Chapter 1062: That Creature Is a Harmful Creature (17)

“[Indeed, a kite whose string has been cut. But could such a kite not simply fly far, far away in freedom? Especially if it is a large, splendid, highly capable kite, then even if it flies about, anyone in the world would wish to catch it.]”

“[A highly capable kite?]”

“[Life is worth more than a thousand gold. Thus, the sick gladly offer a thousand gold to save their lives, and famed physicians are people who build castles of gold with their family fortunes, you know?]”

At that, the second prince smiled.

“[Even so, if a kite with nothing to regret flew in of its own accord, would that not mean it desires something?]”

“[Well then, shall we make a guess? If someone already possesses great fame and is known throughout the world as a Divine Physician, and if that person also possesses so much wealth that she could never spend it all in one lifetime, what would someone like that lack?]”

“[Well. Would it not be power, perhaps?]”

As he said that, the second son’s smile deepened.

It seemed he was trying to convey some meaning in his own way, but to Qing, watching him, it was simply pathetic beyond words.

Ugh, why is he smiling so creepily?

And why does he keep talking about kites? Does he like kite-flying? Did the Japanese pirates have a kite-flying culture? Now that she thought about it, she felt as if she had seen scenes like that now and then?

In any case, the second son’s expression was satisfied.

After all, it was the moment when the clever move he had thought up, in his own way, fit perfectly.

He had heard of Qing’s conduct and “personally” deduced that she might be mad with power. He had “personally” acted and successfully made contact. And finally, he had realized that all of “his own” actions had been correct.

It was the moment one became thoroughly intoxicated with one’s own success.

He was also the easiest kind of person to fleece.

And if even that success had been induced, then he was such a sucker there was no sucker like him.

“[In my view, Ippen has too many military men. Of course, when my royal father opened a new dynasty and conquered the kingdom’s territory, such military force, the strength of armed men, was necessary. But after the kingdom has stabilized, would that still be so? Military men are those who fight. They excel at cutting down enemies, but they are not accustomed to governing the inside. At such a time, the kingdom needs a chancellor.]”

—I’ll make you chancellor. Side with me.

“[Indeed, what excellent insight. But would His Imperial Highness—no, the Crown Prince—share that will?]”

—You’re the second prince anyway. And you, of all people?

However, the prince’s smile deepened even further. Or perhaps he wanted it to deepen, but since a smile was not divided cleanly into three or four stages, his expression turned slightly grotesque instead.

But reality and imagination were originally different things.

Especially when it came to using the body, there were many cases where even if one tried to act cool in one’s own way, to others it looked nothing but grotesque and awkward.

Representative examples would be flailing dances, or in the culture of Qing’s homeland, those strange poses people struck when taking photographs whose intent could not be understood at all. Those were cases where the gap between imagination and reality stood out clearly.

“[Is the same not true of a kite whose string has been cut? Even if it says it is a precious kite, one cannot know whether it truly is precious. Hmm. Yes, as a physician, are you also skilled in handling medicine and poison? What do you think? And even if not, a physician cannot cure every illness.]”

At that, Qing inwardly admired him.

Oh, this bastard knows how to commit some filial betrayal?

So he wanted to get rid of his older brother.

Mentioning poison meant poisoning, and that talk of not being able to cure every illness was an inquiry into assassination—whether she could kill him while pretending to check his pulse.

If the first son died, then in any case, the second son would have to take his place.

“[Indeed. You mean I should prove the kite’s usefulness. Very well. It is only proper that a man of great spirit should carry a sword and harbor the ambition to ascend the Son of Heaven’s steps.]”

This referred to sword-and-shoes before the throne: among subjects, only the highest and most favored were granted the right to stand before the Emperor while wearing a sword and shoes.

It was also famous as the dying wish of Master Tai in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Not only the Central Plains but this entire era was always bored, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms was one of the few amusements that had rooted itself for a long time throughout the entire Chinese-character cultural sphere.

Naturally, the Japanese pirates also knew the phrase well.

The second son nodded as if he understood, then suddenly paused as if something did not quite sit right.

“[Mm? A man of great spirit, you say?]”

“[What is so special about being a man of great spirit? If one’s heart alone is that of a great man, then one is a man of great spirit.]”

“[Um, no, yes. If the heart is that of a great man, then one is a great man. That may be so. Ah, now that I think of it. I still do not even know your face. If you do not mind, I would like to discuss great matters face-to-face.]”

“[Hmm.]”

“[I have no other intention. I have heard why you hide your face, but what lies within a person is more important than outward form. I simply wish to treat you, the person, with sincerity.]”

It sounded like he was trying, in his own way, to move her emotionally, but Qing was dumbfounded.

“You’re ugly, but your abilities are excellent, so it’s fine”—was he spitting that out to win her favor? How should she put it? Wasn’t this bastard severely lacking in empathy?

But whatever.

It might be interesting.

“[Oh dear. It seems Your Highness is under a slight misunderstanding. I hide my face because it is harmful to patients, and that is because my beauty is far too exceptional. Patients have their conditions worsen from being enchanted by my beauty, and people afflicted with lovesickness appear one after another, so I had no choice but to cover it entirely.]”

At that, the prince’s expression turned slightly awkward.

After all, she had to say something that made sense. And moreover, it was absolutely not something one should say with one’s own mouth.

But on the other hand, he felt a truly exquisite admiration.

After hearing such words, if he still asked to see her face, that would mean ignoring what she had said before. In the end, while still trying to hide her face to the very end, she had blocked the other party’s mouth. What a truly clever move—

Ah.

Suddenly, the room brightened.

To be precise, it felt as though his vision had grown bright.

Because before his eyes was a standard of peerless beauty: sharp eyes like a cat’s, a stubbornly closed mouth, and features as if drawn—no, features that could never be expressed even if drawn.

And was that all?

In that brightened vision, only then did he see the narrow waist tightly cinched by her belt, and the magnificence above it. Without realizing it, he swallowed.

The second son’s expression was that of a man whose soul had left his body. His pupils trembled, and his mouth hung stupidly open.

“[Your Highness?]”

“[No, why would you hide such beauty—]”

“[As I said, it is harmful to patients, and there were also people afflicted with lovesickness one after another, so I had no choice but to cover it.]”

“[Mm.]”

The second son nodded without realizing it.

It was the exact same statement, but while he had regarded it as nonsense so absurd he could barely manage his expression earlier, after lifting the curtain and glimpsing the truth, it suddenly possessed tremendous persuasive power.

“[Then, I shall visit you next time with good news. Ah, yes. By any chance, are you close with Lord Yeongsi?]”

“[Ah? Th-that is right. Since the relationship between you and Lord Yeongsi seems poor, that part I shall—]”

“[No. Your Highness. I am saying that you should tell Lord Yeongsi that you must join hands. Right now, Lord Yeongsi must be truly uneasy, because he will think the Crown Prince has abandoned him and gone away while secretly holding resentment in his heart. So if Your Highness shows him your lofty will, Lord Yeongsi will surely be moved and follow you, will he not?]”

“[But are you not in an uncomfortable relationship with Lord Yeongsi?]”

“[It is only natural that internal governance and external affairs, civil officials and military officials, do not get along well. What matters is loyalty to the country, so such private discomfort is trivial. And is an uncomfortable relationship not something that can be reconciled as much as one wishes?]”

“[Ooh.]”

At that, the second son unwittingly exclaimed.

The throne became clearer before his eyes.

Beneath him, he would place Lord Yeongsi and have him command the soldiers, and in the seat beside the throne...

Well, one was free to imagine.

“[However, I still cannot be certain whether this kite should serve a new master. Might Your Highness prepare a knot that will tie this kite firmly in place?]”

“[A knot?]”

“[I am originally a physician, and is a physician not also a merchant who sells medical arts? Moreover, merchants are the sort who cannot feel secure without a guarantee, so please do not think me rude. Could you write me one promise, saying that Your Highness will not abandon me?]”

“[That is...]”

The second son had been somewhat dazed, apparently indulging in some impure imagination, but Qing’s words made his mind snap wide awake.

“[I originally came all the way to this distant land believing His Imperial Highness’s promise, but as you told me, I ended up in this position. I cannot say there was no fault in my own innocence, but after suffering a bitter betrayal, surely you understand?]”

“[Ahem. What exactly do you mean by writing a promise...?]”

“[It is nothing grand. ‘I value this person highly, shall not forget her merit, shall treat her generously, and shall use her dearly.’ And if you press your palm down just once?]”

“[Even a handprint...?]”

“[If not, then I am grateful for Your Highness’s words, but I intend to return as I am. Still, I shall remain thankful that you worried for my situation.]”

As Qing said that, she rose from her seat.

The face of a disappointed beauty.

Her long lashes drooped at a pitiful angle, and her clothes brushed with a soft rustle.

Without realizing it, the second son reached out and seized her wrist—no, attempted to seize it.

Her white, lovely hand curved away with elegant softness and slipped free like a mirage. Those slender, long, pale fingers...

“[No, wait. I shall write it for you. If it means gaining someone like you, what importance could a mere written promise have?]”

At that, Qing smiled brightly as if nothing had happened, and for some reason, she chattered away in an excited voice that was both sly and coquettish.

“[Ah, as expected. How magnanimous you are. Now then, where is the paper? Ah, please stay still. I’ll find it exactly. Here? Oh, this is good paper. And a brush and ink, heave-ho. Now, please write here. ‘I, Saruta Chungse, have formed the bond of lord and subject with Seomun Cheong, mistress of Fairy Clinic, and in the future, I shall not forget her devotion, shall treat her generously, and shall keep her always by my side.’ Now, place your palm here. Good. Then press down hard here. That’s it. Just a moment, please do not move...]”

Like that, flutter flutter.

Qing waved the second son’s promise, written on fine paper, up and down to dry it. Not only that, it was now a secret letter stamped firmly with his handprint.

To the second son, even that sight seemed quite innocent.

In truth, had she been wearing the face veil, it would not have looked innocent at all, but merely noisy and frivolous. But originally, anything looked good when a beauty did it.

The world was naturally generous to beauties.

If someone old enough to know better jumped around while smiling brightly, others would look at that person and think, What a mad thing, did she stick a flower in her hair?

But if a beauty did it, the same act became a scene as lovely as a painting.

The principle was the same.

“[Then this physician shall withdraw now. As for the plan you spoke of, I shall prepare it as quickly as possible, so I will try to bring you good news before long.]”

“[Ah, wait...!]”

“[Wait? Would it not seem a little suspicious if the pulse diagnosis dragged on too long?]”

“[N-no, no. Then, later.]”

Qing bowed her head and put the face veil on again, then withdrew.

Left alone, the second son stared blankly for a long while at the door through which Qing had departed.

Then suddenly, only then, his mind snapped awake.

Now that he thought about it, while he had been going “uh, uh,” he had ended up leaving a conspiracy to usurp the throne plainly in writing!

At that, anxiety suddenly surged up.

If Physician Seomun simply took that document and informed on him, it was a matter that would send his head flying at once. In an instant, had he not effectively handed over his own life?

And when people fell into anxiety, they were creatures who comforted themselves and struggled to think in a better direction.

So the second son, too, forcibly turned his thoughts.

Now that he thought about it, it was not that he had unilaterally handed over his life. If he first reported this to his royal father and said that he had tested Physician Seomun because she harbored other intentions, then she, too, would be unable to preserve her life.

One could say they had entrusted their lives to each other.

But what if things went well?

If, by some method, he could remove his older brother and ascend to the position of Crown Prince.

Then Physician Seomun would...

Someone so obsessed with power could not be trusted, and she would surely behave like a treacherous subject. But if so, what if he gave her not the position of chancellor, but the position of queen, and kept her bound?

Though she was somewhat wicked, the queen’s position was one that inevitably had to labor for royal authority. She even had no maternal relatives...

It was a pink dream that would never come true.

In any case.

The second son forcibly soothed his uneasy heart like that.

And since the die had not yet been cast, he could wait as Physician Seomun prepared a method to remove the heir, then later decide whether to execute it or not, whether to throw the die or not...

That was what the second son thought.

At least until the next morning.

To be precise, until before the king was found dead.