Both twins bowed deeply and swiftly as they stood before the elevated platform. King Jin-Ho, his powerful presence dominating the silent room, addressed them. “Do you both understand why I have summoned you here, away from the diplomatic reception?”

  Mi-Reu nodded, her gaze steady, and Gi-Reu copied her action.

  King Jin-Ho nodded in return, his expression unreadable. “If that is the case, then answer my question: why were you hiding in the ministers’ waiting room? As Royals, is it appropriate for you to disrespect your subjects’ private discussions? How can you justify spying on them?”

  “We are entirely guilty, Father, and we apologize with our whole hearts! We will accept any punishment that you deem fit for our transgression!” they recited in practiced, perfect unison, their small voices echoing with the formal gravity required.

  The King sighed, the sound carrying a hint of weariness. “If you truly understand your mistake and the breach of court etiquette, then I shall certainly reduce the punishment. However, pray tell, why were you hiding there in the first place?”

  A noticeable glint appeared in Mi-Reu’s wide, dark eyes, a clear signal that she recognized this as her moment. Gi-Reu, standing beside her, gave her a frantic side-glance, his expression clearly pleading: ‘Please don’t make this any more complicated, Mi-Reu… just apologize!’ But Mi-Reu, of course, feigned complete ignorance of his desperate visual plea.

  “We… We were genuinely curious about state affairs, Father, and we simply wanted to know how our beloved kingdom was truly faring,” Mi-Reu explained, her voice trembling slightly, perfectly mixing innocence with noble concern. “We wanted to learn how we could possibly help all the suffering people who line up for relief supplies every single evening!”

  A heavy silence descended upon the vast chamber for a few dramatic seconds, instantly followed by a wave of hushed whispers that began to circulate among the seated scholars and ministers. “Such admirable interest in the common people at such a young age… This is nothing less than a blessing to the Royal Family,” and other similar, flattering statements were quietly passed along, the whispers growing into a noticeable murmur of approval.

  “Is that truly so?” King Jin-Ho’s voice rang out again, cutting through the murmurs and immediately restoring silence. He could clearly perceive the unnatural intensity in his daughter's expression, realizing she was deliberately building a narrative to address the dire situation. As such, he gave her the opening she needed. “What is it, then, that you learned during your ‘curiosity’ spying?”

  Gi-Reu, panicking, knew that what Mi-Reu will say next will be an overstep, quickly shot a frantic look at her, then gulped hard and interjected before she could open her mouth. “The Royal Treasury is being dangerously depleted thanks to the recent famine! The people are suffering terribly, and we cannot afford to pay the new, increased demands for tribute being levied by the Ming Envoys!”

  This time, the silence was far more potent, far more dangerous: a silence that felt as if it were about to explode into scandal and rebuke. Queen Myeong-Hwa instantly leaned forward, preparing to take control of the conversation and stop the court’s inevitable, angry retort to Gi-Reu’s sensitive statements.

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  But even before the Queen could speak, Mi-Reu added her decisive gambit: “But, Father, I believe I have found a solution to the entire issue!”

  King Jin-Ho, recognizing the extreme value of diverting the court’s immediate displeasure away from his children's statements, seized the opportunity instantly. He spoke with controlled urgency.

  “A solution? What, might that be, my daughter?”

  Mi-Reu took a deep, steadying breath, steeling her small nerves against the weight of the court’s gaze. “The Thousand-Year Tortoise… the one recently discovered in the deep, mist-covered valleys of the Lush Mountains by the royal scouting crew.”

  King Jin-Ho’s heavy brows furrowed in confusion as she continued, her voice gaining strength. “It is an open secret that the Ming Emperor, Jiajing, is consumed by an obsession with Daoist alchemy and the pursuit of immortality. A living creature that symbolizes eternal life… surely, that is something he would desire above all else!”

  ‘Of course, nobody in this era actually knows how long those tortoises have lived,’ Mi-Reu thought inwardly, keeping her expression serious. ‘But in this time period, belief is far stronger than scientific fact. They already believe these creatures to be ageless spirit beasts.’

  She racked her brain, sifting through the fragmented historical timeline she had reconstructed. ‘If I recall correctly, the Ming court never successfully captured such long-lived creatures. Such discoveries weren't recorded until much later, perhaps after the Ming fell and the Qing Dynasty rose.’

  “Ha! That might indeed be a cunning idea!” one of the senior ministers exclaimed, breaking the tension.

  King Jin-Ho stroked his beard, nodding slowly as the logic took hold. “I see. So, you intend for us to present this Tortoise as a supreme gift to Emperor Jiajing, appealing to his mercy to allow us to delay this year's tribute!”

  “Brilliant!” Queen Myeong-Hwa beamed, her regal mask cracking with pride, while the surrounding scholars and ministers nodded in agreement.

  “To think such a diplomatic strategy came from an eight-year-old…” one of the ministers whispered in awe.

  Beside her, Gi-Reu released a long, audible sigh of relief, happy that the situation seemed to be resolving peacefully. But Mi-Reu had other plans. She wasn't looking for a delay; she was looking for Balance.

  “No… That is not it, Father,” Mi-Reu said firmly.

  The court instantly fell into a stunned silence, the air growing heavy once more.

  “I do not intend to give it away,” Mi-Reu declared, her dark eyes scanning the room. “I intend for us to sell it to the Envoys directly!”

  She stepped forward, her small hands clenched in determination. “Everyone seeks the Emperor’s favor, especially the Envoys, who come from rival high-ranking noble families. If one of them presents the key to immortality to the Emperor, their clan’s status will skyrocket. They will be desperate for it.”

  A collective gasp ran through the room as the implications hit them.

  “We can pit them against each other,” Mi-Reu finished, a satisfied, predatory smile gracing her young features. “We create a conflict between them right here in Haebang. We do not beg for a delay; we force them to empty their pockets to fill our depleted treasury to the brim!”

  She felt a surge of genuine pride as she saw the realization dawn on the King’s face. However, the moment of triumph was shattered by a harsh, aggressive voice.

  “NO!”

  It was one of the Inspector Generals, stepping forward from the ranks of officials, his face red with indignation. “We absolutely must not proceed with Her Highness Princess Mi-Reu’s plan!”