Chapter 53

High up in the clear sky, the sun shines directly to the massive courtyard of Hoegyong Hall where hundreds of soldiers, heads of noble families, court officials and scholars, stand in an orderly row, awaiting in attention for the appearance of their new king and his bride.

Almost a full year had passed since the siege of the northern palace. After King Jeongjong dies upon So's blade, So had commanded the remaining northern soldiers to properly disposed all the dead into a mass burial where all the bodies were burned according to the Buddhist custom. Ji Mong, the former king and his 9th brother Won were laid to rest in the mountains of the northern palace.

So takes Hae Soo, Eun, Soon Deok and Gen. Park with him and marched up with Lady Shinjuwon and their forces to Songak, seizing the capital. The ChungJu Yu's forces arrived several weeks later with Lady Yoo, Jung, Baek-Ah and Woo Hee.

The Manwoldae palace exchange owners easily. There was no battle to fight. When King Jeongjong left the palace, he took with him ninety percent of his men, leaving the palace defenseless, confident that he would be coming back victorious. Queen Shinjeong was forced to accede the throne peacefully in exchange of keeping the Hwangbo clan safely protected. Depose of her stature, she and her clan were allowed to stay in the palace only long enough to perform the required grieving rites for the late king, see the 4th prince crowned as a new king and afterwards will be banished in their northern town, HwangJu, where they will never be allowed to set foot out again.

Baek-Ah's clan, the Gyeonju Kim Clan and Wang clan, Eun's maternal clan who both bore King Jeongjong's ire where reinstated to their places in the palace but not without casualty. Baek-Ah's grandmother died of heartbreak right after Baek-Ah was vanished while Eun's grandfather, Wang Gyu was executed in the plaza.

Thereafter, So was crowned as Goryeo's emperor and his era is named Gwangdeok, meaning shining virtue. Lady Shinjuwon was crowned queen dowager and regnant alongside So.

Clad in a regal black sibinjangbok (ceremonial robe with twelve symbols symbolizing the virtue of the emperor), Gwangjong enters the colossal gates of Hoegyeong courtyard. Beside him is his bride, the newly crowned queen. In an elaborate silk blue Hwarot with a golden dragon etched on the red linings of her coat, both of them holding a jade obelisk tablet at hand.

Just this morning, Hae Soo, who was once declared as sejabin by King Jeongjong in preparation for their marriage, underwent Chaekbi, coronation ceremony for the future queen. It is mandated in the customs and traditions of Goryo that a sejabin must be crowned queen before she marries the king. Hence, Hae Soo is now declared queen.

The heavy doors of Hoegyong Hall are thrown open and the two enters, greeted by their newly appointed ministers lined neatly in columns.

Ha Jin almost missed a step as she surveys the hall. It seemed quite empty of the people she used to know. Baek-Ah and Eun occupy the space once owned by So and Mu. Beside them is Gen. Park. Woo Hee is installed to being sanggun under Baek-Ah's wish but against Woo Hee's choice. She stands beside Shinjuwon Daebi's throne, located, a stair below the emperor's golden throne. Soon Deok is also present in the aisle, opposite her father, Gen. Park. Jung is nowhere in sight. Guen Sun stands beside Soon Deok.

Gen. Park announces their presence and the two are greeted by their subjects with a bow and a cry of manse. King Gwangjong turns to her, smile in place. Ha Jin returns it with a soft smile of her own. Once they face the crowd in front of them, a fleeting sadness crosses Ha Jin's eyes, greeting their subjects as a new monarch of their kingdom. How many had died before So finally owned the throne. She hopes no one will have to follow soon.

By sunset, the gates of Manwoldae were opened to the townspeople and a big feast commences to celebrate King Gwangjong and Hae Soo's wedding.

Well into the night, when King Gwangjong stood up to talk to Gen. Park and his brothers, Ha Jin discreetly left the premises of the courtyard, feeling as if she is coming down with a fever. She doesn't know if it was all the colorful hanboks or the dancing fire within her eyesight but the whole party is dizzying to her.

Discarding her heavy Daesu (headdress) and changing to the basic royal hanbok, she goes up to the sky tower and rests by the balcony, watching the party from afar. She can't really see it from this vantage point but she can hear the faraway drums being played, the occasional laughter of people who had gone astray from the courtyard and the servants hurrying with their chores.

She stands with her arm folded tenderly upon her midrift, unconsciously protective of something. She is pale and nauseous. The flight upstairs had been more exhausting than she can remember. How long has it been since the last time she was here? Maybe a year had passed. The owner is no longer around and it pains Ha Jin to think about it. Ji Mong, in the history that she read, lived up until the last years of King Gwangjong's reign. She wonders how much had changed in the history at present times.

This morning, when she was crowned queen, she was given the title of Queen Daemok, the name originally belonging to Yeon Hwa in the history. She was not aware that she would be given the name. When she thinks about it, she is still legally a sister to So. Hence, according to descriptions, it would still be written that Gwangjong married his sister. Only this time, the two of them married for love. Ha Jin prays, Gwangjong would love their kid in this lifetime. Will it be the little girl, Sol or will it be GyeongJong, the eldest son of Gwangjong who became the 5th emperor, who would appear?

She sighs, the history is different from her perspective now but it might still be the same to the present times. Ji Mong's last words echoes in her head, "…only the daughter of the moon… can make it happen."

I can make it happen? Can I still leave?

"Soo-ya?" King Gwanjong's voice breaks unto Ha Jin's reverie, his steps silent as ever, "What are you doing here?"

He puts his arms around her, laying a chaste kiss on her shoulder, "Your gungnyeo(s) are frantically looking for you. You gave them another slip."

Ha Jin quietly settles on King Gwangjong's arms.

"I might be forced to give a decree imprisoning you in your room if you keep doing this." King Gwangjong lightly reprimands her into which Hae Soo suddenly stills, "Not to worry, I am only teasing."

But Hae Soo remained tense.

"Wae guire? (What's wrong?)" King Gwangjong asks.

Hae Soo shakes her head, "A-mu-geot-do oeps-eub-ni-da. (nothing) Kunyang pi-geon-hab-ni-da. (Maybe I am just a tired.)"

"Oh, but there's one more ritual we need to do that's why our people are looking for you." King Gwangjong tells her, tightening his arms around her and whispers on her ears playfully, "Dongrae"

Dongrae is the ritual of consummation of marriage. It is the first night of the monarch as husband and wife.

King Gwangjong teasingly smirks, "though we've already done it before."

Hae Soo blushes red, embarrassed, "Do we need to do it while your ministers listen outside? It's uncomfortable."

"It's to legitimize our marriage and assure the ministers that the heir the queen produces belongs to the king." King Gwangjong explains, "You shouldn't even be in these clothes yet. I am robbed of disrobing my queen."

King Gwangjong turns her to face him, "If it's uncomfortable, you can just look at me, focus only on me and I will make them go away."

He kisses her gently, persuading her to ease up. He carries her up in his arms easily, walking her down from the tower and taking her to his chambers where the gungnyeo(s) close the door behind them.

Hae Soo is fast asleep as King Gwangjong lays her in his bed. He silently exhales a puff, unable to believe Hae Soo could actually sleep on him. He discards his robes at the floor and carefully unrobes his queen of her outer clothes, stripping them to their sokgot before he settles beside her, freeing her hair from her dwikkoji, the one he gifted of her at the donji lake.

Enclosing her to the crook of his arm, she feels slightly warmer than normal to his touch that he had to feel her forehead to check. Hae Soo is sporting a slight fever, "Mianhada, my moon, the ceremony must really be tiring to you."

King Gwangjong whispers to his queen. He kisses her forehead and lays beside her, his arm wrapping around her midrift possessively as he closes his eyes and sleeps.

Striding with anger at the pavilion that was once owned by former Queen Yu, Jung easily finds his way to the lush garden of the newly crowned queen regent, Shinjuwon Daebi. He finds her seated at her tea table overlooking the man-made small pond. Her righthand man, Guen Sun, stands on guard behind her and a familiar servant girl kneeling beside him, her entourage of gungnyeo(s) waiting far from them.

Jung had mixed feeling of this place. He had memories of playing here when he was young. The same place where his notion of happy family shatters when he finds out how cruel his mother and 3rd brother can be to get what they want.

With his arms containing his anger, he sweeps the tea set out of the table. They smash to the ground broken, "You played me for a fool!"

The kneeling servant flinches but couldn't move away from the shattered ceramic pieces of tea set. One makes a shallow scratch on her cheek, drawing a thin line of red welt and blood.

Shinjuwon Daebi merely raises her hand to halt Guen Sun's movement, unruffled by the 14th prince outburst, "Did I?"

Jung balls his hands into a tight fist, "You promised I could take Hae Soo away."

"Have you tried? I don't see any of my men stopping you?" Shinjuwon Daebi meets Jung's eyes calmly.

He haven't tried though.

"Then the problem seems to be lying with you." Shinjuwon Daebi shrugs, "Why haven't you run to her and told her what you saw for yourself? That would make things easier for all of us."

Jung couldn't answer.

"Ah…" Shinjuwon Daebi answers her own question sarcastically "because it would break her heart? Perhaps render her mind insane? Wang Jung wangja, I admire your devotion to that girl but you have to shatter their happiness for you to take her from my son. Otherwise, she would never leave on her own."

"What happens to dropping the pretense?" Jung asks, the familiar disgust curling on his stomach.

Shinjuwon Daebi lets out a mocking tirade jab, "I don't mind sharing the bed."

Jung's eyes tighten in loathing and lowers his voice, "Surely, you mind sharing the throne."

Shinjuwon Daebi's laugh echoes at the garden and suddenly stops, turning serious, "The girl might be the queen but the power still resides in my hands. She knows. My son knows."

"We'll see about that." Jung slowly regains his composure and leaves.

Leaning upon the door of the Sanggun's quarters, Baek-Ah sports a giddy smile. Tipsy from the feast at the Hoegyong courtyard, his eyes crinkling in tenderness as he watches Woo Hee lands a step at the foyer of her chambers. He'd been waiting for her.

"Baek-Ah wangjanim," Woo Hee formally greets the 13th prince. Baek-Ah's giddiness not reaching her stern face, "It is late. You should go back to your chambers."

"How can I come back to my quarters when my wife insists on staying at the sanggun's quarters?" Baek-Ah doesn't notice Woo Hee's wariness towards him.

After they came back from the north, Woo Hee had been trying to avoid Baek-Ah. She thought that when the war in the north is over, she would be able to leave the palace and start somewhere no one knows her but Baek-Ah never asked of her plans. He just assumed they would marry after So and Hae Soo sit in the throne and start together as husband and wife the way he had planned for them before King HyeJong was murdered.

King Gwangjong pardoned Woo Hee's betrayal out of respect for his 13th brother and his love for Hae Soo but King Gwangjong made sure to let Woo Hee know that he will not tolerate her presence again if she ever so much as step out of the line and tried something behind their backs. In a discreet meeting between him and Woo Hee, he made her say a vow that she would never give her loyalty to anyone but him or he would not think twice of ordering her death. It is not that she is afraid for her life but like King Gwangjong, she agreed to do it for the people they both consider as family.

Baek-Ah takes himself from the door and happily walks toward Woo Hee. Woo Hee steps back and lower her head, setting her eyes on the floor.

"Woo Hee-ya," Baek-Ah starts to sober, noticing Woo Hee's cold welcome to him. It's not that he doesn't observe how much Woo Hee had changed since they reunited in the north, he just kept giving her space, hoping that in time Woo Hee would come out from her walls and open up to him again. He hesitates, afraid to address the elephant in the room, "What's wrong? You've… been distancing yourself … from me."

"Nothing. I'm tired." Woo Hee answers, "please leave, it's late."

She side steps and walks passed him but Baek-Ah reaches to her arm and pulls her to his chest, enveloping her in his embrace, "Woo Hee-ya, please."

"Nwa. (Let go of me.)" Woo Hee pushes Baek-Ah away,"Have you forgotten that it is punishable by death to hold a king's lady."

By customs and laws, every woman serving inside the palace is considered the King's woman. The gungnyeo(s), by extension, are part of the king's harem but since King HyeJong and King JeongJong always had their eyes set on their own queen and it is a common knowledge that Woo Hee's hand have been granted to Baek-Ah, no one really paid attention to the rule.

"Woo Hee-ya," Baek-Ah assures her, "My brother only has eyes for our queen."

When Baek-Ah came to asks for King Gwangjong's blessing, King Gwangjong readily agreed only that he and Hae Soo must be married first. Hence, Baek-Ah and Woo Hee's wedding was set a month from now.

"King Gwangjong might pardon you for it but I can still be put to death." Woo Hee holds herself still, "This can be used against the king and you."

Baek-Ah dismisses it and reaches to her hand again, "Woo Hee-ya stop this. There is nothing to worry."

Woo Hee move away before Baek-Ah can touch her. The hurt registering on Baek-Ah's eyes, "What is really bothering you?"

Woo Hee walks away.

Baek-Ah follows her, frustrated, "I can't do anything if you won't tell me."

This time, he takes a hold of Woo Hee's wrist and halts her, forcing her to look at him.

A well of tears springs on Woo Hee's eyes but she holds it back, taking time to answer so as not to let her emotions overwhelm her. When she regains composure, she looks at Baek-Ah with angry eyes and speaks in a low voice, almost a whisper, "You always ask me what's wrong but you never really listen to me."

Baek-Ah stills.

"Do you think I wanted to come back here?" She asks, "Were you expecting that everything will be the same?"

Baek-Ah doesn't know what to say. Of course, what happened to them in the past whole year had changed all of them but Baek-Ah was hoping they could start all over again. The way So and Hae Soo did or Soon Deok and Eun. Baek-Ah doesn't understand why the two of them can't do the same thing, "It doesn't matt-"

"It matters!" Woo Hee interrupts him.

"No, it doesn't." Baek-Ah holds his ground, "I still want to marry you. We can have a future together, have a child. Whatever you want."

"What I want..." In a shaking voice, Woo Hee tells him, "is to leave this palace and forget this nightmare."

She stops, the words almost to herself only "I don't deserve you…"

"You… don't mean… that…" Baek-Ah's eyes begin to well in tears too. He tries to push it all down, not to feel the pain of rejection. He kept thinking it was because of the baby they lost, "Only I would know what I deserve and my place had always been beside you."

Baek-Ah chews the inside of his mouth, drawing a trickle of blood, tasting its bitterness. He kept hoping in time, Woo Hee would open up again, he just needs to be patient but for how long, he doesn't know. He is starting to feel the fatigue, "You're tired. I'll leave you to rest."

He settles himself, hiding the pain from Woo Hee. He gently smiles, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Woo Hee watches him leave and then falls to the floor, weeping.

The next day, the palace general assembly is suspended to give the new monarch rest. Hae Soo walks with Woo Hee in the hallways going to the Damiwon. The sun is starkly bright and Hae Soo is dizzy from the shimmer of sunrays. She falters on her step. Woo Hee immediately catches her. For a moment, Ha Jin felt her chest constricting. She can't breathe.

"Gwaenchanhayo, mama? (Are you alright?)" Woo Hee asks, supporting Hae Soo.

Ha Jin struggles to maintain upright, letting the dizziness pass and minutes later she dismisses it as part of her tactlessness, "It's nothing. You know how klutz I can be."

"You don't seem well as of late." Woo Hee doubts, keeping her voice in check so Hae Soo's entourage doesn't hear them, "Shall we have you examined?"

"Aniyo, don't mind me. I haven't been out under the sun since I was kept in DoJoJeon[1] for my lessons in royal responsibilities. Please don't make them send me back in my quarters" Ha Jin discreetly asks of Woo Hee.

"Algesseubnida. (Alright.)" Woo Hee hesitatingly agrees.

Passed the dizziness, Ha Jin stands on her own and they slowly crosses the courtyard, out under the sun. Their gungnnyeo(s) hurry beside them and open an umbrella to give them cover. Hae Soo and Woo Hee automatically turned silent. They cross the threshold of the Damiwon's courtyard and the double doors were opened for them. Their presence announced.

Inside, every gungnyeo(s) halt their activities and give their greetings to their sanggun and queen. Chae Young has become one of them. Woo Hee took her under her wing when she discovers that she survived the siege in the northern palace. Ha Jin is happy to see a familiar face and nods at Chae Young. The gungnyeo(s) were at the middle of cleaning and decorating the Damiwon for the small feast later at dinner.

"Chal chinaeyo, Chae Young-ah? (How are you?)" Hae Soo momentarily stops to greet Chae Young, observing a thin scratch of wound on her cheek. It seemed fresh to her, "They are treating you well here, right?"

"Keureumyo, mama. (Of course, your highness.)" Woo Hee answers for Chae Young. She too, had become infinitely grateful to her, after she helped her escape from Won.

"What happened to your cheek?" Ha Jin worries, "Please put an ointment to it so it won't scar. We don't want your pretty skin, marred."

Chae Young immediately covers her cheek, "Yie, mama. Woo Hee sanggun had already given me the ointment. Kamsahabnida, I do not deserve your kindness."

"Johda. (Good.)" Ha Jin releases Chae Young and lets her go back to work while the two of them proceed at the back garden where the vast kitchen of Damiwon is located. Rows of jars of fermented condiments are at the far right side. To the far left are pots of medicinal herbs being brewed. Hanging dried in what supposed to be clothes' lines, are various shrubs and plants.

Ha Jin leaves her entourage at the lobby of Damiwon. The gungnyeo(s) clear the kitchen area and the two sit by the low table. The same table where Ha Jin, Woo Hee and Soon Deok used to learn how to brew tonics under Oh Sanggun. It feels so long ago to both of them. Oh Sanggun is gone. The throne had changed owners thrice for the past four years. Soon Deok is married. Hae Soo is now a queen and Woo Hee… Woo Hee doesn't want to think about it. Of the three of them, she appears to have gotten the short stick but that had always been the case.

The kitchen nain(s) laden their table with large pot of red rice and fresh herb, Hae Soo and Woo Hee are making herb rice for tonight's small feast.

"How are you settling inside the palace?" Ha Jin asks in a quiet voice, "Mianhaeyo, you have to postpone your wedding again because of me and the king."

Woo Hee doesn't answer. She strains the boiled gondre from the pot. She then drains and washes it under cold water before slicing it to smaller pieces.

Ha Jin freezes mid scooping rice to the bowl and observes Woo Hee, waiting for her to answer but Woo Hee remains quiet.

Woo Hee finally fills a large bowl with gondre pieces, she seasons it with perilla oil and soy sauce.

"What's wrong?" Ha Jin can't decipher Woo Hee's silence.

Nothing

Ha Jin reaches to Woo Hee's arm and softly halts it, "You can tell me anything."

Woo Hee refuses to meet Hae Soo's eyes as her own eyes are filled with held back tears. She silently composes herself before answering, "It is nothing. I wish to go back to my parent's village and rest."

"I shall ask the king." Ha Jin assures her, "You deserve to re-."

"I want to disappear." Woo Hee turns to Hae Soo, her eyes pleading, "I feel suffocated of this place. Did you want to come back here? Because I don't. I want to forget this whole nightmare."

If it was up to Ha Jin, she wouldn't come back to the palace too but she already decided to stay beside So a long time ago.

"Do-wa-ju-se-yo. (Help me.)" Woo Hee chews on the inside of her mouth.

It takes minutes before Ha Jin could voice her question, "What about Baek-Ah wangjanim? He won't agree to lose you again. Woo Hee-ya perhaps you are tired. Perhaps resting in your hometown would be good for you, but leaving for good? You don't mean that, do you?"

Turning away, Woo Hee feels guilty but every minute inside these suffocating walls of Damiwon is killing her, "I can't be his wife anymore. I… I… betrayed him… you… all of you… I deserve to be put to death."

She puts down what she's doing and kneels to the ground, her forehead touching the earth. Ha Jin immediately comes to her on the floor and tries to get her off the ground, "Stop, Woo Hee-ya…"

Ha Jin looks around, afraid that someone might see or hear Woo Hee. Whatever Woo Hee did behind their back is not an information that should reach anyone, "Stop. Don't say anything anymore. Whatever you had to do, you had to survive. I forgive you."

She pulls Woo Hee to her arms, muffling her voice.

"You don't understand." Woo Hee insists, "I… I'm… not pure… anymore…"

Ha Jin stills, her mind grasping at what Woo Hee is trying to tell her but can not put into words.

"He… Won wangjanim… he…" Woo Hee couldn't finish her sentence, "I can't marry Baek-Ah wangjanim."

Ha Jin tightens her arms around Woo Hee, holding her together as she breaks into pieces. It dawns on both of them that, here, in the middle of Damiwon's vast exterior kitchen where she, Woo Hee and Soon Deok used to be young silly girls had now finally left their youth behind.

When did they become adults again?

Woo Hee yearns of her easy childhood days on her mother's arms.

Throwing the doors open, Soon Deok enters the kitchen with a wide grin, walking beside Jung, before their eyes find the queen holding the sanggun on the floor.

Behind Soon Deok and Jung are gungnyeo(s) who accidentally see their queen and sanggun on the floor. Soon Deok's grin disappears quickly while Jung closes the door. Soon Deok hurries to Woo Hee and Hae Soo's side.

Later that night, the small feast at the Damiwon is subdued and full of tension that King Gwangjong is not privy to. As he takes a seat at the head of the floating table at the middle of the inner pool of Damiwon, Gen. Park, Baek-ah, Soon Deok, Eun and Hae Soo remain standing. Woo Hee is inconspicuously missing, having retired to her chambers early with Hae Soo's permission. Jung is nowhere in sight. The gungyeo(s) mill around serving food and maintaining the aroma coming off from the waters of the inner pool.

"Anjuseyo. (Sit down.)" King Gwangjong commands them at ease. The small crowd takes their place at the table, with Hae Soo and Gen Park at the right of King Gwangjong, to his left is Baek-Ah, Soon Deok and Eun, "I am glad to finally be eating alone with my family. This feels like one."

Hae Soo serves him the herb rice she and Woo Hee prepared this afternoon while Soon Deok does the same for Eun.

"I do not see our Sanggun anywhere," King Gwangjong addresses Baek-Ah.

Baek-Ah rises from his sitting position as he answers formally. All eyes turn on him, "Woo Hee Sanggun is out of the weather, Pyeha. Let me apologize for her absence."

And sits back down again, rigid.

"Have our royal physician see her, I do not want you to worry." King Gwangjong advises.

To which Baek-ah stands once more and answers formally, looking ahead instead of his brother, "Yie, pyeha, seong-un-i mang-guk-hae-ibnida. (Thank you, your Grace)."

A crease appears at King Gwangjong's forehead as he observes his awkward family eating in front of him. Except for Eun, everyone seems to be extremely formal towards him since he ascended the throne. He longs to diffuse the tension and make them feel at ease.

"Eun-ah, how is the wound in your leg? Are you walking better?" King Gwangjong addresses his 10th brother next, "Why don't you and Soon Deok return to your clan's quarters inside the palace. Isn't Gen. Park's household quite far for you to travel everyday?"

Eun answers with enthusiasm, "All better now, hyung! Hae Soo and I match with our walking now."

He rises from his place, sporting that carefree smile and playfully demonstrate how he walks, overly limping, while holding upon his hips, trying to make everyone laugh but no one reacts.

Soon Deok's jaw drops as she watches her husband joke at the queen's expense. Eun and Hae Soo might have been very close from the beginning but Hae Soo is queen now.

"Ya! I do not walk like that." Ha Jin lightly argues, easing up a bit with Eun, more nervous that So would be worried of her health rather than with Eun's playful antics. She also rises from her seat, demonstrating that she can walk straight. The two of them, argue like they used to, years ago.

Gen. Park and Baek-Ah look scandalized, tense upon seeing King Gwangjong's eyes zeroing on Eun.

"Songguhabnida, mama," Soon Deok quickly kneels with her forehead kissing the grounds, "we deserve deaths for my husband's playful antics."

She pulls at Eun's hem, gritting her teeth towards him and trying to make him kneel and only then it occurs to Eun that he shouldn't be talking to Hae Soo and So, the way they used to.

The color drains on Eun's face, scrambling to kneel and in his haste he makes a wrong step at the edge of the floating table and falls to the water of the inner pool.

No one moves.

Eun breaks into the surface of the water, all red.

A rumble comes out of King Gwangjong's chest and he heartily laughs over Eun's mess. Gen. Park and Baek-Ah eye each other and slowly give in to laugh. Soon Deok looks over at King Gwangjong and awkwardly rises from her bow. Hae Soo joins next and everyone comes to an ease.

"Trust our 10th prince to make light of a situation, ddo songguhabnida pyeha, mama" Gen. Park apologizes once more in behalf of his daughter and son-in-law.

"Eun-ah," King Gwangjong turns to the 10th prince, effectively quieting the crowd again, "I trust that you will not repeat this transgression of yours in front of other people. My queen will not suffer disgrace upon your playful antics."

"Anibnid, pyeha. Cheo gwaenchanhseubnikka. (I am fine.)" Ha Jin is quick to relieve Eun with ordeal.

"Yie, hyung, I mean pyeha." Eun looks around, wondering how he can kneel if he is in the water, he tries anyway and submerge his self in the water.

Everyone turns their attention to him again, Soon Deok worriedly comes upon the edge, her eyes from the water to Hae Soo to King Gwangjong and then back to the water. Several seconds later, Eun emerges from the water, unable to hold his breathe for long.

Baek-Ah chews on the inside of his mouth, holding his laughter. Gen. Park looks away, embarrassed. Ha Jin softly laughs.

"You can leave the water, Eun-ah." King Gwangjong instructs before Soon Deok loose her face out of mortification, "And you can address me as hyung comfortably when it is only us around. You, too Baek-Ah. No need for formalities. We are the only ones left of our family now."

Soon Deok helps her husband out of the water. Gungnyeo(s) immediately come to their service and walks Eun to the room to get change.

"Ah, has anyone seen our 14th prince?" King Gwangjong asks once Soon Deok takes her place at the table again.

Soon Deok and Hae Soo exchange look, which King Gwangjong catches, "Jung wangjanim came with me a while ago but he said, something important came up so he had to leave."

"I see," King Gwangjong addresses Baek-Ah next, "Let him know that I would be expecting him to report for duty when the general assembly resumes."

"Yie, pyeha." Baek-Ah thinks twice, discreetly studying his 4th brother. Jung and So haven't talked since their duel in the north. Though So never showed any grudge towards Jung after and even reinstalled the ChungJu Yu clan to the chancellery seat again, Baek-Ah hopes all transgressions are forgiven, even the ones that concerns Hae Soo's heart.

Much like the Hae household outside the palace, the Yu's household where former queen Yu now resides with the 14th prince, sits not far from the foot of the mountains, at the outskirts of the forest, just outside the Manwoldae Palace. As a depose queen, who had been installed to their chancellery seat after King GwangJong's enthronement, she and her clan no longer have a place inside the palace but was given a household twice bigger than the Hae's as a reward for helping the Kangs overthrow King JeongJong.

As it was in the middle of summer, the nights are hounded by dry and hot wind. Good thing the nearby forest provides refreshing pine scented air in the household.

Deep into their garden, surrounded by luscious greenery, the pavilion is alive with hanging decorative lanterns. One by one, representatives of noble clans – namely Na Ju Oh (former king Hyejong's clan), Pyeongsan Yu Clan (Won's clan), Hwanggan Gyeon Clan (the last of Hubaekje clan)[2] arrive discreetly. Lady Yu put up a small feast for them, lobbying for alliance.

Pyeongsan Yu clan had no idea that Park Sul Hui, the head of their clan, perished at the hands of Wang Ryeom Shiek. On the same naivety, Hwanggan Gyeon Clan doesn't know that Yo from ChungJu Yu clan had once held Woo Hee, their last princess and royal heir, as a servant, who does his bidding.

Afraid for their lives during Taejo's reign, all Hwanggan Yeon Clan scattered in Goryeo and Japan after the fall of their kingdom. Now that another king sits in the throne, they are seeking to reinstate their clans to nobility and perhaps give Woo Hee her rightful place in the monarch.

They all drink together, establishing truce and aiming to hold on to whatever power they have in King Gwangjong's court.

"行到水窮處，

坐看雲起時。"

"When the water runs dry, sit and watch for the rising cloud," Hae Soo reads out loud the poem King Gwangjong completes in a hanja and hands it to her.

"Is this really the only thing you want?" King Gwangjong puts down his brush and stops writing for a moment and studies Hae Soo.

The two of them are tucked at his chamber's receiving room, sitting by the floor. Now, almost bare as it was when his late father, King Taejo used to own it. The pillars are newly painted with 10 longevity creatures dancheongs, while the ceiling is painted with dragon hugging the sun. With wide expanse of floor area, the room can easily accommodate a crowd but is always empty except for the king and his queen.

Their gungnyeo(s) are well beyond the doors, ordered to keep the privacy of their king and queen with utmost discretion.

"I can grant you lands, favor, whatever you wish to have and all you want is a poem for my wedding gift."

Rolls of parchment and ink residue surround the couple. Hae Soo asked King Gwangjong to write the poem she never got to receive, the first time So left for the north years ago, deeming it with love and tenderness.

"What do you need this for?" King Gwangjong curiously asks.

"I told you, I never got your letter." Hae Soo answers, her eyes' focus never wavering on So's bold and rhythmic strokes. She never expected So's hand writing to be this elegant. For someone who handles sword all his life, his writing is precise with fluidity and certain softness that his 8th brother, Wook, lacks. Though it has a lot of corners and appears sharp in some strokes, "It is my first time to be reading it."

"When the water runs dry, sit and watch for the rising cloud…" she repeats to herself.

King Gwangjong softly beams at his queen, putting down the brush at his table, he goes in for a quick kiss on her cheek, "Then I will write hundreds of this, if that is what my moon wants."

Ha Jin delicately chuckles, "I know just what to do with this."

"Aren't you going to ask me what I want?" King Gwangjong pulls Hae Soo closer, putting his arms around her and his chin resting upon her shoulder.

"What does my king want?" Ha Jin is still staring at the many pages of her poems.

"Our little sun." King Gwangjong tightens his arms around her, his hand reaching upon Hae Soo's goreum (the ribbon keeping the jeogori overlapped with each other) and almost untying it, "I know you feel lonely inside these walls. I feel terrible to have asked you to be my queen and confined you here but I can not live without you, my moon."

Ha Jin strokes the back of So's arms around her, feeling his desperate hold upon her, "Abnida, pyeha. gyeot-e hansang iss-eul geo-si-da. (I will always stay by your side.)"

King Gwangjong turns Hae Soo to him, "Then it's set. I will have the royal physician check upon you tomorrow."

"Immediately?" Ha Jin finally puts down the roll of parchments she's holding, blushing.

"Soo-ya, my moon," King Gwangjong hesitates on how to address what Hae Soo's gungnyeo(s) have reported back to him, "It has come to my attention that you have been ill as of late. You aren't eating properly. You look pale."

He cups her face, "Even the walk from here to the Damiwon makes you falter in your steps. Your gungnyeo(s) tell me that you were vomiting at times. We need to have you checked. How can we raised our little sun if you are unwell?"

Ha Jin tries not to chew her lower lips. She thought she was getting away and doing fine, hiding the state of her failing health, "Pyeha, I am alright. It might just be the change of weather. I hate to admit it but I think I've grown accustomed to the weather in the north."

Embarrassingly, she chuckles, hiding her nervousness, "Woo Hee is taking good care of me. Besides, I know myself better than any physicians. Please stop worrying."

King Gwangjong is not convince, knowing Hae Soo had always been sickly. He's scared Hae Soo might just be the same as her cousin, Myung Hee, who wasn't able to carry a baby to full term.

"Kuende," having brought up Woo Hee's name, Ha Jin quickly changes topic, "is't possible to let Woo Hee rest in her hometown for a few weeks. I think it would be best for her health and sanity."

"Aren't she and Baek-Ah getting married next month?" King Gwangjong is puzzled, "I don't think Baek-Ah would take kindly to letting Woo Hee sanggun leave when they have to prepare for their wedding."

Ha Jin sighs, "Maybe we should send the two of them together."

"Baek-Ah can not leave the palace. He has responsibilities as a minister to take care off." King Gwanjong disagrees, "Besides, Woo Hee sanggun should know by now that she, like the rest of us, are tied to the palace. We can not leave easily."

Ha Jin argues, "Pyeha, you can give her a few days of rest. She has done enough for us. It wasn't even her choice to come back and become a sanggun again."

"But she is, whether it was her choice or not." King Gwangjong doesn't see where this argument is going. Maybe Hae Soo and Baek-Ah had forgiven Woo Hee for her transgression and betrayal but So hasn't forgotten. Keeping Woo Hee within his sight is better than letting her go back to her hometown. After all, Woo Hee still carries the last bloodline of Baekje monarchy. She is a threat to the throne, "Soo-ya, kueman-haera. (Stop this, Soo-ya.) Let us not meddle with my brother's affair. Baek-Ah wants her here and this is where she's going to stay."

Ha Jin sighs and King Gwangjong almost gives in. He hates disappointing his moon, "Let me have a talk with my brother and if he asks for it, then I will grant Woo Hee sanggun her leave."

Nodding, Ha Jin snuggles to King Gwangjong's chest, "Thank you. I know you are reasonable."

"I can't say the same for my brother and I don't promise anything but I will try." King Gwangjong holds her tightly, stroking her hair tenderly. He picks up his brush again and Ha Jin gladly watches him complete another one of his poem in the parchment.

Clang!

Thang!

So is back at the burning courtyard of the northern palace in the midst of crossing sword with Wook, carnage and fire surround them both, locked in a destructive battle that only ends when one of them is dead.

Somewhere he hears Hae Soo's scream, pleading for them to stop.

"She was promised to me first," Wook parries with every strength he has, "Long before this lifetime!"

Wook slices upward and So sustains an injury on his chest. He steps backward, holding upon his bloody chest. Wook charges once more, "She was my little queen. Mine! You took her away from me."

So discards his armor to the ground, his resolve becoming firm. An eerie silence settles in the courtyard as everything transforms to how the northern palace appears in their original lifetime. Concrete slabs were gone, manicured grasses appeared. The raging fire dies and ashes settle everywhere. Blood runs in the ground, soaking their sandals. Wook and So face each other on a fight they never had in their original lifetime.

The two crosses their swords, each determined this time. When they broke apart, Wook uses the momentum to a stride, holding his sword with two hands, he puts in his force to slash but So reads his moves and sidesteps quickly, turning into a circle and brings down his sword to Wook's back, slicing from shoulder to waist. Wook falls to his knees.

"Andwae!" The daughter of the moon's voice rang loudly in the courtyard, breaking into So's concentration and in that small break, Wook turns and slices upward at So's sword arm making him lose handle of his sword.

Wook rises, wobbly on his feet while So clasps at his sword wound on his right arm. Wook raises his sword and brings it down in an arc. So quickly pivots and gets inside Wook's drawn space from below. He catches Wook's sword arm upon the wrist and with his free hand, he takes the dagger Hae Soo gave him from his belt and plunges it below Wook's thorax, grazing his heart. Blood seeps out of Wook's chest and he topples to the ground.

The daughter of the moon runs to where Wook and So are but even before she lowers herself to the floor to check on Wook, So catches her and encircle his bloody arms on her waist, "Stay with me, Soo-ya."

Wook lays dying on the ground, with his last breathe and the ominous moon watching from above he utters, "My blood is in your hands, my brother."

All around him, the scenery changes again and the 29 year old Wang So returns to his 15 year old self. At his first battle, the one where Lady Shinjuwon sent him to train. Covered in blood and still a child, So surveys the devastating carnage he was forced to endure. On his feet, are dead soldiers he had killed in the name of survival. He feels numb, as if his sanity temporarily left him. This wasn't what the patriotic songs promised. There is no glory or victory in taking away a life. His inside screams for anyone to take him away, make it all disappear.

Help.

He had never uttered such word before for it had long been distinguished on his vocabulary.

Help.

His insides screams once more.

So awakes on his chambers, drenched in cold sweat. Hae Soo had just blown every candle in the room save the one near them, when she noticed So tossing in his sleep. She sits by his bed and was about to wake him, when So awakes and grabs her to hold, "Soo-ya!"

He shakes on her arms, breathing laboriously. Ha Jin can feel the desperation on his tight hold on her, "Pyeha, gwaenchanhseubnikka? (Are you alright?)"

So buries his face on Hae Soo's neck, letting her lemony citrus scent wash away his fears and slowly settle his palpitating heart, "I dreamt of my 8th brother. Mianhada, I couldn't keep him safe like what I promised you."

"Shhhh… settle down, my radiant sun," Ha Jin comforts him, stroking his back, "You did what you had to do. I'm sorry that the burden had to fall upon your shoulders."

A sob starts to build on his chest. Here, in the privacy of his chamber, he lets himself be vulnerable in the eyes of the only person who can understand him, "Soo-ya…"

For a moment he couldn't continue and let his tears fall upon Hae Soo's neck. Ha Jin stills, allowing So his space.

"I… Soo-ya…" So tightens his arms around her, "Mianhada, I've done so many things to… to survive…"

"Abnida, pyeha. (I know.)" Ha Jin patiently waits for So to settle down.

"I do not deserve you but you promised to stay, to understand," Suddenly, So breaks their embrace and hold Hae Soo at an arm's length. He searches her eyes with fear, "One day, when my sins come to light, please remember your promise."

Ha Jin tries not to tense for So's sake but his words make her nervous. She hides it through her soft smile and a tender touch on So's face, "There is nothing you can do that will make me turn my back on you."

"Promise me." So pulls her to his chest, "Promise me."

"I promise." Ha Jin answers, thinking she'd heard and seen the worst of So already.

In the future, Jung will prove her wrong.

Once King Gwangjong settles back to sleep, Ha Jin leaves his bed and takes away the cold tea she had prepared for the king. She hands it to her waiting lady outside, who happens to be Chae Young, "Chae Young-i?"

"Yii, mama." Chae Young greets her with a bow, "Woo Hee Sanggun sent me to train as one of your court ladies, I hope to not disappoint you both."

Ha Jin doesn't mind welcoming a familiar face, "Your presence is enough to make me feel comfortable. How is Woo Hee Sanggun doing?"

"Asleep already, mama." Chae Young answers.

"Good." She hands her the tray of tea, "Can you return this to the Damiwon? You can rest afterwards."

Chae Young receives it and bows her head once more, "Yii, mama. Chal Chumusibsiyo. (Please rest well.)"

She waits for the queen to return inside the king's chamber before walking backwards and turns once the door closes.

Passed the gates of the king's courtyard, blending well in the shadows by the wall, is Jung, who had formed a habit of walking around the palace at night. He notices Chae Young leaving the courtyard with the tray of tea and a lantern. He follows her for a while until they are almost at the Damiwon. He approaches with silent but sure footing, as if he was just strolling in a park.

"A lady in waiting, serving both queens and the sanggun." Jung utters, "Why am I not surprise?"

Chae Young jumps on her feet and releases the lantern she was holding. Jung automatically saves the lantern.

She halts and apologizes, recognizing the 14th prince, who stayed in the northern palace for a while, "Joesonghabnida, wangjanim. I was scared out of my wits."

Jung studies her from head to foot, the lantern casting a small glow of light between them, "I heard you saved Woo Hee Sanggun back at the northern palace."

Standing with her head bowed and her eyes on the ground, Chae Young tries not to shake, "It… it… was nothing, wangjanim… Any… Any person would do the same…"

"Will they?" Jung rhetorically asks, "I-reum-i mwo-ye-yo? (What's your name?)"

"Yii?" Chae Young is confused, wondering what she has done wrong.

"I heard the king and the queen regent are not fond of repeating themselves twice, did you not train under their household?" Jung's precise quietness rings an alarm bell on Chae Young's head.

"Chae Young, Chae Young-ibnida, wangjanim."

"How long have you been serving in the northern palace?" Without the light from the lantern, Jung would have perfectly blend with the shadows around them.

Chae Young counts in her head, "Fi-five."

"I see, not long enough?" Jung utters to himself, "And how did you end up serving in the north? You don't have their accent."

Chae Young grits her teeth together, the tremors in her hand make the tea set shake so badly.

"Mwot sal-i-ye-yo? (How old are you?)"

The rattle of the tea set gets louder and louder, the more Jung asks questions, "I also heard that the king and the queen regent don't appreciate waiting."

"Seu-mul sal-ibnida. (Twe-twenty years old), I… I was sold to…to… the northern palace to pa…pay for my sister's sin..." Chae Young falls to her knees.

Jung stares focused on Chae Young, there is something familiar about her that he couldn't identify at the moment, "And your family?"

"All… all dead." Chae Young puts the tea set on the ground and brings her hands together, pleading, "My sister was executed… my parents died of sickness… I am all alone now… Have I done something to anger you, wangjanim, jebal."

"That remains to be seen."

A stir on the leaves, alerts Jung to someone coming their way. He quickly extinguishes the lantern and pulls Chae Young up, carefully taking the tea tray with them and hide by the walls of Damiwon.

Soldiers on foot, patrolling the palace pass their way without noticing them. Once the soldiers are out of ear shot, Jung releases Chae Young and warns her, "Like my brother, the king and the queen regent, I do not tolerate betrayals and I am sure, you are well trained to keep in line with a sword hanging in your head all the time but what says you, if I offer you your freedom and a life outside this kingdom, in exchange of your allegiance to me?"

"Yii?" Chae Young is confused.

"Serve me well and I will smuggle you out of this kingdom and provide you provision to start a new life." Jung offers, "Think about it and I shall seek you next time for an answer."

Walking away, Chae Young is left in the shadows, thoroughly confounded and shaking. The words "freedom" and "new life" burns brightly at the back of her head.

Days later, the peace and quiet that had settled in the capital is broken by series of protests lodge by slaves and people who are either victims of war and civil unrest in the borders, or clans and towns who became victim of changes in the throne and lost everything. They started out as peaceful and harmless but it's growing to loud protests, threatening the order in the town. At the head of it are Baekje people who were once forced to follow the orders of the Hwangbos and ChunJu Yu clan. They are asking to be freed from slavery, their lands be given back and be allowed to return to their town. They want to rebuild their lives, tired of having to be passed around by clans from town to town.

The general assembly opens with the appearance of Jung, who has the title of general but is forced to withdraw from the troops because he occupies their 8th brother's former state council seat, ministry of taxation now. It is not his first choice for state council seat and he couldn't stand playing diplomacy in the royal court but his mother insist upon it and had no choice in the matter. Like So, he is better off at the frontline rather than be holed up in the palace. His former seat, the ministry of defense, the one he shares with So, is now solely given to Gen. Park.

Baek-Ah ascends to the council seat of Personnel, the one owned by Mu before he became king, while Eun now solely governs the Ministry of Rites. Both brothers fill their space in the aisle. Guen Sun takes his place with the ministers.

Discreetly, Jung surveys his 4th brother's throne, finding Hae Soo, sitting to King Gwangjong's left and Shinjuwon Daebi to King Gwangjong's right, hidden behind a screen. Her throne lower than the king but a step higher than Hae Soo, indicating where they are in terms of decision making.

Hae Soo looks awkward on her throne. She sits straight, trying to keep a neutral demeanor but all the gold around her, only serves to highlight how thin and pale she has become. She keeps her hands to her lap, unlike Shinjuwon Daebi, whose hands occupy the hand rest of her throne, exuding command.

"It is good of our 14th prince to finally be joining us today." King Gwangjong tries to be amicable as he can be and yet the bubbling jealousy for this boy who once owned the heart of his queen and now the only son, their biological mother recognizes, still reside on his heart. He cares for him but he hates him at the same time. Conflicting emotions that adds to his burdens.

"The cries of our people outside our palace' gate resonates in my mind. I couldn't sleep at night." Gone is the softness on Jung's face and the ponytail he once shared with the king. His eyes no longer shines. His cheekbone and jaws sharp, much like Yo.

Tension rises in the hall and whispers among the court officials begun to fill the air.

"Then let us hear what our people wants." King Gwangjong silences the ministers without raising his voice.

"Because of the frequent change in the throne, many of our people had been displaced. Some were stripped of their statuses, other lost their lands, many were thrown to jail and exiled. The shrinking number of noble families want assurance that with the support that they will provide for this monarch, the monarch will in turn protect them fair and equally." Brave with definite finality, Jung lays the demands of the heads of the noble families he had been in a meeting with.

While the palace was putting things back to their places, observing traditions and rituals to strengthen the new monarch, Jung and the ChunJu Yu clan were busy lobbying for the support of the aristocratic clans in the past months. The Kang clan's treasury was greatly depleted after the northern siege, thus, the Chunju Yu Clan is now at par with the Kangs. With the support of remaining aristocratic clans, the power in court might just tip in favor of the ChungJu Yu Clan.

"The noble clans had come into agreement." Jung adds.

"The noble clans?" King Gwangjong surveys his ministers and court officials in front of him, all bowed and refusing to meet his eyes. He wanders if his other brothers' clan say the same.

"First, we ask that the three hundred thousand government troops to be only determined by the vote of the court officials."

Meaning, Gen. Park's ministry seat is in danger of being reconsidered.

While King Gwangjong quietly listens with a neutral façade, the strain shows on the face of his queen. Hae Soo's eyes frequently surveys the king and the 14th prince.

"Second, the clans of each region will manage the local tax collection offices. We'll send a set of amount to the royal family, but the rest will be free to be used by each clan. As long as you agree to this, then the monarch will continually enjoy the support of the remaining noble families."

King Gwangjong watch his court officials nod and agrees with Jung's demand.

"Give up the military and the revenue?" King Gwangjong's ruminates whether Jung even knows what he is asking for or not. Aware that their mother is the one who put him up to do this, "you mean to cut off both of my wings."

The hall falls eerily silent upon the king's answer, steady and growing ever dangerously quiet, "If you think such threat will work on me, you are making a mistake."

Jung breaks to a crook smile, unwavering in his stillness, "I am merely relaying what the clans have agreed upon. Shall we see it in the coming assemblies?"

Shinjuwon Daebi narrows her focus on Jung. Through the thin gaps on her screen she muses how amusing it is to be playing with the 14th prince.

Standing on a man-made bridge in a pond where So had his last talk with his 3rd brother, Yo, King Gwangjong and Gen. Park hold a hushed discussion on how to go about Jung's proposal at the court a while ago. Both are not privy to the negotiations that happened between Shinjuwon Daebi and Jung or Shinjuwon Daebi and Lady Yu.

Interrupting their discussion is a eunuch who announces that his advisor, Guen Sun came to see him. King Gwangjong and Gen. Park momentarily end their discussion as Guen Sun approaches to deliver his message, "Your mother, the queen dowager, summons you to her chambers."

King Gwangjong merely hears it. He is a king, he doesn't answer to a summon unless he wants to and as if reading his thoughts, Guen Sun adds, "Or would you rather receive the queen dowager in your chambers? I hear Daemok Mama resides in your chambers rather than at the Dojojeon Hall."

Implying it would be more dangerous to have the queens meet on his chambers, especially when the other one is not privy to his and Shinjuwon Daebi's secrets.

"I shall find time to meet her." King Gwangjong replies, maintaining his composure, the warning not lost to him.

"Tonight, she says." Guen Sun reminds him and bows to take his leave.

A flicker of tiny fire comes to life when Guen Sun strikes a match, lighting the incense the queen dowager loves. The room, once occupied by Lady Yu is wrapped in soft glows of warm lanterns neatly arranged against the wall.

Shinjuwon Daebi sits by her bed, already wearing her thin white sokgot, Two of her gungnyeo(s), ones she brought from the northern palace, are attending to her still dripping wet hair.

By the door, a gungnyeo announces the king's presence and King Gwangjong was ushered in. Inside, King Gwangjong observes the sigil of Chunju Yu clan is no longer in display. In its place is the black sigil of the Kangs. The red Chinese calligraphy tapestry hangings are also replaced with gold and black tapestry that is often found on their northern palace.

"Do you like the new appearance of this room?" Shinjuwon Daebi asks, noticing So studying the room. The smell of sweet nauseating musk starting to fill the room.

So discreetly wrinkles his nose and searches for the windows, fixing his eyes in the pavilion outside, a practiced action he had long learned, "It matters not to me. What did you summon me for?"

Shinjuwon Daebi stares at her son who has risen to the throne. Gone is the trembling 15 year old boy that she once lured on her bed. A boy she worked so hard to shape in her image. In its place is a man who had seen enough death to carry darkness in his eyes. An alluring darkness that threatens to burn anyone who gets in his way and yet, his heart remains protected thanks to Hae Soo, harboring compassion that needs to be quashed if he wants to remain on his throne.

"My hair needs drying." Shinjuwon Daebi annoyingly smiles, "be a good son and dry it for me."

She gestures for her gungnyeo(s) to leave her. Shaking and with hesitancy, they hand the towel to the king and stands by the door, joining Guen Sun. They keep their head bowed.

Shinjuwon Daebi goes to stand in the window, her back to the king, waiting. So crumples the towel in his hand and begrudgingly approaches Shinjuwon Daebi.

With deliberate care, he takes Shinjuwon Daebi's hair and begins with patting and drying it. It is not that he cares or that he is scared of the queen but it has become a second nature to him to perform these tasks that the better he does it, the sooner it ends, "You're 14th brother is getting braver to defy you."

So squeezes the droplet of water from Shinjuwon Daebi's hair.

"If you had listened to me before and nip your rebel brother from its bud, then our reign would have been uncontested." Shinjuwon Daebi watches the lantern in her pavilion that sway with the breeze. It had started to drizzle and the air had turned humid, "As it is, the embers in the northern palace hasn't even gone cold and yet your brother is determined to cut you from the throne already."

"Does he make you nervous?" So deliberately chooses his words, acting as if his brother can't shake him.

Shinjuwon Daebi turns to face So, her lips drawing into a crooked grin, appearing to be amused, "No,"

She reaches to him and rest her hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat, "Does he make you nervous?"

"He's just a boy," So covers for his brother, "I'm sure it is our mother-"

Slap!

Shinjuwon Daebi cuts off So's sentence with a stinging slap, "Say that again, your mother?"

So has forgotten never to call Lady Yu his mother in front of Shinjuwon Daebi but he will reiterate it again, refusing to cower against Shinjuwon Daebi, "My mother was the one behind Jung's imprudence. "

He meets her eyes defiantly and Shinjuwon Daebi is about to slap him again but he catches her hand mid arc, stopping it, "Without her, my 14th brother will never have greed towards the throne."

Shinjuwon Daebi uses So's hold on her to pull him towards her. Her other hand stilling So in place. They stand face to face, both defiant, "Then, shall I get rid of your mother who abandoned you in my hands?"

So stands his ground, "Do as you please."

And releases Shinjuwon Daebi's hand. He is about to leave but Shinjuwon Daebi is not yet done with him. She pulls him back. Her hand closing in on his neck, trapping him against the wall, she grins. For the first time in a while, So notices the mad gleam on her eyes again.

"You protect too many people, my king." Her nails starting to dig on the skin of his neck, "If I have to kill every last one of them to get rid of your weakness, I will. This is not how I brought you up."

She crashes her lips with him, humiliating him more. The two gungnyeo(s) avert their eyes.

So pushes Shinjuwon Daebi away, freeing himself. Guen Sun immediately comes in between the two, his blade pointed at So.

"Touching a king is punishable by death," So warns, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He adds the word "emmeonim" at the end for emphasis.

He flicks the blade away, "And so is brandishing your sword against me."

Shinjuwon Daebi laughs much to So's annoyance. She turns her back and walks to her bed, "Does your sister satiate your desires?"

So only watches her with anger.

"Is't about time we share our secret to her?" Shinjuwon maliciously asks. She sits on her large bed, her hands relishing at the softness of her sheets. "Aren't we all family now? Maybe we can invite her to our bed too."

So knows Shinjuwon Daebi is just trying to get a rise from him. He chooses to remain silent and walks away.

"Make sure she can provide you with an heir," Shinjuwon Daebi calls, "or she will outgrow her usefulness."

So heeds her warning and goes out the door, reigning in his anger and his breathing.

True to Jung's words, the next day or the next, the halls of Hoegyong hall is empty of its court officials except for his brothers, Baek-Ah, Eun and Gen. Park. Outside the palace, the protest is still on going.

King Gwangjong fumes at his seat, "How dare do these noble families show this disrespect on us."

The two queens remain silent on their sit, with Ha Jin worrying about the king. Shinjuwon Daebi seemed to be spacing out today, looking bored but her head is full of plans waiting to be executed.

Jung leisurely walks down the aisle and takes his place at the center. With respect, he greets the monarch, confident as he is, seeing the hall empty of its court officials, "Do you see what I mean now?"

"Pyeha" Jung's gloating is cut off by a eunuch' announcement by the door, "a messenger from another kingdom arrives."

The door opens, spilling a worn out messenger. He is tripping on his own feet, almost dead tired. Jung returns to his position and gives the floor to the messenger.

"Pyeha," the messenger kneels, "I have a letter from your sister, Yeon Hwa gongju."

Baek-ah and Eun exchange looks while Gen. Park meets King Gwangjong eyes. Woo Hee receives the letter and hands it to King Gwangjong before returning to her place beside Shinjuwon Daebi.

"Yelu Lihu, [3]husband to your sister, Yeon Hwa gongju and the 3rd son of Emperor Shizong and Empress Dowager Shulu had met his end at the hands of Yelu Ruan's commandant Yelü Anduan and Yelü Liuge. Yelu Ruan had over taken the capital and had declared himself an emperor." The messenger reports, "Your sister seeks asylum in your kingdom. The empress dowager Shulu fears for her life and had her in hiding. If you could send her soldiers to escort her back here in your kingdom, the empress dowager promises to honor the peace treaty, the late Emperor Taizu extended to your kingdom."

"Pyeha…." The same eunuch who announced the messenger, interrupts once more as another person arrive in waiting outside the door, "A lieutenant manning our borders had requested to have a word urgently."

"Deul-eo-ha-ra. (Let him in.)" King Gwangjong commands.

The lieutenant comes in, looking disheveled but otherwise unharmed. He gives his greetings to the two generals before bowing in front of the king, noticing the messenger by the floor, "Pyeha, I have come to let you know that a messenger from the Khitans was sent to our borders, stating the capital had exchanged hands and Yelu Ruan has been declared an emperor."

Confirming the same information, the other messenger had just relayed.

"Pyeha, your sister is in danger, please" The messenger pleads.

"Woo Hee Sanggun, why don't you let one of your court ladies attend to our wounded messenger," Shinjuwon Daebi finally breaks her silence, "Guen Sun-ah, have one of our men escort the Khitan messenger to the Damiwon."

King Gwangjong expertly hides the tension on his chest with Shinjuwon Daebi taking control outspokenly. He should have expected Shinjuwon Debi will not always remain silent, sitting on her throne and yet it caught him off guard. The matters of his sister should be dealt with as soon as possible but it seemed to have a lower priority on her list.

"Eun Wangjanim as the minister of rites, kindly coordinate with Gen. Park and Guen Sun-I as to what in kind should we send the new emperor to broker another peace treaty. Do not let them demand tributes from us. We are in equal terms with them." Shinjuwon Daebi adds, "It is of utmost important that we uphold our peace treaties with the Khitans."

"And what of our sister?" Eun couldn't help but asks. Not long ago, this consort had him imprisoned for his clan's loyalty to the crown and now he is installed to a minister seat like nothing happened.

Shinjuwon Daebi momentarily gazes at Eun, not used to being questioned. Silence descends once more as he scrutinizes Eun well.

Seconds… Minutes… passed.

Eun becomes uncomfortable of Shinjuwon Daebi's stare. If he could hide behind his 13th brother, he would have done so. This is the first time he becomes privy of how Shinjuwon Daebi conducts her court affairs. In Shinjiwon's Daebi's perspective, there are too many soldiers on her court rather than diplomats. It remains to be seen if it is good or bad.

"Empress Dowager Shulu had her hidden away. She is safer on her hands rather than our kingdom." Shinjuwon Daebi shares that distinct characteristic with King Taejo, whose rage and command can be felt, the more her voice grows silent. A trait, King Gwangjong had also inherited, "Bringing her here might earn us the ire of the new emperor. We don't want to usher a dispute on our land when we, ourselves, are just getting back on our feet."

And then addresses Jung with malice, "Especially when one of our prince here, wants to cut off our king's wings."

Seeing an opportunity to turn the table against Jung.

"Jung wangjanim, what would it be then?" A crack of grin appears on Shinjuwon Daebi's lips. Something no one missed even through the haze that the bamboo screen provides, "Your sister 's life or your clan's greed for power?"

Jung is still young when it comes to politics in the throne. He might have grown confident to go against his 4th brother but he isn't as ruthless as his mother and the 3rd prince yet. Lives still matter to him. He was about to answer when Baek-Ah reaches to his hand and stills him.

"The life of our sister," Baek-Ah announces, "My clan might not be as powerful and rich as the ChunJu Yu Clan but the monarchy blood of Balhae still runs in our veins. There aren't many noble clans anymore and I shall pledge our clan's allegiance and pay our fealty to the king as I always did."

Jung grits his teeth together, staring angrily at his 13th brother and whispers to him, "Janggnanhae?! (Are you kidding me?!) Kamanhi isseo (Be quiet.)"

Baek-Ah tightens his hold at Jung's wrist, signaling for him to trust him.

"I, too, pledges my clan's allegiance to our king." Eun finds his voice and pleads with him, "Pyeha, jebal, it is our sister. She provided me and my wife safe haven when we were… You know... passing, did she not?"

Eun was near into divulging their plans of running away to later Jin that Spring, before King Jeongjong launch a siege to the northern palace and lost the war against their 4th brother. They were all close to being freed.

"She had always sacrificed for us, it's about time she gets to be saved." Eun argues, appealing to his brother and not the king, worried for their sister.

King Gwangjong hates to admit it but his step mother had just won him his first fight in the royal court as a king. Good thing the other ministers and court officials aren't here to witness it. Eun and Baek-Ah's clan might be small and not as powerful as they used to but an additional support from any clan are welcome, "Then it would be our first agenda tomorrow in our assembly, with all of the court officials back in their places."

Jung dares to meet the king's eyes, challenging but choosing to remain silent. King Gwangjong narrows his eyes at Jung. He would remember never to underestimate his 14th brother again.

After the general assembly, Baek-Ah catches up with Jung in one of the corridors at the outskirts of the Hoegyeong courtyard. The one going to the Damiwon, "Jung-ah, Jjamkanmanyo. (Hold on.)"

Jung turns to look at his 13th brother and then continued walking away, "Traitor."

"We haven't seen you in a while and suddenly, you show up here, trying to shake the peace we fought so hard to get." Baek-Ah walks alongside him.

"Hello to you too, Hyung." Jung doesn't mind him.

"Wae il-hae? (What's the matter?)" Baek-Ah reaches to Jung's arm and halts him, "Wae guere? (Why are you doing this?)"

Jung shakes off Baek-Ah's hand, "All this time, I thought, you were my ally."

"We are all brothers here," Baek-ah pulls Jung into a corner, "Haven't we all rallied behind our 4th brother to end the fighting, why are you suddenly doing this?"

"Oh, was I the only one who wasn't consulted in the matter?" Jung holds his anger in, "Were all of you given a choice? I never received the notice?"

Baek-Ah lowers his voice, "Jung-ah, why are you being like this? So hyung is the rightful owner of that throne, why are you challenging him and shaking the power in the court?"

"Does it look like he owns the throne?" Jung defiantly answers, staring Baek-Ah right in the eye, "He may be sitting there but it is Shinjuwon Daebi who runs the court."

"And you are helping her by undermining our 4th brother!" Baek-Ah stands his grounds, "Why won't you support him?"

"Because!" Jung suddenly stops and lowers his voice, mindful of the people who might hear them, "He doesn't deserve that throne. Shinjuwon Daebi used us all to get what she wants and now, we are all her playthings!"

"What do you mean?" Baek-Ah asks, growing quiet.

"Shinjuwon Daebi made a double deal with the Hwangbo clan and my clan." Jung steps closer to Baek-Ah, whispering with anger, "and do you know what leverage she used. She said, I could take Hae Soo away after the war."

"And you believed her? You are mad." Baek-Ah couldn't believe his 14th brother's naivety, "Aren't we all passed this stage already. Hae Soo gave her heart to our 4th brother a long time ago. They are married. When will you accept that?"

"I will never accept it!" Jung raises his voice out of rage and then catches his self and lowers it again, "The king does not deserve Hae Soo-"

"-Stop this!" Baek-Ah cuts off Jung, worried that someone might hear them. Jung's outburst can be considered as treason.

"-He is lying to her, to us, to all of us!" Jung will not hear of it, he grabs Baek-ah by the collar, "Hae Soo is just a plaything to him. He doesn't really love her."

"What?" Baek-Ah doesn't follow.

"Do you know how our 4th brother survived in the north all those years?" Jung pushes Baek-Ah and traps him against the wall, shaking with anger, "Do you know?!"

"What are you saying?" Baek-Ah grabs Jung's hands, trying to free himself.

"I do." Jung's frustration is reaching its boiling point, "Shinjuwon Daebi showed me—"

"Jung-ah!"

From the other end of the corridor, King Gwangjong appears, his entourage well behind him. He was taking a stroll in the garden, about to visit the sky tower to look for his queen. Hae Soo disappeared again after their assembly. She was scheduled to see the royal physician in the afternoon.

Jung releases Baek-ah as King Gwangjong reaches the two of them. His composure returning, "What are you doing to our 13th brother?"

Baek-ah straightens up, "Nothing to worry, pyeha. We were just playing around like the old times."

He laughs, covering for Jung.

"I shall take my leave, first." Jung bows to King Gwangjong and walks away, not waiting to be dismissed.

King Gwangjong was about to stop him when Baek-Ah interferes again, "Hyung, what brings you here?"

He drops honorifics to get King Gwangjong's attention. Keeping peace among his brothers had become his job since they were kids and now it seems, even in the court, he also had to play referee. Like King Gwangjong, Baek-Ah was blind sided with Jung's lobbying for the noble clans to cut off the king's wings. He has no idea what Jung is up to these days. They seldom talk. He too has a lot on his plate already, he can't keep an eye for Jung all the time.

King Gwangjong watches Jung recede to the ends of the corridor before deciding to drop the matters and let Jung be. He can be handful at times but King Gwangjong gives him a pass, thinking it was their mother who put him up to it. He knows he can't always tolerate him, he would reach the end of his patience at some point, "I was going to the sky tower to look for our queen. It appears she has taken a liking to that place and rest there when she wants to be alone."

"I see," Baek-Ah starts walking with the king, "The palace life can get tedious at times."

They turn for the courtyard going to the Damiwon instead of the Sky tower. The king's entourage following them at a discreet distance.

"Baek-Ah," King Gwangjong remembers his promise to Hae Soo the other night "How is yours and Woo Hee Sanggun's preparation for wedding coming along?"

"Her registration under my family name finally came out. With your permission, we can hold a small ceremony in the Damiwon in two weeks time." Baek-Ah couldn't help but brightens.

"Do as you please," King Gwangjong grants them their blessing, "Kuende, I know this is a matter between you and Woo Hee Sanggun, but is everything alright? I heard Woo Hee Sanggun is ill and wants to leave for her hometown for a few weeks."

Baek-Ah's face darkens, the smile disappearing from his lips.

"My queen had requested to grant her this leave and I am inclined to give my queen what she wants but this matter is between you and your soon to be wife," King Gwangjong recounts his conversation with Hae Soo, "Do you want me to grant her this leave?"

Baek-Ah is silent for a moment, wondering what really is bothering Woo Hee that she would dare ask the queen for this favor.

"Is something wrong?" King Gwangjong asks.

"Not that I know off, Pyeha." The formalities all back in its place, "Thank you for letting me know about this. I will have a talk with Woo Hee Sanggun later."

"Mama," Chae Young calls upon the stairs of the Sky tower, announcing her presence as she climbs up and lands in the foyer. The royal physician is following behind her, "I have brought the physician as the king commanded."

The rest of Hae Soo's court ladies are outside of the Sky Tower, waiting upon their queen from a far.

From the balcony, Ha Jin turns, walking to the table and allowing the physician to approach her. Chae Young stays by the landing of the stairs while the physician puts his things down at the table, "Mama, may I take your pulse?"

Ha Jin holds out her left wrist and the physician puts his two fingers carefully upon her wrist, listening for her pulse. He counts in his head, his eyes narrowing into focus.

A minute had passed.

The physician cocks his head to the side, recounting once, twice. He delicately puts Hae Soo's hand down. His sigh, doesn't escape Ha Jin nor of Chae Young. He asks question about her knees next, letting the queen stand, walk around and then sit back, noticing a shortness on her breathe with just a few steps.

They checked her legs next, how much can she raised it, how long can she kneel or sit on her legs. He requests permission to touch her neck, pressing points on her clavicle, on her pulse. He hears the same. He asks a lot of questions, carefully noting her answers. When he finishes, he arrived at the same conclusion he already had the first time he hears her pulse.

"Chae Young-I" Ha Jin addresses her servant, "Why don't you join the rest of the court ladies below."

"Yii, mama." Chae Young heads back below but stops just out of eyesight of the two.

When the room is empty save for Ha Jin and the physician, Ha Jin addresses him, "Whatever you need to say, you can be honest with me. I will let the king know."

The physician thinks twice, stepping back. He heard their king is madly in love with their queen, how can he give his diagnosis without disappointing them both, "Mama, your knee is not doing well. When you were tortured in the past, did you had it properly treated after?"

Ha Jin imperceptibly shakes her dead.

"Through the years without proper treatment, your knees had worsened and has now become a chronic illness," The physician bows his head in an apology, "you might not be able to walk someday."

"I see," Ha Jin knew one day, she would pay dearly for neglecting her health hence, she accepts this with a heavy heart, "I will watch out for that."

"However," The physician adds, afraid to say his next diagnosis, "there is another thing that you should be more concern about…"

Ha Jin stills.

"It is your heart palpitations." The physician continues.

"Heart palpitations?" Ha Jin repeats not understanding. She thought her elevated heart beat is just a product of strong teas she used to drink.

"When you have overexerted or startled, do you feel stuffy?" The physician asks, "Have you ever felt so out of breathe that you passed out?"

She did but she doesn't answer the question.

"You seemed to have a lot of pent up frustrations in the past and that…" The physician is careful of his words. One mistake and he can be put to death, "the illness of your heart has become an illness of your body…"

Ha Jin's heart beat races, nervous. She unconsciously holds upon her chest.

"Mama…" The physician freezes, how does he say his next words.

"Please, say it." Ha Jin encourages him, "I am fine. I can handle it."

"I… At this point," The physician is anxious, "I can't guarantee… how long you will live. Joesonghabnida, Mama."

"You can't guarantee how long will I be able to live?" Ha Jin asks, confirming it.

Chae Young covers her mouth in surprise, keeping herself quiet from her hiding spot at the stairs.

Escorted by two servants heavy with things they shopped, Lady Yu makes her rounds in the stalls at the plaza, searching for Chinese silk cloth that she would commission for her son's next hanbok. She's not particularly used to being able to walk freely outside the palace but this is one of the things she missed when she was still a queen. Besides, what else can she do on her household other than throw parties and socialized with other head of the households of noble clans.

She takes to the plaza, making sure to stay away from the protest in front of the palace. Behind her, a man in dark clothes shadows her. She enters a textile shop and was shown to the rows of shelves of fabrics. Her servants left standing by the door. Soon enough she picks a dark blue fabric and is about to call for the merchant when the man shadowing her, makes his presence known.

"Such a fine fabric," Guen Sun discreetly stands by the opening of the row of the shelf where Lady Yu is choosing her fabric.

Lady Yu releases the fabric to the floor out of surprise.

"It would be a waste if your son is not able to receive your gift." Guen Sun continues.

"I do not appreciate being followed." Composed, Lady Yu is not used to strangers approaching her but he recognizes Guen Sun as Shinjuwon Daebi's right hand man.

"And my queen does not tolerate betrayal." Guen Sun warns. He slowly walks towards Lady Yu, picking up the fabric and handing it to her. She towers over her, menacingly, "She tells me to remind you of your deal never to rise against us or she will cut off your one remaining son."

Lady Yu's face darkens. She seethes in anger but remains quiet.

Alone under the cypress tree, where she and Wang So hanged their white lantern years ago, Ha Jin puts up one stone on top of each other, building a two feet prayer tower. Her entourage of gungnyeo(s) are nowhere to be found. She's wearing a white hooded durumagi (outer coat) over her noble hanbok.

Finishing the tower with a small smooth stone on top, she puts her hands together, closing her eyes and praying,

"From now on, I will take care of my health so please give me more time." Ha Jin whispers to herself, "I am only in my twenties, ten years is not enough. I will live a bit longer. I want to be with him a little longer."

Walking into the secluded road, Jung was following Hae Soo from a far from the moment he accidentally sees her walking alone discreetly from the backs of sky tower without her entourage and with her hood up over her head, He followed her here, "What are you wishing so hard for that you risk the ire of your king and leave the palace ground?"

Ha Jin jumps out of her feet, surprised. She thought she was alone and no one noticed her leave, "Kuenyang, I wanted some air."

"Are you praying for my 4th brother to reign unopposed for a long time?" Jung brings his hands together, in an act of sarcastic prayer, "you never seemed the type who enjoys holding a power in her hand. Even now that you are a queen, you look uncomfortable in your throne beside my brother."

"I am praying for the kind 14th prince to become my friend again," Ha Jin answers kindly, "and to stop shaking the foundations of our new monarch for the sake of his brothers, their own families and our people."

"How can I? When I know that you will eventually suffer the consequences of the wrong choices you've made." Jung feels his pent up frustrations filling him once more, "You hated the palace, why would you choose to marry my 4th brother and stay here? The two of you could have run away together. Isn't that what you wanted from the beginning? He could have taken you to Later Jin and live far away."

"The choices have already been made." Ha Jin remains calm, "We can not undo it. The best we can do is try and live happily with it. Life is too short to dwell on running away. We must face our fate at some point and your brother had always been destined to sit on that throne. Who am I to take it from him?"

How Hae Soo could be considerate and calm while talking about accepting their fates are beyond his understanding, "Yes you might be right but I still believe that my 4th brother does not deserve you and until I free you from him and the consort, I will not stop fighting."

"Jung-ah," Ha Jin turns to Jung, looking straight into his eyes with compassion and explains it patiently again to him, "I am your queen now. I do not need saving. I chose to be here so please, let's set aside our personal feelings and focus on ruling our lands. Even now, I still here the crowd protesting at our palace gates. Can you please stop fighting your brother if only to be one less worry from our minds."

"Do you no longer want to go back to wherever you came from, Ha Jin-ah"

Jung's drop of formality and address to her caught Ha Jin off guard. She lowers her eyes to ground, wavering.

Do I not want to go back anymore?

Ha Jin doesn't know. With the death of Ji Mong, her only lifeline to the present times, and the moment she married the king legally and became her queen, leaving has become impossible for her. She had forgotten Jung actually knows that she is really not Hae Soo.

"Answer me," Jung insists, knowing she is not at peace living inside the palace.

She remains silent.

"Kuereom, if you ever get tired of this place. If you really want to leave, I do have a way out." Jung remembers the day King Hyejeong granted him a favor, "Just say I am willing and it will be done."

Ha Jin stares at Jung and then turns her back from him. She goes back to her prayer. She already chose to be here. She didn't want to entertain Jung's talk of freedom anymore but it will remain a nagging whisper at the back of her mind.

By the time King Gwangjong reaches the Sky tower, the sun is already low in the sky, having talk with Baek-Ah and then with Gen. Park afterwards regarding the options as to how to they would send an envoy and retrieve Yeon Hwa from wherever Empress Shulu had hidden her.

Outside, Hae Soo's gungnyeo(s) are assembled in two columns, waiting for their queen to come down. Chae Young had rejoined them and is standing at the back. They give their greetings to King Gwangjong when he arrives.

He proceeds upstairs, expecting to find his queen by the balcony but the place is empty. He walks to his former room, nothing. He checks the rows of shelves and the astronomer's room, no sign of Hae Soo. King Gwangjong's face darkens, coming down the sky tower to question her gungnyeo(s).

"Where is your queen?"

The gungnyeo(s) freeze on their steed, their heads still bowed. They looked at their partners beside them, confusion floating on their faces. They all thought their queen is still upstairs. Apart from the royal physician, no one left the sky tower.

"No one has seen your queen leave the Sky Tower?" King Gwangjong asks once again.

The gungnyeo(s) fall into their knees apologizing, "Pyeha, we deserve death for letting our queen out of our sight."

King Gwangjong holds his anger in. This isn't the first time Hae Soo did this but it's been happening more frequently.

Shinjuwon Daebi was passing by when she heard the commotion and notices King Gwangjong with Hae Soo's gungnyeo(s). She approaches him, "Did your queen disappeared again?"

King Gwangjong bows to give greetings politely, "I'm sure she's somewhere around the palace."

"She is well aware that leaving the premise of the palace is punishable by deposition or death, does she not?" Shinjuwon Daebi tells King Gwanjong, a warning on her voice.

"She promised to meet me at the Donji Lake," King Gwangjong lies, seething with annoyance, "I only forgot. I am going there now."

And starts walking away but Shinjuwon Daebi halts him as he passes her way, "Be sure to remind her. I hate to be the one to depose my own daughter."

"That will never happen." King Gwangjong confidently assures Shinjuwon Daebi. Inside him, King Gwangjong is starting to be worried. It is highly unlikely for Shinjuwon Daebi to depose Hae Soo but it is an opening for noble clans to get rid of the queen and install a new one that will eventually share Shinjuwon Daebi's power. King Gwangjong or Shinjuwon Daebi will never have that.

"Seize all the queen's gungnyeo(s)." Shinjuwon Daebi commands, "Have them all flogged."

Guards of the northern palace who follows the queen regent from afar, immediately arrest all Hae Soo's gungnyeo(s).

"Mwo haneun keo-ya? (What are you doing?)" King Gwangjeong lowers his voice that only he and the queen regent can hear.

"Mama!" The gungnyeo(s) fall unto to their knees, pleading as they are apprehended.

Shinjuwon Daebi lowers her voice too. She turns to the king, that distinct glimmer of madness threatening to come out of her eyes, "They fail to look after their queen. They must be thought a lesson."

"Kueman haera. (Stop this.) You're only drawing attention to the queen by doing this." King Gwangjong tries to stay level-headed even though, he too would want to punish the gungnyeo(s), "What if the other clans wind out about this? You're endangering our stability."

"Who says the other clans need to know? I thought your queen is not missing?" Shinjuwon Daebi catches King Gwangjong on his lies, "Besides, this isn't the first time your queen disappeared. Until someone is punished your queen will not learn. Should I have her whipped instead?"

King Gwangjong glares at the queen regent but he wouldn't disagree further. He lets the gungnyeo(s) be taken away.

Once the sun set and the darkness offered cover for Hae Soo and Jung, Jung takes Hae Soo back by his horse, making sure to not pass any soldiers on foot. They pass through the secret gate of Damiwon that opens on the cave. The same opening where Chae Ryung dragged her by the wrist after her first encounter with the 4th prince on the outer pool of the Damiwon. She had almost forgotten about this when Wook had installed and locked her in the Queen's chambers in preparation for their wedding. Woo Hee and Soon Deok used this same route when they broke Woo Hee out of prison for the trial of King Hyejong's murder.

Soon Deok and Eun were pacing the length of the inner pool of Damiwon when Hae Soo and Jung entered from the outer pool.

"Where have you been?!" At her haste and nervousness, Soon Deok forgets her manners and drops honorific with the queen, in which Hae Soo doesn't mind.

Ha Jin lowers her hood, "Waeyo? Did something happened?"

"You're gungnyeo(s) are being flogged at Shinjuwon Daebi's courtyard." Eun hurries to his explanations.

"Mwo?!" Jung and Ha Jin exclaims together.

Ha Jin discards her hood to the ground and is about to exit by the door when Soon Deok stops her, "Where do you think you're going dressed like that?"

Ha Jin forgot she's wearing a noble hanbok instead of her queen hanbok. She immediately looks for an extra queen robes in the grooming room. Soon Deok helps her as she fills her in to what happened while she is gone.

The queen regent's courtyard is barred off from any official or palace inhabitant except for the northern servants who had had been at Shinjuwon Daebi's service since their time at the northern palace. Soldiers both visible and not are manning the walls 24/7. Aside from the guards and gungnyeo(s) who were at the arrest scene this afternoon, the news of the queen disappearing and her gungnyeo(s) being punished is a well-kept information. Torches were lighted around the perimeter. The courtyard turned to a garrison with soldiers executing the queen regent's order.

Ha Jin with Soon Deok, Eun and Jung, barge in the courtyard where Ha Jin's gungnyeo(s) are lying face down on their wooden cross being flogged in two batches. Half of them are done.

"Kueman hara!" Ha Jin commands, horror in her eyes at the sight of her bloody gungnyeo(s) lying at the floor. The soldiers who are holding a flog halts at her command. She runs in the aisle and faces King Gwangjong and Shinjuwon Daebi, both sitting imposingly on their chairs at the opening hallway of Shinjuwon Daebi's chambers, "What is this all about? Why are my servants being flogged without my consent? What have they done to merit such punishment?"

A trusted guard of King Gwangjong whispers something to his ear.

"You tell us, Daemok mama." Shinjuwon daebi answers, "Why are your gungnyeo(s) not waiting at your service this afternoon? What have their queen been doing that you are not with them?"

Seething in anger, Ha Jin balls her hands at her side in an effort to hold back. It was her fault in the first place. She lowers herself to the ground, kneeling, "Jebal, it was my fault for thinking that I could walk the palace alone. Please release them."

King Gwangjong immediately walks to her side and pulls her up. He tells her in a controlled anger and in a tone only she can hear, "And right now you're forgetting that you're a queen and must not easily kneel."

Jung, Eun and Soon Deok could only watch. They have no power against the king and the queen regent.

King Gwangjong holds her up while addressing the queen regent, "My queen is tired. I shall be taking her back to my chambers."

"What about my gungnyeo(s)?" Ha Jin is confused as King Gwangjong takes her away, trapped inside his arms, "You must release them."

"They will be released once they complete the number of their floggings." King Gwanjong answers. They passed by Jung, Eun and Soon Deok. He signals for them to leave, lest the queen regent finds fault to pin on them and punish them too.

Ha Jin struggles to be freed from King Gwanjong's arms. She had never felt unsafe inside his arms before but it sure does feel like steel imprisoning her now. The soldiers continue with the flogging after the king and the queen exit Shinjuwon Daebi's courtyard. Ha Jin can hear their weeping from the inside.

Woo Hee is organizing the ritual tea for the king and an herbal calming tonic for the queen at the side table of the king's chamber when King Gwangjong enters with a struggling Hae Soo. Woo Hee doesn't really serve the ritual tea anymore the way Lady Oh and Hae Soo did with the former kings. She only brews it and let the queen do the ritual for the king. King Gwangjong prefers it that way.

Woo Hee lowers her head but not before watching King Gwangjong puts Hae Soo down on his bed. She says her greetings and exits the room with worry for Hae Soo.

"How many times will they be flogged?" Ha Jin rises from the bed. Her anger contained on her fisted hands on her side.

King Gwangjong turns his back from her. He can't looked at her with anger in his eyes. His guard whispered to him a while ago that the queen was seen entering the forest near the Damiwon on a horseback ride with the 14th prince, "Fifty maybe. Whatever the queen regent deems so."

"Mwo?!" Ha Jin exclaims, "They can't survive that much flogging."

She lowers her voice in pleading, close to tears, "Jebal, put a stop to it. It was my fault. I left on my own. Jebal."

"Where did you go?" King Gwangjong turns to her, his ears peaking at the confirmation that the queen really left the palace grounds. His voice getting dangerously low, "Did you leave with Jung wangja?"

"Anibnida." Ha Jin is taken aback with King Gwangjong's tone.

"Do not lie to me!" His voice rises.

Ha Jin jumps on her feet, unable to meet King Gwangjong's accusing eyes. She fidgets, "I did not leave with Jung wangja—"

"-He only happened to run unto you and he took you back to the palace. On his own horse." King Gwangjong interrupts Hae Soo's sentence.

Ha Jin chews at the inside of her mouth, "I wanted some air. I feel stuffy inside the palace so I went to… to our place… that cypress trees, where we used to meet."

"And now your gungnyeo(s) are being punished for your carelessness. Are my warnings not enough?" King Gwangjong's anger softens to frustration, "Tell me honestly, was it Woo Hee Sanggun, who asked to leave the confines of the palace, or was it you?"

"Eh?"

"I talked to Baek-Ah a while ago. He has no idea that his woman asked to leave the palace and he doesn't agree to it." King Gwangjong relays his conversation with Baek-Ah, "What is with the two of you? Why do you keep wanting to leave the palace? You know you can't."

King Gwangjong's voice drop to a very low tone, as if not wanting to ask his next question. Guilt spreads on his eyes, "Have you gotten tired of me? Do you want to leave me?"

Ha Jin runs to King Gwangjong and puts her arms around him for an embrace, She talks against his chest, "No, my sun. I never want to leave you. Joesonghabnida."

King Gwanjong enfolds Hae Soo inside his arms, desperate. He whispers, "Why do you keep trying to leave the palace?"

"I needed some air. I swear, that's all." Ha Jin feels her chest enclosing, like a sob building but it is that heart tremors that the physician was talking about. She tightens her hold to King Gwangjong in an effort to not pass out, "I promise to not do it again, so please… please…"

She's loosing her breath faster than breathing in, "Please release… my gungnyeo(s)."

"Soo-ya?" King Gwangjong feels his queen fainting on his arms, "Soo-ya! Soo-ya!"

Shaking her, Hae Soo wouldn't wake up. He turns to the door and shouts for his gungnyeo(s) to fetch for the physician.

Arranging the herbs on their boxes, Baek-Ah finds Woo Hee by the storage of Damiwon. She had just attended to an ill Hae Soo together with the physician at the king's chamber and had only come back to brew some tonic for their queen.

"What is this I hear that you asked the queen to let you leave the palace and spent a few weeks in your home town?" Baek-Ah forgoes the greetings and stands by the door, watching Woo Hee move around the tiers of shelves.

"Did she told you that?" Woo Hee reaches for the box of ginger and studies it.

"Aniyo. My brother, So Hyungnim asked me if he should grant you permission." Baek-Ah's frustration is seeping to his tone.

"And did you allowed it?" Woo Hee is too tired to have this conversation again.

"What is really wrong Woo Hee-ya. We're getting married in two weeks."

He approaches the counter and puts down Woo Hee's new identity tablet as a member of Gyeongju Kim Clan, "I even have your new tablet here. Why do you suddenly want to leave?" Baek-Ah asks again. They already had this conversation one too many times already.

Woo Hee puts down the box with a thud in the table, "Of course, you did not allowed it. Why was I expecting a different result?"

"Woo Hee-ya!" Baek-Ah didn't want to raise his voice but Woo Hee's answers only exasperate him more. He's not getting anywhere with her, "Tell me what's wrong? What change?"

Woo Hee stills, a sob starting to build on her chest.

Baek-Ah walks towards her. He turns her to look at him. His eyes are welling in tears, lost as to how they ended up like this, "I am sorry… about our… child… I'm sorry… I wasn't there… for both of you… when you needed me the most… but I'm here now and I will never leave again… Can you find it in your heart to forgive me… I never want for… for any of this to happen…"

Woo Hee refuses to look at Baek-Ah.

"Look at me!" Baek-Ah screams in anguish and then shatters into pieces, "Why won't you look at me anymore? Do you no longer love me?"

"Yii. Mian…haeyo." It was hard for Woo Hee to lie but she finally ended it. She flicks Baek-Ah's hold on her and is about to walk away when Baek-Ah pulls her back and encloses her on his chest.

"You're lying… please…" Baek-Ah pleads, "Stop this… you're hurting me…"

Woo Hee closes her eyes, feeling Baek-Ah's strong arms around her. For the last time, she relishes on Baek-Ah's love and then lets go, "Mianhaeyo."

She pushes him away, unable to look at him.

"Woo Hee-ya…" Baek-Ah couldn't believe what he just heard, "Woo Hee-ya please…"

But Woo Hee will continue walking away, exiting the storage. She walks further, going to her chambers and when she finally closes the door behind her back, she heaves a heavy sigh and breaks into crying, sliding to the floor, defeated.

Close to dawn, Chae Young awakes in an empty and farthest room in the hallway on the first floor of Damiwon. All other gungnyeo(s) serving Hae Soo were put on their rooms, except for her. Woo Hee had arrange this room for her as a sign of her gratitude for helping her back in the northern palace.

Jung slipped into the room earlier, after a gungnyeo checked on Chae Young. He was pouring water on a glass when he notices Chae Young waking up, "No need to rise."

Chae Young's bottom is sore after the floggings but she will live. Through the blanket spread on her back, she realized she is naked underneath it and feels vulnerable in front of the 14th prince, "Joesonghabnida wangjanim."

Jung carries the glass of water and gives it to Chae Young, helping her to drink, "Have you thought about my offer?"

Chae Young falls silent for a moment.

"I will not ask you to betray our queen." Jung tells her, "I don't want that for her."

"What are you asking me to do then?" Chae Young feels the anxiety hanging on her heavier than the pain on her bottom.

"Kuenyang, a few information." Jung shrugs, appearing as if it's a small feat to do.

"What kind of information?" Chae Young asks.

Jung studies Chae Young, "About the king. Have you heard where my brother sleeps in the northern palace?"

Talking about the consort and the 4th prince' relationship in the northern palace is a great taboo that everyone avoids. She knows so little about it but she heard some hushed rumors about the 4th prince and the consort's arrangement, "I only… started serving at the northern palace… after … after the 4th prince left for Songak. Joesonghabnida wangjanim… I know no-nothing about it."

She lies. Five years is a long time to drill on her head that going against the consort means death.

Jung catches the lie but he chooses to guilt Chae Young with kindness and dangle her freedom to her instead of threatening her life, knowing that the queen regent had already went that route and the best way to win Chae Young's loyalty is to play it kindly with her, "I see, too bad for me. I've already scouted a place for you in Shatuo at Song Dynasty. Far from the king's reach in Later Jin. I would still give it to you even if you can't give the information I need."

He rises, light footed, pretending not to be disappointed, "Please get well so I can finally smuggle you out of the country. We don't want to be sending you away in those wounds. You wouldn't survive the travel."

Jung says his goodbye and is about to open the door when Chae Young stops him, "Jjamkanmanyo. (Please wait.)"

Chae Young swallows, feeling guilty that the 14th prince would still help her even when she couldn't give him what he was asking for, "I've… I've only served in the northern palace for the last five years but… but I've heard enough… and even seen it before…"

Jung halts on his tracks, wiping his crooked smile before turning to Chae Young.

"Please… I don't want to hurt our queen… she is good to… to me." Chae Young pleads, not sure how she should say it. She means no harm to Hae Soo.

"Not to worry. I am doing this for her sake." Jung gently encourages Chae Young to speak up, "Like you, she never wanted to be imprisoned in this palace. I want to free her."

Chae Young's eyes wavers, not sure if what she is doing is right. She heard the 14th prince harbors love for the queen but it is the 4th prince who won her heart. She never had an interaction with the 4th prince before, not sure whether the king is kind, "Every serving ladies in the northern palace is ordered to stay away from the… the 4th prince… I mean the king… because…"

Jung waits patiently.

"Be-because the consort… I mean the queen regent is possessive of him." Chae Young recounts.

"Of course, he is her only son. Her ticket to the throne." Jung dismisses it.

"No-not in that way." Chae Young hurries to rebuke Jung, "I on—ce sa-saw the consort lay… lay a kiss on the 4th prince' lips."

Jung finally finds a witness other than himself but he says nothing about it, "Maybe that's how close they are as mother and son."

"May—maybe…" Chae Young doesn't know if she should continue but she doesn't want to sound absurd, "I once brought br…breakfast at the queen's chamber and fou—found them both at… please… I don't want to be sentenced to death for treason."

"This is not treason, you are only trying to protect the queen." Jung assures her, "Go on. I'm sure you want to help her too."

"I found them both at the… the bed… naked together." Chae Young finally confirms the king and the queen regent's betrayal.

Jung reaches to pat Chae Young's head, "Good girl. Thank you for confirming this, I've already seen it myself. I just needed another witness to attest for me. Please rest."

He didn't particularly wanted to hear those details. It disgusts him.

Chae Young reaches to Jung's arms, "Please, I did not tell you this to hurt the queen."

"Trust me, we are both on the queen's side." Jung swears, "Now, since we don't want to hurt our queen, you will not speak of this until the right moment when we need our queen to be freed."

"Wangjangnim," Chae Young is not yet done. She doesn't know if she should say it but, "A while ago, when the physician checked upon our queen, it seems our queen is not well."

Worry appears on Jung's face, "What did he say?"

"I don't know if it has already reached the king but the physician says, our queen has not many years to live…"

"Mwo?" Jung is caught of guard, pondering back to this afternoon when Hae Soo risked leaving the confines of the palace and went for that place to pray. He didn't anticipated this, "There must be some cure to our queen's illness."

"I'm not sure but the physician had nothing to prescribed since our queen's state is already… irreversible." Chae Young explains to the limit of her comprehension, "The queen needs to take care of herself and avoid getting stressed too much for it will cut her time shorter than it already is."

Jung's hands balls into a fist, all the more reason to hurry and execute his plans.

Filled with its court officials once again, the Hoegyeong Hall resumes its general assembly later that morning. Noticeable to everyone is Queen Daemok's vacant seat to King Gwanjeong's left. A eunuch had announced at the beginning of the assembly that their queen had fallen ill last night and that the physician had advised King Gwangjong to let her rest for several days. Thus, she wouldn't be able to participate in the assembly for the time being.

Shinjuwon Daebi, who seemed to be in a good mood today, sits on her throne with her right hand man, Guen sun taking his place with the ministers and princes in the aisle.

Woo Hee look uncomfortable beside the king, observing two familiar faces among the crowd of court officials, who aren't normally part of the assembly. They both discreetly nod at her and resumed standing in their places, waiting for h 14th prince to introduce them.

After King Gwangjong politely welcomes his court officials once more, they go over right away to the matter of Yeonwha Gongju's asylum, "As our court officials were resting these past few days, an envoy from Liao and one of our lieutenants manning the north had brought to our attention that the throne in our neighboring Khitans had change hands once more. Since it is of the rival cousin of the former king who won the throne, our princess, Yeonhwa Gongju is seeking our help to return to our kingdom. I have discussed this with Gen. Park yesterday. We both agreed our brigadier general here,"

All eyes on Jung, "Jung wangja and Gen. Park, shall lead a small party to carefully retrieve our princess and escort her back here."

Undeterred, Jung doesn't show any emotion on his face. This doesn't come as a surprise to him. After all, he had just led a protest against the king days ago. Any excuse to get him out of the court is carefully considered by King Gwangjong.

"I shall receive the command, Pyeha." Jung answers on his station and then pivots to walk to the center aisle to bow, "Kuende, before I leave, let me introduce to you a head of a noble clan we thought to have perished under our father's reign. They seek your mercy and ask that you let them return to our kingdom for they had been exiled to a foreign land for a long time now."

Two old men with a grace of royal blood and a posture of a soldier who had been in a war, stand on both side of Jung, bowing their heads in a very respectful and formal greeting, they lower themselves to the cold floor and kneel, "Pyeha, please heed these lowly servants of yours who wish to serve you."

They are introduced as Yanggeom and Yonggeom of Hwanggan Gyeon clan, older brothers of the late Gyeon Singgeom and uncle to Woo Hee.

Everyone turns their attention to their sanggun. Woo Hee stills on her feet. Baek-Ah watches the color drain on her face. She had always thought that she is the last of their clans.

"Chem-iss-da. (Interesting.)" Shinjuwon Daebi straightens on her seat.

"We do not deserve your mercy but we apologize for our people who had reap havoc on your lands and is protesting outside your palace." Yanggeom begs, "please understand, our people were victims of civil war and unrest. We were displaced, lost our land, lost our king. With the proper education and leadership, which we promise we will take responsibility, our people would serve your monarch to the last of our breath."

"You pledge your loyalty but we can still hear your own people protesting at the gates of our palace." Shinjuwon Daebi points out.

"Pyeha, if you allow us back to your grace, we will silence this protest and live as a loyal citizen to your kingdom." Yonggeon appeals.

King Gwangjong seeks Gen. Park's eyes for an answer. As far as he knows, Woo Hee had already been registered under his 13th brother's family registry. She has nothing to do with this displaced clan but he can't deny that the same blood still runs on her veins. They swear their fealty now but there's no telling later if they would really hold up to their end of the bargain.

"I shall have to convene this with my court officials." King Gwangjong needs further time to assess the situation.

"But aren't we all here now, pyeha? Why don't we put it on a vote like how our late father, King Taejo used to do so?" Jung crookedly smiles at his 4th brother, challenging him once more. He knows they are at an advantage here. Lady Yu had already lobbied for the support of other clans behind the king's back, "All those in favor of letting the Hwanggan Gyeon clan return to our fold, kindly speak your names."

Baek-Ah readily voted, "Cheo (I)"

Eun came next and no sooner the hall is filled with "I"s. Gen. Park refrained from voting.

As fast as the voting started so is the answer.

"We have our answer, pyeha." Jung announces it at the top of the "I"s, backing King Gwangjong against the wall.

"Yii..Yi… Yi…" Shinjuwon Daebi interrupts in a sing-song voice and a smirk on her face, "It is good of other noble clans to be supporting each other like this. Such a delight! Should I give each and everyone of you a clap?"

To which she actually does and then abruptly stops, "I am glad our sickly queen is not here to witness this. Imagine when she comes out of her sickbed only to hear that the clan who caused her parents' death years ago is reinstalled. Such grief to my daughter. Tsk…tsk…tsk…"

The reminder of Baekje's brewed civil unrest in the past silences everyone in the hall.

"But my people were falsely accused too." Woo Hee couldn't help but speak up, "They were tricked and didn't know any better. They were turned slaves and had no choice in the matter."

"Your people?" Shinjuwon Daebi repeats with malice, "Are you also separating yourself from this monarch who had been gracious enough to protect and pardon you?"

Woo Hee is shocked. She didn't mean to carelessly say "my people" and separate their already displaced clan from the Goryeo kingdom.

"A few rotten tomatoes don't make the whole basket rotten." Baek-Ah comes to Woo Hee's defense, "Besides, those people, who caused unrest already paid, with their lives. A father's sin is his alone. It should not pass to their children. Pyeha, please."

"But these two are not children." Shinjuwon Daebi argues. "Did they not help their younger brother Gyeon Singeom overthrow their own father -"

"Enough!" King Gwangjong silences the arguments, "This kind of matter is not something we decide in haste. I will take all arguments into accounts and weigh it over. In the meantime,"

He turns to the two old men kneeling on his aisle, "I shall expect that our palace gates and plaza will be quieter soon to help me come into a decision."

King Gwangjong feels a heavy migraine settling upon his head. He finally understands what his father and other king brothers feel when an argument breaks in their court. He knew being a king is not easy but it sure feels simpler to hold a sword and go in a battlefield rather than sit here and solve this arguments everyday.

Away from the prying ears of servants and ministers, hands come out of nowhere and pull a walking Woo Hee unto the corner of a secluded chambers, "Annyeong haseyo, u-ri gongju-ui. (Hello to our dear princess.)"

It takes a few seconds for Woo Hee's startled state to settle. She puts herself in order, annoyed at the unwelcomed presence of her two uncles, stepping back from them, "Uraemaniya, samcheonnim-eul. (It's been a while.)"

She hasn't forgotten how she was abandoned to serve the ChunJu Yu clan after her father's death.

"We want to express our gratitude for standing with us, a while back at the assembly." The taller uncle, Yanggeom speaks, "We thought we will never see you again. Chal chinaeyo? (How are you?)"

"Yii, chal chinaeyo. (I'm doing good.) Kuerom, il-ddan ka pogeseubnida. (I shall go first.)" Woo Hee wants nothing to do with her two uncles.

Yonggeom, the slimmer uncle steps on Woo Hee's path, "Not so fast, u-ri gongju-ui. We haven't seen you since our kingdom's fall."

"And grandfather killed my father on the king's order." Woo Hee's face darkens, anger filling her.

"It can't be helped back them. King Taejo's soldiers overwhelmed our small force, should we have stayed and let our bloodline perish?" Yanggeom explains.

"And our clan is striving now?" Acid drips on Woo Hee's words.

'"Eo-heo!" Yanggeom exclaims, trying to take control of the situation, "You have grown impertinent! Our clan might have fallen apart but we are still your uncles, show us some respect, child."

"I do not belong to our clan anymore. No thanks to any of you." Woo Hee stands her ground, her hands balling into a fist.

"Hence, you are easily willing to let our people suffer." Yonggeom backs his brother. The two of them menacingly towering over Woo Hee.

Woo Hee holds herself from slapping her uncles who have become strangers to her, "And where were you when our people had been used by the very clan you have entrusted me upon and slaved me? I was here all this time, doing their bidding and serving them like a dog and yet I have been protecting our people with all the power I can hold."

"Clearly it's not enough!" Yanggeom raises his voice.

"And clearly it's not enough!" Woo Hee reiterates with emphasis, shaking with so much anger.

"Do not anger anymore, uri gongju-ui." Yonggeom meddles, having a head on with their niece will get them nowhere, "We came here to take back what's ours. We need all the support we can get and when our clan has finally returned again, we shall lobby for you to be reinstated as a princess. It might not be a crown princess. You might not be able to hold that much power in that court in your lifetime but at least our people will be saved and we will have a voice again."

Woo Hee only stares at them with anger.

"Believe us, child. We came to save you." Yanggeom further argues.

"It's too late." Woo Hee tells them again, "I no longer need saving."

And walks out on her uncles.

Hae Soo is fast asleep at the king's bed when King Gwangjong arrives at his chambers late in the afternoon. A gungnyeo is arranging Mokran petals in a ceramic basin filled with water at the corner while the physician is taking her pulse. She lies with her mouth slightly open, gasping a little for some air.

The gungnyeo and the physician rises and greets King Gwangjong when he entered his chambers.

"How is the queen doing?" King Gwanjong asks. He checks her forehead with the back of his hand, her temperature slightly warmer.

"Park Janggun's daughter came a while back to check up on her." The gungnyeo reports, "Soon Deok Agassi helped with making her drink her medicine and fell asleep afterwards."

King Gwangjong brushes the stray of hair of Hae Soo's face before walking out with the physician so as not to disturb Hae Soo. They walk by the corridors, outside his chambers. They stop by a red pillar and King Gwangjong stares far ahead, waiting for the physician to tell him his findings.

Last night, when he came, he was far busy with attending to the queen that he wasn't able to tell King Gwangjong the results of the queen's check up yesterday afternoon before she disappeared.

"Whatever it is that you found, I must hear all of it. Do not spare me of anything." King Gwangjong keeps his anxiety out of his voice.

The physician hesitates, "I do not know if the queen has told you about my findings yesterday but the queen is not doing well. She… she had neglected her health for far too long. Some unhealthy practices are irreversible."

"Like what?" King Gwangjong asks.

"The fracture on her legs did not heal properly, hence, she might not be able to walk someday." The physician explains in a steady voice. If there is one thing he had learned in his long career as a physician, describing the patient's health in a steady voice adds credibility to his explanations, "And the illness of her heart had gnawed on her for far too long that it had become a chronic illness of the body."

He withheld the fact that the queen might not have many years to live. Hae Soo had asked him to not speak of it to the king. She wants to be the one to tell it to him. The physician readily agrees out of fear for his life.

"I see." King Gwangjong's face darkens.

"It would be best to not put the queen in any duress." The physician suggests, "Maybe keep her from the matters of throne for a while. The crown might be too heavy for her to carry for the time being."

King Gwangjong nods, agreeing with the physician. It might be better if she doesn't hear of the latest arguments in the court this morning. It would greatly sadden her to be reminded of her dead parents.

"And…" The physician is uneasy to say his findings next. When he took the queen's pulse yesterday and today, he kept hearing another one. It might be too weak but he had double, no triple checked it just to be sure.

"What is it?" King Gwangjong prompts.

It hasn't been a month since the wedding of the king and the queen. If the physician remembers it correctly, it's only been exactly three weeks but he had heard that the king and queen had been lovers for years. He shakes his head, maybe it would be best to let the queen know first before the king, "That is all, pyeha. I shall closely monitor the queen's health in the coming days to help her recuperate."

"I trust that the matter of queen's health shall not reach anyone's ear outside my chambers." King Gwangjong reminds the physician.

"As you wished, pyeha." He bows to take his leave and runs upon the sanggun who is here to check up on Hae Soo. They greet each other and continue on their way.

King Gwangjong sees Woo Hee before her presence was announced at the door. He inclines his head to the side, signaling for Woo Hee to approach him. She hands the tray of herb tonic she is carrying to one of the gungnyeo(s) before joining King Gwangjong by the corridor.

"Hae Soo is not doing well. The royal physician says she should take a rest from the court matters for the time being." King Gwangjong tells Woo Hee, "I ask that what transpired in our assembly this morning will not reach her."

"Kuerehabnida, pyeha. (Of course, your highness.)" Woo Hee stands with her hands folded at her midrift, formal and courteous.

"Have you known that your uncles would be retuning?" King Gwangjong focus his gaze at his courtyard.

"I…" Woo Hee couldn't help but sigh tactfully. It pains her to say, "I am of Gyeongju Kim Clan. I do not have a traitor for an uncle."

"Johda. (Good.)" King Gwangjong tells her. He doesn't have to look at her to know that Woo Hee isn't lying. He feels her wavering but tries to stand by her words, "I've heard you've been registered under my 13th brother's family. How is your wedding preparations?"

Woo Hee closes her eyes, her forehead creasing. She couldn't admit, she already ended her relationship with the 13th prince. Now that she is registered under his family, it guarantees that she would no longer be able to leave Baek-Ah. Especially when her original clan is trying to use her to get back to the grace of the king. She's tired of being held captive and being used for someone else's gain. It seemed her life is never going to be hers ever.

"The 13th prince had only been good to me. I do not deserve him." Woo Hee answers honestly.

"Woo Hee Sanggun," King Gwangjong speaks her name, "I do not know you well but my queen trust you with her life even with the betrayal you have done in the past. I know it will greatly hurt her if she looses you as a friend. I am thankful that you chose my brother and your queen over your clan but I am not blind not to know that it pains you to turn your back to the cries of your people."

Woo Hee tenses.

"So I will ask you just this once," King Gwangjong puts the burden on Woo Hee's shoulder, "What shall I do with your people who are asking for the reinstatement of your lands, to have their lives and community back?"

Of course Woo Hee shares the same sentiments. All she wants is to have her life to be her own. She's not even wishing for their nation to be rebuilt. She also doesn't want to be reinstated as a princess. That is already beyond their reach. All she wants is to come home in her hometown and live with her people once again.

Woo Hee doesn't answer. A heavy silence settles between her and King Gwangjong. The two of them stare ahead at the bright clear sky, the complete opposite of turbulence brewing on their minds.

Clothes are strewn on the 14th prince' bed as Jung packs lightly for his travel outside their kingdom. Lady Yu's presence is announced at his door and was let in by a servant.

"The king is sending you away." Lady Yu sees the clothes strewn on Jung's bed.

Jung shrugs, "We already know he's itching for me to leave that court. This comes as no surprise."

"But it's dangerous. Do you even know where Yeonhwa Gongju is?" Lady Yu argues, her white hair done in a chignon adorned with precious gems.

"Gen. Park and Yeonhwa noonim's servant will come with me." Jung assures his mother, "I will bring her back as soon as I can."

"What good will it do to us to aid a princess from a fallen clan. The Hwangbos are already vanished on their hometown. As long as the Kangs are sitting on that thone, they will never be allowed back." Lady Yu sees this effort as futile.

"Eomma, Yeonhwa gongju might be of the Hwangbo clans and her second husband might have lost the throne to his uncle but she is first and foremost my sister and a princess to this kingdom. I will bring her back no matter what." Jung folds his clothes and piles it up over one another, "Besides, isn't she a survivor? She had lost her husband twice and yet she always find her way back in our kingdom with more wealth than any of our clans have at the moment. Doesn't that merit anything?"

Jung puts down his clothes and turns to his mother, reaching out his hands and hold his mother by the arms, "YeonHwa gongju is smart, think of what she can do for us if we help her come back."

Lady Yu stares at his son's dark eyes, reminiscent of her third son Yo. Jung lost his naivety a long time ago and she doesn't know if this is for the best.

"Wangjanim, sabeonim…" A servant from the door calls, "A court lady from the palace is here to see Yu sabeonim."

Jung releases his mother with an assuring smile, "You should go and see what is is all about."

"Arasseo," Lady Yu answers, "Enough with you folding your own clothes. The servants can do it for you. Let's have dinner later."

"Yie, eomma." Jung agrees and fetches his mother to the door.

Sitting in a carpet of purple and white petals of wisteria vines, the daughter of the moon is taking a rest under an arc of wooden trellis with wisteria vines for a crown. All around her, the petals are continuously falling and the wind is playing with the tips of her hair. Her hand is hugging her midrift protectively while her free hand is holding a book, reciting a folktale story of the moon deity to an unseen audience. She giggles softly, enthralled with the story. When she finishes the book, she lays it in the grounds and tells the wind that when the prince arrives on the next full moon, he would be glad to know there will be three of them, when they start a family.

From a far, her uncle, the king has been watching her for a long time now. He was walking towards their courtyard when he noticed the daughter of the moon sitting alone under the wisteria tree. He approaches her and asks her how is her day. She seemed to be happy and laughing about something.

The daughter of the moon rises and greets her uncle when she felt him approach. He tells him, she was just enjoying reading the folktale of the moon deity. She can't wait for the prince to come back and tell him a good news. Her uncle asks what is about and she tells him it's a secret for now but she knows it would bring happiness to their kingdom soon. He tells her, she is a great blessing to them already and that he can't wait to hear this news of her.

Ha Jin awakes in the king's chamber that morning alone. She groggily sit up, her sight slightly dancing in dizziness that would soon settle after several breathes. She looks around her, the space beside her already in order and cold.

Soon the double doors were open and King Gwangjong enters with two serving gungnyeo(s) at his behest. They brought the queen her breakfast and her medicine.

Upon seeing her awake, he walks beside the bed and reaches to her forehead to check, "I am glad your fever had gone down. How are you today?"

"Where are my gungnyeo(s)?" Ha Jin immediately asks upon the flood of memories from the other day.

King Gwangjong didn't want their first conversation this morning to be about the unfortunate incident. He sighs, recalling the advise of the physician to not let the queen be stressed. The gungnyeo hands him the queen's robes and he carefully puts it on her shoulder, helping her to dress, "They were released and had been taken cared off at the Damiwon. You do not need to worry about them anymore."

He puts his arm behind her knees and back, carrying her easily, "Ja! The weather is good outside, we shouldn't waste it inside this room."

"Pyeha!" Ha Jin is startled for a bit, "I can walk. There are eyes on us."

But the gungnyeo(s) all averted their eyes.

"They can watch as much as they want." King Gwangjong beams. He then addresses his gungnyeo(s), "Have our breakfast served at the pavilion. My queen is famished."

Ha Jin blushes, embarrassed to be carried by the king. She holds upon him, sturdy and dependable, all her worries forgotten for the time being.

At the front gates of the palace, Woo Hee shows her identity tablet to the guard and is allowed to leave. She heaves a big sigh, relishing her freedom to walk outside the palace for a change. Thanks to her new identity tablet, she is now able to walk freely in and out of the palace. She still serves as a sanggun but she is no longer confined inside the palace like a normal court lady does.

The town is inconspicuously quiet today. It seemed the protest has been dispersed as promised by his uncles to the king. The stalls of merchandise had opened again. People were milling around, doing their everyday business. Kids are happily running across the river beside the plaza. Woo Hee could almost forget her burdens as she walk going to the general's household to meet Soon Deok.

"Woo Hee-ya." Baek-Ah was coming out of the palace too when he notice Woo Hee at the gates ahead of him.

Woo Hee turns at the sound of her name and saw the 13th prince' quickening pace to catch up with her. She was trying to avoid the prince hence she left the palace and here he is, catching up with her again.

"Thank you for the identity tablet. It means a lot to me to be able to walk outside." Woo Hee greets Baek-Ah formally, embarrassed to acknowledge that she accepted her new identity tablet. It weighs heavy on her conscience to be using Baek-Ah's family registry but she only wanted a day out of the palace to think. She didn't know she'd run into him.

"My mother is waiting to meet you. I hope you can make time for her." Baek-Ah tells her as if Woo Hee didn't broke up with him the other day.

"Wangjangnim…" Woo Hee is about to protest but Baek-Ah interrupts her.

"If you need time then I shall grant you your leave but Woo Hee-ya," Baek-Ah stops her midprotest, "Nothing is change. I still want us to be married so when you finally resolve whatever it is that is burdening you, please come back to me."

They reach the plaza, ahead of them are people crowding on something.

"I voted for your clan to be reinstated because I know you care for your people but it would be safer if you remain registered under my clan. The other noble clans may be forgiving right now. There are only a few of us left but once someone tips the balance of power into one clan, they will not remain quiet and the kingdom hasn't forgotten that your people are of different nation. They don't view your people as their equal." Baek-Ah further adds in a low voice, so only the two of them can hear.

Woo Hee is aware of these things. Baek-Ah need not remind her.

Three gossiping townspeople come their way, talking about run away slaves, "Aigoo, why do Baekje slaves don't pay their taxes?"

"And then they dare go and lodge protest to be freed." Another commoner adds.

The two is almost at the group of people crowding in the open space at the market. Woo Hee's face drains of color as she sees a family of slaves, including a child bloodied and tied up. They were beaten to death. A sign hangs on their necks "Run away Hubaekje Slaves."

Woo Hee parts the crowd in front of her and is shock to discover her people discarded like used up rugs. Rage clouds her eyes. She wanted to scream, to untie them. Baek-Ah tries to get a hold of Woo Hee but she pushes him away. She stands there, taking everything, absorbing her people's grievances, her resolve forming.

Later that afternoon, King Gwangjong and Shinjuwon daebi hold a small ceremony in which King Gwangjong hands a scroll of decree to the head of Hwanggan Gyeon clan, Yonggum and Yanggum, reinstating their clan as one of the nobles.

In attendance, are the two princes Baek-Ah and Eun and two more ministers. Gen. Park and Jung had already left this morning to retrieve their sister. Guen Sun takes his place with the ministers.

Lady Yu's presence was announced at the door and interrupts the ceremony. She came with two other head representatives of clans bearing bad news. As the owner of chancellery seat, she came to represent the noble families, "The protest on our streets have been dispersed but the slaves from Baekje have already set fire to ten homes of noble clans. Several members of the powerful families were either dead or badly injured,"

Yanggeom and Yeonggum tense on their feet. This isn't part of their plan. The two wonders if they are being tossed aside already.

Baek-Ah is grateful that Woo Hee is not present to hear this. After what she witnessed this morning, Baek-Ah took her to Gen. Park's home to rest with Soon Deok.

"We can't just sit and wait anymore." Lady Yu asks. Clad in precious gems from head to foot, one must think she came to outdo the queen regent rather than just a mere chancellery holder, "The noble clans asked for help but no soldiers came to their plea. Must we suffer such disgrace? We will be forced to hire our own people to protect us."

Yet everyone knows that the ChunJu Yu clan has the largest private militia now that the Kangs are in the throne.

The scroll on the Yanggeom's hand is not even warm enough and they are in danger of loosing their place again, "Kuende pyeha, if I must speak truthfully, it wasn't easy to disperse the protest outside but we were able to do so. These slaves, they may be Baekje but they are acting of their own accord. Our clan is only reinstated today, we need time and money to quell this uprising."

"Do you admit this is beyond your power?" Shinjuwon Daebi was against the idea of reinstating them but it was the king who allowed it, "Were your words only patronizing the king? I must remind you that under the condition of reinstatement, you must quell this uprising."

Before the two can argue Baek-Ah speaks up.

"Pyeha," Baek-Ah appeals, "These slaves are prisoners of wars. They rise up because they were neglected and punished for being born at the wrong side of the kingdom. Please heed your people's cry. They've been suffering since our kingdom conquered theirs, why don't we show them mercy instead of casting them aside. Emancipating the slaves and letting them back unto our folds will garner more support for your monarch. Should we let them seek help from foreign lands? They are our people now."

King Gwangjong muses, "If we send soldiers there will definitely be casualties. Baek-Ah has a point. It will not just end with slaves."

"Pyeha, it is only right that you protect the lives of the powerful families for they are the foundation of this nation." Yonggeom also speaks up, "Forgive us, may we further appeal to your mercy and generosity that we be sent our own soldiers to help us put this slaves back to their places."

Baek-Ah doesn't like the way these two heads of the Hwanggan Gyeon clan view their own people. Truly they are of the noble clans, power hungry and insensitive to the cry of their own people.

"Andweibnida." Shinjuwon Daebi disagrees, "Your people had done enough damaged already."

King Gwangjong exhales, "If soldiers must be sent, then they must use spears without knives and wooden swords. I have not been in the throne long enough. I want no bloodshed if we can avoid it."

Shinjuwon Daebi continues, "I propose that the 13th prince, Kim Baek-Ah be sent to lead the soldiers since he seemed to be carrying sympathy for them. Maybe his gentle heart will be able to reach them."

"But Baek-Ah wangja knows nothing about military and fighting?" Eun thinks loudly.

"He need not be good at fighting." Shinjuwon Daebi answers, "What we need is a good diplomat to broker an agreement with them. He will just be there to lead. Besides, everyone is aware that he had the sanggun with Baekje blood adopted to his family to marry her. Not to mention that she is close to our queen. People might think that the monarch is being swayed by her and is favoring the Baekje people over our own."

"Those are groundless accusations." King Gwangjong warns.

"It only takes moments for accusations to become truths." Shinjuwon Daebi doesn't give in, "They call that rumors or word of mouth. How many times in the past have you become a victim of it? I shall not have our name tarnished."

"And I shall not let the 13th prince be sent to the fields." King Gwangjong argues, "My brother knows nothing of warfare."

"As you said, he will not be handling swords. His spear would be harmless, what is there to be worried about?" The Hoegyong Hall is being filled with the king and the queen regent's clashing opposition for the first time. Something unheard off and is not advisable in front of their subjects.

Lady Yu seemed to be enjoying the discomfort of the two monarchs. If this will be how the assembly will be conducted from now on then she might just show up to enjoy the view.

"I will be fine, Pyeha." Baek-Ah interrupts before his 4th brother incur more loses, "I, 13th prince Kim Baek-Ah is accepting the queen regent's command."

Shinjuwon Daebi turns to the two newly reinstated head of the clan, "Pray that 13th prince succeeds or you will loose both of your heads."

On his way back to his chambers, King Gwangjong runs into Lady Yu and the other heads of the clans on their way out of the palace. They cordially greet the king and Lady Yu tells them to go first.

King Gwangjong is about to pass Lady Yu when Lady Yu speaks up in a low voice so the king's entourage can't hear, "I came to see how the little boy I threw away has risen to become a king."

The king halts.

"I was going to feel bad and repent for how I treated that little boy but it seemed the rumors are true…" Lady Yu studies King Gwangjong from head to foot, "The king is just a plaything to the queen regent."

And walks away.

King Gwangjong felt like he was doused with cold water. Lady Yu's words are acid burning every skin on his body.

To blow of some steam, King Gwangjong heads to the courtyard in the garrison where he used to train Jung in the art of swordmanship. He changes out of his kingly robes and takes out his sword.

Saved for his eunuch and court ladies who stand waiting at the entry of the courtyard, the garrison is empty. Though there are a few guards scattered at the top of the walls, manning. The sun is about to set and before King Gwangjong reaches the vast ground of flagstones where they used to practice, gungnyeo(s) hurriedly light the torches around the perimeter and scatters once they finish.

King Gwangjong walks to the middle of the flagstones and brandishes his sword. He strikes at the wind. Slow trust at first, getting familiar with his broadsword. It feels light to him, an extension of his arms.

He finds his balance. Slice, dash, hack, turning into a circle before gracefully cutting through an unseen enemy. No sooner, he begins to sweat and his mind goes blank, going on auto-pilot. He doesn't want to admit it but holding a sword brings him exhilaration.

His gungnyeo(s), all from the northern palace, watch in awe. Their king's swordsmanship is a sight to behold.

Glinting against the fiery fire of the torch, his sword twirls in his hand as he lunges in big steps and forms a perfect arc in mid jump. When he turns, he finds the edge of his sword at Shinjuwon Daebi's neck, touching and almost cutting. He halts.

"You've gone soft." Shinjuwon Daebi arrives and had been watching him long before the sun had set.

King Gwangjong's concentration breaks and as his consciousness catches up around him, he realizes its night and all around him darkness had settled. Shinjuwon Daebi is standing in front of him, unmindful of the sword on her neck. She presses her neck to the sword drawing a thin blood.

The gungnyeo(s) gasped and Guen Sun tenses but King Gwangjong doesn't lower his sword. He and Shinjuwon Daebi do a matching stare, both sizing each other up.

"Go ahead," Shinjuwon Daebi dares him, "one less person who tells you what to do."

King Gwangjong throws his sword to the floor. He doesn't want another round of argument with the queen regent but Lady Yu's words are still fresh on his mind, "I do not agree with sending my 13th brother. He only holds lute and paint brush on his hand. He can't handle those unruly slaves."

"You can't rescind my decree of sending the 13th prince." Shinuwon Daebi argues, "if you keep showing favoritism for your brothers, they will become your weakness soon."

"My brothers had always been by my side. They will never take advantage of me." But even as he says it, the thought of Jung crosses his mind.

"And doesn't your 14th brother test your patient every chance he gets?" Shinjuwon Daebi asks, reading his mind, "Enough arguing with me."

Stepping closer to him, she takes out a lace handkerchief and reaches to dry the sweat on his forehead, "I am on your side. Always. I may have force your way into that throne but that is your rightful place. I might have hurt you. I might have gotten rid of people around you but I assure you, I did all those things, for you to be where you are right now."

When she puts it that way, she sound like a caring mother and that is one thing So never had. Shinjuwon Daebi knows that and is using it to draw him in, "Every mother would do the same for her son."

King Gwangjong is aware that Shinjuwon Daebi is only saying these things to win him over but he can't deny that there is a ring of truth to her words. Shinjuwon Daebi is the only person who gave him what he wanted. Yes, Shinjuwon Daebi took Hae Soo's registration to make Hae Soo her hostage but she gave her to him eventually. She delivered as promised. King Gwangjong acknowledges that.

Momentarily, he closes his eyes and allows Shinjuwon Daebi to take care of him. When she gets closer, King Gwangjong opens his eyes. He captures her wrist and stills her, "But I will not tolerate being opposed in front of my subjects again."

He flicks her hand away, "Even from my own mother."

Soon Deok is just coming out of their hanok guest room with a tray of tea on her hand when Eun arrives to their home.

"Is Woo Hee Sanggun here? I heard form our servants that she came with my brother this morning." Eun is trying to look into a crack of the open door that Soon Deok is just about to close but wasn't able to.

"Shhh…" She reprimands her husband, "She had just fallen asleep. What is it?"

Eun pulls Soon Deok to the foyer, "I was going to tell her that her clan was reinstated in the court but,"

He hesitates.

"But what?" Soon Deok prompts, putting down the tea of tray at balcony.

"Is the sanggun alright?" Eun asks first, "Why did Baek-Ah wangja brought her here?"

"She saw some Baekje slaves beaten to death and tied to the plaza this morning. Baek-Ah wangjanim brought her here to rest." Soon Deok explains, "Wait, if her clan is reinstated then that's good news right?"

"Ahm…" Eun fidgets, "But Woo Hee sanggun is no longer of the Hwanggan Gyeon Clan anymore so I think it is only right that she distance herself from them."

"Why?" Soon Deok checks on the crack of the door and lowers their voices.

"The run away slaves rose up against the noble clans who own them and burned their houses. It's a mess." Eun retells the news he heard from the assembly this afternoon, "Baek-Ah wangja is being sent to lead a troop to stop the uprising."

"Why him? He wasn't trained for that." Soon Deok asks the same thing.

"It was the queen regent's order." Eun explains, "So hyungnim didn't want to send Baek-Ah wangja either but as you know, Jung wangja and your father are out to find our sister so there was no one to do it."

Soon Deok sighs, she's thankful it doesn't need to be her husband but she worries for Woo Hee and Baek-ah, "Does the queen knows already?"

"I don't think so, Hae Soo, I mean Daemok Mama is not in the assembly." Eun chews at the inside of his mouth.

"When will Baek-Ah wangjanim be sent?" Soon Deok carries the tray again and herds Eun away from the foyer. It is best they don't talk about it where Woo Hee might hear them.

"It is not set yet," Eun answers, taking the tray from Soon Deok, "I think So Hyungnim is trying to buy Baek-ah wangja time but the queen regent is dead set on it. If Baek-Ah wangja fails, then the newly reinstated head of the clans will be beheaded. The queen regent already ordered it."

"What?!" Soon Deok exclaims as the two of them leave the hanok.

Woo Hee is awake all this time, listening inside her room.

After finding his chambers empty, King Gwangjong proceeds to his garden and finds Hae Soo up on her knees, trimming the Mokran bushes, "It's late my moon, why are you still here?"

Ha Jin looks up and is about to rise when King Gwangjong favors her forehead with a kiss and tells her no need to stand.

Ha Jin looks around, "I must have been so absorbed with this buds that I didn't realized it's late. Joesonghabnida Pyeha."

She frees her hand from the mittens and shears, "How is your day?"

King Gwangjong lowers himself to the ground and rest his head on her lap, bringing a surprise gasp on Hae Soo, "Can I stay here for a bit? I'm tired."

He closes his eyes and lets the faint lemony citrus scent of the Mokran settle on his nose. It's the end of the summer. These buds are the last of the flowers for this year.

Ha Jin carefully brushes the stray of hair on the king's forehead, noticing that he is in his training robes rather than his kingly robes, "Did you had a bad day in the court? I'm sorry I wasn't there to share your burden."

"Anibnida." King Gwangjong folds his hands on his stomach, "I am glad you didn't have to attend these assemblies. Maybe it would be best if you don't ever have to come again."

"Waeyo?" Ha Jin softly giggles, freeing the king's hair from it's sangtu, "And what would I be doing with my days? I don't think I can wait in your chambers all day."

"And why not? You can focus at the upbringing of our child." This thought brings a smile on King Gwangjong, "Our little prince would need his mother."

"Our little prince?" Ha Jin asks, "And what if it's a princess? Will you not love her?"

King Gwangjong laughs this time, "My moon, I would love any child you will give me."

"Do you promise?" Ha Jin becomes serious, remembering King Gyeongjong. King Gwangjong's son with Queen Daemok. The boy and his mother lived in fear that the king would someday kill his son, "You need to promise."

King Gwangjong opens his eyes, raising his little finger and intertwining it with Hae Soo's "I promise, my moon."

Ha Jin favors his lips with a chaste kiss, "You can never forget that."

"I will never forget."

The two settles in comfortable silence, the breeze blowing gently around them, soothing King Gwangjong's tiredness.

"Pyeha…" Ha Jin hesitates. She softly brushes the king's hair with her delicate fingers, "You changed my gungnyeo(s)."

King Gwangjong doesn't want to talk about this, "I warned you before, they will be punished if you disappear again."

Ha Jin understood this but she didn't know they would be flogged, "At least tell me that my gungnyeo(s) were taken cared off."

"They were brought to the Damiwon after the floggings. Once they regain their health, they would be release from their service and be sent out of the palace." King Gwangjong explains.

"Arasseoyo. That's all I want to hear." With burden Ha Jin accepts this, wondering if she could send provisions to the families of her gungnyeo(s) but doesn't voice it. She doesn't want to test the king's already exasperated patience today.

"Soo-ya…" The endearment dropped, "You were seen with the 14th prince outside of the palace.

Ha Jin tenses. She thought they were careful enough.

"I forbid you to ever talk or be seen alone with the 14th prince again."

"Pyeha…"

"-I will banished him if that happens." King Gwangjong warns, all the lightness of the atmosphere disappearing.

"Is that why you sent him to retrieve YeonHwa Gongju?" Ha Jin thinks this is preposterous, "The 14th prince and I are only friends. You know that."

"I don't want any rumors about you and the 14th prince to spring." Anger starts to drip on King Gwangjong's words. He sits up, facing Hae soo, "Now that we are sitting on that throne, malicious rumors like that can hurt us and the powerful clans will not waste any chance to smear our names. Any whiff of weakness on our part and they will be out for our blood. I don't want you or our child to be caught up with this."

Ha Jin doesn't answer, feeling palace walls becoming more imposing on each passing day. She stares at King Gwangjong's dark eyes, his scar almost showing ominously. Eyes that are starting to become stranger to her.

What was said in history about King Gwangjong again? He was a mad king…

His name written as 광종 in Hangul and 光宗 in Hanja. 광 is the Korean for 光 meaning bright or shining but 광 can also be interpreted as 狂 in hanja meaning mad or crazy. [4]Thus the historians are divided whether Gwangjong was really bright or just mad.

Ha Jin pushes down the nagging anxiety at the back of her head, her eyes wavering.

My Wang So is a bright, radiant sun.

Days passed…

Woo Hee is checking the herb infusion at the inner pool, giving instructions to a new batch of gungnyeo(s) in training. Most of the gungnyeo(s) she had trained with Hae Soo and Soon Deok either did not make the cut or were dismissed through the many changes in the throne.

Behind her, a gungnyeo lets her know that someone came to see her. It's her two uncles from the Hwanggan Gyeon clan. She didn't want to entertain them and will remember to let the guards know that the Damiwon is not open to just anyone.

Woo Hee greets them politely and leads them at the back gardens. She instructs one of her gungnyeo(s) to prepare lemon balm tea in her room and serve them Chungjak (the last batch of tea being harvest, thus the lowest grade). She appears polite to them but isn't very welcoming.

The two settles at the table with Woo Hee making a wide berth between them.

"Your room in our household is ready. You can move back anytime." Yanggeom tells her niece.

"You had the time to arrange a room for me but no time to look after the Baekje people." Woo Hee doesn't want to waste her time here, not mincing her words.

"Eo-heo!" Yonggeom exclaims, "You ungrateful brat. We are doing this for you."

"I belong to the Gyeongju Kim Clan now. Have you not heard?" Woo Hee grits her teeth together.

"Good," Yanggeom is unruffled. His niece show of teeth doesn't bother him, "Congratulations to your engagement. Now we have one more ally on our back."

Woo Hee rises, "I will not be used again. Leave."

Tensions surfaces around them, Yonggeom throws his cup of tea to the grass and is about to reach to Woo Hee when,

"Ya!"

Baek-ah comes out of the corridor and into the garden. He heard Woo Hee was back in the palace so he came to see her. He stands in between Woo Hee and her uncles, "What do you think you're doing?"

The two old men greet the prince amicably; "We were just congratulating the princess with her engagement with you, wangjanim."

"Are you done preparing your men?" Baek-Ah is never the rude type but he doesn't like how these two men kept bothering Woo Hee. Clearly, Woo Hee wants nothing to do with them.

"Yii, wangjanim. We had picked the most loyal of our men to come along with you." Yanggeom courteously answers, taken aback by the prince sudden appearance, "Let me apologize in advance though. We don't have a lot of men to send with you. If you could ask-"

"-That's good enough. You may leave." Baek-Ah commands, not letting the eldest man to finish his words. It's plenty adequate that he accepted the queen regent's command but these two men kept asking for more people to be sent. Their greed knows no bounds.

With the command given, the two had no choice but to leave, though not before Yanggeom looks passed the 13th prince and into Woo Hee, letting her know, this not the end of their conversation.

Once the two are alone, Baek-ah turns to Woo Hee, worried, "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"

"Anibnida, wangjanim. Kamsahabnida." Woo Hee lowers her eyes to the floor, ashamed.

Baek-Ah reaches to touch Woo Hee's chin softly. He lowers himself so he can look into her eyes, "It's nothing. Shall I give an order barring them from the Damiwon so they can't bother you anymore?"

Woo Hee swallows, the tears starting to well on her eyes again. Why the 13th prince is being nice as if their break-up never happened is beyond her. She doesn't even understand why would he accept the command of the queen regent when it is dangerous. It only makes her feel undeserving of him. Her tears fall unwelcomingly.

Baek-Ah pulls her in a hug, "Please don't cry, Agassi, I will always be here to protect you."

Woo Hee pushes him, hitting him on the chest with her weak fist, "Stop this. Why do you keep doing this? Why?!"

Baek-Ah just hold her tightly.

"How can I leave you if you keep doing this?" She breaks and cries on his arms.

'Then don't." Baek-Ah finally breathes, a welcome concession from a distant Woo Hee, "Woo Hee-ya, let's get married."

Woo Hee sobs continuously; Baek-ah's wish only weakens her resolve of leaving him. It pains them both to be away from each other.

"Are you sending me to the battlefields without even marrying me?" Baek Ah softly smiles, knowing he is winning Woo Hee this time, "I might go suicidal if you do."

"Neon pabo-issni?! (Are you stupid?!)" But Woo Hee doesn't mean it.

He catches her hand and settles her on his arms, "Saranghanda, Woo Hee-ya."

Sitting on a comfortable cushion at the far end of the study chambers used to own by King Hyejong when he was still a seja and the same library where Wang So and Hae Soo used to study together, King Gwangjong is deep into reading. Scrolls and books about good governance piled beside him, his tea gone cold.

By the door, Ha Jin quietly opens the door, telling the eunuchs and the gungnyeo(s) to forego announcing her presence because she wanted to surprise the king. She tip toes to the shelves. The sun rays making diagonal patterns in the floor. She searches for King Gwangjong, remembering the many times they spent together here.

"Ta duh!" She exclaims, presenting her self, holding a box of binu (soap) wrap in purple bojagi (square-shaped cloth used for wrapping objects, for table placemats or for covering valuables.). She made it for the king.

"Eoh, wasseo? (You came.)" King Gwangjong puts down his book at the pile beside him.

Ha Jin reads the The Essentials of Government in the Zhanguan Reign, at the front page of the book, "You've been holed up here."

King Gwangjong heaves a sighs, he misses his queen but he avoids talking about assembly matters with her for fear that it might stress her. He receives the gift. The smell of peppermint and eucalyptus already wafting on his nose even before he opens it, "Kamsahabnida. Did you made this with Woo Hee Sanggun at the Damiwon?"

Ha Jin nods and sits beside the king, resting her head on his shoulder, "I know the court matters have been weighing heavily on you lately. Is there something I can help you with?"

She had heard of Baek-Ah's conscription and the Baekje uprising from Soon Deok.

"Your presence is enough, my moon." King Gwangjong inclines his head to the side, meeting the tops of Hae Soo's head on his shoulder.

"I am your queen, Pyeha. It's my job to share your burdens." Ha Jin encourages him, "Don't you trust me?"

"Of course, I do." King Gwangjong lightly touches the tip of her nose, "But the physician says it would be better not to burden you with court matters."

"It burdens me that I can't be of any help to my king." Ha Jin patiently explains, "I've heard everything from Soon Deok. No need to be so careful with me."

She sits up, reaching to cup the king's face and make her face him, "I survived three kings in that throne, I won't break so easily."

King Gwangjong closes his eyes, relishing at her palm, "I know my moon, I know."

Ha Jin reflects back to what she read in the history about Gwangjong. Though her memories are not so keen anymore, she still remembers the two primary accomplishments he had: the emancipation of the slaves and the National Civil Service examination.

"I heard from Soon Deok that the clans have been giving you headaches. They've been crossing the lines and testing your patience."

He opens his eyes and listens out of curiosity. He will remember to tell Soon Deok to avoid sharing any court matters to Hae Soo in the future.

"Your father built this nation with the help of those powerful clans and he married a daughter from each clan to keep them in checked. Now they think they have the right to govern it, which is fine if they were thinking of our people's condition but all they want is to extend their power and fill their pockets with our people's taxes." Ha Jin sighs. The corrupt officials of this time are not so different from the corrupt government officials of the present times.

"We must find ways to weaken and dismantle the influence of these powerful families." Ha Jin utters more to herself.

King Gwangjong frees himself from Hae Soo's palms. He appreciates how clear it is to his queen the kind of odds they are facing but,

"It's not that simple." Ha Jin tells him, reading his mind. "but slow and steady does it. You have a lifetime to rule."

Her words, encouraging but not imposing, make a lot of sense to King Gwangjong.

"If they keep backing you against the wall," Ha Jin stresses her next words, "then you break the wall. There is not a crack, a sunrays can't breach, my radiant sun."

Out in the outer pool of the Damiwon, the water is infused with herbs and scents that sangguns personally cultivate for the use of the royal family. White and pink petals float in the water. The ground is deserted and all the gungnyeo(s) have retired for the night.

By the entrant, Woo Hee and Baek-ah sit facing each other. Both dressed down to humble hanbok. A pastel of pink and white for Woo Hee while a juniper and dark green that is almost black for Baek-Ah.

Beside them is a daeryesang (wedding ceremonial table), consisting of rice wine, rice cake, chestnuts and jujube. A candle of red and blue are placed in the middle while a vase of pine and bamboo branch is at the corner.

Baek-Ah pours Makgeolli into a peony-decorated gourd and hands it to Woo Hee. Woo Hee studies the white washed wine on her gourd, falling unto reverie. Once she partakes of it, there is no going back.

"Do you want to change your mind?" Uneasily, Baek-Ah asks.

Woo Hee lifts her gaze at Baek-Ah's face, pondering the lines on his forehead, the unwavering hope in his eyes and the anxious smile on his lips. She feels that familiar insecurity rising on her nerves once more. Right at that moment, she wishes with all her heart that she didn't have to be born as a Baekje princess. That she didn't have to become a slave to ChungJu Yu clan. Maybe she didn't had to become the 9th prince plaything. Maybe their lives would have taken a better turn but it is beyond her now. There's no going back, no changing it. The fates had already decided how they should live.

She shakes her head and Baek-Ah watches her drink the Makgeolli he poured for her, finally accepting him. She hands back the gourd to him and without breaking her gaze with her, he drinks, tying their lives together, witnessed only by the serene water of the fresh pool beside them. He is now hers and she is his. In this lifetime and beyond, they promise to be together in a modest ceremony much like their king and queen.

Baek-ah puts the gourd down and slowly, softly, tenderly lays a kiss on his wife's lips, the ceremony utterly sealed.

The next morning, King Gwangjong issues a ruling that is posted in every town's board. People and slaves gather all over the kingdom to read the decree stating:

I, Gwanjong, king of Goryeo had look unto the matter with careful deliberation and thus decreeing the following conditions for the safety and unification of our kingdom:

1. All prisoners of war who were forced into slavery shall be freed.

2. Foreigners, who were forced into slavery, will have their status reinstated.

3. Slaves who were captured shall be returned to their original home region. They will be exempted from taxes for a time until determined.

Various reactions fill the market and the plaza, where these decrees are posted. Some were shocked, several had reread it, the full implication still elusive to many. In paper, the decree is quite ambitious and ideal. After all, the slavery is systemic and endemic in their kingdom and the neighboring kingdoms. They have never heard of a nation with no slavery.

"They always lie about the same thing!" One of the peasants tells the crowd, "We won't be fooled again"

Rallying the sympathy of other people. They have seen the same decree from King Taejo but the powerful clans only sent a third of their forces to the palace and the slaves were never freed.

Lady Yu and several heads of the clan storm the Hoegyong Hall seeking audience with the king. They demand that the decree be taken back.

"This is preposterous, Pyeha." Lady Yu exclaims. The heads of the noble clans nods to themselves, "Even your own clan, the Kangs have their own slaves and private militia. Are you prepared to give it all up?"

"Eong. (yes.)" King Gwangjong holds his ground, undeterred.

"Mwo?!" Shinjuwon Daebi was never consulted in this matter. She, too doesn't agree and she's about to argue about it but King Gwangjong will not give her a chance.

"I've already instructed that the private militia of the Kangs be sent under the control of Gen. Park." King Gwangjong utters, "I am giving all the noble clans a week to abdicate their private militia to the palace. After the given time, all clans who will be caught still harboring private militia shall be dealt with severe punishment. Your lands and treasury shall be seized. The heads of your clan will be sentenced to death and your clan members will be scattered and banished with no hope of reinstatement for as long as I sit in the throne."

King Gwangjong thereafter, dismisses his court, his words final and irrevocable.

Shinjuwon Daebi storms her chambers, overturning her furnitures, throwing her incense, breaking her tea sets. Her gungnyeo(s) huddles together in the corner while Guen Sun only watch by the door.

"Why was I not informed of this?!" She screams in anger.

"The king had only decreed it this morning. No one knew what he was planning to do." Guen Sun calmly explains.

"Did the queen knew about this?" Shinjuwon Daebi throws her pillows next.

"Given the precarious state of the queen's health, the king forbade anyone to share anything to Daemok Mama about court matters." Guen Sun answers, "But the queen mostly joins the king at his study chambers everyday."

Shinjuwon halts, her eyes narrowing. She believes King Gwangjong will not come up with this preposterous emancipation of the slaves. It was always his queen who is against slavery from the beginning. She even heard it from Chae Ryung once. When she was still spying for her.

Ha Jin paces the length of the corridor at the king's chamber, waiting. She was the only one who saw the decree before it was issued and though this is a win for her king, something feels amissed. The two of them knew that the clans would certainly argue against it but for as long as King Gwangjong doesn't retract his words, he would eventually get his way. History had proven it already and yet Ha Jin feels unease. She knew she's missing something,

I need to remember. I have to remember.

She rests her back to one of the pillars and stares to the sky ahead.

The protests of Baekje slaves return the next day with double the numbers. They have read the new decree but they don't believe it. It has also reached them that their monarch, Hwanggan Gyeon Clan has been reinstated. Instead of believing the empty promise of their king, they demand that their princess be reinstated to represent them or that the Baekje people be totally freed from this nation for they are of separate kingdom from Goryeo.

These same slaves also no longer protesting in peace. They brought their own, hammer, spear, rod. Whatever they can get their hands to protect themselves and reap havoc at the plaza and market outside the palace.

Gen. Park and Jung's small party of five, including YeonHwa discreetly covered in hood, enter the gates of Songak atop their horses. They were welcome with riots and disorder in the streets. Some produce are strewn in the street, merchants closing their stalls, baekje slaves chanting for their freedom.

They close ranks over Yeonhwa and take a detour going to the household of ChunJu Yu clan, where Yeonhwa would be staying for the meantime. Gen. Park and Jung hurry back to the palace afterwards.

Jung went straight to the garrison to see Baek-Ah loosing grip with the sword that was handed to him by one of the lieutenants.

"Baek-Ah, hyungnim." He calls.

The platoon arranged in orderly rows pay their respect to the general once he makes his appearance.

"You're back!" Baek-Ah exclaims, hugging his brother, "How is our sister, were you able to retrieve her."

Jung puts the platoon at ease, "Kueremyo! She's safely back in my household. What is happening? I heard from our soldiers that you were conscripted to stop the protest outside. Why would our brother send you? Is he trying to have you killed?"

"Ei, don't be like to our brother." Baek-ah refutes it, not wanting another misunderstanding between Jung and King Gwangjong to arise, "It was the queen who decreed it. Besides, I volunteered for it."

Jung doesn't believe him. It seems to him that Baek-Ah hasn't grasp the full burden of the said decree.

"I really did." Baek-Ah explains further, trying to tie his scabbard around his waist and failing, "I don't want my wife's name dragged unto this anymore just because she is of Baekje decent."

"Don't go." Jung reaches to clutch Baek-Ah on both arms, "Gen. Park and I are here now. We will deal with this."

From the entrance of the courtyard, a soldier is running towards them, bringing news, "Kim Baek-Ah Wangjanim, Wang Jung Wejang (Brigadier general.), you must come. The Baekje people had breach the main entrance and had reached the courtyard. Woo Hee Sanggun is -"

Baek-ah doesn't let the soldier finish his report and dashed out of the garrison.

What was written in the history about the Baekje uprising?

Ha Jin is back at the corridor at the King's chamber, still pacing and racking her brains. She isn't allowed to go passed the King's courtyard hence, she only roams the hall of Cheondaekjeon (the king's living quarters).

Something about the Baekje princess? Woo Hee?

But Woo Hee's name never came out in history. Not as a sanggun nor as a princess, not even as a mention of the 13th prince' wife. If she was ever given a posthumous name, Ha Jin never read it.

Ha Jin stops, the voices of protest almost audible to her now. She turns to the courtyard, wanting to know what's happening. When she tries to step out of the king's chamber, even so much as step to the first stair down, soldiers form a barricade in front of her.

"Let me through," She commands.

"Sunggohabnida mama, the king ordered to not let you out of his chambers no matter what." One of the gunggnyeo(s) tell her, "Please go back inside."

"No," Ha Jin tries again, "I need to know what's happening. Let me through."

"Then let us all be sentence to death, Mama." The gungnyeo(s) all kneel, crying out for their punishment.

Upon the reminder of what happened to her last gungnyeo(s), Ha Jin wavers, angered. She had no choice but to step back. She returns to the corridor, chewing on her lower lip.

Up in the tower of the main gate, overlooking the courtyard where the soldiers are trying to hold back the Baekje without brute force, Woo Hee appears, standing over the balustrade at the edge of the wide walls. Sadness is in her eyes as she watches her people notice her presence. They turn and stop, crying for her name, "Gongjunim! (Princess!)"

Beside her is a banner, as massive and high as the walls, it reads: Reunification of the three kingdoms: Goryeo, Baekje, Silla

"Please be careful."

"What are you doing there?"

Several of the Baekje people shouts, "Please come down. It is not safe to stand there."

A few of the people fell to their knees, pleading and worried.

"Woo Hee-ya!" From the entrance of the tower, Baek-Ah appears

Woo Hee slowly turns to where her name was called and is nervous to see the 13th prince to be here. She thought he left this morning already.

Baek-Ah slowly takes a step towards her, careful to not startle or make her do anything that will endanger her.

"Meomcheo, (Stop,)" She utters in an unstable voice. They stare at each other. One pleads for understanding, the other implores not to do anything rush.

"Aniji? (You're not going to, right?)" Baek-Ah's voice cracks, "Kuerojima, (Please don't do this.)"

"Du-ra-seo. (Stand back.)" Woo Hee begs.

Below, the crowd is completely silent, scared of what is happening. Jung watches, frozen on his spot. His mind going blank, unable to think of anything for his 13th brother.

"Du-ra-seo! (Stand back!)" Woo Hee repeats. She doesn't have that much of strength anymore. It pains her that this is the only way she can free herself and her people from this never-ending nightmare. Once their last princess is gone, her people would finally settle to being part of this kingdom.

Against Baek-Ah's wish, he tremblingly obliges, trusting—no hopping Woo Hee will not do anything stupid. After all, haven't she just married him last night. They were promising to make a family together, to try and have a child once he comes back. She made him promise to be careful, that she can't be a young widow. She refuses to be a widow.

"If you see… then you won't ever forget." Woo Hee tells it to herself in a hushed voice and yet Baek-Ah still heard it. He slowly pivots back to Woo Hee.

The whole world stops and everything around him becomes devoid of sound, draining of its color as he watches Woo Hee close her eyes and fall of the ledge.

"Woo Hee-ya!" He hurries to reach her but everything goes into slow motion. The cries of the people reaching him faster than Woo Hee's body meeting the grounds below.

I thought I could ignore everything and move pass the tragedies that happened to us. I would deny being tainted or even being born under my parents' lineage. But I can never turn my back to my own people who look to me as their mother. I don't think I can live like that. Goryeo and Baekje, Gyeon Won and Taejo Wang Geon, their sins, I will pay with my life. Perhaps this is the reason I was born

Baek-Ah rushes down to the grounds and holds the lifeless Woo Hee on his arms, weeping.

Baek-ah-ya, my one and only love, from this lifetime until the next, let us leave our titles behind and meet as equal next time.

[1] Dojojeon Hall is the official queen's quarters at Changdeokgung Palace. I can't find the name of the queen's quarter's in Manwoldae Palace so I'm using the one from Changdeokgung. Changdeokgung palace is known for it's naturalistic landscape that blends the architecture with natural topography rather than imposing on nature. It is also the only palace that incorporated many elements from the Three Kingdom. I think it is the closest to how Manwoldae Palace would have been.

[2] Is Gyeong Hwon's clan. The first king of Hubaekje. Fell in the hands of his own son Gyeong Singeom, with the help of his two brothers - Yanggeom and Yonggeom. Gyeong Singeom became the 2nd and last king of Hubaekje. Gyeong Hwon managed to escape his prison and seek Wang Geon's (King Taejo's) help. Together they defeated Gyeong Singeom and ended the Hubaekje kingdom and unified the later three kingdoms. For the sake of our story I made Gyeong Singeom Woo Hee's father.

[3] third son of Liao's founding emperor Emperor Taizu (Yelü Abaoji) and his wife Empress Shulü Ping and crown prince during his older brother's reign Emperor Taizong. I have taken creative license to reimagine their history to fit our story.

[4] A little trivia, remember another kdrama about King Gwangjong, which stars Jang Hyuk and Oh Hyun Seo? The title is Shine or Go Crazy. Must be a pun on Gwangjong's name.

Notes:

I was actually tempted to name our chapter "Shine or Go Crazy" but I think that fits our next chapter better. ^^

Preview:

In the next chapter we would see more arguments between our king and queen. Jung would push to depose Hae Soo from being a queen. Yeonhwa will be another player in the court. Ha Jin would finally wind out about Lady Shinjuwon and So's secret. Maybe we'll have a flashback chapter about Guen Sun and Lady Shinjuwon's past? Why is he so loyal to her?

I think Hae Soo and So's little sun would finally appear. Is't going to be that little girl Sol or that boy who will become King Gyeongjong in the future? Hmmm...