"The Emperor?"
As The Historian looked on with a stunned expression, Guangqushen chuckled.
"Why? What's so strange about that?"
"...You're saying that the Radiant Martial Lord met with the Emperor alone?"
"That's what I'm telling you."
"Really?"
"Good grief, have you lived your whole life being deceived?"
Instead, Guangqushen looked at The Historian as if he couldn't understand, and asked.
"What's your reason for not believing it?"
"No. It's not that I can't believe it... I just don't understand it in two aspects."
"Understanding?"
The Historian nodded his head vigorously.
"Yes. First, no such story appears anywhere in the historical records. If Wei Yan-ho had met with the Emperor, there should be some record in history, even if not in martial world history..."
"The court historians must have left it out, I suppose."
"That would be impossible."
Guangqushen chuckled.
"Don't think too highly of history. History is what gets passed down. Conversely, what doesn't get passed down cannot become history. No matter how great an event might be, if there's no one to record it, it cannot become history."
"That may be so, but..."
"No matter how much gets recorded, could they possibly record every single move the Emperor makes? The Emperor has a private life too."
"Yes. Well, that could be possible. I can understand that. But there's one thing I absolutely cannot understand."
"What's that?"
The Historian hesitated with his lips, then asked in a loud voice.
"How did Wei Yan-ho manage to return alive after meeting the Emperor?"
"..."
Guangqushen blinked his eyes.
"Based on what I've heard from you so far about the person Wei Yan-ho, it doesn't seem like he could have possibly returned alive after meeting the Emperor. Even if he had fled, there should have been arrest warrants issued by the Imperial Court, but there are no such records at all."
"That's right."
"Then Wei Yan-ho completely turned the situation around by meeting the Emperor... Of course, based on the anecdotes so far, Radiant Martial Lord isn't someone completely without logic, but he wouldn't be capable of persuading the Emperor. Aren't there countless wise men and scholars surrounding the Emperor?"
"That's also true."
"Then what on earth did Radiant Martial Lord do when he met the Emperor?"
"Well, that's the thing..."
"Yes!"
The Historian looked at Guangqushen with sparkling eyes. It seemed that his instincts as a historian had been triggered at the mention of the Emperor. However, the words that came from Guangqushen's mouth were enough to disappoint The Historian.
"I don't really know either."
"...Pardon?"
Guangqushen shrugged his shoulders.
"I said I don't really know."
"..."
Looking at The Historian's dumbfounded face, Guangqushen held back his laughter.
"You seem to be misunderstanding something, but I wasn't someone who followed Wei Yan-ho around constantly, monitoring his every move. So for things that happened where I wasn't present, I can only rely on what I heard from others or infer from what came out of Wei Yan-ho's mouth. But this particular matter, I just can't figure out. Nothing much came out of Wei Yan-ho's mouth either, and what I did hear was so absurd that I couldn't trust any of it. And it's not like I could ask the Emperor about it."
"...That's also true."
Looking at The Historian, who was openly showing his disappointment, Guangqushen giggled with laughter. Initially, he had been a fellow who maintained some composure, but the more they talked, the more varied his emotional expressions became.
"But well, there's no need to be so disappointed. What conversation took place there isn't that important."
"Pardon? What do you mean by that?"
Guangqushen lowered his voice slightly and said.
"Have you forgotten?"
"Pardon?"
"My words about not expecting common sense from him."
"..."
"Giggle giggle giggle giggle."
Guangqushen laughed, baring his teeth.
"Everyone thought that way. That there was no choice but to persuade the Emperor. But it seems Wei Yan-ho never had such thoughts from the beginning. And that's what worked out for him. Absurdly so."
The Historian let out a low sigh as he watched Guangqushen begin to ramble incomprehensibly.
***
Wei Yan-ho looked at the man with a somewhat tense expression, which was unusual for him.
This man was none other than the ruler of all under heaven and the one sent by heaven, the Son of Heaven called emperor of the current era.
"Uh, um..."
When Wei Yan-ho seemed to hesitate about something, the Emperor spoke first.
"Are you flustered?"
"No. Rather than flustered, I can't remember."
"What can't you remember?"
"Was it nine prostrations or three prostrations? I think I learned it... Hmm, I guess I am flustered after all. Even though I'm lazy, I've never been called stupid, but I can't remember something like this."
The Emperor smiled gently.
"The prostrations are unnecessary."
"Pardon? But I was taught that's not how it should be done. They said if I bow incorrectly even once, I could lose my head. But I don't want to die yet."
"I'm not someone who cares much about etiquette. If I had wanted etiquette from you, I wouldn't have sought a private audience with you in a place like this, away from others' eyes. Isn't that right?"
"...Hmm, I suppose so."
"So come here and sit down first. The night isn't very long, and I'm the busiest person under heaven. Even this time I'm wasting now is precious."
"Yes."
Wei Yan-ho obediently did as the Emperor instructed, climbing the platform and sitting across from the Emperor. Etiquette was important, but following the Emperor's direct command right in front of him would surely take priority.
"So, how does it feel to have a private audience with the Emperor?"
"Uh..."
Wei Yan-ho quietly stared at the person sitting across from him.
'It doesn't feel particularly impressive?'
The Emperor, wearing ordinary clothes rather than majestic imperial robes, seemed no different from any common person one might encounter on the street. Of course, there was a basic dignity about him. That dignity alone would probably be enough to make most people easily submit, but Wei Yan-ho was a bit different.
'No matter what, in terms of dignity, he doesn't seem to measure up to Master...'
His master might have been a bit immature, but when he became serious, he would emit a dignity that seemed capable of crushing even Mount Tai. Having grown up for five years beside such a Baek Mu-han, this level of dignity wasn't particularly threatening to Wei Yan-ho.
However, if there was one peculiar thing...
'Is he ill somewhere?'
He had thought the skin was pale from not seeing much sunlight, but looking closer, the skin wasn't pale but rather pallid. The body situated within the clothes also felt extremely gaunt.
Judging by complexion and physique alone, it was completely the appearance of a sick person. He couldn't understand at all how an emperor, who should be eating only the finest foods, could be so thin.
"Is your answer far off?"
"Uh..."
Wei Yan-ho hesitated slightly.
'Is it okay to speak honestly about this?'
Wei Yan-ho had no concept of watching his words in front of people, but given who his opponent was, he couldn't help but worry. However, wouldn't telling lies before the Emperor be an even greater sin?
"You're more ordinary than I expected."
"Heh heh heh heh."
It would be a statement that would make Wei Jeong-han foam at the mouth and collapse if he heard it, but even hearing those words, the Emperor wore a good-natured smile.
"Just as I heard. I understand why my elder brother wanted to arrange a private meeting between you and me. If I had brought you before the ministers, the audience hall would have stirred with every single word you spoke."
"Heh heh heh."
Wei Yan-ho awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Even Wei Yan-ho could understand well enough that those words weren't a compliment.
"Do you know why I wanted to see you?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure."
The Emperor reached out and picked up a wine bottle. Then he gently pushed it toward Wei Yan-ho.
"Accept a drink."
"Yes."
As Wei Yan-ho politely held up his cup, the Emperor began filling Wei Yan-ho's cup with wine.
"I have great respect for my elder brother."
Trickle.
When the cup was full, the Emperor quietly set down the wine bottle.
"My brother has been like a guidepost to me. He always tried to walk the right path. He's someone who devoted his entire life to the Imperial Family and to me. My gratitude toward him is beyond words."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly.
"But he chose the path of laying down everything he had to protect you. He was even prepared to give up his own life. It's absurd and ridiculous, but on the other hand, I was also curious. Just what kind of person are you that my brother would break his principle of putting the Imperial Family first above all else, which he had maintained until now?"
"Uh... In my opinion, I don't think that was particularly because of me?"
"That may be so. But at least in my eyes, that's how it appeared."
"So did you find your answer?"
"I'm not sure."
The Emperor slowly shook his head.
"What did my brother see in you? I have no idea at all. They say your martial arts are strong, but the martial arts of a single individual cannot change the world. They say you're pure, but if one could live on purity alone, the world would already be paradise. Then what exactly about you stirred my brother's heart? I don't understand that."
Wei Yan-ho smiled awkwardly.
"I'm not sure either."
"No."
The Emperor's voice lowered.
The atmosphere changed completely.
The Emperor looked quietly at Wei Yan-ho and said.
"You should know that reason."
"Pardon?"
"If an answer that satisfies me doesn't come forth, you won't be able to avoid execution. What you did was trampling on the Imperial Family's authority, and as the Emperor of the Great Ming, I cannot help but punish you. Think about it—the reason I should spare your life. If you can't find that reason, you and your family won't see the rising sun."
Wei Yan-ho's eyes narrowed slightly.
A sharp tension like a tautly pulled string began to fill the surroundings.
Only then could Wei Yan-ho understand.
This person was the Emperor.
No matter how good-natured a smile he showed, and no matter how he didn't seem much different from other people on the surface, the person visible before his eyes was someone standing at the pinnacle of the Imperial Palace, which was said to be crawling with monsters and demons.
"I... I have something to ask."
"Very well."
"If I can't answer properly, will you also execute the Prince?"
The Emperor smiled.
"I have tremendous respect for my elder brother."
"Yes. You've emphasized that several times."
"However, I cannot just leave alone those who tried to damage the Emperor's dignity. If a finger rots, one must cut off the finger. I intend not to leave alive a single person involved in this matter."
Hearing the Emperor's cold voice, Wei Yan-ho let out a low sigh.
'I've gotten into the wrong situation.'
This wasn't just probing words. If Wei Yan-ho didn't answer properly, the Emperor really intended to kill everyone.
Wei Yan-ho, who had been thinking deeply, shrugged his shoulders and said.
"So, what did you say the answer you wanted was? You asked why the Prince protected me, right?"
"That's right."
Wei Yan-ho chuckled and answered.
"Would it be okay if I tell the truth?"
"If you have the nerve to tell lies before me, that would be fine too."
"Yes. I'll have to tell the truth then. Honestly, uh..."
Wei Yan-ho, who had been scratching his chin as if pondering, looked directly at the Emperor and opened his mouth.
"I don't think an answer is really necessary?"
"Why is that?"
Wei Yan-ho said calmly.
"You're planning to kill me regardless of what answer comes out anyway, aren't you?"
The Emperor wore a bitter smile.
"Your mind works better than I expected. You're right."
The Emperor's face began to be colored with killing intent.