The Ruler Of Darkness - Chapter 571



Only Noblemtl

Episode 571

Part 20: Waiting

“… … .”

Elder Biao of the Luoyang Sword School.

He was initially a member of the faction of the Second Prince Yeon Ja-cheong, but later became a member of the faction of the Third Prince Yeon Jeok-gwang.

And then, when even the Three Princes faction collapsed, in the end.

I made a big decision and decided to join hands with the Sixteen Imperial Clans today and attended the meeting they arranged.

“This is our plan. Do you like it?”

The head of the Sixteen Clans, Sunwoo Kang (淳于?), told him this while showing off the number of people attending their gathering.

At that time, Elder Pyo was surprised by the impressive lineup of anti-Yeonso-hyeon figures they had gathered in a short period of time.

but.

That was only for a moment.

“Out of the sixteen heads of the clans, two were affected…!”

“… … .”

“… … .”

I could feel the atmosphere of the meeting, which had been cheerful and enthusiastic until just before, freezing over.

“… Ahem, I’ll go take a moment to go to the bathroom.”

“Oh, I didn’t eat breakfast, so I feel a bit hungry….”

One, two.

The elders of the Luoyang Sword Society, who had been away for a while, returned a long time later.

“…I’m busy for a moment.”

“… It seems like there are a lot of things that need to be taken care of urgently today.”

He was trying to look busy, keeping a wide distance from the other elders and looking at documents and such.

‘this….’

Elder Pyo broke out in a cold sweat.

Since it was a secret meeting, I felt fortunate that the room was dark.

If not, it would have been obvious to everyone by now how anxious he was through his face.

“… The meeting of the sixteen families is taking a long time.”

Another elder who was sitting with Elder Pyo opened his mouth, adjusting his glasses with a stern expression.

“It seems that the situation in the Imperial Capital is worsening much faster than they expected.”

“under…!”

Likewise, the elder, who was sitting in the same seat, stroking his thin beard and frowning, snorted.

“I don’t know if I’ve completely missed the mark.”

“Hmm….”

The bespectacled elder who had first spoken spoke quietly.

“At first, I was impressed by the speed and accuracy of the Sixteen Clans’ work, but when the Zodiac turns like this… .”

The thinly bearded elder who had been snorting shrugged.

“Yeon So-hyeon, that guy is definitely a bad guy.”

at that time.

A man who appeared to be a subordinate of the bespectacled elder handed over a note and disappeared.

“… According to the news.”

The bespectacled elder spread out a note on the lantern and read it.

“The ministers are not entering the palace for various reasons, and many others are lining up to swear allegiance to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Because of the content, I feel really thirsty.

The bespectacled elder took two sips of tea while speaking.

“What does that mean?”

The elder with the thin beard frowned.

“Even if two of the heads of the sixteen families are dead, the rest are still alive and well. Why are you already pledging allegiance and falling asleep?”

“That is….”

The bespectacled elder answered, clutching his forehead.

“Last night. It seems that many of the heads of the families that followed the Sixteen Clans died.”

“…What did you say?”

“It wasn’t just the heads of the sixteen families who died?!”

As the elders around him stirred, the elder with the thin beard laughed in vain.

“This is chaos.”

and.

Was that a signal or something?

“… Oh, I have some urgent business at my parents’ house.”

“They’re calling from inside the house. I guess I should go first.”

Some elders, uh, even.

Left the meeting place.

There has also been an increase in the number of elders who distance themselves from other elders.

“… … .”

As Elder Pyo listened to their conversation, a few more streaks of cold sweat ran down his face.

‘…Fuck.’

Elder Pyo looked up at the sky.

But since he was indoors, and it was a dark indoor place at that, he couldn’t see the sky.

‘What is this? Who is watching? Has the heavens finally abandoned me? What is this, the moment I joined?’

“… Tsk.”

The bespectacled elder clicked his tongue and said.

“Your Highness, once that bastard starts to seize power, things are going out of control.”

“surely….”

Now, the few elders left in the room nodded.

“If we assume that the old grand dukes used their resources as efficiently as possible and made up for any shortcomings with their own strategies-.”

“-Now, slowly. The Archduke is pushing forward with scale and power.”

“…is the tiger growing wings?”

Even if the room is very dark.

It is now becoming increasingly apparent how anxious and uneasy they are.

“I wondered why you didn’t go straight to Luoyang at a time like this and instead went to the imperial capital… ”

“His Majesty the Emperor has begun to seek power, and now the Archduke’s power will also grow even more.”

“Ugh… .”

Then, the remaining elders also began to look around at the people next to them.

“… … .”

“… … .”

The way her butt was shaking made it seem like she could jump up and run away at any moment.

“under…!”

The elder with the thin beard laughed at them and said:

“If you’re going to go, go quickly. Don’t make other people’s minds wander.”

“… … !”

Hot.

Elder Pyo, who was about to slowly lift his buttocks, sat back down quickly after hearing those words.

“Wh, why are you saying that…?!”

“Isn’t it true that the situation is actually difficult…?!”

“That, that’s right…! Wouldn’t it be a good idea to wait a little longer and see…?!”

When the elders who were watching him got angry, the elder with the thin beard sneered at them.

“If that’s the case, then go ahead. Who stopped you? But.”

He wiped the expression off his face and his eyes sparkled.

“If the Archduke’s power grows stronger here, I wonder how you will survive.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

One or two people left.

There were those who had not yet completely broken up with Yeon So-hyeon.

But the majority just sat back down in their seats.

“… … .”

of course.

Elder Pyo was buried deep in his seat as if he had no intention of getting up in the first place.

“…so.”

The bespectacled elder asked, pushing up his glasses with his finger and adjusting them.

“What should we do?”

but.

Before they could even have a proper conversation, new news arrived.

“The Four Princes’ Yeonbi…?”

“You met the Empress of the Hwangbo family…?”

of course.

The reaction was immediate.

“no way…?!”

“Here, you’re saying that even Hwangbo Se-ga is leaving now, right…?!”

The month of Wu-chuan-wol (the month of Wu-chuan-wol).

A heart that is surprised when it sees a child, a heart that is surprised when it sees a pot lid.

The bespectacled elder shouted at the elders’ blatant agitation.

“Why are you so surprised?!”

bang!

He slammed the table.

“Unlike the Namgung family, the Hwangbo family never made their intentions clear from the beginning! We didn’t even join hands, so why are you making such a fuss?!”

“Tsk tsk, it’s not like I’m showing off my liver.”

The elder with the thin beard also.

He clicked his tongue and glared at those around him.

“Since the Sagongja is the representative of Yeonseonhyeon, it is only natural that he should meet the heads of the visiting clans. What do you mean by that…”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The elders who had caused the disturbance blushed and sat down again.

If he had been the usual elder, he would have made fun of them and embarrassed them for no reason.

Now was not the time.

“Ahem.”

Elder Pyo coughed in vain, drawing the attention of those around him.

“… First of all, one thing is certain.”

He spoke to those who were looking at him.

“No more, if we continue like this. If we only rely on the heads of the sixteen families, things will not work out.”

“… Hmm. Definitely.”

When there was a response, Elder Pyo added:

“If the heads of the sixteen families can’t do it, they can just return to the Imperial City.”

“That’s true.”

“Yeon So-Hyeon, even if that guy becomes the head of the swordsmanship family without any problems, the Hwangdo is more important to them.”

Obviously.

The current heads of the sixteen Hwangdo families are equally serious, but the degree of seriousness is different.

To the elders gathered here.

There was no ‘next’.

“We don’t need to let go of our ties with the Sixteen Clans, but we need to find a stronger figure who can serve as a more solid focal point within the clan.”

“Who would be there?”

The bespectacled elder answered the question.

“Naewon General (內院總管).”

The old monster of Luoyang Swordsmanship.

It was quiet for a while as to what he was doing.

He is a person who has been in conflict with Yeon So-hyeon since the past, but has steadfastly maintained his position and status until now.

His abilities had already been proven by that.

“And, there is another person who is comparable to the Director-General of the Royal Household.”

Elder Pyo raised his finger and said.

“The owner of the foreign house.”

The room was in an uproar.

“You mean that outer circle…?”

“If it’s him, he’ll definitely be as strong as a thousand troops… ”

If the innermost part of the Luoyang Sword Family is where the head of the household is assisted by the Naewon (內院).

The external hospital.

Together with the head of the household, it was an organization in charge of the foreign policy of the Luoyang Sword Family.

And due to the nature of the Luoyang Sword Family, which exerted influence and conducted business throughout the Central Plains.

The name and ability of the foreign minister were in no way inferior to that of the domestic minister.

“but….”

Concerns were raised about Elder Pyo.

“Would the Lord of the Outer World be willing to join us in this situation?”

“Hasn’t he ever had any particular conflict with the Archduke up until now?”

“No, from the beginning. Didn’t the outsider not interfere in the internal affairs of the main family?”

As reactions poured in from all sides, Elder Pyo waved his hand as if to calm them down.

“Now, listen.”

Everyone held their breath and focused on Elder Pyo.

“You all know that I am from an outside organization, right?”

As the elders nodded, Elder Pyo made a meaningful expression.

“Currently, there is growing discontent in the foreign country with Yeon So-hyeon’s behavior by the day.”

“That’s definitely true, I think I heard that too.”

The bespectacled elder nodded and said.

“It was reported that Yeon So-hyeon has been changing relations with external forces without consulting the Oewon, and that the Oewon’s authority has been falling to the ground recently.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Elder Pyo nodded, but the others looked unsure and expressed their doubts.

“But just because of that, would the foreign lord want to confront that bastard Yeon So-hyeon?”

“Isn’t interfering in this situation the same as trying to stop that bastard Yeon So-hyeon from ascending to the throne?”

Elder Pyo nodded.

“That’s true. But….”

He trailed off.

“… … .”

“… … .”

The other elders waited for him to continue speaking without pressing him.

Those here are the elders of the Luoyang Sword Family, and each of them has at least one secret weapon.

Elder Pyo was currently gathering his thoughts one last time to pull out the secret weapon he had, and he could always muster that much patience.

“after….”

yet.

Elder Pyo opened his mouth with a sigh.

“There is information that yesterday, the head of the Oewonju and the head of the Namgung family had a secret meeting.”

Of course.

What does it mean that at this time, the head of the Namgung family, who is hostile to Yeon So-hyeon, met with the head of the Oewonju?

“… … !”

“… … !”

With shock on everyone’s faces.

“The Chief of the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Chief of the External Affairs Bureau…!”

“If they all step forward, it might be possible….”

“If that happens, then for sure. The sixteen families will also be able to confirm their chances of victory in Luoyang-.”

“Rather than engaging in an ambiguous power struggle with Yeonseonhyeon in the imperial capital, the possibility of ending Yeonseonhyeon in Luoyang will increase.”

Hope began to spring up.

* * *

Imperial capital.

The mansion of the Gongsun family.

Yeon So-hyeon’s temporary residence.

“Heh heh…!”

Prime Minister Kang Sang was filled with laughter.

“Even the Grand Master should have seen it for himself.”

He seemed excited and stretched out both arms to the sides, rejoicing like a child.

“The line of people waiting to swear allegiance to His Majesty was so long. The line was so long that the state affairs were almost paralyzed today!”

“Is that so?”

The one dealing with him was none other than Yeon So-hyeon’s chief maid, Jeong-ah.

“But you know, maid… .”

He suppressed his smile and spoke carefully.

“yes.”

“Is the prince okay…?”

The prime minister went out of his way to meet Yeon So-hyeon in person despite his busy schedule, but was unable to meet him.

“Your Majesty, you don’t have to worry.”

“Hmm….”

They say you don’t have to worry though.

How is it that Yeon So-hyeon, instead of entering the palace, doesn’t meet anyone here?

“… … .”

Prime Minister Kang Sang quietly looked at the face of the head maid, Jeong Ah, but of course she.

Not showing even the slightest expression.

He neatly gave up on reading Jeong-ah’s face and spoke first.

“If the Grand Master were to be in the Imperial City like this, it would be so reassuring….”

Prime Minister Kang Sang spoke in a serious tone.

“The longer the Grand Master stays in the Imperial City, the greater the danger Luoyang will face.”

“Yes.”

The maid, Jeong-ah, nodded calmly.

“Although the four-legged warrior is said to be one against a hundred and has many people helping him, the enemy will risk their lives.”

“Yes.”

This time, Jeong-ah’s answer was extremely calm.

“no way….”

Prime Minister Kang Sang seemed to sense something in her attitude and asked her.

“Is the Grand Master waiting for every last enemy who has been hiding to reveal themselves and gather together?”

This time too.

Jeong-ah’s answer was calm.

“Yes.”