The Result of the Outing (3)
I asked, just in case.
"Hearing your poetry, Chief, makes the scenery even more beautiful. May I hear another poem?"
Perhaps due to the alcohol, Chief Yoo didn't refuse.
"Then, I shall recite one more."
Chief Yoo, seemingly immersed in the mood, didn't stop at one but recited several poems in a row.
And,
They were all poems I knew.
To be precise, they were poems that someone named Zhou Yigong had boldly published in a poetry collection, claiming them as his own.
That poetry collection contained nearly fifty pieces.
Among them were poems that had received high praise from critics at the time.
And every one of those praised poems was recited just now by Chief Yoo.
Which means...
That bastard Zhou Yigong, he's a damn malicious fraud.
He took our Chief Yoo's poems and ran a scam, claiming them as his own?
I lifted my cup and asked Chief Yoo, who was sipping his drink.
"To think you've been keeping such wonderful poetry to yourself! That's too much, truly."
"Hahaha, you flatter me too much over trivial verses! I'm embarrassed."
"Why haven't you shown off this incredible talent before?"
"That's…"
Chief Yoo let out a sigh.
"I simply didn't have time to write poetry."
Ah...
"And when I do write poetry, the memories of the past come flooding back. I believe you're aware that I once served in the court but then returned home."
I nodded.
"I immersed myself in work partly to forget those events."
Only then did I understand why Chief Yoo had been so obsessed with his work.
"I worry I've made you recall painful memories by selfishly asking to hear more poetry."
At my words, Chief Yoo waved his hand.
"Not at all. It's been pleasant to recite poetry after so long. In truth, it was my only hobby."
He truly looked happy as he smiled.
It wasn't the smile of a drunk, but one that came from the heart.
"To be honest, I once dreamed of becoming known for my poetry. But Senior Zhou told me I had no talent and should give it up. Said I'd only embarrass myself…"
That bastard!
"And as I got swept up in all sorts of storms, I started to doubt if this path was right for me. Then I ended up working for the Merchant Group thanks to a connection with the Merchant Group Leader."
My mind suddenly began racing.
I hadn't known it then, but now that I realized the poems were Chief Yoo's, there was no way I could allow a fraud to gain fame.
Zhou Yigong even discouraged Chief Yoo from chasing his dream?
He's a truly vile piece of trash.
While figuring out how to deal with that bastard could wait, publishing a poetry collection under Chief Yoo's name had to be done quickly.
If that Zhou Yigong were to publish a collection claiming Chief Yoo's poems as his own, Chief Yoo might die of heartbreak.
I had to prevent that.
"Listening to your story, Chief, I suddenly had a thought—why don't we create a poetry collection?"
"A poetry collection?"
"Yes."
I nodded.
"We came on this outing together. Leaving behind something to commemorate it doesn't sound bad."
"A poetry collection… Hmm, that's not a bad idea."
Chief Yoo hesitated for a moment.
"But my poems aren't exactly worthy of boasting."
"Did you recite them to show off?"
"No… I didn't."
"Then what's the problem? If I enjoyed hearing them, and you enjoyed reciting them, then they're good."
At my words, Chief Yoo nodded without protest.
"You're right. Poetry is meant to express how one feels in the moment."
"Then please recite them. I'll write them down."
"I'll leave it to you, then."
And so, unlike how it started, our outing ended in a very warm and cheerful atmosphere.
I had completed my father's task.
Now all that was left was to publish the poetry collection.
Of course, I hadn't received Chief Yoo's permission for that. He only agreed to create the collection, not to publish it.
If it came to that, those beautiful poems would be taken by that guy. I couldn't let that happen.
Well, if the outcome was good, I'm sure he'd understand.
***
A few days passed since the outing.
Chief Yoo was in his office within the Finance Pavilion.
"Hmm…"
Lost in thought over a troublesome document, before he knew it, it had become lunchtime.
He rose from his seat.
In the past, when lunchtime came, he wouldn't care whether Pavilion Members ate or not.
But through the outing, he learned from Eun Seoho that that wasn't the way to be.
He said to Eun Seoho,
"It's time to eat."
"Yes."
And as he stepped out of the office, he added,
"Enjoy your meal."
"Ah… yes."
"You too, Chief."
The first time he spoke like this, everyone was flustered, but now they seemed used to it.
'The atmosphere somehow feels softer too.'
When he returned from lunch, a Pavilion Member approached with a smile.
"Um, Chief. Congratulations on your poetry collection."
"…Poetry collection?"
"You published a collection, didn't you? I was shocked when I read it. Each poem is just so beautiful!"
"…Poetry collection, you say?"
"Yes? You didn't publish one? But it clearly listed the author as Yoo So-Ak, Chief of the Finance Pavilion of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
Yoo So-Ak replied with a bewildered expression.
"I've never published such a collection."
Just in case, he asked the Pavilion Member,
"Could I see that book?"
"Oh, yes."
The Pavilion Member hurriedly brought the collection he had purchased, and Yoo So-Ak examined it.
"..."
They were indeed his poems.
The very ones he had composed while drunk during that outing.
And there was only one person who could've done such a thing.
"Young Master…"
Yoo So-Ak clutched his head.
Then he asked the Pavilion Member,
"How well is it selling?"
To this, the Pavilion Member responded proudly,
"I hear it's already selling like wildfire across the entire Zhongyuan."
"..."
***
I was eating lunch in my quarters.
Next to me stood Palgap, looking worried.
"Young Master, what on earth were you thinking, doing something like this?"
"Like what?"
"Publishing Chief Yoo's poetry collection without his knowledge!"
"Ahh, that? It's fine. It's fine."
"It's not fine!"
At my calm response, Palgap nearly jumped.
"Young Master, as you know, Chief Yoo holds grudges, has a long memory, and is not exactly the warmest person…"
At that moment, I sensed someone approaching through my qi.
"Shh!"
"Pardon?"
"Speak of the devil, and he appears…"
At my words, Palgap panicked and flailed his arms.
"You must hide! I'll stop him!"
At his words, I shook my head.
"It's already too late. Besides, I have to work in Chief Yoo's office anyway."
"Ah…"
From outside, Chief Yoo's voice was heard.
"Young Master Eun Seoho, I heard you're inside. May I have a word with you?"
This was all expected.
That's why I calmly took a sip of tea and stood up without hesitation.
"Yes. You called for me?"
"What is the meaning of this?"
In Chief Yoo's hand was a book. It was the poetry collection recently published under his name.
"Ah! Congratulations."
"I asked what the meaning of this is!"
Chief Yoo raised his voice.
But I remained calm, smiling as I spoke.
"You haven't given up on your dream of becoming known for your poetry, have you?"
At my words, Chief Yoo trailed off, seemingly at a loss for words.
"That's…"
"I apologize, but if I hadn't done it this way, I feared that dream would remain just a dream forever."
"Still, you should have told me."
"If I had told you, would you have allowed the poetry collection to be published?"
"…"
I smiled and said,
"And in any case, what's done is done. So, let's just accept reality. It's not like this is anything disgraceful—what are you so worried about?"
"I'm worried because it might be disgraceful."
Chief Yoo sighed.
"I'm ashamed to show my work to others."
So it really is that bastard Zhou Yigong's fault.
I swear, I'll deal with him later.
How much did he belittle someone that he crushed all their confidence like this?
"That's absolutely not true. I've never seen poetry as beautiful as yours, Chief. And I'm sure others feel the same. I can guarantee that."
***
Time passed quickly.
Chief Yoo, resting against his chair, looked outside and sighed.
'It's already close to May.'
Since the outing with Eun Seoho had been in early April, nearly fifteen days had passed.
His gaze drifted to the book lying on his desk.
[So-Ak Poetry Collection]
'If he was going to give it a title, he could've made it a bit more elegant. So-Ak Poetry Collection? How bland…'
He felt embarrassed and ashamed that his poetry collection had been released to the world.
The words of a senior from his days in the court continued to ring in his ears.
"You have no talent for poetry. You're better off just studying the classics relentlessly. That's more promising. And never recite poetry in front of others. Your poetry's just asking for ridicule. I'm saying this as your senior, so take it to heart."
Since then, he had never recited poetry again.
But just as Eun Seoho had said, that longing hadn't died out completely.
The desire, buried deep within his heart, was burning hotter than a forge fire.
Thanks to Eun Seoho, he had realized that.
After all, he had always loved poetry.
Still, he tried to recover every copy of his poetry collection.
Desire aside, embarrassment was embarrassment.
But it was impossible.
Eun Seoho hadn't just sold the collection in Hubei, but had distributed it throughout Zhongyuan.
Where did he even learn such thorough methods?
Chief Yoo glanced at Eun Seoho, who was working nearby.
Noticing the gaze, Eun Seoho turned to him.
"Yes? Do you need something from me?"
"It's nothing."
The poetry collection was spreading through word of mouth, and just like the Pavilion Member who had told him about it, it was enjoying enthusiastic popularity.
And lately, everyone he met had been praising his poetry.
Hearing that made him feel… something was strange.
Unless all of Zhongyuan was lying to him, it meant he actually had a talent for poetry.
Then why had Senior Zhou Yigong said those things to him…?
He was confused.
'There's no way that senior did it on purpose… right?'
At that moment, a guard's voice came from outside the office.
"Chief of Internal Affairs, Adjutant Jo Youngyoung has arrived."
"Ah, let her in."
The door opened, and Adjutant Jo Youngyoung entered.
"A guest has arrived. They wish to meet both you and the Young Master."
"I see, but the Young Master too?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Since he is the co-author of So-Ak Poetry Collection. Also, congratulations on the publication, Chief."
"Ah, yes."
***
As soon as she mentioned the So-Ak Poetry Collection and summoned me along as co-author, I had a hunch.
The guest who had come must've been deeply moved by the poems and came because of them.
And how could they not be moved?
Even someone as unpoetic as me had been touched. The poems would become incredibly famous in the future too.
But the visitor turned out to be an even bigger figure than I expected.
"They're from the Zhuge Family."
"…"
At Father's introduction, I was stunned.
Glancing to the side, Chief Yoo also looked quite shocked.
We quickly composed ourselves and greeted them with a cupped-fist salute. Only then did Chief Yoo also bow.
The person from the Zhuge Family opened their mouth with a blank expression.
"There was an order to deliver this personally. So I had no choice but to bring it here myself."
"That's quite all right."
"Then, I will confirm something. Are you Yoo So-Ak, the author of So-Ak Poetry Collection?"
"Yes, I am."
He then looked at me and asked,
"Are you Eun Seoho, the co-author of So-Ak Poetry Collection?"
"Yes, I am."
I had listed myself as co-author because otherwise, publishing the book would've been difficult.
He pulled a scroll from his robes and handed it over. Chief Yoo received it.
He slowly unrolled it and read through it.
I also glanced at its contents—and before I knew it, I blurted out in surprise.
"What?! An invitation to the Zhuge Family?"
"I don't know the exact details either. I was only told they await your acceptance and to return with your answer."