Chapter 27

It would take an hour of kneeling at the corner of the wall before Lady Oh would let Hae Soo come home for the weekend. It was her punishment for making a mistake at the tea ceremony at the garden a while ago.

By the time she finished her punishment, Yeonhwa and Wook would be gone and she finds herself riding the palanquin to get to their home. It was very unlike of the 8th prince to leave her behind since he never missed to visit her every night or fetch her every time she comes home but in her haste to get home, Ha Jin couldn't be more oblivious.

"Unnie!" Ha Jin throws open the door of Myung Hee's room and enters unceremoniously. She finds her cousin on her bed being tucked by Wook.

"Lady Hae Soo, your cousin is already asleep, please observe silence." Wook politely and quietly admonishes Hae Soo, expressing distance with the way he addresses her.

Ha Jin stops from the sudden formality in the room, confused.

I'm a 'lady' now?

Though baffled from the surprising change in the 8th prince, Ha Jin gives her greetings formally, matching Wook's mood. She walks to stand beside Myung Hee's bed, asking how she is doing.

"The doctor says she's six weeks into it and is having a sensitive pregnancy. It would be best if she stays in her bed and not move too much." Wook explains, refusing to look at Hae Soo.

Ha Jin leans in to brush the hair out of Myung Hee's forehead. Although it was a shocked to her that Myung Hee is pregnant, she's happy for her and worried at the same time. With the frail health Myung Hee has it would be perilous on her part.

"You should leave, it's late" Wook dismisses Hae Soo not wanting her in the same room as his wife.

When the doctor delivered the news of Myung Hee's pregnancy, Wook is torn between being happy and tormented. He is glad that Myung Hee is not sick, that he is going to be a father and that he just secured his clan's hold of the Haes but it also means the end to the pursuit of his heart's desire. He can no longer look at Hae Soo or even dream of being close to her. It's time to conclude his excursion outside the line and go back inside the confines of his walls.

Myung Hee catches Hae Soo's hand as she takes it away, "Hae Soo-ya."

"Unnie, mianhaeyo, did I wake you up?" Ha Jin keeps still, startled by Myung Hee.

"Aniyo, I've only closed my eyes for a few minutes. How are you?" Myung Hee opens her eyes to look at Hae Soo.

"Of course I'm alright." Ha Jin answers, lowering herself beside Myung Hee's bed so Myung Hee could take a better look at her. "How are you? Are you comfortable? Is there anything I can do?"

"Cheo neun gwaenchanhseubnikka, (I'm alright.)" Myung Hee raises her hand to touch Hae Soo's face, "Po-go sip-eoss-eo, (I missed you) please stay for a while. I suddenly miss the smell of that flower you so like."

"Mokran?" Hae Soo's favorite flower automatically comes to Ha Jin's mind.

Myung Hee nods, "I wish it would bloom already. I think it's the only smell that doesn't make me nauseas."

A smile forms on Myung Hee's lips as she remembers their childhood together up north, playing in the bushes of those flowers Hae Soo loved, "Stay with me for a while."

"Kuereom, Myung Hee-ya I'll step out." Wook abruptly stands-up, suffocated from the pain of looking at Hae Soo. "I'll be in my quarters if you need anything, please call upon the servant to inform me."

"Yie wangjanim, kamsahabnida. Please rest well." Myung Hee answers as Ha Jin too stands up and gives her greeting.

As Wook leaves, Myung Hee moves a little to her side to give space for Hae Soo. Ha Jin lies down beside her, the two of them facing each other. She strokes Myung Hee's face as she tells her to sleep, an action Myung Hee does for Hae Soo when they were little and Hae Soo was sick. Myung Hee smiles and closes her eyes at Hae Soo's gentle touches, comfortable to have her by her side.


Wook walks back to his quarter, staggering and clasping at his chest. Every second of seeing Hae Soo feels like a stab on his heart.

He reaches his quarters and closes the door behind him, sliding in the ground the moment he reaches the privacy of his room. Everything in his chest feels painful, even the mere act of breathing isn't a relief but suffocation. His heart feels like it is being squeezed, snuffing the life out of him. When a single tear made its way upon his cheeks, the gates in his emotions open and out came the flood he can no longer hold back. He cries as he laments for his heart that he can hear breaking upon the silence of his room.


Watching the gungnyeo(s) close the Damiwon for the night, Ji Mong stands at the second floor balcony lost in his thoughts again. Lady Oh lets him take a seat in one of the tea tables in the second floor, having dismissed all her apprentices for the weekend. She sits opposite her nephew and the gungnyeo(s) serve them a late dinner.

"I heard you and my apprentice had a little chorus a while ago. Waeyo? Is there something wrong if Lady Myung Hee is expecting?" Lady Oh asks, bringing a spoon of porridge in her mouth.

When Yeonhwa delivered the news of Myung Hee's pregnancy, Ha Jin and Ji Mong slip out of their careful pretense of not knowing history and exclaims at the same time, catching each other's eyes.

Ha Jin was too startled by the news and by her mistake that she quickly reverted her eyes and avoided the gaze of the astronomer. It feels wrong to her to be sharing a secret with Ji Mong who drowned Hae Soo. She would never forget how she became a forced accomplice for him so she is always careful not to come near him or be acknowledge by him.

"Nothing. I was only surprised." Ji Mong answers truthfully.

These days he keeps finding his self asking what's happening one too many times, it's starting to drive him crazy. He wanted to change the outcome of this lifetime and in doing so, it's understandable how some situations might change yet he can't help but feel scared that he is somehow blind going into this.

That means an heir for the Hwangbos. Will it affect my little queen?

Knowing that the 8th prince harbored an affection for Hae Soo in the original lifetime, Ji Mong can't see how this would go.

If it puts an early stop to their soon-to-be-affair then I am all for it.

My little queen is not having an affair with the 8th prince at the moment right? Mu had made sure to put her in our 4th prince's grasp and away from the 8th prince.

I'm going to kill So for leaving when he's not supposed to leave yet. They were getting closer already, why would he leave? Maybe I should go to the north and dragged him back here.

"Ji Mong-ah, can you be honest with me just this once?" Lady Oh puts down her spoon of porridge, looking-up to watch her nephew. "Lady Hae Soo isn't Lady Hae Soo, is she?"

Ji Mong stops at the middle of raising his chopsticks. He laughs, a dry one, "I have no idea what you're talking about my lady."

She is my little queen.

"Shall I sent Lady Hae Soo to Queen Yoo? I heard she keeps requesting for her." Lady Oh moves to rest her back on her chair, forcing Ji Mong's hand.

Ji Mong's hand closes on her aunt's arm as she moves back. His hold too tight, Lady Oh can feel the nervousness and desperation behind the touch. "Please don't. No one can get to her for as long as she's under your care."

For as long as you and Myung Hee are alive.

"Then tell me, who is she? I can't protect her if I don't know anything." Lady Oh holds Ji Mong's gaze, reading her nephew's eyes.

Ji Mong closes his eyes, cutting off Lady Oh's observation. He sighs, feeling the burden of carrying his family secret for the last thousand years. He releases his aunt's arm, the fear starting to get through him, he decides to share a few of it, wanting to find a release, "Let's just say, she's not of this time and she is like a kid at the moment, wandering around unaware of the dangers around her. So please, until she marries the next true owner of that throne, let her stay under your care."

He shared too much.

"The next true owner of that throne? So she's going to be a queen?" Lady Oh asks, startled by the things she's hearing.

Since Ji Mong can't take back his mistake, he decides to trust his aunt, "I hope so."

My little queen had always been a king-maker but I have never seen her sit in that throne herself. She had never liked that sit and it always spells the end for both of them whenever her prince takes that throne. But it will be different this time, will it?

It has to.

"How long before the owner of that throne changes?" Lady Oh clasp her chest, automatically thinking of the king she still keeps in her heart.

"I-nyeon. (Two years.)" Ji Mong answers, "Mianhaeyo, we all have to reach our end at some point." pertaining to King Taejo.

Two years if everything is going the way it should but since everything is a mess, I'll be thankful if we ever reach that year.

"Thank you for letting me know." Lady Oh takes a glass of water to calm her self down. Her nephew is never known to make mistakes with his prediction of the future. "By the way, I also heard that the third rank lady consort had visited the 8th prince's household. I'm sure she's not interested with the Hwangbos"

She isn't supposed to be part of this lifetime, can I trust her?

Another worry crosses Ji Mong's face, "I heard that too. I don't know what she wants and our 4th prince isn't one to talk. Let's keep her away from Lady Hae Soo too in the meantime, until I found out her intentions."

Lady Oh closes her eyes and breathes deeply. "Araseo."

She doesn't know why she has to play this game with everyone else. If her nephew is hell bent in protecting her then he should just return her to the north. She's safer there with her adoptive family. She doesn't want her Damiwon to become a playground for this mad queens and consort.


A lone small pavilion inside the gardens of the jumak is being kept private for the sole drinker occupying its vicinity. Baek-Ah sits alone, drinking and getting wasted. He wanted to see if Myung Hee is all right but he couldn't bring himself past the gates of her household. With anger, pain and jealousy coursing in his veins, he couldn't think clearly. If he tries to even see her, he might just lose it so he opted to visit the jumak instead.

Woo Hee who had came home earlier in the night is being ordered to come out and accompany Baek-Ah in the pavilion since she is being trained as haengsu, the only gisaeng(s) who are allowed to entertain royal councils and princes.

She paces outside the pavilion, trying to get a peak at the 13th prince who seemed to be swaying even while seated.

"Is he lucid? I hope he's too drunk to recognize me." Woo Hee muses as she brings her hands together, wringing it. It's hard enough to avoid him at the damiwon, she can't believe her luck when she found him here after she arrived home.

A door at the main quarters open and out came another gisaeng who signals to Woo Hee that she should enter the pavilion now before the lady of their household finds her there.

Wincing and afraid, Woo Hee steps in the pavilion and announces her presence, "Annyeong Hasibnikka wangjanim."

"I told you, I don't want anyone to come and join me. Na-ga! (Get out!)" Although Baek-Ah is in his second bottle of yagyongju, he is only tipsy and still coherent enough to recognize people. He looks up to find one of the apprentices of Lady Oh, "Oh it's you?"

"Ne wangjanim, joesonghabnida, let me come back later then." Woo Hee gives her greetings and sighs a relief finding an excuse to leave. She turns to go back but Baek-Ah stops her.

"Jamkkanmanyo,(wait,)" Baek-ah inclines his head, "Anj-eu-se-yo. (Sit down.)"

"Eh?" Woo Hee chews her lower lip, a habit she had formed whenever she is nervous. She turns, awkwardly smiling at the prince, "I'll just come back later."

"Aniyo, anj-a-ra." Baek-Ah commands her to sit.

With no choice, Woo Hee takes a seat opposite the 13th prince and politely pours a drink for him.

"Why weren't you serving tea at the damiwon a while ago?" Baek-Ah asks, taking the drink from Woo Hee.

"Cheo-neun a-pass-eo-yo. (I was sick.)" Woo Hee lies again.

"Ji-geum a-peu-ji a-ni-ya? (And you're no longer sick now?)" Baek-Ah watches Woo Hee as he drinks.

Woo Hee purses her lips and looks away.

"Do you always lie?" Baek-Ah's eyebrow goes up, asking matter of factly.

Woo Hee doesn't answer, her face blushing as red as tomato.

"What shall I call you, Woo Hee or Bok Soon?" Baek-Ah pours a glass and gives it to Woo Hee, "Ma-syeo-yo. (Drink-up.)"

Woo Hee looks at the drink Baek-Ah is offering and takes it since she is in no position to say no. She turns on her side and drinks it in one gulp, grimacing after.

Seeing no point in lying anymore, Woo Hee kneels and introduces her self, saying her real name, "Joesonghabnida, Cheo i-reum-eun Woo Hee-ibnida."

Baek-Ah smiles, "Woo Hee then. Are you good at drinking? I would have called my 14th brother but he's in the north and Hae Soo, I can't bring myself past their gates and it wouldn't be proper to bring her here."

A sarcastic laugh escapes Baek-Ah, one that ends in him drinking another glass. The pain in him is too evident in his face, his eyes swim through a watery haze that has nothing to do with the strong wine he is having.

"I'm sorry for whatever you're going through." Woo Hee maintains her manners.

"You know for a trainee gisaeng, you are too proper. Are you from a noble family?" Squinting, Baek-Ah observes Woo Hee from head to foot.

Woo Hee tries not to fidget under the gaze of the 13th prince, uncomfortable to be scrutinized, "Maybe I should call Hae Soo Ssi and have you go home, you've finished two bottles already."

She tries to take the bottle from Baek-Ah but Baek-Ah puts it out of her reach, "Tell me something about yourself. I'll tell you something about myself in return."

Cynically sighing, Woo Hee doesn't want to, the last thing she needs is for someone to find out something about her.

"I'll go first then. So there was this girl…" Baek-Ah tells the story of how he met Myung Hee. Though he's drunk he is still careful to take out every name or detail that will point it to Myung Hee. By the end of it, he had finished half of his third bottle and his movements are too sloppy already, swaying more than he does a while ago.

Woo Hee's pleasant face gets darker as annoyance seeps in her composure by every second that she has to sit through it. It is incomprehensible to her why she has to listen to the rumblings of this prince, who has everything but the love of the girl he didn't even bother to fight for.

A few more minutes and Baek-Ah's head slumps to the table, falling asleep. Woo Hee wonders if she could pour a glass of that drink on his face just so he could wake-up. How dare he whines to her about his heart breaking when Woo Hee lost everything to the war, her family, her kingdom, her people, her pride. Compared to her, Baek-Ah's problem falls short to her demise.

She stands-up, taking the glass with her. She pours that clear liquid on his face, waking Baek-Ah abruptly,

"Oh joesonghabnida wangjanim, my hand slipped." Woo Hee feigns innocence, as she pretends to clamor wiping the wine out of the 13th prince.

Baek-Ah raises his head a little, confused of what just happened. He shrugs, too drunk to care. He goes back to sleeping and Woo Hee leaves the pavilion before she empties that other bottle on his face.


She tosses and turns in her bed, unable to sleep. She had lost count on how many nights it had been since she last slept comfortably in her bed after that night he had held her in his room. She hasn't, not oven once, passed his quarters these past few days, embarrassed to see him. She was afraid that she can't control the erratic beating of her heart around him, ashamed that a betrothed lady is harbouring such heart for a man who isn't her beau. She opted to avoid him and busies herself with errands instead, familiarising herself with the wedding ritual she had to perform on her wedding day.

Today, it's the king who visits his quarters. The prince had been in their care for almost two months now and this is only the first time that the king personally visits the prince to give his greetings.

After the prince had woken-up and introduced his self, the king immediately sent out a messenger to the kingdom the prince claims to be from where he came from, and this morning the messenger arrived with a chancellor from the prince's kingdom to confirm his identity. He is indeed a crown prince from a kingdom across the Yalu river, owning thrice the size of the kingdom the daughter of the moon has. The king immediately expresses apology for the meager accommodations they have provided the crown prince. He personally takes the chancellor to the crown prince's quarter, where the crown prince only has good words for the hospitality he was shown. The chancellor sighs a relief to see their crown prince in a lot of bandage but well and alive, he couldn't be more grateful.

When the king left to let them talk in private, the crown prince tells his chancellor that he intends to heal here first before he comes home. If he could just leave him be for a few months, he'll gladly return home in time for his coronation, with a bride in tow. The chancellor smiles, happy to know that their kingdom will not only be getting a king upon his return but also a queen but he asks his crown prince, who would he be returning with. The daughter of the moon who is well known in every other kingdom is already betrothed; he couldn't be possibly thinking of breaking her engagement, will he? That would mean war.

The crown prince couldn't care less. He had been hearing about the daughter of the moon since he was a kid and just like everyone else he was curious as to who she is and what is she like. Then he had seen her in the middle of the lake, under the light of the moon, taking a bath while he was dying. To him, their meeting is as surreal as every man's dream of meeting a goddess before their death. He was under her spell instantly, one that he wouldn't want to break.

The end of the crown prince's lips turns up, forming a smirk confidently. This isn't his first war and he had won a lot, he will not lose this war with the daughter of the moon's heart on the line. The chancellor shakes his head, explaining his father's council, the king will not agree to it. The crown prince knows this so he intends to get coroneted first before he announces his engagement with the daughter of the moon.

The crown prince asks his chancellor to swear in his life to keep it a secret for now, he wouldn't want his plan to be foiled before it unfolds. Knowing his crown prince, there is nothing he can say or do to stop him once he gets his mind on it so he takes an oath against his will and congratulates his crown prince in his impending engagement.

The king invites the crown prince and his chancellor for lunch in his pavilion but since the crown prince is still not well enough to be walking far away from his quarters, they move the lunch in the pavilion at the back of his quarters. The king calls for his family to join them and sits the daughter of the moon beside the crown prince, telling the chancellor that his daughter is personally nursing their crown prince back to health, so their kingdom need not worry about him. The chancellor could only give his smile, uneasy with the game his crown prince is playing.

The king announces that he'd like to throw a feast for the crown prince, his way to express his apology for the late greeting he had given him. The crown prince humbly declines, not wanting to draw attention to his stay in their kingdom. He looks at the daughter of the moon, naturally reaching to her hand and taking it to his. He'd like it if they could continue with their set-up as it is. The daughter of the moon tries to stay still under everyone's gaze. Giving her sunniest smile, she hopes to masks her heart that is involuntary skipping in her chest. The king stares at the hand the crown prince is holding, not missing the tenderness in his voice when he speaks about his daughter.

After lunch, the chancellor walks with the king while the crown prince comes back to his quarter accompanied by the daughter of the moon. She didn't stay for long, excusing herself before the crown prince ask why she doesn't come by his quarters anymore.

The chancellor remained overnight and leaves the next day, having been commanded by the crown prince to go back to their kingdom already.

With the renewed favor he got from the king, the crown prince dares to command the court ladies attending to him to bring the daughter of the moon to him, refusing treatment from the royal physician the daughter of the moon sends in her place. The court ladies inform the daughter of the moon of the command of the crown prince but she still didn't come.

After several days of silence on her part, the crown prince decides to seek out the daughter of the moon in her own quarters, a walk quite far from his own room. By the time he reaches her quarters, he is sweating from the pain of the sword wound on his stomach. He stops at the corner of her quarters, leaning at a post, clasping at his stomach. He breathes deeply, inhaling the scent of her favorite flowers, which are surrounding her quarters too. A few more steps and he finally reach the next corner of her quarters finding her on the garden with a few court ladies surrounding her. A ceramic bowl sits on each of her shoulders and she walks holding her chima on both sides, practicing proper posture and etiquette for courtly functions.

He watches quietly, dizzy from the long walk he just had. As the daughter of the moon completes a turn, she finally notices him leaning at the post of her quarters looking deathly white and sickly. He sways dangerously, about to lose consciousness. She runs to catch him, disregarding the bowls on her shoulders. It falls, breaking in the ground.

She reaches him as his knees touch the ground, catching his weight. His forehead and back soak with a cold sweat in spite of the summer temperature around them. A smell of rust or something like metallic fills her nose, indicating blood around her. She turns him over, laying him gently in the ground. Her fear is starting to turn into panic. Her hands shake as she searches for the source of the rustic scent.

Ha Jin abruptly opens her eyes, waking-up from the dream. She can still feel her heart beating hard on her chest as her worry for the prince consumes her. She sits-up, looking around, she finds herself still inside Myung Hee's room, having fallen asleep beside her cousin last night. She turns to her side, checking-up on Myung Hee. She pinches her nose, the rustic smell of blood is still under her nose that it feels as if she's surrounded by it.

She stops, the color on her face draining. Myung Hee seems to be sleeping just fine, lying on her side, facing her, but she looks paper-white and her lips a little on the side of bluish.

With a trembling hands, Ha Jin lifts their blanket and sees blood on Myung Hee's white sokgot.

"Unnie! Unnie!" Ha Jin shakes Myung Hee to wake-up and shouts at the door, "Is there somewhere in there? Je-bal do-wa -ju-se-yo! (Please help us!)"

Her worry quickly escalating to panic.


The sun takes a peak on the leaves of the trees inside the forest leading to the Hae Clan's main household. Located at the foot of a mountain, overlooking the town, spread beside the river. Gen Park chews at the tip of a lemongrass as he rides beside So while Jung is lagging a little behind, taking his time and watching his surroundings.

They arrived at the main gate of the household, welcomed by that faint citrusy scent floating in the air. All around the courtyard are little trees or shrubs of Mokran arranged with other ornamental plants. By the pond, doing a few pruning is the mistress of the household, Lady Se Won, mother to Myung Hee and wife to Hae Gyu Ui, warden of the North East.

She turns by the sound of the horse's hooves, entering their main gate. She puts down her shears and walks to the landing of their courtyard, welcoming the general and the two princes with a warm smile and refined manner reminiscent of Lady Myung Hee.

"Ah General Park, you've arrived." Lady Se Won bows in greeting to the general and the two princes, "Forgive my manners, you've found me in the middle of gardening."

"Animnida. As always you have a beautiful home." Gen Park takes the lemon grass out of his lips and alights his horse, with the two princes following his lead. He returns the greeting, turning to the two princes behind him to introduce them, "May I present our 4th prince, Wang So, adoptive son of Lady Shinjuwon of the Kang Clan and military commandant of the north."

So steps forward and takes a bow.

Lady Se Won takes a look at the two prince, observing how precise and commanding the 4th prince's demeanor is. She, like everyone else had heard a lot of rumors about the Kang Clan and their adopted son. With a straight posture, tall physique, and dressed in dark shades of hanbok, the 4th prince does inspire a healthy dose of intimidation. His black mask and plenty strands of hair covering part of his face, isn't helping either. Though his high ponytail makes him look neat, it also highlights his angular jaw, making him look dangerously beautiful.

"And this is our 14th prince, Wang Jung, son of Queen Shinmyeongsunseong of the Chungju Yu Clan, a trainee under our 4th prince."

"Yie, pangapseubnida. (It is a pleasure to meet you.)" Jung observes a 90 degree bow, nervous to be meeting Hae Soo's mother for the first time.

The similarities with the two brothers are too pronounced- their hair, their posture, the way they dress and even present their selves, you can easily tell they share the same blood. What sets Jung different from So is that there is an air of easiness around him, open and lively, the kind of boy who grew-up sheltered and loved.

"Yie pangaseubnida." Lady Se Won, returns the greeting sincerely, "Shall we move to the pavilion, I'll have my servants prepare refreshments. My husband is out in the forest at the moment with my son, I'm sure they are on their way back already."

Lady Se Won leads the three visitors passed the pond where she was pruning a while ago. As So walks by the Mokran shrubs, he can't help but stop. With his face, facing the sky, basking in the sun, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breathe, catching that faint scent of lemony citrus around them. The corner of his lips turns up naturally, forming a small smile. It's been a while since he last smelled this scent. His thoughts automatically conjure the lake with these flowers surrounding it and filling the air with its scent. This time Hae Soo comes to his mind too, thinking about her request to see his lake. If only the lake isn't located at the middle of the forest outside the palace of the Kangs, then he would have brought Hae Soo there already. What would it be like to see her at the middle of his lake, bathing, her body outline by the bluish light of the full moon.

So swallows, his ears turning red.

"So wangjanim, is there something wrong?" Lady Se Won turns, noticing that the 4th prince had stopped walking behind them.

So open his eyes, his train of thoughts broken by Hae Soo's mother's voice. He shakes his head, dispersing his inappropriate thoughts. When did he started looking at Hae Soo that way? He reprimands his self, touching his heated ears. He lowers his eyes and started walking again, embarrassed to be harbouring such thoughts while he is around Hae Soo's mother.


It takes the whole morning before the whole emergency about Myung Hee settles down. When the last of the helpers leave her room, Ha Jin seats beside Myung Hee's bed holding her hand. Wook stands behind Hae Soo, listening to the royal doctor who is sitting on a chair, beside Myung Hee's head. Queen Shinjeong and Yeonhwa stand near, both attentive and mirroring the same worry as everyone else.

Myung Hee is awake and lying with her eyes closed, getting comforted by Hae Soo.

The doctor explains that Myung Hee's sickly body can not afford her to carry another life inside her. It would be dangerous to continue with the pregnancy past the first semester. If she could just let this one go, maybe she could regain her health first and try for another one after.

Myung Hee holds into her abdomen, kneading it softly. She's not going to let go of her baby no matter what the physician says. She knows her body will always be frail so even if they wait long, the results will still be the same. She'll go through this pregnancy even if it kills hers in the end.

"Please reconsider Myung Hee Ssi, your health is of more importance at the moment." The royal doctor ends his consultation, standing to leave. He gives his greetings and Wook, Yeonhwa and Queen Shinjeong leave with him, walking him out of Myung Hee's room. They fetch the physician to the main gate and went back to the courtyard, in front of the pond, to have a quiet conversation.

"We will have to be very careful with Myung Hee from now on. Her pregnancy is too risky, maybe we should let the doctor reside in your household temporarily Wook-ah." Queen Shinjeong starts.

"Eomonim, maybe it's best for Myung Hee if we consider the doctor's advice. Her life is in danger." Wook expresses his anxiety. Though he is torn about the consequences of having a baby with Myung Hee, he is truly and sincerely worried for her.

"You've heard your wife, she will go through this even if it kills her. Let's respect her decision." Queen Shinjeong rebuffs Wook's suggestion. Everyone is aware that this is their only chance to get an heir from Myung Hee so as much as she is worried for her daughter-in-law, her family's stability at the palace is also at stake.

"Eomonim, please, stop. It's my wife's life we're talking about." Wook walks away, unable to believe his mother. His heart might be breaking for another girl but he is not a monster to be wishing death for his wife who only has devotion for him.

"Orabeonim!" Yeonhwa calls after his brother.

"Let him be, he'll see the beauty of it after he thinks about it some more." Queen Shinjeong stops Yeonhwa, leaving Wook alone. Everything is falling into place for his son. Myung Hee might not survive giving birth for their child and if so, then he will be free to marry Hae Soo. They get an heir and he gets the girl, "It will work out just fine."


Soon Deok finds herself throwing tantrum at the middle of her quarters at the wee hours of the afternoon. After growing-up in the company of his father's rowdy soldiers, the idea of quiet is foreign to Soon Deok. It's been two weeks since her father left her under the care of their court ladies in their own household and she's starting to resent the orderly quiet life his father wants her to have. She goes to her closet and exchanges her pretty hanbok for her army uniform and set out to find anything that will entertain herself.

As she steps to their main gate, she wonders if she could go and visit her only friend, So wangjanim's woman, but then like what the princess said Hae Soo might be busy with her cousin so she shouldn't be imposing her presence on her. She can call Woo Hee but the girl is too modest and proper, she only reminds Soon Deok of her failed manners.

For lack of nothing to do, she ends up in the barracks of their soldiers, where she spots a lot of familiar faces crowding around something. When she came to see, she finds two soldiers engaging in a wrestling match. Soon Deok's face lights-up. She claps her hands and joins in the fun.

Arriving at the scene and joining the on-going bet are Eun and Baek-Ah. Eun was suffocating in the quietness of their clan's quarter and had seek his 13th brother to hang-out. He found Baek-Ah just coming back from somewhere looking ill and nursing his head, sporting a hang-over and a backache from falling asleep slumped on a table in a pavilion at the jumak.

Eun throws his brother into a bath, shouting annoyingly at him for not inviting him to his drinking session last night. To appease Eun, he walks with him at the barracks where he, Eun and Jung used to hang out together when they have free time. Jung loves practicing what he learns in class here, so he joins the soldiers in their wrestling match to see if he is improving.

Soon Deok and her opponent, another soldier, circles each other, assessing each other's strength. With their hands firmly on each other's belt and their pride and money on the line, Soon Deok and his opponent is matching each other's strength for the last round of their game. Soon Deok's back is to the two princes so she didn't see when they came in. Baek-Ah bets on her unknowing who she is while Eun bets on her opponent.

Soon Deok pulls at the leg of her opponent, her forehead squeezing from the effort. With the last of her strength, she lifts her opponent and back flips him to the ground, ending the match to her advantage. The crowd erupts in cheers and a referee soldier runs to her and hold her hand high, declaring her the winner. The two of them turns in applause and money exchanged on the sides. As she faces the people on her back Eun and Baek-Ah recognize her.

"Oh! it's the general's daughter." Baek-Ah exclaims looking at Soon Deok. "Daebak! Daebak-ida!"

Soon Deok quickly takes her hand from the referee and stood still, caught in the company of her father's soldiers, she's in deep trouble.

Not happy that he had lost his money to Baek Ah, Eun puts his hands on his waist, puffing his chest out, squinting his round eyes. He takes his bullying stance, smirking at Soon Deok, "I guess someone is going to be punished when she returns for her class."

Eun laughs, taking a step forward, approaching Soon Deok. He unconsciously invades her personal space, coming up-close to her face, "kuende, neo jinjja teun-teun-han! (you're really strong!) eo-tteoh-ke hae-seo (How did you that?)"

"Eh?" Soon Deok steps back, avoiding contact with the 10th prince, "wangja..ja..nim, no-no-mu… ka-kka-weo-seo. (You're... to..too... close)"

She stammers through her sentence with her heart skipping a beat from the sudden proximity of Eun. She keeps stepping back but Eun keeps stepping forward until she loses her footing, tripping on some stones she didn't see. Eun automatically circles his arms around her waist and pulls her to him, supporting her and righting her balance.

At least that's how it is to Soon Deok who looks the part of a blushing demure lady but to everyone else, the whole situation looked different. When Soon Deok tripped on an uneven path, she flails her hands around and it took Eun seconds before he moved to pull on the side of her belt, even missing it a few times before he got a hold of it and pulls her to him.

"Ya! Why are you so careless! Haven't you learned anything from your etiquette class." Eun takes his hands from her and looks at her annoyingly. He started walking away but stops when he sees Baek-Ah, an idea forming in his head. He turns back to Soon Deok, "Kuende, since I just saved you from falling, can you pay my hyungnim the money I lost in the bet?"

"Eh?" Soon Deok stares at Eun tongue-tied. "Wae.. wae… yo?"

Eun flashes his best smile, "So I won't tell Lady Oh what you do on your free time. I'm sure she doesn't want to hear her apprentice…"

He looks around, emphasizing his point, "... goes here and plays with the soldiers as if she's one of them."

Soon Deok inclines her head pondering if the 10th prince knocked his head somewhere. She raises her hand to ruffles his hair worried, "wangjanim, gwaenchanhayo?"

"Huh? Are you listening to me?" Eun touches his head, looking at Soon Deok strangely, "Neo jom i-sang-ha-gun-yo. (You're weird.) Dwaess-eo, (nevermind)."

Eun drops the matter and walks away, feeling weirded out by Soon Deok.

Baek-Ah who had been watching the conversation from the side had never witness such a disconnected dialogue in his entire life. He wonders if the two understood even a single sentence of what the other is saying. He makes a sucking sound of tsssss, and shakes his head, sure that he's no longer drunk and yet he couldn't wrap his head around the two.

He waves at Soon Deok and leaves, thinking of going back to sleep. Maybe he should get some more rest to recover some of his senses.


Seated at the pavilion polishing a few details on the agreement of facilitating the borders around their lands: are Gen Park, the two prince, joined by Hyeonhu (1) Hae Gyu Ui, father to Myung Hee and warden of the northeast, and his son Kyung Hee.

"It seemed several Khitans were seen plying our borders and advancing in the lands of a few farmers that they have stopped planting for the time being." Hae Hyeonhui explains the unrest he heard in the town.

"Kuereom we should consolidate our forces and have our borders manned better in the coming months. I'll send a few of my soldiers in those farm land to help them get it back." Gen Park suggests, "I've also requested an audience with the Chunju Yu clan. I don't think we will have problem with them seeing as the 14th prince is here with us."

"Yie, I'll make sure our clan will cooperate well." Jung readily answers, nervous but full of enthusiasm.

Hae Hyeonhui observes the 14th prince, the youngest in their group and the only one who has no experience in war and politics of the warring clans. He's sure that the prince will not break his word but his clan is of different matter. He doesn't forget to be wary of them.

"And the Kang Clans of Shinju?" Kyung Hee asks looking at the 4th prince.

So, whose sitting quietly on his corner catches the general's eyes.

"Of course our 4th prince will take care of it. In fact, I've just received an invitation from the consort. Though she is in the capital, her uncles would gladly receive us in their palace." Gen Park answers for So, the end of his lips involuntarily twitching. "We'll visit the Kangs after our audience with the Chungju Yu Clans."

"That's good then. We'll cooperate like everyone else." Hae Hyeonhui assures the general.

Coming in the pavilion with a tray of tea is Lady Se Won, followed by her servants. Jung automatically stands up and offers help to Lady Se Won, putting-up a good image for Hae Soo's mother.

"Eomonim, let me help you with it." Jung takes the tray from Lady Se Won without waiting for her answer.

"Omo, eommo… eomonim?!"

"Eh?"

General Park and So reacts to the sudden familiarity Jung had addressed Hae Soo's mother.

"Aigoo… such manners for a prince. Kamsahabnida wangjanim." Though also surprise by the 14th prince' action, Lady Sewon dots warmly over Jung, finding his action endearing.

Gen Park stands-up and automatically apologizes for Jung's action.

"Animnida, gwanchanhseubnida. It's not everyday I meet a fine young boy like our 14th prince." Lady Se Won lightly touches Jung's arm, a clear approval of Jung.

Jung smiles openly, proud of his self, "Eomonim, in the future, please don't hesitate to ask for any help from me. I'll gladly provide my assistance."

"Please don't spoil my wife like that, she'll start commanding me and my son when you all take leave." Hae Hyeonhui lightly jokes.

A few laughter floats in the air and the mood turns light. Jung walks with Lady Sewon as he holds the tray for her and she lifts the carafe of tea and pours for her husband first.

"Ah kuende wangjanim, may I ask how old are you." Lady Se Won addresses Jung beside her.

"Cheo-yo?" a question floats in Jung's face.

Hae Hyeonhui and his son catch each other's gaze. Knowing his wife and with his last daughter completing her apprenticeship, they pretty much have an idea on how this conversation will go.

"Please don't answer my mother, you might just find yourself in the receiving end of a marriage proposal." Kyung Hee follows-up the joke of his father.

"Yeol a-hop sal-ib-ni-da, (19 years. old)." Jung answers quickly, not wanting to miss this chance. The crimson red on his neck noticeable, "Eomonim, if Hae Soo hasn't told you yet, Hae Soo and I… we're... quite close."

"Ah cheongmalya?" Lady Se Won's face lights-up, looking at Jung fully. Starting to consider the prince, "Keureom, please take care of my daughter well. I was worried that she's only causing trouble ever since her accident. I wanted to visit her and Myung Hee but the 8th prince had assured us that they are both doing just fine. Is she? What about our Myung Hee?"

"Ay keureomyo, Myung Hee is taking care of Hae Soo well so you need not worry eomonim." Jung gladly fills in Lady Se Won of how Myung Hee and Hae Soo are doing these days.

"Da-haeng-i-ne-yo (That's a relief then.)" Lady Se Won answers, putting the carafe of tea down.

"Aigoo, we came to settle a few disputes in our borders and we might leave with a proposal in our hands. Good thing I'm not the father of this prince." General Park joins in the conversation, all the while observing the 4th prince. So is busy with playing with his own tea, an action the general had observed the 4th prince usually does when his guard is up and he doesn't want to answer any question.

"Please. Let's not scare the boy away." Hae Hyeonhui answers, pertaining to Jung.

Jung laughs nervously, trying hard not to blush, "Animnida, please continue with the conversation. I do not mind."


Come night, Wook visits Myung Hee in her room, bringing her medicine with him. He finds Hae Soo still beside Myung Hee, holding her hand while reading a book.

Ha Jin stands as Wook enters the room and walks beside the bed.

"Is she asleep?" Wook still refuses to look at Hae Soo.

"Yie wangjanim, she fell asleep not too long ago." Ha Jin remains in her bowing position, waiting to be let-up. A few more seconds and it seems that the 8th prince won't answer so she stands on her own with confusion etched in her face.

"Ka. (Leave.)" Wook tells Hae Soo. "I'll take care of her."

The coldness in Wook is too defined, Ha Jin wonders if she's done something wrong. She stares at Wook, puzzled.

Feeling her eyes on him, Wook admonishes Hae Soo. "Hasn't Lady Oh taught you yet that it's rude to stare at a person's face."

Turning to Hae Soo, with anger dancing in his eyes, he dismisses her in a low voice. "Na ga. (Get out.)"

Ha Jin steps back, surprise from the way she is being treated by the 8th prince.

"Hae Soo ssi, for the last time, leave. I do not like repeating myself." Wook closes his eyes, trembling from the effort of stopping his self from wanting to be with Hae Soo. The only way he could stay away is to make Hae Soo leave so he puts up a cold wall around them, hoping it will scare her away.

Ha Jin swallows, starting to get annoyed from not knowing why she is being treated coldly, she bows to give her greetings formally, "Araseoyo, Chal ju-mu-se-yo. (Alright. Have a good night then.)

She leaves without another word, attributing Wook's coldness as due to his worry for his wife.


Outside the 8th prince's household, Chae Ryung is walking back from the market, having come from running a few errands for Myung Hee. As she passes the hanok before their's, Guen Sun comes out of the shadow and quietly calls upon Chae Ryung.

Chae Ryung abruptly stops, feeling her heart about to fall out of her chest from surprise, "Kkam-jjak nol-lass-eo-yo (You scared me!)"

The fear easily spreads in her face when she recognizes the right hand of Lady Shinjuwon.

"Chae Ryung Ssi, take a walk with me. My mistress would like to meet you."

The invitation is every bit polite but there is something commanding with the way the man extends his invitation, one that doesn't allow a refusal.

With no choice, Chae Ryung follows after Guen Sun, clasping her hands together, praying.


Ha Jin puts down her book in her tea table, annoyed for being sent out of her cousin's room. She was worried the whole day, not wanting to leave Myung Hee's side even just for a bit. She had sent Chae Ryung to get her books so she could study while she watches over Myung Hee.

She, like everyone else is torn whether she should let Myung Hee go over the pregnancy or let the baby go in favor of letting Myung Hee recover her health but Myung Hee made it clear that she wants to go through it so Ha Jin could only support her, offering anything she can do to make things easier for her.

Maybe, Myung Hee did get pregnant after all but did not survive?

Aniya, aniya, aniya… What am I thinking?!

Hajima Ha Jin!

Ha Jin hits her head once, twice, thrice. Punishing herself for even thinking of the possibility of Myung Hee passing away.

She paces inside her room, wondering if she could go and see Baek-Ah. He, like Wook, is acting strangely too, since the announcement of Myung Hee's pregnancy over their tea ritual at the damiwon. It's highly unlikely of him to not rush here today and not ask about Myung Hee's health.

Heol! What's happening?!

With nothing to do, Ha Jin finds herself playing with Hae Soo's box of dwikkoji. She takes out the letter from the compartment and reads once again.

Ah matda!

With the seja offering a way for her to send a letter, Ha Jin is reminded to finally write the poem for So. She takes out a few hanji in her cabinet and a bottle of ink. She flattens the poem in her table and spread the hanji beside it. She practices writing a few of the characters first, getting the feel of each hanja on her brush.

Several hanjis and a few inks in her skin later and Ha Jin still couldn't copy the hanja characters perfectly. She tries putting a hanji on top of the letter and traces the characters instead but it only serves to heighten the difference with her sloppy handwriting and the beautiful calligraphy in the letter. She practices some more until she falls asleep.

A eunuch carries the crown prince inside the quarters of the daughter of the moon, putting him down directly on her bed. The daughter of the moon asks her court ladies to bring in some warm water and towels as she attends to him, sitting beside him, wiping the sweat in his forehead. Her worry is overwhelming her that her usual deft hands is trembling as she takes off his belt, and open his jeogori to inspect the sword wound in his stomach. She traces the end of the bandage and cuts through it. Her impatience not affording her time to unwrap the bandages slowly. To her relief, the wound looks untouched and not bleeding. A little red but healing well.

She sighs a relief, reaching to a towel and soaking it in a warm water. Ever gently, she washes his wound and dresses it again with fresh and clean bandages.

All throughout it all, the crown prince stays quiet, pretending to be asleep. He was only play acting, pretending to lose consciousness so she would give him her attention. His wound does hurt and he was really out of breathe when he reached her quarters but for the dramatic effect, he pretends to lose consciousness so she would run to him and take him on her arms.

After she finished bandaging him, she moves closer beside his chest, taking the towel to wipe around his neck and face, removing the trace of the hot sun in his skin and cooling him down. Soon, she finishes the choir and arranges the pillow behind him to make him more comfortable. Her hands surround him on both sides and her upper body leaning further above him, trapping him underneath her and the bed.

With his eyes close, every senses in the crown prince' body comes alive, feeling her hanbok brushing against his bare skin. His breath catches in a hitch and the even heave on his chest abruptly becomes broken. He dares to open his eyes and finds his view just above her chest, around her neck.

When she lowers her gaze to check on him, she finds him wide awake with his eyes pooling in a darker unfocus gazed. A heat rushes on her face and she awkwardly scrambles away but he grabs both of her arms and stills her in place. Tension abounds in the air, as they gaze at each other lost in a moment that is stretching too long. He takes his one hand from her arm and puts it in her neck while the other slides down on her side, stopping in her waist to rest. Tentatively, his thumb on her neck draws little circles on her skin, bringing out a fresh blush on her neck and making her swallow. Ever slowly, using his elbow to prop his self, he comes up to her, inclining her neck and baring it to him. Her pulse beats harder on his hand. As he is about to close his lips in her skin, her hand comes up on his shoulder and stops him. It was a weak push but a rebuff nonetheless.

She moves back and he pulls away and the sudden tension in the air is replaced with a cold foreboding as he waits for explanation on why she never visits him anymore. With a shaking sad voice, she tells him she's betrothed already so it isn't proper for her to be seeing him or even being near him.

He asks if she wants him to leave because if she does then he will. She doesn't answer, her eyes swimming in tears as her heart breaks and tells him it is wrong for him to be here.

He moves closer to her, cupping her face and making her look at him. If it is wrong for him to be here then he promises to make it right. All she needs to do is to trust him. He pulls her to an embrace and plants a kiss on her hair, enveloping her in warm blanket of security and promises of happier times to come.


Footnote:

1 Hyeonhu - marquess of a district, upper fifth rank of nine bureaucratic orders, and was in the third rank of six nobility orders.

2 Anju is a town up north that holds the military garrison during Goryeo. Mianhaeyo, I forgot to put the footnote in the last two chapters.


I'm a little nervous as to put a face and a name for Myung Hee's family because that would put a dimension in their characters. Then I wouldn't be able to neglect them anymore. Heol! T_T In the kdrama I've always wondered why Myung Hee's family never showed up even though the premise shows that their family is powerful enough to put the Hwanbo clans in the palace again or even the Shinju clans. Why didn't the 4th prince used his connections with his adoptive family to quiet the unrest in his court when they were all acting against him?

I am going for a serious and darker tone for our story ever since chapter 19 but then Soon Deok comes in and hilarity ensues again. Our Soon Deok is cute.

And here's our little corner of answers:

I haven't seen Ruler: Master of the sun yet but I will. Thanks for the heads-up. :)

Mianhaeyo, what's the snow scene again? Please remind me. I honestly don't remember. T_T, Is't there first snow in front of the prayer towers before So moved in the palace? or are you pertaining to the rain scene in the courtyard, where Hae Soo was kneeling and Wang So covered her under his coat? I mostly do all the major scenes so I guess we'll get there. How long before we get there? Ji Mong says in this chapter, he'll be thankful if they ever get to spend that two years under Taejo's reign. XD

And in the kdrama, the 4th prince did ascended the throne at the age of 25. Which means... ? Hehe. Thanks to the reader who caught it.

Ji Mong as SoSoo shipper? I am not so sure. Remember that his only goal is to break the curse and Ha Jin had just reminded us that she will never trust him for drowning Hae Soo. He's selfish and mad. He only cares about himself.

I originally planned this as only 35 chapters but it's taking me too long to get the major plots out. At the rate of how I'm going, I might reached 45 chapters. Mianhaeyo. Anyway, I think we'll go fast later and I promise to finish it before Scarlet turns one year. I hope everyone stays :) (*wink *wink)