Chapter 30:
Gathering for their morning assembly, are the ministers, the two queens and the princes discussing the problem arising from the dry season brought upon by summer. They are only halfway through the season and the kingdom is already suffering with a lack of water everywhere. Only the people of the north are not affected since their lands are well supplied by the Yalu river.
"Pyeha, if I may speak," Mu steps out of his position from the line on King Taejo's right and takes to the center aisle, "Since we have the representatives from the three chancellors here, why don't we ask them if they could open up their side of the river and let a few of their supply replenish the wells beyond their territories?"
Queen Yoo and Yo, who hold the vote of the ChungJu Yu clan, catches each other's gaze staying still and not commenting knowing that it would take a lot of money and resources in their part if they agree.
Queen Shinjeong and Wook, who hold the vote for the Hae Clan will not commit either. Since Wook and Myung Hee lost their heir, the support that the Hwangbos get from the Hae Clan is on the fence.
Guen Sun, who stands as the representative for the Kang Clans holds himself from smirking, "I believe it's our 4th prince who would decide for our clan but since he's busy campaigning in the north, forgive us pyeha, I cannot commit a word."
The 4th prince is really busy with winning the diplomacy with the Khitans but also, So would not accept the seat coming from Lady Shinjuwon. If he finishes his mission in the north, the king would grant him the sole control of military commandant that he is sharing with Gen. Park at the moment. He no longer needs the Kangs to gain more power in the court and Lady Shinjuwon is aware of this. Now she's trying to find a way to bind the 4th prince to her.
"Kuereom, how about we ask the Gyeongju Kim Clan to open their territory of the Han river in the mountains of Kumgang. It is nearer in the capital," Yo volunteers the territory of his 13th brother's clan.
Everyone's eyes zero in on Baek-Ah who is standing quietly between Jung and Eun. Their clan who isn't as influential and well of the way it used to be in its glory days during the reign of Silla, has not much of resources to offer. They do control the ports around the river but they share it with the seja's clan, the Naju Oh Clan.
Now Mu's suggestion backfires to his clan. He would have offered their clan's resources but as of late, since the river is used as a trading route to China, it needed a lot of resources to maintain the ports. From fending of pirates from the Yellow Sea to regulating merchants who does trading, to supplying the irrigations around them, the Naju Oh Clan and Gyeongju Kim Clan's resources are wearing too thin.
Baek-Ah looks at the seja for help, knowing their clans has nothing to offer.
"I'll see what my clan can do then." Without a choice, Mu commits his clan's resources.
"Kuereohabnida, (Of course!) The seja should take good care of our people. They're going to be his people in the future anyway." Even with Yo's casual smile, the stab on Mu doesn't escape anyone.
Mu grits his teeth together, swallowing his embarrassment, "Pyeha since our clan will be opening our parts of the river, may I ask from the treasury a fund to aid the venture. Our resources are stretched too thin managing the river."
"Then you shall have it." King Taejo tries to salvage the dignity of his first son. "The treasury will allocate a few of its resources to fund the irrigation around Han river."
"With all do respect Pyeha, with the campaigns in the north and building of the small palace for the envoys of China, from where will the treasury division get the fortune?" Yo steps out of his line this time and stands beside Mu.
China had been known as the cultural center of the world, kingdoms around it had pay tributes to its empire. Goryeo being one of them, there tributary system (1) is of mutually beneficial economic relationship, facilitating trade and cultural exchange (2) between countries. King Taejo wanted to host a feast of cultural exchange in honor of the emperor of China, thus the building of a mini palace, where the dignitaries will stay.
"Shall we let our people suffer while we build these palaces for other people?" Mu asks directly to Yo. Though no one knows that Yo are manipulating the funds to flow in their pocket, it angers Mu that Yo's priority are his projects and not the people.
"Then we should increase the taxes of our people or cut the fund of our military campaigns in the north." Yo answers not backing down.
Since powerful aristocratic families govern territorial lands, they get a cut with the taxes their own people pay before it gets remitted to the treasury. Sometimes the aristocratic family only remits half of what they have collected and cheat the other half for their pockets. Every clan does this so the bigger the land, the bigger their cut.
Yo, who handles the treasury had even replaced the materials used to build the palace for the envoys to get a cut.
"And let our military starve?" Jung also steps out of his line and takes to the aisle to talk, rebuffing his own brother's suggestion. He wouldn't want to cut off the finances of their military since that would mean the end of his 4th brother's expedition. His 4th brother can't come home just yet. "An doe-da. (We can't.) It will weaken our borders."
Yo and Queen Yoo look at the 14th prince. They can't believe one of their own will hang them dry. Maybe it's time for them to educate the young prince.
"Then we shall review the budget allocated for the envoy's palace pyeha. Maybe we can still tighten it." Wook meddles among his brothers, not wanting a discord to arise. The meeting had gone too long and he just wants to come home and check on Myung Hee.
After Myung Hee miscarried two months ago, it took a month before Myung Hee fully regains her health but if Myung Hee was a quiet lady before, now she seldoms talks at all, refusing to see anyone not even her close friend Baek-Ah. She stays in her room all day, only coming out to pray at the shrine and build prayer towers. Sometimes Hae Soo is able to convince her to walk around the courtyard but since Hae Soo only comes home during weekends, the rest of the week, Myung Hee just stares of the space of her room. Other times, she forgets to eat and Wook needs to be there to remind her to do so.
"But the budget allocated for that is all used up with all the orders we made to import the materials from China. The expenses were doubled to accommodate the rushed schedule." Won comes to the defense of Yo, their clan benefitting from the in flow of fortune from its budget. "Besides the envoys from China will come by the end of summer."
"Kuereom how about we move the deadline of end of summer to the beginning of winter pyeha, it gives more time to accommodate a cheaper import process." Wook counters without knowing what Yo and Won had planned behind his back. "Can't we have the delegates invited by winter solstice instead?"
King Taejo sees the sense in Wook's logic. He had been aware that their treasury is strained since the building of the mini palace, "The seja is right, we should tend to the suffering of our people first. We shall move the invitation by winter solstice then."
Turning to his 8th son, "Wook-ah have a look at our books again with the 3rd prince, see to it that a budget is allocated for the irrigation of lands around the Han river."
"Pyeha…" Yo tries again. Though he is confident that his 8th brother will not be able to trace what's missing in their books, it would still be better to avoid it.
"Unless you want your clan to open your own part of the river up north, I will suggest that you find a way to fund the maintenance of the river down south." King Taejo cuts his 3rd son's appeal. He knows the Chungju Yu Clan is not remitting the right taxes to their government. He has a hunch, his 3rd son is also manipulating the funds for his project but he looks the other way since his queen will wreak more havoc on his court if her clan is accosted.
Yo could only maintain the stoic expression on his face.
After the meeting, Yo pulls his 14th brother to the side, planning to have a talk with him. They walk to a secluded corridor, past the courtyard going to their clan's own quarter. Yo pushes Jung the moment they were alone.
"Mi-chyeoss-eo? (Have you lost your mind?) Why would you side with the seja?" Yo asks angrily.
Jung smiles, feigning innocence, "Aigoo hyung, I merely stated a fact. We can't let our military starve, it will weaken our defense in the border."
"Don't you want the position of the military commandant? Get a hold of yourself."
To Yo, Jung is still his youngest brother who goes around without a care. He thought that when he gets back from the borders he would be more matured. "Our mother and I have heard you've gotten close to our 4th brother is that why you've given up with your ambition to become the commandant? Are you contented with your lieutenant position? Are you just going to let our 4th brother secure it to his self?!"
Jung chuckles this time. For every stab of pain he feels, his smile only grows. He found that smiling makes it a lot harder for people to discern what his intentions are. If his 1st, 3rd, 4th and 8th brothers are good at sporting a stoic expression then he makes sure his good at sporting a sunny smile,
After Jung read Hae Soo's letter for So, the puzzle clicked in his head. He smirks, the bitterness forming a thin line out of his lips. His brother, So, had came to visit him everyday making sure he's healing well. Jung had refused to talk to him not even look at his brother. So had misunderstood his silence as him being angry because of having ordered to go home. His 4th brother had pat his back, assuring him it was the best course for him at the moment. So had thanked him for saving his life, telling him he had never had someone do that for him before and that he will remember to return the favor one day. Jung will make sure that he does. He plans to indebt his brother deeper to him and make him pay later.
"Our 4th brother only means well." Jung smoothens his brother's jeogori, "Hyung, if we take back our 4th brother into our clan, wouldn't we be able to control the military division too? Our 4th brother is starving of affection from his family, why won't we just let him in? His our full brother after all."
Yo knows Jung is correct in this. It would be more advantageous for their clan to have So back but there mother will not have it.
"Jung-ah, I know you've become closer to So but don't let our mother hear that, it will only cause you trouble." Like So, Yo looks out for his youngest brother too, not wanting him to be discarded the way his 3rd brother was thrown away."
"Araseo hyung, gocheong hajimaseyo. Kuereom, il-tan na kal keyo. (I'll go first.)" Jung bows in greetings to his brother, whistling while walking away.
Since the palace assembly had gone too long, Wook missed his chance to go home and check upon Myung Hee. He looked for his 3rd brother instead but only had the chance to talk to him after their class. Yo had graciously showed him in the office of treasury division and handed him the books, confident that his 8th brother won't find anything in it.
It would be evening by the time Wook arrives in his household. He hands the books to a servant and sees Chae Ryung on his way to Myung Hee's quarters. These days, since Hae Soo had entered the Damiwon, Chae Ryung attends to Myung Hee when Hae Soo isn't around.
"Oh Chae Ryung-ah, where's your mistress?"
Chae Ryung shuffles on her feet, her head bowed, training her eyes on the ground.
"Chae Ryung-ah." Wook repeats.
"Lady Myung Hee had been in the shrine the whole afternoon." Chae Ryung still avoids Wook's gaze.
"That's good, at least she left her room." Wook looks at the direction of their shrine, "Why don't you go and fetch your mistress, I'll have dinner inside her room."
Chae Ryung fidgets some more, nervous to say her next words, "Kuende wangjanim, Lady Myung Hee wouldn't leave the shrine. She's been sitting beside the bushes the whole afternoon…"
Wook did not let Chae Ryung finish her sentence. He walks straight to the shrine to see how Myung Hee is. When he reaches their guest's quarters, he was expecting to see Myung Hee standing in front of the prayer towers but she isn't there. He had to reach the shrine and go over to the side to find Myung Hee sitting in the ground, staring lost ahead.
"Myung Hee-ya, Myung Hee-ya!" Wook calls at Myung Hee, an immediacy in his voice. He walks to her side slowly as if he's approaching a scared kid. "Myung Hee-ya what are you doing here at this time of the night?"
Myung Hee looks at Wook, a recognition springing in her eyes, "Wangjanim?"
She looks around and is surprise to see herself on the ground, "Joesonghabnida wangjanim, I was tending to the plants. I didn't…"
But she wasn't tending to the plants. She was only staring at it.
"Gwaenchanhayo Myung Hee-ya, shall we go in?" Wook offers his hand, pulling Myung Hee up and supporting her. Myung Hee quivers in her feet and couldn't stand for long so Wook decides to carry his wife to her quarters.
He calls for the servants and had Myung Hee put in a bath. He wanted to scold their servants for letting Myung Hee stay outside unattended but he's too tired to do so. He takes to his quarter, lying for a bit before he goes back to Myung Hee's room and make sure his wife eats.
Arriving at the Damiwon to have their afternoon tea is Mu and Ji Mong. Mu is coming down with a migraine because of this morning's court meeting. He was hoping to take a rest here and have his mind cleared.
As soon as they enter, they run into Soon Deok,
"Wangsejanim, seonsaengnim annyeong hasibnikka," Soon Deok sees them first, giving her formal greetings.
"Ah Soon Deok-ah, I was just about to look for you," Mu let's Soon Deok rise, "A letter from your father had just arrived."
"Cheonmal? Joesonghabnida wangsejanim, it seems my father had overstepped his self again and forgot that we have our own messenger." Soon Deok grimaces, feeling embarrassed that the seja had to deliver the letter for her.
"I don't mind." Mu smiles handing the letter to Soon Deok.
Soon Deok thanks the seja, bowing respectfully.
"Ah, have you seen Hae Soo?" Mu asks.
"Hae Soo-ya? I think she's at the storage, arranging the dried tea leaves in their boxes." Soon Deok answers, raising her head, "Shall I call for her?"
"Anibnida. I was just wondering if she'd want to send a letter. I already ask her a few months ago but it seems she is too busy these days after a lot of emergency in their household.
"Ah yie, I'll remind her again wangsejanim." Soon Deok volunteers.
It seems Hae Soo is not just busy with their emergency in their household but that she had stopped talking about the 4th prince altogether. Hae Soo doesn't really say much about So before but she always answers questions about him whenever Soon Deok is curious about the two of them. Now Hae Soo completely ignores any topic about the 4th prince.
"Kamsahabnida Soon Deok-ah. We'll take our tea at the balcony, are you serving it?" Mu asks.
"Yie wangsejanim, since it's just the two of you today, I think I can manage on my own."
"I'll call for Oh Sanggun." Ji Mong volunteers, "I have something to talk to her anyway."
Ji Mong leaves for Lady Oh's office going straight for the corridors below the stairs.
The storage at the back of Damiwon is being taken into inventory by Ha Jin. She stands in front of a hanging shelf, where several small wooden boxes are neatly arranged on top of each. Putting down her logbook on the counter below the hanging shelf, she dips her brush to the ink bottle and begins to write.
"It really is your handwriting." Jung appears over her shoulder unannounced, looking at her handwriting, "Did you know you have a different writing before?"
"Eh kkamjjakya!" Ha Jin jumps on her feet, surprised by the sudden appearance of the 14th prince. She moves away, giving her greetings formally after she regains her composure, "wangjanim, what are you doing here?"
Ha Jin looks around, nervous that someone might see the 14th prince with her since they're not allowed visitors. The seja and the family members can ask for them but the rest of the princes and princesses can't wield their command under Lady Oh's Damiwon. They can but Lady Oh won't have it.
"Joesonghabnida wangjanim, please leave. Oh Sanggun might find you here." Ha Jin keeps her head bowed treating Jung with formality and distance.
Jung dismisses the formality and distance. His Hae Soo, the one before drowning had always been formal and maintained the proper distance as a lady to a man. The only difference is that this new Hae Soo looks at him with more guilt rather than tenderness. The look sometimes haunts him but he'll take what he can get.
Leaning further, he looks at Hae Soo's handwriting, putting down the bunch of Mokran he had taken from the forest to give to Hae Soo, "It resembles my 8th brother's handwriting. Do you want to see what your handwriting used to be?"
"My handwriting?" Ha Jin had never thought of Hae Soo's handwriting before.
Jung nods, smiling at Hae Soo, "I'll bring your letter next time so you can take a look at it."
He gives Hae Soo the Mokran, standing closer, reclining his lower back in the counter beside her.
"Kamsahabnida wangjanim, but where do you pluck these flowers?" Ha Jin takes the flowers hoping she'll see a memory or a vision the way she saw something when she first held the flowers but none came, "The bushes around our shrine hasn't flowered at all. Not even a bud."
It's been two months since the whole kingdom entered the summer season. Ha Jin and Myung Hee had been looking forward to see the flowers but no Mokran had bloomed anywhere near them. Jung gets these flowers from the forest outside Songak, quite far from the town. And Ha Jin's dreams of the girl who looked like her had also stopped without any warning. The last time she had dreamt of it was on the night before her birthday. She wanted to revisit it so badly so she could confirmed if it was really Jung but the dreams never came again. Everything stopped on the night of her birthday. She recalls;
When Jung came down to kiss her, she looks away in time to miss his lips. Jung stills, the rejection twisting the blade on his heart.
Ha Jin raises her hand to touch Jung's hand on her neck, "Joesonghabnida wangjanim."
She swallows, closing her eyes before saying her next word, "I don't feel the same way anymore."
"But you can try. You haven't even tried yet." Jung doesn't relent and pulls her to another embrace, "You can try and I can wait."
Ha Jin could only hold on to Jung, settling at his chest. She listens to his heart beat, willing her own heart to match it.
"I'll get it for you everyday if you want." Jung takes Hae Soo's hand in his. "or we can ride there over the weekend. If you have nothing else to do."
"But I don't know how to ride the horse." Ha Jin finds an excuse not to leave with Jung.
"I shall teach you then. It's long overdue anyway." Jung volunteers, keeping Hae Soo's hand in between his.
Lady Oh, who have to prepare the King's evening tea ritual had came to the storage to get her ingredients. She was about to enter through the door when she heard people conversing inside. Through a small opening in the door, she can see the 14th prince and Hae Soo having a conversation.
Ji Mong had found his aunt outside the storage room and was about to greet her when she signals for him to be quiet. He approaches quietly and he too sees the two inside. He arrived just in time to hear the 14th prince telling Hae Soo how different her handwriting is these days. With every sentence he hears, his face darkens realizing Hae Soo and Jung might be seeing each other once again.
Lady Oh opens the door cutting short Hae Soo and Jung's meeting, "Jung wangjanim,"
Jung and Hae Soo jump on their feet, nervous to be caught together. Ha Jin takes her hand from Jung's and they both stand straight, hanging their head low.
"I do not appreciate it when my apprentice gets into trouble because a prince overstepped his bounds." Lady Oh watches for the 14th prince's reaction, waiting for him to challenge her authority.
"Joseonghabnida Oh Sanggun," Jung apologizes on both of their behalf, not wanting for Hae Soo to be punished. "I only gave the Mokrans for Lady Myung Hee. I heard she wanted to see it badly.
"The last I heard, your 8th brother's household is located in town passed the market and not here. If you want to give Lady Myung Hee the flowers then you should go straight to their house instead of asking her cousin to bring it for her. Please leave." Lady Oh dismisses the 14th prince.
Jung could only look at Hae Soo apologetically. He then bows at Lady Oh and walks away.
Ji Mong steps back, giving way to the 14th prince. He maintains a stoic face but he feels murderous inside. He too excuses his self before he loses his self-control and screams at his little queen. He did not change this lifetime only for Ha Jin to fail him too.
Lady Oh closes the door behind Ji Mong and looks around making sure no one is listening. She comes closer to Hae Soo, "Hae Soo Ssi, look at me."
Ha Jin looks up surprised by the softness in the sanggun's voice. She was expecting a scolding not this tone of voice.
"I will only say this once so please listen. The people in the palace are not who you think they are. If you don't want to be tangled up in court and be enslaved by that throne for the rest of your life, I suggest you keep your head low and stay away from the holders of power in court. Their intention might be pure in the beginning but the means to getting the end can become twisted along the way. I've seen it happen so many times and I assure you, it won't be different this time with you. I believe the 13th prince had already warned you about this and he is right."
It is imperative for Hae Soo to understand how dangerous the palace is for her so Lady Oh talks to Hae Soo in a gentle mother's voice. If the 13th prince's screaming couldn't get to Hae Soo, maybe her motherly affection will,
"Yie Hae Soo Ssi, I know everything that happens inside my Damiwon, even your little hanging out with the 13th prince every night. He wasn't exactly being quiet when he shouts at you. I let it pass since your meeting is harmless between friends and he tries to talk some sense to you but your secret meetings with the 14th prince will only put you both in a peril."
Ha Jin is embarrassed. She has no words but apology to the sanggun who only means well.
"It is of no business of mine but you're not promising that boy anything, are you?"
Ha Jin fidgets in her feet but remembers not to chew her lips.
"Don't make that mistake Hae Soo Ssi, every promise you make is a sword that can't be wield against you. And wield, they will." Lady Oh touches Hae Soo's cheek, "Please heed my warning."
The warmth on Lady Oh's hand is a welcoming touch. It reminds Ha Jin of her own mother, suddenly missing her.
"Keureom, joseonghaeyo but I would still have to punish you for receiving a visitor today." Lady Oh takes her hand from Hae Soo's cheek, returning to her sanggun authority, "You will stay here in the Damiwon for the weekend. I understand that your cousin is still recovering and is need of you. You can go and visit her only for a few hours."
Lady Oh grounds Hae Soo, making sure she doesn't go anywhere with the 14th prince.
On the tower, overlooking the lands outside the border of the northern garrison, So stands watching their soldiers prepare for the evening. Gen. Park joins him, tracing the line of sight of the 4th prince and finding the path that leads to the town at the end of it. So seemed to be always watching the path going home.
Gen. Park takes out a letter from the inside of his sleeve and hands it to the 4th prince,
"My shameless daughter finally remembered how to write," Though the general seemed annoyed, a hint of smile plays around his mouth, talking about Soon Deok with a fondness only a father knows, "I think you'll find half of it to your interest."
So acknowledges the general and takes the letter, unfolding it.
The letter starts with Soon Deok threatening her father that she will burn their house to the ground if she ever finds herself alone and bored again, demanding the general to rescind his word of making a lady out of her. Her apprenticeship is more gruesome than her training, the sanggun isn't providing her enough food.
So looks up to the general, a question on his face.
"Anibnida, it's just my Soon Deok. The seja had informed me that the 10th prince had let it slipped that he saw Soon Deok having a wrestling match with the soldiers so she was punished by the sanggun by reducing her food and was not allowed to come home for a month." Gen. Park truly smiles this time, "I guess that's a good thing, she wasn't able to set fire in our house."
So continues reading with Soon Deok saying that the 10th prince was sorry for having her punished so he had brought her food almost every night but she still couldn't come to So wangjanim's woman's birthday.
"So wanjanim-ui yeo-ja-ye-yo? Na-ui yeo-ja-ye-yo? Nugeunde? (The 4th prince's woman? My woman? Who would that be?)" So asked, his whole face a look of confusion.
The general holds his chuckle, pretending to cough instead. For all the scowling the 4th prince does, he looks the part of a confused teenager when it comes to talking about the girl he likes.
"Wae? Who is she talking about?" So ask again, a little annoyed that he doesn't know what the general finds amusing.
"I think it's Lady Hae Soo." The general looks away, swallowing his chuckles. "I'm sure you're not yet acquainted with the other apprentice right? or are you? Have you met the trainee gisaeng. I heard she's beautiful and young."
"Anibnida, I'm not acquainted with any gisaengs at all." So quickly denies it, setting the records straight, "Why does Soon Deok thinks Hae Soo is my woman?"
"Why wouldn't she?" Gen. Park looks everywhere but to So, "Everyone whose in the courtyard would know. Isn't she your woman?"
"Na-ui yeo-ja-ye-yo? (My woman?)"
The words sound pleasant to So's ears as he turns it to his mouth, practicing the words. He hides a smile and continues to read.
Soon Deok tells her father that since So wangjanim's woman's birthday, his brothers: 10th, 13th and 14th and So wangjanim's woman no longer hang out together anymore. It's been two months and the four of them hasn't been seen in the same room together unless there are special functions in the Damiwon, which are rare these days.
"They no longer hang-out? The four of them used to be inseparable?" So asks,
"Chal mol-eu-gess-seub-ni-da, that's the end of the letter." Gen. Park holds out his hand, asking back for the letter. "What shall I tell my daughter? But I think it would be better if you send a letter yourself, the lady might be waiting?"
So would have sent a letter by now but he hesitates since he had broken his promise of a month, it might have angered Hae Soo so she's keeping quiet on her end. Usually, it is Hae Soo who comes to him first and so he waits for her this time too, "The lady hasn't sent me anything."
"Because you never wrote her anything." Gen. Park answers frustratingly, then adds to his self only, "or maybe because you're 14th brother is too busy hogging all the attention of your woman."
"Mwo ragoyo?" So only heard the first sentence but not the murmur.
"I'm saying the seja's messenger will arrive in a few days, you should sent a letter to her before it's too late." Gen. Park suggests.
If it was up to him, he would have kept both of the prince here. Less trouble for the both of them and more beneficial for the kingdom but as it seemed, the king's decree had came a few days after the 14th prince arrived in the palace, stating that the king wants the 4th prince to continue with the campaign for the next two years. Now So is trapped in the north. If he leaves, the king will take back the military commandant position his sharing with the general. If he completes it, then he becomes the sole owner of the position. The general would have gladly given the position to him but it all depends with the word of the king, not his.
Come weekend, a gungnyeo trails behind Hae Soo as she comes home to visit Myung Hee, the gungnyeo watches over Hae Soo and makes sure she doesn't go anywhere. She is only allowed a few hours of the afternoon and have to be back in the Damiwon when the sun sets.
She arrives outside Myung hee's quarter finding Yeonhwa outside the doors. Yeonhwa was just about to have her presence announce when she hears a faint discussion from the room.
Inside, Myung Hee is still in her nightly clothes sitting on her bed looking outside of her window. Her days for the past two months had consisted of this, sitting in her bed and staring outside.
Wook sits beside her and takes her hand into his. Today, Myung Hee didn't get up to have breakfast. Wook had to feed her on his own just so Myung Hee would eat lunch. Even then she only took a few bites before feebly saying she's already full.
"Myung Hee-ya, won't you come out and take a walk with me?" Wook tries to coax Myung Hee to leave her bed. The miscarriage was hard not just for Myung Hee but to him also.
When they lost the baby, Wook is conflicted whether he could finally sigh a relief or grieve since Myung Hee no longer have to kill herself to give birth to their child but the lost of their baby also weighs heavily on him. As a parent, he did long for the baby and as a prince for their clan, the pressure to have an heir with the Hae's is too high. Now he lost both and his mother and sister never fail to remind him.
"Myung Hee-ya," Wook tries again.
Myung Hee doesn't respond.
"Myung Hee-ya jebal." Wook doesn't know what he's pleading for anymore. He's tired and he just wants Myung Hee to at least be alright, to be there for him.
He touches Myung Hee's face gently to make her look at him. Myung Hee trembles in his hand. Lowering her gaze, she can't meet Wook's eyes, burdened to have lost their baby. Her eyes well in tears, the apology written on her face.
Wook pulls her to an embrace, holding them both together. He shuts his eyes in an effort to hold all his emotions inside. He shakes and lets Myung Hee cry for the both of them.
"Joesonghabnida wangjanim." Myung Hee's words are muffled in Wook's chest.
"Gwaenchanha." Wook repeats the words over and over as he strokes his wife's back, assuring not just Myung Hee but his self too, "It's going to be alright."
"Wangjanim…" Myung Hee holds tightly on Wook's arms and with a weak resolve pushes Wook away, breaking their embrace. "Joesonghabnida, please allow me a divorce."
Wook stills, not sure if he heard Myung Hee correctly, "Myung Hee-ya…"
"You have only been good to me but all I am is a burden to you." Myung Hee purses her lips, holding back a sob. Her voice breaks as her heart falls into pieces, "I can no longer be your wife."
"An doe-da! Mu-seun mal-i-ya? (No! What are you saying?)" Every line in Wook's face tightens as confusion settles in him, "We can just try again."
"We can't." Myung Hee pulls from Wook's touch, "I can't."
"Myung Hee-ya." Wook holds on to Myung Hee, "Stop it! You're not making any sense. Please. We can just wait for a few more years and try to have a baby…"
"We can't! I can't!" Myung Hee shouts cutting into Wook' sentence, loosing her composure. A fresh batch of tears overwhelms Myung Hee and she sobs in her hands, "I can't give you an heir… I won't be able to… I am too weak… so please… just… let me go…"
"No!" Wook tries to embrace Myung Hee but Myung Hee insists on pushing him away. He captures Myung Hee's lips instead and kisses her, keeping her still.
It starts as a careful one, just to quiet Myung Hee and keep her in place. His one hand cups her face as the other one slides down on her waist, travelling to the small of her back. He pulls at her and arcs her body to him, deepening the kiss. His lips become insistent, coaxing Myung Hee to respond. Myung Hee opens her lips and lets Wook in, allowing her self to be lost in Wook's arms for a moment.
Wooks breaks their kiss only to trail his lips down her neck, "Andwaeyo, Myung Hee-ya. I am not letting you go, no matter what you say."
His words, pulls Myung Hee-ya back to reality and she pushes Wook once again,
"Stop."
But it only made Wook more unrelenting. As he captures Myung Hee's lips again, she looks away avoiding it. She stays firmly this time, keeping Wook an arms away.
"You don't make any sense Myung Hee-ya!" Wook shouts, he too loses his composure. He's trying his best to keep their marriage from falling apart but Myung Hee is not making it easy.
"Joesonghanbida wangjanim." Myung Hee is aware that their marriage is only possible because of its political advantage. Now that she can no longer fulfill her other end of the bargain, there's no point in it anymore.
"Andwaeyo! How many time do I have to say it?! I am not giving you a divorce. Let it rest."
"Then take a second wife!" Myung Hee raises her voice and then lowers it after realizing her mistake, "Please take a second wife. I can't give you an heir and you need one. Your clan needs one."
At the reminder of the heavy responsibility on Wook, he closes his eyes and breathes, "I'm sorry for asking you to walk with me outside. Please take some more rest. I think you're only tired."
Wook stands, choosing to leave. Myung Hee is sounding more and more like his mother and sister. He doesn't need another person to remind him of his responsibilities.
As he exits Myung Hee's quarters, he finds Hae Soo at the foyer, sitting in the balustrade. Yeonhwa left the moment she hears Myung Hee asking for a divorce.
Ha Jin stands-up and gives him a formal greeting.
Hae Soo in her bright pastel colored hanbok, wearing what appears to be his orange ribbon is a welcoming sight after the heavy atmosphere inside the room. For a moment, Wook allows his self to look at her and memorize a few new things about her. Hae Soo seemed to have finally learned the proper posture of greeting. A few unnecessary actions, like shuffling in her feet or chewing her lips are gone. Her movements are also less tactless and more graceful.
It took about a few minutes and a long silence before Wook realized that he had been staring at Hae Soo's bowed form. He lets her rise, "If you could ask Myung Hee to leave her room and walk with you to get some air, I would really appreciate it."
Ha Jin was surprise to be addressed. That's the longest sentence, for the last three months, that the 8th prince had said without getting angry at her.
"Yie wangjanim, hae polkeyo. (I will try.)" Ha Jin answers, flustered.
Ha Jin too fails to coax Myung Hee to leave her room. With the last of the sun's rays fading in the sky, she knocks on Wook's study chambers before going back to the Damiwon. She brings in with her a tea, to serve.
Wook looks-up from the inventory books he is checking as Hae Soo comes in.
Ha Jin comes to the table where she and Wook use to do their lessons before, putting down the tea and pouring a cup for the prince. She takes the cup to Wook's table and carefully places it away from his inventory books.
"Please take a break and have some tea. It's Lemon balm. It's good with relieving you of stress without getting you drowsy." Ha Jin smiles. It's been a while since she had a normal conversation with the 8th prince. She hopes to extend her gratitude to him for taking care of Myung Hee and her, so she brought him some tea.
Wook looks from the tea to Hae Soo, her smile never faltering even when he didn't acknowledge her.
"Kuereom, il-dan kal keyo (I'll leave now)." Ha Jin bows and leaves, not really waiting for any answer from the prince.
"Hae Soo-ya," Wook calls as Hae Soo touches the door about to exit. He stands up and follows her.
Ha Jin turns in time to be pulled-in by Wook. She finds herself on his chest, his arms enfolding her into an embrace.
Oh? It's Hae Soo-ya again not Hae Soo Ssi?
"Wangjanim?" Ha Jin stands awkwardly, puzzled. She can feel Wook trembling, "Waeyo?"
It felt like the last three months, Wook is drowning in darkness inside the walls he had created by himself, that when he saw Hae Soo this afternoon, with sunlight surrounding her, he couldn't help but seek her presence. Just a few moments of her warmth is enough to sustain him inside the cage he had imprisoned his self with.
Wooks releases her, "Kuenyang… Please take care."
"Ah yie…" Ha Jin stares at the 8th prince and says her leave after, "Kuereom…"
She steps to the doors and turns to Wook, "Wook wangjanim, you look better when you smile, please don't lose it again."
Ha Jin cheers Wook, relieve to have finally been able to talk casually to the 8th prince again.
Gathering in a secluded room inside a jumak are the three ministers, Wang Ryeom Shik, Park Sul Hui and Wang Gyu; Yo and his 9th brother, Won. In light of the recent discussions at the palace' royal assembly, the group gathers to make sure that no one will slip pertaining to the funds they siphon-off the mini palace project.
"Your 8th brother will not find anything in our books right?" Wang Gyu addresses the 3rd prince.
"Keureomyo, our books are clean. Unless he personally seeks our subcontractor, in which case he'll have to travel in China and find that the trail is cold." Yo answers confidently in between sipping his wine.
"Johada, (Good,) If the king thinks he can reduce our clans' power by cutting off our bread and butter, then he's wrong. No stupid clan would voluntarily give-up their money or power to serve this kingdom." Wang Ryeom Sik smirks, raising his glass for a toast.
Everyone throws their glass in the air and drinks their wine in their heart's content.
Yo excuses his self to find their servant, Woo Hee. They have personally asked for the trainee gisaeng to serve them but as it is, Woo Hee didn't show-up. He wonders what their servant is busy with that she chooses to ignore her master and not come.
He finds her not far from the main quarters, walking back from somewhere.
"Woo Hee Ssi," Yo leans in a post, watching Woo Hee pass him by.
Woo Hee was walking with her eyes trained in the ground. She didn't notice the 3rd prince eyeing her until he calls her name.
"Kkamjjakya!" Woo Hee jumps in her feet, "Wangjanim."
She bows in greeting, still clasping at her chest.
"You aren't hiding anything, are you? Why the surprise?" Yo sports his usual smirk, teasing Woo Hee.
"Eopsuebnida, I was focusing on the path so I didn't notice your presence. Joesonghabnida." Woo Hee apologizes, looking around nervous, "Kuende you shouldn't be talking to me here, your brothers frequent the place."
True enough, Baek-Ah who comes here almost every night, had just turned the corner and saw the two of them, with Woo Hee's back turned from him and Yo facing him.
Yo automatically puts his arms around Woo Hee's waist and pulls at her tactlessly, treating her like a payed woman to entertain him. He catches Baek-Ahs's gaze and without breaking it, he leans further on Woo Hee's ears as if planting a kiss. He tells Woo Hee, "Kaman isseo (Stay still), my 13th brother is behind you."
"Eh?" Woo Hee automatically pulls away from the 3rd prince but it only made Yo reverse their position and pushes her to the wall, keeping her trap between the post and his body.
Baek-Ah looks away the moment he sees his 3rd brother putting his hands around Woo Hee. He turns back to the corner and hides his self.
Woo Hee keeps pushing Yo away until Yo sees Baek-Ah leaving but instead of releasing her, Yo grabs at Woo Hee's arm and keeps her at the wall, his possessive instinct coming out naturally. He comes closer to her, invading her personal space. Woo Hee could literally breathe his breath. She looks away, avoiding Yo's lips,
"Wae? It's an honor to be touched by a prince."
Woo Hee feels disrespected. She smirks sarcastically, returning the insult, "Wangjanim, I might have lost my family's kindom and I might just be a mere servant in your household but I'll be dumb to give away my honor. It's the only thing I have."
Yo laughs loud, releasing Woo Hee, "Joha. (Good.) I like your guts."
Woo Hee straightens her jeogori, dusting it here and there.
"So what does my 13th brother do here?" Yo asks, never losing that arrogant smile on his face.
"Chal mo-reu-gess-seub-ni-da (I don't know)" Woo Hee lies without battling an eye lash, "Though I heard your 14th brother is a fool for a lady."
"Jung-ah?" That's a surprise to Yo.
"Yie. He is secretly meeting a lady." Though Woo Hee tells on Jung, she's conflicted if she should reveal that the girl is Hae Soo.
"My brother is still young, he'll get over her when our mother finds the right family to marry him into." Yo dismisses the issue.
"If you say so." Woo Hee couldn't care less. "Kuereom, if you have nothing else to say, I shall take my leave."
Yo shrugs letting Woo Hee walk away but as she passes him, he takes a hold of her arm, "Take care of your honor, I'd like to be the first one to have a taste."
Yo laughs loud, leaving Woo Hee offended and angry.
Another month passes and Eun had come to hang around Soon Deok during weekends whenever Soon Deok comes home to her empty household. Today, she meets the 10th prince outside of their main gate, wearing her hunting clothes.
"Eoh? Why are you wearing that?" Eun asks as soon as he sees Soon Deok coming out of their main gate atop her horse.
"Where's your horse wangjanim?" Soon Deok returns a different question seeing the 10th prince, standing on his feet, leaning at their gate, "I thought you said we'd go hunting today?"
"Ah keureyo?" Eun totally forgot. He thought today, they'll only hang-out at the soldier's barrack. "I forgot. You can just take me behind you then."
"Eh? Andwaeyo. (I can't.)" Soon Deok immediately answers, nervous to have Eun as a passenger.
"Wae? You're horse can take us both." Eun approaches the horse, getting ready to mount.
"Anibnida, I'll get you another horse. We have plenty anyway." Soon Deok leads her horse away but Eun grabs the reigns and steadies the horse.
Like a stubborn kid, Eun mounts behind Soon Deok, putting his arms around her waist once he's seated comfortably, "Ka-ja! (Let's go!)"
Soon Deok freezes, her heart rate spiking-up.
"Wae? Why aren't we leaving? Shall I take the reign?" Eun asks after a few minutes and their horse hasn't move at all. He takes a peak behind the curtain of Soon Deok's hair, finding her blushing in crimson red.
Soon Deok shrugs, remembering to breathe. She urges her horse away before her heart gives way and she faints from the 10th prince's close proximity.
Soon they reached an open space of grasses and Soon Deok sets a trap to catch a small bird. With her skills in making traps, she could catch a bigger animal but since she doesn't want to scare the 10th prince away, she settles in catching a bird.
They hid behind the tall grasses, lying on their stomach with their elbows supporting their chins, waiting for a bird to fly in their trap. It would be an hour before they see a bird approach it and Eun is getting bored to death.
"Why are there no birds? Maybe we should catch a different one. Let's just fish in the river." Eun suggests rolling to his back.
"Shhhhh… you're scaring the birds away." Soon Deok reprimands him.
"But there are no birds!" Eun exclaims, throwing a tantrum. "Baek-A…"
Eun was going to say, he should have just went to his 13th brother's quarters to hang-out but then he remembers, Jung and Baek-Ah are always together so Eun had stopped calling upon Baek-Ah.
"Why don't you hang around with your brothers anymore?" Soon Deok straightforwardly asks. Her tactlessness is still abound in even after months of etiquette classes.
Eun had found out about Hae Soo and Jung's past relationship on the night of Hae Soo's birthday. He was drunk earlier and had been left to sleep in the pavilion but he wakes-up the moment Jung started shouting. His 14th brother wasn't exactly keeping it low. Like Hae Soo, Jung's shouting had sobered him too. He was lying at the other side of the table with his back to them. From where he is, he can easily hear Jung even without him screaming.
He felt betrayed to learn about it like that but even as he feels his heart falling into pieces, he can also hear the way Jung heartbreakingly pleads with Hae Soo and every word of it moves him. He can understand if Hae Soo comes back to Jung. He would have gladly conceded. He just wished, he didn't find out about it that way.
"Did you also know about my brother and Hae Soo?" Eun asks closing his eyes to the sun.
Soon Deok misunderstands Eun, she thought he was talking about his 4th brother, "Anyone in the courtyard would know that the two will eventually end up together."
"What courtyard?"
"When your brother left for the north. Hae Soo came in the courtyard to say goodbye." Soon Deok naturally moves closer to Eun and raises her hand shyly to block the sun for him.
"Ah keureyo? I never knew about it. I thought we all just hang out because we're friends. I've never noticed, they were seeing each other behind our backs." Eun makes his self comfortable, no longer feeling the sun shining directly on his face.
"You're friends? I never knew you were that close to So wangjanim?" Soon Deok moves closer some more so she could block the sun better. Her other elbow support her head, as she lies on her stomach and watches the 10th prince.
"So wangjanim? What are you talking about?" Eun opens his eyes abruptly, finding Soon Deok too close. His next question dying on his throat as they momentarily gaze at each other, the topic forgotten.
Suddenly they both become aware of their proximity to each other that Eun rolls away and Soon Deok pulls back. The two of them scurrying to sit-up. They look awkward, training their eyes everywhere but to each other.
"Ma-maybe-be.. we shu-should… go-go back" Soon Deok is back to stammering.
Eun stands up and dusts the grass on his hanbok, "I guess we should."
But that would mean, sharing one horse and Eun's arms around her waist again "Aniyo, we should… we-we wait… for the-the… bird."
Eun touches the back of his neck, feeling his ears turning red, "Kuereol kkayo? (Shall we?)"
He sits back beside Soon Deok, feeling the strange awkwardness settling on both of them again.
Outside So's tent, a messenger is waiting for the 4th prince. He was sent there by the general to wait upon the 4th prince informing his servant that the general and the seja had expressly commanded that he doesn't leave until the 4th prince gives him a letter addressed to a lady. So was forced to sit on his table and write a letter of apology for Hae Soo.
When the sun is nearing the middle of the sky, So finally comes out of his tent and hands the letter to the messenger but he isn't in the middle of their garrison anymore. Behind him is someone else's living quarter and the forest around him had turned to a palace courtyard.
The letter his handing to the messenger becomes a letter being handed to him instead. Apparently, a letter from the other prince had arrived for the daughter of the moon. Since the lady is out, he tells the messenger that he's receiving it for her. He commands the messenger not to tell anyone that he's the one who received the letter or else, he'd hanged him in the plaza for a crime of treason. The messenger, afraid of the crown prince, leaves giving his promise that he will not breathe a word of it to anyone.
The king who was passing in the courtyard, on his way to his daughter's quarters to visit, sees the crown prince receiving the letter and tearing it off without so much as opening or reading what's inside. The pieces fly away and the king only watched it happen.
Soon the rain falls and the pieces of paper soaks, the ink smudges and the once carefully hand crafted paper disintegrates, littering the path where the horse of the daughter of the moon crosses. She stops in front of her quarters and the crown prince runs to meet her. He raises his arm so the sleeve of his jeogori becomes a cover for the daughter of the moon against the rain. As he shields her, the old courtyard changes to their courtyard in their palace at Songak and the daughter of the moon becomes Hae Soo. She's kneeling at the middle of the massive courtyard, pleading the king for something. He doesn't understand what's happening but he stands beside her, his coat covering her against the rain. The bells toils and Hae Soo grieves. She falls to her side and So holds her but Hae Soo isn't the one kneeling anymore. It's him. All around them it is night and the once rain is now a snow falling. Hae Soo had enveloped him with her coat, holding him together as he sobs for the mother who had discarded him. Her warmth teaches So what it feels like to be safe. She calls his name.
"So-ya it's the first snow."
Gen. Park shakes the 4th prince awake, "wangjanim, ileona (wake-up), the messenger is still outside waiting for your letter."
So raises his head, his consciousness still struggling to remain inside the dream.
"We're not waiting for the first snow to fall before we send that letter, do we?"
Ji Mong comes to visit the Damiwon alone today. Ever since his little queen had started leaving in the Damiwon, he too had come up with all kinds of excuses to visit the Damiwon, checking upon Hae Soo whenever he could. He is keeping an eye on whether Hae Soo and Jung are still seeing each other after he and Oh Sanggung, caught them together at the storage room.
As he is passing through the main hall, he sees Hae Soo being pulled by unknown hands inside one of the rooms. He's face darkens as he recognized whose hands just grabbed his little queen.
True enough, when he reached the room where Hae Soo was pulled into, he sees the 14th prince and Hae Soo through a small opening in the door, having a conversation.
Without any warning, Ji Mong opens the door cutting the meeting short, "Oh! I didn't know the room is occupied."
The two jumps in their feet, caught once again. They're not doing anything other than conversing; Jung is even maintaining a proper distance from Hae Soo this time.
"Jung Wangjanim, I heard the queen is looking for you this morning. Why don't you go and see her before Oh Sanggun finds you here." Ji Mong feigns a smile, hiding his anger. "You're getting the lady into trouble by seeking her all the time."
Jung purses his lips, worried for Hae Soo, "I shall go then, if you could…"
"… keep it from Oh Sanggun, of course. You have my word. Run along then." Ji Mong finishes the sentence for the 14th prince, maintaining his smile.
"Keureom, mianhae Hae Soo-ya, I'll leave first." Jung apologizes and leaves.
Ha Jin is left inside the room with Ji Mong blocking the door. She wanted to leave after Jung but the two of them would be in trouble if another gungnyeo sees them together once more. She stills, waiting for the astronomer to leave so she could pass but Ji Mong isn't leaving. When Jung gets out of earshot, Ji Mong turns back to Hae Soo.
"You know, I've always imagined our first conversation would be one of a happy reunion among the three of us but surprisingly you and your prince isn't making it easy for me." Ji Mong enters the room and closes the door behind him, speaking in a very low voice. He controls his anger in spite of seeing red.
Ha Jin steps back, uncomprehending of the words coming out from the astronomer. She's afraid that the two of them are left alone in a room, "Seonsaengnim, joesonghabnida but I should leave. I am not allowed to receive visitors."
"And yet I always find you with the 14th prince." Ji Mong's anger is tangible in the air, it's making Ha Jin nervous. He breathes deeply, calming his self. He arranges his expression and a smile appears in his mouth but doesn't reach his eyes.
"Keuman hara (Stop it) my little queen, we wouldn't want you to accidentally drown again do we?"
Ji Mong had wind up about Hae Soo and Jung's relationship last year and knowing that in this lifetime, Hae Soo had ended up with Jung, he couldn't trust his little queen and prince to find each other. If Hae Soo is in love with Jung from the beginning and is afraid of So, then the two doesn't stand a chance. He refuses to see the end of this, believing it would only be a repeat of another failed lifetime so he takes the matter in his hands and drowns Hae Soo, pulling a different little queen from a different lifetime.
It just so happens that Ha Jin is drowning at the same time that she accidentally wishes on the moon to see a parallel world so she was able to reach Hae Soo's body and reside in it.
Ha Jin pales, the reminder of Hae Soo drowning in the hands of this strange ajeossi, shakes her to the core. The air around her suddenly feels cold, freezing and piercing.
"Or shall I get rid of the 14th prince this time?" Ji Mong lies. Just like his aunt and Myung Hee, they all exist because they are his little queen's escape but once they outlive their usefulness, he'll get rid of them on his own.
"Don't. Please don't hurt Jung." Through the haze of confusion settling upon Ha Jin, she is instinctively scared of Ji Mong. Her soul naturally recognizing the person who had them trapped in an endless loop, "I'll end it."
"Johada. (Good.) Shall I give you a week or a day?" Ji Mong asks as if they're only talking about what tea would he be having today. "Stop hesitating, you don't even love that boy. Your prince will raise hell if he comes back and finds his woman on someone else's arms."
Ji Mong opens the door, ending their discussion. "A week then, my little queen. I'll see you next week."
The next day, a feast was prepared in the pavilion behind King Taejo's quarters. The two queens, princes, and princess have gathered to have lunch with the king. Each of them is seated in front of their own table separated from each. King Taejo's is at the head as usual. The princes and Yeonhwa takes their place in front of their father, the way they stand in the Hoegyong Hall. Queen Yoo heads Mu, Yo, Wook, and Yeonhwa on King Taejo's right, while Queen Shinjeong seats on the left together with the rest of the princes, Won, Eun, Baek-Ah and Jung. Ji Mong is standing behind the king.
Lady Oh and her gungnyeos were called to serve the food, while the apprentices will be serving tea after.
Just outside the pavilion, several roof shingles made of celadon ceramics are arranged in a neat pillar, samples of ceramics that will be used for the mini palace. It arrived this morning. Ministers Wang Ryeom Shiek and Park Sul Hui had came to personally show it to the King. They take pieces of it and pass it to the people inside the pavilion.
King Taejo inspects the three piece set consist of two wide concave tiles and cylinder at the middle. It's end are inscribed with in laid designs of creeping vines and cranes,
"A-ju a-reum-dap-da. (It's very beautiful.)"
"A-ju bi-ssa-da-go pyeha. (And very expensive your majesty.)" Minister Wang Ryeom Siek smirks. He doesn't forget to emphasize its price.
"Forgive us, it would take some time to have everything ready, given that we have to reduced the budget of importing." Park Sul Hui also reminds the king of his words a month ago, hoping that since it pleases the king, it might change his mind about reducing their budget to almost half.
"Please don't worry, I'm sure we'd be able to complete the building in time for the envoys' arrival this winter." Wook, who had went through the inventory books, re-assigned 1/3 of their importing budget to the seja's project, to alleviate the problems of the citizens with dry season.
"Johada. I shall set my expectations then." King Taejo nods, an unexpected smile fleets on his face.
Yo catches his mother's gaze and then the two ministers, glad that everything is going according to their plan.
The two ministers get invited to have tea with the royal family and were given seats behind the King.
Soon Lady Oh arrives with her apprentices trailing behind her with trays of tea set. Soon Deok and Woo Hee walk together while Ha Jin comes in last. Lady Oh bows at the entrance of the pavilion, announcing her presence. She steps back after, introducing her three apprentices. It would be the first time to present to the royal family her new apprentices.
"Let me introduce my new apprentices: Lady Park Soon Deok, daughter of Gen. Park Soo Kyung, Lady Hae Soo, adopted daughter of Hae Hyounhui from the northern clan and Lady Woo Hee, a trainee haengsu gisaeng for the royal court."
The three curtsied, skillfully balancing the tray of teas in their hands. Afterwards, they go each of their way to serve tea. Woo Hee goes to the left side, Hae Soo is assigned the right, while Soon Deok is assigned to the king's side, including the ministers behind his back.
Yo's face tightened as he sees Hae Soo coming. He wasn't aware that the apprentices will be called in today. It is dangerous to have Hae Soo and the ceramics at the same room. She might recognize it.
Baek-Ah, Jung and Eun wanted Hae Soo to be assigned to them so they could show her the ceramics. Though the three of them seldom talk these days, they remember that Hae Soo love ceramics.
"It is only fitting that we design our mini palace with Yue ceramics from China. It is highly valued in the courts of Tang right now. I'm sure the foreign dignitaries from Tang will be in awe once they see it." Minister Wang Ryeom Shiek continues with their earlier discussion.
"These ceramics we bought is one of the particularly refined form of Yue ceramics. They call it Mise Yue ceramics," Minister Park Sul Hui explains some more.
Yo is starting to get nervous with all the talk of ceramics. He looks at the two ministers trying to stop them from talking some more.
"Hyungnim," Yo changes topic, addressing Mu, "How is the irrigation around the Han river?"
"Ah well, thanks to the budget re-allocated from your project, there are few irrigation system being built in place already." Mu answers.
Hae Soo listens in the background as she serves tea, her ears perking at the topic of ceramics. When she reaches the seja she finally sees the ceramic roof tile shingles and couldn't help but exclaim,
"Wah! Daebak!" Ha Jin catches herself and lowers her voice, "A roof shingles made of ceramics."
Yo freezes in his seat.
Mu looks at Hae Soo interestingly, "You know what this tile is made of?"
The apprentices are not allowed to initiate the talk with princes but since the seja addresses her, Ha Jin nods enthusiastically.
"Do you want to have a look?"
Mu hands the ceramics to Hae Soo. It weighs a little heavy so she holds it with both of her hands, her eyes lighting-up as the almost semi transparent green glaze bounces of the light around them.
"See, even a lady of noble birth who knows nothing about its craft appreciates the beauty of a Yue ceramics." Minister Wang Ryeom Shiek manages to arrogantly insult Hae Soo and praise their effort at the same time.
Ha Jin is too busy appreciating the ceramics to discern the insult but catches the bit about Yue ceramics, "This is a Yue ceramics?"
"Mise Yue ceramics in particular." Minister Park Sul Hui boast once more.
Ha Jin's forehead scrunch in confusion, "Anibnida, this isn't a Mise Yue ceramics or even a Yue ceramics at all."
If everyone wasn't paying attention to the conversation a while ago, now they do. Yo's mind races as to what to do. He knows Hae Soo is capable of identifying the ceramics correctly. The two ministers should have just shut their mouth but he had no way of telling them that.
Queen Yoo squints her eyes, looking at Hae Soo with daggers. He catches Yo's gaze and signals for him to not intervene. If this becomes trouble, they're taking their hands off the matter completely.
"Ya inom! (This rude rascal!) Are you saying we're lying?" Minister Park Sul Hui shouts feeling disrespected and trying to frighten Hae Soo.
Lady Oh comes beside Hae Soo, bowing in apology to the minister. Whether Hae Soo is correct or not, she shouldn't have corrected the minister in front of the king.
Jung, Baek-Ah, Wook and Mu stand with only a few seconds difference, The four of them coming to her defence automatically. Mu moves in front of Hae Soo, hiding her behind him.
Ji Mong swallows, his mind racing as how to get his little queen out of the mess.
This isn't the first time the king saw his sons come to the defense of Hae Soo and every time they do, they are only putting a clearer target on the lady's back.
"Aigoo, such a disrespectful apprentice you have Oh Sanggun, maybe you should get her expelled from your wing." Minister Wang Ryeong Sik makes a Tsk. Tsk. Tsk sound, zeroing on Hae Soo.
"She is my apprentice and I shall take responsibility for her behavior. Sungohabnida pyeha (forgive me your highness), please let me take her away." Lady Oh apologizes again addressing the king. He takes Hae Soo by the wrist and is about to pull her away when King Taejo stops her.
"Let's hear why the lady thinks this isn't a Yue ceramics." King Taejo commands, keeping everyone still.
Worried, Mu steps away, revealing Hae Soo behind him. Ha Jin looks around, feeling the tense atmosphere she had accidentally created. Her heart jumping erratically in her chest, her head is getting a heavy pounding as more blood gets pump in her veins. Lady Oh squeezes Hae Soo's wrist, giving her assurance.
"If this isn't a Yue ceramics then what is it?" Minister Park Sul Hui also shouts, trying also to scare Hae Soo.
Ha Jin hesitantly steps forward, still holding the ceramics. This feels like a déjà vu of the scene in the market when she first explained to Wook and the merchant what she knows about ceramics, only this time whether she proves that she is correct or not is irrelevant. Someone will be punished and it's her fault for slipping. Though for the sake of her life, it's imperative that she proves her skill.
"This one is of our own. Our celadon ceramics are originally heavily influenced by the Yue celadon, hence the similarities but if you look closely, our local ceramics has its own unique semi-transparent green glaze that resembles a jade stone. This kind of green is highly dependent of its raw materials, mainly the presence of iron in the clay, manganese oxide and quartz particle in a glaze, which can only be found locally in our land. The firing condition inside a kiln also affects its color. While most kilns in Tangs dynasty uses a high temperature of around 1400*C, ours is only around 1150*C. The level of oxygen is also dramatically reduced at some stage of firing, thus the term reducing rather than oxidizing."
Ha Jin turns over the ceramics to show the inlaid designs, "A very particular characteristic of our celadon is its in-laid design called sanggam, a technique only our local potters knows how to employ. They decorate the ceramic by overlaying glaze on contrasting glaze bodies."
"And you know this because?" King Taejo ask, his mask of calmness not giving away anything.
"She reads a lot." Baek-Ah, Jung, Wook, and Mu all said at the same time.
"And had befriended a local merchant of celadon ceramics in the market." Baek-Ah adds lying.
Yo will have to get rid of the local merchant whom he had talked to about this celadon ceramics.
"Pyeha you don't really believe the words of this arrogant girl, do you?" Minister Park Sul Hui is starting to tense. He didn't expect that the girl is well educated with ceramics.
They had inspected the ceramics when it first arrived, even showed it to a local artisan. It was hard to tell the difference between a Yue ceramics and this local celadon ceramics that they had use as a substitute but Hae Soo was able to discern it, even explained in detail.
"She should be punished with 100 lashes to make her remember never to speak out in an official royal matters." Minister Wang Ryeom Shiek insists.
A thick and tense silence falls around the pavilion as they wait for King Taejo to give his judgement.
"Ji Mong-ah," King Taejo addresses his adviser, "Find out if this ceramics really came from China or if it's locally produced. Between the lady and our ministers, someone is lying and I intend to hang in the plaza, the sly fox who had try to fool me."
"Yie pyeha," Ji Mong answers, worriedly watching his little queen.
Footnote:
1 Unlike other tribute system, China and its tributaries are politically autonomous and independent from each other with Korea and Vietnam ranking higher than other foreign tributaries.
2 King Taejo in history, never hosted a cultural exchange for envoys of China. Goryeo's relationship with China is more of economic trading exchange (import and export only) but for the sake of plot, let's say he did.
Editor's note
Preview:
This was a very long chapter, I tried to put everything in so we could finally have the 4th prince back in the palace. So next chapter, Ha Jin will learn that every favor in the court asks a life in return, the owners of the powers in the court will re-shuffle, Myung Hee will make a mistake that she would pay dearly, and Ji Mong would literally dragged So back to Songak.
Question corner:
In defense of Ha Jin, up until her birthday, she had never mislead Jung. Since Jung had always been straightforward with her, she broke-up Hae Soo and Jung's relationship right after she woke-up from her long sleep. They hang-out together in a group of friends but never just the two of them, except those 2 times that Jung had seek her out on his own. Jung is just too persistent. Ha Jin and Wook might have mislead each other but never Jung :)
Will So and Ha Jin remember their original life? I think it's only fitting that Ha Jin will get back all her memories at some point but So? I don't think he will. He's not a descendant from the moon deity so he doesn't have that privilege. Even his dreams are not the same with Ha Jin's.
Other things:
I have a really full schedule these days so I'm always late with posting. Mianhaeyo T_T For patiently waiting, thank you so much XD
Ji Mong: "...You don't even love that boy..." lol. Savage and cruel. Woo Hee and Yo? Heol!
Wouldn't it be nice to have a cross-over between Scarlet and Chicago Typewritter? Instead of the main characters remembering their life in 1940s, we'll have Ha Jin and So remember 9th century Goryeo. Instead of freedom fighter in 1940s, we'll start the story with Hae Soo and So as rebels, staging a coup d'etat for Yo's throne?
