775.
The court was traditionally a place of calm. Even when people spoke, it was a place where voices were lowered, and every step carried a sense of order. That day, it began in the same manner. Until the report came in. When the door to the chamber opened halfway, the outside air seeped in. Quick breaths and disorganized footsteps. The Grand Khan's gaze slowly lifted.
"I report, Your Majesty."
The voice of the kneeling eunuch trembled. That tremor was visible before the words even reached the ears.
"Something has happened in the Empress's palace."
The air in the court shifted subtly. The ministers lined up on either side, the officials in charge of military affairs and civilian matters, and the eunuchs who served the royal family all held their breath.
"What happened?" The Grand Khan's voice was low. There was neither anger nor urgency in it.
"The Empress's subordinates... have collapsed."
"Are they dead?"
"No, only a few have lost their lives. Most of them are simply unable to move."
At that, a murmur broke out. It was an unauthorized sound in the court, but no one stopped it.
"They can't move?"
"What's going on?"
The eunuch caught his breath before answering.
"The Empress captured the King of Goryeo and took him as a hostage, and while Park Seongjin was trying to rescue him, he incapacitated all the guards in the Empress's palace."
"Was it poison?"
"No."
"Then a rebellion?"
The eunuch shook his head. "It appears to be the work of the man called Park Seongjin."
The Grand Khan asked quietly, "Report it. He captured the King of Goryeo?"
"It seems that Park Seongjin captured the King of Goryeo to use him as leverage, but then the man rescued the King and incapacitated all the guards in the Empress's palace."
The report continued.
"Just with a finger, it's said a guard who was ten paces away collapsed."
"By twisting his fingers, it's said those who were collapsed turned over."
"It's said that when he swung his sword once, dozens of guards fell at once."
The court's atmosphere changed. It was no longer surprise, but awe.
"But..." The eunuch paused for a moment. The sound of him swallowing was unnaturally loud.
"Death is rare. There were too few deaths, it's almost strange."
A low sigh escaped among the ministers.
"Not killing them, yet still incapacitating them?"
"Isn't that even more terrifying?"
"If it wasn't poison and it wasn't a rebellion... could it be the method of an immortal?"
The Grand Khan stood, then suddenly stopped. His foot had moved halfway forward, but he paused again.
'I know.'
He knew what the Empress Dowager had been aiming for. The death of her brother, the grudge that had not yet been extinguished.
'But…'
To publicly detain a guest of the royal family.
A complicated light passed across the Grand Khan's face for the first time. It was neither anger nor fear, but indecision.
"Where is the King of Goryeo now?"
"He was preparing to leave."
"Leaving?"
"Yes. He was preparing to depart, but was detained in the Empress's palace."
"What about Park Seongjin?"
"He is nowhere to be seen."
The Grand Khan's lips twisted.
"What is he up to?"
He thought for a moment before asking, "And the Empress?"
"She has not been able to calm her startled heart. Her words are incoherent, and she keeps repeating that the palace should be cleaned up."
There was a brief silence. Then the Grand Khan spoke unexpectedly.
"Good for her."
The court froze. Everyone knew that this wasn't a joke. The Grand Khan sat back down, placed his hand on the armrest, and lowered his gaze to the floor.
'He didn't kill them.'
'But he completely crushed them.'
He knew what that difference meant.
'This isn't a rebellion.'
'It's a warning.'
An invisible fear spread among the court officials. A person who could shake the empire with a sword.
But one who didn't need to use a sword at all.
The Grand Khan slowly exhaled.
"Nobody move."
His words were a command.
"I will not judge this matter immediately."
The judgment at this moment was likely to be wrong. The air in the court remained heavy. And at the center of that weight, an invisible shadow loomed.
The next morning, the Goryeo party came to the court to bid their farewell.
"Long live, long live, long long live."
A formal and ceremonial greeting. The King of Goryeo adjusted his robes and bowed deeply. His movements were without hesitation. As if nothing had happened.
"Your Majesty."
"I, the King of Goryeo, am about to depart."
"Thanks to Your Majesty's generosity and deep consideration, we have safely completed our task, and now we are ready to return to our country."
The Grand Khan's eyes paused for a moment.
'Safely.' That one word lingered in his ears.
The atmosphere in the court remained cautious. No one mentioned yesterday's events. But everyone knew they couldn't simply let it pass as if nothing had happened.
The Grand Khan smiled.
"You've worked hard. Because of you, peace has been restored. But, I must ask, have you sustained any injuries?"
His words were gentle, but the question was straightforward.
"Thanks to Your Majesty." The King of Goryeo replied briefly. Then he raised both arms to show there were no injuries. A sign that there were no wounds, no tremors. He didn't explain what had happened. He knew what it meant to speak about things that were absent.
The Grand Khan spoke.
"The Empire's benefactor, this is all due to my shortcomings."
It was the language of an emperor who did not assign blame.
The King of Goryeo nodded.
"It seems you have personal grievances with the Empress Dowager. Perhaps you thought to harm me? After your plan failed, you detained me temporarily in order to carry out your intentions."
He paused for a moment and added,
"I understand. Please do not hold it against me."
The Grand Khan's eyebrows raised slightly. His words were bold, and he brushed the responsibility lightly aside.
The King of Goryeo continued.
"If Your Majesty firmly safeguards the peace of the world at this Kurultai, wouldn't it be worthwhile for all the efforts we've made?"
The Grand Khan inwardly smiled briefly. His words, however, remained kind. That was the comfort of his position. He gestured with his hand.
"I have prepared a small gift for your return journey."
"Your grace is as vast as the sea."
A formal exchange of pleasantries followed. The King of Goryeo then mentioned the need for the foundational materials for gunpowder, a precious commodity. The Grand Khan had the warehouse opened.
Suddenly, the Grand Khan asked.
"But where is Park Seongjin?"
"He is saying his farewells to the people of Jin."
"However, it seems he will follow us."
"Follow us?"
Surprise flashed across the Grand Khan's face.
"He has a strong desire to learn."
The Grand Khan awkwardly laughed.
"Hah. If everyone leaves like that, what am I supposed to do here?"
"My apologies."
No further words were needed. The formalities concluded.
The King of Goryeo bowed once more and left the court.
A brief silence lingered in the court. It seemed as though yesterday's events were over.
But no one truly believed it had ended.