Chapter 125

“The princess’s marriage is entirely decided by the eunuchs. They search among the commoners, find a suitable man of humble origins, and arrange the match.”

Originally, finding a marriage partner for Princess Jihyang was the responsibility of the inner court, specifically Empress Dowager Ju and Han Gyeran. However, recent power shifts within the inner court have changed that.

‘Both of them are holding on, but as long as His Majesty’s favor leans toward Man Gwibi, the inner court will inevitably fall under her control.’

If that happens, Princess Jihyang herself would end up marrying a humble and ordinary man chosen by Man Gwibi, living a mundane life with her wings clipped, merely existing.

‘I don’t want that.’

Princess Jihyang clenched her fist.

Running away? Yes, running away.

Not knowing when the inner court would completely fall into Man Gwibi’s grasp, she fled.

Outwardly, she used the bold excuse of visiting the Martial Alliance’s meeting and seeing her close relative, the Yi Royal Residence, to distance herself from the political strife.

That was Princess Jihyang’s true journey to Luoyang.

Princess Jihyang’s final destination was not the Martial Alliance or the Yi Royal Residence, but an individual named Namgung Woo.

“If I am to marry, I will choose for myself.”

Not because someone else decided, but because Princess Jihyang herself made the choice.

With that mindset, Princess Jihyang arrived in Luoyang.

She didn’t expect to meet him so abruptly.

But thanks to how things turned out, she met Namgung Woo earlier than expected, and he turned out to be more than she had imagined.

“I have no other options, but accepting it is something only I can do. And I’ve acknowledged it. You are the best future given to me.”

Namgung Woo was indeed a remarkable person, but for a princess marrying into the martial world, it was also quite appealing.

At least as the wife of a martial artist, she would have more freedom.

Inviolability of Officials and Martial Artists. That law, meant for mutual coexistence, grants princesses who marry into the martial world freedom from the imperial power struggles.

Of course, the imperial family views the martial artists’ strength as part of their power and is reluctant to allow such marriages, but there have been instances where imperial women were married into martial families to expand influence and utilize martial power more freely.

And as the imperial blood mixed with the martial families over time, families like the Shinchang Yang Family, leading the Loyal Five Martial Families, were born.

Anyway, after listening to Princess Jihyang’s candid confession about the imperial situation, Namgung Woo felt paradoxical pity for her, who had lived a luxurious life.

It was a pitiful life.

Living a luxurious life, but ultimately having everything important decided by others.

He could sympathize, but he couldn’t fully empathize or agree.

Instead of fading, a phrase from his memories became even clearer.

“This is something I heard by chance when I was in my hometown.”

As Namgung Woo spoke after Princess Jihyang’s long story, her throat quivered.

With a mix of anticipation and tension, Princess Jihyang perked up her ears to hear Namgung Woo’s next words.

“There is no paradise in the place you run to. If I am just a refuge you were pushed to, that future won’t be good for anyone.”

As he always had, Namgung Woo drew a line between himself and Princess Jihyang.

“I will gratefully accept the Cheongdangon. Please convey my thanks to His Highness the Yi Prince for his kindness.”

The structure of the Yi Royal Residence had long been recorded in Namgung Woo’s mind. Even the people in the palace knew who he was, and he could handle things alone.

Turning away, Namgung Woo showed no lingering attachment.

While commoners would bribe eunuchs and officials to become a royal son-in-law, the glory they dreamed of was merely an obstacle in Namgung Woo’s path.

In a mix of hard-to-define emotions, Princess Jihyang stopped him.

“…Wait a moment!”

“Do you have more to say?”

“Is that all?”

Before Namgung Woo could respond, Princess Jihyang raised her voice.

“Really, is that all, to diminish the value of what the imperial name aims for?”

A somewhat roundabout question.

But Namgung Woo understood what answer Princess Jihyang was seeking.

“There’s already someone by my side.”

With those words, Namgung Woo left the Yi Royal Residence, leaving behind a stiff Princess Jihyang and a worried Yang Se-rim.

“…I see.”

“Huh? Princess, what…?”

“It’s a sense of defeat.”

As a princess, the youngest daughter of the late emperor and the youngest sister of the current emperor, Princess Jihyang had never expressed regret.

Recently, she had been cautious due to the chaos caused by Man Gwibi, but she had always been treated with respect as the last remaining princess.

For Princess Jihyang, being rejected was unfamiliar.

Especially being rejected because of another woman…

“Ah, I experienced that recently. His Majesty favoring Man Gwibi over me.”

“Pr…Princess? Are you okay? You’re okay, right?”

“There’s no reason not to be.”

Princess Jihyang smiled faintly.

“Shall I tell you an old story?”

“Suddenly?”

“I just remembered.”

Who was it? It wasn’t the head of the Yang Family, probably Gwak Dan.

Gwak Dan, who was also the imperial martial arts instructor, had watched over Princess Jihyang’s martial arts progress several times and told her this story.

“All peerless masters are a bit crazy, they say.”

“Ugh…that must have been Kang Yonghu, right?”

“Pfft, yes. The head of the Yang Family wouldn’t say that, would he?”

“Well…no? He’s too serious.”

“That’s what makes him a peerless master. Choosing the hard path over the easy one.”

Even with the Inviolability of Officials and Martial Artists, there are no overt privileges for princesses marrying into the martial world, but there are implicit benefits for those who become royal sons-in-law.

Namgung Woo said that was unnecessary and even wrong.

“Ah, this is troublesome. I was sincere, you know.”

“Princess…”

Pretending to be cheerful, but the disappointment was evident.

Yang Se-rim reached out to comfort Princess Jihyang, but she turned away abruptly, causing Yang Se-rim to quickly pull her hand back.

“But why didn’t you help me? You said you would.”

“Huh? There was nothing I could help with!”

“You should have found a way to help. Anyway! The first plan failed.”

“First plan…you had a plan?”

“Since the tragic, delicate, and graceful princess act didn’t work, I’ll try something different next time.”

“Tragic…delicate…?”

What? I don’t remember seeing that, thought Yang Se-rim, but her internal energy, honed from experience, automatically controlled her words from spilling out.

“Then next time…!”

§

Meanwhile.

After returning to the Changmu Inn, Namgung Woo couldn’t easily shake off the events at the Yi Royal Residence.

It wasn’t particularly because Princess Jihyang was on his mind. If that were the case, he would have felt that way about Jegal Seon-a long ago.

Perhaps what bothered him was how he had firmly and clearly rejected her, unlike with Jegal Seon-a.

‘Was I too direct?’

Rejection was awkward for Namgung Woo.

Before coming here, he wasn’t someone who could assert himself as a superior.

‘If there’s a next time, I should choose my words more carefully.’

Namgung Woo hoped Princess Jihyang wasn’t hurt.

And that wish disappeared with the wind the next morning as he prepared to leave to watch Namgung Sol’s second-round match.

“You came out just in time. I thought you’d come out around now. Do our minds sync?”

“Huh…”

Princess Jihyang greeted Namgung Woo, who had just stepped out of the Changmu Inn, with a carriage parked right in front.

Seeing her, Namgung Woo exhaled with a hint of bewilderment.

But did Namgung Woo not know?

That the carriage had been waiting there for quite some time.

He thought it was just the usual cart delivering supplies to the inn in the morning.

“Are you going to the martial arts competition? I’m heading there too. Let’s go together. I’ve reserved a good seat.”

Princess Jihyang spoke as if yesterday’s events were already forgotten, but her expression changed the moment she saw a woman following Namgung Woo out of the inn.

The woman, Paeng Ha-ryeong, was holding the cute and precious Cheongdangon that Princess Jihyang (or rather, Ju Si-yeol) had gifted to Namgung Woo.

“……”

“……”

Silence.

But how could a hundred words carry more weight and meaning than that silence?

The two women’s eyes, sharper than any peerless master’s gaze, scrutinized each other.

Like the heartbeat of a peerless master that moves the natural world, the two women’s emotions chilled the atmosphere.

“Uh, we’ll just pass by. Boss, uh, we’ll go ahead first?”