CRS | Chapter 7.2

Seo Hwi fell into thought for a moment. It wasn’t just the Empress Dowager’s overwhelming presence. It was also the soldiers hiding their presence. They weren’t the Grand King’s soldiers. They were undoubtedly the Empress Dowager’s private troops. Having private soldiers openly in the Grand King’s palace was no ordinary feat.5938be895c352158

“Take off your clothes.”93e397d9a9a8d10b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Empress Dowager a7e5051ec5 spoke with a f441c94603 smiling face. Her command to undress was 0eb554b197 so calm that Seo Hwi 6cb06de20a momentarily thought he had misheard. He scrutinized the Empress 70318d6896 Dowager, trying to gauge e005280ce5 her intentions. Even knowing it was 59f014899d disrespectful to look at 08af6425b6 an elder without permission, 8e09aff703 Seo Hwi felt no 4fe3228d02 hesitation. The Empress Dowager accepted his 43b1be2070 insolent behavior with a mere 2796553f37 smile.17c67911b446e095

‘It’s not an attempt to tease.’31ffbd34ccd24e47

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Unlike Lady Park, the Empress Dowager showed no signs of teasing. She was simply curious. Curious about Seo Hwi’s bare body. But why?f1aee6364d60b1f2

“I won’t undress.”276bd2b68b88d6eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Empress Dowager seemed very intrigued by Seo Hwi’s refusal. She rested her chin on one hand and beckoned with her fingers, and soldiers rushed forward. Seo Hwi instinctively tried to evade, but surrounded in an open space, he had no way to escape.bb30ef6bb6c9f681

“Ugh!”31284eeabf15adb7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The soldiers quickly closed in, df18439aba knocking Seo Hwi to the 446bffaf0b ground and pinning him with ef73702783 a sword sheath at his 60106c0a55 neck. His breath was choked, and eeb4903a27 rough hands tore at his 3941cdcf05 clothes.e30dca3b77ecb85c

“Don’t… Ugh, stop…”37f41238d4295596

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Every time he tried to ccdf65b375 speak, the pressure on his e4d51b3bb3 neck increased. The more he resisted, e3b34252fc the more his clothes 1dd1d85e51 were violently torn and dc1f7d09f6 ripped. The more he fought 105a48a246 back, the more pitiful 0d8fd89d88 his appearance became.027c18f9093cb7c9

“Hmm…”70da4e9951b68a20

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Empress Dowager quietly rose from her seat as Seo Hwi’s clothes began to come off. The sound of her hair ornaments clinking with each step was exceptionally clear.55102f452c479be9

“I wondered if…”f7c18b7e4997727f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“……”d03ed2bc0d1c5460

Unable to overcome his shame, Seo Hwi’s face reddened as the Empress Dowager examined the scars on his body, even touching them. Her indifferent touch gave him goosebumps.666dfeebe5097707

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Truly… you fought with all your heart…”5754c60c70e1872a

The Empress Dowager, closely observing his body, rose with a disappointed expression. With a flick of her hand, the sword at Seo Hwi’s throat was finally removed. Seo Hwi sat on the floor, glaring at her.828b75f97801fcc1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What is the meaning of this?”8a0603b292cac742

“I heard that even after spending the night, the servants couldn’t stop hearing embarrassing sounds all night long… I misunderstood. It’s a pity…”29d0181afaa53005

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“……”b8d70d360eeffb44

“I hoped you might have fallen for the enemy king.”e172889c044f26bf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

While Seo Hwi struggled 1b41ddd33f to fix his torn 11749bf3e3 clothes, the Empress Dowager 88fcf75ce1 returned to her seat. Her face still bore 3c8aa98f6b a smile, but it d4c94c4f91 was clear she harbored 502c5fd102 sinister thoughts.e44187d619ff599e

“So, how was it being beneath him?”ccca154866551425

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“……”9c54390c28f68fb4

“Did you awaken to a new pleasure, feeling quite refreshed?”8dbbdee3162a0065

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She seemed to have never considered that her son might have been beneath him. A maid kneeling beside her, holding a teacup, carefully stood and offered it to the Empress Dowager’s lips. With a gentle smile, she stroked the maid’s hair, causing the maid’s face to flush with embarrassment as she knelt back down.8c779bca5d4242ed

“I once saw a man cry out in pleasure while receiving. It was quite an entertaining sight.”d938d4e054fc1724

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hahaha! She laughed heartily. Seo Hwi bit his lip d71931e126 at the blatant insult. The humiliation of being half-naked e015082018 and lying on the floor 3b54192ce2 made his head spin.2c5d06cbc217c043

“Who knows? You might not be able to forget that taste and beg every man to embrace you. Oh, right. If you need, shall I send you one of mine? It seems you can’t spend the night with the Grand King anymore. My noble son never spends the night twice with someone who doesn’t please him.”232a60d8430b6e2e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Seo Hwi clenched his fists tightly to suppress his anger, then suddenly thought. Do I have a reason to endure this humiliation and shame? Do they still bind my sister with the power of the oath? Do I have to endure this much…?6765cce67b8429d6

‘This might be the oath that binds you, Hwi…’384b3535aba188e5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Recalling his sister’s last words, which had kept him alive, Seo Hwi gritted his teeth.30d9c479842633f5

‘I willingly bind you with this oath, so please survive and forget. Forget, forget everything, and live a slightly more comfortable life. Live your life at least once.’b954a624cd37e200

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But even his wise sister couldn’t have imagined he would survive so miserably.e7ffb56cd6c1540a

Seo Hwi closed his eyes, acb9935594 repeatedly clenching and unclenching his cae0881355 fists. The royal duty to 6b43d4edbe eliminate those who knew f094bc7cda the secret of the 4d6c2f63a3 incense and the oath 7c70935b0c to survive clashed, leaving 820492c115 him confused.b0ee0a9e336dfeac

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He thought he had found a way to fulfill both duties and promises. To live until the oath’s expiration and then die. But surviving each day, enduring, was becoming increasingly difficult for Seo Hwi. He had to resist the temptation of death several times and weigh the burden of the oath and royal duty.19ebf6dc69f01539

“……”5ac5a8817a2bef35

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The humiliation and shame were so intense he wanted to die and disappear immediately. But Seo Hwi endured once more. If he failed to keep the oath, the deceased couldn’t cross the River of Three Crossings and enter the cycle of reincarnation. He couldn’t allow that. His sister had to be reborn and live a happy life.33aa0776776af6f5

“What are you thinking about?”228755dc0fa95c38

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At the Empress Dowager’s question, Seo Hwi looked at her without answering. But she laughed, unconcerned.83b63f6b6e9216f2

“Do you hate the Grand King? Oh, perhaps you resent me.”34b184c9fe916ec6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What do you want to say?”3df885e62fbd4b43

“How about stealing the Grand King’s heart? Then I can grant you what you desire. Chief Eunuch Kim, bring it.”e6861dcb873a2655

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, Your Majesty.”1295c70d34c41c23

At her command, Chief 5301842559 Eunuch Kim left and 56e8be354f returned with clothing, placing d8c9c29831 it before Seo Hwi.a58b28d3761d1810

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t you want the same thing as I do?”801a899af299eda0

“……”b73e51032a0d0f55

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t you wish for Yoongeon’s death?”ee936cf23426a569

At that moment, Seo Hwi couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.7919ea0b256eb40c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ha…!”209be98c7fd9ce08

He was sick of it. Yoongeon, who constantly waged war to revive his nation, and his mother, who secretly plotted his death because she didn’t like him. He was sick of those who manipulated others’ deaths without a second thought.6fa11d173f14badd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you wish for the Grand King’s death?”5271174fd0d13dea

“What are you doing! How dare you speak so informally in front of whom!”57a4482c43847984

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Chief Eunuch Kim, it’s fine. Let him be.”d3b7028aec8453a4

As Seo Hwi’s expression turned cold, the Empress Dowager seemed even more intrigued.3796386eff7b99b7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That child was never to my liking. Despite raising him with effort… So, wouldn’t it be difficult for him to become a good Grand King?”dba2d1cc6f9aadf7

“……”dad3be4c8be96457

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This is all for the nation, Cheongwolmok. How could I be in the Empress Dowager’s position with only a mother’s heart? The Empress Dowager’s role is to think and act for the nation.”1b67a121ae35a643

Does she even know what she’s saying? Seo Hwi scoffed inwardly, but the Empress Dowager continued.4f0e624cfd68964c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“The Grand King is a good general, but not a good Grand King. So his role ends here.”13afbdd070659e8b

“He’s expanded the territory, so he’s served his purpose?”8bfdcde36df111e4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Isn’t that so? Politics and war are distinctly different.”158809d18081e164

The Empress Dowager’s beautiful face had the sheen of someone blinded by ambition. The stench of her desires suffocated Seo Hwi.908ea912bbe86b31

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The Empress Dowager spoke 8587b5ee3f to him with a ba78cd406b very kind face. She said that since her a74f46579a son had ascended to the 259ed2ffa9 throne, the next Grand King 1801271d58 was already secured. So if he seduced 5d6fe02094 the disgusting Yoongeon, who e3605c94f2 was obsessed with men, fb53ac5f79 and killed him, she 5024ed163d would gladly support Seo 30d84f5840 Hwi.0443cc91190fe504

“I’ll let you live the life you want afterward. If you want to become a lord, I’ll make you one. If you want to live as a free man, I’ll give you gold and silver to live in abundance. You won’t have to worry about marriage being blocked by that disgusting man. If you want to marry, I’ll gladly arrange it.”e3b92d8b7cd0e469

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Aren’t you afraid of the Grand King?”7d77a47dbaf15fed

“No matter how great a Grand King, he can’t kill his parents.”af2c25af2f654d3e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Empress Dowager’s answer was firm.91060727b42e8de8

“No child who kills their parents lives well. It’s a law set by heaven.”320247332e2d07f4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

If that happened, the Grand King would surely die. The sin of killing one’s parents couldn’t be washed away even in hell, and one would suffer for eternity. Even if they weren’t punished in this life, they couldn’t escape punishment in the afterlife, a belief held by all in Cheongwolmok.7c2a6b9f69a59245

“Surely you don’t feel any affection for Yoongeon, so let’s stop the pointless wordplay. You’ll see with your own eyes what I gain when the Grand King dies.”79d0eb5ad9dc1065

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Seo Hwi pondered. Yes, he tried 744b94b726 to think he 34e1d36d29 merely wished to 7f8ccff3b7 die and disappear, a76ca833a9 but the emotions 1e26dc643a that occasionally surged f2c1c0c487 were undoubtedly resentment. So the Empress Dowager 0ba48127ff was right. What she could offer 6d690cebe5 might be very close 3d2576bdf1 to what he desired.7e6a497b1f3c658c

Seeing his expression change, the Empress Dowager’s face filled with certainty.b4eaa077dc8787e1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, it seems you’ll accept my proposal.”ccd73920bfd79d17

“……”c3f5c752efe1aebf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her words, without 850a828c9a offering a choice, 07491530ee were deceitful.336dc6e6a86467ac

“Those outside won’t be able to report to the Grand King.”c76b6c0a5442bfe5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She was very confident.e3c6ceeeb4cb2251

“My people are everywhere in Anhyun Palace. As numerous as stones on the road. Well… those outside are among the few belonging to the Grand King, but it’s fine.”6580f481a8ef29d7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her words, as if she had the Grand King under her thumb, were sincere. Seo Hwi looked into her eyes. She was overly confident and arrogant. Seo Hwi couldn’t be sure the Grand King was unaware of this. But it wasn’t the right time to reveal his intentions. Refusing her proposal meant he couldn’t leave this place.b50f8dba6483ca26

‘Can I die?’656994c80531cc18

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Death must come in an unavoidable situation to be accepted. The power of the oath didn’t reach that far. He assessed whether the threat the Empress Dowager posed could lead to death. Unfortunately, it couldn’t. Aware of the danger, he had to endure. Seo Hwi decided to place his bet not on the Empress Dowager but on the Grand King. The unavoidable death could surely be given by the Grand King. The Grand King seemed more likely to win than the Empress Dowager, who relied on arrogant and flimsy beliefs.6ce74e3836de1da2

The Empress Dowager’s face was full of arrogance as she claimed her people were everywhere in Anhyun Palace. But if her people were truly everywhere and connected, there wouldn’t be as many bodies leaving through the city gates every day. The Empress Dowager was losing her people daily, while the Grand King was increasing his. Despite the Empress Dowager’s ruler-like demeanor, the Grand King clearly held the upper hand.97db098f4c92dfa6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘It’s my defeat.’48bcfe888d0ab128

Being someone who acknowledged his defeat gracefully, he wouldn’t make a foolish move blinded by power. Observing the Grand King during their confrontation, Seo Hwi reached that conclusion.73179983b6608fb9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yoongeon is inherently like that. A selfish person who only knows himself, foolish enough to do strange things without hesitation. That’s why he feels no guilt in taking others’ things. But I’m different. I know exactly what you’ve lost. So what I can give you is undoubtedly something you desire without even realizing it.”eb55843543d043ca

Unaware of the conclusion 785c11c2d2 Seo Hwi had reached, 7b6d01e6fb the Empress Dowager continued 0424bba673 to speak excitedly.c854f5c14e030f0a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Seo Hwi looked at his tattered clothes, then picked up the fine garments before him. The dilemma between the Grand King and the Empress Dowager wasn’t long. Seo Hwi’s patience wasn’t that enduring for prolonged contemplation.b948c2125f47fb8e

“…Make sure I don’t suffer such humiliation again.”7c724a0254008abf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But as he struggled to suppress his pent-up anger, “That’s not difficult, dear.”aa402d9f4e4a9ac8

The answer came easily.36c82b70acf11e62

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As if it were nothing.84c04dfd4362a618