Chapter 354
"I want to go home."
"Huh?"
Wei Jeong-han frowned as he looked at Wei Yan-ho, who burst through the door and immediately started spouting nonsense.
"Go home?"
"Yes."
"The palace affairs have just barely been resolved, and you're saying you want to go straight home? Have you finished talking with Lee Wang-ya?"
"No."
"Then what the hell do you mean, home!"
When Wei Jeong-han flew into a rage, Wei Yan-ho looked at him as if he found it absurd.
"I'm going to my own home, so why do I need permission?"
"That's not the point!"
"I came here on imperial orders, and that's finished."
"…That's right."
"Then I just need to go."
Wei Yan-ho said with a bright smile.
"Urgh."
Wei Jeong-han momentarily couldn't find words to argue.
What he said was correct, technically.
"Hey, you bastard. Even so, there's basic human courtesy."
"Ah, I don't know. Anyway, I'm going home."
When Wei Yan-ho went into the room where his luggage was, Wei Jeong-han shot up from his seat.
"That damn brat!"
But Wei San-ho grabbed Wei Jeong-han.
"Let go! That bastard got an official position and now he can't see what's in front of him. As his father, I need to establish my authority today…"
"That's probably not it."
"Huh?"
Wei San-ho shook his head.
"Even when he became a master recognized throughout the realm, he still got his bottom spanked by Father. He's not that type."
"Hmm…"
Wei Jeong-han knew better than anyone that this wasn't wrong. Though Wei Yan-ho was a master he couldn't even touch, wasn't he the same Wei Yan-ho who would kneel in the corner with his hands up whenever Wei Jeong-han got angry?
"He's a thoughtful kid, and he's not one to act rashly. If he was tired and exhausted, he's not the type to say he'd rest a bit longer at the palace before leaving. There must have been something we don't know about. Something he can't talk about."
Wei Jeong-han nodded.
No one knew Wei Yan-ho better than Wei San-ho. When it came to his younger brother, wasn't Wei San-ho like a ghost at reading him?
"Even so…"
"Since what he says is right, there's nothing much to scold."
Lee Wang-ya said as he opened the door and entered. When everyone tried to pay their respects, Lee Wang-ya waved his hand.
"Enough. Don't bother with courtesy. We're not in a relationship for that, and this isn't the time for me to receive such things."
"Yes."
Wei Jeong-han still bowed his head as he answered.
"Where's Yan-ho?"
"He went in to pack his luggage."
"Tsk."
Lee Wang-ya clicked his tongue and glanced toward where Wei San-ho was pointing.
Then he let out a deep sigh.
"Let him do as he wishes."
"Your Highness."
"I have nothing to say. It's natural for him to be angry, so there's nothing to be done."
Lee Wang-ya looked at the room Wei Yan-ho had entered with a regretful expression. From their perspective, it was a natural choice, but from Wei Yan-ho's perspective, it would never sound that way.
How could they make him understand the duty of the imperial family to uphold the absolute mandate of the ancestral shrines and the state?
'No, it's just an excuse.'
In the end, they had been taught countless times that a ruler must live for the people. Yet the reason they had no choice but to make such a decision was ultimately because they were afraid.
Lee Wang-ya felt that his own vessel was small.
Many people said he should have become emperor, but wasn't it because he knew the limits of his own vessel that he couldn't dare covet the imperial throne?
'Compared to that, that kid has a different kind of vessel.'
Lee Wang-ya couldn't help but admire Wei Yan-ho, who looked straight at the emperor and spoke his mind. Even if it could be called rudeness, how many people in the world could commit such rudeness before the emperor?
Lee Wang-ya sighed quietly and opened his mouth.
"You said he's packing?"
"Yes."
"Then are you planning to return home as well?"
"Probably… shouldn't we?"
"Then this might be rather bad news."
"Yes? What do you mean…"
Lee Wang-ya took out a red dispatch from his chest and handed it to Wei Jeong-han.
"It's from the Righteous Martial Alliance."
Wei Jeong-han's eyes widened.
Wei Yan-ho, having roughly packed his luggage, slung his bag over his back and came trudging out of the room.
"Huh?"
Wei Yan-ho frowned, instinctively sensing that the atmosphere outside was heavy. Come to think of it, had the atmosphere ever been good since he came here?
As soon as he arrived, everyone made a fuss about Wei Yan-ho having an audience with His Imperial Majesty, and in the midst of that, he caused trouble and got locked up in the palace prison.
Not once had there been a good atmosphere.
"Aren't we going home?"
"…Home isn't the problem right now."
"Yes?"
Wei Jeong-han held up the red dispatch to show Wei Yan-ho.
"A red dispatch has arrived."
"Huh?"
Wei Yan-ho asked as if he had no idea what it meant.
"What's that?"
"It's an urgent message from the Righteous Martial Alliance."
"Hoong?"
Wei Yan-ho looked at the red dispatch with curiosity and tilted his head.
"But why?"
"It means an urgent matter has occurred. We're to return immediately."
"To the Righteous Martial Alliance?"
"That's right."
Wei Yan-ho nodded with a serious expression.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, but seeing Father creating this atmosphere, I can tell it's not an ordinary matter."
"You seem to understand even though you didn't understand at all. That's fortunate."
"Then we need to quickly return to the Righteous Martial Alliance?"
"It seems so."
"Hmm…"
Wei Yan-ho nodded heavily.
"Then we should go."
"Huh?"
Wei Jeong-han's eyes widened. To think this kid would understand so readily. Usually, even when he understood what was said, he would pull all sorts of tricks to avoid going.
"You've grown a lot after experiencing various incidents and taking on an official position."
"Frustration makes a man grow."
"Excellent."
Wei Jeong-han nodded with a proud expression.
Wasn't his son, whom he had worried would live so recklessly forever, gradually growing up? As a father, there could be no greater joy than this.
"Right. You've packed your luggage too, so let's depart immediately."
"We should. It'll be a long journey, so travel safely. Don't worry about me. I'm not a child anymore, so I can manage well on my own."
"Huh?"
The conversation seems to have gone a bit off track?
"Manage well on your own? What do you mean?"
"What do you mean, Father?"
"…"
This?
Wei Jeong-han asked with a dazed expression.
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"Why would I?"
"They say it's an urgent matter."
"You're saying interesting things."
Wei Yan-ho said politely with a smile spread across his face.
"I'm someone who has nothing to do with the Righteous Martial Alliance, so it would be strange for me to go just because a dispatch came from the Righteous Martial Alliance."
"…"
"Of course, it's regrettable that I can't return home with Father, but men have their own affairs. As a son, I can't obstruct Father's work, can I? I'll take good care of Mother and go home, so don't worry about anything and go…"
"Hey, you! You have to come with us!"
"Why should I go! Why me!"
Wei San-ho sighed.
Just when things seemed to be going well, it ended up like this after all.
"First, please calm down…"
He tried to mediate, but those two were people who wouldn't accept mediation.
"They're telling me to come! What would they want with someone old like me! It's you they're calling! You!"
"Why are they calling me? Who do they think they are? Did they pay me a salary? Why should I go!"
"That's what the Righteous Martial Alliance is like! If you're someone from the orthodox sects who has learned martial arts, you should respect their orders!"
"That's what you call being a voluntary sucker! I haven't received anything from them, so why should I listen to them? If you keep listening to them, the kids think it's okay to keep using you!"
"Gasp…"
Wei Yan-ho was casually saying things that would have made Righteous Martial Alliance's Kwon Geuk and Shinsan vomit blood if they had heard.
"So you won't go?"
"No."
"You really won't go!"
Wei Yan-ho glared.
"Lately, it seems like people everywhere are trying to use me too easily, and that won't do."
"Huh?"
"I need to show them that I'm an expensive person. Please tell them that if they want to use me, they should bring appropriate compensation."
"You brat!"
Wei Jeong-han shot up from his seat.
"I must not have taught you enough about cooperation! The Righteous Martial Alliance needing you means that a calamity has befallen the realm, and knowing that, you still say such things! Today I'll properly fix your attitude…"
"Mommyyyy!"
Bang!
The door flew off its hinges.
Then Han Sang-ah, with fire in her eyes, walked inside.
"…"
The sound of Wei Jeong-han swallowing his saliva could be heard.
"Oh my! My son! My Inspector!"
"Mom!"
Wei Yan-ho spread his arms and was embraced by the approaching Han Sang-ah.
"What could have happened for my Inspector to come looking for this mother?"
"Mom! Father wants to drag me to the Righteous Martial Alliance."
"What?"
Han Sang-ah glared at Wei Jeong-han with murderous intent in her eyes. Wei Jeong-han avoided Han Sang-ah's gaze while cold sweat poured down his forehead.
"Why?"
"…No, Sang-ah. It's not like that…"
When Wei Jeong-han stammered through an explanation of the situation, Han Sang-ah snorted.
"Who do they think they are to tell our precious son to come or go?"
"Sang-ah, the Righteous Martial Alliance is…"
"Did they give us rice! Did they give us food! While you were doing that great martial wandering thing, when did they ever care about us or even glance our way? Those good-for-nothings didn't care or pay any attention when they didn't need you, but now that they need you, they're acting friendly!"
"…"
"Where do those worthless martial world trash get off telling my Inspector to come and go! If they have business, tell them to come themselves!"
"B-but Sang-ah…"
"And you!"
"Yes!"
Fire shot from Han Sang-ah's eyes.
"What's more important to you, family or the Righteous Martial Alliance?"
Wei Jeong-han couldn't answer immediately. Though his mind was in chaos, his mouth was looking for a place to survive.
"O-of course family is more important, Sang-ah. You don't know how much I regret leaving that martial wandering thing. They say 'Cultivate yourself, regulate your family, order the state, and bring peace to the world.' So how could I not pay more attention to family?"
"Then why is someone like that trying to drag his son to the Righteous Martial Alliance?"
"…"
"I won't see such a sight before dirt gets in my eyes! Either kill me and take him, or go by yourself! Figure it out! Yan-ho!"
"Yes, Mom!"
"Let's go eat!"
"Okay!"
Wei Jeong-han swallowed his tears as he watched Wei Yan-ho cheerfully following Han Sang-ah out.
Lee Wang-ya put his arm around Wei Jeong-han's shoulder.
"…Cheer up."
"Sob! Your Highness!"
"This is why I live alone."
Wei Jeong-han shed tears, realizing who the truly wise person was.
"And she's not entirely wrong."
"Yes?"
"All relationships in the world begin with giving and receiving benefits. You might be satisfied because you can fulfill the cooperation you've established for yourself by helping the Righteous Martial Alliance, but others might not feel the same. Don't force it. Everything is one's own choice."
"But…"
"And…"
Lee Wang-ya said with widened eyes.
"Keep in mind that no matter if he's your son, if you try to intimidate the Inspector, I'll have no choice but to throw you in prison for the sake of the nation's authority! This isn't a joke!"
Wei Jeong-han shut his mouth like a clam.
There was no one in the world who was on his side.