"Until then, treat him with courtesy," Soh instructed.
Chuya's eyes widened in disbelief. "He entered our harbor with black sails and spouted outrageous claims!" she protested. "Even if he is a descendant of the Cheon royal family, he deserves nothing but execution! And you want us to treat him with courtesy?"
"He's vulnerable," Soh countered. "And he has a pregnant woman with him, doesn't he?"
"How can the Isleless King be vulnerable?" Chuya argued. "If we let him go unpunished, your authority will be undermined!"
"My authority won't be strengthened by executing a desperate man for acting recklessly," Soh interrupted. "If you're so concerned about public opinion, then treating him as a royal descendant is the wiser course of action. Now go and do as you're told."
Chuya, unable to defy her father further, bowed her head and retreated. She consoled herself with the thought that one day, she would understand her father's intentions and even adopt his methods. For now, she had to suppress her rebellious instincts. Though she was still learning the ropes, managing the harbor and commanding soldiers, she yearned to emulate her father, the revered Soh. It was her duty as the eldest daughter, especially with her younger sister, Chuyahng, causing their parents so much grief. Chuya couldn't afford to add to their troubles. She found Chuyahng and relayed the situation, then they headed out of the palace together, accompanied by their soldiers.
As they made their way towards the market, Chuyahng's curiosity got the better of her. "So, is he being treated well?" she asked.
"Mind your own business," Chuya retorted. "Focus on what Father told us to do."
Undeterred by her sister's curt response, Chuyahng continued, "I actually went to the harbor to see that ship, the Black Wings. It's massive. The Pale Sea Specter would trade his only son for a ship like that. How many of those do the bastards have?"
"He didn't trade his son," Chuya corrected her. "His son died trying to capture it."
"Whatever," Chuyahng dismissed. "Anyway, it's obvious what he wants. He's here to overthrow Father and seize Ju. He knows how we operate. And he defeated Baekan, of all people. He must be feeling pretty confident."
"Just shut up," Chuya snapped. "You're not the only one who can make assumptions. And Baekan is just Baekan. Only cowards like you call him the Pale Sea Specter."
"Says the one who's never even met him."
Chuya, who had been ignoring her sister's taunts, suddenly stopped and turned to face her. "Do you really think he can defeat Father just because he defeated Baekan?"
"We haven't been able to conquer Seomy for years," Chuyahng argued.
"That's not a matter of strength, you idiot!"
Chuya sighed in frustration at her sister's smug grin. "Having a sibling like you is the real problem."
She spurred her horse forward, leaving Chuyahng behind.
While Chuyahng gathered rumors by dispatching soldiers throughout the markets and residential areas, Chuya paid a visit to Ahn'eum, a merchant who had long conducted extensive trade with Nahmgyo. Knowing his business dealings weren't entirely lawful, Ahn'eum cowered in fear at the sight of Chuya arriving with soldiers. He nervously handed over his ledgers as instructed, his eyes darting around anxiously. However, Chuya was less interested in Ahn'eum's petty transgressions and more curious about the new trading partners that had emerged in Nahmgyo after Wi's fall.
"So you're saying this is the only new trading partner from Nahmgyo you've dealt with since then?" Chuya asked.
"Yes," Ahn'eum confirmed.
"What was their name again?"
"The one who initiated the first transaction was Ahn, and then his son, Seung. After Seung died a few years ago, his two children took over. The eldest, Ryang, was the primary contact at first, but recently, his younger sister, Seon, has been handling most of the business."
"Do you know their family name?"
"They don't have one. The name of their establishment is Yeonyahng(戀陽). It uses the characters for 'longing' and 'sunlight.'"
"Yeonyahng..." Chuya scoffed, repeating the name. She then asked, "What do you mainly trade with them?"
"I believe their biggest profit comes from buying Crystal Haze from Sung and selling it to us," Ahn'eum replied. "The King of Dahn has banned Crystal Haze, and Sung has long closed its sea routes. We wouldn't have access to it without Nahmgyo's autonomy. We also trade in jewelry, silk, tobacco, medicinal herbs, and other common goods. But trading isn't their main business. They primarily offer money exchange and lending services within their establishment."
"They must have earned the money for lending through Crystal Haze," Chuya remarked. "Have you ever been to Yeonyahng?"
Ahn'eum grinned. "It's the most popular brothel for both us and Sungian heathens. It's currently the largest in Nahmgyo."
So these are the leeches sucking Ju dry, clinging to Dong'gyeong's closed port. Chuya seethed inwardly.
"Anything suspicious about them?" she asked.
"They rose to prominence under the patronage of Seolyo Jin, the Lady of Nahmgyo," Ahn'eum explained. "It was strange how they suddenly appeared and received such immense support. No one trusted them initially, but Seolyo Jin personally vouched for their credibility."
"I see," Chuya said. "I'll leave three men here to copy your ledgers. Behave yourself and treat them well."
Ahn'eum looked troubled. "But..."
"I won't pursue any unrelated offenses," Chuya assured him. "However, if you receive any news from them, report it to me immediately. Even if I'm not available, wait and report directly to me."
"Yes, Your Highness," Ahn'eum conceded with a bow.
Chuya left him and returned to the palace.
──────────
"You seem to be entrusting Chuya with a lot lately," Yahng'ha remarked as she handed Soh a cup of delicately brewed tea.
"I had her when I was just two years younger than she is now," Soh replied casually. "She's well past the age to start learning the ropes."
"What if you suddenly become a grandfather while you're sending her out like this?" Yahng'ha teased.
Soh scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. Both girls take after me. Do you think they'll ever get married if I don't drag some decent suitors in here myself?"
"You have no shame!" Yahng'ha exclaimed, genuinely annoyed. "They may take after you, but they're prettier than you!"
Soh chuckled and placated her. "That's something I should be thanking you for."
He forced a kiss on Yahng'ha's cheek as she pushed him away with a frown, then chuckled again. His laughter subsided as he took a sip of tea, and Yahng'ha continued, "So you've decided to pass the throne to Chuya?"
"Chuyahng is too reckless, and the other three are too young," Soh explained.
Yahng'ha sighed. It wasn't unusual for them to discuss succession with their children barely past their teens, as rulers of the Hundred Isles rarely lived long lives. Chuya, despite her rough edges, was the most dependable of their children. She understood her father's thoughts best and was eager to learn. Still, it was a worrying prospect. With their family's legacy not yet secure, Soh prioritized prolonging his own reign and protecting his five growing children, considering it as crucial as conquering new islands and planting Jongwon's flag.
"It's a harsh life," Yahng'ha lamented. "Having to worry about succession before we even have grey hair."
"That's why we need to end this war quickly," Soh declared.
"We've done well," Yahng'ha said. "It's only a matter of time before all Hundred Isles fall under Jongwon's rule. It's these disturbances that are troublesome."
Her gaze swept over the letters scattered across the desk.
"It's too sudden and absurd to be a fabrication," she continued.
"That's what I'm saying."
"What kind of scheme are they plotting?"
Soh sneered. "It's obvious. The same exploitation we've suffered for generations."
The information Chuya and Chuyahng gathered over the three days, aside from the incident with Baekan Yujeong, had no direct connection to Cheon Hwan. There were rumors of a man who suddenly appeared and seized the Sungian warship that Baekan Yujeong had captured at the cost of his own son's life, sparing Baekan by cutting his ear and finger. There were tales of this man, called the Isleless King, who wandered the seas without claiming any land, and who showed no mercy to women or children during his raids. All sorts of exaggerated rumors, typical of those surrounding infamous pirates, followed Cheon Hwan, the Isleless King.
The most useful information came not from the common folk, but from a merchant. The trading house in Nahmgyo, Yeonyahng, which Chuya had learned about from Ahn'eum, was suspected to be the primary source of funding for Cheon Seong, the sender of the letters. However, the identity of the founder, Ahn, who had established the business under Seolyo Jin's patronage, remained unclear. Soh believed that House Myeonghyeon had been destroyed in the fire at Sunyahng, so he assumed that some of the Celestial Scions who had been in Dong'gyeong during the rebellion had fled to Birahng. However, the emblem of the trading house, obtained from Ahn'eum, was strikingly similar to the old emblem of House Myeonghyeon. Furthermore, the haphazard way they amassed their wealth didn't fit with the rest of the gathered information.
Soh called out from beyond the door, "Is anyone there?"
The door opened, and an attendant entered, bowing low.
"Summon Jahan and Jeong'wu," Soh commanded.
The attendant flinched, then asked hesitantly, "Both of them, Your Majesty?"
"Yes," Soh confirmed.
The attendant rose and retreated. Soh stopped Yahng'ha from rising before the arrival of her advisors, insisting she remain seated. Soon, Jahan and Jeong'wu entered, their breathing heavy from rushing. They bowed and knelt before the King and Queen, then rose.
"You summoned us, Your Majesty?"
While Soh relied solely on his intuition in battle, he always valued the counsel of Jahan and Jeong'wu in matters of domestic and foreign affairs. Jahan, around the same age as Soh, was a former merchant who had joined him when he first rose to power. Jeong'wu, a native of Ju, had served the previous kings of Ju with his diplomatic skills, and Soh had spared him when he seized control. Though many considered him a traitor for maintaining his position despite the changing rulers, Soh trusted his experience in foreign affairs more than Jahan's cleverness.
"Have you completed your assigned tasks?" Soh asked.
He had sent them copies of the letters and given them the same task as Chuya and Chuyahng. They reported their findings to Soh, summarizing the information they had gathered.
"It's not much different from what Chuya and Chuyahng found," Soh remarked.
"Wherever we went," Jeong'wu explained, "your daughters had already been there. They've done well."
Soh cut to the chase. "With all this scheming going on in Nahmgyo, how should we respond?"
Jahan stepped forward. "Though it may be unpleasant to hear, Your Majesty," he said, "I believe we must join forces with them."