Chapter 28:
After Gen. Park's company arrives at the camp from the Hae's household, Jung disappears in his room with a smile on his face that he can't unpaint on his lips while So withdraws in the forest to do some thinking.
The general finds the 4th prince alone sitting on a stone by the stream, holding a small box wrap in a silk cloth. So had taken out Hae Soo's gift to take a look at it and have a smell. Their visit at the Hae household had made him miss Hae Soo all the more. He had been keeping his self busy so as not to think about Hae Soo, he fears he might just go crazy and take his horse one of these days and goes home to her without finishing his task here.
"So wangjanim," Gen. Park gives his greeting, breaking into So's reverie.
So quickly puts back Hae Soo's gift inside the box and stash it in his jeogori. He stands-up and dusts his hanbok.
The action did not escape the general, "Walk with me?"
The general starts putting his foot forward without waiting for So. He chews on another lemongrass, his face unreadable under a dim light of a waning moon.
"How did you find the Hae clans? Are they to your liking?"
"The Haes?" So thinks about it for a moment,
"The marriage of their daughter, Lady Myung Hee to my 8th brother did more harm to them than good. Anyone from the north knows that. So I think it is quite smart of Hae heonhui to stay neutral here, giving-up their seat in the ministry to help the Hwangbos as their in laws and at the same time, distancing themselves in the court and for that matter-the Hwangbos, so as not to earn the ire of the Kang clan, whom the Hwangbos betrayed not long ago." So makes a precise impersonal deduction of the warring clans of the north.
Although So was abused in the Kang household, he is still officially the only heir of the Kang clan. Since his first experienced in war when he was 15, Lady Shinjuwon had started educating him on the background and status of each clan, preparing him to inherit her position so they could use him to get to the throne. He is well knowledgeable of the situations in the north.
"Mat-seub-ni-da. (That's correct). But I'm asking if you like them, not how you find their socio-political status." Gen. Park clasps his hands at his back, talking like a teacher to So.
The question evades So, "I do not understand the relevance of my judgment to their character."
A smirk escapes the lips of Gen. Park. He ponders, for a smart kid who knows a lot about the politics of the warring clans, it seems the 4th prince is quite naive with dealing with his own emotions.
He glances at So, trying to read him, "The lady that was with you in the courtyard, isn't she Lady Hae Soo?"
So doesn't answer.
"I have met her before, when she and Lady Myung Hee were younger." Gen. Park's military commandant position, before it was handed to So, affords him to meet with the heads of each warden families of the north every now and then. "But it seems she doesn't remember me. I heard she lost her memory. I wonder what else did she lost?"
The story of Hae Soo drowning and losing her memory had been the standard story in Myung Hee's household but So finds something strange about it. He was there when it happened. It's incomprehensible to him how Hae Soo could have appeared at the middle of the pool when he had been there sitting for the last two hours and she didn't look like she drowned. It's as if she had appeared out of nowhere, looking for something at the middle of the pool. Then the next morning, Hae Soo kept saying she doesn't remember anything and everyone had attributed it on her accident.
In the beginning, he played along with the story because he doesn't want anyone to know that he first thought of her as a spy; that he had tried to kill her; that the incident happened in the outer pool of Damiwon and not at the public bath of Songak. He didn't want to get caught with any issue since he had only arrived that day and was afraid to be sent away again; and mostly because he just doesn't care.
Somehow along living in his 8th brother's household, Hae Soo and him kept getting entangled in tight situations and one night he finds his self in her arms, holding him together, in spite of him baring his vulnerabilities to her and that's when he started wanting her, of getting greedy, of forgetting the incident. No, he chose to look passed the incident because he doesn't know who Hae Soo is before she 'drowned' and he likes who she is right now. It never occurred to him that this Hae Soo he likes, might be too different from the old Hae Soo he had never met.
"What do you mean?" So asks, his curiosity getting the best out him.
Gen. Park shrugs, nervous to confirm something, "Keunyang, do you like Lady Hae Soo?"
"Everyone likes Hae Soo." So parrots the same answer Jung fed him before, putting his guard-up. The protection is more for Hae Soo rather than his self and Gen. Park understands that.
"And if by chance, another of your brother covets her?" Gen. Park tries to sound how So would react.
So thinks about it for a second. Though the whole conversation of betrothal in the Hae household was done under a playful atmosphere, he had observed, Jung had enjoyed it too well but he trusts his brother's word, still unaware that the girl his brother is coveting is Hae Soo, "You mean if Jung is in love with her? geok-jeong haji ma, (Don't worry) Jung likes another girl, he told me himself."
So suddenly stops, recalling his conversation with his brother. He is sure Jung likes a girl but he never said who,
"Just like what Jung said, he and Hae Soo are fairly close. They always hang out toge…ther."
But as So explains his brother's action, a disconcerting feeling settles at the pit of his stomach. He wants to believe that the girl his brother is hiding isn't Hae Soo. It can't be. Hae Soo is his.
The change in So's demeanor is too noticeable even under a dim light of the waning moon, Gen. Park holds his self, afraid for how this will end for the two brothers. He back tracks, trying to diffuse So's emotion, "Of course, they are only friends. I heard Lady Hae Soo is quite affectionate to people around her. There's nothing to it."
Gen. Park feigns a laugh, dismissing the topic. Trying to change subject, he takes out a hanji on his pocket to distract the 4th prince. It's the letter Lady Shinjuwon had sent him, "I was asking because it appears like your adoptive mother had taken interest over your 8th brother's household. Though I don't think she's after the Hwangbos."
It is not just the king and his adviser who had seen how strategic it is for an heir of the Kang Clan to marry a Hae or a Hwangbo but seeing as the Hwangbos had betrayed the Kangs, Lady Shinjuwon had set her eyes in the Haes. The problem is, the only lady heir of the Haes is Myung Hee and she is already married to the 8th prince.
Gen. Park hands the letter to So. The letter says that Lady Shinjuwon had just visited the 8th prince's household and though her visit was unannounced Lady Myung Hee, in spite of being sick, had received her well and with that in mind, she would like to extend an invitation to Gen. Park and his company to their palace in Shinju, to show her gratitude to him, whose taking good care of his son, the 4th prince.
The letter looks friendly and harmless but the mention of the 8th prince and Lady Myung Hee is disquieting to So and the general.
"Did you know that Lady Hae Soo is only an adopted daughter to Hae Hyeonhui. She was the daughter of Hae hyeonhui's brother, who died defending their borders and Lady Hae Soo had been living under Hae hyeonhui's household since she was orphaned by the age of five but she had never been put under their registry." After the general's audience with the king where they had discussed making So the back-up seja, the general had looked into the two daughters of Hae hyeonhui and had found that only Myung Hee is registered as the daughter and heir of the Haes.
"What exactly does your adoptive mother wants with the Haes?"
"Chal mo-reu-gess-seub-ni-da. (I Don't know.)" So has also no idea but the letter was designed to remind him that Lady Shinjuwon's grasp had extended to the Haes already. It's a warning to him, dangling her power over him to force him to come to her.
"Maybe we should take advantage of the invitation." Gen. Park suggests again, "Let's just see what she wants. Who knows maybe she wants you to marry a Hae?"
"That's preposterous. If it was easy for you to find out about Hae Soo's registry, then I'm sure the consort had already known about it too" So knows his adoptive mother quite well, she won't be moving a piece in her chest board without calculating the risks and what she'll get in return but his possessive heart can't help but grow a little bud of hope, a dangerous kind. One that would make him say yes to whatever his adoptive mother wants.
Gen. Park purses his lips together, preventing a smile. His eyebrows going-up high in his forehead, surprise by the statement of the 4th prince. He was trying to gauge what So feels towards Hae Soo, he didn't expect he would slip, "Kuende wangjanim, I said maybe she wants you to marry a Hae, I never said it's Lady Hae Soo."
So freezes, seeing his mistake. He tries to take it back, "You said there are only two daughters in the Hae family, one is already married, who else is there?"
"Who knows, maybe your adoptive mother would make Lady Myung Hee and the 8th prince divorce." This time, Gen. Park lets his smile show.
So throws him a scowl and Gen. Park laughs.
"I'll be in my room if you have other important things to discuss,"
So tries to wiggles his way out, putting his guard-up but it only serves to amuse Gen. Park further, "I see. I now understand why the seja is eyeing me with daggers when I cut your conversation with Lady Hae Soo short. Joesonghabnida wangjanim, I'll be very careful next time."
So walks away and Gen. Park is left with a feeling of bad foreboding. Though it makes him happy to see that a girl had managed to warm So's cold heart, he's pretty sure that same girl had also captured Jung's heart. He can't see a way where this one ends well.
Ha Jin lies awake in her futon at the room she shares with Woo Hee and Soon Deok, staring at the wooden ceiling, unable to fall asleep. She wanted to go home and take care of Myung Hee but Myung Hee and the 8th prince had insisted she stays in the Damiwon.
She was waiting for the 8th prince for the last few days to come and visit her the way he used to do but these days, he never sees him in the Damiwon anymore, and so is Baek-Ah, or even the other princes.
What is everyone doing these days?
"Hae Soo-ya, na jinjja paegopa (I'm really hungry.)" Soon Deok whines at Ha Jin's right.
After the apprentices had all just came back from their wekeend, Eun, Baek-Ah Won and Yo were having their afternoon tea at the Damiwon and when the apprentices came around, Eun stands-up and happily congratulates Soon Deok for winning her match. He then dives into telling his brothers about the wrestling match he and Baek-Ah had watched.
The second ranking gungnyeo who came out to facilitate the tea ceremony catches the story and immediately tells it to Lady Oh. Although the apprentices were free to do whatever they want outside the Damiwon, Lady Oh expects her apprentices to still be observing their manners and etiquette outside her jurisdiction. Lady Oh had almost broken her manner stick when she heard what Soon Deok did. She remembers to breathe before her stomach crumps again and her migraine comes down. Soon Deok was called into her office and was scolded for a good an hour.
When Lady Oh finished, she tells Soon Deok that she will be rendering her punishment of kneeling in her office one hour everyday in her office. She then will not be allowed to go home and will stay in the damiwon for the next one month, reflecting of her actions. Her dinner will also be reduced for the next two weeks seeing as she has a lot of energy to waste in other extra curricular activities.
"Why wouldn't anyone come and visit me?" Ha Jin asks, turning to Soon Deok, "geok-jeong haji maseyo, if Baek-Ah comes, I'll ask him to bring food."
"Don't expect too much, I'm sure Baek-Ah wangjanim, is drunk in our jumak again." Woo Hee answers, her back to the two. "He's been drinking there since weekend."
"Eh?!" Ha Jin sits-up surprised by Woo Hee, "Mwo ragoyo? (What did you say?) Waeyo? Is that why I haven't seen him this whole time?"
Woo Hee shrugs.
"Why is he drunk every night? Did he say anything?" Ha Jin asks, crossing her arms against her chest.
Woo Hee doesn't know if she's allowed to say anything but she purses her lips and stays quiet. Whatever the 13th prince problem is, that is his problem. She doesn't want to meddle nor ask.
"I am going to kill him when I finally see him." Ha Jin resolves to scold Baek-Ah for keeping a secret from her.
Suddenly a sound of stone being pelleted in their window can be heard. It came knocking in their rice paper window once, and then twice, becoming insistent as more minutes passed.
Soon Deok stands-up, unable to stand the irritating sound of the stones. She goes to the window and opens it in time for another stone to come through. She raises her hand reflexively, protecting her face. The stone bounces on her arm and she shouts, "YA! nu-ga geo-gi-e iss-na-yo?! Juk-eul-lae?! (whose in there?! Do you want to dies?!)"
Eun had been coming every night since that day he got Soon Deok into trouble. He wanted to apologize but he doesn't know how to approach her. He had asked his 13th brother to come with him but Baek-Ah seems out of it these days, disappearing every night and looking ill in the morning.
Soon Deok puts her arm down and squints in the darkness. She swears she's going to break the neck of whoever is pelleting their window every night it's irritating her already hungry state of mind.
Eun decides to come out, matching Soon Deok's annoyed state. He doesn't appreciate being threatened when he came here to apologize.
The change in Soon Deok is too fast upon seeing the 10th prince, she immediately steps beside the window, her back to the wall clasping her chest, her stomach in knots.
"Wae?" Ha Jin asks watching with her forehead scrunched in puzzlement.
"The… the… 10th prince is outside." Soon Deok looks as if she's hiding from an arrow targeted at her head.
Ha Jin stands to walk in the window and look out, "Oh Eun-ah! Wen-il-i u-syeoss-eo-yo? (What brings you here?)"
"Kuenyang, can you come out for a second?" Eun keeps his voice low so as not to be heard by the other quarters around them.
Ha Jin comes out, hitting Eun in the arms as soon as she reached him, "You got Soon Deok into trouble with your big mouth, did you know that?"
"Ow! Ow!" Eun uses his hand to shield his body from Hae Soo's smack. "Ara! (I know!) I came to apologize."
"If you want to apologize bring a food next time." Ha Jin crosses her arms against her chest.
"Eum-sik? (Snacks?) Why would I bring a food?" Eun scrunch his forehead in confusion.
"Because, the small dinner that Soon Deok gets had been reduced by half, thanks to you." Ha Jin hits Eun again.
"Araseo! Araseo! I'll bring one tomorrow night. Please tell her 'I'm Sorry'." Eun bows in apology.
"One more thing, can you bring Baek-Ah here tom? Tell him I'm about to kill him if he doesn't show-up." Ha Jin doesn't bother to hide her annoyance.
"It's hard to catch him these days but I will bring him." Eun raises his thumb as an assurance.
"Keureom, you should leave before someone sees you here." Ha Jin shoos Eun away after getting what she wants.
Eun throws a look at Hae Soo's window before leaving. He waves at Soon Deok who disappears immediately the moment Eun notices her taking a peak at the window.
There isn't much to the meeting of Gen. Park and the Chungju Yu clan. Yo had sent in a letter earlier to give an advance notice to their clan to welcome his 14th brother and to extend any help that he needs.
The meeting is more of a social function, drinking session in the pavilion rather than a military strategy. With Jung's two uncles sounding the 4th prince, seeing no reason as to why the queen keeps shunning his 3rd son when they could all benefit with cooperating or taking him back to their side. So looks formidable to them and if they are honest enough, has a bigger chance of taking the throne and succeeding in it compared to Yo.
By night, their two uncles were all drunk and were escorted back to their quarters while So and Jung takes a walk at the courtyard. They stop in front of a man made pond with a three layer small waterfalls cascading, surrounded with a lavish landscape that rivals their palace in Songak. So had only been once here and is too young to remember it. He wishes he had more memories but he was only four when he was sent to the Kang household. He comes closer to a Mokran shrub, picking at its leaves. It's not as potent as its flower but it still carries a faint smell.
"Hae Soo loves its flowers," Jung smiles remembering the garden at the Hae Clan's household. "She used to play around the shrubs of this plant in their courtyard, at least that's what Myung Hee Ssi said."
So glances at his brother, his face full of confusion. "Hae Soo loves Mokran?"
Jung nods, "but she doesn't remember."
"I see." So recalls his conversation with Hae Soo and the flower, she did say she doesn't remember how it looks.
"The flower of this plant is sacred to their family and is planted in every shrine in their household." Jung explains, "Ah matda, do you know of a lake that is surrounded with this plant? Hae Soo says you've once mentioned to her that there is that kind of lake around here."
"The lake? You should forget about it." So answers not wanting to share his lake, though he had become closer to his brother, there are things that he is possessive about and the lake is one of it, "It's dangerous to go there."
Jung raises his eyebrows in question, sensing that his brother isn't keen to talk about it. It might be that the lake can only be accessed in the lands of the Kangs, so his brother won't tell. Jung had observed that though his brother is always quiet, there are differences in the quiet that he exudes. The calm-and-quiet-brother who hangs out with him and the quiet-and-guarded one who doesn't answer any questions about his adoptive family. When the latter comes out, it means it's the end of conversation.
"Jung-ah, do you like Hae Soo?" So asks again, settling the nagging voice at the back of his head.
Jung stills, his brother had already asked him the same question before and he gives him his standard answer, as always, "Everyone likes Hae Soo."
"I mean the girl that you plan to marry, it's not Hae Soo, is it?" For lack of social skills, So goes straight to the point expecting to get a straight answer too.
Jung laughs, hiding his nervousness. It might be that he had shown too much enthusiasm over the marriage conversation in the Hae's household that his brother had caught-up with what he's hiding so he puts his walls up. If he didn't disclose it directly to Baek-Ah before, he wouldn't say it to his 4th brother too no matter how close they have become, "Do you know the extent of how much memory Hae Soo lost? She doesn't remember anything, her parents, her family, her life, even the boy she promised her heart to."
So glances at Jung at the mention of a boy in Hae Soo's life.
"At least that's what Baek-Ah says."
It was really Baek-Ah who told Jung but Jung puts the emphasis on Baek-Ah, misleading So.
"You mean Hae Soo is seeing Baek-Ah." It isn't so much as a question but a conclusion on So's part.
"No, she's not. They are really just friends." Jung answers honestly this time but he did succeeded in misinforming So.
So is confused. His concern is not so much with the boy who managed to capture Hae Soo's heart but how is Hae Soo to that boy. Was she as affectionate to that boy as she to him?
The mere thought of someone having Hae Soo's hair had made So angry before, now he finds, she had actually promised her heart to someone else. The jealousy courses in So's veins, hot and angry, he's starting to see red. He closes his eyes, breathing in, "Jung-ah, I'll go first."
He walks away before he loses his composure, leaving a confused Jung at his wake.
The next night, Eun drags Baek-Ah to the Damiwon, the moment their classes end. Though it would be hours before they could sneak outside the quarters of the apprentices, Eun makes sure he doesn't lose Baek-Ah or Hae Soo might just kill him.
Once the Damiwon closes and the lanterns were distinguished around them, Eun starts throwing pebbles in the apprentices' window again. Ha Jin automatically opens the window after one stone, waiting for the two the whole day. She comes out of their quarters with her hands on her back, holding something and Soon Deok stays shyly in the window again, trying to get a peak outside.
"I-geo, yak-sok-dae-ro (Here, as promised.)" Eun takes out a small box wrap in a silk cloth and hand it to Hae Soo. It's a rice cake, the food that Hae Soo had asked for.
"You should give it to her," Ha Jin points to Soon Deok with her eyes, "She's the one you've offended. It would look more sincere if you're the one who hands it to her."
"Eh?! Andwae, she might kill me?" Eun tries to hand Hae Soo the box but Ha Jin only steps back.
She drags Eun by the arms to their window and knock. Soon Deok comes out peaking with only half of her head.
"Soon Deok-ah, Eun-ah has something to give you," Ha Jin leaves the two to have a conversation while she walks to Baek-Ah.
As soon as she reaches him, she smacks him the way she did with Eun yesterday night, "Why are you getting wasted at the jumak every night?"
Baek-Ah shields his self with his arms, "Ow! Ow! Kue-man-hae, a-pa! (Stop, it hurts!)"
Ha Jin stops for a moment, sporting an annoyed look. When Baek-Ah didn't offer any explanation and stays uncharacteristically quiet, she drops her annoyed stance. Now starting to be anxious, "Is there something wrong?"
Baek-Ah purses his lips. "Nothing. Let's walk."
Ha Jin matches Baek-Ah's pace and walks a little farther from Soon Deok and Eun who are having an awkward conversation at the moment. They reached a tree and stand leaning on it's trunk.
"What did you want to see me about?" Baek-Ah asks, a little formal.
Ha Jin looks at Baek-Ah, "I never needed a reason to see you before, shall I need it now?"
"Aniyo. Mianhaeyo, I didn't mean it that way." Baek-Ah apologizes, his mood this past few days is too dark, it's affecting the way he treats people.
"Aren't you going to tell me what's wrong? I promise to listen." Ha Jin offers taking a peak at Baek-Ah's face that is hidden in the shadows. The moon tonight is almost in its new moon phase, it isn't enough to light the dark garden.
Baek-Ah sarcastically chuckles, his expression hidden from Hae Soo, "Some other time, I guess. What are you going to do tomorrow?"
"Na-ya? Probably go home. Myung Hee unnie needs a lot of support these days, I wish I could stay beside her every night. Have you visited her already?" Ha Jin thinks it's strange that Baek-Ah isn't setting a foot at their household anymore.
"I can't bring myself to do so." Baek-Ah answers truthfully, a pain drips in his voice, cracking his façade. It's a good thing Hae Soo can't see much of him.
"Wae?" Ha Jin's eyebrow scrunch together.
Though Baek-Ah knows he shouldn't be taking away Hae Soo's time to look after her cousin, he asks anyway, "Do you want to have a drink with me tomorrow? Jung isn't around so I don't have anyone to drink with."
"Baek-ah wangjanim," Ha Jin tries to lighten the mood by joking around, she puts her hand on her lips and pretends to be scandalized by Baek-Ah's proposition, "you shouldn't be asking a proper lady to drink with you, it's rude."
Baek-Ah glances at Hae Soo, "Ya! haji ma! (stop it!). I-sang-hae. (It's weird)"
Ha Jin laughs, "but you're the one who told me that! Make-up your mind!"
"Drink with me tomorrow night." Baek-Ah asks again.
"Araseo. But I'll have to go home first and tell unnie so she won't worry." Ha jin answers.
A hint of smile finally fleets on Baek-Ah's face at Hae Soo's attempt to cheer him up.
"So what did you want to see me again? Eun-ah says it's urgent." Baek-Ah goes back to his first question, noticing that Hae Soo isn't moving one of her hands in her back.
Ha Jin looks away, a little embarrassed, "Kuenyang, the seja had asked me if I want to send a letter to the north but I think it would be rude if I ask him to send one for me, wouldn't it?"
Ha Jin chews her lower lip, holding her letter tightly behind her back.
"I see, so to whom am I going to send the letter? Is it Jung?" Baek-Ah is glad that at least between him and his 14th brother, someone is getting the girl.
Ha Jin makes a sucking sound of tssssss, "Yes Jung and…"
She brings her hand in front, showing two the same white envelop with peony purple designs outside, "… So wangjanim."
"My 4th brother? Wae?" Baek-Ah looks at the two envelopes Hae Soo is holding out for him.
"Kuenyang… Can I not write a letter for him?" Ha Jin hand the envelopes to Baek-Ah. The one on top is So's while the next one is Jung's.
Under a scant light of the moon, Baek-Ah tries to examine the two identical envelopes, seeing not much. He somehow feels that something is wrong with the envelopes but he agrees nonetheless, "Alright, I'll send a messenger tomorrow."
"Kamsahabnida Baek-Ah!" Ha Jin's face lights up, happy to finally be able to send her letter to So.
Baek-Ah raises the letters to the light of the moon again, noticing that it is open. He takes note to seal it later before he sends it away.
On their way back to their camp the next day, Gen. Park rides in front while the two prince lags behind slow. They take their time under the shade of bamboo trees surrounding them on both sides of the path. So is lost inside his head is still contemplating about what he found out about Hae Soo. Though he is jealous of the boy Hae Soo was seeing before, he finds that as long as Hae Soo doesn't remember, it doesn't matter to him. She is his now, he'll make sure he gets her when he comes back.
Not far, a lone rider comes their way, urgent and fast. Gen. Park recognizes the rider as a soldier from their camp. He reports that their camp is under attack from the Khitan soldiers.
The three catches each other gaze and urges their horses, racing to their camp as fast as they could.
By evening, Baek-Ah swings to the Damiwon to fetch Hae Soo home. Hae Soo waits by the main gate and hurriedly runs to meet Baek-Ah halfway the moment she sees Baek-Ah.
"You're not rendering a punishment today?" Baek-Ah stops his horse in front of Hae Soo, greeting her.
"Ya! I was careful the whole day. Lady Oh seems to think I'm only all trouble." Ha Jin looks up to Baek-Ah, waiting.
"But you are, all trouble." Baek-Ah jokes.
"Aniya! I'm learning these days!" Hae Soo scrunches his forehead.
Baek-Ah helps Hae Soo up and when Hae Soo settles, he leads his horse away. Going on a regular pace.
They arrive at the 8th prince household half an hour later, with Baek-Ah stopping in front of the main gate and telling Hae Soo, he'll just wait for her there.
"Eh? Wae? Ka-ja! (Why? Let's go!) Myung Hee unnie would be glad to see you."
Ha Jin takes Baek-Ah by the wrist and drags him against his will. When they reached Myung Hee's quarters, as always Hae Soo throws the doors wide open, announcing her presence brightly, not giving Baek-Ah the time to shuffle outside the door.
Inside, they find Myung Hee lying in her bed, looking weak but the colors in her cheeks are back. Wook sits beside her, watching over her.
"Unnie! I came with Baek-Ah today."
Ha Jin skips happily towards Myung Hee's bed, stopping beside the 8th prince to give her greetings.
"Hae Soo Ssi, it is not proper for a lady to be throwing a door wide open, it disturbs your cousin." Wook admonishes Hae Soo again.
Ha Jin freezes, surprised to be reprimanded again. She always comes in Myung Hee's room like that but these days, the 8th prince seems to be finding all kinds of faults in her, always reprimanding her. She bows apologizing formally.
The interaction doesn't escape Baek-Ah, he too, finds it strange.
Myung Hee opens her eyes and moves to touch Wook's hand, "Gwaenchanhseubnida wangjanim."
Wook gently squeezes back Myung Hee's hand, "I'll step out in a bit."
He then turns to Hae Soo and Baek-Ah, warning them. "Don't keep Myung Hee for too long."
Getting-up, he walks away and closes the door behind him. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breathe the moment he's out of the room.
"I'm glad you both came," Myung Hee looks up to Hae Soo and Baek-Ah.
Baek-Ah stills, holding the pain in his chest upon seeing Myung Hee ill and with a child. He swallows the lump that is forming in his throat.
"Won't you come near? I'm sorry I couldn't get-up." Myung Hee apologizes, seeing the pain in Baek-Ah's face. She knows exactly what's making him like this and she can only apologize.
"Aniyo unnie, please don't get-up." Ha Jin moves to sit beside Myung Hee taking Wook's position a while ago. She looks from Baek-ah to Myung Hee, feeling the tension in the air.
"Hae Soo-ya, could you leave us for a while." Baek-Ah asks, his voice breaking.
Watching the two of them, Ha Jin's curiosity is peaking but she leaves nonetheless, sensing the two need to talk alone.
"Why?" Baek-Ah stands looking at the place past the window at the wall, refusing to look at Myung Hee. "Why would you do this?"
Myung Hee closes her eyes, tired. She understands that this is painful for Baek-Ah, so she stays quiet, letting him get through this on his own.
"Isn't it enough that you married him already." Baek-Ah's voice trembles with every word he tries to say, "Do you really have to carry a child for him?! Dae-dap-ha-ra! (Answer me!)."
Myung Hee scrunches her eyes closed.
"Myung Hee-ya!" Baek-Ah shouts out of frustration. "It's kil...ling you…" his voice breaks at the middle of the sentence and out came the tears he's holding back.
Baek-Ah slips to the ground, kneeling as his legs gives weigh under the burden of his heart breaking. "Myung Hee-ya!.. Je-bal... ku-man-hae (...please... stop)"
He reaches out to Myung Hee with a quivering hand, brushing her hair and making Myung Hee look at him. "I understand… you love my brother… I know from the beginning you do… I get it… I can take that… but please stop… this baby is killing you... Je-bal…"
Myung Hee could only close her eyes to block off Baek-Ah from seeing the pain in her eyes as her own tears escapes. She touches Baek-Ah's hand on her cheeks and Baek-Ah could only rest his head beside her shoulder, crying and pleading but Myung Hee will not be persuaded out of it.
Gen. Park, So and Jung with their soldier, arrive at the garrison, welcomed with arrows in the air and a lot of fighting in the ground. They take out their swords and block the arrows raining upon them. There aren't many soldiers engaged in the ground and the fighting is limited only in front of the garrison but a few places are burning, here and there.
Managing to get to the middle of the fighting, the three goes each of their own way, fighting with enemies, dressed in hooded black coveralls.
Other than the assassins sent on the night of the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual, Jung had never fought on a real fight with his life on the line and though this is only his second time, he holds his ground quite well. At some point, he alights his horse and exchanges parry with enemies in the ground.
At the beginning, So naturally stays close with Jung, supporting him and watching his back. But with darkness swallowing the whole place, it is hard for So to watch over Jung and have a sword fight with several opponents at the same time. He loses his brother to the darkness as he gets busy with the fight.
With a few enemies surrounding Jung, the black hooded soldiers manage to lead Jung in the forest beside their camp, away from the general and So. Jung runs deep in the forest lost in the battle.
Soon So and the general succeeds in clearing their camp with black hooded soldiers easily. It seems, the black hooded soldiers weren't really going for the garrison. They came for something else. So looks for his brother and finds Jung nowhere in sight. He automatically runs in the forest, looking for Jung.
Jung is nearing the waterfalls where he usually do his sword dance in the morning, surrounded by five enemies. He is tired and outnumbered. He steps to the cliff, his back to the long drop behind him. An arrow from nowhere whizzes towards him and he blocks it with his sword. His opponents lunge at him all at the same time, earning him a slash at the side of his arm. He falls down and just as they are about to overwhelmed him, So finally finds Jung and dashes to block the sword coming down on him. He kicks one to the cliff and pushes another one to the waters below them.
He stands in front of Jung, protective, circling with the last three remaining enemies. They enter the trees once again, where he manages to stab one, slashes at the second and kills all three of them, ending the fight. With blood all over him, he turns to Jung to see if he is alright. An arrow flies towards So and Jung sees it in time to pull his brother out of the way. The arrow whizzes past Jung's cheek, cutting shallowly and lodging to the tree trunk next to him. So looks for the source of the arrow but it's too dark around them. Jung holds to the trunk, swaying. He falls on So's arms.
The arrow poisoned.
One summer night of full moon, the crown prince comes to visit the daughter of the moon in her quarters. She was leaning at the post in her balustrade when he sees the crown prince atop a horse, galloping towards her, holding a few stems of those flower that had fully bloom on his quarter.
Alighting his horse, he walks towards her, handing her the flower. S smile appears on her lips. She brings it to her nose, smelling that lemony citrus scent that is already floating in the air. Her father's lake comes to her mind and she suddenly misses it. She hasn't been there since she found him dying on the other side of the lake, busy with playing nurse for him.
She looks up from the flower and asks him if he wants to see the moon lake. He smiles, remembering where he saw her bathing, asking if that is what the lake is called and she answers yes.
An idea suddenly forms in her head. Taking the crown prince by the wrist, she tells her she'll bring him there tonight but then she's worried that his wound might not allow them to ride a horse that far. He tells her not to worry, he had ridden a horse with his wound open, it can't be worst than that. To prove his point, he takes her by the waist and lifts her to the horse, bringing a surprise gasp on her lips. He then climbs behind her and is about to urge the horse, when she stops him, taking the reigns from him. She tells him she'll be the one to lead the horse away. He gladly agrees, handing her the reigns and circling his arms around her waist, spiking both their hearts into a frenzied beat. They ride away, excited.
All the while, the king watches them from the entrance of his hall, crossing the main gate, out the palace and in through the forest. The eunuch besides him reports that the crown prince and their princess seemed to be getting too close these days, the daughter of the moon had been staying the whole day and well into the night in the crown princes' quarters. The king tells his eunuch to let the two be for now, weighing the consequences of breaking his daughter's betrothal to the other prince. The crown prince with them definitely has a bigger kingdom and territory, it might be more beneficial for them if his daughter ends up with this crown prince.
Arriving in the moon lake, the daughter of the moon and the crown prince finds the place full of white and yellow tiny pollen slowly swimming in the summer breeze. Past the broad leaf evergreen trees, are those egg-shaped white flowers that fill the air with its lemony citrus scent. The water in the lake is serene and motionless, a glass reflecting the sky above, capturing the heavenly bodies on it's wake. The full moon shrouds the whole place with its bluish silvery light that lends the whole place that divinely beautiful glow.
The daughter of the moon alights the horse with the help of the prince, tying the horse at a trunk of a tree. She walks with a spring in her steps and a song of laughter in her lips, infecting the crown prince with a light and jovial grin.
She explains the place to him, telling him it's a lake sacred to her moon father and supposed to be inaccessible to anyone but her people who worships the moon deity. But it seems, he had accessed it just fine.
They say every half-century, when the sky is nearest the ground, her father moon deity comes down in that lake to become human for a few nights. Her mother, who every kingdom is coveting had managed to capture the deity's eyes and had taken a body of a human to meet her in his lake. The crown prince smiles warmly, that he had also heard. He was a boy of five, when he first heard its story from the court lady who was putting him to sleep. Since then, he had been curious about her, dreaming of the day he would meet her and their meeting didn't disappoint.
They stop beside where the water meets the ground. His eyes never leaving her. A few pollen catches in her hair and he raises his hand to smooth it out, a gentle touch to her head that made her heart skip a beat. She stills and gazes back at him. His fingers move to the side of her face, lightly stroking it, sending goose bumps in her neck, down her spine. She catches his hand with her own trembling hand and without breaking their gaze, brings it slowly to her lips and plants a light kiss in the insides of his palm. He instantly freezes. His skin that touched her lips sends a tingling warm sensation in his veins, spreading to his core, making him swallow. His eyes smoulders in want and the air around them becomes tensed.
With his free hand moving to her side, he steps nearer, leaning further to her. Her hand that was holding his hand slides up to his arm while this hand of his moves to cup the side of her face. His eyes seek permission and her eyes flutters to a close, as an answer. He reclines her head to him as he moves in deeper into her space, stopping an inch to her lips. Together, they both breathe, savouring the moment of anticipation. The air charged with that tingling sensation that is making every nerve in their body come alive. He lets go and closes that tiny space, tasting her lips with so much want.
If her heart could jump out of her chest, it would have done so. Tightening her hold on his arm, she anchors herself to him, getting lost on the sensation of his lips on hers.
He takes her bottom lips in between his and gently sucks on it, running his tongue around it. His lips come knocking, his tongue asking to be let in. Her lips opens willingly and he becomes more greedy. His hand that is resting on his waist pulls her body to him, leaving no space in between them. It travels to her side, moving to the small of her back, arching her body to his. He moves to deepen their kiss, their tongues dancing in a game, both have never played before.
Ha Jin wakes-up with her hand automatically coming-up to her lips, the sensation of being thoroughly kissed in the dream seemed more real to her than her own experience from the past. It's as if her mouth had known that their lips are only meant to dance with each other. She stays lying down, staring in her ceiling, trying to keep the memory of the dream from evading her.
The last of Spring is upon them and soon summer will be there, the warmness in the atmosphere can easily be felt, especially during the afternoons. If Ha Jin lay still, she can almost imagine smelling a faint lemony citrus scent in the air. Her eyes flutters to a close, breathing deep, imagining the gallop of a horse and a silhouette of a man coming towards her, bringing her that flower.
Arms around her waist as they ride away under a full moon...
His breathe on her neck…
Her name a prayer on his lips…
A door to her right opens and in came Woo Hee, "Chal ju-mu-syeoss-eo-yo Hae Soo Ssi? (Did you sleep comfortably?)"
Ha Jin abruptly opens her eyes, surprised to be hearing Woo Hee greeting her in the morning. She sits-up but stops midway, her head heavy and her body groggy. Last night is a blur of being drag into the jumak by a serious Baek-Ah, meeting Woo Hee in this place and playing a drinking game with the two that ended up with her on Woo Hee's room dead drunk and Baek-Ah...
"Woo Hee-ya, Joesonghaneunde, Baek-Ah-ga eo-di e iss-na-yo? (I'm sorry, where's Baek-Ah?)" Ha Jin holds her head, preventing her sight from spinning, the memory of the dream quickly receding at the back of her head.
Woo Hee sits beside Hae Soo, giving her a tonic to drink. Her care only extends to Hae Soo, leaving Baek-Ah out in the cold, "He's fine. He's used to sleeping in the pavilion anyway. I think you should go home. Your cousin might be looking for you already."
"Right, Myung Hee unnie." Ha Jin remembers a few snippets of their drunk conversation last night. Although Baek-Ah never directly said her cousin's name, she soon catches up that Baek-Ah is wasting away because he couldn't accept Myung Hee's decision to go through the pregnancy.
It was a shock for Hae Soo to find that Baek-Ah is in love with her cousin for a long time now. She had always thought they were only close friends that's why Baek-Ah is always hanging around Myung Hee, now she can't unsee the longing in Baek-Ah's eyes nor the fondness with which he says her name.
The history books certainly forgot to mention that. I thought his first love committed suicide before he got to marry her? But Myung Hee unnie is written at the books as the 8th prince's first wife who died young due to sickness, then who will be committing suicide?
Am I remembering the history incorrectly?
Ha Jin shrugs her head, wincing at the pain brought upon by the hang-over.
"Hae Soo Ssi, are you alright? Can you stand? Let me walk you home before your absence is noticed in your household." Woo Hee asks again, seeing as Hae Soo is clutching her head, looking ill.
"Yie, kamsahabnida Woo Hee-ya." Ha Jin stands with Woo Hee supporting her. Her mind still busy recalling what she studied in history, forgetting the dream altogether.
Woo Hee makes sure Hae Soo freshens herself first before she walks her home just in case someone sees her only coming back just now but with the way Hae Soo nurses her head low, feeling nauseous and walking slowly with her balance a little off, she might as well just announce to Hae Soo's household that their mistress was drunk last night. She takes Hae Soo to their main gate and makes sure to pass her off to the first servant she sees, which is Chae Ryung.
Chae Ryung is pacing nervously back and forth in front of the servant's quarter, wringing her hand out. She saw the 13th prince taking her mistress away last night and he hasn't taken her home yet. If the 8th prince finds out that her mistress did not come home, Lady Hae Soo will be in big trouble. As she glances at their main gate for the nth time, she finally sees Hae Soo with another person walking beside her. She hurriedly walks towards them and approaches Hae Soo.
"Agassi, gwaenchanhayo? oe-di iss-eoss-eo-yo? (Are you alright? where have you been?)"
Chae Ryung bows her head in greeting to the unknown lady walking Hae Soo home. She puts her arms on both sides of Hae Soo supporting her, noticing the smell of liquor in her.
"Please take care of her, she's a little ill." Woo Hee returns the greetings and turns at Hae Soo worried, "Hae Soo Ssi, I'll go back first. Please be well."
"Ne, kamsahabnida," Hae Soo bows her head once again, causing her stomach to heave.
Woo Hee's smile is more of a wince, sensing trouble for Hae Soo but she can't do anything about it so she passes her to her servant and takes leave.
Ha Jin and Chae Ryung walk inside the courtyard, going to Hae Soo's quarters.
"Agassi, where did you sleep last night? If the 8th prince finds out about this, you'll be in big trouble." Chae Ryung whispers to Hae Soo as she supports her.
"You won't tell, right?" Ha Jin smiles, looking terrible. She lowers her head and squints her eyes, the bright sun making her head throb. She focuses on the ground she's walking into so as not to lose footing.
With her bad luck, she walked right through the 8th prince.
Wook is standing in front of the man-made pond, soaking in the sun. He just had breakfast with Myung Hee and is to enter his library when he saw Chae Ryung supporting Hae Soo coming from the main gate. He was going to avoid her but he notice that Hae Soo seemed ill and is still wearing the same clothes she had when she arrived last night. Wook inclines his head observing the two.
Chae Ryung had seen the 8th prince, the moment they turned the corner towards the pond. She wanted to hide her mistress but the 8th prince had already seen them so she has no choice but to continue walking, righting Hae Soo and warning her in a low voice.
Hae Soo is too busy trying to remember history, hanging her head low and unable to catch Chae Ryung's words. Though Chae Ryung keeps stirring her away, Ha Jin's poor balance caused her to walk right through Wook.
The smell of alcohol is too evident in Hae Soo even by a few steps away. Wook catches it even before Hae Soo walk right through him.
"Hae Soo Ssi, where have you been? Did you just come home?" Wook stands straight, his hand clasp together at his back, his voice low and quiet, looking every bit angry.
Ha Jin looks up, seeing the 8th prince mad. She steps away apologizing over and over through the dizziness.
"What kind of lady drinks all night somewhere and comes home only in the morning?" Wook stays rooted, looking at Hae Soo from head to foot, "Are you trying to get yourself dismissed from your apprenticeship and from this household?"
At the mention of their household, Ha Jin sobers-up, the anxiousness on her face too evident, "Joesonghabnida, I…"
She was going to say she drank with Baek-Ah because he's broken hearted over her cousin but stops midway, catching herself before she makes a mistake.
"Take your lady in her room and make sure she doesn't leave her quarters until I say so." Wook addresses Chae Ryung.
Eh? I'm grounded?
Chae Ryung pulls Hae Soo away before the 8th prince punishes her some more.
Lying on a cot unconscious and burning in fever is Jung, the medic physician had already attended to him, washed his wounds and bandaged the sword slash on his arm. He puts a wet towel on his forehead and tucks him in.
Gen. Park and So stand beside Jung's cot, having their own wounds taken cared off over night.
As soon as So secured his brother in the tent and the medic diagnosed the shallow cut on Jung's face as poisoned, So runs deep into the forest, locating the arrow that was shot to them. It takes him a while before he finds the black arrow lodge into a trunk where he and Jung were standing a few hours ago. Wrapping the arrow in a cloth, So pulls the arrow from the trunk, careful to not let even a small patch of his skin touch it. He examines the arrow and is nervous to find it familiar. He brings it back to their medic, who concocts a specific antidote for it.
"It's a good thing the arrow only cut shallowly on his skin, if the arrow went through him, it might have been too late for us to administer an antidote." The medic takes Jung's wrist and sounds his pulse. "He's pulse is stable already but I'll keep watch for any possible irregularity in his heart beat."
"Yie kamsahabnida."
Gen. Park and So exits Jung's room to have a quiet conversation. They walk a little farther from the tent, passing through a few soldiers cleaning and rearranging their camp and attending to their wounded. They come to the entrance of the forest, stopping in between trees.
"When Jung regains his health, we should send him back. This place is too dangerous for him." So suggest worried for his brother.
"Casualties and wounds are normal consequences of battles wangjanim. You can't keep your brother safe forever. Besides your brother held his ground just fine. Stop worrying." Gen. Park explains, seeing the potential in Jung.
"I'm not worried about him engaging with our enemies here at the borders if they are really Khitan soldiers but we both know, the attack last night is peculiar." So keeps his voice low, his face guarded.
"The attack was too organized and targeted only to your brother, is that what you're saying?" The end of Gen. Park's mouth twitched, catching-up with So's train of thoughts.
"Those black arrows sent to Jung resembles the arrows of the elite private guards of the lady consort." So recalls the many times he was at the receiving end of those arrows. "The poison in it comes from a purple helmet shape flowering plant that grows commonly in stony mountain slope, beautiful to look at but deadly to the touch. The mad consort grows a few of it in her garden at the back of her quarters."
"Purple helmet-shape flower?" Gen. Park inclines his head deep in thought, he had heard of that flower, even seen it every now and then, growing at the side of the mountains surrounding the north "Monk's hood (1)?"
So nods, "That and a few others."
"The lady consort is targeting your brother?" Gen. Park feels stupid to even ask why. Of course the consort haven't forgotten that her son was taken away by the Chungju Yu clan. "But she extended an invitation to us promising safety and cooperation. She isn't thinking of killing your brother while we are at your palace, does she?"
"I don't think so. The lady consort is too smart for that." So knew nothing good will come out of that invitation from the beginning but he too wonders what's the invitation for if they are targeting his brother. "Let's just sent Jung home for the meantime."
"But I thought he came here to rise in our ranks, if you sent him home now, your father will not give him any position in the military." Gen. Park reminds So of what his brother wants.
"Then we'll stick to the story that our camp was attacked by the Khitans and that Jung played a good part into stopping the attacks. We'll send my father a letter telling him of us, promoting Jung to Sajik (2) and make him a company commander. Besides, the accords among the three wardens of the north will break, once everyone finds out the Kangs are not cooperating. It won't do us good."
To protect Jung, So promotes his brother to a high rank so Jung will agree to go home.
"Are you sure, you want your brother to have that kind of power?" Gen. Park is nervous to grant the 14th prince such command in his hands, remembering that Jung only wants it so he could dream closer to the girl he and his brother is both coveting. "You're the military commandant, it is in your power to do that but I suggest that you don't. You might regret it later."
"My brother's life is more important at the moment and he… saved me." Jung's act of saving So is more than just saving his brother's life. For So, who had always been at the receiving end of a threat, it is a first to him that someone cared enough to save his life. He considers it a debt to Jung.
"The arrows were trained at him in the first place, So wangjanim, he only pushed you out of the way." Gen. Park tries to make So, see that he was put in a harm's way because of his brother so it shouldn't count as a debt.
"It doesn't matter." Nothing is changing So's mind. "I'll do the diplomacy with the Khitans alone. I want Jung out of here as soon as he is well enough to travel."
Gen. Park could only purse his lips, the end of his lips twitching with nervousness.
A few days later, So and the general comes in at Jung's tent,
"How are you feeling today wangjanim?" Gen. Park asks, standing over Jung.
"I'm doing better, my ribs and joint are a little sore but I think I can best our soldiers in wrestling anytime soon." Jung sits in his cot, with his back reclined to the wall. He's fever had gone down but he still can't eat that much.
"I guess our prince is doing well seeing as he could joke around with us already." Gen. Park smiles, glad that the 14th prince is recovering already.
"Jung-ah," So starts, his demeanor a little welcoming today. He had came everyday, tending to his brother and making sure he's comfortable, "Mianhada, the general and I had agreed that it would be best for you to come home for the time being."
"Hyungnim, waeyo? I'm alright. A-peu-ji aniya. (I'm no longer sick.)" Jung smacks his chest a few times, demonstrating that he is fine.
"Ara, kuende, you should come home and take a rest first. When you feel better, you can always come back." So lies, he has no intention of letting Jung back here, he is planning to make him work to other provinces, away from the clutches of Lady Shinjuwon.
"But we haven't accomplished anything yet and we were attacked by the Khitans, if you send me home, you'll lose a few more men." Jung reasons with So.
"I'll take care of the Khitans on my own, you should put it out of your mind." So tells his brother, worried that Jung doesn't understand how dangerous the north is for him.
"Hyung!" Jung tries again.
"Jung-ah!" So cuts his brother's sentence. "Myeong ryeong-habnida (I command it.)"
With the command being given, Jung could only shut his mouth, grating his teeth together, "Araseo, could you leave me be."
Jung lies down on his coat, turning his back to So and the general.
"Mianhada Jung-ah, it's for your own good." So pats his brother's shoulder and stands to leave, walking with the general out of the tent.
The next day, Jung stands by the door of his tent, looking for his brother and the general to try and convince them once again but the two rode to the end of their borders to check on some things, readying to meet with the Khitans as soon as Jung departs for Songak.
Jung holds on to his ribs, still in a little pain. He goes back inside his tent and sits by his tea table, reigning the dizziness in his head. A soldier comes to the door and announces that a messenger had arrived from the capital. He let's the messenger in.
"Annyeong Hashibnikka wangjanim, I have come to deliver a letter to you and the 4th prince." The messenger bows in greetings.
"My 4th brother? from whom did the letter came from?" Jung's eyes automatically search for the letters the messenger is talking about.
The messenger takes out the two identical envelops, this time sealed by the 13th prince's seal. He hands it to Jung who examines both envelopes, "Did it came from Baek-Ah hyungnim?"
"Ne wangjanim." The messenger answers with his head still bowed, waiting for Jung to release him.
"My 13th brother wrote something for So hyungnim? I-sang-hae (That's strange.)"
Jung opens the letter addressed to him first. Inside, he finds the letter beginning with his name and ending in Hae Soo's name,
"It's from Hae Soo? But it doesn't look like her writing?"
"Chal mo-reu-gess-seub-ni-da wangjanim, (I don't know your highness.) It was the 13th prince who had sent me." The messenger answers once more.
Jung inclines his head, lost in thought. Although he is happy to get a letter from Hae Soo, the writing seems off to him. He knows Hae Soo's calligraphy well, it's free flowing and soft unlike this calligraphy that has a lot of corners and too pronounce, almost like his 8th brother's. Then suddenly, Jung remembers Hae Soo had been studying calligraphy under his 8th brother as of late, so it seems Hae Soo's handwriting had taken the form of Wook's. He then looks at the other envelope that is for his 4th brother, wondering if the letter also came from Hae Soo and not from Baek-Ah. He looks up to the bowed messenger, "Have you told anyone that you're delivering letters to me and my 4th brother?"
"Anibnida wangjanim. I was shown in your tent the moment I've arrived." The messenger still hasn't risen yet, his eyes trained on the floor.
"I see, keureom, you should leave. It's a long way back and we don't want you spending the night in the forest. It's too dangerous." Jung dismisses the messenger, letting him rise finally.
The messenger shuffles in his feet, looking at the other letter beside the 14th prince.
"Ah, I'll be the one to give it to my brother. Leave and don't wander around the garrison anymore. My 13th brother might need you in our palace." Jung commands, sending the messenger away.
When the messenger leaves, Jung goes back to reading the letter for him. The letter opens with asking how is he doing these days and telling him how she is doing as an apprentice under Lady Oh. She's now friends with the other two apprentices, the general's daughter and a trainee gisaeng. Hae Soo also tells him that her cousin is going through a sensitive pregnancy but everyone is taking care of her well. She closes the letter with asking if he found the lake already and that he can't wait for them to come home.
A smile forms in his lips, missing Hae Soo too, thinking that maybe it isn't so bad to come home.
He then looks at the other letter in his table. Baek-Ah is not close to So and the envelopes are the same. He can't help but feel that the letter also came from Hae Soo.
Soon, his curiosity gets the best of him. Taking the envelope and opening it against his better judgment. He breaks the seal. At the outside fold, So's name is written in the same calligraphy, Hae Soo's new hand writing. Jung's hand shakes as he opens the letter to read. Inside, neat hanja(s) are written in four vertical columns:
床前明月光 (In front of my bed is a bright moonlight)
疑是地上霜 (I supposed it is a frost in the ground)
舉頭望明月 (I raise my head to view the bright moon)
低頭思情人 (Then lowers my head thinking of my beau)
The poem he had sent to Hae Soo, the same exact one, down to the change words 'hometown' to 'beau', is written in the middle of the hanji.
With every word that he reads, his mood darkens and jealousy over takes his own heart. Jung unconsciously crumples the side of the letter, anger flowing in his veins as he realizes Hae Soo's heart is no longer his.
Footnotes:
1 Monk's hood or more popularly known as aconite or wolf's bane. It's resin is commonly used to poison arrows in Ancient China while in Ancient Greece, it's use to poison darts for hunting.
2 Equivalent to colonel or lt. colonel in modern times
Editor's note:
Oh Jung! Jung. Jung. Jung.
For Mimi: mianhaeyo, the first snowfall they shared together was merged with the sequence of Hae Soo enveloping So with her coat in Chapter 17. It's designed to mirror something later :)
