The Ruler Of Darkness - Chapter 550



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Episode 550

Chapter 24: Reasons for Trust

“… … .”

“… … .”

A large number of members of the Min family were gathered in a large conference room.

But the room was quiet, without a single whisper.

Their gazes were all directed towards the stage.

“… … .”

The head of the Min family standing on the podium.

Min In-ik closed his eyes and took one last deep breath.

Opened his mouth.

“From now on, I will make an important announcement.”

* * *

and.

That moment.

“This way.”

There were a lot of people coming and going in the hallway.

“… … .”

but.

With the Emperor’s visit and the announcement by the head of the household, Min In-ik, no one was paying any attention to Empress Min or her relatives.

They were never blocked in their path.

“… … .”

Empress Min thought as she walked along with her relatives.

‘Empress Min…’

She repeated to herself.

Empress Min, Empress Min, Empress Min…

however.

‘If I am no longer the empress and am abandoned by Lady Min. I-.’

What’s left?

What becomes.

“… … .”

Without having to think too deeply, she could tell.

‘nothing.’

It’s nothing.

It is about becoming a being of nothing.

That’s it.

It was a future that was planned for him by his father, by his family.

And, she.

I couldn’t accept that kind of future.

“It’s inside this door.”

As her relative, who had been looking around, opened the door and went in, a person was waiting there.

“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress.”

He was a man with a well-grown beard and oiled hair.

“I am-.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

She cut him off, saying:

He would be someone like the butler of the Bokyang family or the Yue family of the Sixteen Imperial Clans.

“Are you from one of the sixteen families?”

“Yes.”

As soon as the answer comes out.

She got straight to the point.

“What do the Sixteen Families want from me, and what can I give them?”

“… … .”

The other person opened his mouth, looking into her eyes as if carefully examining her truth.

“What can Your Majesty the Empress do?”

“… … .”

To that question.

Instead of answering, she said.

He turned his head and stared at his relative.

“…hmm?”

For a moment, he was bewildered by that gaze.

When the sixteen people nodded, he left the room as if he had no choice.

“…I will guard the outside.”

The empress looked at his back and cursed him inwardly.

‘A bug-like guy who doesn’t even know what he’s doing.’

When the family falls into chaos, even those who were insignificant come out and cause chaos.

Knock, knock.

As the door closed, the man from the sixteen families asked again.

“What did Her Majesty the Empress-.”

“Anything.”

She answered immediately.

“As long as I can put an end to this Min clan, I don’t care what happens.”

“… … .”

Was her words unexpected?

“if….”

The opponent’s eyes narrowed.

“Are you not interested in maintaining your position as empress?”

“under…!”

Maintaining the position of Empress?

She wasn’t stupid.

In this situation, even if the other person made a promise like that, it would be a promise that could not be kept.

“You contacted me, didn’t you, in order to destroy the Min family, which is trying to kneel before the Emperor?”

She scoffed.

“But, you’re guaranteeing me the position of empress?”

If there is no Min family.

Even if she retains the position of empress.

He will become a puppet of the sixteen families.

“… … .”

Instead of answering, the other person kept his mouth shut, and Empress Min immediately.

He reiterated his demands without hesitation.

“I am satisfied with burning this family down.”

“… … .”

The other person nodded without answering.

It was not a nod indicating consent to the Empress’s request.

There was no way a mere butler could decide on such an important matter.

He said.

“I think you are qualified to have a conversation.”

“What are you talking about-.”

“Come this way.”

The other person did not wait for her answer and opened the door leading to a further room.

Knock knock.

And then the door opened.

“… … !”

The Empress’s eyes widened as she discovered the figures inside.

“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress.”

surprisingly.

The ones there were the heads of the Bokyangga and Akga families.

“We don’t need to introduce ourselves, do we?”

“… … .”

Empress Min said, sighing as if she was in awe.

“The head of the household personally ordered the house to be sealed, but the heads of the sixteen households entered the house without permission and set up shop….”

The head of the Bokyang family answered with a smile.

“Since that head of the household has made the foolish decision to pledge allegiance to the Emperor, those of righteousness within must rise up and take action.”

“A person of good will?”

She laughed.

“They must be parasitic authors who take advantage of the family’s turbulent times to seize their opportunity.”

“Those people-.”

The empress waved her hand and stopped him from speaking.

“It doesn’t matter.”

She said.

Really, she’s like that.

It didn’t matter how it was defined.

“What should I do for you so that you will give me what I want?”

“…great.”

For the two heads of the sixteen families, time is of the essence.

They got straight to the point.

“If Her Majesty the Empress can secure an entry route using her influence within the Min family… .”

like that.

A plan to destroy the Min family, which was loyal to the emperor, was ripening.

* * *

“The Yeon Taesa.”

The emperor asked Yeon So-hyeon with a serious face.

“What kind of mental preparation should I make?”

Yeon So-hyeon replied instead.

I looked into the emperor’s face.

“… … .”

A stern expression.

Tremors and cold sweat on the forehead due to excitement and nervousness.

However, it is.

He looked so calm that it was hard to believe he was an inexperienced emperor who had grown up in the palace his entire life.

“That’s enough.”

Yeon So-hyeon said, seeming satisfied.

“It is sufficient as it is, Your Majesty.”

As Yeon So-hyeon said that, the emperor’s trembling and cold sweat visibly decreased.

“… My lord Yeon, I feel reassured when you say so.”

The young emperor now.

If it was Yeon So-hyeon’s words, it seemed like he would believe it even if he made meju with red beans.

“Please sit down, Your Majesty.”

Yeon So-hyeon sat down on the chair opposite him and offered the Emperor the seat of honor.

And then, he even poured tea into the cup.

‘In this situation?’

The young emperor, although embarrassed, followed Yeon So-hyeon and sat down.

As he sat down, Yeon So-hyeon handed him some tea and said,

“You were wondering why I was helping Your Majesty like this?”

It was a question the Emperor had not been able to answer in the palace due to the appearance of Empress Min.

“Yes, but in this situation… .”

“it’s okay.”

Yeon So-hyeon spoke to the emperor leisurely as if everything was fine.

“Before answering Your Majesty’s question, let me ask Your Majesty the Emperor a question.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled slightly.

“The answer to that question may also be the answer to Your Majesty’s question.”

“… … ?”

The answer to Yeon So-hyeon’s question about why she is helping him is in line with the answer to the question Yeon So-hyeon asked him.

The emperor, feeling puzzled, straightened his posture and spoke to Yeon So-hyeon.

“Ready, Your Majesty.”

Yeon So-hyeon looked at the emperor and asked.

“Your Majesty, do you know about the Heavenly Killer Star?”

“… … .”

The emperor was momentarily embarrassed.

The fact that Yeon So-hyeon was born with the Cheon Sal-seong star was information that only a few people in the imperial family knew.

And through that information, the emperor also learned something about the Thousand-Sal Castle.

“…I know.”

Yeon So-hyeon’s next question followed immediately.

“You also know that I am a thousand-year-old man, right?”

“…exactly.”

“You knew it from the moment I was born, right?”

Before the emperor could answer, Yeon So-hyeon continued speaking.

“And the imperial family must have been constantly tracking and monitoring me, who was designated as the Thousand-Sal Star.”

This time it wasn’t a question, it was almost a statement of certainty.

“…exactly.”

The emperor answered honestly.

“At the time, there were many people warning that it was dangerous. It was an inevitable action.”

The emperor bowed his head and continued speaking.

“Apologize for that behavior right now-.”

“no.”

Yeon So-hyeon waved her hand to stop the emperor from apologizing and continued asking questions.

“At that time, there must have been many astronomers in the imperial court who advised His Majesty the former Emperor to kill me.”

“… … .”

The emperor kept his mouth shut this time.

Yeon So-hyeon’s guess was true.

“That’s only natural.”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded coolly as if she understood, took a sip of tea, and said.

“That’s the most certain way. The Imperial Astronomers, who have exceptional abilities, have discovered the Celestial Star. Cutting it off before it grows would be the correct way to deal with it.”

“… … .”

The emperor did not answer immediately.

He lifted his cup with his head down, took a sip of tea, and then opened his mouth.

“Yes. But….”

He continued, recalling that time.

“At that time, the existence of the Thousand-Sal Castle suddenly disappeared. Father, His Majesty the Emperor concluded that there had been no discussion.”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

Then he asked the emperor.

“But that wasn’t all?”

“… … !”

The emperor looked at Yeon So-hyeon with surprised eyes.

Yeon So-hyeon looked at the emperor and smiled gently.

“Little is known about the Thousand-Year-Old Star. Astronomers would still say that the most certain solution is to kill me.”

“… … .”

But the emperor did not answer.

Yeon So-hyeon continued speaking as if she had seen the situation firsthand.

“But. The previous emperor refused to discuss it, so the matter would have ended as it was. And.”

Yeon So-hyeon looked straight at the emperor and said.

“The one who influenced His Majesty the Emperor’s judgment was His Majesty the Crown Prince at the time.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled brightly.

“Isn’t that so?”

“… … .”

For a moment, silence came.

The young emperor opened his mouth only after he had emptied his teacup.

“…exactly.”

The emperor said.

“At that time, I advised the late emperor not to kill you, a newborn.”

“Why?”

Yeon So-hyeon seemed to already be strangely aware of the situation at the time, but since he asked the question.

The emperor replied.

“‘Your Majesty, Father. Although it has been said since ancient times that the Thousand-Year-Old Star is a very ominous sign, it is nothing more than superstition.’”

The emperor is slow.

He recalled the memory of that time and recited exactly what he had said.

“The old sages said, ‘A gentleman does not discuss the power of a monster.’ But how can a monarch of a country harm an innocent child who has not yet committed a crime, just because he is considered to be inauspicious?’”

As the story continues.

The more I recall the memories.

As he spoke, the emotions of that time gradually began to come alive.

“’If you do so, it will be a precedent. Many people in the Central Plains will follow the imperial precedent and follow superstitions…! They will kill or reject everything they deem inauspicious…!’”

The Emperor shouted in an excited tone as if he were his younger self at the time.

“‘Your Majesty…! Please do not harm the innocent child…!’”

Come…! Come…!

The young emperor’s shout echoed throughout the vast space.

“… … .”

Yeon So-hyeon held her teacup still and nodded slowly.

“actually….”

The young emperor spoke bashfully with a red face.

“At that time, I was just trying to apply the words of the old sage that I had learned the day before.”

“But it got through to His Majesty the Emperor. And it….”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled and spoke to the young emperor.

“This is why I am helping Your Majesty now.”

“… … !”

That’s right.

At that moment, the emperor realized.

Just like Yeon So-hyeon said.

The Emperor’s answer to Yeon So-hyeon’s question was, what the Emperor had said to Yeon So-hyeon.

This is the answer to the question, ‘Why does Yeon So-hyeon help the emperor?’

“…that.”

My emotions are welling up.

Yeon So-hyeon’s voice continued to ring in the ears of the emperor, who was speechless and unable to find the words to say.

“Your Majesty has done the duty of a gentleman for me, so I too am practicing the duty of a gentleman. Your Majesty has done the duty of a monarch for me, so I too.”

Yeon So-hyeon said.

“I repay the favor by fulfilling my duty as a subject.”