“Head of Guards. Have you read the hit novel recently?”
At Man Geum-jeon’s mansion, Man Geum-jeon said while flipping through the pages of a book that was gaining fame in Wuhan.
“Master Kang. No, I mean the author Ho Pil’s Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes. I read it a few days ago.”
“I’m reading it now as well. I knew the kid was talented in business, but I had no idea he was so exceptional in literary talent as well. It’s honestly beyond imagination.”
A faint smile lingered on Man Geum-jeon’s face as he turned the pages of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“It’s embarrassing, but at my age, I lost sleep over it.”
Hehe. “So that’s why you looked dazed a few days ago.”
“Did you notice?”
The Head of Guards lowered his head shyly.
Hehehe. “Even my shy granddaughter can’t seem to keep it together in front of that kid lately.”
Kang Yoon-ho’s business prospects are the best among successors, and his recently written novel is being praised as comparable to the works of the best authors.
Though the start was a bit shaky, it seems he is still living together with his granddaughter.
Man Geum-jeon stroked his beard with satisfaction.
“That’s to be expected. Miss Zhuge loves novels, and the top novelist in Wuhan right now is… Hmm? What’s the matter?”
When a servant rushed in, he inquired about the situation.
“Miss Zhuge has arrived.”
“Miss Zhuge Hyang?”
Before the servant could reply, a woman with silver hair poked her head into the office.
If this were any other day, they would have scolded her for barging in without notice, but the person before them was different.
“G-Grandpa!”
The visiting lady was Zhuge Hyang, the granddaughter that Man Geum-jeon was most excited about.
“What brings you here? Why do you look so upset?”
Could it be that something has gone wrong with Kang Yoon-ho? Even the mighty Man Geum-jeon turned serious as he asked.
However, Zhuge Hyang’s words were completely unexpected.
“Master Kang has been taken by the government office!”
“What?!”
It was the moment that determined the fate of the Head of the Left Guards.
“W-What do you mean that the barbarian is a potential son-in-law of the Zhuge family?”
What on earth is this? The Head of the Left Guards barely managed to rise while clutching the spot where he had been struck by the Head of the Right Guards, and he asked.
“The Zhuge family! That Zhuge family! There isn’t a single person among the officials who hasn’t had a meal at the Zhuge family! What are we going to do about this?!”
The Zhuge family is a prominent martial arts family known for both its literary and martial talents.
While some individuals from the family may become martial artists, others choose the path of officials. Moreover, they’re not hesitant to invite talented individuals as retainers.
“Th-There must be some misunderstanding.”
“Why would a courtesan in the Wild Goose Tavern know, but you don’t?”
The Head of the Right Guards huffed as he recalled what a courtesan sitting next to him at the tavern said last night.
“Sir! This might be our last visit to your tavern, so let me fill your cup.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Your subordinate is trying to frame the granddaughter of the Zhuge family and the Zhuge family’s potential son-in-law. Someone has to take responsibility for this, don’t you think?”
“W-What?!”
In truth, it was Kang Yoon-ho’s scheme that spread the rumor to the Head of the Right Guards, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Th-That barbarian must be up to no good.”
“I was busy investigating until I made my way here just in case.”
“Impossible…”
The Head of the Left Guards’ face drained of color.
“Someone from Man Geum Battlefield is already at the government office! What do you plan to do about this? Have they found some solid evidence?!”
“I was about to extract a confession from them.”
“You didn’t find any.”
The Head of the Right Guards’ cold statement felt like the chilling resolve of a general intending to amputate a rotting left arm.
“There must be some connection between that thief, The Shadowless Thief, and the Tea Bookstore! If you give me time to interrogate that barbarian who operates the Tea Bookstore…”
If this continues, it’s game over. The Head of the Left Guards desperately argued.
“Right. Well said. We need to hold the head of the Tea Bookstore accountable. Why are we blaming Kang Yoon-ho?”
“What? Kang Yoon-ho operates two Tea Bookstores. He’s also a close friend of the author of that troublesome book.”
The Head of the Left Guards felt an ominous sense in the tone of his superior’s sarcasm, but he revealed what he knew.
“Yes, Kang Yoon-ho does run the Tea Bookstores in Yichang and Wuhan. But who do you think the actual owner of those bookstores is?”
“No way…”
Could it be that there’s an operator and a separate owner? The Head of the Left Guards’ pupils widened.
“One is the Zhuge family, and the other is the Sichuan Tang family.”
“……”
Caught off guard. The Head of the Left Guards shut his eyes tightly, unable to make excuses any further.
“Why do you want to hold the involved parties accountable? One of them can be brought here immediately since she is the youngest daughter of the Zhuge family.”
“Ha ha…”
“In Man Geum Battlefield, the Zhuge family? So you truly are eager to lose your head!”
The Head of the Right Guards couldn’t suppress his anger.
Gasp!
The man who had just moments ago planned to exert violence onto Kang Yoon-ho was now about to receive violence himself.
“Are you screaming now?! You scoundrel! You planned to boil the granddaughter of the Zhuge family in hot iron under Man Geum-jeon’s supervision, didn’t you? Do you understand?! Do you or don’t you?!”
“P-Please, Sir!”
The one who had cared so little for others was now begging for mercy.
“I knew your greed had crossed the line, but I didn’t think you’d have this little discernment!”
It was fine to accept bribes, but there are limits, and one ought to have some awareness.
This time, you crossed the line far too clearly.
“Head of the Right Guards! Cough! Please!”
“Arrest the Head of the Left Guards! Bring the bribery ledger from his home!”
He had no intention of taking responsibility for the sins of a subordinate who had crossed the line. The Head of the Right Guards gritted his teeth while dispatching his orders to Ho Pil.
“Understood!”
“I knew from the start that this wasn’t something to be solved by mere words.”
In the government office’s sickroom, I muttered while lying alone on the bed.
The opponent was a bribed official; no amount of righteous words would reach them. This time, I needed to use my connections.
Of course, I’m not officially Zhuge Hyang’s fiancé.
Even though my grandfather, Man Geum-jeon, arranged a match for us, obtaining the official status as Zhuge Hyang’s fiancé requires a more complicated process.
First, I would have to go through the internal review involving Zhuge family members, including the family head.
If passed, I’d be invited to the Zhuge family to see the head’s face and the terrified face of Miss Zhuge’s mother.
Only after receiving final approval from the Zhuge family could I boast about being Zhuge Hyang’s fiancé.
I do need the cement of the Zhuge family’s backing, but I can’t use it directly in this situation.
Fortunately, I had plenty of cards to play.
“If I get captured, please have Zhuge and Im Ha-yeon contact the Shadowless Thief as planned. I need their help.”
“L-Leave it to me!”
“I’ll hurry to Gi-mun Hyang-ju!”
Would Man Geum-jeon ignore such a cute granddaughter’s request? Even if he didn’t move, it wouldn’t matter.
I could create misunderstandings.
I would make a request to Gi-mun to spread news of my capture to high-ranking officials. Once they realize that I’m living with Zhuge Hyang, someone is bound to pop up in surprise.
Ultimately, as expected, the Head of the Right Guards made his appearance.
“Master Kang, are you alright?”
The Head of the Right Guards approached me with a worried look as I lay in bed. Was the blood on my face from the Head of the Left Guards?
“It’s hard to keep calm when a hot iron is going back and forth in front of me.”
I lamented while clutching my chest like an ailing scholar.
“I knew that scoundrel would cause trouble sooner or later! I’ll make that brat taste how hot the iron really is! Calm your anger.”
The Head of the Right Guards trembled his fist while speaking to me, his rage evident.
The incident with the Head of the Left Guards was resolved well enough, and so I thought it was time to bring up my main point.
“While the Head of the Left Guards’ incident is resolved, my chest feels heavy with this unfair accusation.”
“Sir Head of the Right Guards, please stamp my innocence.”
I was on the verge of suffering as the granddaughter of Man Geum-jeon and a potential son-in-law of the Zhuge family was about to bear false accusations.
Surely you don’t think a simple dismissal of a subordinate will suffice? To be honest, it leaves an uneasy feeling behind.
I was going to present a negotiation card. So please, hold on.
“I’ve read the documents. No matter how I look at it, you’re innocent. I’ll put up a notice in my name to proclaim that the Tea Bookstore and this incident are unrelated!”
If it’s an official press conference from the highest authority responsible for public safety, that would be recognized without a doubt. Fortunately, the Head of the Right Guards wasn’t just someone who had gained his seat through brute force.
“Head of the Right Guards, a guest from Man Geum-jeon has come to see Master Kang.”
“Phew. It’s good that I resolved this quickly. So, what do you say? Would you like to return with the guest from Man Geum Battlefield?”
The Head of the Right Guards sighed as if he had aged ten years and then asked me.
“Yes, let’s do that. Please make sure there aren’t any unfair accusations against me.”
“Of course. The guards won’t come looking for Master Kang anymore, so don’t worry.”
I left the government office alongside the Head of the Right Guards with his assurance in tow.
——————————
“I’m out… Ack!”
As soon as I entered the mansion, two, no, four bodies tackled me.
“You! Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Master Kang! Are you injured? C-Can I take a look?”
“Fortunately, I’m not hurt. Im Ha-yeon, could you take off your clothes?”
I meant I wanted to have that done in a different place at a different time.
“You’re pretending to be fine even if you’re not. Let me take a quick look.”
As I slightly revealed my upper body, I could feel their worried gazes.
“You look fine.”
“Ugh.”
Those worried eyes seem to be turning into something else entirely.
“I’m sorry to have worried you. Miss Zhuge, I may have imposed on you, so thank you for accepting.”
As I pulled my clothes back up, I bowed my head to Zhuge Hyang.
“W-Was it really nothing?”
“Im Ha-yeon, you also worked hard.”
“Only you would say that. I didn’t want to see you being taken to the government office.”
Did she see it as her responsibility? Really, there’s no need to feel too down.
“After all, it was something that needed to be cleared up eventually. Now, people won’t doubt the Tea Bookstore regarding The Shadowless Thief.”
This incident would eventually have occurred. It was better to clean it up nicely now, so I’ve less to worry about.
The Head of the Right Guards himself is declaring there’s no relation; the rumor that the Wuhan Tea Bookstore is owned by the Zhuge family’s daughter would surely spread.
Now, there’ll be no one who dares to raise an issue with the Tea Bookstore over The Shadowless Thief.
“That’s a relief, but…”
“Now, no one can touch the Tea Bookstore in relation to The Shadowless Thief, so let’s move quickly.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Those who couldn’t recover from the loss of The Shadowless Thief need to be dealt with.”
I grinned at the two women.
“You’re not suggesting…?”
“If they took advantage of me, I should return the favor.”
Now that I have a solid shield, it’s time to strike back.
