Wind Blows

Escape

'Your Highness!'

Crown Prince Lee Yeon's personal guard entered urgently.

'What is that matter?'

'Your Highness! My men brought me a disturbing news, the court, they will be having a secret meeting tonight at the Cherry Blossom Pavilion.'

This alarmed the Crown Prince.

'How many will be going? Are you quite sure about this?'

'Yes, Your Highness. The thing that worries me most is that both the Southerner and Northerner will be attending.'

'What?'

The Southerner and Northerner never got along with each other, even in the royal court they often went against each other, so the sudden joining in hands most certainly mean something dangerous.

'And also...'

Crown Prince's guard continued.

'Also, I heard that the Chief State Councillor will be attending...'

'The Chief State Councillor? Isn't he Prince Joo's grandfather?'

It's rather obvious now that something is going on. Prince Joo is very young and cannot quite be considered a threat to the Crown Prince, but if his grandfather gets ambitious, then nothing is certain.

'How about Song Gukmin? Will he be attending?'

'I'm afraid I do not know, Your Highness...'

'Fetch me my robe, I'm going out tonight.'

The man awaiting the Crown Prince's visit - Song Gukmin - is the most powerful man in Joseon, even more powerful than the king himself, the one behind the scene, the man who's been controlling several generations of king all their life, the man who has both the support of the Southerner and the Northerner.

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'Why should I help you, Your Highness?'

Song Gukmin asked as he walked down the steps into his front yard where the Crown Prince and his body guard stood. 

'They are plotting something, sir, and whatever that is, they'll have my head for it I'm sure. You're the only one they will listen to.'

'What is it for me then? I don't see myself gaining much by having you as king.'

'I'll give you whatever you want! Just keep me alive, sir, I promise you I will not bring you down afterwards. Please...The moment the king dies...they'll kill me too.'

Out of desperation, the Crown Prince got on his knees. The old man came before him, got down and looked right into his face.

'Really, anything I want? You'll really give me anything I want, Crown Prince?' 

Silence, as the Crown Prince dodged the old man's gaze. Gukmin got up and laughed.