NOVEL NEXT Chapter 44
The Supreme Emperor has arrived.
Truly, he has made his entrance.
This is someone who had never once shown his face even in the events of the Hebei Paeng Family, now standing before the Mo Yong Family.
Immediately, people would be thrown into chaos, focusing on the fact that the ‘Supreme Patriarch’ of the Hebei Paeng Family has crossed the threshold of the Mo Yong Family’s gates.
What kind of rumors could arise from this?
“Cut to the chase; the Mo Yong Family and the Hebei Paeng Family shall forge a matrimonial alliance.”
The Emperor declares.
I heard the Emperor’s announcement at a gathering that included the Emperor himself, the head of the Paeng Family, and Mo Yongsan from the Mo Yong Family.
“Shall we recruit two eligible youths from the Mo Yong Family for the marriage? Three would also be fine.”
“What level of martial prowess should we set?”
Mo Yongsan’s face was lit up with laughter as he questioned the Emperor.
It would be normal for him to feel intimidated by the Emperor, but the Emperor, with his thick and abundant hair, was also known for his generosity and kind nature, leaving no room for displeasure at Mo Yongsan’s somewhat excited demeanor.
There was no need for that.
While the discussion of a political marriage between families is at hand, marriage is marriage, even if it serves as an external rationale.
“Are there any children who could enter the Dragon Guild?”
“I’m not trying to brag, but among my children, one has turned twenty this year and is aiming for the ‘Shining Sword Dragon.'”
“Haha, intending to have a title as part of the Dragon Guild from such a young age? Or do you mean to carry on the title from the time when your father was part of the Dragon Guild?”
“It’s not that I’m trying to boast as a father, but he is quite the brave lad with a sense of justice. Although, compared to talented youths from other branches, his skills are somewhat lacking. By the way, the talent from the branch is indeed higher.”
“The biological son of the head of the family and a talented child of the branch… how far can this go?”
“I’m even considering having a son-in-law.”
“Well, that’s settled then.”
The Emperor clapped his hands and chuckled.
“What do you think, Patriarch?”
“Hmm…”
“Of course, I respect your thoughts as the head of the family, but this is a golden opportunity.”
The Emperor asks his son respectfully.
It seemed this was a formal occasion, and the patriarch was none other than the Emperor’s son, ‘Paengrim.’
To speak politely means that the final decision lies with patriarch Paengrim.
“This is truly a complicated matter.”
Paengrim slowly opened his mouth, casting a glance at Mo Yongsan and me.
“Your father is in such a mindset that he is willing to give his granddaughter for the sake of the Mo Yong Family, so I have no means to refuse this political marriage.”
“I apologize, Patriarch Paeng.”
“Think nothing of it, Vice Patriarch Mo Yong.”
Since they were the ones responsible for what could be considered ‘administration’ in their respective families, both seemed to share an understanding, bowing their heads to each other and smiling wryly.
“Father.”
“Yes, my son.”
“These days, if young people enter into a political marriage, it causes quite the uproar.”
“…Hmm?”
The Emperor tilted his head at patriarch Paengrim’s words.
“What’s wrong with a political marriage?”
“These days, all the young folks are falling in love and marrying for love.”
“…”
“The martial world, or rather, the world at large, has changed quite a bit.”
Patriarch Paengrim let out a sigh, almost lamenting.
“It has become exceedingly rare for alliances between families to occur. Young people now confess their feelings to those they like and commonly bring home their beloveds to marry.”
“…”
“Especially among female martial artists, there is even more of a tendency to do so, largely because of the ‘Sickness of Absolute Meridians.'”
Sickness of Absolute Meridians.
It has altered the marriage culture in the central martial arts world.
“A child born between two martial artists is prone to contracting the Absolute Meridian Sickness. Physician Seok Muwol, you understand why, don’t you?”
“The Yang energy of a martial arts father stimulates the Yin energy of a martial arts mother, causing a clash and interaction during conception that leads to the fetus forming a lower dantian.”
A child of martial artists is born with a lower dantian from the moment of birth.
This does not mean that they are ‘genius from birth’; rather, those who do not have a lower dantian tend to experience miscarriage.
“During the ten months of gestation, the fetus continuously receives Yin energy from the mother, causing male infants to be born smaller or more delicate than average.”
In the past decade or so, the youths born anew in central martial arts often appeared as lean and delicate, sometimes even mistaken for females in disguises, rather than robust like the bandits of the Green Forest.
It was due to their inner energy.
The inner energy cultivated by women also influences the fetus, causing them to develop with strong Yin energy.
So what about female infants?
While male infants might counter with their innate Yang energy, female infants who are inherently suited to accumulate Yin energy…
Surely, they tend to accumulate excessive Yin energy and contract the Absolute Meridian Sickness.
To resolve this, prevention is the best method.
One surprising solution exists.
By marrying a non-martial artist male who cannot form inner energy, it could prevent the child from forming a lower dantian from the start.
Of course, this would only help to ‘minimize’ the Absolute Meridian Sickness, not entirely eliminate its manifestation.
If the daughters of the Hebei Paeng family hope to meet suitable men and have healthy children, avoiding martial artists would be the best way to ensure that chance.
However.
“Now that the Absolute Meridian Sickness is no longer a problem, perhaps choosing a ‘past option’ that was previously avoided is a viable method.”
“Indeed. Unions between martial artists. Originally, it was the principle of the martial world that martial artists marry among themselves.”
As long as Physician Seok Muwol’s Extreme Yang Reversal exists to heal, it would make little difference if they bore children contracted with Absolute Meridian Sickness, so why worry?
“Many women of the central martial arts have lit the wedding lamp with non-martial families until now. Especially in the case of the Hebei Paeng family, it was common to marry into families with distinguished public office over several generations. Now that need has disappeared.”
“Then…”
“A stronger alliance with a martial family.”
Patriarch Paengrim’s eyes gleamed brightly.
“I accept the matrimonial alliance with the Mo Yong Family. It would be more fitting to propose it ourselves. My father publicly stated to all that ‘Do not threaten the Mo Yong by appealing to sentiment.'”
The Emperor nodded, twisting his hair with his fingers.
“If anyone dares to do such a thing to the Mo Yong, they will have to contend with the Hebei Paeng Family.”
The reason for the alliance.
Unless there was someone foolish enough to stand against both the Mo Yong Family and the Hebei Paeng Family simultaneously, no one would dare to threaten the Mo Yong Family like the leaders of the Yodong clan or the Purple Sword Gate.
“Physician Seok.”
“Yes, Patriarch Paeng.”
“If children born to the Paeng Family were to be born with Absolute Meridian Sickness, can you promise to treat them?”
“Of course, I will do what I must.”
I took a respectful stance toward Paengrim.
“I shall personally rush to the Hebei Paeng Family to administer medicine to the children, so do not worry.”
“…Very well. Yes, I understand.”
Patriarch Paengrim also stood from his seat and returned my bow.
“I will trust Physician Seok Muwol and advance the matrimonial alliance with the Mo Yong Family. I’m grateful as well.”
Paengrim glanced at the Emperor, then completely bowed to him at a 90-degree angle.
“Thank you for restoring my father’s pride.”
“Ahem.”
The fundamental reason the Paeng Family could approach so cooperatively was, after all, due to the miracle of the Emperor being able to appear publicly.
“Um, Physician Seok?”
“Yes.”
“In case I later—”
“Sometimes people say that if parents suffer from hair loss, their children might suffer from it too.”
Both the members of the Paeng Family flinched simultaneously.
“Please come by anytime. If by chance the Emperor loses his hair, or if the head of the Paeng Family starts losing theirs, I will prescribe a remedy at that moment.”
“…I truly appreciate that.”
Patriarch Paengrim let out a heartfelt sigh of relief.
“Then, regarding this matter, are you ready to involve certain people?”
“Certain people?”
“Yes, namely….”
Paengrim pointed toward the ceiling.
“The Imperial Palace.”
* * *
[At that moment, in the Imperial Palace. In one of the palace gardens.]
The sound of chirping insects filled the garden where a middle-aged man dressed in golden ceremonial robes walked with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Yeocheong.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor called for the Royal Guardian, Yeocheong, as he walked.
She stood behind him in the armored robes of the Imperial Guard, bowing her head.
“I’ve heard that the long-reclusive Supreme Patriarch of the Hebei Paeng Family has moved.”
“Yes.”
“And he’s got his hair back?”
“…We’ve received such reports.”
“Hmm.”
The Emperor stood quietly with his arms crossed behind him.
“How did that bald man regain his hair?”
“That…”
“I don’t understand. How could the man who hid away for so long out of embarrassment for going bald…”
“That’s…”
“Indeed, it must be the efforts of Physician Seok Muwol.”
At the Emperor’s words, Yeocheong swallowed hard.
“The treatment for Absolute Meridian Sickness. The Reversal of Aging. And now, the restoration of hair. Physician Seok Muwol’s medicines are akin to ‘miracles.'”
“Your Majesty.”
“Yeocheong.”
The Emperor, calling her name, stepped in front of Yeocheong, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“You understand this is just between us, right?”
“Your Majesty, I fear the others might overhear…!”
If others were to see this, they might think the Emperor was taking Yeocheong in as a concubine.
Yet.
“This is a secret known only to you. So, I beg of you.”
The Emperor whispered urgently, his expression desperate.
“…Could you please look into the possibility?”
“……So, you wish to change your family name.”
“…I’ve done my duty as Emperor.”
The Emperor stepped back and resumed his posture with his hands clasped behind him.
“Now, I merely wish to live for my true self.”
The wind blew gently.
The faint scent of something sweet intertwined with the breeze and scattered across the Imperial Palace.
“If such a medicine existed, how wonderful that would be.”