Chapter 9. At the Biheon Pavilion, Lee Hyang (1)

Yang氏 gently poked Yunseo’s cheek and, as she sat down, muttered to herself,

"Could it be because of these beautiful eyes that our Crown Prince, who is not a monk, practices celibacy, that he has shown interest?"

"Oh! It’s for the Crown Prince, then."

There’s not much room for Lee Hyang to put on airs. The Crown Prince is known for his asceticism.

Yunseo finally felt relieved.

Lady Yang signaled for the attendants who had finished dressing her to step back.

"It would be troublesome if your skirt gets wrinkled, so stand and listen."

Lady Yang, satisfied with the slender figure revealed by the blue skirt and the green jacket with red trim, said cruelly,

"After the Crown Princess passed away, the Crown Prince has kept his distance from women. Last winter, he took in two new concubines, but he barely touched them."

One of them was Kwon Seunghui, the youngest brother of the wife of Han Nam-gun, my son.

I have long worked to make Kwon Seunghui pregnant and become the future Crown Princess.

But what’s the point if the Crown Prince doesn’t even look at her.

Yang氏, without a hint of strain, looked up at Yunseo elegantly and said,

"So, this is about fulfilling your wish and mine together. In the past few months, the only woman the Crown Prince has spoken to affectionately is you."

It was a huge misunderstanding.

"…That’s not it, my lady."

It’s because of the gold ring the Crown Princess wore.

The damn gold ring that, even after hundreds of tries, won’t bring me back to the present!

"It’s not. If it’s not, how dare you approach the Crown Prince on behalf of the heir?"

"I’ve already discussed it with Eom Sangjeon. Tonight, he will arrange for you to serve the Crown Prince."

Eom Sangjeon was the eunuch Eom Jachi, one of the most loyal eunuchs in the Joseon Dynasty, who died while trying to restore Danjong to the throne.

Why would such a loyal eunuch push someone like me into the Crown Prince’s chambers? A beauty trap should involve someone with absolute beauty, like Yang Guifei or Xishi.

Yunseo, who was thoroughly objective, sneered inwardly.

"Why is Eom Sangjeon involved in this?"

"Why not? He wants to raise someone to protect the heir. In this palace, no one acts without a reason. Everyone forms alliances to achieve their goals and betrays when necessary."

"But I—"

"You stood up for the heir in front of His Majesty and the Empress, and you did it so cleverly that you won His Majesty’s favor. That’s why Eom Sangjeon has decided to use you."

"Even if I become the Crown Princess, what good would it do for you, my lady?"

"If you become the Crown Princess, you will eventually become the Empress and then the Empress Dowager, holding the seal that can designate the next king. I need someone like that for my sons."

Oh, what foresight.

Indeed, some argue that if there had been a queen to become the Empress Dowager when Munjong passed away, Suyang Daegun wouldn’t have so easily seized the throne.

But still.

"My family is nothing special. My mother is remarried. There are countless noble families, so why someone like me, a mere attendant?"

"People should have big dreams. Look at Shinbin. Her mother was a slave, and she herself was a palace maid, yet she became Shinbin. You may be poor, but you’re not a commoner."

Lady Yang clicked her tongue.

But dreaming of the impossible, in professional terms, is called a delusional disorder.

Thinking of just dealing with it, but knowing it would be troublesome if it happened again, Yunseo bluntly revealed her true thoughts.

"I will go to the Donggung and meet the Crown Prince, but I won’t share his bed. I want to be like Lady Park Sanggung."

Lady Park Sanggung, it was said, planned to take a leave of absence to go to Mount Geumgang with her property manager, a few skilled courtesans, and some musicians.

Why would I want to become a concubine, with all the obligations and heavy responsibilities, and the risk of being sent to the cold palace if the king changes his mind?

When Yunseo firmly refused, Lady Yang laughed derisively.

"Oh, it’s not you who decides about sharing the bed, but His Highness. There’s no guarantee that just because you suddenly bloomed like a flower, His Highness will pick you."

To say such a cold statement in such a sweet tone.

Does living in the palace turn everyone into an elegant viper like Lady Yang?

Curious, Yunseo asked Lady Park Sanggung to pass on the message that she would come after an hour.

She filled her stomach with a light soup and,

walked through the dark palace to the Donggung.

"Eom Sangjeon, Kwon-ga na-in has arrived."

The eunuch Hui Sanggung, who had brought Yunseo to the Donggung, said in front of a small pavilion next to Jaseon Hall.

Then a shadow appeared on the paper door, and Eom Jachi, the eunuch she had seen earlier, came out.

"Hui Sanggung, you may leave now. Kwon-ga, come inside."

Hui Sanggung whispered in Yunseo’s ear,

"Remember, tonight is the greatest opportunity of your life."

Then he raised the lantern he had brought and disappeared into the darkness.

"Where is our young master?"

As soon as she entered the room, Yunseo asked about Hongwi’s well-being.

"He is sleeping in the western room of Jaseon Hall. The Crown Prince put him to bed, so don’t worry."

"Understood."

Lee Hyang really cares about his son. This should make things easier.

As Yunseo was going over what she would say to the Crown Prince,

"You will please His Highness."

Eom Jachi, who had thoroughly examined Yunseo, sniffed in satisfaction.

"The ring was given by Lady Hae-ryeong. She is so grief-stricken that she has set up a shrine for the late Queen and mourns morning and night. The Crown Prince, to comfort her, placed the ring in a mother-of-pearl box with a poem, so it’s only natural."

There’s a big bone in this long explanation.

"Are you advising me to explain it to His Highness?"

"Aha-ha-ha!"

Eom Jachi, whose intentions had been seen through, laughed for a long time, even shedding tears.

After a while, he regained his composure.

"…Lady Yang praised you for your great presence. Have a cup of tea while we talk. The Crown Prince is busy reading petitions and can’t see you right now."

Eom Jachi skillfully prepared the tea, pouring boiling water from a bronze kettle into a teapot and then into a small teapot containing tea leaves.

'I thought eunuchs would be more feminine, with delicate bodies and voices.'

But in reality, Eom Jachi and other eunuchs were not much different from ordinary men. They were tall and had long limbs, closer to a unisex handsome man by modern standards.

"Here."

The tea Eom Jachi served in a light blue porcelain cup was fresh with a sweet aftertaste.

"Good tea."

"It’s early spring tea from Jirisan’s Ssanggyesa. The Crown Prince shared a little with me."

There was a particular pride in his voice when he said 'His Highness'.

"Do you know about the candle that broke on the side of the throne when the heir was born?"

This guy is also bringing up that story. Lady Yang also mentioned it, unable to hide her fear.

But Yunseo had a different take on the omen.

Kings’ thrones have fallen before. What’s the big deal about a broken candle?

"Do you know what a 'self-fulfilling prophecy' is?"

"…?"

"When an omen appears, people start to fear that it might come true, and they act accordingly. This eventually makes the omen come true. If you and Lady Yang fear the broken candle, others will also notice and keep their distance from the heir."

Eom Jachi slapped his knee.

"That’s why you’re you. You are."

"…?"

"A person who can get angry for the heir and stand up for him even in front of the palace. And someone who can boldly uncover the truth behind the surface. Kwon-ga na-in."

Eom Jachi’s eyes became serious, like those of a thousand-year-old snake.

"I need someone like you to ensure that the line I’ve caught doesn’t break. So!"

Since Yunseo genuinely cares for the heir, he is also pushing her to become a concubine and eventually the Crown Princess for his own future survival and glory.

But Yunseo inwardly scoffed.

Is being a concubine the only way to protect Hongwi? Everyone’s imagination is really poor.

"Alright. I understand that we share the common goal of protecting the heir. I will work with you. But I have one condition."

"Speak."

Now he’s even using a more respectful form. Eom Jachi must really see Yunseo as special.

"I need to be able to leave the palace sometimes without being questioned and have an entry pass."

"…Huh?"

"I won’t become a concubine, my lord."

"No, Kwon-ga na-in."

"Emotions are fickle. Especially in the palace, where the Crown Prince can have countless beautiful women at his fingertips. I will hold onto tangible things and achieve my goals."

With knowledge of the future and a mountain of wealth.

Yunseo declared confidently.

"Oh!"

But for some reason, Eom Jachi looked even more trusting.

"You said that one can’t know what kind of person someone is until they are put to the test, right?"

"Did my lady say that?"

"You too. The palace turns people into greedy moths, flying towards the light of power. I will watch. What path you take. What kind of person you become on this path."

Eom Jachi’s eyes glinted mysteriously as he chuckled.

*****

"Did Lady Hae-ryeong give you that ring?"

As Yunseo entered the eastern room of the Crown Prince’s study, Biheon Pavilion, Lee Hyang asked without lifting his head.

The vast desk was piled high with petitions, some already processed, others not.

It was already close to the third watch (11 PM).

When do they sleep in a palace life that starts before 4 AM?

Moreover, despite the absence of young eunuchs, he was still dressed in a red dragon robe and a Yikseon crown.

Knowing that he would die from a boil on his back, Yunseo found the sight of his elaborate attire shocking.

The dead wife and the living husband are both tormenting me!

"Being so tightly wrapped day and night can easily cause a boil. When you’re alone, at least dress more lightly. Your skin needs to breathe, doesn’t it?"

"…?"

Surprised by the sudden nagging, Lee Hyang lifted his head.

"Yunseo, you—"

"——"