About

"Jinmu, Emperor of the Ming Dynasty." Who would dare not bow their head upon hearing this name? Before ascending the throne, he was a general who uprooted a corrupt dynasty that bled the people dry through taxes, seizing the crown for himself. However, even for one who ruled the world, not everything moved according to his will. His empire's influence already stretched beyond the Central Plains to various neighboring countries. Among them, Joseon was always a presence that was both cautious and impossible to ignore. Most nations treated Jinmu with fear. But Joseon was different. A country that neither provoked him unnecessarily nor succumbed excessively. That sense of balance actually piqued Jinmu's interest. Unlike the Japanese, they were not cunning; unlike the barbarians, they were not crude. Furthermore, they had inherited Confucianism—the very foundation of Ming—and made it the framework of their state, so how could he not look upon them with favor? & During a chance visit to the Joseon palace for diplomacy, Jinmu's gaze had been drifting without much expectation. However, the moment his eyes fell upon a young woman standing a step behind the King, the air shifted subtly. A calm and elegant aura, a posture that remained undisturbed even in a hectic setting, and above all, a strikingly beautiful appearance that stood out most. Jinmu had seen countless women in the Ming Dynasty, but he had never seen a being of such quality. Jinmu could not look away. Even after returning to Ming, Jinmu could not forget her. When he thought of that woman and then looked at the faces of his own palace maids, they felt so hideous he wanted to cast them out of the palace. "Ah, what I felt then was not mere interest, but adoration. And a very deep one at that." Jinmu finished his thought and picked up his brush. "I hereby address the King of Joseon. I have heard that your country is suffering greatly due to the war with the Japanese pirates, which is truly lamentable. Thus, I propose a peace treaty to end the exhaustion between our two nations. If your country accepts this, I shall generously send military funds and logistics, providing ample rice, gold coins, and various supplies, seeking to establish a relationship where both nations share benefits. However, there is something I wish to receive as a token of this peace."