I Became the Owner of the Heavenly Flower Palace-Chapter 47: Who Are You, Exactly?

The woman of Nanzhou Daeru politely bowed to Jincheon.

“It is an honor to serve you, Master Jin. I am Jang Rin.”

Her voice was soft yet sweet, slipping into Jincheon’s ears like honey.

Jincheon thought it was an extraordinarily beautiful voice and responded to her.

“Jincheon. A pleasure to meet you.”

She lifted her head and smiled faintly.

There was an unmistakable allure about her—an air of grandeur soaked in the glamour of a great city. For a moment, Jincheon found his eyes drawn to her.

Then he quickly realized his mistake.

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Ah!

Jincheon hastily—and as subtly as possible—checked the reactions of his seven palace maidens.

These were women who could tell where, how long, and how many times Jincheon’s gaze lingered.

There was no way they hadn’t noticed just now.

Huh?

But the situation was slightly different than Jincheon had anticipated.

All seven maidens were staring at her—Jang Rin.

Toyo watched with wide-eyed curiosity, Suyo examined her as if running calculations, and Ilyo, pretending not to look, cast a sharply observant glance in her direction.

Slick.

Ilyo’s eyes turned to Jincheon.

Trying to appear indifferent, Jincheon naturally avoided her gaze.

It felt like he had seen something he wasn’t supposed to.

“This way, if you please.”

The woman—Jang Rin’s—voice called Jincheon back to attention.

“Come, shall we?”

The cheerful voice of Prefectural Commissioner Jeong Deokun followed, and Jincheon gave a small nod and began walking behind her.

The place she led them to was the very top of the five-story pavilion.

It was the top of the third floor back in Jucheon too...

The memory flickered in Jincheon’s mind.

Feels like the space itself reflects a hierarchy.

Most people in power claim the highest place, forcing others to look up at them.

And the vastness of the space matters just as much—it demands distance, reinforcing: I am not the same as you.

It is a way to visualize the hierarchy of status.

Even the Heavenly Flame Palace Jincheon resided in had similar arrangements, didn’t it?

Yet, Jincheon himself felt no particular sentiment about it.

...Isn’t it just annoying? Going up and down all the time?

Sure, high and spacious places felt nice, but they were inconvenient too.

That’s about how Jincheon felt.

“Please, up here.”

Prefectural Commissioner Jeong Deokun offered Jincheon a seat.

Of course, it was the highest seat at the table.

To someone as pragmatic as Jincheon, it made no sense.

The host should sit there, with the guest of honor—Jincheon, in this case—beside them. Especially considering there were three of the highest-ranking provincial officials present.

Still, there was no reason to point it out, so Jincheon accepted the gesture with an awkward smile.

Even so, he didn’t forget to say a word to Ilyo.

“Ilyo.”

“Yes.”

Ilyo bowed her head respectfully.

“I’ll be speaking with them.”

The standards of the Heavenly Flame Palace were vastly different from common society.

To prevent any unnecessary misunderstandings or conflicts, Jincheon had to remain mindful.

Gi Seoran was the only one who would think of such things ahead of time.

“Understood.”

Ilyo bowed once again, accepting his command with grace.

Jincheon headed toward his seat.

Step, step.

All eyes followed him.

It was proper etiquette for the highest-ranking person to sit first.

Now, with three of the province’s top officials, two Cheonhwa warriors, seven palace maidens, and the woman Jang Rin all present—they were all waiting for Jincheon to sit.

Slick.

Jincheon sat down.

The Prefectural Commissioner and Provincial Commander accepted this as natural, but the Inspector-General, Wang Cheongmin, couldn’t hide his displeasure.

“Haha, then...”

Before Prefectural Commissioner Jeong Deokun could say more, the two Cheonhwa commanders stepped forward.

North Wind Commander Neung Gayeon naturally sat to Jincheon’s left, and East Wind Commander Ak Mujin took the seat next to her.

“...Looks like it’s just us left to sit. Hahaha.”

Prefectural Commissioner Jeong Deokun seemed mildly flustered and covered it up with laughter.

And so, the others took their seats, and the banquet began.

Fragrant wine passed between dishes of exquisite cuisine.

Though the entire five-story Nanzhou Daeru had been reserved for this grand banquet, the atmosphere was far from lively.

No engaging conversation bloomed.

Jincheon let out a mental groan.

Is this my fault?

It wasn’t that there was no conversation at all.

Prefectural Commissioner Jeong Deokun, with his remarkable social skills, kept trying to chat with Jincheon.

Topics like the weather, the food, and whether the journey had been tiring—light and easy matters to respond to.

The problem was Jincheon himself.

Unable to grasp the full context of the situation and not even confident he was the Palace Master, his answers remained clipped and superficial.

“You encountered bandits, you say?”

Jeong Deokun’s eyes widened.

“Are you alright? I mean, what kind of bastards would dare touch the Master’s carriage?”

“There wasn’t really any damage.”

Jincheon replied with a strained smile.

Sure, it was a surprise, but no harm had been done.

He was lifting his cup to drink when—

“I apologize, Master.”

Jeong Deokun suddenly bowed his head.

“No need for that...”

Jincheon tried to wave him off, but Jeong Deokun continued with a solemn tone.

“This is the fault of I, Jeong, entrusted with the administration of Gamsuk! I am deeply ashamed!”

Jincheon looked at the Commissioner, who now bowed his head like a criminal, with a confused expression.

Is this because I’m the Master of the Heavenly Flame Palace?

An official appointed by the Imperial Court, in charge of all administration across Gamsuk Province, was bowing his head without hesitation.

Even if the Heavenly Flame Palace and the Heavenly Valley were dominant forces in the Jucheon region—was that enough for the Commissioner to offer such an apology?

Jincheon couldn't make sense of it.

“...It’s not the Commissioner’s fault.”

Jincheon spoke calmly.

A flicker of tension passed through Jeong Deokun’s eyes.

“Bandits can exist anytime, anywhere. How could that be solely the Commissioner’s fault? Simply being aware of your responsibilities already makes you worthy of being called a momin-gwan.”

A momin-gwan—a true civil servant who cares for the people.

Responsibility should be a basic tenet for any official, yet how many truly live by it?

And so, Jincheon’s words were sincere.

But Jeong Deokun couldn’t respond right away.

What struck him wasn’t just Jincheon’s words—it was that he had mentioned being in charge of Gamsuk’s administration.

How would the Master of the Heavenly Flame Palace respond to that?

Yet instead of challenging or dismissing his authority, Jincheon had simply acknowledged it—and even called him a momin-gwan. It felt like a blow to the head.

Jeong Deokun looked at Jincheon with renewed eyes.

“...Thank you. Your words lift a great weight from my heart, Master Jin. Haha, hahaha...”

The one before him wielded the power and status to have someone executed simply because he didn’t like them—a true Dragon.

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Jeong Deokun turned to the woman sitting a bit farther away—Jang Rin.

“What do you think? Isn’t Master Jin truly a merciful man?”

"Yes. He truly is,"

Jang Rin agreed with a smile.

But Jincheon found their excessive reaction rather embarrassing.

He cleared his throat and pretended not to hear it, but Jang Rin’s sparkling eyes turned toward him.

"May I be so bold as to offer a song for you, Master?"

A song?

Jincheon’s interest was piqued. What Confucian scholar could dislike music?

Jang Rin smiled gently and continued.

"I am far from perfect, but I have some humble knowledge of singing and playing the zither..."

"But."

A sudden voice interrupted her.

Inspector-General Wang Cheongmin was staring straight at Jincheon.

"I, Wang, must confess I lack the erudition to have ever heard of Master Jin’s name."

He had seen the Prefectural Commissioner bow his head.

He’d heard Jincheon graciously accept that apology.

And he hadn’t liked any of it.

The opponent wasn’t even the Emperor.

How could a top provincial official bow his head so easily?

And Jincheon—who was he, to forgive that official?

What authority did he have?

All of it rubbed Wang Cheongmin the wrong way.

Especially the fact that the beautiful woman—her name still unknown to him—had eyes only for Jincheon.

"I am truly curious. Who are you, Master Jin, to lecture the Emperor’s Prefectural Commissioner on the duties of a civil official?"

Silence fell across the room.

Wang Cheongmin allowed himself a slight, mocking smile.

He thought his sharp remark had struck home and silenced the crowd.

To him, it was a perfectly timed attack.

What right did Jincheon have to speak so arrogantly?

He couldn’t possibly claim greater authority than the Emperor. All that was left now were excuses.

Jincheon looked directly at Wang Cheongmin.

Then slowly opened his mouth.

"You came out to greet me... without knowing who I am?"

Wang Cheongmin’s face twisted.

Jincheon tilted his head slightly, feigning surprise.

"And you followed me all the way here? Gamsuk’s Inspector-General must have a great deal of free time."

Normally, this would be considered improper.

Answering a question with another, questioning someone’s duties—neither was the mark of respectful discourse.

But why should I?

What reason did Jincheon have to show Wang Cheongmin any respect?

What reason did he have to explain anything to him?

There wasn’t even a flicker of hesitation in Jincheon’s eyes as he stared at the Inspector-General.

Wang Cheongmin’s face flushed red, then pale, then red again.

This insolent little bastard...!

He clenched his jaw.

He was the Inspector-General of Gamsuk—a top-tier provincial official with the Emperor’s direct appointment, empowered to investigate and impeach other high-ranking officials.

And yet here he was, being treated like a clueless fool who didn’t even know who he was greeting.

Wang Cheongmin couldn’t stand it.

"I am the Inspector-General of Gamsuk, appointed by His Majesty himself."

He no longer cared about Jincheon’s background or rank.

It didn’t matter anymore. Grudges and rivalries among the nobility were a daily affair anyway.

"No matter how much those around you call you 'Master,' when you address an Imperial official, you should observe proper decorum."

He dropped all honorifics toward Jincheon.

The boy was young—he saw no reason to maintain politeness anymore.

"In the end, you too are merely a subject of His Majesty, are you not?"

His tone carried the weight of reprimand.

The word subject referred to both officials and commoners.

Everyone in the world, he meant, was under the Emperor’s rule. Jincheon too should bow his head—to the Emperor, and by extension, to him.

Technically speaking, he wasn’t wrong.

Jincheon had once held the title of saengwon, even if only in name.

But that didn’t mean Jincheon would quietly accept it.

"And who do you think has been tarnishing the dignity of His Majesty?"

Wang Cheongmin’s brow twitched involuntarily.

Jincheon pressed forward without pause.

"Corrupt officials. High-ranking nobles who only care about self-preservation. Bureaucrats who treat the people as beneath them. Officials who seek to drag each other down instead of showing respect and cooperation—aren’t they the ones who ought to reflect on themselves?"

Start with your own sins.

That’s what Jincheon was saying.

Perhaps it was too much.

Maybe he had gone too far in his outrage and insulted his opponent more than he should have.

And his opponent was, after all, one of the highest-ranking officials present.

But Jincheon didn’t regret it.

"So now you’re openly criticizing me, the Inspector-General? Do you even realize—"

"Then let me ask you."

Jincheon cut him off coldly, ignoring his outrage entirely.

"As Inspector-General of Gamsuk, how many corrupt officials have you impeached? How many injustices against the people have you righted?"

None.

For the past three years, Wang Cheongmin had done nothing but dig up dirt on the Prefectural Commissioner and the Provincial Commander.

Issues involving lower officials or the common people never once entered his field of view.

"...Hah."

Wang Cheongmin gave a hollow laugh.

But there was no smile in his eyes.

"How amusing. A man surrounded by cheap harlots dares to speak on behalf of the people—"

"Shut your mouth."

A cold voice cut him off.

It wasn’t East Wind Commander Ak Mujin.

It wasn’t North Wind Commander Neung ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Gayeon either.

It was Jincheon.

His blazing eyes locked onto Inspector-General Wang Cheongmin.