So the whole chapter happened in the span of autumn to the beginning of spring. You'll find that there are a lot of jumps in time, please bear with me.
Chapter 49
Autumn...
In the next few days the palace sees a whirlwind of activity inside its walls. King Hyejong was given burial rites the next day after he died. It was small and intimate. Only the immediate royal family and the ministers attended. His family was sent to live outside the palace, at their clan's household down south subsequently.
The townspeople were notified of a new king after King Hyejong's burial ceremony. Wook was crowned king in the span of three days and had taken up the name King Jeongjong, the title that is supposed to have belonged to 3rd prince Wang Yo in history. So in hindsight, nothing has changed in the history so far.
Passages and roads going in and out of the capital were closed and heavily guarded for several weeks to make sure that Wook is already seated before Gen. Park and So's company learned of the change in the owner of the throne. The ministers were replaced with clan heads from noble family who have supported Wook.
Out of love for his brothers, Wook retained the positions of his brothers except So's, who was stripped off of his title as wangseja and is removed as the Commander general of the royal army and puts Jung in his place. Won ascended to Wook's position as the minister for personnel. Ji Mong, who had once offered his allegiance to Wook to save Lady Sewon, immediately puts up his mask and pledges his fealty to Wook to protect his little queen and himself.
Hae Soo is temporarily appointed to take over Woo Hee's responsibilities but Ji Mong made sure she declines taking the position of Sanggun. Ji Mong will not be tricked into handling his little queen to the king that easily.
By midnight, the guards on the cells where Woo Hee is being detained changes to familiar faces that Jung and Soon Deok used to train with years ago. Baek-Ah, Jung and Soon Deok hide by the little space provided at the walls enclosing the prison. Soon Deok keeps a look out as they wait for the old guards to disappear at the inner gate before the three of them silently jump to the grounds and walk briskly, nodding to the new sets of guards as they walked past them. Though the guards were nervous to let the three in the first time Jung and Soon Deok asked the favor, a week into it and they begin to be at ease with the routine.
Inside, they find Woo Hee in the same cell, the Haes used to occupy. She's lying in her stomach, her arm a pillow against the itchy hays that serves as her bed. She looks pale, more white than her creamy sokgot. She's huddled into herself, cold from the autumn weather.
"Woo Hee-ya" Baek-Ah quickly takes off his coat and offers it to Woo Hee.
At the sound of her name, Woo Hee slowly opens her eyes. An assuring smile appears in her lips, trying hard to hide the dizziness she's been feeling lately. Aside from being tossed inside this cell, her guards had done nothing but guard the door outside. For someone accused of murdering the late king, King Jeongjong seemed to be too lenient to her and Baek-Ah could only put his trusts to his 8th brother's kindness.
Woo Hee slowly gets up, appearing to have just woken-up from her sleep. The food the guards had brought her is sitting far away, untouched. She sits on her knees behind the wooden rods separating her from Baek-Ah, putting on the coat he's offering.
"Gwaenchanhayo? You didn't touch your food." Baek-Ah's voice is full of worry.
Woo Hee couldn't say she's too nauseous to eat.
Soon Deok passes out the fruits, songpyeon (moon shape rice cake that contains sweet fillings inside.) and water they brought for her. Woo Hee eyes the water and the apples. These one, she could eat so she takes a bite of it.
Jung is leaning in one of the planks on the other cell, "Can you tell us why my brothers will single you out of all the gungnyeo(s) present in the Damiwon when our first brother died?"
They've been through this story over and over. Woo Hee had told them everything that happened that day except for the detail that she had been forced to poison the king. It's a good thing that that day, she decided to leave out the poison on the king's bath so the investigators found nothing to support Won and Wook's claim. They all know, Woo Hee is just a scapegoat but why Won and Wook would pick her out of any gungnyeo(s) that are dispensable is not clear to Jung.
"Have you offended any of them?" Jung continues to ask.
"Chal… chal mo-rue-ges-seub-ni-da. (I don't know.)" Woo Hee stutters through her lies and Soon Deok senses it.
"Woo Hee-ya, you need to tell us so we know how we can help you." Soon Deok carefully traverses on eggshells, still remembering the night years ago when she caught Woo Hee secretly visiting the cells of Hubaekje prisoners.
"I really can't think of anything." Woo Hee hangs her head low, unconsciously touching her abdomen. She becomes more nauseous for every lie she tells and she's not fooling any of the three.
Surveying the palace as the new owner of the kingdom, Wook and Won takes a walk at the top of the walls, overlooking the town to their right, the palace to the other side. It's a bright and sunny morning and the soldiers manning the corners of the wall are all up to their toes.
Two soldiers, whom Jung and Soon Deok nod to last night, discreetly approach the king and report the activities at the cell for the past week. Wook shrugs and waves the soldiers after.
The moon rises in the horizon as Ji Mong stands still at the balcony of the Sky Tower. He had been like this for the last couple of hours, watching the grounds and worrying whether his own messenger ever reached the 4th prince at the camp of the Khitans.
Baek-Ah paces at the space in between the balcony and the table where Ha Jin, Jung and Soon Deok are having their tea. The floor looked worn out these days since Baek-Ah had taken to map it with his own feet for a week.
"You should go home to the 10th prince. He might be worried by now." Ha Jin addresses Soon Deok on her right.
"Our own soldiers and his grandfather's men are guarding our house at the moment. He's as safe as the king." Soon Deok assures Hae Soo though she too thinks they should leave soon, maybe listen to Minister Wang Gyu and her father, when they advised her and the 10th prince to leave the palace and stay at her mother's home at the north. They might have survived the succession in the palace right now but for how long, no one is sure. The throne is too volatile and the king appearing to be kind seems to be temporary. He's not fooling anyone when his first edict was to throw the former sanggun into prison for a crime, she didn't commit.
When Baek-Ah passes Ha Jin, she reaches to his arm, "You should also rest. If you keep up with this, you'll become ill."
Deep dark of brim circles Baek-Ah's eyes, looking all tired. Though Ha Jin and her gungyeo(s) had been taking care of the 13th prince's appearance, they could only so much as provide him the luxurious hanbok but they can't do anything with his failing health and weight, "I can't. It feels like a betrayal to Woo Hee, when she's all alone in that cell of hers."
Turning to Jung, "Have our 8th brother granted you a private audience with him already?"
"No one of the prince is granted a private audience with the king except for the 9th prince." Ji Mong answers for Jung. He draws a breath. His mind calculating, thinking of ways on how to smuggle his little queen out of the palace.
"We should break her out of her cell." Baek-Ah announces, left with no choice. He looks at Jung and Soon Deok pleadingly, trusting his 14th brother and the general's daughter to be the only people capable of freeing Woo Hee, "I don't think our 8th brother will ever listen to me."
Soon Deok makes an eye contact with the 14th prince, a little uneasy. Jung had been extra quiet for the last weeks, even before Wook had taken the throne. Soon Deok isn't as close to Jung as she is with the 4th prince but she's good at reading people. She can tell something is off with the 14th prince. He and Hae Soo don't speak comfortably with each other as of late. Their address to each other is limited to greetings or one or two need to question and answer basis.
"Alright." Jung will do it as a remorse for having a hand in Myung Hee's death.
"Maybe I can take her with us, when we leave for the north." Soon Deok volunteers, "The king already knew that I and my husband would be leaving for the north soon. We'll disguise her as one of my servants."
"But once we break her out of her cell, the security will tighten tenfold. I don't think Woo Hee agassi would be able to afford to stay a day or two inside the capital whether we disguise her as your servant or another slave." Jung points out a flaw in the plan.
"What are you suggesting?" Baek-Ah is all ears.
"Maybe once we break her out, she should head out of the capital into the north at once. We need a distraction, something that would afford her a night to run away." Jung explains.
"The king is planning to push through with the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual and lantern festival by the full moon of this month." Ji Mong speaks up, "But then that would mean that all the princes need to perform that night."
"It would be left to me then." Soon Deok states it matter of factly.
"And me." Ha Jin offers her help.
"Andwaeyo! (You can't!)" As much as Ji Mong wants to send his little queen away, it won't be safe for her, "Three ladies running away at night are bound to attract attention. Let Soon Deok Agassi do it. It's too dangerous."
"Gwaenchanha Hae Soo-ya. So wangjanim will certainly kill me if I put you in any danger." Soon Deok assures Hae Soo with a playful reminder, "Besides, I'd be able to move faster and easier if I only have one to protect."
Baek-Ah bows his head low, "Kamsahabnida Soon Deok-ah. I owe you my life."
"Just keep the 10th prince safe while I'm gone, alright?" Soon Deok smiles at Baek-Ah, "I'll asks his grandfather to send him to my mother's home right after he performed at the ritual."
"Kuereom…" Jung sits up straight, arranging their teacups and teapot on their table, "Let's establish where we can hide you both safely first."
"We'll be safe on my mother's hometown." Soon Deok suggest.
"That's the first place they'll look for you." Jung crosses it out, "We need a place no one would think you will hide."
More than a month had passed since Gen. Park and the 4th prince left the capital to deliver Yeonhwa Gongju and make a different deal with the Khitan. The king of the Khitans didn't like the marriage proposal that the two came to offer but with the promise of better trading and cooperation from Goryeo, the king of the Khitans is satisfied for now.
So and Gen. Park are riding at the middle of tall cypress forest nearing the borders of their kingdom at the north. They are finally on their way back from the camp of Khitans. Three-fourths of the soldiers they brought were left with Yeonhwa for her protection. Since only a few of them were present, their ride back home is only slowed down by the cold weather.
Today, the sun had graced them with its presence. It's rays penetrating the space among the thick leaves of cypress branches, making the ride at the forest look peacefully warmer.
So closed his eyes, savoring what little warmth he could get from the rays he passes through.
Gen. Park had been watching the 4th prince, "It's been quiet since we departed the capital, don't you think so? I haven't received any letters?"
"Maybe everyone is busy with preparing for the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual." Though So would be happier if he did get a letter from Hae Soo.
"Will you be leading it again?" Gen. Park asks.
"I don't think I'd be able to make the preparations." So gives up on the little quiet their ride affords him and opens his eyes to focus on the road ahead, "It would be full moon in a week."
He tries to hide the smile breaking into his face. The lantern festival would be the perfect background to marry his Hae Soo, "We could still make it to the festival though."
"What are you planning?" Gen. Park takes his flask and drinks from it, noticing the slight differences on the 4th prince expression. The 4th prince looks happily amused to him.
"I'm marrying Hae Soo on the night of the lantern festival." So unconsciously touches the dagger that Hae Soo gave him before leaving. The smile on his lips too pronounced for him to hide.
Out of surprise, splashes of water sprays on the brown horse that Gen. Park is riding, "Yie?"
He wipes is mouth and walks his horse beside So, "I mean that would be great but does the king approved of it already?"
"I've never told anyone." So shrugs, uncaring.
"Mwo rago? Ya! Neo jeong-sin na-gass-ni? (What did you say? Have you lost your mind!)" Gen. Park is all for So marrying Hae Soo but there are consequences and traditions they need to abide to, "Are you a common boy from the town? You're the crown prince! You can't just decide to marry anytime. The responsibility of the kingdom falls on your shoulder next to the king."
"The kingdom is fine." So is undeterred.
"And the king is being poisoned and losing his mind!" Gen. Park argues.
"Anyone who sits in that throne is in danger of being killed. My brother knows that." So rides his horse with no change on his demeanor, "Besides, the king would feel less threatened if I leave the palace and you, yourself wanted me out of the palace, did you not?"
"That is true." Gen. Park takes a moment to think about it. He once advised So to get out the palace, calling it a cage that confines him. They both have served the kingdom well and for so long, "Maybe I should consider retiring soon too. My back is starting to ache from all this riding and cold weather. It would be nice to see a grandchild running in the courtyard for once. Where will you and Hae Soo Agassi live after you get married?"
So had his own home in Later Jin, the one he acquired while doing his time in China. Though the ruling fell to the hands of the Khitans after they defeated Later Jin, the king of the Khitans had willingly given it back and even promised asylum if he ever feels the need to leave his own kingdom.
"We only need to reached the Later Jin." So turns serious, lowering his voice so only the general could hear him, "Will you help us? The lady consort can't know about it."
Gen. Park stiffens. It is easier to evade the king than the lady consort, who has all her watchers everywhere, "I thought the lady belongs to your household, does your mother do not approve?"
So doesn't answer and Gen. Park is all too familiar with the cue, "I shall help you then. Tell me what you need."
"Kamsahabnida Park Janggun." So breathes easily again, "Let's all go back home quickly."
The two falls into a silent ride once more, each lost in their thought. Their soldiers, spread behind them, following at ease.
Soon they reached the gate of the garrison that separates the lands of Khitans and Goryeo. The grey walls stand ominously tall in front of Gen. Park and So's company, the big wooden gates are closed and all around them, the walls are full of soldiers with bows ands arrows aiming at them.
"Meom-chu-ra! (Halt!)" A new general commands at the top of the wall.
Gen. Park and So's company halt in front of the gates, all eyeing the hostile welcome they are getting.
"Who dares to stop the crown prince from entering the kingdom?!" Gen. Park shouts back, "Open the gates!"
There's a scuffle among the soldiers and the new general holding the forth, each of them afraid of Gen. Park and the crown prince but they were commanded to not let the company back in. They were promised a higher position, lands and more soldiers under their brigade if they could stop Gen. Park and So from coming back.
"By the order of the new king, King Jeonjong of house Wang and Hwangbo, So wangsejanim of House Kang and Park Soo Kyung janggun are hereby stripped of your positions as crown prince, supreme general and general, effective the 10th of the lunar full moon in the year of 949." The new general states over the wall, unwavering of the king's decree.
So and Gen. Park make an eye contact with each other, confused.
"King Jeongjong of house Wang and Hwangbo?" Gen. Park repeats, the treason dawning on both of them at the same time.
"My 8th brother has taken the throne." So's fist tightens on the reigns in his hands, anger replacing his shock.
Gen. Park curses, "Ya! gae sae-kki-ya! Mu-seun so-ri-ya?! (What are you talking about?!) Mun yeol-a! (Open the gate!)"
"Wang So Ssi and Park Soo Kyung Ssi are declared enemies to the crown and are decreed to be banished." The new general answers, "If you so much as advanced your horses one step from where you are standing, we will be forced to release our arrows."
So stays still, looking at them with certainty to kill. He pulls his reigns hard, letting his horse erupt in berserk as a challenge.
Swoosh!
Arrows automatically rain down on So and Gen. Park's company. They all raised their wooden shield, ready to go to war if So commands it but more archers surface on the walls. So and Gen. Park are forced to let the arrows lodge itself on the ground before Gen. Park holds out to So, quieting him.
Outnumbered by 5 to 1 and them being on the grounds while all their enemies are on top of the wall, they are sitting geese for them to pick on. They are on a disadvantage and the two knew it.
"Let us pull back for now." Gen. Park suggests, his mouth twitching into a unnecessary cruel smile.
He squints his eyes at the soldiers in front of them, counting and calculating. Most of these soldiers used to be under his and the 4th prince command. Though they all followed the commands of their new general, there was reluctance on their eyes. He looks at the arrows on the ground, only few are lodge standing up, meaning, most of the arrows were shot with hesitation.
"I'm going to kill all of them." So quietly speak under his breathe, looking murderously at the soldiers at the wall.
"Not today." Gen. Park turns his horse back, "If we wait a little more, I'll hand you your treacherous 8th brother, myself. I swore to my wife's grave."
So looks at the general. Swearing on his wife's grave is not something Gen. Park does lightly. So forces himself to turn his horse around, "I won't wait too long."
He eyes the soldiers with daggers, imagining the many ways, he could kill all of them.
The last rays of the sun streak to the late afternoon sky, coloring it a beautiful orange and red against the clear water of the sea by the port. Carriages, carrying the lady consort and her entourage arrive at the Kang household. Her private soldiers who came to escort her have mostly blended with the crowds and are following her on a safe distance. Only her gungnyeo(s) and two guards stayed by her side to keep their arrival discreet and unobstructed.
Inside the main gate, Guen Sun stands by the side of the carriage and opens it for his mistress. Lady Shinjuwon holds out her hand and Guen Sun automatically provides his arms as a support, "How was your trip, Shinjuwon Soyong (3rd rank concubine)?"
"Long and cold." Lady Shinjuwon's nails dig into Guen Sun's skin over his sleeves, looking all regent and pale. Her head aches from the cold and her body too unyielding from the ride. Her eyes are almost dilated, a gleam starting to show.
As she comes out of the carriage, she stumbles at a level pathway, in danger of losing her lucidness. Guen Sun catches her and picks her up on his arm, hurrying her inside her room, which was sufficiently heated by the servants this afternoon. He puts her down on her bed, her tonic waiting for her at the side table. Guen Sun pours it in a bowl and helps Lady Shinjuwon into drinking it. He then tucks her in, making sure she's comfortable.
It would be several days before she wakes up, lucid and conscious.
It's past midnight and the Damiwon had closed an hour ago. The lanterns were dimmed and all the gungnyeo(s) had gone to their rooms. Soon Deok is sitting at the edge of the outer pool, waiting for Hae Soo to return from the King's chamber, serving his ceremonial tea. She too had just came back from Woo Hee's cell. She left Baek-Ah and Jung at the cell after finalizing the details of their escape tomorrow.
"Ya!" Eun shouts, entering by the heavy main door of the Damiwon. He's holding a pouch by his right hand. A gift he wanted to give Soon Deok that's why he's been waiting for her all night.
Soon Deok looks up from where she's sitting, dressed in her sokgot, "Eun wangjanim, what are you doing here?"
She quickly stood up and approaches Eun, all worried.
"Are you going to sleep here again?" Eun is annoyed. Kept in the dark, he doesn't know about the escape plan that Soon Deok is pulling off tomorrow. "Have you forgotten we're married?!"
The statement makes butterflies erupt on Soon Deok's stomach and Eun stops upon realizing what he just said, trying to take back his words. He hides the pouch inside his jeogori, explaining, "I mean… you should come home… every once… in a… while…"
Embarrassed, Eun masks his outburst with pretend annoyance, feeling his cheeks aflamed, "I mean… we're leaving on the forth night and you haven't packed our things yet."
He crosses his arms against his chest, "I don't want my things being handled by the servants. They lost my… my… slingshot. Yes, my slingshot."
He lies. He couldn't think of anything, "Just come home, alright?!"
He turns his back, about to leave from where he entered when he hears Soon Deok giggles, "Are you laughing, woman?"
"Anibnida." Soon Deok straightens up, stifling her amusement. She knows Eun never lost the slingshot. She already packed it to his luggage the other day. She reaches to her husband who's acting like a hurt child. Taking his wrist, she walks him to the outer garden at the edge of the pool. Her warm tea waiting for some company, "How about we stay here tonight? I'm worried about Hae Soo being alone here."
"Ah matda! (Oh, right!) Have you heard anything from your father?" Eun's annoyance is quickly forgotten. Unconsciously spreading his arms sideways, waiting for his wife to derobe him of his outer coat, "It's been what? Two months by the night of the lantern festival."
Soon Deok automatically helps Eun out of his coat and encircles her arms around his waist, reaching at his back for the belt that holds his long jeogori together, "I'm sure they are on their way back."
Lying to protect Eun, Soon Deok assures her husband that everything is fine.
After stripping to his sokgot, Eun sits by the edge of the pool while Soon Deok folds his clothes neatly at the floor. Eun takes the napkin by the tea table and plays with it, folding it into a graceful swan that he innocently lets sail by the edge of the pool.
Soon Deok watches him for a long time, anxious of how she can protect him while she's gone. Ever since the 8th prince took over the throne, a thick tension hangs in the palace, as if a sharp blade is suspended above their heads. The ministers have taken sides and anyone who are found not supporting the king is sacked off of their position and executed. The clans who were responsible for exiling the Hwangbos at the East palace, were all banished to China, never to set foot in the lands of Goryeo again.
Though it was announced that the 4th prince was stripped of his title, they never heard of the decree exiling him too but everyone is suspecting of it already. Why else would it take them this long to come back?
The swan slowly sinks at the pool as its cottony body absorbs water.
"Oh…" Eun grimaces watching the swan submerges fully into the water, sad that his little creation is gone.
Soon Deok leaves to get some more napkin from the back kitchen and presents it to Eun, "Here, let's fold some more."
Eun's eyes widen in pure joy, "Wah!"
He snickers a look at Soon Deok, who positions herself in front of him, playing with the edge of a white napkin. Her long hair resting on one side of her shoulder. Eun wonders, has his wife always been this pretty, "You're very pretty tonight."
Saying out loud whatever came to his mind, he smiles at her and picks up a napkin, "I'll show you what I can do with these."
Soon Deok blushes. It's hard for her to get used to her husband's sudden mood swings but appreciates his compliment nontheless.
Eun fashions different animals from the napkins Soon Deok brought, starting with a frog and then a fish, accompanying it with their sound as he presents it to her.
"Croak!"
"Barf"
Soon Deok laughs, a pleasant sound on Eun's ears. He misses her. It's been a while since she came home. She's always here at the Damiwon, tailing Hae Soo around.
"Ah! Let's play a game. The one who loses will grant the winner a wish." Eun brightly proposes.
Soon Deok nods enthusiastically.
With the help of some stick from the garden, Eun creates a floating ship out of the napkins Soon Deok had gotten him. They position themselves on each of the opposite side of the outer pool.
"The first ship that sinks loses, alright!" Eun shouts from his side, all ready with his fan.
"Kapsida! (Let's do this!)" Soon Deok raises her hands into a fist, matching Eun's enthusiasm.
"Hanna… Dul…" Eun starts fanning even before he says "Set!"
Soon Deok follows through, her arms more strong than Eun. Soon her ship takes a lead and Eun has to double his effort to catch with her. At this rate she will definitely win this race so while Eun is busy, Soon Deok prods her own ship so it absorbs more water, slowing its movement and quickening it's sinking.
"I-gyeoss-da! ( I won!)" Eun shouts as his ship reaches the finish line, jumping all around.
Soon Deok pretends to be sad for a second and then cheers for Eun, enjoying his child-like happiness.
"I-gyeoss-da! I-gyeossda! (I won! I won!)" Eun dances his way back to the side of the pool, closest to the door, where Soon Deok meets him and he amusingly circles around her, cheering himself.
Soon Deok sits by the edge of the pool again, "Kuereom, su-weon-i mwo-ye-yo? (What is your wish, then?)"
Eun sits down beside her. He makes use of his elbow against his knee to make a big gesture of thinking, "hmmmm… Nun kamda. (Close your eyes.)"
"Ne? Nun-eul kam-nun-da-go? (Close my eyes?) Waeyo?" Soon Deoks asks, confused.
"Kuenyang hae. (Just do so.)" Eun commands.
Soon Deok doesn't know what Eun wants but she closes her eyes, coming a little closer as if waiting innocently for a kiss.
Eun smiles, indulging his wife. He too comes nearer until Soon Deok could feel his breathe upon her face. She swallows, frozen in spot, wondering if she'll receive her first kiss tonight. She tries not to fidget, patiently waiting for his lips to touch hers.
"Ta-dan!" Eun exclaims.
Soon Deok opens her eyes in confusion, feeling thin strings kisses her lips and smelling a pleasant dry rose and pumpkin flower, "I-geo, mwo ye-yo? (What's this?)"
"Norigae. (Hanbok accessory) Yeonhwa nunim once asked me why my own wife doesn't have one. So I got you one." Eun hands Soon Deok the blue string two-part norigae with a round pendant on top.
Soon Deok looks at the norigae on her hand.
"Wae, ma-eum-e an deul-da? (Do you not like it?)" Eun asks when he sees Soon Deok's confused face, "That's strange, every pretty girl likes a Norigae."
Soon Deok tries not to blush as she remembers Eun's compliment a while ago. Eun misunderstands and reaches for the Norigae. Soon Deok holds unto it.
"Joh-a-hae-yo. Kamsahabnida. (I like it.)" Soon Deok bites her lower lip, "I thought I should be the one to grant a wish."
Eun nods, "I do have a wish."
"What is it then?" Soon Deok asks.
"I want to open the largest novelty shop in Songak." Eun tells her, excitement alive in is eyes again. All the sweetness and the tension of last few minutes evaporating into thin air.
Having gotten used to her husband's whimsical whim, Soon Deok breathes a sigh and answers, "Then let's open a sho-"
"-And I want you to stay by my side." Eun adds, cutting into Soon Deok's sentence.
"Eh?"
"Stay by my side Soon-Deok-ah." Unexpectedly, Eun reaches to Soon Deok's hand, "Let's live happily together from now on."
There's a tremor in Eun's voice, a little bit embarrassed but he's hold upon Soon Deok's hand is as steady and strong as his wish. Soon Deok wonders if Eun knows about their plan of escape for Woo Hee tomorrow.
"I know I can't offer you the throne nor am I as strong as my older brothers are. Everyone sees me as childish and treats me that way. So can I be childish for the last time?" Eun looks at her in the eye with sincerity, "I want you to stay by my side."
Eun has no idea of what will transpire tomorrow but he feels the need to hold on upon Soon Deok, "Please."
Soon Deok doesn't know what to say, hoping Eun forgives her what she has to do tomorrow, "Of course. I will always be by your side."
She reaches into his cheeks, cupping his face, "I promise."
She closes the gap on their lips, tentatively, giving Eun a choice to step back if he wants to.
Out of surprise, Eun pulls back, all crimson red, his eyes wide with shock, his hand covering his lips.
Soon Deok apologizes in embarrassment, "Mianhaeyo, Na…"
Eun tugs at her arm, cutting her sentence with his lips, "It should be a boy who makes the first move."
He kisses her this time, a long, awkward but endearing one, the kind that begs their worries to be gone. He smiles through it, feeling Soon Deok surrendering to his touch.
"Shall we go inside? It's getting cold in here." Eun stands first, offering his hand to his wife.
Soon Deok gazes at his hand and then to her husband's face, "Let's go inside."
Dressed in a fine silk white and pastel purple hanbok, Ha Jin is being escorted by four king's guard to the private pavilion behind the king's chamber. She had many errands to accomplish before the ritual tonight so she didn't want to leave the Damiwon. She would have preferred any formal hanbok for the occasion. Even the red green uniform of the sanggun is also fine. Why the king's gungnyeo(s) were sent to dress her is a question no one from the servants could answer.
Passed the king's chamber, with ornamental flowers leading to a pavilion by the pond, Ha Jin stops as she takes in the view in front of her. The garden is well lit with round orange lanterns everywhere, giving off a warm glow in contrast to the blue surroundings as it turns night. The last of dragonflies leave the pond and fireflies light their tails, adding a twinkling effect by the waters. On different circumstances, the view would have been beautifully breath taking, reminiscent of the lonely king who had started the tradition of the lantern festival.
For a second, Ha Jin sways, confused of what she is seeing. By now, she already remembers everyone in the daughter of the moon's original lifetime, including who Wook is. This particular scene doesn't belong to the other prince. This one belongs to the crown prince after the daughter of the moon died and he became king.
Ha Jin shivers, shaking off the confusing scene. She takes a step forward, her damaged legs, aching due to the changes in weather. She falls a little short behind the guards and they all take a slower pace to accommodate her. Shortly, she reaches the pavilion where she sees the king with his adviser.
Ji Mong catches her gaze as he turns to greet her. His worry for his little queen is carefully hidden in his eyes.
"Hae Soo Agassi."
"Choi Seonsaengnim."
They exchanged formal pleasantries.
Ha Jin then bows to Wook next.
"I hear you aren't done with the preparations for tonight's ritual. What are you doing here?" Ji Mong tries to find a way to ask her to leave.
"Yie seonseangnim, joesonghabnida." Carefully, Ha Jin keeps up with the pretenses in front of the king, "I was told the king summoned me."
"Her gungnyeo(s) are well trained." Wook pleasantly smile at her before addressing his adviser, "Ji Mong–ah, make sure everything is finished in time for the ritual. You may leave."
Wook dismisses his adviser.
Against Ji Mong's will, he says his goodbye, leaving a reluctant stare at Ha Jin, who assures him she'll be fine. Wook signals for his guard to leave with Ji Mong too and Ji Mong had to fight the urge not to pull his little queen with him.
When the last of the people leave, Wook relaxes his stance. Though he is dressed in the ceremonial clothes, he makes an effort to look openly warm, less intimidating. The Wook, Ha Jin used to like before Myung Hee died.
"I realized I've never fulfilled my promise to you and Myung Hee years ago, that night you fell in the cliff." An apologetic smile shows on Wook's lips as he walk to a table and picks up an orange lantern from it.
Memories of that night come rushing back to Ha Jin. It was the night she tried to go back to her time. She hiked the mountain to access the other side of the Damiwon and unexpectedly run through the assassins that the princes were going after. She was held at a sword point by one of the assassins and So, who appeared to not care, asked the assassin to kill her. In her anger, she decided let herself be dragged off the cliff hoping she'll wake up on her time. When she hit the water, she lost consciousness and her memory at the point became murky onwards. She vaguely remembers someone pulling her closer and …
Oh!
A pink blush spreads quickly at Ha Jin's cheeks as she finally realized it was the first time So's lips touched hers.
Wook watches the different emotions playing on Hae Soo's face, including the part where the light bulb moment happened and Hae Soo automatically touches her lips, misunderstanding her reactions.
He walks towards her, reaching her and holding his palm out, offering his hand while the other holds the lantern, "Come with me."
Snapping out of her memories, Ha Jin is baffled of Wook's intentions, inclined not to accept anything from him. She heed everyone's warning of being careful of the new king, "Sunggohabnida Pyeha, the sky had turned dark. Shouldn't we walk back to the courtyard? I wouldn't want you to be late at your first official ritual as a king."
Wook takes a hold of her hand, "I'm a king, they can wait."
He pulls her with him, out of the pavilion and below a bare cherry blossom tree near the pond.
"I wouldn't be able to go with you at the plaza to hang a lantern so I had these prepared for us." Wook beamingly shows Hae Soo the place, proud of what he had accomplished.
Us?
Ha Jin is nervous with the word Wook had just uttered. She hangs her head low, becoming formal "Mang-geuk-ha-ob-ni-da Pyeha,(Thank you, your highness.)but you need not do this for me."
Wook touches her chin softly and lifts it to look at him, "Ha-go sip-eo-ni-kka. (I want to.)"
Ha Jin looks away, uncomfortable. She steps back apologizing.
Undeterred, Wook hands Hae Soo, the orange lantern he's holding. He steps aside, putting his hand at the small of her back, encouraging Hae Soo to go forward.
Ha Jin fidgets on her feet. She didn't want to accept the orange lantern knowing what it is but not accepting means offending Wook and she can't afford to offend the new king.
Reading the hesitancy on Hae Soo, Wook assures her, "Gwaenchanhseubnida, I only wanted to fulfill my promise from years ago."
He puts down his hand from her back and looks up, watching the almost translucent full moon at the back of the bare branches of the tree. He keeps a foot space in between them, appearing to be respectful of Hae Soo.
"Though it would be nice if I you could see my heart, too." Wook smiles wistfully, "You need not worry, I won't force you to marry me this time. I've learned quite well from my past mistake. But I want you to know that I could wait."
And it is all true. Wook had no intention of forcing Hae Soo because he intends for her to come to him. He has all the cards in his hand, including Woo Hee's life and all the princes' banishment from the kingdom, even So's return, "I will wait."
He smiles nonchalantly, all the warmth seeping out of his carefully placed mask. "There's nothing time can change."
Ha Jin looks at the lantern at her hand, wishing So is safe at the borders.
"Make a wish." Wook tells her, side glancing at her, "Who knows, I might be able to fulfill it."
It would take a span of silence before Ha Jin would be able to answer, doubting if she could really trust the king. They were once family and Wook had been convincing with his apologies, he wouldn't do anything to hurt her.
"You are a wise and generous king, Pyeha." Ha Jin hesitates, "If you could look further to Woo Hee Sanggun's case, I'm sure, you'll find that she is innocent. We shouldn't let the real murderer get away with his crime."
"Do you want the sanggun, pardon and freed?" Wook clarifies.
Ha Jin couldn't help but look at Wook, almost pleading, "The innocent must be freed."
"Algess-seubnida (Alright)." Wook nonchalantly answers.
"Eh?" Ha Jin is surprised. She didn't think it would be this easy.
"I will have her pardoned and freed after the festival." Wook tells her.
Ha Jin doesn't know what to make of it, waiting for a condition that isn't coming.
"Though your friend is not exactly as innocent as you think she is. She's a spy, hired by my late 3rd brother, Wang Yo Wangja. Remember when you disappeared to the south some years ago with Woo Hee? It's not that no one can find you but my 3rd brother had been hiding you with the help of Woo Hee so he could use you to his advantage when the time comes. You and Woo Hee coming back here in the palace isn't an accident. My 3rd brother planned it all. If I hadn't gotten rid of my treacherous brother, he would still be playing with our lives by now." Wook twists the truth to his advantage, something he is good at, "Do you still think of your cousin and who killed her? Or have you completely forgotten about her already?"
Ha Jin tries to contain her shock. She knows a little about Woo Hee's background coming from Jeolla but how she became a haengsu gisaeng, whose gibu (sponsor) no one knows or met, Ha Jin never asked. She had never doubted Woo Hee before.
"What does my cousin have to do with Woo Hee or the 3rd prince?" Ha Jin asks,
"Woo Hee Agassi has nothing to do with Myung Hee but my 3rd brother, the Chungju Yu clan, was the one… who orchestrated the death of your cousin." Wooks' face is unreadable, "I found out about it while I was doing my time outside the capital. Hence I paid the 3rd prince the debt he owe me when chance presented itself."
Ha Jin holds upon her chima, these new information is too much too absorb all at the same time.
Wook turns to Hae Soo, "Do you still trust your friend? Do you still want her pardoned? Maybe you could ask her or my 14th brother, why the Chunju Yu clan opted to get rid of your cousin. She was only looking after you. She never wanted anything to do with the court."
Ha Jin inclines her head to the side, thinking deeply. She doesn't want to believe the king but Wook never lied to her before. Surely, he's not lying to her now.
"I would never lie to you." Wook repeats it as if reading her mind.
"How could my 14th brother look you in the eye and stay by your side everyday, knowing it was his clan who had your cousin killed?" Wook turns to Hae Soo, making sure she sees his earnest eyes that are hiding deceit, "You can't trust them Hae Soo-ya."
Ha Jin steps back, "And I can trust you?"
"Everything I did is for us to go back to how we used to be." Wook advances a confident step, thinking he's succeeding into swaying Hae Soo, "I promised you at your cousin's grave, that I will do everything in my power to return everything in it's place. Won't you believe me?"
"Pyeha," Ha Jin closes her eyes and lowers her head in an effort to steadfastly trust her so called friends, "Joesonghabnida, it's getting late. I should escort you to the Hoegyong court. Your people are waiting."
Wook comes nearer, daring to touch her. He put his hands at the side of her face, covering her ears, so she could only hear his words, "Trust me Hae Soo-ya."
As his lips touches the tops of her hair, Wook sees the two soldiers who are supposedly guarding Woo Hee in her cell tonight. He nods at them, a cue. He pulls Hae Soo to his arms, and through his deceiving embrace, he tells her "I will never hurt you."
Ha Jin closes her hands on Wook's arm, taking it off from her ears, "Kamsahabnida Pyeha."
And steps back, awkwardly glancing to the path leading out of the garden.
Wook puts down his hands at his side, straightening his back, "Can I trust you, Hae Soo-ya?"
Ha Jin swallows, her hands intertwining at her back, digging her nails to her skin, "Yie, Pyeha."
Wook wouldn't be fooled, "Is there something you need to tell me?"
Hoping she'll trust him with their secret plan tonight.
"Eopsuebnida. (Nothing.)" Ha Jin stills, the way everyone does when they lie. Wook observes Hae Soo had improved with lying but not good enough for him not to see.
The courtyard in front of the Hoegyong Hall is bursting with red lanterns and open pots of tall fire, brightly dancing against a subdued crowd that are all in observant of the first ritual the new king would partake. Like in the past years, the king's throne is positioned at the top of the steps of the Hoegyong Hall, overlooking the made-up stage where the princes would perform. A long banquet table is positioned in front of him, sharing it with Hae Soo.
More than the dance that everyone had seen many times for the past years, all eyes are on the king's throne and the lady beside him, wondering why a lady of the court has taken a sit where a queen usually occupies.
Ha Jin is at a loss, still processing the information Wook had shared to her.
Jung will never betray me and Baek-Ah.
She repeats it to herself, watching Jung as he enters the stage and leads the dance, his 4th brother used to lead. Over the mask, Jung is wearing, Ha Jin searches his eyes. Jung had always shared the same shape of eyes with So, only his is a lighter shade of brown, while So's is a darker almost black kind of brown.
It must have been the queen.
Ha Jin couldn't believe it. Was their friendship all just lies? Jung loved her.
Ani, Jung loved Hae Soo, not I.
With all their secrets and lies coming to light, a debate rages on Ha Jin's mind. She wants to believe Jung can never do that in spite of all her pretenses and lies towards him.
I must ask him.
Ha Jin unconsciously stands up, her body wanting to move, do anything or she might just lose her mind. She's tired of all these lies and secrets. If she could just run away again…
Right!
She remembers their plan of breaking Woo Hee out of her cell. She must warn them, tell them that the king had already agreed to free Woo Hee after the festival.
"What's wrong Hae Soo-ya?" The king asks, his eyes on the ritual but his focus is with her.
"Nothing, Pyeha." Ha Jin's mind comes back to the pressing point at hand, "I feel dizzy. May I go back to my room?"
Finding a reason to leave the banquet so she could go to Soon Deok and Woo Hee before it's too late.
"Anj-a-ra. (Sit down.)" Wook quietly commands. He's not letting Hae Soo out of his sight, "I'll ask a gungyeo to bring a medicine for you."
Whether Woo Hee and Jung betrayed her don't matter at the moment. She needs to keep them safe first.
"Yie?" Ha Jin hides the shaking on her hands, feeling the urgency to see her friends, "Gwaenchanhseubnikka pyeha, kamsahabnida. I can attend to myself on my own."
Wook smiles but the steeliness on his voice is serious, it's a warning to Hae Soo, "Anjara. (Sit.)"
Ha Jin has no choice but to sit again.
Ji Mong, who is on the other side of the king, hides his uneasiness of seeing his little queen commanded to sit beside the king. He bends over to whisper on the king's ear, "Pyeha, why don't we let the lady leave. She's looking ill."
"Why don't you bring her a tonic, it would help with her dizziness." Wook commands his adviser away, making sure Hae Soo is separated from the people she needs to talk to.
Wook is well aware of their plan to break Woo Hee out of her cell, courtesy of the soldiers he paid to pretend they are on Jung and Soon Deok's side. When he promised Hae Soo that he would free Woo Hee, it's all part of his plan. He meant to announce to everyone tonight that he is pardoning the sanggun while letting Soon Deok free her out of her cell and run. His ministers will see it as betrayal to the crown and will declare the two an outlaw, giving him a chance to get rid of his spy and the general's daughter at the same time.
Ha Jin catches Ji Mong's gaze. If she can't leave the banquet then she'll send someone to warn Soon Deok but Wook is at it too. He makes his adviser leave before Hae Soo tells him what needs to be done.
Back in the cell where Woo Hee is staying, Soon Deok is handing Woo Hee a commoner's hanbok and a ritual mask. Both of them dawning a commoner's clothes who came to watch the ritual in the palace. When their cover are complete, Soon Deok walks Woo Hee out of her cell, nodding to the soldiers whom Soon Deok treats as her comrade at arms, unknowing of the betrayal brokered between her comrades and the king. They walk pass the outer gate of the prison to the main gate of the palace, unnoticed.
Soon Deok is a little unnerve on how easy they escaped was.
Passed an alley outside the festive plaza, two horses are tied to a fence, their ride out of the capital. Dressed on a man's hanbok, Soon Deok and Woo Hee takes off their masks and put on a triangular hat to hide their faces.
Woo Hee stands in front of her horse for a while, looking at it while touching her abdomen.
"What's wrong Woo Hee-ya?" Soon Deok asks, noticing the hesitance on her.
"Nothing." Woo Hee shakes her head, worried if she could ride that far.
"Palli ka-ja. (Let's go.) Before anyone notices us." Soon Deok advances her horse first, waiting for Woo Hee to mount her own horse.
"May I offer a toast to our new king, who had successfully celebrated his first ritual tonight." Won stands up from the long banquet table he, his brothers and the ministers are sharing.
The Spiritual Cleansing Ritual had just finished and the festivity commences on the stage with different performances of gisaengs and drum players.
"May you continue with a prosperous sovereign and abundant blessing from the sky above." Won raises his glass of wine and the ministers follow.
Baek-ah, Jung and Eun raise their glasses, all wearing a pretend smile on their faces. The three are nervous for different reasons: Baek-Ah for their plan to succeed, Jung for the fact that Hae Soo is occupying the queen's place and Eun for a hunch that something is going on with his wife.
The table is abound with old and new faces that everyone is familiar with. Clans who had taken the side of the king have their own representatives in the court again, even the one who have been banished by King Taejo were re-installed to their position like Park Sul Hui, Won's grand father.
Queen Shinjeong had taken the position of queen regent the moment Wook had been declared king and now takes her rightful position on Wook's side.
"Are we hearing some wedding bells tonight?" Park Sul Hui drunkenly but courteously asks, leaving a trail of laughter among the ministers, "It seems the queen's sit had been taken."
Wook smiles, glancing at Hae Soo who looks elegant but pale on her hanbok. She makes an eye contact with Baek-Ah, her worries surfacing.
"I'm afraid the lives of our subject comes first before my own happiness." Wook holds his cup, calmly and regally. He looks like a true king who owns the seat he's occupying, "Instead of wedding bells, I'd like to grant a gungyeo her freedom and pardon a criminal of her sin. Shall I say our Sanggun? She had reflected well on her sins and promised to reflect some more for the rest of her life. "
A cumulative nodding praise is seen with the ministers. Baek-ah and Jung froze, exchanging a look. They better get to Woo Hee and Soon Deok but they know it's futile, the two would be coming out of the capital by now. There's no going back.
Won claps first and everyone follow through.
"To the king's gracious heart." Won raises his glass.
"To the king's gracious heart!" The ministers toast to Wook's sly plan.
When the royal assembly resumes the next day, the two soldiers who were Woo Hee's guards are both bruised and battered, unable to even kneel down. They were badly beaten.
The head guard reports for them, "The sanggun had been broken out of cell by a group of men headed by the general's daughter."
"Mwo!" Eun, Baek-Ah, Jung and Ha Jin all reacted at the same time. It's a lie.
"That can't be! My wife would never do such a thing." Eun automatically denies it, "Who are you to accuse my wife!"
Jung, Baek-Ah and Ha Jin, who knew about the escape plan can't believe it. The probability of their plan succeeding depends on the number of people who would carry out the plan. That's why, only Soon Deok was tasked to do the mission and Soon Deok would certainly not harm these soldiers. Their plan is to leave the capital as quietly as they can. They can't do that if they have group of people following them or they leave a trail of bodies behind them.
"Eun wangjanim, where is your wife by the way?" Park Sul Hui Minister asks.
"Ani…" Eun hasn't seen his wife since yesterday, after they both left the Damiwon.
"Have you known any of these, Eun-ah?" Wook patiently asks. He likes his 10th brother but his clan, his grandfather had betrayed them once and declared loyalty to his 4th brother. He can't trust them.
Eun wouldn't be able to answer out of embarrassment. He would have appreciated it if his wife and his friends had told him what's going on instead of keeping him in the dark. He looks at his 13th and 14th brother, knowing for sure that they have everything to do with it. He had never felt such anger towards them like this before.
"For breaking the Sanggun out of her prison, harming the royal soldiers and running away with a criminal. The daughter of the general should be declared a traitor to the crown and a fugitive too." Queen Shinjeong, who was reinstated to her place at the king's right, speaks up at the assembly for the first time.
"Pyeha," Ha Jin will not have any of the lies and takes to the aisle to reason, "Haven't you graciously freed our sanggun last night? Why should they be declared fugitives?"
"Because they have failed to trust the king's kindness and had taken the matters in their hands." Won matter of factly explains, "The lady have even harmed a soldier of the palace. Their group should be punished."
"Andwae-ibnida pyeha, jebal. My wife wouldn't be able to do what you are accusing of her. She and I are leaving for her mother's household in the north by tomorrow. I'm sure I'll find her in our home once I get back." Eun is in denial. His simple mind refuses to process what's going on. It was only the other night when he decided to start living happily with his wife. He can't believe he just lost her like this.
He shuffles on his feet, biting his nails, "Harabeonim… (Grandfather)"
Wang Gyu minister, his grandfather, refuses to look at him, angry that they were cornered into the wall. Worried that his grandchild might also be punished for being associated with the general's daughter. He needs to do something.
"Search the whole kingdom for the two." Wook commands.
"Pyeha!" Baek-Ah pleads.
"Anyone who will be caught helping the fugitives shall be declared a traitor to the throne too." Park Sul Hui Minister decrees and the majority of the ministers agree.
"I demand that they be given a fair trial at least." Ha Jin stands her ground. She had never used her position as the owner of the Chancellery seat before. How much grasp the power of her adoptive clan or if she ever has the right to brandish her power that way, she doesn't know.
In the wake of changing the owner of the throne and getting rid of clans who go against Wook, it seemed, everyone had forgotten Hae Soo's powerful position.
"Might I remind you, Agassi," Won lowers his voice, "That you are not a royalty by blood and that you are only an adoptive daughter. You might be a representative of your clan but the lady consort, your mother, will have the last say in it."
"And I'm sure, she will not like it if she hears her son had been stripped off of his position as a crown prince." Eun carelessly throws the words out.
Wang Gyu reaches his grandson in three strides, quickly shutting his mouth with a slap on his cheek.
Everyone freezes as Eun falls to the ground, looking at his grandfather with shock and hatred.
"You will not speak towards the king that way!" As much as Wang Gyu Minister didn't want to embarrass his grandson, he can't tolerate his rudeness either for it will cost him his life. He turns to the king, "Sunggohanbida, Pyeha, I'm sure your little brother do not mean his words. We know how childish he could be sometimes. I will be sure to look after him well from now on."
Wang Gyu Minister offers his hand to Eun and Eun slaps it away. Jung helps him up instead and faces Wang Gyu. Their heights almost the same, only Jung is slightly taller, "If you ever hurt my brother again, I will cut off that hand of yours."
"Meom-chu-ra! (Enough!)" Wook meddles before Jung loses his composure. Jung is no longer the little brother who likes to hang around his household anymore. He had grown into a man, as reliable as his 4th brother. He can't be consider harmless. Next to their 4th brother, he's a competent contender for the thrown. It's a good thing he had cut off the Chungju Yu clan when he had the chance, he can't afford another wolf prowling at his midst.
"Soon Deok-ah, look at the leaves above? A-reum-da-weo-yo. (It's beautiful.)"
Woo Hee and Soon Deok are riding at the middle of a dense forest. The sunlight is shining through the gaps of the leaves that aren't touching. They are like islands separated by the little spaces of blue sky. Woo Hee had slowed down. They had been riding non-stop at the forest for the last two days.
They are half way from Hae's former land. Farther to the west, just to the borders of the ChungJu Yu clan, is the lands belonging to Soon Deok's mother's clan.
Soon Deok slows down enough to glance back at Woo Hee who has fallen behind. Woo Hee is looking ill and pale. Her cheeks are almost translucent white against the black triangular hat she's wearing. Her lips are chapped, dehydrated.
"Just a few more kilometers Woo Hee-ya and we'll rest." She looks around and turns her horse around to ride beside Woo Hee, "Gwaenchanhayo? (Are you alright?)"
Woo Hee softly smiles through her dizziness, "Mianhabnida Soon Deok-ah."
She sways at her horse and then loses consciousness. Soon Deok rushes to catch her in time before she falls out of her horse. Soon Deok had to over exert her upper body to hold onto Woo Hee and stop her own startled horse.
She dismounts down, careful of Woo Hee.
"Woo Hee-ya, Woo Hee-ya, what's wrong?" Soon Deok shakes her awake, laying her at the grass, with her upper body on her arms, "Woo Hee-ya."
She feels her forehead. It's all hot, her cheeks, her neck, her arms. Woo Hee is burning with fever. Soon Deok almost missed it because Woo Hee is wearing a black long jeogori and coat but she smells metallic rust around Woo Hee. Searching for it, she sees blood all over her white paji.
Soon Deok's eyes widen, trying to seep through what they did for the past two days. They didn't encounter anyone and Woo Hee was alright before they left. Where could the blood be coming from?
Soon Deok unties the coat around Woo Hee and traces the blood up her legs, "Woo Hee-ya?"
On a different forest, passed the borders of Goryeo, in between the lands of the Khitans and almost near Shinju, So and Gen. Park are camping under the tall redwood trees. Their red trunks looking alive against the small fire Gen. Park and So had created.
The two went back to the Khitans after they were turned from the borders of their own kingdom. It is where they learn through a messenger sent to the king of the Khitans that King Hyejong had died, murdered by the Sanggun and had passed down the kingdom unto Wook, who has now been crowned king.
The messenger was sent to extend a hand to the Khitans and draw an agreement with them, letting them know that the 4th prince and the general had been stripped of their positions and banished from the kingdom.
The king of the Khitans still welcomed the 4th prince and the general in spite of the new decree handed to them. He reserves his judgment until the new king sends him a proper envoy. He feels offended that a mere messenger was sent instead of a minister or a prince, like the way the former kings did. The former kings might have never liked the Khitans but they maintain a good diplomacy with them. Besides, the 4th prince and general coming to their side is not a bad idea. The Goryeo Kingdom stand to lose more by banishing the two.
Yeonhwa's marriage to the 3rd prince of the Khitan is a month away and she's working her charm to get her future husband to her side. At the knowledge that her 8th brother had finally been crowned a king, the 3rd prince easily falls kinder to her, making sure she's comfortable and being well cared for. She was given a seat beside her future husband and has taken over managing his household.
So and Gen. Park takes refuge with the Khitans for a few days before taking off and leaving their platoon to the Khitans. They wouldn't be able to enter the borders if they take it by force. Wook seemed to have concentrated half of their army at the borders to stop them from coming back. They have to find other ways to get in and win their army back to their side.
Yeonhwa made sure, they don't get the army they needed by whispering into her fiancé's ears.
Hence, they scout the borders on their own, finding passages the army doesn't know about.
"We're nearing Shinju wangjanim and the snow will fall soon," Gen. Park cautiously tells So. After what happened to the Haes, Gen. Park now knows why So doesn't like asking the consort for any favor, "You might want to consider asking your mother for help. I'm sure, she'd let you in anytime."
"I'm sure she will." So puts more wood into the fire, enlivening it.
"And?" Gen. Park tries to read the 4th prince face.
"Nothing." So takes out the dagger Hae Soo had gifted him. He had resorted into playing with it whenever he misses Hae Soo, "She'll want me to take the throne."
"If you ask me a few days ago, my opinion would be different but now because of the circumstances, I hate to admit this," Gen. Park's mouth twitch to the corner, "but maybe you should. I know you hate that throne. I hate it too."
Gen. Park makes himself comfortable as they roast the bird they hunted early this afternoon, "Your father and I used to talked about it. He knew out of all his sons, you're the most competent. Why do you think, he kept sending you as an ambassador to different kingdoms? He wanted you to forge those alliances on your own so when you finally rule his kingdom, you'll have support. If only your brother Mu is not older than you and now that he's… gone and even if I don't want you to have it, I'd rather see you run our kingdom than have it fall to your greedy brother's hand."
"Hae Soo doesn't want the throne life for ourselves." So twirls the dagger on his hand, fitting it perfectly on his fingers.
"The lady would understand. I've never seen anyone who cares for you like she did." Gen. Park turns over the roasting bird by the fire, "She truly loves you. You're lucky to have her. Was she born with stars aligned with you?"
Gen. Park leans over to So, making light of their situation, "If she ever gets tired of you and leaves, you just tell me," whispers in a jokingly manner, "I'll kidnap her for you. Many of us will volunteer."
And then laughs, happy of his own joke.
So begrudgingly smirks, resting his back to a tree trunk, looking up in the sky, seeking the waning moon, imagining his own moon looking back at him, "Do you think they're all doing fine? My 8th brother would never hurt Hae Soo but I can't say the same for the rest of my brothers or your daughter."
Gen. Park sighs, "I'm sure my daughter can fend for herself but let's return fast just in case… your 10th brother weighs her down. Mianhabnida. I think we all know what your 8th brother wants the most after the throne."
"Soo-ya." So tightens his hold on his dagger, "I will kill him if he ever tries to touch her."
Dinner is served at the Sky tower for Ji Mong, Baek-Ah, Jung and Ha Jin, the usual people who frequent the dining table but this time Soon Deok is missing. All four are not in the mood to eat. It seemed their plan to break Woo Hee out of her cell only made matters worse.
Climbing up the stairs, bursting with anger is Eun. He had just came from the general's house waiting all day for Soon Deok but of course his wife will not come home. When night falls, he decides to storms at the Damiwon and found no one so he came up the Sky tower.
"Ya!" Eun shouts the moment he lands the last step of the floor, "How could you all do that to me?! Am I little kid that you can't trust? No one even bothered to tell me?! Wah. Neo-hwi-deul mo-du na-ppeu-da! (You're all unbelievable!)"
No one dared to look Eun in the eye and Baek-Ah apologizes, "We were only trying to protect you."
"And now you have my wife declared as a fugitive too!" Eun had to abruptly stop, his chest heaving up and down, holding his anger in. He lowers his voice, breaking, stammering through his sentence, "Don't I… deserve some … honesty from all of you…"
"Mianhada Eun-ah." It's Jung this time but no matter how much they apologize the deed is irreversible.
Baek-Ah walks to Eun and puts his arms around him. Eun pushes him away, "I hate you! I hate all of you."
They tussle over, Eun fighting Baek-Ah but Baek-Ah wouldn't let go. He silently receives the blows, holding unto Eun until he calms down and sobs.
"I can't forgive you." Eun closes his hands into Baek-Ah's collar as his tears stream down his cheeks, "If something happens to my wife, I will never forgive you!"
"They'll be fine." Jung breaks his silence, assuring both of his brothers, "I know Soon Deok, she's as capable as I and So hyungnim."
"Do you know where they are?" Eun breaks the hug from Baek-Ah.
"If nothing goes wrong, they should be safe on Hae Soo's brother's home." Jung takes a glass of water from the made-up dinner table and drinks, flushing his anxiety with water.
"But the land of the Haes had been seized by the Hwangbos after her parents death!" Eun turns to Hae Soo, "That's the most dangerous place they could be."
"Exactly. No one would think they would run up there." Jung explains, trusting Soon Deok knows the forest by heart because she had been training in the north since she was a kid, "Let's wait a little, I'm sure we'll hear from them soon."
Jung stays all-calm for the sake of his 2 brothers who are falling apart.
Ha Jin shows up at the King's chamber on time as always for the ritual of tea ceremony. Her legs are a bit unsteady, aching underneath the many layers of her chima. The weather had turned too cold. Maybe in a week's time the snow would fall in the capital.
Could it be snowing in the north by now?
She worries that Soon Deok and Woo Hee haven't reached her brother's home. Though she has no idea what kind of a person her brother is, they all tell her, he takes after their parents, kind and nice. She wishes, she could have met him. It would be nice to have a family at the midst of this treacherous place.
Looking ahead, the main door opens and a gungnyeo leads her in, Ha Jin changes her mind and believes, it's all for the best that Hae Soo's brother stay far away from her, from this place. He's safer that way.
She stops at the aisle, observing the king on his bed, deliberating how she should talk to him after he showed anger to her at the assembly this morning. She kneels by the floor, folding her legs underneath her, thankful for the warmth the wooden ondol floor is providing.
Wook displays a neutral face, devoid of any emotion. He sits by his bed, his nightly robe hanging open by the chest. Ha Jin trains her eyes by the tea table, "Pyeha, it is too cold these days. You might catch a flu if you keep your robe that way."
"Guerehabnikka? (Do you think so?)" Wook asks, watching Hae Soo, "Will you fix it for me then?"
Wook stands up and raises his arms sideward.
Eh?
Ha Jin is embarrassed to do so, keeping her eyes down.
"I forgot. You are not a sanggun. Mianhada." He puts his arms down, arranging his robe and tying it on his own, "Il-eo-na-ra. (Get up.) You need not serve me my ceremonial tea from now on. You may go."
Wook turns his back.
"Yie?" Ha Jin is lost, "Pyeha-"
"Ah you came for a different business." Wook turns back at Hae Soo, annoyance showing on his face this time, "You only seek me when you need something from me. Isn't it right?"
Ha Jin keeps her lips closed.
"Tell me, what can I do for my fair lady this time?" Wook's voice is steady but dripping with sarcasm.
"I…" Ha Jin don't know where to begin.
"Are you going to apologize for betraying me?" Wook sits down, all business, pretending he knew nothing about their plans.
Ha Jin couldn't look at Wook, feeling the guilt that Wook is putting on her shoulders, naïve of the plans Wook had pulled off against them.
"Is it so hard to put your trust on me? That you had to take the matters in your hands." Wook watches the guilt plays on Hae Soo's face, inwardly enjoying their little act, "I'm disappointed, Hae Soo-ya."
Ha Jin couldn't say anything without confirming the accusations made against Soon Deok and Woo Hee. She could only plead, "Even so…"
She closes her eyes, composing herself, "Will you find it in your gracious heart to pardon the two. Soon Deok is only trying to save Woo Hee from being punished for a crime she didn't commit."
"Kuereso! You should have trusted me when I said that I would free the sanggun after the festival." Wook answers with a control anger, just enough to look sincere, "Was I not true to my words? How can you speak to me at such confidence in front of my ministers after betraying me?"
Without leaving his bed, he leans towards her as if whispering a secret, "The power you hold is only as good as your clan's support. As far as I can remember, Guen Sun, is holding you as a captive against my 4th brother and now that my 4th brother is no longer in the picture, I don't think you still have use for them. Am I right?"
Ha Jin never thought about it. When she thinks about it, the moment the throne changed, its as if everything on her adopted clan's household became quiet. Guen Sun stopped tailing her and she hasn't heard anything from him even after So was stripped off of his title as a crown prince. Only when Wook mentioned it did she remember that she can finally breathe without the presence of Guen Sun watching her every move.
Wook stands from his bed as he gazes at Hae Soo whose contemplating over her position at her adoptive clan's household. "I don't think you know the kind of danger you are in right now. Once my ministers find out that you've lost your clan's support, they will get rid of you."
He holds out his hand, playing the knight who can save her, "Come to me Hae Soo-ya, I promise to protect you."
Ha Jin looks at the hand Wook is holding out.
Aniyo, So wangjanim will come back for me. He promised me.
Ha Jin hangs her head low, unaccepting. With so many changes in the palaces and secrets coming to light, she doesn't know who to trust anymore.
Wook goes down on the floor, leveling with her, "I only do things for you, can you not trust me?"
Ha Jin doesn't answer.
Wook studies her some more, observing how much he can sway her, "How about I tell you how you can save your friends?"
Ha Jin lifts her head to look at Wook, "If there is another cause for a celebration, for instance, the king is getting married or a queen is being crowned, the king is allowed to pardon a criminal, set palace people free or even grant a favor to his people."
"Think about it." Wook smiles, a warm open one that reaches his eyes but it only made Ha Jin shiver with coldness.
Ji Mong waits for Ha Jin by the corridor at the king's chamber. He had done this every night ever since Ha Jin had taken over Woo Hee's responsibilities as a sanggun. Because all the guards and gungnyeo(s) were replaced at the king's chamber, Ji Mong hasn't found a trusted ear inside, hence, he makes sure to stay close with the king to protect his little queen.
As Ha Jin comes out of the king's chamber, Ji Mong falls casually beside her, walking silently until they reached the outer gates of the courtyard.
Ha Jin slips into the memories of the daughter of the moon, remembering how it all begun, "Have we been going in circles in every lifetime?"
Ji Mong chews on his words, unable to bring out the word 'yes'.
"So wangsejanim always finds me right?" Ha Jin hopes in the middle of the bleak situation they have. It's not helping that the only light that they have is coming from the lantern Ji Mong is holding out for her and from far away lanterns inside walled courtyards. The darkness ahead of them seemed drowning.
"He always does." Ji Mong doesn't say the part that they always lose each other afterwards.
"Then, it's going to be alright." Ha Jin takes a deep breathe of the cold air, a welcoming freshness after that warm suffocating audience with the king. She looks above, seeing the waning moon, hoping she hears from her crown prince soon.
Not far, from the shadows of the trees and walls, Jung watches the father and daughter walk to the Damiwon. He had fallen into his routine of following behind Ha Jin once again after he found out who she really is, observing how different or similar she is to his Hae Soo. As much as he hates her, there's no denying that he had been in love with her longer than he had been in love with his Hae Soo.
When he looks back on it, he had known Ha Jin longer than Hae Soo by now. How much time had he really known Hae Soo. Only a year and a half, give and take the months he stayed in the north and after he came back, she was not her anymore. How deceiving his heart is that it refuses to stop longing for her even when it knows she's no longer Hae Soo.
Jung sprints ahead, ending up at the back of the Damiwon, where Ha Jin's room is located. He melts into the shadow, observing Ji Mong leave after he fetches her at the main house of the Damiwon.
Ha Jin crosses the garden into her room, noticing a slight movement in the shadow when the cold breeze blew over. She stops by the steps going up the balcony of her room, "So wangsejanim?"
Jung comes out from dark, "Cheo-yo. (It's me.)"
"Oh?" Ha Jin proceeds at the two flights of the steps and into the landing of her balcony not wanting to talk to Jung. Her anger simmering upon remembering it was his clan who had killed her cousin. She had been pushing her own anger down in favor of taking care of the pressing matters at hand but now that it's only the two of them, she can't help but wonder can she really trust Jung. How much of the friendship he had been giving is true? How much of it are lies?
"You can't trust my 8th brother. You know that right?" For lack of anything to say, Jung gives out a warning. He wasn't planning to show himself. He only wanted to watch her. It has become a routine for the last eight years and he simply couldn't stop.
Ha Jin closes her hand at the side of her door, the wood smooth on her hand, "And I can trust you?"
"I won't tell anyone of who you really are, if that is what you are worried about." Jung swallows, biting at the insides of his mouth, "Mianhaeyo."
He apologizes. No matter how much he tells himself he hates her for lying to him, he couldn't deny his heart.
"For what?" Ha Jin takes a deep breath, her chest heaving of controlled anger. She turns to look at the boy who had been her friend all this time, "For what Jung wangjanim?"
The formality aiming to spite instead of respect.
Jung reads an accusation on Ha Jin's eyes, her hands balling into a fist. Perplexed, he inclines his head slightly to the side, his mind, going over the many secrets they are sharing, wondering why Ha Jin is angry when he should be the one whose angry with her.
"Were you… were…you" Ha Jin stutters in her sentence, her eyes welling with agonizing tears, afraid to confirm it but she has to know, "aware… I mean… had you known, it was… your clan who had… Myung Hee unnie… killed?"
Jung freezes over, feeling the ground underneath him shake, hearing a deafening silence of buzz in his ears. His guilt swallowing him whole, "Ha Jin-ah… Mian…Mianhaeyo…"
Ha Jin smacks away the hand Jung had unconsciously reached out to her, "Sa-sil-i-ye-yo? (It's true?) Mal-hae-po-se-yo. (Tell me!)"
"Na… Mianhaeyo Ha Jin-ah, Mianhae." Jung kept apologizing, the guilty tears starting to brim in his eyes too.
Ha Jin slaps him, unable to hold back her anger, "Wae? Wae! What have my cousin ever did to deserve such a thing? What?!"
He silently lets Ha Jin throw frail blows on his chest, his arms. Every hit, punctuated with a question he could only answer with apology. She pushes him away and he catches her wrists when he felt Ha Jin's knees going weak. They both fall into the ground, Jung never letting go.
Ha Jin's heart breaks into pieces as if losing her cousin a second time around. Jung holds her in his arms. Her familiar smell of lemony citrus comforting even when he doesn't deserve it.
"Mianhaeyo Ha Jin-ah. I could never undo it but I will pay for it for the rest of my life. Please forgive me."
Winter...
Four pairs of hooves disturb the pristine white snow covering the ferns and moss growing on the forest floor. Arrows shoot past So and Gen. Park's heads as they race passed bare tree trunks that will lead them to the safety of the Kang's palace. Behind them are small platoon of soldiers who discovered them while they were travelling near the borders of Shinju. These soldiers were instructed to patrol outside the forest of Shinju in case the 4th prince and the general show up.
Swoosh.
Another arrow embeds itself on a tree trunk So and Gen. Park had just passed. The trees up ahead are starting to get thick and spaced closer, affording them more cover from the arrows but making the ride on their horses harder to navigate.
Two soldiers were unseated from their horses by unseen low branches that came out of nowhere. Another gets thrown out of his horse when a mountain deer suddenly run in front of it. Several of the soldiers fall behind.
The gates of the palace of the Kangs loom ominous in front of So and Gen. Park. Atop its walls are soldiers who were alerted by the sound of their horses approaching. Training their bows to the intruders, they send their poisonous black arrows flying to the intruders, making a cover for the 4th prince and the general until they both reach the safety of their gates.
Inside, Gen. Park and So is received by a colonel heading the security of Kang's palace. The two unmounts their horses, handing the reigns to a eunuch who bows his head in greetings.
"Where is the consort?" So doesn't bother with the greetings. He dusts the snow out of his coat, all business.
"Joesonghabnida wangjanim. Have you not been informed?" The colonel leads the two to the courtyard going to the guest quarters where the two used to stay when they visited some years ago.
So trudges through the snow without answer. His black coat a deep contrast against the foot deep snow that covers the ground.
"Your mother left a month ago. She's in the capital." The colonel continues with his answer.
So completely forgot about his last conversation with Guen Sun. He did say, his adoptive mother is arriving soon, "Send a messenger to the capital immediately. Tell the consort that I am here."
"Yie wangjanim. I'll make sure to be careful of it." The colonel hesitates a bit, "You are aware that the owner of the throne had been changed?"
"And that I have been stripped of my position as a crown prince and banished outside the kingdom?" So looks at the colonel like he's being ridiculous, "Obviously. The soldiers coming after us are of the palace, are they not?"
"My apologies." The colonel apologizes calmly, used to the outburst and sarcasm of the people he serves.
So abruptly stop and look at the colonel beside him, "Have our private soldiers been slacking lately? How were those palace soldiers able to step in our territory? I am not informed that our territory had been opened to the public. "
The colonel bows his head in 90 degrees, "Joesonghabnida, we will tighten the security around our perimeters right away."
So continues with his walk with the general beside him. The colonel automatically follows behind them.
"Are you going to follow us the whole day?" So looks every bit irritated, "Ka. (Leave.) I know my way."
"Ah yie wangjanim." The colonel bows his head once more and then leaves.
Once the snow started falling in the capital, the king had suspended the royal assembly for the winter. For the most part, the palace had been quiet as if in hibernation. The townspeople and the occupants of the palace live in tension, waiting for the next move of the king.
Won and Wook were having their brunch tea at the king's pavilion when a lieutenant from the north arrives and reports that one of their platoon infantry regiment had an encounter with the 4th prince and the general at the borders of Shinju.
"There was one soldier who survived long enough to get out of the forest. A poisonous arrow grazed his arm. He lost consciousness after our men found him. He never regain consciousness again and died."
"And it took you this long to report this to me?" Wook puts down his cup of tea, his movement precise and silent. When he looks up, his eyes are all murderous.
The lieutenant couldn't make up his mind of who is scarier, the king's 4th brother whom they were under for the last 6 years or the treacherous king who was known as the most gentle of all the princes. They both have their own temperament that makes you hold your breathe in their presence.
"Sunggohabnida pyeha, it's been heavily snowing for the last two weeks, it was hard-"
The cup of tea flies sharply beside the lieutenant's head, missing his ear by a centimeter. It went to the wooden column, breaking into pieces. He quickly touches his forehead on the ground in an apology. The gungyeo(s) and eunuch waiting on the king all look away, afraid to receive the king's wrath.
"My brother have gained an army by now and might be planning to storm our capital any moment." Wook's eyes look colder than the snow around them.
"If you must hear me my king," The lieutenant tries to explain.
"Speak and make sure it is worth the second you're wasting." Won closes his hand on his own cup, a little nervous.
"It was reported to me that the lady consort has left the palace in the north some time ago and hasn't been back yet." The soldier continues, "The 4th prince is not allowed to command their palace while the consort is away."
"And do you know where the consort have gone?" Won asks.
"I'm afraid I do—"
"Not know, of course." Wook finishes the sentence for him, "What kind of intelligence are you running under your command?"
The lieutenant doesn't answer.
"What else do you not know?" Won feeds the fire that is already simmering inside Wook.
"That…" The lieutenant raises his head cautiously; "… the former sanggun will not last long if we let them sleep in their wooden carriage cell at our garrison for another night."
It takes a few seconds before the lieutenant's report sinks in on Won and Wook.
"Ah so you do have your own usefulness," Wook breaks into a smirk, "Call everyone into an assembly. "
By the afternoon, everyone are on their feet, gathering at the Hoegyong Hall.
Due to the heavy snow, Ha Jin's legs had been aching lately hence, she, Baek-Ah and Jung were late. When they reached the hall, it is conspicuously brimming with clan representatives. Every minister is present and they all sport the same board faces, like they were pulled away from the feast they have been sharing on their quarters.
The three take their rightful places in the aisle and the eunuch orders the hall into order. Wook's presence is announced at the main door and enters by the aisle, with everyone bowing their heads as he passes and sits at his throne.
"Have you heard what this is all about?" Baek-Ah whispers to Eun after they were allowed to rise.
"Mol-la (I don't know.) No one tells me anything these days." Eun's answer leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Mianhada." Baek-Ah automatically apologizes.
"Ara. Dwaesso. (I know. Forget about it.)" Eun had forgiven his brothers for not telling him about their plan. Still, he always says the first thing that comes out of his mind, tactless as ever.
Won takes to the aisle with an irritating smile on his face, a stark contrast with the passive neutral face Wook is displaying in front of his subject, "Truly the gods are favoring our king."
A whisper arouse among the ministers, wondering what is this all about.
Ha Jin catches Ji Mong's eyes asking the same thing. Ji Mong answers with a imperceptible shake on his head. Even he was not informed of it.
"One of our lieutenants from a special force brigade returned from the north this morning with a good news at hand." Won holds himself in an honorable straight back posture, his hands intertwined behind his back, reminiscent of the way his older brothers report to their late father before.
Ha Jin automatically clasps at her chest, nervous of the announcement. Any report coming from the north is not good for their side.
"Bring in our guests." Won commands.
From a smaller door at the right side, the one usually used by waiting townspeople who want an audience with the king, half a dozen soldiers come out, escorting a familiar face, Baek-Ah, Jung, Eun, and Ha Jin don't want to see here.
Soon Deok supports an ill looking Woo Hee while soldiers on both of their side drag them to the aisle. Both of their shoes and paji are knee deep wet and muddied and their clothes are disheveled. Soon Deok sports a bruise on the side of her cheek and a cut on both of her sleeves. Her braided long hair had been freed from its ribbon and the side of her arm is bleeding. On her shoulder, holding on for support is Woo Hee who is burning in fever. She could hardly walk or open her eyes in dizziness.
After Woo Hee lost consciousness at the middle of the forest, Soon Deok discovers that she's going through a delicate pregnancy. Their two-day riding had resulted into fatigue and stress that her body couldn't handle. She was burning in fever and losing blood that Soon Deok had no choice but to take cover on the nearest cave she could find. While she was nursing her, the snow started falling and they were stuck at the cave for days and that's where the patrolling guards accidentally discovered them. There was only four of them. Soon Deok could have gotten rid of them except she was weigh down by an unconscious Woo Hee.
The two were thrown into the floor.
"Woo Hee-ya!"
"Soon Deok-ah!"
Baek-Ah and Eun hastily run to help Woo Hee and Soon Deok but were met with another set of soldiers who held them away. Soon Deok looks at Baek-Ah with apology.
"The fugitives were apprehended and were brought back to the palace to be punished." Won looks congratulatory to the king.
There was a murmur around the crowd, pleased to see a criminal be apprehended in spite of the impossible weather they have lately.
"Pyeha," Ha Jin pleads, "you promised to give them a trial."
"A trial?" Won smirks, making a cruel remark about it. He whispers to himself, "There will be no trial for them."
Park Sul Hui Minister, the one in charge of justice committee announces, "For aiding a prisoner, killing a palace guards, injuring soldiers and spouting treacherous words against the king with an intent of slandering, Park Soon Deok Ssi of House Park of Northern Hwnaghwae is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.
For murdering the late king, lying about her identity, breaking out into prison, killing a palace guard, injuring soldiers, spouting treacherous words against the king with an intent to slander Woo Hee Ssi of House Gyeongju Kim Clan, the last princess of Hubaekje…"
"She's a princess of Hubaekje?" Whispers filled the mouth of people inside the hall as they listen to Woo Hee's secret identity being revealed.
"… is hereby sentenced to death by hanging. Both ladies will carry their punishment on the day of new moon on this lunar month." Park Sul Hui finishes his sentence.
Baek-ah and Eun push their way out of the soldiers and takes the ladies on their arms.
"Baek-ah wangjanim, mianhabnida." Soon Deok seldom cries but she couldn't stop being remorseful towards the 13th prince for losing his child. She wouldn't let go of Woo Hee, even when Eun and Baek-Ah envelop them in embrace. The four of them huddle together on the floor.
"Gwaenchanha Soon Deok-ah, chal mut-i anibnida (It's not your fault, Soon Deok.)" Eun comforts her, misunderstanding Soon Deok's sorrow towards Baek-Ah.
"Gwaenchanha Soon Deok-ah, you did well." Baek-Ah repeats assuring and unaware of what happened, he holds upon Woo Hee like his whole existence depends on her."
"Oho! This princes! What an ungrateful brothers they are to you, pyeha." Queen Shinjeong gazes at the scene with disgusted loathing on her face.
"Il-eo-na Eun wangja, (Get up, Prince Eun.)" Wang Gyu Minister walks towards Eun and pulls at his grandson's collar, "Il-eo-na-ra! She is no longer your wife!"
Jung steps in front of Baek-Ah, draws his sword from his hips and points it at Wang Gyu Minister's neck, "Let my brother go or I will have your blood gushing at this hall."
Wang Gyu looks at the 14th prince with anger and let's his grandson go. Soldiers encircle Jung, Eun, Baek-Ah, Woo Hee and Soon Deok, all raising their blades towards them. The ministers and princes steps back, the situation getting out of hand.
Ha Jin is rooted on her spot, the scene of her parents' demise playing on her mind.
"Eun-ah, Baek-Ah-ya, Jung-ah, Dang-jang keu-man-deo! (Stop this now!)" Won commands his brothers, "Have you all lost your mind?! You cannot side with these criminals."
"They aren't dangers to our kingdom, Pyeha. They were only afraid for their lives so they fled." Jung maintains the blade towards the soldiers, daring them to act. He stands so still, his voice quiet and stable. He reminds everyone of his 4th brother and Wook doesn't like it.
"You do realize that by taking their sides, you are acting against the king and you will be punished accordingly." Won threatens Jung to obedience.
"We are not children anymore. A life is not something you toy around just because you hold a power in your hand." Jung answers with defiance and certainty.
"Jung-ah!" Won screams.
"Jung-ah, lower your sword and step back. Any prince who will side with these traitors will be stripped off of their position and will meet the same punishment as these two women." Wook speaks up for the first time. He'd rather not sentence his brothers to death if he can help it.
"Eun wangja! Il-eo-na-ra! (Get-up!) Let the lady go!" Wang Gyu screams at his grandson and turns to the king, bowing, "Pyeha, please forgive your brother, he doesn't know what he's doing."
"Jung-ah, put the sword down while I am being patient." Wook warns Jung.
The soldiers advance on them and Jung exchange parry with three soldiers at the same time, toppling the three over and succeeding on defending the four behind him. Soon Deok releases Woo Hee to Baek-Ah and pushes Eun away,
"Ka, i bap-tong-a! (Go, you stupid!)" Soon Deok foesn't want her husband to be associated with her, lest he also be declared a criminal.
Eun falls to the other side, shocked.
From his waist, Jung hands Soon Deok a dagger without lowering his guard, "Did you finally come to your senses?"
Soon Deok nods, determined. The soldiers advance on them again and the two fight together as they are pushed towards the door. Baek-Ah carries Woo Hee on his arm and helps Eun up. They'll all run together, their royalty positions be damned.
"Meom-chu-ra! (Enough!)" Wook raises his voice, putting a stop to the ensuing exchange of sword parries. "Are you defying me, your king?!"
"You murdered your own brother, King Hyejong and banished the 4th prince from the kingdom. The throne doesn't belong to you." Soon Deok succeeded into getting her hand on a sword and is now pointing it towards the king.
"My 4th brother is banished?" Jung repeats, confused.
"Yie, the 4th prince and my father. I heard it from our soldiers while they were transporting us back here." Soon Deok answers Jung over her shoulder.
"I didn't know, you, hyungnim, is capable of such deceit." Jung looks at Wook with disgust.
"Ne, the 4th prince and the general are banished from our kingdom and they will not be returning." Wook lowers his voice in dangerous tone, "They are dead. Lost to our army when they tried to enter our borders."
Ha Jin freezes, her hands enclosing to her chima, straining her eyes on the ground, unbelieving.
"Geo-git-mal. (Lies.) You're spouting non-sense." Baek-Ah speaks up for the first time. He looks at his mother, apologizing to her with his eyes.
Wook smirks, lying smoothly, observing Hae Soo on his side, "Their bodies are hanging on the northern borders as a warning to outside invaders. The five of you are welcome to see it if you must. But first, you will put that sword down and I shall allow you to stay with the two ladies."
Soon Deok and Jung infinitesimally glance side ways to each other, wary.
"Go on, put the sword down." Won urges his brothers.
Jung and Soon Deok maintain their sword on chest level.
"Jung-ah!" Won exclaims exasperatedly.
"You are leaving me with no other options, my brother." Wook's face darkens, "For siding with these treacherous criminals and disobeying my orders, you my ungrateful brothers, Wang Eun wangja of Myeong Clan, Wang Baek-Ah wangja of Gyeongju Kim Clan, and Wang Jung Wangja of Chungju Yu clan are hereby stripped of your princely title and will suffer the same fate of hanging with these women, the day after they carry out their punishment."
Wook decrees, sentencing his brothers to death as an example to royalties who would go against him, "Seize them."
More soldiers flood the grounds of Hoegyong Hall, outnumbering the five with half a dozen to one. The families of Baek-Ah and Eun are held in sword point as they watch their own prince pushed. Agonies are heard from Eun and Baek-Ah's mothers. Jung is grateful that his own mother is not here to witness this.
"Pyeha, jebal." Ha Jin takes to the aisle and kneels. They can't be all going through this again. She needs to do something before five innocent people die on her watch. It was unbearable to hear the death bell toll for her own parents.
You know how you can save your own friends?
If there is another cause for a celebration, for instance, the king is getting married or a queen is being crowned, the king is allowed to pardon a criminal, set palace people free or even grant a favor to his people.
Wook's unwelcome words nag at Ha Jin's mind. She closes her eyes, saying a prayer for So's safety. She doesn't believe the 4th prince is dead.
Maybe in another lifetime, my 4th prince, forgive me.
Ji Mong doesn't like where this is going. He prays to the moon deity that Ha Jin is not pulling something stupid again.
"I will marry you and become your queen!" Ha Jin unwantedly succumbs to Wook's wishes.
Everyone freezes, holding their breathe. Even the soldiers advancing stop to turn to the lady kneeling by the aisle. The ministers couldn't help but assess the consequence of this marriage. A Hwangbo and Kang Nuptial is a unprecedented turn of event but no one can deny, the marriage is a powerful one. Meaning, the king would not only have control over the capital and the provinces down south, he would also get to command the north.
Ji Mong's face drains of color, turning from calm into mad rage that he's trying to hold back.
Wook smirks, inclining his head to the side, amused. He'd been waiting to hear those words from Hae Soo.
"I will marry you… my king." Ha Jin balls her hand on both sides in an effort not to trip on her words, "So please, will you hear this lady's plea."
"Sunggohabnida pyeha," Ji Mong speaks up, his head bowed in pretend respect, "But you cannot marry a lady with a scar on her body. It is our law. The lady's legs have been damage by the torture inflicted on her years ago."
"Nonsense. I am the king. My word is the law." Wook shrugs, "I shall have that decree erased from our history as soon as possible."
Wook leaves his sit and stands towering in front of Hae Soo, knowing what she would ask, "And what does my little queen want?"
The words having that sweet congratulatory nod to himself that makes Ji Mong gag in revulsion. Ji Mong hated hearing 'my little queen' in that foul mouth of the other prince who burned his kingdom to the ground.
"What are you doing?!" Jung breaks the silence in the air, shouting at Hae Soo, "You can't marry my 8th brother, Hae Soo-ya!"
It's the first time Jung addresses Ha Jin in Hae Soo's name, hoping it would knock some senses on Ha Jin.
"Sal-ryeo ju-se-yo. (Spare them.)" Ha Jin bravely meets Wook eyes, "Pyeha kat-e iss-gess-da-go yak-sok-hab-ni-da (And I promise I will stay by your side.)"
Wook holds out his hand, asking Hae Soo to rise, "Then my little queen shall have whatever she wants."
Ha Jin momentarily looks at the hand held out for her, reluctantly accepting it.
"Andwaeyo Hae Soo-ya, (You can't do this.)" Soon Deok tries to go through the soldiers that formed a wall around them.
Wook smiles in triumph as Hae Soo takes to his side, her hand holding upon his arm. She trains her eyes to the ground, crushed. The ministers fall to their knees exclaiming, "Manse, manse, manse" to their new king and queen.
"Out of the kindness of my little queen's heart, Wang Eun wangja of Myeong Clan, Wang Baek-Ah wangja of Gyeongju Kim Clan, Wang Jung wangja of Cheonju Clan, Park Soon Deok Ssi of House Park of Northern Hwnaghwae and Woo Hee Gongju of Gyeongju Kim clan are hereby forgiven and spared of their death sentences. Release them!" Wook decrees.
The soldiers automatically take their hands off from the five accuesd. Soon Deok and Jung push their way to Hae Soo, who refuses to meet their eyes.
Jung raises his sword on Wook's chest threateningly, "You can't do this Hae Soo-ya. You can't believe his words."
Soldiers surround Jung once more in an effort to protect their king. They form a formidable wall in between Jung and Wook, who brings Hae Soo with him. Wook walks Hae Soo away from Jung, stopping by the massive door and turning to look at his traitor brothers and the two ladies,
"Ah, I spared all of you your life at the request of my queen but all five of you will be banished from my kingdom…"
"Pyeha!" Ha Jin tightens her hand on Wook's arm, deceived.
"… effective at the rising of the sun by tomorrow." Wook is undeterred; "If any of you set foot in my kingdom again. I can not guarantee safety for any of you."
"Pyeha, you promised -"
"-You asked for them to be spared so I withdraw my decree of hanging them by the plaza." Wook holds upon Hae Soo's hand on his arm, stilling her, "That doesn't mean they can stay on my kingdom afterwards. I gave them back their lives but they can no longer stay here. I will not give them a chance to betray me or take you away from me."
Soon Deok and Jung fights of the soldiers as Wook takes Hae Soo away.
Though the sun had came out of the snowy clouds and Wook's body radiates warm beside her, Ha Jin feels freezing cold and scared of Wook for the first time. Finally seeing through Wook's gentle mask he's wearing, Ha Jin could only look at Soon Deok and Jung with apology. She tries to withdraw her hand on Wook's arm but Wook isn't letting go again.
Under the cover of a thick black coat, Ji Mong rides his horse down the town and into the port. The new moon affording him darkness all through out his ride. The people on the streets are starting to clear, leaving for home. The stores were boarded and the market close.
Ji Mong stops at the gate of Kang Household, a place the 4th prince never invited him or the late king. No one from any royalties or palace people come to this place unless they mean business with the lady consort.
One of Ji Mong paid spies, had seen the consort arrived a month ago. Why the whole household is still quiet, Ji Mong wonders.
The gate is opened by a young servant, who looks timid. As Ji Mong steps beyond the gate, hidden eyes among darkness observes him.
Guen Sun meets him at the daechung of their household. The smell of a heady earthy wood musk fills the place, Ji Mong had caught the scent on So's clothes on a few occasions.
I guess this is where that heady smell comes from.
On how everyone of this household can stand it, Ji Mong asks himself. He certainly doesn't like it the first time he caught the smell on the 4th prince' clothes.
"This is a surprise. What can I do for the palace adviser?" Guen Sun looks at Ji Mong with careful deliberateness. A man could never survive the palace without a strong character and Ji Mong certainly survive three successions on the throne. Guen Sun thinks, Ji Mong is not as weak as he appears to be.
"I would like to have an audience with Lady Shinjuwon." Ji Mong display an uncharacteristic strong impression around him, Guen Sun is a little perplexed.
"Then you head to the north."
"I have been informed that the lady arrived a month ago. I'm sure your household is not ignorant of what's happening inside the palace." Ji Mong takes a seat at the dining table uninvited.
Guen Sun goes for the opposite chair, amused, "We've always known that King Hyejong is a weak one, someone is bound to take that throne from him anyway."
"And it happened to be his 8th brother. Does your clan agree?" Ji Mong casually asks, "I have the impression, you were grooming the 4th prince to become the next owner of it."
"Our 4th prince was stupid not to covet it and well, do you not agree with the current owner of the throne?" Guen Sun gauges what the adviser wants from the consort.
"I'd rather hand the throne to our 4th prince if that is what you are asking." Ji Mong lays down his card, "Besides, I'm sure the consort will not agree with her daughter marrying into the Hwangbo clan. That would give the Hwangbos the whole control of the kingdom, even the north."
Guen Sun's spy inside the palace hasn't reported yet and Ji Mong happened to reach the Kang household quicker than his spy leaving the palace. Hence, this is Guen Sun's first time to hear about it and he doesn't like it, "Hae Soo Agassi will not make a mistake like that."
"Not when she is threatened with her friends' lives on the line." Ji Mong sees a chink on Guen Sun's casual façade, "Surely you do not want to hand your clan's authority to the Hwangbos. It would be a slap on the consort's face to be in laws with the clan who double-crossed her once."
"What is in it for you?" Guen Sun is curious.
"Kuenyang, I like seeing things in their rightful places." Ji Mong coolly shrugs, "and the throne had always been destined to be the 4th prince's place. As you very well know, I had always fought for the 4th prince to have the throne."
Guen Sun smirks, using Ji Mong's own words back to him, "The change in the throne is temporary only and we do not work with strangers. They form a habit of double crossing us as you very well know."
"King Jeongjong's reign will last long if he gets his hand at the only daughter of this household. You will have to give them her dowry and the king would definitely ask for your territories." Ji Mong plows on, trying to convince the consort's right hand.
"He's welcome to try. As for Lady Hae Soo, she was stupid enough to let herself be damned into the king's hand. Let her pay for it." Guen Sun stands up, "The servant will show you out."
As Guen Sun leaves, a servant comes to take Ji Mong away. Ji Mong is too dumbfounded to react fast. He didn't think his meeting with this household with be over too soon. It is clear they have other plans in mind and they are throwing his little queen so easily it makes him angry. By the time he comes to senses, Guen Sun had left and so is his last hope of saving his little queen.
Spring...
Out of breathe and drowning in fear, the daughter of the moon presses herself to the walls of her room. The rice paper divider, the only cover hiding her. Apart from the crackles of fires merrily dancing outside, the whole palace is eerily quite. Not one is left of their servants, soldiers and their people. All of them perished from the murderous rage the other prince committed.
She hears footsteps entering her door. It paced in her room several times until it gave up and left. Breathing deeply, the daughter of the moon releases a sigh and the rice paper divider is suddenly flung out of her sight.
It's her adoptive father, the king. She was going to be happy to see her father spared when his hands closed on her arm and drags her out. His father's eyes full of madness, she had never seen before.
She pleads with him, asking him to let her go. They reached their courtyard and everywhere is all white, ashes of what was once their palace rain everywhere, coating everything with grey soothe. She coughs, the ashes not only burning her skin but also suffocating her lungs. When a hand twitches from where they were walking, she couldn't help but scream.
Ha Jin awakes in an unfamiliar room adjacent to the king's chamber. She had been transferred here a month ago in preparation of her wedding with the king. She isn't allowed to leave nor accept guests, except for the king or her gungnyeo(s) who help with her study of ritual for her wedding.
The whole place is sophisticatedly spacious, designed with Buddhist paintings and celadon ceramics for ceiling. Rugs of Persians and the silkiest textiles were used to populate the room with soft bed and luxurious tatami mats. On normal circumstances, Ha Jin would have been amazed of her place but as it is, the room only served to be her prison, keeping her locked-up until her wedding with the king commences.
Ji Mong is sitting beside her bed, holding a fluffy, cottony towel on both of his hands.
"Ajeossi, how did you get in here?" Ha Jin squeeze her eyes with her hands, adjusting to the darkness of her room, "Have you found a way to let me out?"
Ji Mong nods, his eyes welling in apology, "Mianhada, uri dalya. (I'm sorry, my daughter)"
"Hmmm?" Ha Jin is still too sleepy to notice what Ji Mong is holding.
Ji Mong quickly and forcefully presses the towel on Ha Jin's face, trying to smother her.
It takes about several seconds without air when Ha Jin finally realizes what's going on. He fights off, Ji Mong, her instinct to survive kicking in.
"Stay still, Ha Jin-ah, this is your only way out." Ji Mong soothes her with calming words that only serve to frighten her more; "I shouldn't have brought you here. Mianhada."
Tears stream on his eyes as he pushes the towel down. Ha Jin scuffles to breathe underneath, kicking on her bed sheet and getting a hold of Ji Mong's hand, "Je…bal… a…jeo…ssi, wae guere, (Why are you doing this to me?)"
"You cannot marry the king. You're dooming the three of us into another lifetime of suffering." Ji Mong holds his hand down, "I'll end here now."
"Ajeo…ssi, jeb…al…" Ha Jin pushes with the last of her strength toppling Ji Mong out of her bed and freeing herself. She immediately pulls away, flattening her back to the walls beside her bed, "How can… you keep doing… this to me? To… Hae Soo… I'm your… daughter"
Ji Mong falls to the floor, his back hitting the warm floor. Like the old him, who lost his kingdom to the other prince, it seems he had aged a thousand years. He looks deflated and defeated. He slowly sits up, the towel discarded on the floor. It's the first time he heard Ha Jin acknowledged herself as his daughter and his guilt crushes him.
"Mianhada, it's the only way I could free you from here. I can't let him win again. He isn't supposed to win you in this lifetime."
But what Ji Mong kept forgetting is that, it was him who started the whole curse. The other prince is just as doomed and just as a victim like the crown prince and the daughter of the moon. He condemned them to this vicious cycle of repeated lifetime. It was his fault.
Ha Jin massages her chest, breathing heavily.
"You are my salvation…" Ji Mong stands up and Ha Jin automatically backs away, scared, "mine and the 4th prince. You belong with us, why do you keep failing us."
"It's the only way I could save my friends." Ha Jin coughs some more, her tears mingling with her fear.
"So you decided to exchange our lives with them? The 4th prince is alive." A letter from a trusted spy finally gets into Ji Mong's hands.
"I know he is." Ha Jin never believed that So ever died but she was afraid for her friends' lives as well as the 4th prince, "The king promised to let them live for as long as I stay by his side. I've had enough deaths in my hand. At least this one, I can stop."
Ji Mong regains his composure, taking control of his hands. He looks at Hae Soo with sorrow and gives-up, "I've done my part. The moon deity should know. I can only do so much for the three of us."
He turns back, reaching for the door and stops, "Mianhada, uri dalya, (I'm sorry, my daughter.) Please live a good life."
At the turn of Spring, with the sun shining brightly and sky in it's bluest form, clans all over the kingdom, the ministers, the scholars and the royalty gather at the courtyard of Hoegyong Hall to witness the king's marriage to the daughter of the Kang household.
Queen Shinjeong had reached out to Lady Shinjuwon out of customs and to solidify their upcoming household alliance but as expected, the Kang household maintained their distance and silence regarding the matter. Not once did they ever show up, an assurance that they certainly disowned their daughter.
Out of wariness, Wook bans all the occupants of Shinju from ever stepping out of their territory, knowing his 4th brother runs the palace in the absence of the consort. He had given the decree that anyone who ever leaves the Kang's palace is subject to be killed on the spot.
It seems the gods had favored the king too, for the north had been buried into a thick snowstorm this last winter and no one could leave even if they want to.
Ha Jin stands at the entrance of the courtyard, dressed in a blue hwarot (ceremonial wedding dress) with red linings in sleeves and collar. Her head is crowned with ornate daesu (ceremonial coronet), So's dwikkoji pin in place. Her make-up is a light touch of pink and orange that makes her look like a blushing bride, if only she was smiling. Her arms ache from holding the tablet for too long. Her head, coming down with migraine as the sun shines down directly on her. Her heart, bursting from the pain of having to go through a wedding she never wanted in the beginning. All around her are strangers she never met. The princes who used to be her friends and the ladies she used to train with at the Damiwon were all gone. The gungnyeo(s) and eunuchs behind her are all new. She felt alone and terrified, like the first time she arrived at this period.
Beside her is the king, displaying the sweetest smile on his face. Wook had always been gentle and nice with her, especially these past weeks while preparing for the wedding. She could almost fool herself into believing that the kind Wook she met before still exist inside the man she's marrying today if only she didn't ground her at the queen's chamber, unable to leave.
On each of their sides are servants carrying a large umbrella to shade them from the sun. From the entrance of the Hoegyong Hall, an officiate announces their arrival and they are ushered in the aisle. Ji Mong stands with the officiate, his face unreadable.
Ha Jin is rooted in the ground, afraid to take a step forward. She wishes someone would come to stop the ceremony but alas, even the soldiers forming a line behind the clans are silent, breathing uniformly with everyone. Wook waits for her to take a step, matching her pace. He can wait all day if she wants to, they'll both end up in his chambers at the end of this ritual anyway. She's all his, she can have his time if she wants to.
Ha Jin inhales a shaky breathe, taking a step one at a time. At the middle of the stairs, she misses a step. The whole courtyard held their breathe and Wook calmly supports her, casually righting her posture. They both started walking again.
Soon, they arrived at the top of the stairs and they both turned to present themselves to their subjects. Not far, an unwelcome entourage make their way at the main gate. Wook spots them the moment he turned around.
Lady Shinjuwon, looking as regal as ever, is riding her horse with Guen Sun beside her and a platoon behind them. Everyone in the courtyard turns their head as Lady Shinjuwon and her entourage fill the aisle with their presence. Wook's face darkens but is quick to hide it. Queen Shinjeong squints her eyes, nervous of the sudden appearance of the consort. Ji Mong breathes a relief. For a moment the sun looks like it's shining behind Lady Shinjuwon.
Guen Sun unmounts his horse by the steps. He holds out his hand to Lady Shinjuwon, supporting her descend from her horse. Together they go up the stairs, reaching the couple.
"I heard my useless daughter is getting married." Lady Shinjuwon looks at Hae Soo from head to foot with distaste. She had never seen the girl, whom this king and princes fought over with, up close. She looks unremarkable to her.
Wook bows out of respect for his mother-in-law, "Welcome, Shinjuwon Soyong."
Lady Shinjuwon observes the king who is about to become his son-in-law. She reaches at Hae Soo's wrist and violently yanks her to Guen Sun, "I forbid it."
Rewarding Wook with humiliation.
Out of reflex, Wook holds out to Hae Soo's other wrist and tugs her back, causing for Hae Soo to let go of the tablet she's holding. It falls to the ground, breaking into pieces, a bad omen for couples getting married.
"You do not come to my palace and take what is mine." Wook closes his hand on Hae Soo's wrist too tight, it cuts of her blood circulation. He gives a command, "Seize them!"
The first of three columns of soldiers on both sides turn around and points their sword to their co-soldiers, holding them back. The ministers and clanmen steps towards the aisle, leaving space between them and the turncoat soldiers to keep themselves safe.
Guen Sun brings out his sword out and yanks Hae Soo back.
"My son does use his brain from time to time." So did not just send their clan's army to the palace to spite Guen Sun but to make sure that he has people inside the palace.
Wook reaches to the sword beside his guard and takes it for his own but Guen Sun is much faster than he is. Guen Sun's swords points at Wook's neck even before he could brandish his own sword, "Do not move, my dear king. I will not flinch to spill your blood at your wedding day."
Lines of tension appear at Wook's chin as he feels loathing towards Guen Sun and Lady Shinjuwon, his vein throbbing at the side of his neck, a perfect target for Guen Sun's sharp blade.
"I'll have all of you killed before you could step out of this palace of mine." Wook threatens them.
Lady Shinjuwon's laughter rings loud at the courtyard, mocking and irritating, "Have you learned nothing from your father? My dear king, look around you."
Kang's private army is loyal to their house. They brandished their sword on their right, a pointed rod on their left. They will die for their consort without thinking twice.
"My men may only be a third of your men but I assure you, their skills are evenly matched with thrice their number. Make a move my king and I'll show you why not even your father dared to tamed my clan."
Lady Shinjuwon puts her spidery hands on Hae Soo's collars and drags her down the stairs. Ha Jin struggles not to miss a step in the stairs as Ji Mong comes after them. A soldier from the Kang clan, who is serving as a royal guard points his sword at Ji Mong, stopping him from following them.
Guen Sun slowly backs away from Wook, his word never wavering. When he reaches his mistress, Lady Shinjuwon is atop her horse already, her hands still in Hae Soo's collar. She pushes Hae Soo to Guen Sun and Guen Sun takes her into his horse.
Additional soldiers from their barracks flood the gates of the courtyard but Lady Shinjuwon's men had already cleared a way for their mistress. They leave the courtyard as fast as they arrived, unscathed and unharmed.
Ha Jin is at a loss. Her adoptive clan never paid attention to her unless she has a use for them. For now, she chooses to be relieved, hoping she'll see the 4th prince at the Kang household.
Mad and humiliated, Wook orders his soldiers to come after the consort, "Bring back my queen and find my 4th brother."
Fighting ensues at his courtyard, "Kill every last one of the Kang household."
Wook now knows where his 4th brother's confidence comes from. He might just be adopted to the Kang household but he surely resembles his cunning adoptive mother in every aspect and Wook hates him for it.
Preview:
A wedding happens. (Nay? Yay?) We move the story to the north at Shinju at the Kang's palace. More secrets come to light, will Ha Jin survive it? Some deaths coming to the characters, hopefully one of it is satisfying, the other hmmmm...
Editor's note:
Annyeong Haseyo! It's been a while. Mianhaeyo, it took me four months to finish two films, an ad and an episode. I finally had time to write because I had an emergency tooth surgery so I was forced to take some time off. Hehehe. I hope everyone is doing great. It's too hot these days, please don't forget to hydrate yourselves and drink lots of vitamins.
So hopefully we only have one more chapter and an epilogue. Still debating with myself if I'm going to go for the original ending or let the story end itself logically. I realized there are still too many open arcs that needs closure. I'll try to close all of them but then I remember one of my actors in our set telling me, "let's not shoot this closure anymore. There are no closures in real life anyway." so we end up not doing the sequence. Heol. Ahahahahahah.
Which new dramas are you watching these days? It's hard to write Yeonhwa in character when I kept seeing Kang Hana in running man doing silly things. Ah Come and Hug Me is underrated but I think it's one of the best well written, well acted, well edited drama I've seen in years.
See you guys in the next chapter!
