The Ruler Of Darkness - Chapter 545



Only Noblemtl

Episode 545

Episode 19: Unbreakable

“gibberish…!”

Do you still have the strength to do evil?

Empress Min trembled and turned to Yeon So-hyeon with a venomous expression.

“In this situation, you’re talking like a teacher! Just now, you were the royal-!”

“You?”

The soft voice of Yeon So-hyeon.

His expression, invisible because of the shadows cast by the indoor lighting, heightened Empress Min’s fear.

“He, he murdered an imperial official…! And he did it right in the middle of the palace…!”

The young emperor found it amusing and at the same time refreshing to see Empress Min immediately change the title of Yeonso-hyeon.

‘But there is some truth to that statement…’

The young emperor looked up and saw Yeon So-hyeon’s back with worried eyes.

‘An incident occurred in the middle of the palace where an imperial official died… .’

Imperial warriors are those who protect the imperial family, and harming them is considered the same as harming the imperial family.

It was no ordinary matter.

“With a sword in your hand, or more than that. If you come near His Majesty the Emperor, you will die.”

Although, like that.

Before Yeon So-hyeon cut off the royal guard’s head, despite giving ample warning.

For political enemies, including the Sixteen Clans, this was no different from a reward that happened overnight.

“… … .”

but.

Despite all those worries.

The young emperor did not express his worries aloud.

That meant that he trusted Yeon So-hyeon, and at the same time.

There was no reason to mention something that Yeon So-hyeon probably already knew.

“You don’t have to worry about that for me, you four. Rather-.”

Smile.

Yeon So-hyeon said with a smile.

“You and your family, the Min clan, should be worried that you will have to find a way to deal with all of this with determination.”

“…what?!”

Naturally, Empress Min was struck by those words.

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

Yeon So-hyeon laughed at her words.

Even though my nose was bleeding profusely, my cheeks were swollen, my hair was disheveled, and I was covered in blood.

Her evil gaze and ferocious demeanor were not diminished.

“… … .”

That appearance.

‘It’s really poisonous…!’

Even the young emperor, who had known her long enough, trembled inwardly.

‘There are people like this.’

Yeon So-hyeon’s smile deepened.

These people.

It wasn’t that he was born with an unbreakable, indomitable spirit or a rebellious nature that would never bend.

“Do you know why your family asked you to contact me? Why did they ask you to negotiate?”

“… … .”

At Yeon So-hyeon’s words, Empress Min’s eyes briefly wavered.

Then, Yeon So-hyeon’s meaningful voice was heard in her ear.

“Haedongguk (East Sea Country).”

“… … !”

Empress Min’s eyes shook violently.

It means correct answer.

but.

Yeon So-hyeon, who actually got the correct answer, was calm.

“Please take a seat, Your Majesty.”

“… Ah, ah. Thank you, Prince Yeon.”

rather.

He even offered the young emperor a seat first, as he was looking bewildered and unable to keep up with the conversation.

Squeak-.

Yeon So-hyeon sat down and this time she picked up the teapot on the table.

There was no need for him to rush.

Jorrrr-.

First, clear tea was poured into the emperor’s cup, and then he poured tea into his own cup.

Seeing him so relaxed, it was only natural that the other side became anxious.

It was Empress Min.

“… How much do you know?”

“your majesty.”

Ignoring her lightly, Yeon So-hyeon turned to the young emperor and asked him a question.

“Do you know the inside story of how the Min family came to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Hwangdo 16 families?”

“…they.”

The young emperor answered Yeon So-hyeon’s question as suddenly as possible, but he answered it with the utmost care.

“He has countless superiors and merchants under his command. And….”

He glanced at Empress Min and continued speaking.

“Wasn’t it decisive that Lady Min became the empress?”

“Yes, that was crucial.”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded and said.

“However, the key point that Your Majesty should pay attention to here is, ‘How did the family become capable of making Lady Min the empress?’ Your Majesty.”

“… I see.”

Yeon So-hyeon’s conversational style was enough to make the young emperor more confident and engage in active reasoning.

And the young emperor recalled the conversation between Empress Min and Yeon So-hyeon a little while ago.

“Haedongguk…?”

The Emperor did not miss the distorted expression on Empress Min’s face.

He said it again with confidence.

“It was a smuggling trade with Haedongguk…!”

“Excellent.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled.

* * *

As everyone knows.

The conflict between the Central Plains and the Eastern Sea was not a matter of just one or two years.

It was the same in trade.

The two countries had been imposing very high tariffs on goods crossing their borders.

and.

It all started in order to avoid those tariffs and make a profit.

“It’s smuggling.”

and.

The smuggling trade, which was initially centered around pirates and small merchants, is facing a period of upheaval.

The reason is-.

“Father, this is His Majesty the Emperor’s order to open ports.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded as she put down her teacup.

“Unlike in the past, with the number of ships on the sea increasing, catching smugglers has become extremely difficult.”

The emperor sighed.

“… So smuggling has also become more massive.”

“Yes, that’s right. Along with scaling, they became systematized. And at the center of it all… .”

The young emperor’s gaze was still directed at Empress Min, who was still sitting on the floor.

“… In the past, there was a Min family that was based in Shandong Province.”

“Shandong Province is a peninsula, and is very close to Haedong Province.”

Yeon So-hyeon also looked at the empress who was glaring at her and said.

“And in the process, the Min family joined hands with another family that ruled Shandong Province to further expand its business.”

The family that rules Shandong Province.

The emperor could not be unaware of them.

“…the Hwangbo family.”

And Hwangbo Se-ga.

It was also the family that Yeon Yu-hwa, Yeon Yeon-hyeon’s eldest sister, married into.

“The Central Plains and the East Sea. These two countries, considered to be the wealthiest countries in the world, had enormous amounts of trade goods with each other… .”

When Yeon So-hyeon looked at the emperor with her words trailing off, the emperor naturally continued speaking.

“… The smuggling trade that was carried out to avoid high tariffs created enormous wealth.”

Yes, that’s right.

He was the first-class contributor who raised the status of the Min family to the point of producing an empress.

“however.”

Yeon So-hyeon narrowed her eyes at Empress Min and smiled.

“Recently, a very huge variable has occurred.”

“ah…!”

now.

The Emperor was perfectly able to grasp the flow of this grand conversation led by Yeon So-hyeon.

He jumped up from his seat in excitement and shouted.

“Prince Yeon, no…!”

The emperor corrected the title.

“Great Master Yeon! The ‘Northern Territories Great Redevelopment Project’ that you announced…!”

The young emperor could not hide his excitement.

After countless years of being powerless, he was finally able to have a conversation on a scale befitting an emperor.

“I heard that one of the people in charge of that business is definitely Dae Taerang, the commander-in-chief of the armored horse and iron cavalry of Haedongguk…!”

“Yes. Also… .”

Yeon So-hyeon continued speaking with a slight smile, as if sharing in the emperor’s joy.

“Externally, in order to resolve the Gongwang situation, our Central Plains and Haedong Kingdom became ‘allies’.”

“I see…!”

The emperor jumped up with a bright expression.

“That’s how the fire fell on the Min family’s feet…!”

if.

If this incident leads to the abolition of high tariffs between the two countries.

The Min clan was one of the groups that would suffer the greatest blow.

“…Ugh.”

At that moment.

Empress Min had the most evil expression in the world, but Yeon So-hyeon too.

Even the young emperor.

He didn’t even give her a glance.

“That’s why…! That’s why…!”

The emperor’s eyes lit up.

now.

The emperor did not need Yeon So-hyeon’s help.

I started to tell this story independently.

“I have always wondered why the Min family has remained so quiet during this chaos…!”

Even while Yeon So-hyeon and the Emperor’s loyalists were stirring up trouble in the Imperial Capital, the Min family was not greatly involved.

Even.

Even Empress Min visited her hometown and only returned today.

“During that time, they should have somehow figured out the situation in the North…!”

As the Emperor said.

The Min family mobilized all their capabilities to understand the situation.

And they are.

The more I dug into it, the more I felt that Yeon So-hyeon’s ‘Northern Territory Reclamation Project’ would not end with simply reclaiming land.

“your majesty.”

Yeon So-hyeon said to the young emperor.

“All the other endlessly long-winded business ventures of the Min family are nothing more than a cover for this smuggling business. And…”

Yeon So-hyeon trailed off and looked at Empress Min.

“… … .”

Her expression was still venomous, but her eyes were clear.

I was shaking dizzily.

Yeon So-hyeon looked straight into her eyes and spoke to the Emperor and Empress.

“And. If it is revealed that the Min family has been supporting itself through this massive smuggling trade.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled like a flower in full bloom.

“… … !”

It was a smile so creepy that it sent a chill down Empress Min’s spine and made her hair stand on end.

“Even if we can’t immediately destroy the powerful Min clan, we can at least have one empress…”

Yeon So-hyeon took a deliberate breath and then continued speaking.

“I guess I could dethrone him.”

* * *

Mae-am-, Mae-am-.

Outside the broken door, the faint sound of cicadas chirping could be heard.

“… Strengthen the northern border even more! Run quickly…!”

The voices of the guards guarding the outside like an iron wall could also be heard.

But the interior.

“… … .”

It was so much like hearing a rustling sound from the steam in Yeon So-hyeon’s new teacup.

There was only silence.

“… … .”

Yeon So-hyeon stays still.

I was looking into Empress Min’s face.

At the mention of the word abdication, her expression turned red with rage.

Soon, he started to contort his face as if he was about to cry, and rolled his eyes around as if he was asking for help.

soon.

“… … .”

The change ended with a deep bow of the head.

And she finally.

“…Your Majesty the Prince. No, Your Excellency the Grand Master…!”

The moment I got down on my knees and put my forehead on the floor.

“… … .”

Yeon So-hyeon laughed silently.

These people.

It is not about having an indomitable spirit that cannot be broken by violence, or an innate rebellious nature that never bends.

‘It’s just that the belief behind you is more reassuring than the violence in front of you.’

The position of empress.

And the Min family.

and.

As it started to shake.

Empress Min also shattered and collapsed like a glass wall.

“… … .”

When Yeon So-hyeon did not answer, she turned towards the emperor this time.

“Your Majesty…! Your Majesty the Emperor, please have mercy…!”

Before the Emperor could open his mouth to answer.

Yeon So-hyeon opened her mouth first.

Now, it was not the emperor but himself who had to become the villain.

“I have nothing more to share with you four years ago.”

Yeon So-hyeon stands up from her seat.

He cut her off firmly and said:

“Take me to your family home.”