Lady Sun Hee fiddled with her ring as the palanquin neared the gates of Cheondeokjeon. Today she would be presented to the king. Excited by the thought of becoming Jung's wife at the end of this journey, she nervously peered out the small window her thoughts drifting back to the last time she spoke with Kyung Hwa Ongjunim in the temple gardens over tea.
Sun Hee enjoyed the young princess's company, becoming fast friends with her from their first meeting as children playing in the fields. She had cried with Kyung Hwa the day the girl had learned of her father's death, the day the nation had mourned the passing of their king, Hyejong.
Kyung Hwa had rarely spoke about her life at the palace, but there were times when Sun Hee noticed that her eyes grew distant with a memory. Early on in their friendship, Kyung Hwa had shared that she was the first wife of her uncle, the fourth prince, Wang So, and that he had sent her away to keep her safe.
During the last tea, Sun Hee fidgeted, then attempted to appear nonchalant in her inquiry. "Kyung Hwa Ongjunim, what is the king like?"
"As a king, he is just." Kyung Hwa said cautiously. She took a sip of tea, then placed the cup down. "Truly, it has been six years since my father saw to my marriage to him. I remember being so frightened that day. My father who had always been gentle, was not himself. He made my ladies in waiting dress me in a bridal gown and told them to send me to Khitan."
Tears blurred her vision as she remembered her father's madness, and her pain and confusion. "He was shouting in fear and all I could do was cry in fear as well. We were in the courtyard and he tried to get the guards to force me into the palanquin despite my begging him to not send me away when my uncle stopped him."
Sun Hee remained silent as she watched Kyung Hwa play with the rim of her cup while she continued with her story. "He was tall, strong, and handsome. I remember he protected me and told my father that he could not bear for me to be sent to Khitan as a hostage. Father told him that Goryeo had to be protected and either my uncle had to marry me or I was to be sent as a bride to Khitan."
She looked up at Sun Hee, smiling fondly. "My uncle only married me to keep me from being sent away like he was as a child. He loved a court lady of the Damiwon. Even now, I still remember her warm smiles. She was so kind to me when I visited the Damiwon to have tea with her. I once saw them together in the garden before father sent him away to Bulgaria as an ambassador. He held her in his arms and kissed her cheek while she batted him away."
"There are rumors that the king's mistress was a court lady of the Damiwon." Sun Hee prompted. "Is she the same woman?"
"Yes, she is the same woman." Kyung Hwa confirmed, nodding. "Her name is Lady Hae Soo. They have been lovers for a long time. I had decided to become a nun so they could remain together and Lady Hae could become queen. The news from the palace is that she is pregnant with the king's child." Wistfully, she sighed. "I hope the child is a boy so they can marry peacefully."
"What will happen if the child is a girl?" Sun Hee frowned down at her cup.
"Then the king will have to marry a princess of the court's choosing and either make his lover a concubine or a second wife." Kyung Hwa replied sadly. "This would be dangerous for Lady Hae because the woman the court wants him to make his queen is my aunt from the Hwangbo clan and there are rumors among the servants of her cruel nature. She enjoys causing pain in others."
Sun Hee sucked in her breath, paling at the thought of having such a queen. "Sun Hee, I'm sharing this information because if anything happens to Lady Hae, I cannot allow this marriage to happen." Reaching into her sleeve, she took out a letter. "Please give this to Lady Hae once you have arrived at the palace. You will have a chance to meet her at the Damiwon. It is important that she read the letter."
Sun Hee sighed, feeling anxious and excited at the same time. Soon she will be a wife, she mused. Was she ready for this change in her life? Her mother, Lady Nari, grasped her hand, holding it tightly in her own to reassure her. "I felt just as overwhelmed when I was a bride." Her mother smiled at her. "Jung Wangjanim is a good man. I have no worries."
"I'm not worried about marrying Jung, Umma." Sun Hee patted her mother's hand. "I promise I will be happy." Her eyes sparkled as she crinkled up her nose with a smile. "I'm just thinking about Kyung Hwa Ongjunim. I hope Pyeha allows her to come to the wedding."
"I know how much you enjoy the company of her highness, but you must remember that she is Pyeha's first wife." Lady Nari's gaze grew concerned. "It might create dangerous rumors if she appears at court."
"Yes, Umma." Sun Hee nodded, narrowing her eyes. She could test the waters with Pyeha, she mused.
The palanquin jostled as it was placed on the ground in front of the steps to Cheondeokjeon. "Lady Choi, Lady Moon, we have arrived." A voice conveyed from outside. Sun Hee peeked out of the curtains, sighing with relief upon seeing Jung waiting for her. She blinked at the bright sunlight as the door opened. Her mother graciously thanked the person who helped her out of the palanquin, then Sun Hee peered into Jung's eyes as he held his hand out to her. "Welcome, Sun Hee." He smiled warmly at her as she took his hand as she stood up.
"Prince Jung." Sun Hee bowed before him, thinking that propriety was the best foot forward within the palace. Jung frowned and lifted her head up. "I am nothing more than a soldier, Sun Hee. I don't want you to bow to me, your husband."
"You are also the king's younger brother." Lady Nari said as she inclined her head. "Sun Hee should remember that she while she remains within the palace. One should not become too comfortable."
"I understand your concerns, Lady Choi." Jung acknowledged, "However, this is not my father's court and I don't stand on ceremony unless it is before Pyeha." He squeezed Sun Hee's hand, curling his fingers around her own. "And we are soon to be husband and wife."
"Jung-a." Sun Hee blushed, peeping up at him from beneath her lashes. She squeezed Jung's hand back, remaining silent as she glanced at her mother to see her reaction to Jung's pure and forthright nature.
Lady Nari placed her hands together and gave him a knowing smile, noticing the couple still held hands, "As you wish, Wangjanim."
"Thank you, beob-ui eomeoni." Jung inclined his head at the woman. "Please, come this way to the Damiwon. There are refreshments and you both can relax." He led both women through the gate and up to the waiting servants.
"Will Lady Hae Soo be at the Damiwon?" Sun Hee asked Jung, turning to smile warmly up at him. "Kyung Hwa Ongjunim has told me so many wonderful things about her. I would love an audience with her."
He laughed, his eyes crinkling up. "Soo-ya should be there with Woo Hee Gongjunim. Both older sisters are wonderful. You will like them very much, Sun Hee." Then he coughed and turned back to Lady Nari. "We had heard that General Moon is traveling from Yalu River territories. Once he arrives, then Lady Sun Hee will be presented to Pyeha."
"I am most pleased to hear that my husband can make it to his daughter's wedding." She replied with a cool smile.
Sun Hee bit her lip at her mother's backhanded complaint against her father. However, she soon forgot about it as they entered the doorway into the Damiwon, the tranquil beauty taking her breath away. She grabbed Jung's arm with her other hand as she let her eyes wander.
"Welcome to Damiwon Palace, Lady Choi and Lady Moon." Court Lady Song bowed her head before turning to Wang Jung. "Wangjanim." The ladies behind her bowed then efficiently hurried about their task. "Lady Hae Soo and Woo Hee Gongjunim are in the Royal Tearoom with the Imperial Highness Shinjeong of Silla. I will take you them."
"Thank you, Lady Song." Jung's brow furrowed, his smile faltering a little at the news. During his father's reign the Silla Queen had not been allowed to visit the Goryeo palace even though her daughter was one of his consorts and the mother of Wang Baek Ah. The Queen had not been happy about having to marry her daughter to Wang Geon to unify Silla to Goryeo. He remembered his mother's dislike of the Silla Princess. "Maybe Lady Choi and Lady Moon should be served in a more private tearoom. We don't want to disturb Lady Soo and Woo Hee Gongju if they are entertaining Baek Ah's Imperial grandmother."
"Jung Wangjanim, it is fine." Sun Hee gently tugged at Jung's arm, then smiled at Lady Song. "If we are expected, then we should not keep them waiting. I do not want to start off on the wrong foot."
"Sun Hee!" Lady Nari's eyes widen at her daughter's inappropriate manners before the royal prince and court lady.
Jung pasted on his best smile, then replied. "You are right, Sun Hee." Turning to Lady Song, he nodded. "Please lead the way."
Damiwon
Royal Tearoom
"Your plan does have merit, Lady Hae." Queen Shinjeong observed as she sipped her tea, contemplating Hae Soo's idea of building an atrium within the palace. "However, clear glass can be very expensive depending on whether it can be fired locally or if it has to be exported from Rome."
"Rome?" Soo blinked, biting her lip as she calculated the distance and the time it would take to import the glass. Too bad this isn't the twenty first century, she sighed.
"I know of only one family in Gyeongju who enjoyed the royal family patronage while we still ruled Silla." The older woman contemplated, pursing her lips.
"Is it possible for this family to help?" Woo Hee inquired, exchanging a worried glance with Soo.
"Only if the family has passed down the knowledge on how to make Roman glass to the younger generation, young lady." Queen Shinjeong gave her granddaughter-in-law a condescending smile, remembering that her grandson had married a Baekje princess, she mentally huffed. "I will send a letter to Ahn In Beom's family with an inquiry. The old glass master may still be alive." She promised Soo with a definite nod.
"Shinjeong Hwangju, Princess Woo Hee, and Lady Hae Soo," The seated women turned their attention on Lady Song as she entered the tearoom followed by Wang Jung and two women. "Lady Choi Nari, Lady Moon Sun Hee, and Wang Jung Wangjanim have arrived."
"Wangjanim! Lady Choi and Lady Moon, please join us." Soo smiled brightly as she stood up to greet the bowing women. Turning to Lady Song, she instructed. "Lady Song, please have the dasik served with chrysanthemum tea for Lady Choi and Lady Moon. As well as more Assam tea for her majesty."
"Very good, Lady Hae." Lady Song replied, then with the barest nod the young ladies around her swarmed into motion.
"Thank you, Lady Song. " Woo Hee said as the women sat down at the table covered with rough drawings of buildings.
"It is good to finally meet you." Soo said gently to Sun Hee. "Jung has not had much time to tell me all about you so I hope we can talk before the wedding. Today may be too overwhelming for me." Grinning widely at Woo Hee, she leaned forward slightly. "I have planned on a family dinner tonight to surprise Pyeha."
"Humph, young lady, there is nothing you should do to surprise a monarch." Queen Shinjeong replied dryly. "Surprises usually don't turn out well."
Woo Hee sipped her tea, reticent as she watched her friend charm Baek Ah's grandmother, entertained. Apparently a bored and pregnant Hae Soo was a dangerous Hae Soo, she mused.
"It would be nice if for one night to simply enjoy each other's company without worrying about our stations within the palace." Hae Soo lamented. "This is a gift I want to give to Pyeha." She smiled at Sun Hee, grasping the young woman's hand, her gaze including Jung who gave her a weak smile. "And it would be nice to welcome new family members."
"Nui, I don't know." Jung began then he stopped when he heard Sun Hee respond. "I would like that very much, Lady Hae." Sun Hee nodded, still feeling overwhelmed and in awe of the women in the room.
"Wangja-nim, please, you are his younger brother and I want to do this for you and him. It is important to me." Hae Soo implored, her tone serious as her hand squeezed Sun Hee's.
"As you wish, Nui." Jung caved, bringing the smile back to Soo's lips. "But you must tell Pyeha about the dinner. Promise." He ordered, bowing his head before the old queen. "Queen Shinjeong is right, surprises aren't good within the palace, Soo."
"I promise I will tell him." Soo nodded her agreement, then caught Woo Hee's expression. "Knowing Pyeha, he probably already knows." She sighed as glanced over at her friend who smiled back with wide innocent eyes.
Woo Hee set her tea cup down gracefully, then changed the subject. "Hae Soo, I heard that Pyeha showed you Manwoldae Palace yesterday. Is it not lovely?"
"It's breathtaking!" Soo's eyes lit up as she remembered the splendor of the palace and So's proposal. "He's ordered the servants and my attendants to move my belongings there within five days. However, I find the move to be rather rushed."
"Manwoldae Palace." Queen Shinjeong said specutively, peering over her tea cup at Soo. "Yes, the place is charming."
"Pyeha enjoys the library there." Soo replied, guilelessly, happiness flooding her as she gushed on about the palace. Then everyone in the room turned at once as Eunuch Kim stepped into the room, bowing. "Lady Hae, the king is waiting outside for you. It is time for your stroll around the lake."
"Oh, I didn't realize the time." Soo stood up, bowing to the queen, then turning to Lady Choi Nari and Sun Hee. "I would love to visit with you both later. Have you been presented to the king yet?"
"Not yet, Lady Hae." Lady Nari answered with a smile. "My husband is soon to arrive. Once he is here, then we will be presented."
"I promise I won't keep him long then." Soo gave a quick nod of her head. "Thank you, your majesty, for your assistance. I'll hope to see you and Wang Baek Ah at dinner tonight, Woo Hee Gongjunim."
"We will be there, Hae Soo." Woo Hee replied graciously, then turned to Queen Shinjeong. "Your majesty, how would you like to have Bok Soon for the night?"
"I would love to see my great-grandchild." The older woman attempted to appear doting. Soo grinned as she bowed again and left the room with Eunuch Kim trailing behind her.
Lady Nari's eyes followed Soo as she left the room, a frown marred her features. "But she is only the king's mistress, how can she weld any power?" She wondered under her breath, confused by Hae Soo's status within the palace.
"I have known many a mistress to be more powerful than any queen." Queen Shinjeong shot a hard look at the other woman. "When a woman holds the heart of a king, she truly holds the throne in the palm of her hand."
"I did not mean any disrespect to Lady Hae, your majesty." Lady Nari bowed her head before the Queen of Silla.