“I want to help Princess Yuya. If there’s any way to do so, please let me know!”
In truth, Jang Yi’s request was utterly ridiculous. There’s a limit to vague thoughts; what could one accomplish with mere enthusiasm?
People treated Jang Yi like a crazy guy and turned him down, but there were still some who stayed by his side.
They, too, were unable to turn away due to their heavy hearts.
They realized something while looking at Jang Yi. The way to shake off the sorrow in their hearts was not through sighs and worries but through action.
Eventually, dozens gathered, and they began brainstorming together.
“The biggest problem Princess Yuya is facing right now is her potential deposition. Since she has broken the imperial laws, it wouldn’t be surprising if she loses her royal status.”
Among them, there were not only those like Jang Yi who had come up to Nangyang but also members from illustrious clans, well-read scholars, and locals who had grown up in Nangyang.
“So what means do we have to prevent Princess Yuya’s deposition? Please speak your opinions freely.”
“What about visiting the high-ranking officials and making a request?”
“There might be some who would support Princess Yuya. But I’m not sure if anyone would change their minds just because we plead.”
“What about submitting a petition?”
“Petitions usually get pushed to the back when significant national matters arise. It’s likely we won’t reach the court until Princess Yuya’s situation is somewhat decided.”
Many suggestions were thrown around, but ultimately, they could only choose one path.
“Indeed, it seems we have no choice but to offer tribute.”
They would offer tribute in Princess Yuya’s name. By doing so, they would let the imperial family know their intentions.
Even though a conclusion had been reached, people’s faces remained grim.
Neither officials nor members of prominent families were present, so this was the only way for them to communicate their stance to the imperial family, yet with just the people gathered here; it was clear they wouldn’t be effective.
It would be overly optimistic to expect a change in the imperial family’s stance with just a handful of them expressing their intent.
So more people’s participation was needed.
Ultimately, they had to persuade others to contribute tributes, but that was by no means an easy task.
This was immediately after it became known that Geum Myeong-wol was Princess Yuya and Hyeok Gi-rin. There would be many shocked or feeling betrayed by this revelation; who would easily offer tribute for Princess Yuya?
“Everyone, let’s stay strong.”
Jang Yi spoke up to lighten the mood.
“Whew, honestly, it feels overwhelming. Those related to Nangyang might persuade their acquaintances, but what about outsiders like me?”
“Exactly. Should we grab random passersby and beg?”
“There are many from various regions gathered here in Nangyang. We could grab someone who looks like they’re from our home and fire them up for the region’s pride.”
As grievances poured forth, Jang Yi spoke with determination.
“The fellow named Jang from Gwangju is offering tribute for Princess Yuya. Even if I’m the only one submitting tribute, I’ll do it.”
It was a statement dripping with genuine determination, encouraging the murmurers to nod and regain their resolve.
“…Alright! Let’s give it a try!”
Those with ties to Nangyang scattered, while those from outside formed small groups as they dispersed. Watching them scatter, Jang Yi muttered to himself.
“It better go well…”
After expressing his worries out loud, Jang Yi couldn’t help but chuckle. Who cared about each other’s worries? In fact, Jang Yi was in a situation where he also had to face things head-on without any strategy, just like those he just parted ways with.
So it was time for Jang Yi to stop worrying about others and focus on his own tasks, bringing his gaze to those who would move with him.
There was a man with a hat hiding his face, yet it somehow seemed incredibly natural and mysterious.
“Let’s get moving as well.”
“Indeed.”
The one place Jang Yi felt most confident to speak was the inn, so the two made their way to the nearest one.
The inn was already bustling with chatter about Princess Yuya’s news. Jang Yi’s gaze landed on a group of people eavesdropping intently on the surrounding conversations. They seemed to be merchants traveling between Nangyang and other regions.
As those who could benefit from fresh information, they looked quite thirsty for news.
“Seems like you’re interested in today’s happenings. How about I buy you a drink? I just heard directly from the proclamation platform.”
The merchant nodded enthusiastically.
“I was just feeling frustrated by all the chaotic rumors. I’ll buy plenty of drinks, so please, share your story.”
The details of Princess Yuya’s life were far too lengthy and complex to compress into a few sentences. Rumors typically left behind only the core elements and sensational aspects, but the lengthy speech given by Princess Yuya today was, in fact, the essence of everything, making it difficult for anyone to grasp the context from mere snippets overheard.
“I’m someone who came from the provinces just to hear Geum Myeong-wol’s explanation. But when I got to the proclamation platform today, wasn’t it some royal alongside Seo Gong instead of Geum Myeong-wol?”
Jang Yi began pouring out everything that had happened that day with all his might.
Even if the content was the same, how immersive the story became could vary depending on the teller.
In this sense, Jang Yi was quite the decent storyteller.
Understanding the character of Geum Myeong-wol and the rumors surrounding him, he was able to express everything clearly without hesitation. Unlike others who were preoccupied with relaying the news they had just learned, his well-honed storytelling skills shone through as he shared various rumors with the inn’s guests.
At first, Jang Yi was telling his story to a few merchants, but soon enough, a considerable number of patrons were hanging on his every word.
“That’s what happened today.”
“Whoa! So that’s how things unfolded!”
As soon as Jang Yi finished, someone immediately raised a question.
“So what about Geum Myeong-wol, um, I mean the princess? What will happen to her?”
That was exactly the question Jang Yi had been waiting for.
“Well, my knowledge on imperial law is limited, but I’ve heard that she won’t be able to escape severe punishment.”
“Whoa.”
“How tragic, isn’t it? She left the imperial family for the Huang Nation, and even then, she did much good in the Martial World.”
With Jang Yi’s lament, the guests nodded in agreement.
“True, that can’t be right.”
“It’s a shame.”
Seeing the hospitable reaction, Jang Yi decided to lay out his strategy.
“Perhaps that’s why there are people gathered at the proclamation platform, trying to take action for Princess Yuya. They believe that if they offer tribute to the imperial family, it would support her.”
“Whoa, is that so?”
However, the reactions of those at the inn were lukewarm. They responded as if to say there were all sorts of oddballs around and just kept discussing their views on Jang Yi’s recounting of today’s events without showing any interest in helping Princess Yuya or contributing tribute.
Biting his lip at such reactions, Jang Yi asked those who had just expressed sorrow over Princess Yuya’s predicament.
“Would you consider lending your strength to Princess Yuya?”
“…Are you talking about tribute?”
Pointed out by Jang Yi, those people looked reluctant.
“Shouldn’t this be for the high-ups to handle?”
“While it’s unfortunate, going to offer tribute seems a bit…”
“What good would it do?”
The responses were completely devoid of any will to take action. Jang Yi opened his mouth again to persuade them, but then turned his head at the hand placed on his shoulder.
It was the Hat-wearing Guy who had decided to accompany him.
“Brother Jang, we’ve been treated to drinks; let’s head back now.”
Jang Yi noticed the hostile atmosphere in the inn from the subtle shake of the Hat-wearing Guy’s head.
Offering tribute was ultimately tied to wealth-related matters. Jang Yi’s obsession with tribute made him seem almost as if he were trying to extract money through deception, prompting the inn’s guests to become wary of him.
Capturing the wary glances of the guests, Jang Yi let out a deep sigh. Though the atmosphere had formed, he suspected he had hurriedly pushed people too hard and scared them away.
“Let’s try another inn.”
While reflecting on his blunder, Jang Yi moved toward a different inn. This time, he found someone who looked sufficiently prosperous and approached him to share his story. Having gathered experience, Jang Yi found himself better able to sway the atmosphere of the inn, filled with newfound hope.
This time, he believed he could definitely elicit a response from the patrons.
However, Jang Yi’s hopes quickly turned into disappointment.
Recalling his earlier mistakes, he gently hinted at wanting to assist Princess Yuya and discussed tribute, but once again, no one showed any interest in his words.
Instead, after finishing his tale, the noise of other uncoordinated impressions drowned his voice, sweeping away any trace of his efforts.
Bearing the sting of his second failure, Jang Yi clenched his teeth.
At the third inn, starting similarly to the previous ones, Jang Yi suddenly stood up after finishing his tale and shouted.
“We can’t just leave Princess Yuya like this! How can we idly watch her in such a predicament? Let’s express our intentions by offering tribute to the imperial family!”
At his sudden outburst, the pace of the inn’s atmosphere quickly chilled, and the Jeomsois charged in, dragging Jang Yi outside and throwing him down.
As he lay sprawled on the ground, Jang Yi thought.
What on earth must he do to save Geum Myeong-wol, to save Princess Yuya?
With no apparent strategy, all that emerged were sighs.
“Are you alright?”
As he sighed and looked toward the sky, a Hat-wearing figure unexpectedly blocked his view. Realizing it was the one who had been with him, Jang Yi simply nodded silently.
Having only watched from the sidelines, the sight of the Hat-wearing Guy appearing unscathed made Jang Yi feel a twinge of resentment towards his own situation, where he had been dragged out and tossed around. Yet he soon found himself chuckling at it.
Would anything change even if the Hat-wearing Guy had intervened? The failure would have been the same, and the Hat-wearing Guy would likely be dragged along with him too.
As Jang Yi calmed his own thoughts, the Hat-wearing Guy stretched out his hand toward him.
“You’re truly enthusiastic. Have you received some sort of favor from Geum Myeong-wol, perhaps?”
Jang Yi forced a smile and shook his head.
“Ah, I almost wish that were true. If that were the case, persuading people would have been much easier.”
“So are you moving only with a heart full of admiration for Geum Myeong-wol?”
“Well, if you want to get technical, it’s not quite that.”
“Wow, your fan enthusiasm is remarkable. If you’re like that, you ought to be the president.”
“What did you just say?”
“Oh, nothing at all. Anyway, be quick and get up. The ground is cold.”
Jang Yi took the Hat-wearing Guy’s hand, who seemed quite satisfied as he helped him up. Seemingly pleased with Jang Yi’s response, the Hat-wearing Guy energetically moved to dust off the dirt from Jang Yi’s clothes and spoke.
“This is no easy matter. There were so many people at the announcement; thus, I thought the rumors would have spread throughout Nangyang, yet there are surprisingly few who seem to know the truth.”
“…Oh.”
Hearing the Hat-wearing Guy’s words, Jang Yi finally understood why he hadn’t achieved any result until now.
The actions of Jang Yi, who wanted to help Geum Myeong-wol, and of those who agreed with him were a reflection of the lengthy story Princess Yuya had shared.
Then, how about the patrons at the inn who had only received the condensed version of the story through Jang Yi’s mouth? It was indeed overly optimistic to expect those who had only recently learned of Princess Yuya’s news to immediately come forward and join his cause.
With this new insight, Jang Yi’s mind began to race.
So, what should be done to gather comrades willing to offer tribute? Should he actively spread the news of what had happened at the proclamation platform even faster and more accurately?
Suddenly, the inn’s scene replayed in Jang Yi’s mind. There were plenty of people who, despite their lack of eloquence, were earnestly spreading rumors. Even at this very moment, thousands and thousands of mouths in Nangyang were sharing today’s events, so would adding just one more mouth to that mix really hold weight?
Amidst these swirling thoughts, the Hat-wearing Guy’s grumbling echoed in Jang Yi’s ear.
“I wonder where all those crowds from across the nation have gone…”
“…This is it.”
“Huh?”
“That’s exactly it!”
Jang Yi clenched his fist. How had he overlooked this simple truth for so long!
Jang Yi realized that merely speaking to the scattered individuals from the proclamation platform could have brought together several allies. Considering he hadn’t gathered even a single ally in three recounts across three inns, the answer was practically laid out for him.
Persuading an indefinite number of random people who might have some interest in Geum Myeong-wol would be far less efficient than convincing those who have a definite interest in her.
“I must find those who have come up to Nangyang just to hear Geum Myeong-wol’s words!”
The Hat-wearing Guy was taken aback for a moment by Jang Yi’s sudden enthusiasm and hesitated before asking.
“But where will you find them? From what I heard at the previous inns, there were very few who had come directly from the proclamation platform.”
“I will find them.”
A mouse knows its own hole best. Although the guests might assume inns do not differentiate between patrons, and all inns appear alike, Jang Yi, who had spent his whole life in the inn trade, clearly envisioned the inn situation in Nangyang.
The inns they had just left were all quite close to the proclamation platform. Therefore, when news spread about Geum Myeong-wol addressing the suspicious allegations of the inspector, those who frequently frequented inns nearby would have secured their rooms well in advance, anticipating lodging problems.
Given that situation, it would be almost impossible for someone who came up to listen to Geum Myeong-wol’s explanation to find a room at the inns near the proclamation platform.
So where did they all go?
Nangyang was vast and full of inns, but Jang Yi knew the answer.
“Let’s head to Chilbong Inn.”
The Hat-wearing Guy and Jang Yi headed toward the largest inn in Nangyang, no, in the Central Plains.
