526.This is a peaceful place.
Even as rumors rolled through the city, Park Seong-jin did not involve himself.
The king moved directly.
There was no reason for Seong-jin to step in.
What grew instead was doubt.
Could those men truly build a country going forward.
Could people who put private gain first ever treat the people as a nation.
To them, the country meant the aristocracy and those clinging around it.
Watching this reality, regret deepened.
A sense of reproach remained—he had intervened when he should not have.
He resolved never again to stand on the same ground as them.
A few days later, Yoon Dam came to see him.
Seong-jin had met no one during that time.
When Yoon Dam's name was announced, Seong-jin stepped out at once.
He was seated near the edge of the sarangmaru, gazing at the distant sky.
Seeing Yoon Dam standing quietly beside him, Seong-jin flinched.
"Ah—appearing so suddenly…"
"You said it was fine before."
"That was on the battlefield."
"And here."
"This is a peaceful place."
Yoon Dam laughed brightly.
He had changed a great deal.
Before, he had been cold and restrained—
a man like a blade's edge.
"Seeing your change feels unfamiliar."
"In a place this gentle, one sets down the breath of war."
"Indeed."
Seong-jin turned.
So-eun stood with her hands folded neatly.
Even if told to treat her not as a servant, the old bearing remained.
So-eun asked softly,
"Would you like tea, or shall I prepare the meal first."
Seong-jin looked to Yoon Dam.
"Either is fine."
"I will prepare both."
"Very well."
Seong-jin lifted his eyes to the sky.
Only then did he realize that dawn had passed and it was day.
Yoon Dam spoke first of small matters.
"How have you been lately."
"I lack nothing."
"That is good to hear."
Yoon Dam hesitated, then opened the main matter.
"Ah—actually."
Seong-jin steadied his breath and named it outright.
"The land issue."
"Yes. Since it arose from your actions, I came to inform you and seek your judgment."
"What solution do you have in mind."
"The backlash is severe."
"We will push it through with force."
"Civil and military together will block the resistance."
Seong-jin let out a long breath.
When one knot is untied, another appears.
Grasp that knot, and yet another taboo reveals itself.
Reasons beget reasons.
Opposition calls forth opposition.
"You do not intend to abandon it."
"I do not."
"Then proceed."
"Hmm…"
At Seong-jin's heavy response, Yoon Dam smiled and asked,
"Why so."
"I expected you, Lord Yoon, to present a masterful stratagem."
Yoon Dam shrugged.
"Even things that appear grand are ultimately simple."
"Then let me hear that simplicity."
Yoon Dam drew a breath and said,
"We establish the Jeonminbyeonjeongdogam."
"A weighty name."
"A temporary bureau to return land illegally seized by powerful families to its original owners,
and to restore those unjustly reduced to slaves to their former status."
"Proceed.
The great families' economic base weakens, and the state secures revenue.
The purpose is clear—yet your expression is dark."
The smile faded from Yoon Dam's face.
"Seeing the backlash from the recent false-accusation affair, I am certain.
In the end, I will fall from office.
The timing may differ, but the outcome points one way.
Everyone opposes it."
Seong-jin frowned.
It was a path chosen while knowing defeat—
chosen because leaving things as they were would be worse.
"There are precedents for reforms like this."
"Yes."
"Kim Jun's assets were整理, Choe Se-yeon's displaced tenants were restored,
and in King U's reign, Yi In-im's family lands were confiscated."
"Those were purges of fallen powers."
"And now."
Yoon Dam said calmly,
"I will receive the resignations of all civil and military officials."
"Aaagh—!"
Seong-jin's sudden cry made So-eun flinch as she carried in the table.
Lately, her master's laughter and surprises had grown louder; she was still getting used to it.
She set the table as if nothing were amiss.
"You said there would be a guest today, so I prepared something special."
Seong-jin smiled with narrowed eyes.
"And what is special."
So-eun unfolded the spread.
"An ilsik-ochan—seven dishes, excluding soup."
Seong-jin nodded; Yoon Dam blinked, counting the dishes.
So-eun continued,
"You said to treat servants the same as family,
but since the guest is honored, I added one meat dish and one medicinal side."
"And the reason."
"He was your lord on the battlefield,
you crossed life and death together,
and now he stands at the core of the court."
"So you know such things."
"Yes, young master."
Seong-jin smacked his lips lightly.
No matter how often he spoke of frugality, So-eun always found a way like this.
His instruction—to keep the number of dishes the same for servants and family—
carried memories of many years.
It was a choice not to force anyone below him.
Seeing So-eun's composure, Yoon Dam joked,
"At this rate, I'll be donating to charity."
Seong-jin laughed.
"Help is always welcome."
"Hahaha."
Seong-jin gestured for So-eun to take a seat—
to listen as well.
She sat without a word and quietly began to attend to them.