Chapter 41. About Faith (5)
Before dawn, the ritual procession toward the royal tombs stretched endlessly into the distance.
As the darkness slowly faded, a pale-blue line appeared along the mountain ridges.
Lights flickered one after another across the distant fields.
The royal tombs of the Hui Kingdom were majestic.
Different guardian stones stood in every direction around the enormous burial mound.
White mist surrounded the tombs, giving the entire area a sacred atmosphere.
Soon, ritual music began playing.
King Nampyeong stepped forward wearing clothing recreated exactly from the garments worn by the kingdom’s founding ancestors.
The king poured wine and bowed.
Civil and military officials followed behind him.
Below the altar, Seongha stood with his arms crossed and watched the ritual.
His expression looked even colder and sharper than usual.
Manwoo approached him with concern.
“Are you sure about this?”
“The person you’re dealing with is State Preceptor Namwan.”
“And His Majesty is here today too.”
Manwoo frowned.
“This is like running away from a deer only to meet a tiger.”
King Nampyeong was infamous for his madness.
Manwoo feared that his involvement could make the situation completely unpredictable.
Seongha’s eyes sharpened.
“State Preceptor Namwan has too much to lose.”
“He’ll agree to compromise after only a small amount of pressure.”
Then he said firmly,
“I will definitely obtain the Buddhist Holy Land’s seal.”
“Don’t worry.”
After the ritual ended, a banquet began.
Tables filled with refreshments were carried in.
Musicians started playing.
Seongha ordered several servants to deliver a table to State Preceptor Namwan.
A piece of cloth rested on top.
A golden arrow had pierced through it.
Two chickens were embroidered in the center.
The meaning was obvious.
Chickens symbolized marriage between a man and woman.
The golden arrow represented the royal Nam family.
Together, the image suggested that a marriage arrangement might be broken because of the Nam family.
Namwan’s face twisted in anger.
“Who did this?”
“Which bastard dares commit such disrespect?”
Soon, attendants informed him that Beopsindang’s High Priest Jin Seongha was waiting behind the altar at a private meeting place.
Namwan entered an area surrounded by screens.
Seongha stood there with his hands behind his back.
He slowly turned around.
“Priest Jin.”
Namwan’s voice was filled with killing intent.
“How dare someone like you interfere here? Do you even understand what kind of gathering this is?”
Seongha smiled calmly.
“I heard the State Preceptor sent a letter proposing a marriage with the Jin family.”
The moment Seongha mentioned the marriage proposal, Namwan’s face turned pale.
“Originally, I would have been the person involved in that marriage.”
Seongha smiled faintly.
“Unfortunately, the target has now changed.”
“What are you talking about?”
It did not take Namwan long to realize what had happened.
Seongha had intercepted the letter sent by Huyeong and altered its contents.
Seongha shrugged.
“What does it matter?”
“From your point of view, as long as the groom belongs to the Jin family, does it really matter which son becomes your son-in-law?”
“My father already believes the proposal concerns his second son.”
“So it may be difficult to withdraw now.”
Seongha then opened a cloth bundle before him.
“Look at this.”
“...”
“This letter was found on one of the assassins who attacked the Beopsindang carriage.”
The contents were written in code and impossible to read at a glance.
However, the handwriting clearly belonged to Nam Huyeong.
The outer envelope also carried the unmistakable symbol of the Nam royal family.
Namwan immediately denied it.
“I have no idea what trick you’re trying to play.”
“Why would someone from the Nam family attack a minor government office like Beopsindang and cause trouble?”
Seongha remained calm.
“Then you’re saying the State Preceptor knows nothing about this and Lady Nam acted entirely on her own?”
Before Namwan could respond, Seongha continued.
“Lady Nam even tried to persuade the rulers of the Hui Kingdom that Beopsindang had presented a false Heavenly Maiden.”
“Enough!”
Namwan raised his voice.
“I said I know nothing about it!”
Seongha did not stop.
“You promise marriage with the Jin family in public, yet attack Beopsindang from behind and place the Jin family’s eldest son in danger.”
“Wouldn’t that be considered a serious betrayal of trust?”
The moment Namwan realized Huyeong’s reckless behavior could interfere with his greater ambitions, his expression turned ice-cold.
After all...
the only reason he had brought an illegitimate daughter into his household and raised her was to use her for a political marriage with a powerful family.
Seongha continued.
“Recently, I asked Father for private Jin family soldiers so we could defend Beopsindang against those trying to harm us.”
Namwan’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“Chancellor Jin gave you private soldiers just for that?”
Seongha smiled faintly.
“I wonder how Father would react if he learned that Nam Huyeong was behind the attacks.”
“I doubt he would want a woman who enjoys schemes and conspiracies as a daughter-in-law of the Jin family.”
By linking together everything that had happened, Seongha had managed to create a convincing picture.
Some of the events had nothing to do with one another.
But as long as he could frighten Namwan, Seongha did not care.
Still...
he felt bitter about having to actively use his position as the eldest son of the Jin family against the Hui Kingdom’s ruling powers.
Seongha added,
“There is one more thing.”
He continued applying pressure.
A vein rose at Namwan’s temple beneath his shaved head.
“What do you think the other noble families would say if they learned that the State Preceptor secretly tried to arrange a marriage with the Jin family?”
Seongha’s gaze sharpened.
“And what do you think His Majesty would say?”
It was a guess.
But judging from Namwan’s suddenly uncomfortable expression...
the guess was correct.
If King Nampyeong learned that his younger brother had tried to ally himself with the Jin family, his suspicion and anger toward Namwan would only grow.
Namwan clenched his teeth.
“How dare you threaten royalty?”
“You may have the smooth face of a scholar, but your heart is as wicked as a snake.”
He glared at Seongha.
