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.123b48793c83e988

“Take off your clothes.”5e2737f1031986b1

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The Empress Dowager spoke 5c985d1fa1 with a smiling face. Her command to undress 45aa28f987 was so calm that af3154f87a Seo Hwi momentarily thought 4e093f7517 he had misheard. He scrutinized the Empress Dowager, b85fcf55cb trying to gauge her intentions. Even knowing it was f81df8b565 disrespectful to look at 1515352709 an elder without permission, 2928ddca2d Seo Hwi felt no ae159175af hesitation. The Empress Dowager accepted his b789f0e7e6 insolent behavior with a mere eed259ee6d smile.3627946a6af84034

‘It’s not an attempt to tease.’6c866e5d971c38bb

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Unlike Lady Park, the Empress Dowager showed no signs of teasing. She was simply curious. Curious about Seo Hwi’s bare body. But why?e589e63c8e85ed1f

“I won’t undress.”8bf9f32aaa53b3c9

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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.ebd1e615ec0c9c40

“Ugh!”8982ba3a17b828e4

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The soldiers quickly 0ad8994727 closed in, knocking af7cc633f6 Seo Hwi to d19f3d1849 the ground and e3b82af1b2 pinning him with 4441157826 a sword sheath 789a6f6d82 at his neck. His breath was choked, and 4a40f16c2f rough hands tore at his ace4b5630a clothes.90c66ddee60bf87c

“Don’t… Ugh, stop…”f566838067c05c25

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Every time he tried to 5631f16a5b speak, the pressure on his 6a933eeb86 neck increased. The more he 10b03165fb resisted, the more b60648f1df his clothes were 859dcfb29c violently torn and 945886b54f ripped. The more he fought back, c82224d4ad the more pitiful his appearance 4d85865dee became.934f47f15feac88c

“Hmm…”e6328c43db729456

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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.f05d5c5a4a54a439

“I wondered if…”162d5339fea59252

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“……”d30df50fe21b25a9

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.c1b97147dbd6ab7b

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“Truly… you fought with all your heart…”9ee6778c5320d76d

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.bcdb8296cef459a1

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“What is the meaning of this?”e1220db08e9d6867

“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…”4f3239915fe58ca9

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“……”ce4a7d423666d6c1

“I hoped you might have fallen for the enemy king.”6699672035c958e6

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While Seo Hwi struggled to 1840ddd36f fix his torn clothes, the 9369b2e723 Empress Dowager returned to her dc692a3a90 seat. Her face still bore a db456bcea2 smile, but it was clear a103cb9c91 she harbored sinister thoughts.2e9f6292920917dc

“So, how was it being beneath him?”e0d2d940c1a40ba6

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“……”0d14942baf62d0ff

“Did you awaken to a new pleasure, feeling quite refreshed?”b90df163a7cb7a52

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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.c7885fdf97cf0d2e

“I once saw a man cry out in pleasure while receiving. It was quite an entertaining sight.”591d5aedc5493374

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Hahaha! She laughed heartily. Seo Hwi bit his 67a2b992b3 lip at the blatant 4f98f609f3 insult. The humiliation of being b83d84763a half-naked and lying on 20d67fbc88 the floor made his bd711fd519 head spin.e59033e6ad9c95d7

“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.”313953c4ca968c7e

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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…?1b45070f254bd30d

‘This might be the oath that binds you, Hwi…’e04bb7ea37915c56

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Recalling his sister’s last words, which had kept him alive, Seo Hwi gritted his teeth.273129fc84c12b9a

‘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.’3e06eb4e7d86d397

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But even his wise sister couldn’t have imagined he would survive so miserably.546bb887bb0f8cc9

Seo Hwi closed his b76b10362b eyes, repeatedly clenching and 47bb9ac33c unclenching his fists. The royal duty 9b107de334 to eliminate those 93e9e85431 who knew the ca734f0c8c secret of the f8eefaeed7 incense and the 12a063acf4 oath to survive f75042d2d9 clashed, leaving him 620246f9fd confused.4ccf1ff44667e197

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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.5d7ca902495a5018

“……”eac116081a5d52f3

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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.914880ea9e7cbb33

“What are you thinking about?”b0ad551772028c27

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At the Empress Dowager’s question, Seo Hwi looked at her without answering. But she laughed, unconcerned.718f924da78b5fd4

“Do you hate the Grand King? Oh, perhaps you resent me.”f45c2b1691bf2838

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“What do you want to say?”b7e983a1ba30b3b9

“How about stealing the Grand King’s heart? Then I can grant you what you desire. Chief Eunuch Kim, bring it.”e569416b30c2fc8d

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“Yes, Your Majesty.”b9e3d9e695d4e09a

At her command, e4a721df68 Chief Eunuch Kim f7ff08ed77 left and returned db353a590a with clothing, placing 3acb9809cc it before Seo 3361f802a8 Hwi.96f3a401a05d463f

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“Don’t you want the same thing as I do?”1c07ac13283a18af

“……”13b9ad30e2aac8b0

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“Don’t you wish for Yoongeon’s death?”f2fb506a25af8acb

At that moment, Seo Hwi couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.05905bf8b687d709

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“Ha…!”8997ed3de86b17c6

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.c6d4a46da99b79e7

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“Do you wish for the Grand King’s death?”92a605d2ec4ed259

“What are you doing! How dare you speak so informally in front of whom!”25ce419f37968cef

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“Chief Eunuch Kim, it’s fine. Let him be.”44175e6ec65d78c2

As Seo Hwi’s expression turned cold, the Empress Dowager seemed even more intrigued.43dca84033ecc08e

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“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?”17ab90fa0fc3d317

“……”f998446c8f6f322c

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“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.”86176df13ead4bb4

Does she even know what she’s saying? Seo Hwi scoffed inwardly, but the Empress Dowager continued.f3d8c9d58027c235

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“The Grand King is a good general, but not a good Grand King. So his role ends here.”313c23eadebd1d76

“He’s expanded the territory, so he’s served his purpose?”7fa48015089abf71

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“Isn’t that so? Politics and war are distinctly different.”3e49c2f3650f47ff

The Empress Dowager’s beautiful face had the sheen of someone blinded by ambition. The stench of her desires suffocated Seo Hwi.3d22ab6b5e7611e9

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The Empress Dowager spoke cb9751960a to him with a 6379087f47 very kind face. She said that since her 74d2207620 son had ascended to the 7b26de1df5 throne, the next Grand King 58e20fe908 was already secured. So if he seduced the e3414df0f6 disgusting Yoongeon, who was obsessed fcff742b99 with men, and killed him, 5ff1b22b16 she would gladly support Seo 039d1ac34e Hwi.15a0a6939ba2ef1c

“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.”09d3664da4f1006c

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“Aren’t you afraid of the Grand King?”7a22b47a21d250bb

“No matter how great a Grand King, he can’t kill his parents.”948913345db2ed26

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The Empress Dowager’s answer was firm.080c5564747950cf

“No child who kills their parents lives well. It’s a law set by heaven.”7b9448f0fc9dda61

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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.e024f905559aaa70

“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.”28987191436090bd

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Seo Hwi pondered. Yes, he tried 6ea1f7d049 to think he 5ffb65b699 merely wished to 9b1e2b730c die and disappear, 20909d5cdc but the emotions 4478890f15 that occasionally surged f3b583e227 were undoubtedly resentment. So the Empress Dowager was f563142775 right. What she could offer df4c39e49f might be very close 5dfb255d22 to what he desired.c23c3702be466f4c

Seeing his expression change, the Empress Dowager’s face filled with certainty.4ad0854bb4c718cb

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“Yes, it seems you’ll accept my proposal.”5f9fb32844a08259

“……”afffd44a82277d9c

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Her words, without offering a 93b4cda187 choice, were deceitful.066ebee9205c0ccf

“Those outside won’t be able to report to the Grand King.”e7283230f9e71de2

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She was very confident.42a618d13b70e2d5

“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.”5d64ab1603c5c1a4

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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.26d6f20a34cef51d

‘Can I die?’725e151452b2eeeb

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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.d5469b182c70b29a

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.b3200703939ebbff

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‘It’s my defeat.’4f1888273d33aaf7

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.abc5c7378ff7ac7f

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“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.”6d5f31eba0087752

Unaware of the 8c017efa90 conclusion Seo Hwi 9e29e29689 had reached, the bcbb4974cd Empress Dowager continued 280ceeee23 to speak excitedly.309b81f0e28b3587

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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.d57224ad42d9ed89

“…Make sure I don’t suffer such humiliation again.”21c3cdc8c8514d19

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But as he struggled to suppress his pent-up anger, “That’s not difficult, dear.”96f151b2f7dbaa53

The answer came easily.aa95574c01a0b425

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As if it were nothing.84489d37ff209eaf