14. Madam Sangwon
Daebongyedo had returned, and matters outside the palace had largely settled. From now on, all that remained was to carefully review history up to the fall of Balhae and make the necessary adjustments.
Even now, I could feel the rise of that goddess's blood pressure, and it made my chest swell with a strange exhilaration.
If Later Baekje were not to clash with Balhae in the future, its territory would be no larger than Unified Silla and the goddess would be miserable.
"You're so indifferent. You came back, yet you didn't come to see me," said my mother.
A mother's love for her son was particularly intense.
It made sense. Although Gyeon Hwon adored me, real influence over him was firmly in the hands of the queen, Lady Sangwon.
With no one else to trust but her son, her feelings were naturally more pronounced.
And perhaps because she had been stunningly beautiful, her elegant appearance had remained striking even to this day.
Geumgang had inherited her looks.
Shingeom, on the other hand, resembled his father, Gyeon Hwon, while Yanggeom and Yonggeom had inherited the less flattering traits of Lady Sangwon.
"I apologize, Mother. State affairs leave me little time, so what can I do?"
"I heard you forged alliances with Balhae and Japan. Truly, I am proud of you," she said.
As a diplomat, that was certainly an achievement worth praise.
"Did the queen not come to see me while I was away?" I asked.
"How do you know that?"
If it were her, she would have surely come, laughing at both me and my mother. Especially when something seemed off, she always acted this way.
"And what did she say?"
"She joked as usual, saying she hoped you returned safely," she replied.
As expected, the councilor's intuition had been correct. The queen had intended to act. It was likely one of the reasons I went to Balhae in the first place.
"Is something wrong?"
"It seems Yanggeom and Yonggeom conspired with the queen to kill me," I said.
"Impossible! The queen would never do such a thing! Do you have proof?"
Mother, you know exactly what I mean.
"There is suspicion, but no concrete evidence," I admitted.
"If that's the case, we could end up harmed for nothing. Without solid proof…"
Her eyes narrowed as she considered the matter. She seemed quite vexed by Lady Sangwon.
But I did have evidence.
"Our Baekje lost Naju once, and with it, trade revenue. Trade with China and other countries ceased as a result."
"Yes, even I know that. But…?"
"After recapturing Naju, I personally led the first envoy to Balhae and Japan, using the port restored in Naju."
At this time, Naju was the only port suitable for foreign trade. Other harbors existed, but they could not facilitate overseas commerce.
Only after reclaiming it from Goryeo was Hwanggu secured.
"Then how could they have known, and why were the Japanese waiting?"
I had only just learned this.
Some Naju chieftains, who regarded me as their ruler, had approached me and said that Japanese ships, apparently carrying armed men, had appeared.
It was strange. Even though Goryeo had taken Naju, why would previously unseen Japanese pirates suddenly appear?
Only the Baekje court knew of my departure from Naju. It wasn't even a raid they arrived briefly, anchored, and then disappeared.
"Even so, without evidence, we cannot accuse the queen," she said.
Fear ruled her.
"Yes. Publicizing this could trigger a bloodbath in the palace," I noted.
"Then why even mention it?" she asked.
"Even so, one can intimidate discreetly," I said. Everyone has their own strategy.
"What are you talking about? You said there was no proof."
"It can always be manufactured."
The laws of this era were primitive compared to modern times. Moreover, it was the Warring States period, and this was a palace power struggle.
"Really?"
"Besides, this was the work of the Japanese pirates. If we catch them and interrogate them, the truth will emerge. If not, we can strike later."
"Do you have confidence?"
"Of course," I said.
"Even so, I cannot simply watch my mother be mocked by such a reckless woman."
"That's… that's… who would hear such things?"
"If this isn't treachery, then what is it? Don't worry. I will protect you, Mother."
At that time, Shingeom and his brothers were stationed at Daeya Castle in Aesul. They would likely be deployed soon to attack Silla.
So there was no quarrel, only opportunity.
I stayed in Wansanju for a while, sending men to Naju to investigate the Japanese pirates.
"It seems difficult to catch their trail," one reported.
"Hmm."
Still, there was proof or at least circumstantial evidence. If none existed, I would create it.
Therefore:
"We know absolutely nothing!!"
"Please spare us!!"
I captured the Japanese pirates.
Though defeated by the Goryeo navy, Later Baekje still held naval superiority over the Three Hans. The remaining Japanese pirates were no threat.
Surprisingly, I easily captured the pirates near Daema Island and brought them to Naju for interrogation.
"Is it really you?" I asked.
"Yes. Yes. It is true. How could we lie?"
I chuckled. They would not lie, but their misfortune was undeniable they had been caught.
In short, they were scapegoats.
Yanggeom and Yonggeom were cunning; finding them was difficult. The Naju aristocrats seemed unaware of anything beyond the pirates' presence.
"Write this down: the Japanese pirates attempted to kill me and Left State Councillor Choi Seung-woo under the orders of Yanggeom and Yonggeom," I commanded.
"Yes, Your Highness," they replied.
I had a trusted ally forge the necessary evidence.
"Since you committed piracy, you will be treated as criminals. But if you follow my instructions, you will live."
"Yes, yes!"
I would spare their lives but only just.
He had prepared the false evidence, and I went directly to the queen before Lady Sangwon could act.
"Is the queen present?" I asked.
"Yes… Why, Prince Geumgang? The queen is in the bedchamber."
A middle-aged maid blocked my path. Even with the lights on, she dared to lie before me. Geumgang must be utterly disregarded by the Sangwon faction.
"If Prince Geumgang returns to the palace, the queen will regret it greatly," I threatened lightly.
"What insolence! Even a prince cannot speak to the queen like this!"
"You dare, servant? Well then, shall we discuss the Japanese pirates' attempt to kill me and the Left State Councillor in Daejeon?"
I shouted loudly enough for Lady Sangwon to hear.
"Enter!"
Finally, Lady Sangwon appeared. Her face was dazzling. It twisted with anger, as if it might crumble, yet she held her gaze.
"It has been a while, Grandmother," I said.
"Grandmother? So even in your eyes, I am still a mother?"
She was a master of sarcasm.
Compared to Geumgang's mother, she was less beautiful and had only mediocre children.
For now, I decided to placate her slightly.
"My grandmother is the queen, my mother a concubine. Isn't that natural?"
"Say again what you said just now," she demanded.
"Why act this way? You already knew: didn't you order Yanggeom and Yonggeom to incite the Japanese pirates?"
It was a gamble. If she brazenly denied it here…
"Do you have evidence?" she asked.
"These testimonies come from the pirates themselves. Will you still deny it?"
Her face turned pale. It was almost laughable.
It was just a theory, yet she was so easy to read. And she had tried to plot an assassination?
I could push this forward, but since I caught the culprits myself, any mistake could be disastrous.
Hwaruk!
"Burn these," she spat.
"Who said that was enough?" I said. I had copies.
I produced bamboo slips and scrolls I had painstakingly copied.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"Let's speak plainly, Grandmother. Don't you like me?"
"What?"
"Are you afraid I might threaten Shingeom's position?"
Her expression shifted from shock to controlled contempt, like an enemy observing one who dared to threaten her child.
"Yes. I don't know what you did to Shingeom, but they say you can see through people as easily as the depth of a thousand-foot water. I do not trust you."
"Shingeom will be on the battlefield. I will remain in Wansanju or serve diplomatically. Do you still not trust me?"
How obsessed must one be with power to behave like this? This is why Later Baekje failed—it raised children poorly and fell into ruin.
If only Shingeom had been alone, or only Geumgang…
"The king's heart is with you! Even if you don't like it," I reminded her.
"I have the king's favor. How should I use it to satisfy my father? This attempted assassination is not only the queen's doing; it could implicate Shingeom as well."
Common sense dictates that if my mother and brothers tried to kill me, Shingeom, next in line, could be caught in the crossfire.
Lady Sangwon, who had pushed the stocks toward Shingeom, had stepped on a mine. Her face went pale.
"Ugh," she murmured.
"But why do this? I have no interest in the throne. I prefer freedom, not power," I said.
The hardships of kingship awaited anyone who took the throne. Why rush into that?
I knew only a little history. I was no politician, nor skilled in power.
A child cannot wield power responsibly. If too much is given, the country collapses.
Her sharp gaze softened slightly. It was time to deliver the final point.
"As you know, the Khitan are attempting to swallow Balhae. We must unify the Three Hans quickly to prepare. If I were to ascend the throne, Baekje would descend into chaos and fall to Goryeo."
"Indeed," she said.
"I understand this clearly. Please trust me. I wish only to serve Shingeom as minister. I will not pursue power for myself."
Satisfied, she curled the corners of her mouth in a slight smile.
"Very well. I will observe Shingeom as he becomes crown prince and future emperor," she said.
With that, I had resolved the problem that had plagued me while in Naju.
Yanggeom and Yonggeom remained annoying, but as long as I stayed in Naju, they could do nothing.
"Since Your Majesty has shown mercy like the sea, I will quietly go to Naju."
"And the evidence?"
"Your Majesty knows my sincerity, but you must consider mine as well. Until Shingeom ascends, this must be kept," I replied.
Hah. I wonder if that evidence could later be used to punish Shingeom. I found the queen simpler than expected.