-gon's fluid and unrestrained swordsmanship was admirable even from Shin Su-hyeok's perspective, who was receiving it.
Was it not said that friendship is made through martial arts?
In that way, the two had become close friends who could share their deepest thoughts.
For such Lee Jang-gon to be attacked by mere commoners was something he could not accept, no matter how he thought about it.
But.
"...Well, you never know. If commoners are determined to rob and launch a surprise attack, even the most skilled Lee Jang-gon would be helpless."
Sungjae still seemed unwilling to let go of his suspicion of the commoners.
After a period of contemplation, a decisive word finally flowed from Yeonsangun's mouth.
"Then, there is only one way to confirm it."
"That is correct. I will order the immediate arrest of all commoners in Hanyang, no, throughout the country..."
"I will personally set out to find them as soon as it dawns."
"Is there any doubt? As soon as it dawns... Yes? Your... Your Majesty?"
Sungjae's eyes widened at the sudden, unexpected words.
"P-P-Personally, you say..."
"I will leave the palace in commoner's clothes as soon as it dawns, so prepare accordingly."
Sungjae, who had been momentarily bewildered by the King's sudden remark, belatedly grasped its meaning and prostrated himself in surprise.
"Y-Your Majesty, please reconsider! How can you not protect your royal body..."
"This is a matter of the court's prestige. There is no need to make a fuss. Besides..."
Yeonsangun's face was quite serious, as if he had made up his mind.
It was clear that he was not giving orders on a whim, as he usually did.
"...There is a 'thing' we must find, is there not? A thing that I must confirm before anyone else. Royal Guard Commander, prepare to depart."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Royal Guard Commander Shin Su-hyeok bowed as soon as the order was given, as if he was already prepared.
"And... Royal Cuisine Master."
"Yes?"
"Prepare yourself as well."
Ji-young's eyes widened at Yeonsangun's sudden words.
"M-M-Me? Why...?"
"Do you intend to let me starve outside the palace? Have you already forgotten that I ordered you to serve me meals every day?"
Ha, this psycho King...
It was already difficult enough to serve him in the palace, but what kind of hardship would she have to endure if she followed him outside?
"B-B-But I am very busy with Royal Kitchen duties..."
"There is a former Royal Cuisine Master. He has worked in the Royal Kitchen for much longer than you, so there is no need to worry. Prepare yourself without further ado."
As if there was no need to wait for Ji-young's reply, Yeonsangun turned to Sungjae and issued orders without hesitation.
"Royal Secretary, you will remain here and take care of the aftermath. And prepare the 'Gyeomsabok' to be dispatched immediately in case of emergency."
Im Soong-jae swallowed hard, as if he was already nervous just hearing those words.
Gyeomsabok.
A cavalry unit selected from a small number of the most elite Royal Guards in the capital.
It was no exaggeration to say that there was no one in Joseon who could move faster than them.
In other words, it meant preparing a five-minute standby team that could rush to the King in an emergency.
"I-I will obey your command."
Perhaps because he was relieved that he did not have to leave, Sungjae quickly bowed his head, lest the King change his mind.
"If you have received your orders, then all of you may leave. And gather quietly in the front yard of this Gangnyeong Hall tomorrow at exactly Myosi."
* * *
Early the next morning, in front of Gangnyeong Hall.
Something felt awkward.
Ji-young kept looking at her perfectly normal limbs, unaccustomed to her unfamiliar appearance.
Disguised as a man.
It was an unavoidable choice.
Traveling a long distance in this era in women's clothing could lead to various troublesome situations, so it would be easier in many ways to disguise herself as a man.
"Royal Cuisine Master, you must be safe."
That was why she had received help from Jang-geum, who was skilled with her hands, to put her hair up in a fake topknot and wear a bamboo hat over it.
Wearing a jacket over her shirt and carrying a bundle over her shoulder, she looked exactly like a peddler wandering from village to village.
'Haa... I really don't like this look...'
At that moment, Yeonsangun's figure, who had just appeared in front of Gangnyeong Hall, came into Ji-young's view.
Perhaps it was because she had only ever seen him in his Dragon Robe, but he looked surprisingly unfamiliar.
He was wearing a jade-colored Korean Traditional Coat with a red sash, and a string of crystal beads that started in front of his ears and hung down to his chin.
The face that peeked out from under the large hat was so handsome that he could be called the most handsome man in the world, if one did not know his personality.
"Why are you staring like that? Is there something on my face?"
"A-Ah, no."
It seemed that she had been absentmindedly staring at the King's face without realizing it.
Royal Guard Commander Shin Su-hyeok was standing next to the King, wearing a navy robe.
'I saw that figure when I went to the market last time.'
The hilt of a sword peeked out from inside the Royal Guard Commander's folded arms. If the King's safety was to be guaranteed, that man had to be there.
'So, just the three of us are leaving...?'
Just as she was thinking that, she noticed someone running towards them in a hurry from afar.
A bamboo hat and a red jacket.
A Drunken clown mask that looked familiar was dangling from the bundle on his back.
When his eyes met Ji-young's, that face smiled cheerfully... If she wasn't mistaken...
Could it be, Masked clown Gong-gil?
"H-How did you get here...?"
"I called him."
"W-W-Why...?"
"Wouldn't it be boring to travel? Then we'll need a clown."
Yeonsangun wore a proud expression, as if he had come up with a great idea.
As if agreeing with his words, Gong-gil pretended to bow like the court officials.
"Your Majesty, I will do my best to make sure you are never bored."
"Your role is extremely important."
Come to think of it, she had heard about it vaguely after their last meeting.
That the clown was wandering around the palace as he pleased, by Yeonsangun's special order.
But even so.
'What a bizarre combination...'
Ji-young looked back and forth between the two men with a dumbfounded expression.
Embarking on a secret journey in commoner's clothes, accompanied by a Royal Cuisine Master and a Masked clown.
It was a combination that was hard to imagine unless the King was extremely eccentric.
Whether he knew Ji-young's thoughts or not, the King said without a care.
"Now, now that everyone is here, let's depart."
Yeonsangun and the Royal Guard Commander, both wearing Korean Traditional Coats and hats, mounted their horses.
And Ji-young and Gong-gil, both wearing jackets and bamboo hats, each pulled on the reins.
To an outsider, it would look like young masters from a wealthy family were going on an outing to the suburbs with their servants.
This strange group of four left the palace and was heading out of the capital.
"..."
And, a mysterious shadow hiding behind the walls of Hanyang watched them for a while before quietly disappearing into the darkness.
* * *
"Madam, another bottle of rice wine here."
"Oh, that's enough. You'll have to pay from now on."
"Oh, come on. Why is our madam being like this? Have you ever seen me skip out on a bill? I'll pay off all my debts in a few days, so don't be like that and just give me one more bottle..."
"Hmph, get lost..."
Today was another typical day at the tavern.
Taverns in the Joseon Dynasty were a combination of restaurants, bars, inns, and highway rest stops.
Therefore, the evening scenery of a tavern located in front of a mountain pass was always crowded with travelers who wanted to eat or stay overnight before crossing the pass.
"...But what's the point of traveling around like this every day? It's so hard to make a living..."
"It's all because the King is incompetent. Always feasting on delicacies and womanizing."
"Hey, keep your voice down."
"Am I wrong? Frankly speaking, with the Chaehong and Cloud Peace, the state of the palace these days is the reason why the saying 'Flourishing Clear' came about."
"This man is drunk."
The drunkards, already flushed with alcohol, were spouting whatever came to their minds.
And sitting right next to them, eating soup and listening to their words, was none other than Yeonsangun and his party.
They had heard rumors that a group of commoners was wandering around the Yangju area of Gyeonggi Province and had come all the way here to find clues.
"...Besides, they're driving people out by setting up hunting grounds with restricted areas in Yangju, Paju, Gwangju, and Gimpo. Does that even make sense?"
"I think there's going to be a riot soon. I wonder what will happen in the future."
As the drunkard's words grew increasingly harsh, the Royal Guard Commander, unable to bear it any longer, gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, but Yeonsangun, who was drinking rice wine, waved his hand.
"Leave them be. What will change even if they complain all day long? More than that, this soup is more edible than I thought. It's kind of rough, but it has an honest taste."
Even in this situation, Yeonsangun seemed to like the tavern's beef and rice soup, which he was eating for the first time, and was even giving it a taste review.
"It has a different taste from the Seonnongtang that we eat after the Seonnongdan ceremony. I'm glad I came out."
Looking at him, it seemed clear that he had come out to find out what delicious things the people were eating without his knowledge.
At that moment, the lively atmosphere of the tavern suddenly became as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.
A group of unfamiliar men who did not look like travelers had entered without warning.
Their hair was tied up haphazardly, and their faces were scarred.
They were ruffians with menacing looks who could not be mistaken for ordinary people.
Moreover, each of them was holding a blue blade in their hands.
"Have you heard of the Kalbongsan Murderous Gang? I'm Cheon Dal-sam, the leader. You probably know that even the government soldiers run away with their tails between their legs when they see my face..."
The burly man who appeared to be the leader sat down on the platform in the middle of the tavern and continued to spout words that were somewhere between a threat and a joke.
"But if you get to know me, you'll see that I'm a soft man, so don't worry. Just put your valuables gently, gently, in here, okay?"
Following him, his subordinates went around with burlap sacks, collecting valuables and coins.
"..."
The tavern, which had been so lively, was now filled with silence.
"Oh, come on, ladies, don't be scared and just keep drinking. But if you do anything stupid, you'll die, so let's all be careful, okay?"
The bandit leader Cheon Dal-sam was acting so nonchalantly.
At that moment, a couple of the ruffians, who had been looking around at Yeonsangun's party sitting in the corner, shouted as loudly as if they were ginseng diggers who had discovered wild ginseng.
"Huh? What's this? There are some expensive guys here?"
"Wow, it looks like some young masters from Hanyang?"
"Leader! Take a look here. This could be worth some money?"
As he watched the ruffians giggling among themselves, a strange smile began to spread across Yeonsangun's face.
