Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 640 The Only Way Out

“If there’s no evidence, then you didn’t do it!” Park Seung-jong said firmly. “If someone really exposes you, just deny it to the death. No matter what, this Supervisor Yuan wouldn’t go so far as to torture you!”

“How do you know he won’t torture me?” Park Ja-heung said. “A new broom sweeps clean, especially an imperial envoy! Once that Supervisor Yuan takes office, he’ll definitely drag a bunch of people out to kill and humiliate us to establish his authority. Forget about torture, he might even sentence our entire clan to extermination after a couple of court sessions. Father!” Park Ja-heung became more and more frightened as he spoke, and he actually lunged forward and grabbed Park Seung-jong’s hand. “Let’s escape. It’s better to live a hard life in the deep mountains than to be dragged out and killed to establish authority.”

"How could I have such a useless son!" Park Seung-jong suddenly became furious. He pulled his hand back, his eyes widening instantly. But because Lee Dong-hwan was also present, Park Seung-jong only cursed and didn't raise his hand to slap him as usual. "He wouldn't! Think about who you are?"

“What use is status now? Are you going to tell that the imperial envoy that officials are above the law? Even His Highness has been deposed!” Park Ja-heung said.

“But the Crown Prince is still here!” Park Seung-jong said.

"Do you think the Emperor will allow the Crown Prince to succeed to the throne?" Park Seung-jong's words were like a wake-up call, instantly calming Park Ja-heung, whose emotions were gradually spiraling out of control. Beside him, Lee Dong-hwan's eyes lit up.

“Otherwise?” Park Seung-jong turned and sat upright on the edge of the bed, flipping the proclamation around. “The proclamation is very clear: ‘The blade will not be pointed at the people of Korea, the grain will not be plundered from the granaries of the Three Hans, and the soldiers will not violate the royal rites.’” Park Seung-jong pointed to the last of the three orders for guardianship and said, “Why do you think that imperial envoy insisted on emphasizing this sentence?”

“But the royal family doesn’t just refer to the crown prince,” Park Ja-heung said.

"Who else could it be but the Crown Prince?" Park Seung-jong retorted.

“Inseong-gun?” Park Ja-heung immediately thought of the current king’s eldest brother who was still alive.

“Probably not,” Park Seung-jong thought for a moment and said, “Throughout history, unless it is a heinous crime of treason, whenever someone is deposed for a crime, it is always the father who is deposed and the son who is installed as king. Moreover, the Crown Prince has never been involved in any rebellious or disloyal acts, and there is not a single word in the proclamation that says anything bad about him. So I am certain that the Emperor will definitely install the Crown Prince as king!”

"What if..." Park Ja-heung wanted to say something hesitant and refutating. But this time, he was rudely interrupted by Park Seung-jong as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Damn it! Running away is certain death!" Park Seung-jong almost roared. "You are the Crown Prince's father-in-law. If the Crown Prince doesn't get to that position, even if the imperial envoy doesn't pursue, punish, or punish us, my Miryang Park family will be purged by the new king sooner or later! At this point, all we can do is support the Crown Prince without reservation! We have no other way to go."

Park Ja-heung remained silent for a long while, finally letting out a long sigh. "Sigh! Just tell me what to do. I'll do whatever you say."

"We'll talk about other things later. Go to Chunqiu Hall first, find that damned memorial, and burn it." In fact, Park Seung-jong hadn't really thought about what to do next.

“Okay! I’ll go right away.” Park Ja-heung nodded, a sudden idea flashing through his mind. “Should we also slip in a few more memorials supporting the deployment of troops?”

“Okay,” Park Seung-jong decisively agreed, “but it must be added to the secret report, and preferably in my name.”

"Understood." Park Ja-heung stood up and was about to leave.

But he had barely taken a step when Park Seung-jong called out to him, "What's the rush? Stop!"

"Is there anything else you need, Father?" Park Ja-heung turned his head.

“Don’t burn that memorial,” Park Seung-jong said. “Just slip a few sarcastic memorials into the secret memorial shelf.”

"Oh!" Park Ja-heung, a seasoned veteran of officialdom, immediately understood his father's meaning. "Unavoidable circumstances?"

Park Seung-jong nodded emphatically. "One who eats the king's food must be loyal to the king. Your public support for His Highness is to uphold the dignity of the sovereign, while my private advice is simply fulfilling my duty as a subject. When you write your article, subtly incorporate this meaning."

Park Ja-heung nodded, then asked, "Does Father have any other instructions?"

Park Seung-jong thought for a moment: "The date should ideally include both the beginning and end."

"What date?" Park Ja-heung didn't quite understand.

“Of course, it’s the date on that memorial. We need to let the people who are checking the archives know that before and after your memorial, I submitted secret memorials advising Your Highness to be dutiful and not forget the great grace of the Celestial Empire. Also,” Park Seung-jong flicked his sleeves and pointed to Lee Dong-hwan, who was still supporting him, “fill in Yoo-jin’s name on your memorial as well.”

"Huh?" Park Ja-heung looked at Lee Dong-hwan in surprise, following Park Seung-jong's instructions.

Lee Dong-hwan was taken aback for a moment, but he quickly understood Park Seung-jong's meaning. Lee Dong-hwan immediately stood up, knelt at Park Seung-jong's feet, and kowtowed. "This student thanks my esteemed teacher!"

"Okay! I understand." As soon as Lee Dong-hwan knelt down, Park Ja-heung understood. He turned around and walked towards the door. Just as he was about to reach the door, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Who's outside?" Park Ja-heung frowned, a murderous glint even flashing in his eyes.

"Young Master, Doctor Yin has arrived. He's waiting in the reception room. Shall we invite him over?" The butler's voice came from behind the door.

"Is there anyone else around you?" Park Ja-heung pushed open the door and looked around.

"No, it was just this old servant who came alone." The steward took a step back and bowed.

"That's good." Park Ja-heung left without saying whether or not to invite Dr. Yoon Jung-hyung over.

"Master," the butler asked from the doorway, "shall we invite Physician Yin over?"

“I’m fine now, I just need to rest a bit more. Please ask him to go home,” Park Seung-jong said.

"Yes. This old servant will go right away," the steward replied.

“Don’t forget etiquette,” Park Seung-jong added.

"Yes," the butler replied, and after a short while, he closed the door and turned around.

“There’s something else!” Park Seung-jong’s voice came after the butler took his first step.

"Please speak, sir." The butler immediately turned around and adopted a respectful listening posture towards the door.

"Send someone to fetch Li Gui to me," Park Seung-jong ordered.

The steward asked, "Is Master referring to Li Yuru?" There are many people with the surname Li in Hanyang City, and quite a few whose given names contain the character "Gui".

"Yes, that's him."

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Less than a quarter of an hour later, the Park family's servants knocked on the Lee family's gate.

"Who's outside?" A lonely voice came from behind the door.

"Open the door! The Prime Minister invites your master to his residence for a chat!" said the Park family's servant arrogantly.

"Is that Sang-geun Park?" The voice behind the door trembled slightly.

"Does my great Korea have another prime minister?" a servant of the Park family urged. "Open the door quickly!"

The sound of wood rubbing together briefly rang out. But it was quickly interrupted by the sound of wood colliding. "Please wait a moment, sir, I'll go and inform them immediately!"

"Hey!" The Park family's servant suddenly lost his temper and shouted through the crack in the door. "How dare you lock me out!" Unfortunately, all he heard in response was the sound of footsteps running further and further away.

The doorman, filled with trepidation, arrived at the tightly closed study door. He didn't knock, but simply whispered through the crack in the door, "Master."

Li Gui was leaning back in his chair, deep in thought, with the proclamation in front of him. Even when he heard the call, Li Gui didn't open his eyes. "Who's here?" "Reporting to you, sir. The family of Prime Minister Park has come to the door, saying they wish to invite you to the Park residence for a discussion." The doorman's voice trembled slightly.

"So fast?" Li Gui opened his eyes and tilted them downwards.

"What did you say, sir?" Li Gui's voice was almost a murmur, and the gatekeeper didn't hear him clearly.

"It's nothing." Li Gui put the proclamation into his pocket, then stood up and walked a few steps to the study door. He opened the door and said, "Let that person in for a cup of tea. I'll go change my clothes now."

"Are you going to the Park residence?" The gatekeeper immediately followed.

"Otherwise what?" Li Gui said without turning his head.

"President Park invited you here today, sir, probably not because of what happened yesterday. I'm worried." The doorman was still following.

"This is none of your business!" Li Gui waved his hand dismissively. "Go and entertain them, and remember to have the car ready for me."

"Yes. I'll be right there." Seeing the master's composure, the gatekeeper felt much more at ease.

"Wait!" Li Gui stopped and turned around.

"Is there anything else you need, sir?" The doorman immediately turned around.

"If the young master returns before I come back, or if those people who came to my door yesterday ask where I've been, tell them the truth and that the plan remains unchanged," Li Gui instructed. "Do you understand?"

"What plan?" the doorman instinctively asked, but immediately changed his mind. "I understand."

"Very good." Li Gui turned and walked towards the bedroom.

--------

A little over 25 minutes later, the Li family's donkey cart stopped in front of the Pu family's house.

"Thank you for your trouble." Li Gui bowed as he got off the carriage, took out a few coins of pure silver from his sleeve, and handed them to the servant of the Park family. "My unworthy servant has been negligent in the past, please forgive him."

"Oh! You're too kind, sir. I didn't expect you to rest." The Park family servant immediately went to greet him, and the last bit of anger he felt from the slightest neglect vanished because of the silvery light.

"Hehe, it's good that you understand." Li Gui chuckled lightly, then turned and walked towards the gate of the Park family's house.

"Let me do it!" Upon seeing this, the servant of the Park family quickly put away the loose silver and knocked on his own courtyard gate before Li Gui could.

Park Seung-jong was waiting in the reception room in the backyard. Upon hearing the servant come to report, he immediately sent the butler to fetch Lee Gwi.

"I pay my respects to Minister Park." Upon entering the study, Lee Gui did not hesitate at all and immediately knelt down and kowtowed before Park Seung-jong.

Park Seung-jong's gaze followed Lee Gyu's steps, and after settling on him, he silently looked at him for a while. "Get up and sit down," Park Seung-jong said, his tone a little cold, but not icy.

"Thank you for the seat, Lord Chancellor." Li Gui slowly rose, trembling slightly, and without even brushing the dust off his clothes, went straight to the seat that Park Seung-jong had indicated to him.

“Ok-yoo,” Park Seung-jong asked with a half-smile, “is your grandson feeling better?”

Lee Gwi's eyes flashed, and he quickly made a decision. Before he had even settled into his seat, he stood up again, knelt down before Park Seung-jong, and kowtowed. "Prime Minister, my grandson is not seriously ill. The gatekeeper lied yesterday."

"Wow." Li Gui's directness surprised even Park Seung-jong. "Did you teach him a lesson?"

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, no," Li Gui replied.

"Why?" Park Seung-jong asked again.

“Although that servant lied, his heart was still good,” Li Gui replied.

“A vile person curses your grandson, saying he is critically ill. How can that be well-intentioned?” Park Seung-jong looked down at Lee Gyu.

“There are distinctions of importance and urgency in matters.” Li Gui looked up at Park Seung-jong. “The reason that servant used such ominous words to trick me into leaving the Prime Minister’s residence was to tell me a matter of utmost importance that must never be announced in public. Compared to this matter, which is as heavy as Mount Tai, my grandson’s life is nothing more than a feather.”

"Then what is this matter that is as heavy as Mount Tai?" Park Seung-jong's eyes suddenly sharpened.

With a noticeably trembling body and voice, Li Gui put on a perfectly fitting act of hesitation.

"Not even me can tell?" Park Seung-jong said quietly.

“As Xunzi said, ‘A rolling ball stops at a small pool, and rumors stop with the wise.’ This matter is of great importance, and I am still waiting for my disciples to verify the truth of the matter,” Li Gui said, taking the opportunity to say what he had prepared beforehand. “Therefore, I dare not spread rumors rashly, for fear of offending the wise ears of the Prime Minister.”

Park Seung-jong's expression immediately improved. "Since you are so perceptive, I am not afraid of any slight smearing. What is it? Tell me quickly."

Li Gui hesitated for a moment in silence before sighing and replying, "Yes."

Li Gui straightened up slightly, then took out the proclamation he always carried with him from his robes and presented it to Park Seung-jong. "Prime Minister, this matter is really inconvenient for me to explain verbally. I will trouble you to review it yourself. Once you see this, you will know everything."

"Who gave this to you?" Park Seung-jong did not move.

“Li Wu,” Li Gui said.

"Who is this?"

"Li Shu's cousin."

"Put it away." Park Seung-jong changed his sitting posture, no longer sitting so upright.

"The Prime Minister isn't going to watch anymore?" Lee Gwi looked up at Park Seung-jong with a puzzled expression.

“I’ve already seen it,” Park Seung-jong beckoned upwards. “Get up and sit down.”

Li Gui's eyes widened suddenly, revealing a look of surprise. "You...you already knew?"

"The heavenly army is almost at Hanyang. If I didn't know, I wouldn't have the face to continue as the Chief State Councilor." Park Seung-jong chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Is this news from Pyongyang?" Li Gui withdrew his hand and held the proclamation to his chest.

“There’s no news from Pyongyang, it’s Lee Dong-hwan,” Park Seung-jong said.

"The Ming army has already passed Paju?" This time, Li Gui was genuinely shocked.

“They passed Paju yesterday. If things go quickly, the Ming army will probably be at the city gates by this afternoon.” Park Seung-jong leaned against the armrest, supporting his head with his entire palm.

(End of this chapter)