The Ruler of Darkness

In the innermost office of the main building of Inner Court.

Here, one could not find any common braziers.

Yet, the office was as warm as a spring day, thanks to the substantial desk situated at the center.

The desk, large enough for two strong men to lie upon, had a top embedded with “heat-sun stone”, radiating a gentle warmth.

When the weather warmed, the desk top would be replaced with “cold-ice stone”.

Near the window, where sunlight filtered through a private garden, a subtle fragrance wafted.

This scent originated from the various bonsai junipers lined along the window.

These were rare “Cheongja” (celadon) pieces even in Haedong, carefully harbored in the bonsais.

[Picture of Cheongja (celadon)

A black obsidian scissors, adorned with mother-of-pearl, was delicately trimming the bonsai.

The hands holding the scissors were wrinkled yet smooth, without a trace of calluses.

“…The Grand Young Master himself?”

“Yes, he’s currently meeting with the administrator of Wongak Pavilion.”

The obsidian scissors broke.

It was a sign of disturbed equanimity.

Initially, the material was ill-suited for trimming the tough junipers.

The elder clicked his tongue upon seeing the broken scissors.

“Such a pity…”

It wasn’t the loss of the expensive scissors that bothered him but his own disturbed composure.

The middle-aged man’s gaze followed to the scissors.

“It’s a masterpiece of a renowned craftsman, a shame indeed.”

“Is it so…?”

The elder discarded the broken scissors, showing no regret.

“But there are many scissors.”

He opened a drawer in the desk.

Inside, various black obsidian scissors were neatly arranged, each a work of art by famous artisans.

“If needed, we can always get more. These are but replaceable objects, no matter how expensive.”

The middle-aged man listened quietly to the elder’s words.

“So…”

The elder closed the drawer.

“As long as I don’t hurt my hand, as long as the bonsai remains unharmed, that’s all that matters.”

It was a meaningful statement.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The elder extended his hand, and the middle-aged man respectfully handed him a cane.

He then assisted the elder with his coat.

“I’ll be away for a while, ensure everything is handled well.”

The middle-aged man bowed deeply.

“Yes, Supervisor.”

After the elder left, the middle-aged man remained.

His gaze shifted to the wooden box where the elder had discarded the scissors.

The box was filled with broken scissors.

“Many scissors, indeed…”

On his waist, seven golden tassels sparkled in the sunlight.

***

“Such a delightful fragrance. Excellent.”

Yeon So-Hyeon enjoyed the aroma of the tea and commented.

“…I am humbled.”

A hurried appearance was made by a third-ranked attendant from Inner Court’s Ceremonial Office.

Yeon So-Hyeon chuckled.

“With such fine tea leaves, why do you feel humbled?”

“….”

The ceremonial attendant remained silent and stepped back.

“Hmm. This is tea from Wuyi Mountain in Fujian. Wuyi Mountain is known for its families producing excellent teas.”

In place of the silent third-ranked attendant, a set of triplet maids nodded.

“Indeed, there is no equal to your knowledge of tea, Master.”

“I have heard of Wuyi Mountain myself.”

Yeon So-Hyeon seemed to remember something and spoke up.

“Speaking of Wuyi Mountain’s tea families, the Seomun family was one of them, right…?”

His gaze turned to the Court Lady Seomun sitting opposite him.

“Is that so?”

“It seems I have also heard of the Heavenly Demon from Wuyi Mountain.”

The maids responded naturally in the conversation.

“That’s right.”

The Heavenly Demon was none other than the external kin power of ‘2nd Young Master’.

Yeon So-Hyeon looked at the Court Lady Seomun with an uncomfortable expression.

“Do you have any connection to that Seomun family?”

“…This might be a leisurely time for the Grand Young Master, but our Inner Court is quite busy at the moment.”

“Is that so?”

Yeon So-Hyeon shrugged at her response.

“Then, let’s get to the point.”

He pushed the tea, which he had only enjoyed for its fragrance, to the court lady named Bang, who was sitting next to him.

“Drink this.”

“I, I apologize, but…”

Yeon So-Hyeon patted her trembling head to silence her.

“Why haven’t you paid for the books?”

Bang quickly opened her mouth.

“I, it’s all my fault…”

Yeon So-Hyeon tapped the teacup in front of her.

“You just drink this.”

His gaze returned to the Court Lady Seomun.

After a moment of direct eye contact, the Court Lady Seomun sighed softly.

“…It’s just the cost of some books. I’ll take care of it personally.”

“Didn’t I ask why you didn’t pay for the books?”

The triplets whispered among themselves.

“She’s avoiding the question, isn’t she?”

“And without even apologizing to the Master, how shameless.”

“How can a mere fourth-ranked court lady be so audacious?”

Their whispers, though soft, were heard by everyone in the quiet drawing room.

The faces of the Court Lady Seomun’s aides reddened instantly.

She wanted to storm out but knew it was not the time.

She had never imagined that this unarmed man would dare to challenge the authority of Inner Court’s chief supervisor.

Court Lady Seomun clenched her teeth and responded.

“…If necessary, I will offer my apologies immediately.”

Yeon So-Hyeon propped his chin and observed her.

“When did I ask you to apologize?”

The triplets whispered again.

“Why does she keep giving irrelevant answers to the question about the book payment?”

“Why does she keep avoiding the question?”

Sam-ryeong flashed a sly smile at the Court Lady Seomun.

“Is it because she’s from the Seomun family? ‘Seomun’-style answers?”

Yeon So-Hyeon chuckled lightly at their childish banter.

However, for the Court Lady Seomun, being mocked by mere maids was intolerable.

“How dare you, a mere maid…!”

Just as she was about to rise in anger, Jung-ah, who had been silent, spoke.

“How dare you raise your voice in front of the house’s Grand Young Master?”

Caught mid-action, the Court Lady Seomun was unable to fully sit down or stand up, her face reddening with anger and humiliation.

That’s when Yeon So-Hyeon slammed the table.

“Ah! This is so frustrating. Why won’t you answer why you haven’t paid for the books?!”

The Court Lady Seomun exploded.

“Obviously, because the Grand Young Master took all the allocated budget from Inner Court for Wongak Pavilion!”

“It can’t be that the budget I took was everything?”

“What are you saying?! That was all of it!”

Yeon So-Hyeon laughed.

“You’re saying they didn’t leave a penny of the budget and gave it all to me?”

“Are you insulting Inner Court now?!”

Jung-ah stared at her intently.

“Master, she is lying.”

Upon her words, the other attendants stood up abruptly.

“Lying?!”

“Do you have any evidence?!”

“How dare a maid of lowly birth accuse us?!”

Jung-ah remained unflinching.

“Do you have proof?”

One of the attendants pulled out a ledger.

“This is the ledger for Wongak Pavilion!”

“That’s…!”

The Court Lady Seomun tried to intervene, but Il-ryeong was quicker in snatching the ledger.

“Master, here is the ledger.”

She respectfully presented it to Yeon So-Hyeon.

“Let’s see, shall we?”

Yeon So-Hyeon smiled as he opened the ledger.

Then, he turned to the Court Lady Bang beside him.

“Bang, is this the real ledger?”

Bang nodded hastily.

“Yes, yes. It’s the real one.”

“Really? Let’s take a look then.”

As Yeon So-Hyeon began to flip through the ledger, the Court Lady Seomun, surprisingly, sat down with a smile.

The other attendants also chuckled and took their seats.

A moment later…

Yeon So-Hyeon briskly flipped through the ledger, eliciting internal scoffs from the others.

‘What kind of way is that to examine a ledger?’

‘He should be matching up the accounts, not just flipping through the pages.’

‘Ah! He’s just trying to show off in front of the maids.’

Yeon So-Hyeon closed the ledger.

“Hmm. It seems there is no issue with this ledger.”

At his words, Court Lady Seomun and her aides internally smiled.

“Is that satisfactory?”

“No.”

Yeon So-Hyeon shook his head at Court Lady Seomun’s question.

“This is just a ledger of expenditures from Inner Court to Wongak Pavilion. It can hardly be called a proper ledger.”

Court Lady Seomun’s eyebrows twitched.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Therefore, I must personally go into Inner Court’s ledger archive.”

Court Lady Seomun scoffed at Yeon So-Hyeon’s statement.

“The ledger archive of Inner Court? Aren’t you overestimating yourself, Grand Young Master?”

Il-ryeong intervened.

“How dare you question the authority of our Grand Young Master when he has given an order?!”

Another attendant snidely joined in.

“Girl, don’t be mistaken. The title ‘Grand Young Master’ is just his status. The actual Grand Young Master, currently in seclusion, holds no position in our house.”

“So, it’s only natural that he has no right to access confidential matters in Inner Court, right?”

Yeon So-Hyeon tapped the ledger.

“Then I must ask the chief supervisor of Inner Court directly.”

Court Lady Seomun smiled.

“Go ahead. The chief supervisor of Inner Court won’t grant you access to the ledger archive anyway.”

It was a valid point.

Apart from the possibility of the chief supervisor cutting her off for complicating matters, it was unlikely that he would open the archive where all of Inner Court’s ledgers were kept.

“Well, can’t be helped then.”

Yeon So-Hyeon raised his hands in resignation.

“It seems unlikely that the old man would still be in his office after I’ve come this far.”

Jung-ah asked him.

“Are you going to leave it at this?”

“Yes. It seems we have done all we can.”

‘Finally over.’

Court Lady Seomun and her aides smiled at those words.

“Grand Young Master.”

Court Lady Seomun stood up, bowing respectfully to the Grand Young Master.

“I wish to apologize for everything that has transpired here today.”

Her aides also stood up and bowed formally.

Bang, the court lady, also hurriedly stood up and knelt.

“I apologize to the Grand Young Master.”

Court Lady Seomun spoke gently to Yeon So-Hyeon.

“From now on, I will personally ensure that nothing untoward happens because of Inner Court.”

She smiled softly.

“So, let’s end this matter here…”

Yeon So-Hyeon cut her off.

“No. This is really frustrating. I’m not asking for an apology; I’m asking why you didn’t pay for the books?”

“….”

At the Grand Young Master’s childlike persistence, Court Lady Seomun and her aides were at a loss for words.

Yeon So-Hyeon sighed as he looked at them.

“Since you won’t answer my question and I have limitations in finding the answer myself, what should I do with this matter?”

He turned to Jung-ah.

“Summon the Inspection Bureau.”

The mention of the Inspection Bureau.

Everyone froze in place.

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