Chapter 580: The Emperor’s Consultation

Chapter 580: The Emperor’s Consultation

Editor: Tseirp

“Wow, he’s really working with complete focus.”

“Yeah. That’s probably the real Ron.”

Ryo and Abel were quietly peeking into the workshop adjacent to the Chouonkaku from outside.

In truth, Workshop Chief Ron’s intensive violin lessons had ended the day after he received permission to perform on the outdoor stage.

That was yesterday.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll be dedicating myself to instrument-making.”

Ron had said,

bowing his head to Abel in gratitude for accompanying him during all those long practice sessions.

Of course, he would still practice every day.

To keep his fingers from forgetting.

But as the Workshop Chief, he also needed to return to his primary duties…

And so, curious about what that would look like, Ryo and Abel decided to sneak a peek at Ron’s work today.

Seeing him, they both nodded.

Ron had told them they were free to use any of the workshop’s instruments whenever they wanted, whether it was Abel’s violin or Ryo’s piano.

Still, both of them had their own responsibilities and were busy.

“…Are you busy?”

“Technically, being summoned to the palace today is work, too.”

“Ah, right…”

Ryo insisted, and Abel nodded with a complicated look.

Today, they had been summoned personally by Emperor Tsuin.

He had invited them to join him for lunch,

saying there was something he wanted to tell them…

“I wonder what he wants to tell us.”

“Who knows…”

Abel tilted his head at Ryo’s question.

Even when told there was something the Emperor wanted to convey directly, he couldn’t think of what it might be.

“Abel, I actually have an idea.”

“What?”

Ryo spoke with a smug expression.

Abel knew that Ryo’s ideas in moments like this were usually wrong, but he decided to humor him anyway.

“Alright, I’ll humor you.”

“How rude to call it humoring me!”

“Come on, I’d love to hear it. Please tell me!”

“How suspiciously eager.”

Ryo pretended to be hurt by Abel’s tone.

But eventually stated his theory.

“I think he’s going to ask us to do something only we can do.”

“Specifically?”

“He’s going to ask us to bring a piano back with us to the Central Countries and spread it there.”

“…What?”

Abel was left speechless at Ryo’s confident declaration.

Even prepared for nonsense, Abel found that Ryo’s imagination exceeded his expectations.

In the worst possible way.

“You see, the Emperor wants to spread the piano across the world…”

“Ron did mention that.”

“This is clearly the first step in achieving that dream!”

For some reason, Ryo was brimming with confidence.

“Isn’t that piano thing really heavy?”

“Yes. Probably around 300 or 400 kilos.”

“Wouldn’t it be a pain to bring it back…”

“Abel, you can do it!”

“Don’t just shove it onto me!”

Abel barked in protest.

But quickly calmed down.

“Well, that’s just your delusion.”

“Abel, you never believe what I say.”

“Because it’s unrealistic. Besides…”

Abel paused, letting out a small sigh before continuing.

“When exactly are we supposed to depart for the Central Countries?”

“Huh? We’re only staying here because of you, Abel.”

Ryo spoke as if to say, “What are you even talking about?”.

Leaving Abel completely confused.

“How is it my fault?”

“Technically, it’s because of what you’re wearing.”

Ryo sharply pointed at Abel’s wrist with a dramatic snap of his finger.

“The Flight Ring?”

“Yes. It only works in the ‘Chuo Chuang’ region, right? So you want to stay here until you’re satisfied with flying, don’t you? I understand completely.”

Ryo nodded repeatedly, confident in his analysis.

“Well, I do want to improve my flying, but… If you’re going to say that, aren’t you the one who wants to stay here even more?”

“Me? Why?”

“You said you wanted to figure out why the Flight Ring only works in Chuo Chuang, didn’t you? You thought if you solved that, you might be able to fly elsewhere, too.”

“Ugh… I did say that…”

In the end, the romance of flying captivated them both.

They sighed at the same time.

Of course, the real reason they couldn’t return to the Central Countries was that the Corridor remained closed.

The two were shown into a room in the northern part of the Forbidden Palace.

They still didn’t know the name of this room… but they remembered it as the place where they briefly met the Emperor during lunch on the day of Prince Ryun’s wedding to Princess Shio Fen.

Three meal trays were already prepared, and as they entered, Emperor Tsuin entered as well.

“Duke Rondo, Albert-dono, please, this way.”

Tsuin gestured to their seats.

It seemed there was even a meal prepared for Abel, not just Ryo.

“Your Majesty, thank you for preparing a tray for Albert as well.”

“Think nothing of it. Albert-dono did help guide Ron, after all.”

Ryo expressed his gratitude, and Tsuin replied with a warm smile.

They enjoyed their meal, chatting pleasantly…

“I asked you here today because there is something I decided and wanted to tell you personally.”

Tsuin’s expression grew serious as he continued.

“Soon, I will bestow the title of Imperial Prince upon my sixth son, Ryun.”

“Oh…”

Tsuin’s clear declaration surprised Ryo.

And Abel beside him looked equally taken aback.

The room had been cleared for privacy.

Apart from Ryo and Abel, the only other person within earshot was the Chief Eunuch standing silently behind Tsuin.

The Chief Eunuch showed no reaction to the Emperor’s words.

Likely having been informed beforehand.

“I know that it was Duke Rondo who was at the center of capturing General Yun and defeating the monsters, but there should be no issue with acknowledging that as Ryun’s achievement. Of course, I confirmed Ryun’s wishes as well. He said he wishes to become an imperial prince.”

“I see.”

“And so, I wanted to tell you directly.”

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

Ryo bowed deeply in response to Tsuin’s explanation.

Prince Ryun hadn’t mentioned that it was Ryo who had led the capture of General Yun.

As Ryo had asked him to keep it quiet.

Still, seeing Yun return frozen in ice would have made it obvious enough.

At this point, there was no way for Ryo to say, “No, it wasn’t me”.

Besides, apart from Abel, the only others present were Tsuin and the Chief Eunuch,

who was essentially the Emperor’s shadow.

What the Emperor knew, the Chief Eunuch knew as well…

Ryo understood that.

After they left the Emperor’s presence, Ryo and Abel were guided toward the exit.

“So Prince Ryun… is finally going to become an imperial prince.”

“It’s going to be rough from here on out.”

Ryo’s expression was a complicated mix of excitement and worry,

while Abel’s was one of clear concern.

In a vast court, rising in rank wasn’t something that ended with a simple ‘congratulations’.

Just like in a large company, the larger the organization and the more people involved, the more people there were trying to drag others down.

That was a timeless truth known across all ages and lands.

Both Ryo and Abel knew that much.

Furthermore, simply becoming an imperial prince meant nothing.

Unless he could gather capable people to support him. Otherwise, he would be crushed by the other imperial princes.

Whether called a faction or retainers, gathering such people was essential for any future ambitions toward the throne, as those people would form the core of his government one day.

“Becoming an imperial prince means joining the fight for the throne, doesn’t it?”

“Of course it does. You can’t become an imperial prince and then say you have no interest in the throne. No one would believe that. In a country this massive, if you want to aim for the throne, you need to gather exceptional people. But Ryun is already way behind in that regard…”

Most of the capable officials who should form the backbone of a government were already aligned with one of the other three imperial princes.

“Before anything else, and immediately, you need to lay a solid foundation. You have to do what others have spent years preparing for, right at the moment of your appointment, without delay.”

Ryo spoke as if reading aloud.

“That’s not Sun Tzu… that’s Machiavelli, isn’t it?”

“Ah, as expected of you, Abel!”

Ryo praised him for getting it right.

“I’ve started to recognize the patterns in your quotes.”

Abel nodded.

“Someday, you might be called the ‘Schemer King Abel’.”

“Isn’t that… kind of unpleasant?”

“Your enemies all die of illness or accidents. And you conquer the Central Countries without a single battle… Causing no suffering for the people.”

“Well, maybe, but…”

Abel frowned.

“What’s wrong? Would you rather wage a direct war even if it brings suffering to the people, just for your own satisfaction as a king?!”

“No, I’d rather not have a war at all.”

“Well, of course, that would be best… but what will you do if they attack first?”

“I guess the ideal is to have enough power to make them lose the will to attack…”

“Yes, that’s ideal. But military strength needs to be balanced with national power… mainly economic strength. If you build up so much military power that your economy collapses and your people suffer under heavy taxes, then it’s completely backward, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Running a country was clearly no easy task.

“Well, enough about the kingdom.”

“Right. What we need to focus on now is Prince Ryun.”

They decided to steer the conversation back.

“So, Prince Ryun is moving up to the title of imperial Prince… In that case, the people who tried to assassinate Princess Shio Fen back home were correct in their assessment.”

“After all, without a formal consort, he wouldn’t have been eligible to become an imperial prince. If they had succeeded in assassinating Princess Shio Fen, it would have bought them time…”

Abel pointed out, and Ryo nodded in agreement.

“But in general, Prince Ryun doesn’t have a high reputation, does he?”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard. Maybe not quite dull-witted, but while he’s popular with the people, he doesn’t have the sharpness expected of someone seeking power. Or so they say.”

“Yeah. Director Mogok mentioned that.”

They remembered when Director Mogok, Mifa’s father, had explained that back in Bosuntar.

However, having met Ryun in Fenmu and seen him in the suppression forces, they had formed a different opinion.

“He’s been hiding his true capabilities.”

“Sometimes, to protect your life, you have to appear dull on purpose.”

Both Abel and Ryo believed that Prince Ryun was indeed capable.

Moreover, he possessed the caution needed to live inconspicuously and avoid being dragged into power struggles.

Despite that, he was highly regarded by Emperor Tsuin,

who was prepared to elevate him to Imperial Prince.

Had he managed to demonstrate his worth without standing out?

If Ryo had been in that position, he wouldn’t have known how to achieve that.

“In other words, Prince Ryun is a capable man.”

“It’s better for someone in the heart of government to be capable than incompetent, at least.”

As they chatted while walking toward the palace exit, a group walking down the opposite corridor caught their eye.

About twenty people were being guided down the same hallway as the two.

They wore Eastern clothing but did not appear to be Darwei locals.

“Those people aren’t from the palace, are they? I get that feeling.”

“Yeah… Maybe it’s because they aren’t wearing their hair up.”

“Oh, I see!”

Ryo nodded at Abel’s observation.

Right, the group had their hair down.

In Darwei, it was customary to tie up one’s hair.

Especially in the palace.

Those of higher status typically wore beautiful fist-sized crowns to secure their tied hair.

As a matter of etiquette.

However, everyone in this group wore their hair down, flowing behind them.

And…

“The person at the back… isn’t that the guy who was frozen?”

“Frozen? You mean that General Yun?”

“Yes, that’s him!”

Ryo nodded and called out to their guide.

“Excuse me, but is that group the imperial envoys?”

“Yes. Those are the Special Envoys of the Choouchi Empire.”

Their guide responded without hesitation, evidently well-informed.

“Incredible. They’re actually bringing the captured general back to the palace with them.”

“Yeah. It’s… bold, I guess you’d say.”

Abel spoke with a tone of mild astonishment.

In that moment, Ryo turned to Abel and declared,

“Abel, you should learn from them!”

“Huh?”

“Imagine leading the monsters you defeated on a parade through the palace…”

“I’d get arrested!”

And so, the ‘Project to Train Abel as the Fearless King’ ended in failure.

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