The books in the Crown Prince's private library were entirely full of absurd stories.
Not a single letter could be believed, and not even a fingernail's worth of deep contemplation could be found.
So Un Hyeon made a decision.
He would show his ability to make a perfect flower bloom from this trash.
For the next three days, Un Hyeon clung to his first report.
He didn't even glance at the absurd materials.
Instead, he focused on the underlying social phenomena where such nonsensical stories circulated.
And finally, he completed it.
Based on various classics, he incorporated his sharp insights, proposed feasible and appropriate policies, and produced a report that was, as excellent books often are, quite thin.
Un Hyeon was confident.
That through this single book, the Crown Prince would realize Un Hyeon's extraordinariness.
Holding a thin booklet titled 'A Contemplation on Murim Stories (武林故事)', Un Hyeon confidently entered the Blue Dragon Hall.
And soon, he had to be grateful that the report he wrote was thin.
Because as soon as Sa Il-cheon read the first page, he threw the booklet right at Un Hyeon.
Flutter.
Watching the report hit his chest and fall to the floor, Un Hyeon was dumbfounded.
However, Sa Il-cheon didn't care at all about Un Hyeon's feelings. He spoke in a cold and dry voice.
"Who told you to write such presumptuous writing? A contemplation on Murim stories? Who do you dare ask to listen to your thoughts or opinions? The exalted Crown Prince?"
The official's voice mercilessly dug into Un Hyeon's chest.
"No one is interested in your perspective. What the Crown Prince wants is the living image of the Murim. Understood?"
Un Hyeon couldn't answer anything with his head bowed. To him, the official said coldly.
"Do it again."
Un Hyeon bent down, picked up the thin booklet that had been thrown down, and withdrew from that place.
And that short phrase, 'Do it again', Un Hyeon had to hear repeatedly many times after that.
"Phew."
Looking back on the past few days, Un Hyeon sighed without realizing it.
Sa Il-cheon didn't throw the report again.
However, the reports Un Hyeon stayed up all night to make couldn't pass a few pages before returning with the sound of 'Do it again'.
Now it was to the extent that it seemed that sound would come out just by Sa Il-cheon opening his mouth.
The only fortunate thing was that there was no rushing, but just seeing Sa Il-cheon's face made his neck shrink automatically, so the anxiety was all the same.
"What should I do..."
He couldn't figure it out at all.
At this point, he might as well give a hint, but Sa Il-cheon was always blunt and extremely businesslike.
It felt like facing a giant grey wall.
'How on earth am I supposed to write a report that pleases the Crown Prince?'
Being told to write a report that would please the Crown Prince, whose Dragon Countenance (face) he had never even seen, was frustrating beyond measure.
Sa Il-cheon kept his mouth shut, and things that could serve as examples were nowhere to be found even after washing his eyes and looking.
The only things available were useless miscellaneous books filling the Crown Prince's private library; eventually, Un Hyeon made a final choice out of frustration.
It was to visit the Hall of Literary Profundity (Munyeon-gak).
'If I can't find a clue even in the Hall of Literary Profundity, it's truly the end.'
Un Hyeon bit his lip.
If it's not in the Hall of Literary Profundity, the repository of knowledge, there is nowhere else to look.
But would there really be a way to satisfy the Crown Prince's taste there?
Since 'pleasing' is something so subjective and extremely personal.
"Surely getting dismissed like this is..."
Un Hyeon, who was moving his steps, shuddered slightly.
It is impossible for an imperial scholar to give up his position over something like this. Besides, isn't he the one who placed first in the examination?
However, if this situation continued, that couldn't be guaranteed either.
There would be no one who would keep giving a seat to someone who couldn't even do their assigned job properly.
Especially in the Forbidden City, of all places, it goes without saying.
"Phew."
Just as he was about to sigh and take a step, a perfectly square pond came into Un Hyeon's view.
Un Hyeon hurriedly raised his head.
Golden letters written 'Munyeon-gak' on a large signboard hung high were shining brilliantly.
The moment he saw the signboard 'Munyeon-gak', Un Hyeon's heart began to pound.
This is the place where all the precious books under heaven, starting from the Emperor's Great Canon, are kept.
"This is the Hall of Literary Profundity..."
The Hall of Literary Profundity, called the repository of all knowledge, didn't feel that big.
However, that was by no means because the Hall of Literary Profundity was small. It was because the official palaces of the Forbidden City he had just passed, the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taehwa-jeon) or the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Bohwa-jeon), were absurdly large.
Although it lacked the dignity or grandeur like the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Literary Profundity exuded an elegant fragrance.
Forgetting his worries from a moment ago, Un Hyeon took a step toward the Hall of Literary Profundity with a pounding heart.
"What is it, you?"
What greeted Un Hyeon as he entered the Hall of Literary Profundity was a brusque official's question.
Un Hyeon gathered his two hands and bowed politely to greet him.
"I am Un Hyeon of the Blue Dragon Hall. I have come to trouble you like this because there is a book I need to look for here in the Hall of Literary Profundity."
The official of the Hall of Literary Profundity looked at Un Hyeon with a disapproving expression, then opened a large book with a gold-leaf cover.
"Un Hyeon of the Blue Dragon Hall, Un Hyeon... Do you use the character for cloud (雲)?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Un Hyeon answered naturally.
If it were a few days ago, he would have been discouraged by the official's brusque attitude and wouldn't have been able to speak.
But compared to what he suffered from Sa Il-cheon these past few days, this was nothing.
"Blue Dragon Hall, Blue Dragon Hall... Hmm, here it is. Your permission grade is..."
A sneer hung on the face of the official scanning the large register.
"Hmph."
He let out a short laugh and looked at Un Hyeon, speaking in a brusque tone.
"There is a place classified as miscellaneous books in that corner over there. Since that is the only area permitted to you, be especially careful."
"Pardon?"
Un Hyeon asked back without realizing it.
The meaning of the word 'miscellaneous books (雜書)' was simple. It refers to books so worthless that they don't need classification.
When classifying books, the Hall of Literary Profundity considers their importance and value, not the field. Naturally, occupying the center is the Emperor's Great Canon, followed by the scriptures of the sages.
And the books located at the very bottom, beyond numerous subsequent levels, the books belonging to the lowest class in this Hall of Literary Profundity, are the miscellaneous books.
"Didn't you hear? I said that's the only area permitted to you. You must not dare to touch books in other areas even by mistake. If you do, you won't escape the calamity of extermination of your entire family."
The official of the Hall of Literary Profundity spoke to Un Hyeon as if intimidating him.
'Ha, to think there are grades even for viewing books in the Hall of Literary Profundity.'
Un Hyeon sighed inwardly. The heart that pounded as he entered the Hall of Literary Profundity had subsided before he knew it.
The official of the Hall of Literary Profundity wrote something in the large book and closed it. His interest had already left Un Hyeon.
Thud.
Feeling the sound of the book closing like a hand roughly pushing his back, Un Hyeon moved his heavy steps inside the Hall of Literary Profundity.
"Oh my, aren't you Jinsa Un Hyeon?"
Un Hyeon, who was walking carefully amidst the densely lined bookshelves, was startled by the sudden voice.
Raising his head, a eunuch wearing brown eunuch attire stood in front.
While Un Hyeon was confused for a moment, the eunuch walked toward him with hurried steps.
"Ah, you are..."
The eunuch smiled and bowed deeply.
"I guided you, Jinsa, to the Blue Dragon Hall the other day, yeees. Seeing you like this, I committed a rudeness out of gladness."
Glancing at Un Hyeon's expression, the eunuch let his words flow.
Generally, eunuchs are treated like slaves within the Forbidden City, with a few peculiar exceptions.
Furthermore, because of the physical reason that they are not complete men, eunuchs had to endure countless hostile and contemptuous gazes directed at them.
Even now, this eunuch was carefully examining Un Hyeon's expression.
How would this young scholar react to the eunuch greeting him first?
Would he be displeased? Or would he consider it an insult and get angry?
However, Un Hyeon was neither.
"N-no. What rudeness..."
Un Hyeon hurriedly waved his two hands. A smile had risen on his face as well.
"Still, it is glad to meet you like this as someone I know."
That was Un Hyeon's sincerity.
The only person who showed him kindness here in the Forbidden City is this eunuch in front of his eyes. And the only person who calls his name is also him.
Was it because it had been truly hard in the meantime? Un Hyeon was really glad to see this eunuch whom he had met only once.
"Right, what brings you here?"
The eunuch, whose eyes twinkled, answered with a soft smile.
"Yeees, the person this lowly one serves was looking for a book, so I came here like this. I heard that you, Jinsa, came to reside within this Imperial City, but how is your stay?"
Un Hyeon was surprised that he knew even his news.
But more than that, he was truly grateful that he was concerned about him, even if it was just a formal greeting.
Un Hyeon smiled softly and answered the eunuch's question.
"I am just moved to tears by the Crown Prince's grace. I am doing well."
Un Hyeon's words were only half true.
It is true that the residence within the Forbidden City is better than the shabby inn.
However, the residence the Crown Prince specially prepared for him was, in fact, not much better than the quarters of eunuchs or court ladies.
"It is fortunate that you are doing well, yeees. I apologize for holding up your busy steps. Then this lowly one will take his leave..."
The eunuch gathered his two hands and bowed deeply to say goodbye.
"Ah, t-then see you again..."
Un Hyeon answered the eunuch's greeting, stuttering a little.
The eunuch smiled at Un Hyeon and moved his steps between the bookshelves full of books.
Those were the very bookshelves that were forbidden to Un Hyeon, the ones he would suffer the calamity of family extermination if he even touched.
'So that eunuch has a higher grade than me.'
Feeling a bitter taste in his mouth, Un Hyeon watched the back of the eunuch moving between the bookshelves.
And just as he was about to turn away, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Thud.
Un Hyeon stopped his feet. And turned his head to look at the eunuch.
The back of the eunuch wearing the brown eunuch attire was just about to disappear between the bookshelves.
"L-look here!"
Un Hyeon's voice grew loud on its own. The fact that this was the Hall of Literary Profundity where one must be quiet was not in his mind right now.
Only the anxiety that he must call and stop the eunuch before he disappeared drove Un Hyeon.
"Look here, just a moment!"
Between the densely lined bookshelves, the eunuch's white face poked out slightly.
"Yeees?"
At Un Hyeon's earnest request, the eunuch hesitated for a long time before opening his mouth.
"Hmm. So, what the Crown Prince wants is exactly the stories of the Murim. And very exciting ones at that, for example, something like the duels (比武) of masters, yeees. Because he fell deeply for the story of a Murim master who visited the Imperial Palace in the past."
The eunuch laughed slightly, covering his mouth with his sleeve.
"It seems he has been obtaining various records or books about the Murim since then, but... Hohoho, are imperial records ever interesting? They are full of stiff and complicated stories. That is why the Crown Prince needed a scholar. Someone who would organize the records in the Imperial Palace according to his will and reconstruct them interestingly to tell him..."
Noticing Un Hyeon's face hardening, the eunuch spoke in a deliberately bright tone.
"I mean such a brilliant and loyal scholar. So if you set the direction of your studies that way, it probably won't be too far off, yeees. Then I will take my leave..."
The eunuch bowed deeply and walked away with hurried steps.
But Un Hyeon didn't even have the composure to say words of thanks.
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