Post by velvet inkbrush of YiSoonShin on Jul 4, 2004 20:07:42 GMT -5
ji soon was in no mood to see his younger brothers, but ji kwang kept insisting that having a drink with them would do him some good in raising his spirits. not really wanting to argue, ji soon agreed and rode to ja oon sun's house with his youngest brother. upon arriving, ji young, having been coached on what to say, greeted his brother at the door.
"hyung nim!" he said affably, "come in come in!" he patted his brother on the back and ushered him into the sitting room where a pretty assortment of dishes and wine were already waiting. after ji soon had sat down, ja oon sun poured him some wine and began playing soft music. "ji young sat next to his brother and said in the friendliest tone he ever used," hyung nim, I heard what that bastard choi bu did to you." he shook his head. "i never liked him, but this really is going too far."
ji soon sipped his wine and nodded. "i mean, you're the crown prince! why wouldn't this girl be ecstatic about your interest in her."
ji soon sighed as his brother refilled his cup. "she loves choi bu, not me."
"what does choi bu have that you don't?" ji young prodded. "i mean, he's a low born general and he can't even read. but you are the next in line for the throne!" can't this girl see how foolish she is being?" ji young noticed that his brother was starting to look more receptive. "i am willing to bet that if this girl were forced into marrying you, that eventually she would realize that you are a superior man and forget all about choi bu."
"really?" ji soon asked.
"hyung nim" ji young said as if the question was silly, "you are the first son of the imperial dragon. the next emperor of the shilla dynasty and an illustrious warrior. how could she NOT learn to love you?"
ji soon considered it. "but father has been friends with general choi for so long. if he knows that choi loves chang bi too, he will never issue the decree."
ji young smiled. it was happening exactly as ho gwon said it would. "well, do you really want to be without this girl?" when ji soon shook his head, he added, "could you be emperor and see choi bu every day knowing that he was bedding her every night?"
at this ji soon's eyes flashed in anger. he smacked a fist on the table at the thought. "no, i couldn't bear that" he muttered.
"but hyung nim", ji young wheedled, "father wants you as heir more than anything. he couldn't spend the rest of his reign in peace if you were to even consider abdicating your position."
ji soon looked as if the idea had just hit him instead of having been planted. "if i tell father that i will not ascend the throne unless he issues the decree, then he will have to put his longtime friendship with choi bu aside and give me what i want!"
"that's right, brother" ji young agreed. "and over time, she will see how ridiculous it was that she even gave choi bu a second thought."
ji soon nodded in agreement. pushing his chair back, he stood up. "i will tell father right now!" he said resolutely.
"hyung nim wait!' ji young warned. "you cannot simply anger choi bu like this without gaining enough support in the military. you must bring soldiers who are faithful to you, the taeja, under your banner and build a strong force that will prevent choi bu from retaliating."
thinking about it, ji soon thought it a good idea. "thank you ji young" he said.
Ji young called for im ho gwon. "hyung nim," he said, "this is my right hand man im ho gwon." ho gwon bowed and assumed his usual ramrod straight posture. "he is a great warrior as well as a keenly intelligent man. he has done great things for me in my service, but out of respect for your cause, i am turning him over to you. if you make hima general in the army, i know that soldiers will line up to join you."
ji soon looked at this man. he had to admit, though not a very large man, there was something in his demeanor that commanded respect. he could see how such a man in a general's uniform could inspire men to a cause. "very well" he said. "ji young, i will not forget this act of kindness on your part. and i will try to convince father to bring you back to the imperial city so that you will not have to be separated from your servant too long."
"hyung nim" ji young said bowing, "you grant me too much."
ji young patted his brother fondly on the shoulder. "no, you have done more for me than you know. ho gwon, come with me. you aer my new first in command."
ho gwon shot a look at ji young, who smiled evilly back at him. "as you wish taeja chun hwa" he said bowing deeply.
"hyung nim!" he said affably, "come in come in!" he patted his brother on the back and ushered him into the sitting room where a pretty assortment of dishes and wine were already waiting. after ji soon had sat down, ja oon sun poured him some wine and began playing soft music. "ji young sat next to his brother and said in the friendliest tone he ever used," hyung nim, I heard what that bastard choi bu did to you." he shook his head. "i never liked him, but this really is going too far."
ji soon sipped his wine and nodded. "i mean, you're the crown prince! why wouldn't this girl be ecstatic about your interest in her."
ji soon sighed as his brother refilled his cup. "she loves choi bu, not me."
"what does choi bu have that you don't?" ji young prodded. "i mean, he's a low born general and he can't even read. but you are the next in line for the throne!" can't this girl see how foolish she is being?" ji young noticed that his brother was starting to look more receptive. "i am willing to bet that if this girl were forced into marrying you, that eventually she would realize that you are a superior man and forget all about choi bu."
"really?" ji soon asked.
"hyung nim" ji young said as if the question was silly, "you are the first son of the imperial dragon. the next emperor of the shilla dynasty and an illustrious warrior. how could she NOT learn to love you?"
ji soon considered it. "but father has been friends with general choi for so long. if he knows that choi loves chang bi too, he will never issue the decree."
ji young smiled. it was happening exactly as ho gwon said it would. "well, do you really want to be without this girl?" when ji soon shook his head, he added, "could you be emperor and see choi bu every day knowing that he was bedding her every night?"
at this ji soon's eyes flashed in anger. he smacked a fist on the table at the thought. "no, i couldn't bear that" he muttered.
"but hyung nim", ji young wheedled, "father wants you as heir more than anything. he couldn't spend the rest of his reign in peace if you were to even consider abdicating your position."
ji soon looked as if the idea had just hit him instead of having been planted. "if i tell father that i will not ascend the throne unless he issues the decree, then he will have to put his longtime friendship with choi bu aside and give me what i want!"
"that's right, brother" ji young agreed. "and over time, she will see how ridiculous it was that she even gave choi bu a second thought."
ji soon nodded in agreement. pushing his chair back, he stood up. "i will tell father right now!" he said resolutely.
"hyung nim wait!' ji young warned. "you cannot simply anger choi bu like this without gaining enough support in the military. you must bring soldiers who are faithful to you, the taeja, under your banner and build a strong force that will prevent choi bu from retaliating."
thinking about it, ji soon thought it a good idea. "thank you ji young" he said.
Ji young called for im ho gwon. "hyung nim," he said, "this is my right hand man im ho gwon." ho gwon bowed and assumed his usual ramrod straight posture. "he is a great warrior as well as a keenly intelligent man. he has done great things for me in my service, but out of respect for your cause, i am turning him over to you. if you make hima general in the army, i know that soldiers will line up to join you."
ji soon looked at this man. he had to admit, though not a very large man, there was something in his demeanor that commanded respect. he could see how such a man in a general's uniform could inspire men to a cause. "very well" he said. "ji young, i will not forget this act of kindness on your part. and i will try to convince father to bring you back to the imperial city so that you will not have to be separated from your servant too long."
"hyung nim" ji young said bowing, "you grant me too much."
ji young patted his brother fondly on the shoulder. "no, you have done more for me than you know. ho gwon, come with me. you aer my new first in command."
ho gwon shot a look at ji young, who smiled evilly back at him. "as you wish taeja chun hwa" he said bowing deeply.