Vice President Song was shocked when he looked at the photos on the screen. "This… how is this possible?"
Just then Gon's phone buzzed and he reminded, "Master, the meeting with the Strategy department will start in the next 15 minutes."
VP Song came out of his thoughts and nodded.
Meetings after meetings, calls, document review, passing the ideas, signing the contracts…
The whole day passed just like that. Still, VP Song couldn't forget what he saw in the morning. The encounter with the old man was extremely raging but what he got to know after that was quite… unbelievable!
Meanwhile, despite being busy, he called Director Kim a couple of times to ask about his condition. When he came to know the real culprit was the old man and Director Kim was trying his best to protect Su Yeon in the past life, his anger towards Director Kim was subsidized to a great extent. He could now treat him as he used to.
After finishing the last meeting of the day, he called again, "Ooi Patient, should I come over for dinner?"
Director Kim replied from the other side, "No, you can have with your nephews, I have some important matters to look upon."
"Don't tell me it's about your clan?"
"What! How do you know?"
"You once told me about it… when you just established it."
"Oh… well something like that. I am hanging up now, good night."
"Ok, good night."
VP Song went home after finishing everything. When he reached and didn't see any of his nephews, he asked housekeeper Lin. It turned out that Hao was still in hospital since he had a night shift and Qiang went for dinner with his friends.
He sighed and asked housekeeper Lin to bring his dinner to his study itself.
After dinner, he and Gon resumed what they were doing in the morning. Gon showed him the data again, "Master, why did you say it is impossible?"
On the other hand, VP Song remembered something, "Wait… so Duke Li, is the Lawyer Li in this life, about whom Moon Cheol was telling me!" he looked at Gon with an amused face, but to his dismay, Gon didn't understand a single thing.
Master Song explained, "In our past life, Duke Li was the half-brother of Emperor Li."
Gon questioned, "Emperor Li… wasn't he the father of Emperor Jun? I remember he was assassinated by Emperor Jun."
Master Song nodded, "Even if I refer Emperor Jun as Tyrant, the real Tyrant was his father. A complete sadistic tyrant!
People begged Duke Li to become the Emperor, but since he was the illegitimate son, the royal court and Empress Dowager* were against this. He had promised the Empress Dowager not meddling in the Royal family.
It was decided that only Crown Prince Jun will be the successor. Well, I don't understand when he was ultimately going to get the throne, why did Jun assassinate his father? I remember, he even changed the whole court. Only their Minister of War was the one whom he didn't dispose of."
Gon creased his forehead. A sudden memory flashed in his mind and he mumbled, "Master, it's because… Empress Dowager and all the ministers realized that, Crown Prince Jun was never on their side. He was not corrupt-minded like them. He wanted to change their Empire into a better one so he was deceiving them to get the throne.
Thus, Emperor Li himself planned to poison Crown Prince Jun… but to their dismay, Crown Prince Jun already knew their plan, so, with General Park, he assassinated Emperor Li and ascended the throne… As soon as he became the Emperor, the first thing he did was dispose of every single Minister and royal servant, except General Park, Royal Secretary Kwon, and his trusted servants. He even sent Empress Dowager into exile."
Master Song was astonished, "He did everything on his own? How can an eighteen-year-old boy do these things?"
Gon continued while still in a trance, "He requested Duke Li to help him. At first, Duke Li strongly opposed the idea of assassination, but when he came to know that his brother, Emperor Li attempted to poison his own child, he agreed to help. Duke Li became the temporary Royal Advisor and helped Crown Prince Jun to build his empire."
Master Song couldn't believe it, "There is no way he could have ascended the throne and built his empire so easily! I have been through that situation."
Gon shook his head, "It was not easy indeed! The neighboring countries joined their hands together to take advantage of the vulnerable and unstable situation of the Li Empire. Unfortunately, they underestimated the eighteen-year-old Emperor Jun… being trained under General Park and Duke Li, coupled with his experience on the battlefield, he became the worst nightmare for the opponents in no time. Additionally, he got the strong support of the people in their Kingdom.
Still, it required almost 3-4 years to create a stable government and mutual alliance with neighboring countries. His cruel way of dealing created fear amongst the enemies, very few dared to initiate the war."
"Why did you say 'Temporary'? Why didn't Duke Li continue being in that position?" VP Song asked.
"Duke Li wanted him to create a new monarchy, which consists of youthful and faithful blood. Emperor Jun agreed over one condition, he wanted Duke Li and Duchess to be his Royal parents, especially Duchess to become the Empress Dowager. They both agreed to be his foster parents but denied being referred to as Royal Parents."
"Wait… so he was the 'Junior General' nephew whom Duke Li always used to brag about… I remember he used to tell us that he was like their own child."
"Yes, another reason behind his condition was, their safety. Emperor Jun was mature enough to realize that the enemy might target Duke Li's family to threaten him. Since they both rejected being members of the Royal family, Emperor Jun passed a decree making their only daughter and his cousin, the First Rank Princess of the Li Empire."
"Oh, then they had to shift in the Palace…"
"No, they didn't. Since Duke Li had so many businesses to look upon, they continued living in the Li Manor, but the best Royal Guards protected them and their daughter was allowed to stay wherever she wished."
"Hmm… I remember. Duke Li used to complain that his daughter was completely spoiled by this nephew. As they both looked very much alike, people often misunderstood them as siblings. Moreover, she liked being called as the little sibling of him."
"Yes master, everyone in the country knew how much Princess Li was dear to Emperor Jun. Apart from Ministers and Royal servants, no one knew that they were cousins. All of the people thought that she was the sibling of Emperor Jun because of their similar faces and her title."
"But then… why did he behave like that with our Little Dumpling? Why did everyone say that he has so many concubines?"
"Master, Emperor Jun never had a single consort besides our Miss, let alone having concubines. Despite being bugged by many elder ministers, he never paid attention to them and always shrugged it off. In that matter, he had the same opinion as you about having a single consort. He was forceful with Miss because… because…"
"Because of what? And… Gon ah, how do you know so much about Emperor Jun?"
"Huh?" Gon got startled and blinked a few times, finally coming out of the trance.
Master Song got confused and said, "How did you know so much about Emperor Jun? You just told me his whole story."
Gon couldn't comprehend what happened to him, "I don't remember how I knew about him. I don't even remember interacting with him."
VP Song nodded, "Because you stopped at that point. You told me his past story but where you stopped was the moment when he must have met you and our little one. Still, how do you know?"
Gon shook his head in confusion, "Miss told me… I just know that Miss told me these things, I don't remember when and how she did it… I just happen to remember his story right now when I see all of them together."
VP Song looked at the screen, "So in this life, Emperor Jun is Duke and Duchess Li's biological son and has an elder brother." He chuckled and sighed, "Destiny must have pitied his condition in the past life, and now gave him the parents he always wished for… but then…"
He paused and looked outside the window, "Why destiny is being cruel to me? Why did it take away my kids from me? Gon ah, did I do something grave in my past life, for which I am being punished in such a cruel way…"