Chapter 351
"Unrecorded history?"
"Yeah."
"No, history is meant to be recorded! All history is recorded by historians."
"Then do you know what His Late Majesty did ten years ago today?"
"Not in such detail…"
"That's right."
Guwangqushen spoke as if it were nothing special.
"History is passed down because it's recorded. History that isn't recorded can't be called history. But can history convey everything?"
The Historian shut his mouth tight.
He was someone who conveyed history. But there definitely existed unrecorded history in the world. Wasn't finding those gaps in history and recording them their job?
"It's difficult."
"That's right."
Guwangqushen chuckled.
"But still, Right Inspector…"
It was truly shocking news.
Right Inspector was the highest position in the Censorate. That meant Second Rank.
"It's an honorary position."
"Pardon?"
"What would Wei Yan-ho know to be given such a high position? The actual work was all handled by the Left Inspector."
"Even if it's honorary, to give such a position to someone from the martial world means His Late Majesty must have cherished Wei Yan-ho quite a bit…"
"It seemed that way."
Guwangqushen clicked his tongue.
"From our perspective, it seemed like he'd be lucky not to get beaten to death, but strangely, His Late Majesty cherished Wei Yan-ho. His perspective seemed a bit different from ours. Anyway, that's how Wei Yan-ho became Right Inspector. His Highness blocked any actual involvement in central affairs. That also seemed like a pointless thing to do. Wei Yan-ho wasn't the type to get involved even if asked. He was the type to whine for more salary instead."
"…That's right."
The Historian sighed.
"At least it's fortunate it was honorary."
"It should have been fortunate, but…"
"What?"
Guwangqushen let out a deep sigh.
"Being honorary meant he had no work to do, but it didn't mean his authority completely disappeared. While His Highness blocked interference in imperial affairs, how could local officials dare even make eye contact with the Right Inspector?"
"…"
"It was like a tiger growing wings. Moreover… His Majesty was a bit excessive. It didn't end there."
"What? It didn't end?"
"His Majesty may have had his own thoughts, but…"
Guwangqushen shook his head back and forth.
"They weren't proper thoughts."
* * *
Actually, the position of Right Inspector isn't an ordinary position either.
Where is the Censorate? Isn't it a place that conducts inspections?
That's how inspection offices are.
It's a place that can wield power greater than the actual rank given, legitimately. It's a place that investigates and interrogates crimes. Is there anyone in the world who lives without committing sins?
There isn't.
So the inspectors of the Censorate are bound to be treated like masters even by those of equal rank.
The Eastern Palace was like that.
The reason the Inspector General's Office and the Eastern Palace could become the two great powers of the imperial palace was precisely because of this. They had inspection authority.
But with the Eastern Palace's downfall and consolidation into the Censorate, the Censorate could now wield unparalleled power. So can you imagine how tremendous the position of Right Inspector of that Censorate is?
It's enormous. Really enormous…
Hm?
Yes, I have the same thought.
Enormous. In other meanings too.
It should have ended there… I don't know what he was trusting to do that.
Knowing what kind of person that guy is.
* * *
"Did you eat something wrong?"
"What do you mean?"
"…Never mind."
Wei Jeong-han had no choice but to seriously agonize. How on earth should he describe this?
'I can't say "Isn't it strange that a guy who was originally crazy is acting normal?"'
It was the right thing to say, but it wasn't easy to actually voice those words.
"Really, Father, you don't trust your own son."
"…"
"I can't act the same way in front of His Imperial Majesty as I usually do. People must consider time and place to be human."
It was an extremely natural and correct statement.
But when those words came from Wei Yan-ho's mouth, Wei Jeong-han had to shudder at the eerie chill that penetrated his spine.
My son is saying the right thing now. Not just anyone, but my son!
What should one say at times like this? Wei Jeong-han, thinking he had encountered something beyond his capacity, turned his head to seek help. But those who received his gaze were equally shocked.
"…Good heavens!"
"There is a god."
"I wonder if I should call it fortunate…"
Lukewarm responses came back.
Wei Yan-ho quietly observed this scene and opened his mouth.
"Looking at this, it seems like you're all waiting for me to cause trouble. Should I satisfy your expectations?"
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Whoa whoa, let's calm down first."
When desperate responses came back, Wei Yan-ho pouted.
"You complain when I do this, you complain when I do that!"
"…"
Wei Jeong-han closed his mouth.
Come to think of it, wasn't this a situation where he should praise Wei Yan-ho for doing well without causing trouble for once? But instead, he had been pressuring the boy, and realizing this, he had nothing to say.
Wei Jeong-han quickly changed the subject.
"Can we go now?"
No one could answer Wei Jeong-han's question.
They had attended because there was a ceremony, but no one had told them what to do after the ceremony ended. They had originally been on their way home when they received an imperial edict and came to Beijing. Who would have thought about what came next?
"I'm told I need to receive some education?"
"Education?"
"Yes. They say I don't know anything. Still, as someone who's nominally the Right Inspector, I should at least know how the work of the Inspector General's… no, the Censorate operates."
"R-right."
But education.
Wei Jeong-han unconsciously swallowed.
Memories of grinding his soul to teach Wei Yan-ho in the past, only to fail completely, came flooding back.
'Is that even possible?'
Wei Jeong-han was newly impressed by the greatness of Wei Yan-ho's master. Teaching Wei Yan-ho was similar to teaching a fish how to walk.
To think he could accomplish that. And so splendidly at that.
'Is he really not human but a ghost?'
At times like this, one should say immortal rather than ghost.
Whether ghost or immortal, he definitely possessed abilities beyond human. But…
'Can Lee Wang-ya do that?'
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible.
Lee Wang-ya wasn't without sense either, so how could he attempt such a reckless thing?
While he was pondering over and over, a eunuch came running toward them.
"Wei Yan-… No!"
The eunuch quickly came to his senses and bowed deeply.
"Right Inspector, sir — the Left Inspector has summoned you."
"Left Inspector?"
When Wei Yan-ho tilted his head, Jang-il spoke up.
"His Highness's position changed from Inspector General to Left Inspector."
"Was he demoted?"
"It's a promotion!"
"Left Inspector sounds weaker than Inspector General. Anyone can see it's a demotion…"
"That's… well, that's…"
Jang-il was momentarily at a loss for words. Well, it was true that it sounded weaker.
"Positions are not determined by how their titles sound."
At the eunuch's correction, Wei Yan-ho tilted his head.
"But isn't that usually how it is?"
The eunuch looked at Wei Yan-ho in confusion. Usually, no one raises such objections. Having lived in the imperial palace where he was accustomed to etiquette and procedures, he couldn't help but be flustered in front of this wild animal called Wei Yan-ho.
"It is what His Majesty has decided. And please lower your tone, Right Inspector, sir. I am of humble status."
"Never mind. I'm not a proper inspector anyway. And my master said that while there are adults who've wasted their age elsewhere, one should acknowledge the years they've lived and the hardships they would have endured during that time. The tone feels like 'so respect me,' but the words are correct."
The eunuch looked at Wei Yan-ho with eyes full of bewilderment.
Does this person have manners or not?
"In any case, the Left Inspector ordered me to bring the Right Inspector."
"Yes. Well, then I should go."
Wei Yan-ho nodded and followed the eunuch.
"I'll be back."
"…"
"There probably won't be much to do, so rest. It'll be over quickly."
Watching Yan-ho wave and follow the eunuch, Wei Jeong-han sighed.
"In a way, that scene is exactly what it looks like when a child succeeds…"
"It's a triumphant return home. Though it's not fine clothes and he can't return home."
"Among official positions achieved by martial artists, isn't this historically the highest? After all, it's Second Rank."
Thinking about it, it was an amazing thing.
Really amazing, but…
"…Why don't I feel happy?"
Wei Jeong-han was becoming increasingly anxious instead.
* * *
"Did you call for me?"
Lee Wang-ya made a sour expression as he watched Wei Yan-ho enter through the door.
That guy as Right Inspector.
That guy!
'He said he'd just give him an award.'
Resentment toward the Emperor rose up, as he had bestowed the tremendous position of Right Inspector on Wei Yan-ho without any consultation with him.
But what could he do about it, when it was a command from the Emperor who reigned supreme in heaven and earth?
Lee Wang-ya suppressed his trembling insides and spoke.
"Now that you have a position, you must observe proper etiquette."
"I did greet you."
"…"
Yes, let's endure it.
What would be the point of saying anything?
In the first place, this couldn't be called Wei Yan-ho's fault. The problem was giving the position of Right Inspector to someone who had lived completely unrelated to things like the imperial palace or official posts. What fault could Wei Yan-ho have?
"…Close the door and come in."
"Yes."
Wei Yan-ho answered cleanly and came in to sit down.
Lee Wang-ya stared at Wei Yan-ho for a long while before opening his mouth.
"Were you surprised?"
"A little."
"Not tremendously surprised?"
"It's not that amazing a story."
"Not amazing?"
Does this guy not understand how tremendous the position he received is?
Second Rank. Second Rank.
But he says it's not that amazing of a story?
Though Lee Wang-ya looked like he couldn't understand, Wei Yan-ho had his own position.
"I know it's a high official position, but I need to have a use for that position."
"Huh?"
"I'm not going to stay in the imperial palace, I'm not going to live in Beijing… In the end, I'll return home, and at most I'll get involved in martial world affairs. What would I do with such an official position?"
"…"
"I'd be happy if the salary were high, but actually, I don't really need money anymore. I've made such a fortune."
"I-is that so?"
"Yes. In the end, it's just a useless persimmon."
Lee Wang-ya laughed helplessly.
To call a Second Rank official position a useless persimmon after receiving it. There probably isn't anyone in the world except Wei Yan-ho who could say such a thing.
Moreover, those weren't just empty words. You could tell just by looking at his face. That guy really thinks that way.
"I surrender, you bastard."
Lee Wang-ya shook his head back and forth.
"I have to admit that meeting you was a great blessing. You've worked hard. Thanks to you, we were able to resolve the crisis in the imperial palace."
"Why are you being so burdensome?"
Just as Lee Wang-ya was about to answer, the door opened and someone entered.
"Shall I make it more burdensome?"
Wei Yan-ho made a tearful face seeing the Emperor's grinning face.
He felt like things were getting tangled somehow.