49: Chapter 49 He called me vulgar while carrying my beauty into his mansion!
Yi Bang-won barely slept all night.
The banquet at the Eastern Palace had been more exhausting than leading troops into battle.
That young Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong had not shown a hint of joy or anger from beginning to end, yet every word and every glance seemed to strip his deepest desires and fears bare in the light of day.
Three thousand warhorses.
This number hung over him like a mountain, making it hard to breathe.
He knew very well that Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong was not joking, nor was he engaging in extortion.
This was a "pledge of allegiance"; it was the price he, Yi Bang-won, had to pay if he wanted to ascend the throne of Joseon.
But if the Crown Prince would not accept his gifts, and he could not afford not to send them, and as a prince of a vassal state, he lacked the standing to speak directly to him—to whom should he send them?
After much thought, Yi Bang-won remembered the man from the banquet last night—the one who appeared dissolute yet always managed to convey the Crown Prince's intentions with precision at critical moments: the Duke of Cao!
Yes! Send them to the Duke of Cao!
...
At dawn, while the streets of Yingtian Prefecture were still shrouded in a thin morning mist, Yi Bang-won was already dressed and ready, heading straight to the Mansion of the Duke of Cao with generous gifts and those four beauties in tow.
The Mansion of the Duke of Cao had vermilion gates and high walls, looking imposing.
Two stone lions at the entrance stood solemn and dignified in the morning light, as if scrutinizing every visitor.
Yi Bang-won submitted his visiting card, his posture extremely humble; he even used honorifics with the doorman.
After waiting for a full hour, just when Yi Bang-won thought he was going to be turned away and was sweating from anxiety, the mansion gate finally creaked open.
A middle-aged man who looked like a steward walked out, cupping his hands in a greeting with a forced smile.
"Your Highness, how unfortunate. My master caught a bit of a chill last night and is feeling unwell; I fear he cannot receive guests."
Yi Bang-won's heart sank, but he dared not show the slightest resentment.
He quickly took a heavy silk pouch from his sleeve and quietly slipped it into the steward's hand, smiling apologetically.
"It is my presumption. It is just that yesterday at the Eastern Palace, I spoke out of turn and offended the Crown Prince, and I am truly filled with trepidation. These are but humble gifts, nothing of real value, but I hope the Duke will accept them as my apology."
The steward weighed the pouch, his smile becoming a bit more genuine, yet he still shook his head.
"Your Highness is too kind. Please, return."
With that, he moved to close the door.
Just then, a lazy, slightly hoarse voice came from inside.
"Who is it, making such a racket at the door so early in the morning? Can't a person get some sleep?"
Duke of Cao appeared, wearing a loose, plain silk robe, slowly pacing out from behind the shadow wall while twirling a white jade-boned folding fan.
He truly looked like someone recovering from an illness; his complexion was somewhat pale, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes.
Upon seeing Yi Bang-won, he seemed to just recognize him, letting out an exaggerated "Oh my!"
"Isn't this the Prince of Joseon? Why, haven't you had enough wine from the Eastern Palace last night? Why are you blocking my door so early in the morning?"
Yi Bang-won was overjoyed at the sight and quickly stepped forward to perform a deep bow.
"This humble subject, Yi Bang-won, pays respects to the Duke of Cao!"
"Forget it." The Duke of Cao waved his hand.
His gaze fell upon the red-lacquered wooden crates, his brows furrowing instantly, and his expression darkening.
"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this? Last night at the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince made himself very clear. The Great Ming is a celestial empire, vast and rich; we are not lacking in these trinkets of yours. Are you trying to humiliate me by bringing these vulgar things to my mansion today?"
A wave of pressure from a superior rushed toward him, making Yi Bang-won's legs go weak.
He almost knelt, waving his hands repeatedly.
"I dare not, I dare not! This humble subject has no such intention! It is just... last night I spoke out of turn and offended the Crown Prince, and I am truly anxious. Hearing that you, Duke, are the Crown Prince's trusted aide, I came specifically to apologize, hoping you might put in a good word for me before His Highness!"
The Duke of Cao snorted coldly, pointing his fan at the crates.
"Apologize? Then you should not have brought these things! I, the Duke of Cao, have received great imperial favor and hold a first-rank official position; do I look like someone greedy for wealth? Someone, send these things back to the guesthouse for the Prince!"
Yi Bang-won broke into a cold sweat, suffering inwardly.
"Duke, please calm your anger! This humble subject knows he was wrong!"
He bowed deeply again, his head almost touching the ground.
"These gifts are not for you, Duke, but... but for your wife to purchase some rouge and powder. I am acting with sincerity; I hope you can understand!"
Hearing this, the Duke of Cao's expression softened slightly.
He walked around the crates twice, tapping them lightly with his fan, producing a dull thud.
He sighed, his tone softening as well.
"Sigh, Your Highness, you really... You are a guest from afar, why do this? I know your Joseon is a small and poor country; it cannot be easy for you to scrape these things together."
He changed the subject, looking at Yi Bang-won, and said earnestly, "Do you know why the Crown Prince refused your gifts?"
Yi Bang-won was stunned, immediately assuming an attentive posture.
"His Highness hates nothing more than people trying to be clever with him."
The Duke of Cao waved his fan, looking like a mentor.
"Yesterday at the banquet, you offered dances and made statements; you appeared submissive, but every word was a probe. Did you think His Highness couldn't see through that?"
Yi Bang-won nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice.
"Look at you," the Duke of Cao pointed at him with his fan, "sending beauties, sending gold and silver—so vulgar! If you want to please His Highness, you should cater to his true desires!"
Yi Bang-won's heart stirred, and he hurried to ask, "I beg for your guidance, Duke!"
The Duke of Cao finally showed a hint of a smile, but didn't continue, instead putting on a stern face.
"Fine, for the sake of your sincerity... I will keep these things for you for the time being, so you don't go embarrassing yourself elsewhere."
He gave the steward a look.
"Why aren't you taking these inside? Be careful; if you bump or damage anything and make the Prince feel distressed, wouldn't that be our fault?"
"Yes, my Lord."
The steward understood, immediately calling for servants to scramble and "invite" all the gifts, including the four beauties, into the mansion.
Yi Bang-won watched as the crates of treasures, along with the four beauties, were carried into the mansion gates.
His heart, which had been suspended all night, relaxed by half an inch, but the cold sweat on his back soaked through even more.
"Thank you, Duke! Thank you, Duke!"
"There's no need for thanks."
The Duke of Cao resumed fanning himself, paced over to Yi Bang-won, and lowered his voice.
"The three thousand horses the Crown Prince asked of you—not a single one can be missing, and they must be fat, sturdy, top-quality stock. If even one is missing, or if you try to pass off old, weak, or sick ones as replacements..."
He paused, the corners of his mouth curling up.
"If His Highness is displeased... that throne you haven't yet secured will likely be lighter than horse hair."
The hair on Yi Bang-won's back stood on end, his nails almost digging into his palms.
He bowed his head and replied respectfully, "This humble subject will keep it in mind; I dare not make the slightest error."
The Duke of Cao nodded with satisfaction, patted his shoulder, and said, "Alright, go back!"
With that, he turned around, fanning himself, humming a tune, and strolled back to the backyard.
Only Yi Bang-won was left standing there, bowing deeply once more toward his retreating back.
A cool morning breeze blew by, but Yi Bang-won felt no chill.
He straightened up and looked in the direction of the Eastern Palace, the fear in his eyes slowly sinking away: only three thousand horses a year; what he gave today, he would surely take back a hundredfold, a thousandfold in the future.