I Became the Crown Prince of a Ruined Country

21 – Conflict

On the way back from the meeting with Pyeongwon-gun, I received unexpected news from Hyungga Heidan.

“Parameter ball? Do something like that?”

“Yeah. What do you think about asking for time to come when you’re away from the practitioner?”

Jingjia felt something strange while seeking Huidan’s opinion.

Her first priority in her brother’s life has always been herself. Drug-free. Just like her nickname because she didn’t care about others and was faithful to herself, she had a stronger ego than anyone else.

Because of this, it was very unfamiliar to her to ask Hee-dan, a stranger, for her opinion first, and then leave her decision-making power to her.

But, surprisingly, it wasn’t too bad to entrust someone else to judge things related to you. Rather, the thought of having someone to share his life with seemed to fill him with a subtle sense of satisfaction.

Perhaps the reason why she was not hired by Yuangun (元君), the ruler of her hometown of Wei (衛), was because she was too independent. In that respect, her brother’s family somehow felt like her reinforcements would use her now.

Of course, this time, Jing Jia himself had no intention of serving in the reinforcements.

Jingjie shook off her thoughts about her past and waited for Heidan’s answer.

Jingjia had a greater desire to follow Mosu around. Apparently, this will be the last chance to learn from Pyeongwon-gun’s first diners.

However, if Hui-dan said that she should not continue to accompany her as an escort, she was prepared to reject Mo’s proposal. Because Jing-ga himself was no longer a wanderer who could leave at any time, but a eater of Heedan.

“Isn’t it okay? If you’re a Mosu ball, you’ll have a lot to gain because you have a lot of ability. This incident has made me take a step back from the political struggle.”

Hui Dan accepted Jing Jia’s proposal with a light heart.

If Jingga’s true identity is revealed, it won’t look good, but Jingga and Mosu will disguise themselves well and hide it.

As Jingga intends to continue the relationship rather than having Jingga as a guest for a short time, it will be beneficial for Jingga to grow further through good teaching.

“Is that really okay?”

“Yes. Instead, be careful not to reveal your true identity.”

Jingga returned to his usual self-confidence from a slightly hesitant appearance.

“Don’t worry. Who am I!”

However, Heidan realizes on a not-too-distant day that such a thought was too complacent.

§

Since the day Pyeongwon-gun and I finished our private study, the support for me has dropped dramatically. Of course, compared to the days when I was neglected at first, this was also a nobleman.

Even among the diners in Pyeongwon-gun, there was a word going around that the relationship between me and Pyeongwon-gun wasn’t what it used to be, and in fact, I hardly ever went to Pyeongwon-gun.

All of this was the result of mutual agreement and the consideration of Pyeongwon-gun to exclude me from political strife, but the people around me did not know the inside story, so I started to feel fear again.

Isn’t it going back to the arduous past? I heard whispers, but I didn’t tell them anything. Even if you are a little anxious now, it will soon go back to the way it used to be once Pyeongwon-gun finishes the political struggle.

Until then, you just have to be patient.

And the possibility of that would be extremely low, but I had to keep in mind that Pyeongwongun would lose in a political battle.

Geonsin-gun already lost face by ruining the plan to push me out of the plan and push out the revival after opening. If Pyeongwon-gun lost, and I continued to stick with it, I would be swept away as well.

It might be considered heartless, but it was something that Pyeongwon-gun agreed on anyway. For him, even if he were to fall, he would have wanted to protect me as a kind of insurance.

For one reason or another, I distanced myself from Pyeongwon-gun, and after that, I had time left to float. Originally, the afternoon was spent meeting with Pyeongwon-gun, but since that schedule disappeared, it was only natural.

For a while, the mouse stayed still as if it were dead. As if he really lost his nerve after fighting with Pyeongwon-gun.

Rumors did not last long. In the first place, I am only a side branch. Even though I put on a show to get some attention, it’s only a one-time thing. In the big city Handan, several incidents occur every day.

Especially these days. As power struggles between Pyeongwon-gun and Geonshin-gun occurred in several places, my situation, which had neither power nor anything, was immediately swept away by the backwater of rumors.

The day I decided to meet Jung came again after all the talk about me had disappeared.

Honestly, I wanted Pyeongwon-gun to finish the political struggle by this time, but it didn’t. Perhaps because Geonsin-gun also had talented people, Pyeongwon-gun had the upper hand, but the tug-of-war was barely going on.

‘Anyway, that’s none of my business.’

My job isn’t such a dark and ferocious struggle, but how to take care of a kitten thrown into the world by its parents.

“That’s why I wonder if we can extend the date of meeting more. Jung, how are you?”

“Um?”

Jeong, who was sucking on the sweets I brought, lifted her head and looked at me.

Complex emotions were swirling in her surprised eyes.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like it. But ‘Can I really say that?’ It seemed like he was thinking about what to do.

Before expressing the emotions you feel right now, you have no choice but to consider whether it is possible in your environment.

It was too bleak and terrible way of life for a child of only 7 years old.

I quickly picked up the words, as it seemed to have burdened Jung, who had to fight fiercely just to live day by day.

“If it’s hard, there’s no need to overdo it.”

“Oh no!”

Jung, who was deep in thought with his brow furrowed, spit out the words she was biting at my words and shouted at me.

I screamed out loud, but I hesitated to see if there was anything that bothered me to say yes. I tried to dissuade her by saying something useless again, but Jeong opened her mouth first.

Her quick-witted Jung shook her head up and down before I could say anything.

“I think it will work. Yes.”

It was only after I left a trustworthy message that I would not go out of my way on difficult days, I brought up the cycle of meeting Jeong a little.

It’s unfortunate that it was a burden for Jung, but it was also necessary. Jung is not being properly protected, so she is close to malnutrition.

Possibly because he was born with such a strong bone, his body movements were as quick as a flying squirrel even with a bruise, but if he went on like that, he would fly big even in the next few months.

Every time I meet Jung, the reason I take food with me is to supplement Jung with nutrients.

“This is just a temporary measure, but…”

On the way back, I complained with self-help and anguish.

You can’t hide your meeting with Jung forever. It was a secret that was possible because it was a special situation right now. When the political war is over, Pyeongwon-gun or Geonsin-gun, someone will know.

And even if the winner was Pyeongwon-gun, there was a high possibility that the result would not be very good.

Pyeongwon-gun was big enough to take in me, a Young master of Yan, but not enough to embrace Qin, who was fighting with national luck.

Taking the side of Qin in Zhao’s state affairs was regarded as treason itself. Even if it were Pyongwongun, it was feared that if he took hostages of the Qin Dynasty, the object of hatred, he would be immediately dismissed.

I feel with my skin that the moment of decision is approaching.

If I cut off my affection, I will lead a peaceful hostage life under the protection of Pyeongwon-gun, and ascend smoothly to the throne.

Conversely, if I want to keep Jeong, then I must follow Jeong and endure the Seppa while facing the hatred of the Jonaline people.

If I had been alone, the decision would have been easy. But I had people I had to take care of.

‘I’ll have to give you an answer soon.’

With each step, the scale in my heart swayed to and fro.

§

Jung returned home with a feeling of excitement.

Young-jeong, who had been alone since her father left, was the first understanding person.

Now, it was only less than two months since they met, but the depth was extraordinary to Jung. It is inevitable that the total amount of emotions that other people share while interacting with countless others is poured into only one person.

Parents, teachers, friends, colleagues… For Yeong-jeong, the existence of Hee-dan was a person who could not be defined by a single word.

Did that relationship start from hearing a rumor?

When she heard that her hostage was coming from Yan, she intuitively realized that there would be someone like her. Jung had a sense of what a hostage was like and what international relations were like, with reasoning power and memory that she couldn’t believe at her young age.

Like herself as a princess of the Qin Dynasty, the enemy of the Zhao Dynasty.

Young master of the Yan Dynasty who attacked the Zhao Dynasty should also live the same life.

If so, wouldn’t it be possible for her who has been alone all along to have someone who can share the same pain and comfort her?

That’s what I expected. Even though it was wishing for the pain of others, Yeong-jeong earnestly wished for it.

Could she be the master of a bad heart? The opponent Yeongjeong had been waiting for was the royal family of the country of Cho, whom she could not possibly approach, and was promised her a peaceful life.

It was unclear what the process was, but the results were clear. Hee-dan, who was entering Pyeongwon-gun’s mansion with a determined expression, came out with a smile on his face, and she couldn’t help but notice.

However, Heidan found it.

Yeongjeong, yourself.

Even if it wasn’t the type of bond that Youngjeong had hoped for, Youngjeong was thirsty for interaction with someone itself.

If his true identity is revealed, will this meeting end? However, Hee-dan did not inquire into Yeong-jeong’s identity.

That’s why Yeongjeong also wanted to listen to what he had to say.

And… ….

“You.”

A word cold as frost and hard as pebbles.

The moment her familiar voice called out to her, Yeongjeong’s body froze.

“Where are you going? I must have told you to stay inside?”

Looking at Johee, the owner of the cold voice, his mother, Youngjeong removed her trembling lips.

“Ah…That’s…”

Young-Jung, who is intelligent and active, is now just a tender 7-year-old girl.

What I fear more than the winter wind that bites my skin, more than the people of Jo Nara, who pour out hatred and contempt.

Young-jeong’s mother, whom she should love and cherish more than anyone else, was that kind of person.

Wow!

Yeongjeong gnashed her teeth and held back a scream despite the burning pain running down her cheek.

It was a learned result. If you make a sound, it hurts more.

“My! Speak! Funny! Listen!”

In pain, Yingzheng crouched down. Then, he wrapped his arms around his chest, which contained the comb he had given him.

It hurt. But unlike last time, it was fine.

In a few days, he meets Heidan again.

So, I will be able to endure this time as well.

Because there is warmth that comes from the chest.