Episode 78
Yerin spoke as if thoroughly peering into Doyul’s heart.
“While it may be somewhat disrespectful, as soon as I heard that the Blood Sect had caused no harm and left.”
“…Thinking about the Sajo’s bodies?”
“Yes.”
In Doyul’s softened voice, Yerin firmly nodded.
“As the palace lord knows well, I’m quite interested in the history of the Northern Ice Palace.”
Well, more accurately, it’s because of the knowledge from the past as a Snow Orchid, but…
Yerin decided not to dwell on the details.
“I’ve seen records of the past about the Sajo.”
“Records?”
“Yes. It is said that the Sajo, due to the difficulty of managing long hair, cut it short in their final years.”
Whether there was actually such a record or not, Yerin went on with the story.
‘At that time, Lady Sejin, as the palace lord, scolded them quite a lot for not maintaining discipline…’
Yerin felt a bitter taste in her mouth.
Unexpectedly, Doyul nodded his head.
“That’s correct.”
“What?”
No, how do you know that?
Yerin stared at Doyul in surprise.
“Yes.”
“If I may say, it was a somewhat unconventional move for a palace lord who should maintain a dignified appearance.”
“Y-Your Grace, how do you know about that?”
“When I studied the history, I came across personal records left by the 2nd palace lord.”
Yerin flinched.
Perhaps, when he mentioned personal records, it might be something like a diary.
‘No, why did this guy leave such trivial things?’
Embarrassing!
As Yerin grumbled to herself, unexpectedly, Doyul nodded.
“Yes.”
“Huh?”
“Well, how would you know about it, Your Grace?”
“When studying the past, I came across personal records left by the 2nd palace lord.”
Yerin twitched.
Probably, when he said personal records, it might be something like a diary.
‘No, why did Sejin leave such trivial things?’
How embarrassing!
As Yerin grumbled to herself, Doyul spoke.
“The 2nd palace lord was not only a direct disciple of the Sajo but also had a very close friendship.”
“Oh… I see.”
“Yes. Perhaps that’s why there are many small records about the Sajo.”
Fortunately, the atmosphere softened somewhat.
Yerin breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
“More importantly, I didn’t expect you to see those documents.”
“Huh?”
“Isn’t it unofficial records? It would have been difficult for you to find… ”
Doyul’s words trailed off.
Searching for such trivial records, it was certain that Yerin’s affection for the Northern Ice Palace was sincere.
However,
‘Suspecting the Blood Sect is right, but checking the bodies of the Sajo seems too much.’
That was Doyul’s thought.
But then,
“But this body has long hair.”
Yerin dropped a bombshell.
For a moment, Doyul’s face looked as if he had been hit on the back of his head.
“Yes?”
“When the Sajo passed away, they cut their hair short. The Sajo couldn’t possibly have such long hair.”
“Y-Your Grace, what are you saying?”
“That, well…”
Doyul’s pupils shook intensely.
At that moment,
“But this body has long hair.”
Yerin dropped a bombshell.
For a moment, Doyul’s face looked as if he had been hit on the back of his head.
“Yes?”
“When the Sajo passed away, they cut their hair short. The Sajo couldn’t possibly have such long hair.”
“Y-Your Grace, what are you saying?”
“That, well…”
Doyul’s pupils shook intensely.
At that moment,
“But this body has long hair.”
Yerin dropped a bombshell.
For a moment, Doyul’s face looked as if he had been hit on the back of his head.
“Yes?”
“When the Sajo passed away, they cut their hair short. The Sajo couldn’t possibly have such long hair.”
“Y-Your Grace, what are you saying?”
“That, well…”
Doyul’s pupils shook intensely.
At that moment,
“But this body has long hair.”
Yerin dropped a bombshell.
For a moment, Doyul’s face looked as if he had been hit on the back of his head.
“Yes?”
“When the Sajo passed away, they cut their hair short. The Sajo couldn’t possibly have such long hair.”
“Y-Your Grace, what are you saying?”
“That, well…”
Doyul’s pupils shook intensely.
Yerin pressed him again.
“That means, in short, the body of Sajo Baekseolnyeon is fake.”
Doyul was shocked.
—
Realizing that the body had been switched, Doyul immediately summoned his subordinates.
“It seems that Sajo-nim’s body has been switched.”
The subordinates were astonished, as if they were going to faint.
“Are you saying… Sajo-nim’s body is fake?”
“No, impossible!”
“Who could have committed such a heinous act?”
The subordinates bombarded him with questions.
Doyul answered solemnly.
“It seems that the body was switched when the Blood Sect invaded the Northern Ice Palace before. But I don’t know the exact facts either.”
“Then, what should we do now? Should we search for the Blood Sect?”
A disciplined subordinate asked cautiously.
Doyul shook his head.
“No, it’s impossible to find the Blood Sect right now.”
“…That’s true.”
One of the subordinates sighed and stepped back.
It was a fact.
No matter how much the Northern Ice Palace has regained its influence compared to the past, secretly tracking down the Blood Sect, a clandestine and dangerous group, was impossible. Even the combined forces of the entire martial arts world, the Mu Rim Maeng, couldn’t capture the Blood Sect, so it was unlikely that the Northern Ice Palace could do it alone.
“However, the fact that Sajo-nim’s body seems to have entered the hands of the Blood Sect should be shared with the Mu Rim Maeng.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“I agree with that statement.”
Other lords expressed their agreement with Lord Kyuryul’s words.
Doyul also nodded.
“That makes sense.”
No matter how Sajo Baekseolnyeon was an individual from three hundred years ago, once upon a time, they were a formidable martial artist who held the title of the World’s Best Sword. This means that Baekseolnyeon’s body itself had reached a state of completion.
“Although we can’t know exactly what the Blood Sect is planning by using Sajo-nim’s body…”
“The situation itself is very dangerous right now.”
Moreover, the Mu Rim Maeng, an alliance of the martial arts world, had a much longer history of clashes with the Blood Sect than the Northern Ice Palace alone.
“Alright. Then let’s send a letter to the Mu Rim Maeng and seek their advice.”
Doyul concluded the conversation there for now.
—
And a month later.
“A response has arrived from the Mu Rim Maeng?”
Yerin, who had been playing idly with Mannyeonbingjeong without much enthusiasm, lifted her head.
Mannyeonbingjeong, who had been happily fetching a ball, growled and opened his eyes.
– Contractor, show respect!
“This should be enough. What more do you want?”
Yerin shot back and stood up from her seat.
Approaching Doyul with brisk steps.
“What did the letter say?”
“It might be faster for you to read it yourself rather than me explaining it.”
Doyul chose to hand over the surveillance whole to Yerin.
Yerin lit up her eyes and read the surveillance.
The front part was roughly congratulating Yerin on coming of age, welcoming the relationship with the Northern Ice Palace… and such greetings.
The Yang Clan, who had been involved in a previous auction, the Jongnam Faction, and others sent a congratulatory letter, keeping up appearances.
The important part was later.
“In summary, they thanked us for providing information about the Blood Sect, and they mentioned that there have been recent traces of the Blood Sect in the Central Plains.”
At those words, Doyul nodded his head with a slightly stiff expression.
“So what will you do?”
After neatly folding and organizing the surveillance, Yerin asked Doyul.
“The Mu Rim Maeng has invited the Lord and me.”
This time, there was an invitation to discuss the issue of the Blood Sect and visit the Mu Rim Maeng.
Doyul narrowed his eyes.
“Well, leaving the Ice Palace empty is a bit…”
“That’s true, isn’t it?”
Yerin and Doyul both thought it would be difficult to visit the Mu Rim Maeng.
However, an unexpected situation occurred.
That’s right.
“Please take care.”
The lords gathered and encouraged Yerin and Doyul.
“While you are away, we will take care of the Northern Ice Palace.”
Starting with Lord Kyuryul,
“We’ve been taking care of the Ice Palace for several years. Don’t worry too much.”
Lord Mugong chimed in,
“The financial situation that the Lord is most concerned about is stable.”
Even the financial lord joined in.
Then, filled with emotion, they exchanged whispers.
“It really can’t be just words.”
“When I think about how we were humiliated in the past and mistreated, it’s really…”
“Our Lord and Lady being invited to the Mu Rim Maeng, we couldn’t even imagine such a thing in the past.”
After sharing such emotionally charged whispers with each other,
The three lords looked at the two with eyes full of admiration.
“From our side, we will continue the investigation into the Blood Sect, so please go with peace of mind.”
“You haven’t just stayed in the Ice Palace all this time.”
“Since both of you are still young, it’s necessary to broaden your perspectives in the Central Plains.”
With such words, it was futile to refuse.
So, Yerin and Doyul headed towards the Central Plains.
—
On the day Yerin and Doyul left for the Mu Rim Maeng,
The sky was clear and the weather was unusually warm, with no snowfall.
Lord Mugong, who was somewhat sentimental, even said such words.
“It seems that even the heavens are congratulating you for going to the Mu Rim Maeng.”
…or so he said.
“No, I don’t think that’s it….”
Unable to say such a thing directly, Yerin just offered a vague smile.
Doyul gave the order as they got on the carriage.
“Then, let’s depart now.”
“Yes!”
Compared to the entourage when the Lord and Lady of the Palace traveled, it was quite simple.
The carriage was sturdy and robust, designed to minimize weight by reducing decorations.
The attendants were also placed with the minimum required.
The journey to Hangju, where the Mu Rim Maeng was, would take quite some time, so they wanted to move as quickly as possible.
Even though they made everything so well-prepared, Yerin couldn’t help but think about how the previous arrogant Yejun must have been so thoughtless.
The carriage that Yejun used to ride was so luxurious, and even now, people from the Northern Ice Palace occasionally spoke with awe about those times.
Yerin clicked her tongue.
“Let’s go-!”
“We’re departing-!”
The attendants raised their voices.
The horses happily pounded the ground.
Beyond the carriage window, the beloved scenery of the Northern Ice Palace swiftly passed by.
Yerin gazed at that scenery for a long time.
She had a premonition.
It felt like this journey was going to be exceptionally long.
