NABC Book 3: Chapter 17
Book 3: Chapter 17
Book 3: Chapter 17
“As instructed, I have opened the account book archives for the inspection officer.”
“...You’ve done well.”
“Not at all. The young fellow is incredibly sharp-witted; he grasped everything in no time. I didn’t even need to explain or assist.”
“He’s an investigator personally appointed by the Grand Young Master. A top talent who excelled as the valedictorian.”
“The future of the Luoyang Sword Faction brightens with such talents gathering. It puts my mind at ease.”
“Accounting Secretary, you are one of those talents as well.”
“Ha, to receive such praise from the Chief Supervisor, it’s flattering.”
“...I won’t forget your hard work.”
“Leave the follow-up to me.”
“I’m counting on you.”
The middle-aged man, the Chief Supervisor, left the office with seven gold-threaded tassels swaying at his waist.
Left alone in his office, the Accounting Secretary’s gaze lingered on the desk.
A small bundle given by the Chief Supervisor rested there.
* * *
Silence enveloped the waiting room.
Court Lady Seomun, opened her eyes after a brief moment and asked the inspection officer Kang Ho.
“...As long as I don’t leave the court grounds, that would be sufficient, right?”
Kang Ho nodded readily.
“Yes, that would do.”
She glanced briefly at the ledger on the table before discarding her hesitation.
It was no longer the time for primitive solutions.
Without even greeting Yeon So-Hyeon, she turned and left the waiting room.
Her aides followed her.
Kang Ho, cleaning his glasses, spoke up.
“Don’t ever leave the court grounds.”
“....”
Court Lady Seomun, paused for a moment, leaving only a soft chuckle behind as she departed.
Kang Ho shook his head.
“The shamelessness of the powerful is the same everywhere...”
Il-ryeong asked him.
“Is it really okay to let them go like that?”
“Ah, yes. It’s fine. They are not yet criminals, and since the order came from the Inspection Bureau, if they defy it, we can immediately issue a pursuit warrant.”
“What worries me more is what they might plot behind the scenes.”
“Ha. Don’t worry about that.”
He rose from his seat and respectfully addressed Yeon So-Hyeon.
“Your Highness, I must return to report. The situation seems more serious than I thought.”
“Very well. Do so.”
Kang Ho’s gaze turned to the ledger on the desk.
“This ledger...”
Yeon So-Hyeon nodded.
“It’s safer for me to keep it for now.”
Kang Ho glanced at the swords hanging at the maids’ waists and bowed to Yeon So-Hyeon.
“Yes, considering my limited abilities and potential emergencies, it seems best.”
“Understood.”
“Then, I shall return immediately after completing the report.”
Yeon So-Hyeon watched his departing figure and then turned to the trembling protocol court lady in the corner.
“What are you doing there?”
“I, I am...”
“Never mind, go and prepare the meal. It’s already lunchtime.”
“Yes! Yes! Understood!”
She hurriedly ran out, tripping over her legs and falling.
But nobody smiled or laughed at her plight.
“Now then....”
Yeon So-Hyeon sank deep into his chair.
“Inner Court’s Chief Supervisor. How ready are you to make the necessary cuts?”
His eyes sparkled.
The triplet maids unconsciously shrank back.
Yeon So-Hyeon’s demeanor was too serene.
There was neither killing intent nor imposing aura.
Yet, this moment felt more terrifying than the night he had brutally assaulted Elder Yeom’s steward.
* * *
The confidants couldn’t move their spoons for a while after hearing her words.
* * *
“Is the Accounting Secretary inside?”
Steward Samgye guarding the office of the Accounting Secretary bowed.
“Yes, he is inside. But he said he’s not receiving visitors.”
“This matter is urgent.”
“There are no exceptions.”
The steward was busy processing documents at his desk.
“It’s not just urgent for me, but also for the Accounting Secretary.”
He didn’t even look at her.
“I told you, there are no exceptions.”
Court Lady Seomun bit her lip.
She hadn’t really expected him to agree to meet her immediately, given her current predicament.
However, in the Inner Court, among those dealing with the budget, the Accounting Secretary was the highest official she, as a practical worker, could approach.
He should have some ways to escape this situation.
If lucky, she could ride on his coattails; even if not, he had the power to avert the worst-case scenario.
“...At least let him know I’m here. We can deal with the reprimand later.”
Steward Samgye shrugged.
It was as if to say, ‘do as you please’.
If they truly intended to block visitors, they would have placed guards at the entrance.
“Accounting Secretary. It’s Seomun, and Steward Samgye, from the Budget Committee.”
She knocked several times, but there was no response.
“If there’s no answer, then perhaps he’s really in a bad mood, and it would be better for you to leave...”
Ignoring the Steward Samgye’s words, Court Lady Seomun abruptly opened the door.
“....”
Steward Samgye was shocked at her audacity to enter the office without permission.
“What madness...”
He quickly got up from his seat and followed Court Lady Seomun.
Upon rushing into the office, he found her collapsed in her seat.
“Accounting Secretary, I apologize! This person recklessly...”
His voice trailed off.
“What in the world...”
His legs started shaking uncontrollably.
Staggering, he almost rolled out of the office as he ran away.
“Is anyone there?! Is anyone listening?!”
The voice of Steward Samgye, shouting frantically, faded away.
However, Court Lady Seomun showed no signs of getting up from where she sat.
Her gaze was fixed across the dark room without any lanterns, towards the desk of the Accounting Secretary.
Under the main beam, a body hung, swaying slowly.
The room was filled with the foul stench of waste emitted from the corpse.
Sunlight streamed through the tightly closed shuttered windows.
A ray of sunlight reflected off the gold-threaded tassel tied around the waist of the corpse.
Six strands of gold thread.
The body was that of the Accounting Secretary.
“...This can’t be.”
The voice that barely escaped Court Lady Seomun’s lips was terribly hoarse.
“This can’t be. It just can’t be...”
What did the Accounting Secretary’s corpse signify?
He was ultimately responsible for the budget of Wongak Pavilion, but he was in a position to avoid accountability with ease.
She tried to get up hastily.
Her knees wobbled, and she collapsed again.
Instead, she crawled.
Reaching the window on all fours, she grabbed the wall to pull herself up and flung the window open.
With the shutters opened, sunlight poured in, revealing the Accounting Secretary’s face.
His face was pale, eyes rolled back, tongue lolling out long.
Nearly collapsing again, she spotted a small silk pouch on his desk.
It was subtly elegant yet lavishly adorned.
Her trembling hands picked up the silk pouch.
As she turned the pouch over on the desk, a black object fell out.
It was a broken obsidian pair of scissors.
The mother-of-pearl inlay, intricately crafted by a master artisan, was partially shattered and scattered.
The sunlight reflected off these mother-of-pearl pieces, dazzling like jewels.