Chapter 95: Dethronement Part 1

The Hwalseong District had just been completed, yet the area was filled with collapsed buildings.

When Grand General Seong Sa Wook rode his horse through the ruins of the place, he saw that most of the neatly constructed wooden buildings had been reduced to rubble.

It was a truly unfortunate sight, but if they hadn’t drawn the Sun Demonic Spirit out to this place, such devastation would have been the fate of Cheongdo Palace instead.

Clop-clop! Clop-clop!

Riding toward the central street under the escort of White Taoist An Cheon, he saw Seol Tae Pyeong leaning against the remains of a destroyed building under the early morning sunlight.

His sister Seol Ran was wiping blood from her arm. When she noticed General Seong Sa Wook approaching on horseback, she was startled and quickly bowed her head.

Seol Tae Pyeong was completely exhausted and he appeared to have fallen asleep.

“Ge-General Seong…”

“Is the situation over?”

“Yes…”

“I must have arrived too late.”

Though he had been the first to rush out when the Sun Demonic Spirit appeared at Cheongdo Palace, he hesitated when the battlefield shifted to the Hwalseong District.

It wasn’t easy to decide to leave his post as the supreme commander, especially when Cheongdo Palace was still teeming with demonic spirits.

Grand General Seong Sa Wook looked down for a moment at the unconscious Seol Tae Pyeong from atop his horse.

When the sister who was tending to him hesitated awkwardly and tried to gauge his reaction, he shook his head firmly.

“Don’t worry about me, just continue tending to him. Once it’s confirmed that the situation is under control, the subordinates of the Bright Moon General who remain in the Hwalseong District will come to take care of him.”

“U-Understood.”

“…Your efforts have been truly commendable.”

And then he continued in a low murmuring voice.

“Even though I’m old and my body isn’t what it used to be, I still took up my sword and faced that monster, the one that severed my arm. To think that he managed to slay it all by himself. This achievement must be rewarded with the highest honors.”

“Grand General, you should be more concerned about your own condition. The pain of losing your arm is still there, isn’t it?”

“My pain will fade with time, but if the crisis at Cheongdo Palace had been left unchecked, it would have led to even greater disasters. It’s unfortunate that the Bright Moon General lost consciousness, so I cannot deliver this message directly, but you, as his older sister, should relay it to him.”

Grand General Seong Sa Wook closed his eyes gently as he spoke.

“Bright Moon General Seol Tae Pyeong, you’ve accomplished a truly great feat… As the highest-ranking officer of Cheongdo Palace, I will make sure you are properly rewarded for that.”

With that, General Seong Sa Wook turned his horse around.

There were likely still many lower demonic spirits left in Cheongdo Palace.

With the death of their leader, the demonic spirits would be in disarray, and since Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun had borrowed the power of the Heavenly Dragon to disperse the fog of the demonic spirits, their movements would be sluggish as well.

If the warriors of Cheongdo Palace worked together, there shouldn’t be any more significant casualties.

However, it was not wise for the Grand General, the one sitting at the top of the command, to remain away from his post.

Now that the death of the Sun Demonic Spirits had been confirmed, he needed to return to the main palace and finish off the remaining demonic spirits.

The disaster of the previous night was coming to an end.

He took one last look at the unconscious warrior lying among the ruins.

Bright Moon General, Seol Tae Pyeong.

The one who had slain Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang.

That rascal Jeong Seo Tae who’s out hunting demonic spirits would be pleased to see this.

If he was the kind of general who enjoyed seeing skilled swordsmen achieve great things, he would welcome it with open arms.

Following that thought, Grand General Seong Sa Wook snapped the reins of his horse.

***

The demonic spirits’ army quickly fell apart after losing the Sun Demonic Spirit.

Among the warriors of Cheongdo Palace, many were highly competent.

The sudden appearance of demonic spirits the previous night had caught them off guard, but once order was restored, even hundreds or thousands of lower demonic spirits could be dealt with without much difficulty.

And so, the morning after the disaster came.

Reports about the torrential rainstorm and the aftermath of the night’s disaster were presented at the imperial council.

Emperor Woon Sung and the high officials gathered for a long, drawn-out meeting.

Seeing Grand General Seong Sa Wook sitting at the center with one arm missing, the high officials could only swallow dryly.

Indeed, a great disaster had nearly occurred.

The imperial historians recorded the previous night’s events as a monumental disaster.

The warriors of the Red Palace who had lost their headquarters overnight had to live in tents.

The headmaids had to ensure the safety of their mistresses.

The officials of the Ministry of Works had to scramble to find the manpower needed to repair the collapsed buildings, and the laborers had to clear out the palace grounds filled with corpses of demonic spirits.

Each person was recalling the disaster of last night from their respective positions, and trying to return to their daily lives.

For a while, the internal affairs of Cheongdo Palace inevitably suffered from a severe manpower shortage… So when the large army that consisted of tens of thousands of soldiers returned from the Higher Demonic Spirit subjugation campaign, they were welcomed with open arms.

Those who had repeatedly retreated and advanced, never giving up on their mission to eradicate the Higher Demonic Spirit, finally returned with news of their success in slaying the demonic spirit that had descended upon the Anhyang region.

Leading them was Peace Stone General Hwa Wol Yong, the oldest adjutant of Vice General Jeong Seo Tae.

However, despite bringing news of victory, his expression was far from pleased.

The subjugation force had suffered heavy losses and had achieved many feats.

Though they had barely made it back to the imperial palace, they were likely shocked by the state of the palace.

Having completed their long and perilous journey, they must have hoped for a warm welcome at Cheongdo Palace, but the situation was not favorable.

Many parts of Cheongdo Palace were damaged, and there was a shortage of manpower to begin immediate restoration work.

The event to congratulate and celebrate their achievements had to be more concise than expected.

The subjugation force might have felt dissatisfied, but it was a situation that couldn’t be avoided.

The palace had just undergone a major crisis, both internally and externally. Though they initially harbored discontent, they eventually understood the situation and began participating in the restoration efforts at Cheongdo Palace.

And so, the hands of recovery slowly reached Cheongdo Palace, where it once seemed like the rain would never end.

The buildings gradually started to regain their form, and the nightmarish memories lingering in people’s minds slowly began to fade into the past.

It was around this time when plans to restore the destroyed Hwalseong District District were being drawn up.

“Vice General Jeong Seo Tae, who served in the campaign against the Higher Demonic Spirit, has fallen in battle.”

Chief Councilor In Seon Rok, who had come out to inspect the Hwalseong District, handed me a cup of wine and delivered the news.

“In the recent council meeting, there was much discussion about who should be appointed to the now-vacant position of Vice General.”

The setting was still the government office of Hwalseong District which still had that sense of emptiness.

Chief Councilor In Seon Rok had come out for an inspection like he originally planned.

It had only been a few days since the major incident where the Sun Demonic Spirit appeared and wreaked havoc both inside and outside the palace, so delaying such an insignificant inspection wouldn’t have been an issue.

Nevertheless, Chief Councilor In Seon Rok arrived at Hwalseong District on the originally scheduled date.

Although he claimed to be there for an inspection, there wasn’t much to inspect, since the Sun Demonic Spirit had already destroyed everything.

In the end, the real reason he came to Hwalseong District was simply to meet with me privately without raising suspicion.

The reason why the Chief Councilor In Seon Rok had come out to meet the Bright Moon General in person was obvious.

“There’s a strong possibility that the position of Vice General will be assigned to you. If that happens, the political landscape inside the palace will shift significantly.”

“……”

“Once Vice General Jeong Seo Tae’s funeral is over, you may need to prepare yourself to assume the role of Vice General while waiting for the council’s approval.”

The subtle power struggle between the Jeongseon and Inbong clans over me was due to the possibility that I might someday rise to the rank of Grand General.

However, I never imagined that the position of Vice General would fall to me so suddenly. It’s a position that typically requires years, if not decades, of effort to even be considered for.

A general’s rank isn’t something one achieves simply by wielding a sword well. It’s a position reserved for someone who possesses wisdom, virtue, and strength, as well as experience and the respect of all military officials.

“If there are no issues during the imperial council’s examination, His Majesty will personally bestow the rank of Vice General upon you. It will be a great honor that will be passed down from generation to generation.”

“I’m still too young. Giving such position to someone like me isn’t just unusual, it’s entirely unprecedented… May I ask how I was chosen for this position?”

“Your martial strength and achievements are undeniable. However, your age was indeed a significant concern, and it sparked considerable debate during the council meeting.”

Chief Councilor In Seon Rok took a sip of his drink, sighed briefly, and looked around the government office.

The state of Hwalseong District was miserable. It was obvious that restoring it would require huge help.

The Chief Councilor who knew of this looked at me with a hint of sympathy.

It wasn’t just that I was busy; my physical condition was also in shambles.

I had pushed myself to the brink to kill the Sun Demonic Spirit, and as a result, there was hardly a part of my body not wrapped in bandages.

Seol Ran visited me almost every day and she kept fussing over my need for rest to the point where it was getting on my nerves.

“You don’t seem to care much for flowery words, so I’ll skip the useless talk and get straight to the point.”

“….…”

“You’ve managed to completely rein in the Inbong clan. It seems they’ve decided to bury the incident where you caused a disturbance at the Inbong mansion.”

If White Princess Ha Wol fully tightened her grip on the real power within the Inbong clan, she would essentially become inseparable from them in any deal.

This was something that could not help but concern Chief Councilor In Seon Rok.

Although he was known as a smart and capable official, he wasn’t entirely above the murky waters of political schemes.

He stood firm on his convictions when necessary, but wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty when the situation demanded it. He was a man who lived in the gray; he was neither entirely white nor entirely black.

In this political landscape, it was only natural that one would eventually become a person who constantly weighed beliefs against personal gain.

“To put it bluntly, the fact that you hold control over the Inbong clan makes it a significant burden for the Jeongseon clan if you were to become a general-level officer.”

“…….”

“Therefore, from my position, I cannot easily support your promotion to a general-level official.”

If the Chief Councilor, who was one of the most vocal figures in the council, did not approve, the proposal for appointing a general-level officer would be difficult to pass.

However, it was strange. If that were truly the case, he could have simply opposed it outright.

There was no need for him to come all the way to the Hwalseong District under the pretext of an inspection.

He must have had another purpose.

“Therefore, to ease my concerns, bring more people from the Jeongseon clan to the Hwalseong District.”

“……?”

“Since you already have a lot of people from the Inbong clan, expanding your ties with the Jeongseon clan would be a considerable burden. Though you don’t seem to be easily swayed by either side, that alone is not enough.

On the surface, it seemed like a proposal that wasn’t entirely unfavorable to me.

To restore the chaotic Hwalseong District, more skilled workers and personnel would indeed be necessary.

However, from a political standpoint, I would have to bear the risk of straining relations with the Inbong clan.

Above all, there was a high possibility that the White Princess who wielded real power within the Inbong clan would vehemently oppose it.

“And I hear that you’ve appointed an inspector of the Inbong clan as the manager of the Hwalseong District. Also, appoint someone from the Jeongseon clan as well. If you balance it that way, I can fully agree to the council’s agenda, though it still makes me uneasy.”

“If you put it that way, I understand. However, from my perspective, this is a strange situation.”

“What exactly is troubling you about the situation?”

I ran my bandaged fingers along my chin as I spoke.

“If you’re truly uneasy, you could simply appoint someone else. There are plenty of individuals who hold more authority than the Bright Moon General position and are closer to the Jeongseon clan…. Just pick someone who suits your preferences and support them.”

“That’s a foolish suggestion.”

The Chief Councilor let out a dry laugh as he replied.

“Considering Vice General Jeong Seo Tae’s previous recommendations, you’re the right person for the Vice General position. From what I’ve heard, your abilities are exceptional. You seem to be a talent who will make a huge contribution to the strength and prosperity of the Cheongdo Empire in the future.”

“……”

“Why? Is it funny to you that I’m trying to make morally sound decisions, but can’t let go of the power struggles beneath the surface?”

He wasn’t completely detached from the realities of politics, even as he made what he believed to be the ideal choices for the future of Cheongdo.

He was compromising between reality and ideals in his own way.

“Politics is meant to be played like a bat.”

After saying that, he took a sip of his drink.

“Every day since that chaotic night has been one council meeting after another. It’s only natural, given all the loose ends that need tying up, but it’s exhausting nonetheless.”

After finishing his piece, the Chief Councilor stood up and spoke with a hint of resignation.

He was quite different from the figure who maintained authority in public settings. Perhaps this was how he was during actual work. He was more forthright than I expected.

For now, I held the position of Bright Moon General, but once I completed the council’s examination, I would officially become a general-level officer.

And since the situation was like this…. the Chief Councilor had already started treating me as a high-ranking official.

“You’ve been through a lot, Chief Councilor. Once I finish wrapping up the affairs at the Hwalseong District and recover my health, I’ll bring some good wine and visit you.”

“Well, now that you mention it, I heard you taught my daughter Ha Yeon some swordsmanship back when you were an apprentice warrior. Fate sure works in mysterious ways. If the opportunity arises, the three of us should meet.”

He mounted his horse and turned toward the middle gate of the government office with a few guards.

“There’s another council meeting in about an hour, so I need to hurry. I heard it’s not an urgent matter, though.”

“Is that so…?”

“Now that I think about it, it’s a matter that might interest you. Even the mistresses of the four palaces are all listening intently…”

The Chief Councilor looked up at the sky while gripping the reins of his horse.

“The proposal to replace the current Heavenly Maiden has been brought up.”

Indeed.

The inevitable has come.

The fading trend of the Heavenly Dragon’s energy has reached its peak. This led to two incidents where a special demonic spirit appeared right in the middle of Cheongdo Palace.

Though the chaos caused by the first special demonic spirit was wrapped up without significant damage, the second one, the Sun Demonic Spirit incident, escalated into a major disaster.

It’s impossible not to question who is responsible for this.

The fact that a higher demonic spirit arrived on the outskirts of the imperial capital, and the fact that many lower demonic spirits appeared…

It’s only natural to question whether the current Heavenly Maiden is fulfilling her duties.

As a result… doubts have begun to arise about Ah Hyun, who currently held the position of Heavenly Maiden.

***

“…Where is the Heavenly Maiden?”

“She’s sitting in the Heavenly Jade Pavilion, as usual.”

“…….”

Lee Ryeong, the headmaid of the Heavenly Dragon Hall, headed to the Heavenly Jade Pavilion with a worried look on her face.

In the distance, she could see the Heavenly Maiden sitting alone in the pavilion and surrounded by a waterfall.

She sat alone while gazing up at the waterfall. Even from a distance, she looked deeply troubled.

It seemed that if things continued like this, her dethronement would be inevitable.

After serving the will of the Heavenly Dragon and dedicating herself to Cheongdo for so many years, she would be cast aside without a second thought.

If it ended with just her dethronement, that might be a relief. There was no telling what harm the officials harboring suspicion against her might do.

Once the authority that protected her as the Heavenly Maiden was stripped away and she was thrown out into the world as a girl with nothing… could she bear the grief that would follow?

From the perspective of Lee Ryeong, who had served her for half a lifetime, she couldn’t help but worry.

Yet, as the Heavenly Maiden sat in the pavilion and looked up at the waterfall alone, Lee Ryeong couldn’t bring herself to take a single step toward her.

For now, it seemed best to leave her alone.

The sound of the waterfall crashing down echoed clearly.

Suspicion toward Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun gripped the entire Cheongdo Palace, and now even the radical factions were rising, insisting that she be removed from the Heavenly Dragon Hall immediately.

As she gazed up at the beautiful waterfall of Heavenly Jade Pavilion, the Heavenly Maiden remained lost in deep contemplation.

With a wistful and delicate look in her eyes, she muttered to herself.

“What should I have for lunch today… I really want to eat the meat stew I had yesterday again…”

It was truly the biggest worry of her life.