78 Torture 1 (1/2)
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 relations.h.i.+p between Yeoju and Yeorip.
Cahnggweon was not a very famous man.
How could he know about his daughter?
Furthermore, n.o.body 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 Yas.h.i.+ro in the house of Seongyong, Ganghyuk did not say anything. He kept quiet. When he spoke out his opinion on the relations.h.i.+p with j.a.pan, 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 Lords.h.i.+p.”
”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 Lords.h.i.+p.”
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 Lords.h.i.+p? 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 Lords.h.i.+p.”
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, n.o.body 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 embarra.s.sed at this situation.
”You are honored to see me?”
”Yes, your Lords.h.i.+p.”
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.”