779 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

Yeon Sul slowly lifted her head. Even if the deep meaning wasn't explicitly stated, she understood the significance of the emperor's title. It seemed that the empress had indeed been unable to hold her tongue any longer. Considering the ghastly rumors about her being married to the crown prince, it was understandable that the empress, as a mother, couldn't just stand idly by while her children were getting married. Even so, a little heads-up would have been nice... "Ah-" "Remove that veiling cloth." Qing obediently lowered the veil. The emperor quietly examined Qing's face. It was the first time he had seen her face properly since she entered the palace, even though she'd been there for quite a while. During the previous audience, there was no need to see her face, as she had been banished to a remote part of the Forbidden City and wasn't expected to be seen again. The way her eyes darted to the side in a familiar gesture of gauging for reaction was so familiar it was almost comforting. It was no wonder the empress had recognized her at first glance. It was that obvious. "Not only does the princess of Zhongyuan roam outside the palace, but she has only come before me upon being summoned. How impudent. Do you have any excuses?" Well, this doesn't seem like a welcoming atmosphere... If the emperor was the type to set aside his solemn imperial dignity just because she was his daughter and rush at her with open arms, saying "Come here, let me hug you just once," surely the empress would have already revealed everything about her identity. Rumor had it that Yeon Sul, when she was a giant child of the past, was always subdued and watchful before him because he was a cold and stern father. Qing was soft in affection. And without affection, there's no softness at all. Though feeling small and intimidated, perhaps paradoxically, it was easier to speak given the emperor’s demeanor. "Your Majesty, I am not Yeon Sul of the Forbidden City. I am the Heavenly Sword Flower of the Divine Maiden Sect. I have no memory of the past and do not know Yeon Sul, so I fear to bear the claim of being a princess of the Celestial Dynasty." This was something she should have told the empress earlier. Yet how could she have said it in front of her? Conversely, it was easier to voice the words before the unloving emperor. "You claim you are not Yeon Sul?" "To be exact, I do not know well enough to provide a definite answer—" "You are Yeon Sul." Of course, as if the word of the emperor wasn't final... And if the emperor says you're a princess, you're a princess; it seems that sort of logic— "You witnessed the Great Technique of Heavenly Endowment as well. It is a rite passing down powerful strength through the Celestial Dynasty's blood. Having seen the effects using your blood, your body bears the bloodline of the Celestial Dynasty." Ah. So that's it. The palace extracted her blood under the guise of a slightly feeble excuse of a blood draw, claiming it was merely for health reasons. It turned out to be a genetic test after all. The demonstrations of physical feats and strength, the ritual that mixed human blood with royal divinity to absorb its qualities, was a form of genetic verification. She was quasi-certain but lacked definitive proof, which has now been established. Still, having anticipated it, Qing wasn't particularly surprised. The real dilemma lay not in the body, but in the mind, the soul perhaps. Yet in a world where people wield lightsabers, conjure magic, and encounter the living dead, it would be odd not to possess a soul. Nevertheless. "Your Majesty, I respectfully implore you, I only wish to live as a vagabond of the martial world." The emperor merely smirked. "How laughable. You plotted with your mother, facing both trial and punishment. How dare you speak of being a martial artist before the empress and claim otherwise before me." "Th-the empress was unwell and recuperating—" "Enough. Were you a commoner, you'd be executed for daring to defy the Celestial Dynasty. However, as part of the Celestial family, we might overlook it as a familial transgression." Is this a threat? Choose to become the Heavenly Sword Flower and you'll die, but choose to be Yeon Sul and it's all teenage rebellion? "Thus, you shall fulfill your duty. I've long aimed to eradicate those so-called rebels of the martial world. You, being of the Celestial blood, shall partake in the celestial will." "Your Majesty—" "You've always been too gentle for the Celestial. I will spare the Divine Maiden Sect. You need not personally wield a sword. The Yeon Sul princess who has learned the horrific truth of the martial world shall expose the traitors." My true identity was the Yeon Sul princess, and my infiltrations were meant to determine if the martial artists were traitors. And if they are, we will exterminate them. Such were the decrees. "Your Majesty—" "Enough." "Please, just allow me a moment to speak!" Qing dared to raise her voice. Though she wasn't entirely sure why he harbored such disdain for the martial world, it resembled something akin to blind hatred, as Ziya had suggested. But considering the ritual and the use of convict blood in creating those guardsmen, he didn't seem wholly deranged. "Warriors of the martial arts are not traitors. In fact, they cherish justice and gallantry, contributing more to the realm’s peace than anyone." "Justice and gallantry? What a joke. The two words together form the term 'chivalry,' which surely even you understand the meaning of, don't you?" Justice and gallantry were favorable, but chivalry(義俠) was scarcely a positive term in Zhongyuan. Chivalry in Qing’s homeland interpreted as rogues, thugs, gangsters, and organized criminals. "No, it isn't. Right now, righteous martial artists, or rather, chivalrous warriors, are striving for peace across the realm, so please, refrain from such utterances—" "Ha ha ha..." The emperor, with a fierce laugh, cut her off again. Now that I think about it, the Empress was just as stubborn in not listening to others, and the saying "Bu Chang Bu Su" comes to mind. Though I’m unsure if this is the right situation to use it. "You are correct. There are good ones among the martial artists, as well as wicked ones who deserve brutal punishment." "Ah." Qing's expression brightened a bit. So, you've been pretending not to listen? Could it be a situation that can be resolved through discussion? But that glimmer of hope was short-lived. "However, regardless of whether they are benevolent knights or vile demons, martial artists are harmful to the world. Their mere existence disrupts peace, so hearing your claims of them benefitting the world made me laugh." The emperor's face was so serene, as if stating an obvious fact. If it had been an expression of pure hatred, I could have dismissed him as mad. But why? "Long ago, a certain oppositionist challenger dared to trespass the Forbidden City, committing a grave atrocity. They even laid hands on the sovereign emperor, threatening him. He had the audacity to lift me by the lapels atop the imperial throne, rambling on about ruling the country better." Qing was already well-versed in the story. The Royal Family's atrocities had grown so severe that, at the time, the Great Celestial Martial Emperor stormed the palace and threatened the emperor with "Straighten up, or else." "Do you know what my ancestor said to that challenger?" "I am listening intently." "My ancestor, with a smile, replied, 'Then I shall hand the Celestial Dynasty over to you. If the strongest under heaven becomes emperor, indeed, peace shall prevail across the realm. Go on—sit upon the emperor's throne and rule over the world.'" This was new information to me. I imagined he would have pleaded for his life pathetically, but if this story is true, then the Great Celestial Martial Emperor was a peculiar man. Likewise, the emperor himself, being lifted by the lapels while laughing and retorting, "Then you become the emperor," showed that he was no ordinary person. "And the challenger said, 'No, I won't. Why would I undertake such a bothersome task? I am already overwhelmed with perfecting myself. Cease your empty words and govern properly.'" "Ah." Well, that makes sense. After all, he was an old man dedicated solely to training himself in life, indulging in vanity only occasionally before junior disciples. Having scoured the Sword Heritage Wall and confirmed the reality of the old Great Celestial Martial Emperor’s legacy, Qing was quite confident in her assertion. "Since then, the Celestial Dynasty and the martial world have become incompatible. Do you understand?" Ah, so ultimately, it boils down to a grudge from an ancestor? Purely a personal or maybe familial, in any case, a private vendetta to obliterate the martial world. How am I supposed to understand this? Am I expected to share this grievance just because I am Yeon Sul, the princess, and thus share lineage with the same forebear? "You haven't understood at all." "Excuse me?” "That expression gives you away. And clearly, having not understood, there is not an ounce of intention in you to conform." "But, to act for such a reason—" "You were always like this. Shaking with fear of your father, yet never changing your behavior because inside, you never found it wrong. To you, it was merely unwarranted scolding. Even after losing your memory, that inclination remains." Yeon Sul used to enjoy playing freely with the servants, treating them like family beyond the usual bounds. Despite repeated scolding from the emperor, who insisted that a person of dignity must uphold authority, and a princess must remain above others to command respect. Yet, Yeon Sul would agree only in his presence, never changing her ways. Because, to Yeon Sul, it simply wasn't right. She held the belief that affection should be given to those who care for her, irrespective of their status. Everything she did was the same. Whether with her mother or nanny, she behaved unruly to the point where even an eight-year-old wouldn’t be so presumptuous. To Yeon Sul, such antics were akin to filial piety, keeping her mother happy and herself content, which was all that mattered. She even ventured out of the palace secretly. With the support of eunuchs and officials who were all on her side, a few days of persistent pleading eventually led to her outing. Naturally, the presence of the Celestial Dynasty's princess outside the palace posed a grave danger to the populace, as an incident would be unimaginable. However, for Yeon Sul, the notion was simple: what harm could possibly befall a brief excursion in the sacred realm of the Forbidden City? Moreover, she sought out swordsmanship training from the guards. She couldn’t comprehend why learning swordsmanship as a princess, without intent to harm, and merely for enjoyment, should be forbidden. She did what she deemed right and never yielded, and refrained from doing what she perceived as wrong. "Of course, I doubt you possessed that strong a conviction. However, your very nature was like that. If something could not convince you, it was merely interference and nagging." Well, seems the emperor knew about my martial arts training too. That’s expected given it was in the Forbidden City. Anyway, hearing all this, it’s clear how stubborn and nonconforming Yeon Sul was—a real pain, in other words. "You must understand the harm the martial world poses. Why it must be eradicated, and how its existence threatens the world." "I'm listening intently." The emperor paused, choosing his words carefully. His fingers gently tapped on the opulent armrest of the imperial throne (the emperor's chair) as if recalling his thoughts. And soon after, the emperor spoke. "The challenger should have bowed to the emperor's authority. Failing that, he should never have dared to lay hands on the emperor." "......I respectfully ask why." "Do you know who the emperor is? The celestial mission bestowed upon our bloodline, the duty inscribed in our lineage, do you understand the kind of rule a Celestial emperor must impart?" Wait, you're trying to explain yet resort to immediate questioning? As Qing stammered, the emperor's gaze reflected a knowing look, tinged with a sense of disappointment. Qing felt a surge of frustration at that moment. The emperor continued, answering his own question with a solemn voice. "The emperor is one who exists above the people."