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Chapter 78: Torture [1]

Jeong Yeorip.

The name made him frightened when it was from Hangbok’s mouth.

It gave him fear.

‘But it seems that he does not know about Yeoju.’

He was sure that he could not know the relationship between Yeoju and Yeorip.

Cahnggweon was not a very famous man.

How could he know about his daughter?

Furthermore, nobody would know his daughter was wearing a man’s costume and roamed around the marketplace.

Ganghyuk answered pretending that he did not know anything at all.

“I am afraid to say that I don’t know who Jeong Yeorip is. Please understanding my ignorance.”

It was not a lie.

He was ignorant of Sino-literature, politics and Confucian scriptures. He would not be interested in Jeong Yeorip, if he was not related with Yeoju.

“Eum.”

Hangbok nodded his head.

He did not say anything further, which made the mood very tensed.

Hangbok tried to remember all the conversations that he made with Ganghyuk.

At first, when he talked about Tachibana Yashiro in the house of Seongyong, Ganghyuk did not say anything. He kept quiet. When he spoke out his opinion on the relationship with Japan, he did not say anything, either. At that time, he thought Ganghyuk was a very quiet person.

But after that, he discovered he was quiet because he did not know much about politics and international relations.

The same situation happened many times since then.

He was very ignorant except with medicine.

“Yes, I understand. You are not much interested in the things other than medicine.”

Ganghyuk almost gave a sigh of relief.

The tension that the silence brought was very big.

Therefore, the sense of relief that he felt when Hangbok made a smile was big as well.

“You must be very careful. If you have any relation with him, it is better to cut it.”

“What on earth is he doing?”

“Heum”

Hangbok gave a sigh without giving an answer.

He tapped Ganghyuk’s shoulder and said.

“I will talk with Lord Ryu Seongyong today. I wanted to make sure that you were not related with them. Anyway, you told me that you did not know him. Regardless of the truth, you must say that answer whenever you are asked the same question. Then you will be safe.”

“Safe?”

“Haha, the Lord is waiting for us. Let’s go in.”

Hangbok went in leaving a questionable statement.

Ganghyuk thought of his statement over and over again following him closely.

‘Regardless of the truth? Does he know about Yeoju?’

If he knew, it might be serious. But on a second thought, he was relieved.

Hangbok told Ganghyuk that he would be safe if he answered a no to the question.

That might mean that he would not disclose it, no matter what happened.

Ganghyuk thought that they were in good relations anyway.

“Lord, here is Yeojo Jwarang Lee Hangbok.”

They arrived at the parlor and notified their arrival.

They knew the way very well as they visited him quite frequently.

“Come in.”

The servant opened the door at the command of Seongyong.

Hangbok took off his shoes and went in.

“How are you, your Lordship.”

“Good. Ah. Ganghyuk, you came together.”

Seongyong saw him through the open doors.

He shook his hand smiling.

It meant to come in.

“Come in, Ganghyuk.”

“Yes, your Lordship.”

After he came in, the door was closed.

There was already a man in the room.

It seemed the session started and just now considering the face of Seongyong.

But the old man’s face was already red.

It seemed that he had had drinks before coming to Seongyong.

“Heo, you were here.”

Hangbok stopped when he saw the old man.

It seemed the old man was a person with status.

‘Then, I should be polite.’

He bent his body.

He tried to show every courtesy that he could make.

“May I introduce myself to your Lordship? I am Baik Ganghyuk.”

The old man laughed.

Seongyong introduced him to Ganghyuk.

“This is Lord Jeong Cheol who serves as Wueijeong [Vice Prime Minister in Joseon].”

“Lord Jeong Cheol! I am honored to meet you, your Lordship.”

Ganghyuk knew Jeong Cheol very well.

He took the national exam to go to college in that world and Jeong Cheol was a man that every high school student in Korea had to know.

He wrote many literary works.

He composed various poems and verses when he was exiled in provinces as he got hatred from King Seonjo.

Ganghyuk could recite his works.

“See, he said the word again. He told you that he was honored. Haha.”

“Yes, you are right. He said exactly same thing you had told me.”

Ryu Seongyong and Jeong Cheol laughed together.

Ganghyuk wanted to explain why he told that statement whenever he met people.

‘Whenever I meet someone, he came to be a great man in the history. Therefore, I could not help saying the word of ‘Honor’. I mean it.’

Ganghyuk could not explain his situation.

Even though he tried, nobody would believe him.

How could they believe that he was from the future.

There were too many great men in the ear of King Seonjo.

It might be because it was a turbulent age.

It is said that a hero is born in a turbulent age.

Jeong Cheol asked Ganghyuk who was embarrassed at this situation.

“You are honored to see me?”

“Yes, your Lordship.”

He was the vice prime minister.

There were only three people who were called Jeongseung. Yeonguijeong was the prime minister and Jwaeuijeong and Wueuijeong were vice prime ministers.

Thinking that Ganghyuk did not have any office yet, he was a kind of untouchable.

It is better to bend the whole body.

“Do you know something about me?”

“Eo, well.”

When he hesitated, Seongyong and Hangbok laughed together.

“I told you, Lord. It is his habit.”

“He told me the same thing. I haven’t done anything great to be told such statement.”

Great men of the times, Hangbok and Seongyong laughed looking at Ganghyuk.

They told each other that they were not great men to be respected.

‘They really don’t know who they are.’

Ganghyuk knew their future but he could not tell them what he knew.

While he kept silent while they were pulling his legs, he thought of ‘Samiingok’ [A verse written by Jeong Cheol].

He memorized the parts in a textbook when he took the national exam.

As he memorized thoroughly, he could remember the part until then.

“I can recite Samiingok, your Lordship. I cannot forget it because I was moved.”

“Really, do you memorize Samiingo? Not many people know the work.”

At that moment, he was afraid if he made a mistake.

‘Did he show it to the King only?’

But looking at his face, it might not be the case.

He was looking at him with satisfaction.

“Ok, then, can you recite it?”

“Yes, your Lordship.”

Ganghyuk cleared his throat.

‘Ok, try my best.’

He tried to remember the verse, and he could remember the verse very well.

He was a clever boy.

“When I live my life, I follow you as my lover.

It was not a simple karma.

I was young then, and you loved me much.

There is nothing that can be compared to your love.”

It was the preface that he memorized by his heart.

Jeong Cheol’s face became brighter.

Seongyong and Hangbok showed surprise on their faces.

They met Ganghyuk many times, but they had never known that Ganghyuk could recite Sino-literature. He could not read some difficult characters, so they had never thought that he was intelligent.

“Heo, this person.”

“You could recite a poem.”

“I thought Yungil bluffed when he said you wrote a good poem.”

In their conversations, Ganghyuk could know how they thought of him.

‘I am ignorant of Confucianism, actually.’

He could not tell them, Confucianism was not so important in the world that he had lived.

Most of the doctors in the modern world would not know how to read and write Chinese characters.

They had no time to learn other things than medicine.

As they had too many things to remember and think of, they might ignore other things that would not be related with their major.

‘I was lucky to remember the verse.’

Ganghyuk could recite the whole piece of Samiingok.

As it was very long, even Jeong Cheol might make mistakes.

But he could recite it from the beginning to the end without making mistakes.

“Haha, I like you.”

Jeong Cheol laughed broadly.

It was natural. Who would not like the one who could recite his poem or verse?

As far as they knew, Ganghyuk was not good at literature.

Seongyon was surprised at the talent that Ganghyuk showed.

“Heo, you liked the Lord Jeong Cheol’s poem very much. I did not know it.”

“Yes, you recited it wonderfully.”

“No, it’s nothing. The poem was too good to forget, your Lordship. Thank you for your praise.”

The mood of the room became better.

Jeong Cheol poured a drink in Ganghyuk’s glass.

“Haha, Seongyong. He is a charming guy.”

“That is why I got him close to me.”

“When I heard from you, I thought he was good at medicine only, but it seems that he has talent in literature, too.”

It was funny to say that he had talent in literature, because it was reciting not creating a poem. But Ganghyuk did not make an objection to it.

He thought that he must stop here.

His hunch was right.

Hangbok opened his mouth again and talked about Jeong Yeorip.

“Your Lordship, you remember Jeong Yeorip.”

“Yes, is there any news?”

Jeong Cheol asked right away, while Seongyong kept silent.

Although he was close to Jeong Cheol, Seongyong belonged to Dongin.

As Jeong Yeorip was a Dongin, Seongyong could not be free from the misbehaviors of Yeorip.

“I heard that some of the Daedonggye members came to Hanyang and tried to expand their force.”

“Is that so? Not only to Hwanghaedo?”

“Yes, they operate a performance group under the name of Gwanghee.”

“A performance group?”

Hangbok and Jeong Cheol were talking and Seongyong was listening to their conversation.

Ganghyuk could not join their conversation, so he rubbed his glass only.

“I accidentally caught the Pyeonsu of the performance group with the help of Ganghyuk.”

“Really, he might have a talent in martial art, too.”

It seemed Hangbok would not give him disadvantages. He tried to give credit to Ganghyuk.

‘It is nice of him to say that.’

Ganghyuk left the glass on the table and bent his head.

“It was a coincidence.”

Hangbok tapped shoulders of Ganghyuk and looked at Jeong Cheol again.

“The Pyeonsu was stubborn and my people had difficulties to get information from him.”

“How did you know that he was related with Jeong Yeorip?”

“I heard it in the marketplace. After that, it was witnessed that a person named Byon Sungbok contacted the performance group.”

“But there are no firm evidences. If a nobleman operates a performance group, it can be blamed as a personal defect, but it cannot be considered as a crime.”

Jeong Cheol told based on the principles and there was nothing to be objected.

Seongyong became relaxed with the comment of Jeong Cheol.

“Yes, Hangbok. You might be too sensitive.”

“But it is very strange that the Peyonsu did not open his mouth at all. I think I must get some information from him.”

“If he did not confess, is there any way to get information from him?”

Hangbok was Yejo Jwarang.

He must report everything to Ryu Seongyong, as he was the Yejo Panseo. [Minister of Courtesy]

He had already known what Lee Hangbok had done to Pyeonsu.

The Pyeonsu was tortured as if he were a traitor.

“There are some methods.”

“Really? Do you have a method to make him open his mouth?”

Seongyong asked without gladness.

Hangbok looked back at Ganghyuk.

“I heard that Ganghyuk was good at torture.”