Min Jun and Dan hurriedly walked side by side towards the Phoenix, their steps quick and purposeful. A group of three men followed closely, their faces etched with concern.
Upon their arrival, the hall was nearly full, occupied by ministers and barons who had just concluded their morning meeting with Wang Ki. As Min Jun entered, everyone lined up and bowed deeply in respect. Wang Ki, who had been focused on a scroll at his throne, noticed their arrival and immediately instructed his head eunuch to welcome them.
"Greetings, Jeonha Mama!"
All five of them dropped to their knees in unison before Wang Ki. The king set aside the scroll in his hand, turning his full attention to the small group before him. Min Jun slowly stood and handed a small scroll to the head eunuch, who promptly delivered it to Wang Ki. The king read the contents carefully. When he finished, his expression grew serious as he looked at Min Jun.
"When did this arrive?" Wang Ki asked, his voice steady but with a hint of urgency.
"This morning, by Taeyang..." Min Jun replied.
The king's eyes narrowed slightly as he called his head eunuch over. After a brief, whispered exchange, the old man stepped forward calmly.
"The meeting will continue tomorrow at the same time. You are all dismissed!"
A murmur rippled through the crowd, but no one dared challenge the king's decision. The ministers and barons had no choice but to leave the Phoenix hall.
"Should we discuss this here or in my reading room?" Wang Ki asked, his tone more private now.
"The reading room will suffice, Jeonha," Min Jun responded politely.
***
"It's unusual to send an auditor on such short notice," Wang Ki remarked, a slight frown on his face. "It's not even time for the usual inspection."
"They're contracted auditors. Pay them, and they'll be ready to go," Dan responded.
"True, but the usual auditor lives far from that area. We'll have to pay more than the usual rate," one of the finance officials accompanying Min Jun and Dan chimed in, his tone tinged with concern.
These three men were from the Department of Finance, responsible for managing the kingdom's finances, including those of the small town where Uk and Myung Yu were currently visiting.
"Why insist on using the same auditor, especially when we suspect something is wrong with the town's administration?" Min Jun's question hung in the air, silencing the others. They all knew he had a point.
"Every year, their financial reports have been flawless. Everything follows regulations, and the economy seems healthy. Gongju's claim caught us off guard!" one of the men expressed his worry, his voice rising slightly.
"Are you implying that Gongju Jaga is lying to the kingdom?" Min Jun's sharp glare made the man shrink back, his words cutting like a blade.
"N-no, Daegum, that's not what I meant," the man stammered. "But, perhaps, Gongju is overreacting? She's very compassionate, and maybe she's been influenced by the townspeople!"
"People do tend to fuss over everything when they're dissatisfied," another official added, trying to support his colleague's point.
"But what if she's right?" The third man, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention, including Wang Ki's.
Feeling the weight of their stares, the young man almost recoiled, much like a startled anteater.
"What's your name, young man?" Wang Ki inquired, his tone curious rather than harsh.
"I—I'm sorry, I shouldn't—" the man began to apologize, his voice trembling.
"I asked for your name, not an apology," Wang Ki interrupted, his eyes softening slightly. The young man straightened up, fists clenched under the table.
"Sun An, Jeonha Mama..." he finally replied, his voice timid.
"He's new to the department, Jeonha," one of the senior officials explained, trying to excuse Sun An's nervousness.
"I don't care who's new or who's been here for years," Wang Ki replied firmly. "Every voice in this room matters. If there are five people here, then all five should speak."
The king's gaze shifted back to Sun An. "Now, tell me, why did you raise that doubt?"
Sun An glanced at his senior, seeking permission to continue. When the man nodded, he took a deep breath and spoke.
"Although I'm new, I've learned a few things while preparing for the national exam. I was chosen for the finance department because of my meticulous nature—I pay attention to every number and word. I also take trivial matters seriously," Sun An began, his voice gaining a bit of strength.
"And I read somewhere that if a royal family member sends a hawk to the palace with a small scroll, it means the issue is of grave importance. I believe Gongju Jaga must have had a solid reason for sending Taeyang to us."
Wang Ki watched him, impressed by the young man's insight. Despite his inexperience, Sun An's words felt genuine and fresh.
"So, you believe we should send someone to investigate the town's administration?" Min Jun asked, his gaze steady.
"Yes. But we need to plan carefully. If there's any corruption, we should arrive discreetly to prevent anyone from covering their tracks," Sun An replied, growing more confident.
"This man must read a lot of spy novels," Dan whispered to Min Jun, who shot him a stern look.
"This matter is indeed serious," Wang Ki interjected, his tone grave. "Not just because Gongju Jaga is my daughter, but because the contents of the scroll are concerning. If true, this could lead to unrest. We could lose the trust of our people, and others might condemn us for being reckless and unjust."
"Conducting an undercover investigation will be challenging," Dan added. "We'll need to send one team to the town and another to audit the previous inspector."
"So we'll need two teams—one for the town, and another to the auditor's home," Min Jun agreed. "Jeonha Mama, you should decide who to send. We have several credible auditors in the finance department. Just choose one, and we'll proceed with the plan."
All eyes turned to Wang Ki. The king carefully considered his decision before smiling. He stood, walked to his table, and began scribbling on a piece of parchment.
"So... I've made my decision..."