Myeonghyeon Ryang sat at his meticulously organized desk, his tasks completed, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. He wondered if he should invite Sobi to join him. Though he had never been one to care much for appearances, the thought of being seen with Sobi made him strangely self-conscious. Perhaps it was because he was more sensitive to gossip than he cared to admit. He chuckled wryly, remembering Dara's bold advances and his own inability to resist them.

He pushed aside these thoughts and rose from his seat. "Why not?" he muttered to himself, gathering his meager belongings and heading out. He ignored the curious glances from the Emissaries he passed in the corridor. He knocked on Sobi's door, and she emerged, her eyes downcast.

"High Councilor."

"My sister invited you to Nahmgyo, I heard," Ryang began without preamble.

"She did," Sobi confirmed.

"I'm leaving now. I'll be staying there for a night before returning to Wicheong. Would you care to join me?"

Sobi hesitated. Though she was relieved to be free of her duties, she was still technically confined. The silence stretched, and Ryang's hopes dwindled.

"I would be honored to accompany you, High Councilor," Sobi finally replied.

Ryang's face brightened. "Excellent. I'll wait for you outside."

He paced outside her door while Sobi gathered her things. She emerged a few moments later, dressed in ordinary clothes, a stark contrast to the white robes of the Emissaries. Though the color suited her, Ryang couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the sight of her without her official attire. The white robes of the Emissaries had always been a symbol of their separation, a reminder of the chasm that lay between them.

Thankfully, they didn't encounter any other Emissaries on their way to the entrance. Five soldiers, dressed in ordinary clothes, escorted them as they rode towards Nahmgyo. Ryang kept the soldiers at a distance, the morning mist shrouding their small procession in an eerie silence. They weren't close, and Ryang, never one for small talk, struggled to find the right words to comfort her. But he couldn't allow the silence to stretch all the way to Nahmgyo.

"Have you ever been to Nahmgyo?" he asked.

"No," Sobi replied flatly.

Ryang, a bit embarrassed by her curt response, asked again. "Where are you from?"

"A small fishing village near Dongrahng."

"Is your family still there?"

"My parents were." Her voice remained devoid of emotion.

Ryang fell silent. Most of the Emissaries were orphans, so her response wasn't unusual. But it still saddened him.

In the days of the Wi Dynasty, becoming an Emissary Divine was a demanding path. But the rewards were great. But after the fall of Wi, those rewards vanished, and the path to becoming an Emissary became less arduous. Now, the only rewards were the pride of serving Sahngjon and the guarantee of food and shelter, and even those were only possible thanks to the support of House Myeonghyeon. To maintain their numbers, the Ministry took in orphans and those in need, and men like Cheongro, with their silver tongues, lured them into the fold. But Ryang believed that Sobi, at least, wasn't one of those swayed by Cheongro's empty promises.

"If you don't mind my asking," Ryang began, "how did you come to Wicheong?"

Sobi offered a polite smile. "Perhaps another time, High Councilor."

Ryang, sensing her reluctance, fell silent. But the silence stretched, and Sobi, too, felt the awkwardness. Sobi, breaking the silence, spoke.

"Your generosity has brought great comfort to the Ministry," Sobi began. Though it was Seon who had delivered the compensation, Sobi seemed to believe it was Ryang's doing. Ryang didn't correct her.

"I did it for you," Ryang admitted. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Why are you being so kind?" Sobi asked.

"As I said before, trust is mutual," Ryang replied.

He noticed that Sobi had fallen behind. He turned to see her horse standing still, her eyes filled with suspicion. He reined in his horse and rode towards her.

Ryang stopped in front of her. "Are you going to let someone like Cheongro control the Ministry?" he asked.

Stolen story; please report.

"The High Emissary Divine is our leader," Sobi replied. "Even if the Second Emissary is difficult..."

Ryang interrupted her. "I hesitate to say this, knowing your respect for the High Emissary," Ryang began, "but he's not a strong leader. Cheongro runs rampant, and the High Emissary allows it. He's pure, but weak. The Ministry needs you. Especially now, with the arrival of the Guardian Crimson."

"And what do you gain from this?" Sobi asked.

Ryang met her gaze. "A trustworthy ally," he replied.

"I serve the High Emissary Divine," Sobi declared. "I won't betray him."

"I'm not talking about you," Ryang said. "I'm talking about the Ministry."

Sobi fell silent, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. Ryang nudged his horse forward, and they continued in silence.

They arrived at Nahmgyo shortly after midday. Sobi, who had been unusually quiet during the journey, seemed to come alive as they entered the bustling streets, her eyes darting around, taking in the sights and sounds. Ryang led her through the back entrance, towards the family quarters. He couldn't bear the thought of exposing her to the chaos of the main entrance, where courtesans and merchants jostled for attention. Seon met them at the gate, her face breaking into a warm smile as she saw Sobi.

"Welcome," she greeted them. "I trust your journey was pleasant?"

Sobi, as she had with Ryang, offered a polite smile in response. "Thank you for the invitation."

Dara, standing behind Seon, bowed her head to Ryang. "Welcome back, My Lord."

Ryang, feeling a strange mix of awkwardness and guilt in Dara's presence, simply nodded in acknowledgment. Seon, sensing the tension, quickly ushered them inside.

"Let's not stand on ceremony," she said. "Come in and rest. Dara, show her to her chamber."

"Yes, My Lady."

Sobi followed Dara, and Ryang and Seon retreated to their own rooms.

Inside his chambers, Ryang loosened his tightly bound robes and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. Exhaustion washed over him, and he quickly drifted off to sleep. He was awakened by Seon's frantic voice.

"Brother!" she exclaimed, entering his chamber abruptly.

Ryang sat up and quickly adjusted his robes. "What is it?" he asked sharply.

"There are three warships entering the harbor! It's the princess!"

Ryang's brow furrowed. "What? Why?"

"How should I know?"

"What is the Lady doing?"

"The gates are closed, and she's mobilizing troops."

"Troops?"

What is Seolyo Jin planning? The princess's sudden arrival was unexpected, but Jin's reaction seemed excessive. Seon pressed him for answers.

"What's going on?" she asked anxiously. "Is something wrong?"

"Keep an eye on the situation," Ryang instructed.

"I've already sent U’nso to the south gate."

"Where's the Third Emissary?"

"She's resting in her chamber."

"Stay with her. Just in case."

Seon nodded and hurried out. Ryang waited anxiously for news, but Seon didn't return for quite some time. When she finally reappeared, she was accompanied by a soldier from Jin. The soldier recounted the events at the south gate, the tense exchange between the princess and Jin. The siblings listened in silence, their faces grim.

"What do we do?" Seon finally asked. "She'll be here soon."

"We'll have to confront her," Ryang said. "Gather our guards and hide beneath the tea room. I'll lure the princess there. Listen carefully to what she says, and if anything happens, take the Third Emissary and return to Wicheong immediately. Inform the Guardian of the situation. Do you understand?"

Seon squeezed Ryang's hand reassuringly. "Be careful, brother."

He nodded. Seon rose and hurried out of the room. Moments later, U’nso rushed in, his chest heaving.

"My Lord," he announced, bowing his head, "the princess has arrived and is requesting your presence."

"What did she say?"

"She demanded to see the owner."

"She's inside?"

"Yes. Deep inside."

Ryang sighed. "Tell her I'll be there shortly."

U’nso bowed and left. Ryang took a deep breath and approached the mirror, examining his reflection. He feared if there was any trace of Wicheong Palace clinging to him, any hint of his true identity. He had been careful, living under an assumed name, always aware of the risks. But fear still gnawed at him. He adjusted his hat, straightened his collar, and headed towards the inn.

Yeonyahng of House Myeonghyeon was divided into five sections. At the entrance, there was a pub where courtesans entertained guests with drinks and food, while the upper floor provided services for merchants. Deeper within, there were cramped quarters for lodging, and further in, secluded houses for wealthy guests seeking privacy and entertainment. The last section, before the rear garden, housed the Myeonghyeon merchant company's offices, an area typically inaccessible to ordinary guests. Princess Kyeong'ui and her entourage likely wouldn't have been permitted beyond the outer areas, waiting amidst the cacophony of sounds that echoed day and night. The mere thought of the princess in such an environment was enough to make Ryang uneasy.

As he expected, Ryang found the princess and her entourage waiting just beyond the private quarters. The princess, petite yet imposing in her black robes, stood flanked by two men. Ryang bowed respectfully, his eyes taking in their faces.

"Show your respect," Hongyoo warned.

Hongyoo's face was contorted with disgust, his displeasure evident. He was clearly offended by the inn's chaotic atmosphere and the lewd sounds emanating from the surrounding rooms.

"This is Princess Kyeong'ui," Hongyoo said. "Lower your gaze."

"I know who she is," Ryang replied calmly. "I greeted her at the harbor."

Kyeong'ui's eyes swept over him. "Indeed," she said. "I remember you."

Ryang offered a polite smile. "May I ask what brings you here, Your Highness?"

"Are you Ryang of House Myeonghyeon?" Kyeong'ui asked directly.