When the doors finally closed, the anger inside the hall did not disappear, but Lee Yeong did not allow himself time to sit with it because another truth had already begun pressing against his thoughts.
Jong Suk's words continued returning to him.
He had spoken of beggars along the road, children searching for food and families too weak to travel, yet none of the reports placed before the King mentioned famine, shortage or emergency assistance.
Seon Jeo placed several documents on the table beneath the throne.
"These are the grain reports from the town Prince Physician Jong Suk mentioned. According to the records, the harvest remained stable, the government storehouses received their full supply and the rice price has not changed during the past three months."
Lee Yeong opened the first report, then the second, finding every number perfectly aligned and every official seal placed exactly where it belonged.
It looked complete.
It also looked too perfect.
