Mianhaeyo, I know I promise a breather but this one is not.
Chapter 32:
Their feet make a crunching sound at the path full of dried leaves and twigs as the daughter of the moon leads her crown prince to the moon lake she had come to share with him lately. They like this particular night tonight. With the full moon illuminating the whole place, they don't need a lantern to light their way. The air around them is dry and crisp, the middle of summer season. The crown prince picks a full bloom flower as they pass its shrub and twirls it around his fingers, amused by its huge size and the lemony citrus scent coming from it.
They reach the open space beyond the broad evergreen trees, laughing and playing around. The crown prince stills the daughter of the moon for a second to put the flower behind her ear, smoothing her hair afterwards. She smiles in thankfulness and turns back to the lake to play with its serene waters. She takes off her goonghye (shoes for royalties) beoseon (socks) and holds her chima up, revealing her skinny white ankle underneath. She dips her feet into the cold water and disturbs the serene lake. Toeing the soil underneath, she playfully kicks the water towards the prince, who is watching her intensely, breaking his focus. She laughs and runs away, drawing her crown prince to come after her. He, too, takes off his hukhye (shoes) and socks and play around the water, careful to not soak too much of her chima, lest they walk back with her, sopping wet.
Shortly, she stands just far enough from her prince. With her back turned to him, she shakily unties her belt, freeing her jeogori. Slowly, she takes it off and unfastens the taper of her chima, letting it slide down. The crown prince abruptly turns away, flustered as he holds his self from taking a peek. The air suddenly feels thick and he fans himself with his hand. When he turned to check if she had gone in the water, he finds her gazing at him. Now only in her thin white sokgot, that is no doubt will become see-through once it gets wet. She enters the water enticing him to come. As she moves further deep, he also moves like an invisible string is pulling him to her.
He wades into the water, coming closer to her form. He reaches her back and stops at an arm's length. He tentatively asks for permission to look at her. Ever slowly, with her eyes trained in the water and her cheeks alive with a blush, she turns around to let him gaze at her, her see through sokgot, clinging and floating around her.
He asks if she's afraid and she answers with reluctantly reaching her trembling hands around him to untie the thin cord holding his jeogori. He stays still, his heart pounding at its cage. He lets her open his upper garment. Her soft inept touches are torturing slow, it's waking his whole body with desire. By the time her hands slide up to his neck to take off his jeogori, his eyes are dark pools of want. He abruptly captures her hand and puts it back to her side. A question of confusion dances in her eyes:
Is it a rejection?
As an answer, he steps closer and reaches behind her, lacing his hands in her long straight hair. He gathers it in his hands and with the pin tying his own hair; he puts her hair-up into a bun, a style only worn by married women.
With the full moon as their witness and the serene lake as the sacred holder of the vow, he promises his heart to her and she to him, binding their souls together in an intimate ceremony only the two of them know. His arm slides down to the small of her back, the other tips her chin to him. She lets her eyes flutter to a close as they seal their vow with a kiss.
Soon, her arms come up to cross around his neck again after she discards his jeogori in the water. His hands wonder in her back, untying her chest band. She tenses and automatically presses her body to him to keep the chest band from falling.The fullness of her body fitting perfectly in his arms. He abruptly stops and breaks their kiss, letting her have a minute and asking her if she's alright. She tightly holds upon him and nods at his shoulders. He can feel her heart beating as fast as his. He leans in to litter kisses upon her bare shoulders, enticing her to relax. His lips travel up her neck until it captures her lips again and she naturally steps back letting the chest band fall and pool around her waist. His hands circles at her back once more, untying the strings of her sokchima. She shivers as her clothes come undone and she stands naked in front of him...
Early morning in the sky tower, Ji Mong holds his hot cup of tea, standing by the balcony. The sun is nowhere in sight, the wind is howling and the sky looks ominous with the heavy storm the clouds have brought but Ji Mong's mood is as calm as a prairie in the middle of spring.
Mu reaches the landing of the stairs a little wet, his eunuch' umbrella failing to keep him dry against the thick rain outside. He had heard from his eunuch that Ji Mong finally arrived alone, early last night.
"Ji Mong-ah, what happened? Did you really go to Anju? Did you see my brother?" Mu asks as soon as he sees the astronomer by the balcony.
Ji Mong greets the seja, offering a warm cup of tea.
"Did you see my brother?" Mu repeats, anxiously.
"Yie wangsejanim," Ji Mong smiles, proud of himself, "and I brought him home."
"Jinjja? Nae dosaeng-eun oedi issni? (Really? Where is he?)"
So is never known to stay in bed well into the morning. Mu wonders why isn't he seeing his 4th brother anywhere?
Ji Mong purses his lips and doesn't answer. Last night, he made himself scarce as he sees the 4th prince comes home with his little queen in tow. They were both soaking wet and his little queen was sobbing. She didn't seem like she was crying out of happiness to see her prince back and Ji Mong has a hunch of why she looks that way.
He hid by the shelves as the two reached the top and So takes Hae Soo straight to his room. Ji Mong stood by the door wondering if he should knock and remind the 4th prince that he is also home but as he puts his hand at the thin hanji wooden door, it suddenly opens and out came So, both of them jumping out of their wits.
"Ya! Why did you take the lady to your room?!" Ji Mong whispers as he pulls So out the door and into the shelves, his fatherly instincts making him protective of his little queen, "I told you to stop her engagement not touch her!"
"What non-sense are you talking about?" So looks confused, feeling mortified. "I was on my way to see her when I saw her running in the middle of the rain and bumped into me. Then when I was going to take her home, she looked afraid and told me she doesn't want to go. Where do you want me to take her?"
Ji Mong squints looking at So, not trusting him, "Araseo keunde, don't even think of touching even the tips of her hand."
"Ya! Are you threatening a prince?!" So squares his shoulder, pulling his height and feigning authority.
"I don't care if you're a prince, you will not touch the lady until you marry her. Algessniya?! (Do you understand?!)" Ji Mong didn't wait for So's answers and drags the 4th prince by his wet sleeves and they walk towards Ji Mong's room. So changes to a dry hanbok and Ji Mong calls for a gunngyeo to take care of Hae Soo.
After Hae Soo changed clothes and the gungnyeo tucked her in, So comes to his room again to check on Hae Soo and against Ji Mong's threatening, he stayed inside his room and didn't come out again.
Now Mu walks towards his 4th brother's room and Ji Mong abruptly blocks the seja, anxious as to what they would find inside the 4th prince room.
"What are you doing?" Mu looks up at Ji Mong, finding the astronomer's action strange.
"Ani… maybe we should just wait for your brother to come out of his room." Though Ji Mong badly wants to drag So out of his room, he wouldn't move out of Mu's way.
"What's wrong with you? Bi-kyeo-yo. (Move.)" Mu steps aside to go around Ji Mong but Ji Mong blocks his way once more. They pass the shelves and reach So's door, still at the game of advance and block.
"Bi-kyeo-ra! (Move out of the way!)" Mu commands, perplexed. He sets Ji Mong aside and opens So's door unceremoniously without so much as knocking.
"Eh?" Mu immediately closes the door again, taking his hands from it. He looks at Ji Mong, whose eyes are shut and whose back is to the door, not looking at all.
"Kuege… wae… ani…mu-seun" Mu is at a loss for words, shock to find Hae Soo inside his brother's room.
Ji Mong tentatively opens his eyes and looks at the seja, "Wae… wae… waeyo?"
He's torn between wanting to know and not wanting to know.
Pulling Ji Mong back to the balcony and keeping it quiet, Mu paces back and forth in the table looking scandalized, "Is that… Hae Soo… in my brother's bed?... Why didn't you warn me?"
"I did. I tried but you pushed me away." Ji Mong answers, whispering with the seja. "Why? No. Wait, don't tell me. I don't want to know."
"Please keep it down." So comes out of the shelves, nonchalantly stretching his neck and back, "Hae Soo is still asleep."
"Kkamjjakya!" The sudden appearance of the 4th prince surprises the two.
"Ya! I warned you not to touched… eer…"
Mu puts his hand on Ji Mong's mouth, muffling his voice, "Shhhh, the lady is asleep."
Ji Mong eyes So with daggers.
"Ya! Hae Soo-neun wae dang-sin-ui bam an-e iss-seub-ni-kka? Neo michyeosseo? (Why is Hae Soo inside your room? Have you gone out of your mind?)" Mu whispers, his tone accusing.
"Na-neun a-mu-geot-do an haess-seub-ni-da (But I didn't do anything.)" So doesn't understand why the two look scandalized.
When Mu opened So's door, he found Hae Soo lying on his brother's bed tucked under a blanket with her hand dangling at the side. So is sleeping on the floor with his hand leaning beside Hae Soo's. Their hands look as if they were reaching each other, seeming like they fell asleep holding hands.
"You better take the lady home now," but then Ji Mong remembers Hae Soo's home is her cousin's household "or at the Damiwon, I guess, but you're not spending another night in the same room again."
So doesn't answer and just proceed to take a glass of water from the table and returns to his room with Ji Mong grabbing his arm once more, "Ya! oedi kayo?! I just told you to take her to the Damiwon, why are you acting like you didn't hear me?!"
"I'm going to take a glass of water to her." So shrugs Ji Mong's hand, starting to get annoyed, "Remind me, why do I have to report everything to you again?"
"Keunyang…" Ji Mong releases So, remembering So is a prince and he's just an adviser, "Take the glass of water and come out afterwards, algessniya?"
So walks away not bothering to answer.
"Omo! You two looked like father and son, where you family in your last life?" Mu chuckles watching his brother recede back to his room and Ji Mong looking like he's ready to hit the 4th prince if he disobeys his words again.
Inside So's room, relatively a quarter of space at the top floor of the sky tower, there isn't much inside, just a cabinet of his clothes-all ranging from grey to black and a few white sokgot. Hae Soo's gift to him sits at his opened cabinet, together with a few masks he wear. His small bed pushed back to a wall with a closed window by its side.
He puts down the glass of water at the side table and sits beside a sleeping Hae Soo, dreaming of the moon lake. She turns to her side, instinctively curling around So's warm form. He smiles amused that even in Hae Soo's unconscious state, she still moves towards him. He missed this; her sweet lemony scent that taught him security and her presence coming towards him bringing a promise of home. It felt like his days in the north stretch like years without Hae Soo by his side. He didn't know how he survived the last twenty-four years of his life without knowing her.
So brushes Hae Soo's hair, unable to resist touching her. He notices an angry thin welt marking the side of Hae Soo's cheek, a sharp contrast in her creamy white skin. His eyebrows scrunch in worry. He didn't notice that last night. Where could Hae Soo possibly got it. He leans closer, tracing the line, the movement waking Hae Soo up. She turns, lying in her back again and opening her eyes, her consciousness slowly returning to reality. She touches his hand on her cheek, looking at So but unseeing.
"Chal ju-mu-syeoss-eo-yo? (Did you sleep well?)" So greets her good morning with that smile reserved only for her.
Ha Jin freezes, now fully awake. She looks around and finds herself on someone else's bed. So's bed. She scrambles to move away but So stops her by putting his hand on the bed, beside her neck, caging her between his body and the mattress behind.
Ha Jin looks away, still feeling the prince's hand wandering around her body, leaving trails of burning sensation all over her. Of all the times her dreams would come back, it chooses to come when she's in someone else's bed and of all the scenes she would experience, it chooses to show that intimate moment in the lake. She blushes, a violent scarlet.
"Wae?" So asks, genuinely curious of the blush coloring her neck and cheeks.
"Could you... move away… please…" Ha Jin tells So in a small voice, embarrassed. She chews her lower lip, something she hasn't done for a while.
The action draws So's attention to it, making him swallow. His heart races, pumping too much blood in his head, making him lightheaded. He instantly pulls back before he loses his self-control and does something Ji Mong had been threatening him not to do since last night.
Standing-up, he stammers with his words, flustered, "I… breakfast… andwaeyo… can't go out… I mean…"
He doesn't make sense to Hae Soo, even to himself. He touches the back of his neck, now too hot to his touch. He tries again, "I'll ask a gungnyeo to prepare a breakfast for you. I don't think you should go out."
Ha Jin sits up, now remembering yesterday's events and how she ended up in So's room. She looks at the close window, the wind making it rattle, the rain dripping at its side. She unconsciously touches her cheek, feeling the angry welt still on her skin. Her mood instantly changes, becoming somber and withdrawn.
She too, stands-up, "I should probably leave. Thank you for letting me stay."
"You can't leave just yet." So automatically blocks her way. With the astronomer and her older brother outside, he wouldn't want Hae Soo to feel mortified walking on them. "There's a heavy storm outside. You wouldn't be able to leave."
"Kuereyo?" Ha Jin looks down.
With his curiosity killing him, So couldn't help but ask, "What happened to your cheek?"
Ha Jin automatically hides it with her hand and steps back, "It's nothing. I was clumsy so I bumped into something."
"I'm sorry, did I do that to you? You bumped into me yesterday." So reminds Hae Soo of their meeting last night.
"Anibnida, it's not from that." Ha Jin turns formal, avoiding So.
So advances in her, reaching for the hand that is hiding the welt. Ha Jin moves back, not wanting to be touched.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." Ha Jin turns back from So, "What took you so long to come home. I thought you weren't coming back."
So freezes. No one informed Hae Soo of why So didn't come back after his promise of one month. She couldn't ask Jung. Baek-Ah wouldn't say anything and it feels rude for her to ask the seja.
Ha Jin walks back to the side table, maintaining a distance from So, "You could have at least told me you'll be gone longer or if you're doing alright. You could have told me to wait or go to hell! ANYTHING BUT SILENCE!"
She becomes angry for every sentence she voices, feeling abandoned by So. With everything that happened to her for the past few months, she knows her anger is misdirected at So but she's angry nonetheless. "Were you that busy that you couldn't even write me back even a single word?!"
So is at a loss. With no experience with women or relationships, he doesn't know how to handle Hae Soo's lashing out. They were alright a few minutes ago, now she's shouting at him, "Ani… Na-neun…"
But no words will come to his head. He shuffles in his feet for a second looking like a lost kid. He walks towards her slowly, as if approaching a wounded and afraid little cub. He stops, an arms length behind her back, "Mianhaeyo but I did wrote you a letter."
"Onje?! (When?!)" Ha Jin turns around to him, the anger in her eyes making him flinch.
"A month ago." So answers confidently, thinking he has the right answer to calm Hae Soo down.
"You were gone for a half a year! Half a year when you promised me only a month! and you wrote me a letter just three week ago?! Wah? Should I be glad?" Ha Jin is being sarcastic and So doesn't understand the sarcasm.
So nods smiling sweetly at Hae Soo. His reaction, innocent and proud, unexpectedly disarms Hae Soo. She momentarily forgets why she's mad at him.
"Mianhaeyo, please don't be angry anymore." So remembers that he once made a deal with Hae Soo about him smiling at her when she's angry. She refused him back then but it seem like it's working at her so he continues with the gesture.
"Ya! You really are shameless, how can you smile at me like that?!" Ha Jin definitely missed him but she will not succumbed to his tricks. She takes a hold of the glass at the side table and drinks, hiding her flustered state.
Noticing the change in Hae Soo's mood, So assumes it's safe to come closer. Ha Jin steps back some more, stopping by the edge of the bed, "Mwo habnida? U-ji maseyo. (What are you doing? Don't come near me.)"
But So only advances at her, teasing.
"U-ji marago!" Ha Jin side steps, avoiding the bed and So.
Amused, So watches her cross the whole room from the bed to the other side near the door. He warns her, "Na-u-ji maseyo (Don't go out.)"
"By the way, how long does it take before a letter arrives to the north?" Ha Jin asks annoyed.
So thinks about it for a second, "By our messenger? It takes three days to reach Anju on a horse."
"Three days?!" Ha Jin exclaims in bewilderment, "Three days and you waited…"
She counts in her head, "...Four months to reply to my letter? Which I never got?! Are you lying to me?"
"Eh? You wrote me a letter? Onje? (When?)" So looks confused, he never received anything.
"Geo-jit-mal-i-ya. (You're lying.) You never wrote me one, aren't you?" Ha Jin crosses her arms against her chest.
"But I really did!" So is not used to explaining his actions but he struggles to explain now. "I sent you one, a month ago and I never got your letter. If I did, I would have replied already. I swear. When did you sent it. How did you sent it?"
"Ya! Na-han-te geo-jit-mal-ha-ji ma-ra! (Stop lying to me!)" Now Ha Jin is angry again, "Dwaesso! Na kanda! (Forget it! I'm leaving)."
"Andwae…" So shouts after her.
Ha Jin suddenly opens the door and leaves the room, walking into Mu and Ji Mong scrambling to hide that they were listening. It's hard not to listen when Hae Soo isn't exactly keeping it quiet. Mu sits by the table in a hurry to reposition the side dishes, as if he was only having breakfast while Ji Mong stands by the balcony, leaning at the balustrade pretending to sip his tea nonchalantly. He would have looked incongruous if not for the storm lashing around him, soaking him wet.
Mortified, Ha Jin freezes, her eyes a round of shock, her cheeks a blush of embarrassment.
"Chal achim-e Hae Soo-ya (Good morning Hae Soo), have you had breakfast? Why don't you have a seat and join us." Mu politely greets her pretending that everything is normal to spare her of further discomfort but it only served to increase the awkwardness.
Ha Jin isn't able to answer and runs back to the room immediately.
"Ya! why didn't you warn me the seja and the astronomer are outside?!" Ha Jin accuses So in a low voice.
"I did, I told you, you shouldn't go out but you never listen to me." So answers coolly.
"Nan ne-ga silheoyo! (I hate you!)" Ha Jin throws a tantrum, stomping her feet, feeling horrified by the minute.
So holds his self from chuckling, finding Hae Soo's tantrum endearing. He moves to put his arms around her to calm her down but Ha Jin slaps his hand away.
"Naga! (Get out!)" Ha Jin opens the door and pushes So out.
"Eh?... Ay wae…?"
Ha Jin closes the door at So's face, cutting his sentence short.
"But I didn't do anything." So appeals by the door, knocking but Hae Soo will not open the door again. Dejected, So returns to the table seeing Ji Mong wringing the side of his sleeves with water while Mu calmly sips his tea.
"Are you and Lady Hae Soo trying to outmatched the weather? It's too early to have an argument." Ji Mong shakes his head at So.
"Aigoo, is the honeymoon phase over already? Wah… you didn't even lasted a day." Mu says it with a concerned straight face, he looks more annoying to So. "I think I really like Lady Hae Soo now, respect to her."
Over at the 8th prince's household, Wook and Yeonhwa are inside his study chamber with Chae Ryung being asked about Hae Soo.
"Did your mistress came home last night?" Wook asks worried for Hae Soo.
When Hae Soo run in the rain yesterday, Wook and Myung Hee were left arguing. He didn't expect Myung Hee would slap Hae Soo. He too was caught off guard. After Myung Hee went back to her quarters, Wook went to Hae Soo's quarter to apologize and found no one in her room. With the storm coming down upon them, he didn't know where to look for Hae Soo. He had sent his servants to come after her but they came back just before midnight, all drenched, informing him that they couldn't find the lady at all. Wook could only stand by his quarters and wait for Hae Soo to come home on her own.
"Agassi? She hasn't come home since last night. Joesonghabnida." Chae Ryung answers fidgeting. She, too, is anxious for her mistress.
"Send our servant at the Damiwon to check for Hae Soo. If she's not there, check with Lady Park Soon Deok or the jumak where Lady Woo Hee is staying. If you still can't find her, go and check with my 10th and 13th brother. Do it discreetly and don't let Myung Hee know about it. Algessniya?" Wook instructs Chae Ryung, bringing his elbows on the top of the table, with his hands clasp together.
"Yie wangjanim, I'll send someone out." Chae Ryung answers, quickly bowing her head and leaving the room.
Yeonhwa only watches the interaction between the two, "Hae Soo is missing? Waeyo?"
"She's not missing, she only went out." Wook answers, not in the mood to clash with his sister. He keeps arguing with everyone lately, he just wants to rest.
"At this weather?" Yeonhwa asks incredulously.
Wook doesn't answer and stands to walk to his shelves, browsing at his books.
"Why won't you agree to marry Hae Soo? I thought you wanted her? Myung Hee's proposal makes a lot of sense."
Wook shuts his eyes, feeling a migraine coming. If he's honest enough, he badly wants to agree but seeing as how Hae Soo behaved yesterday, it was like a slap on his ego. It might be that Hae Soo was just shocked so she reacted that way but the rejection stung nonetheless.
"Stop making it hard for everyone. Our mother will make you agree to it in the end anyway." Yeonhwa reminds her brother.
With the storm raging for two days, Ha Jin is stocked at the sky tower for the weekend, particularly in So's room, too mortified to come out. Ji Mong tries to make himself scarce but it's not helping that the seja comes to hang out with them as always and So had taken Ji Mong's room as his own. Ha Jin would only talk to So formally to answer his questions regarding the things she needs other than that, the door stays close in between them.
By the beginning of the week, Hae Soo returns to the Damiwon with Ji Mong and the seja walking her back. She told them she could walk on her own but they insisted. It looked absurd, like two uncles fetching their niece to school. So couldn't come since no one knows yet that he's back in the palace already. He's confine at the sky tower until they figure out how to present him without angering the king.
When the three of them comes in, Wook and Lady Oh are waiting for Hae Soo by the balcony at the second floor. Wook had rode to the Damiwon as early as he can to check if Hae Soo will turn-up and to his relief Hae Soo did with Mu and Ji Mong following behind her.
"Hae Soo-ya." Wook quickly comes down by the stairs with Lady Oh walking not far behind.
Ha Jin wasn't ready to see the 8th prince. She instinctively steps back, keeping her head down, the action not missed by anyone. Mu good-naturedly stands beside Hae Soo, stopping his 8th brother for a polite greeting to keep him from her.
Wook greets the seja maintaining politeness, the worry in his eyes too evident. He too notices the long thin welt in Hae Soo's cheek now a little darker, no doubt a mark from Myung Hee's palm.
"Shall we attend the assembly together? I think we would be late if we don't leave now." It's still early for the palace assembly but Mu makes sure to take his 8th brother with him. He doesn't know what's wrong with Hae Soo or why she doesn't want to go home the last few days but seeing as how Hae Soo is avoiding his 8th brother at the moment, he and Ji Mong suspect something happened in his 8th brother's household.
With the awkward atmosphere settling upon all of them, Wook decides to come with his older brother, not wanting to make Hae Soo more uncomfortable as she is now. He'll come back tonight when he can talk to her in private.
"Wangsejanim, I'll follow in a few, I just need to talk to Oh Sanggun." Ji Mong asks Mu for permission to stay behind.
"Guerehabnida." Mu answers and turns to Hae Soo to say goodbye and leads Wook away.
Lady Oh sends Hae Soo to her etiquette class and takes Ji Mong to her office to talk.
"Where did Hae Soo come from? The 8th prince's servants were here this weekend looking for her." Lady Oh asks as soon as the door closes behind them.
"She bumped into the 4th prince the other night." Ji Mong answers calmly.
"The 4th prince is back? How? Was he called back by his father? Did you bring him back? Is that why you left the palace?" Lady Oh is surprised. It seemed a lot happened over the weekend in spite of the storm keeping everyone in their quarters.
Ji Mong takes a hold of his aunt's wrist and pulls her deeper into the room, away from the door, making sure no one can hear them, "Hae Soo refuses to say why she's running at the middle of the rain or why she doesn't want to go home even when she felt mortified to be staying in my tower but I suspect it has something to do with what her cousin had just requested the second queen."
"Kue-ge mu-seun mal-i-jwo? (What do you mean?)" Lady Oh keeps her voice low too.
"Lady Myung Hee had requested the second queen to let the 8th prince take Hae Soo as his second wife." Ji Mong's face darkens as he remembers overhearing the conversation.
"Mwo rago?! Lady Myung Hee didn't seem like an irrational lady to me."
"She isn't." Ji Mong explains the logic behind Myung Hee's decision.
"I see, so the Hwangbos are now the most powerful clan in the court?" Lady Oh confirms.
"A-jik-eun a-ni-e-yo. (Not yet.) They need Hae Soo to be that. So if you could keep Hae Soo under your apprenticeship, I will figure out how to cancel the impending engagement." Ji Mong asks another favor.
"So the 8th prince is not the next owner of the throne?" Lady Oh remembers Ji Mong once said Hae Soo belongs to the next owner of the throne.
"I'd be damned to let him have it."
"But the 4th prince is? Is that why you brought him back? Is the king aware that he deserted his post? Have you seen the king? The seja had put his name on the line to cover for you. How can you disappear for a week?!" Now Lady Oh worries for the consequences of her nephew's action.
Ji Mong had technically deserted his post without a warning. Mu was left to come up with a lie on the spot telling the king, a long lost relative of theirs is dying so he sent Ji Mong away since Lady Oh can't leave her Damiwon. The king is not a fool to believe it but he lets his first son and his adviser be, watching where there actions are leading.
"I am very thankful to the seja for allowing me to leave, I will take care of the king so you need not worry about it anymore." Ji Mong assures his aunt once more.
"When are they going to ask the king to let the 8th prince marry Hae Soo?"
"A-jik chal mo-reu-gess-seub-ni-da. (I don't know yet.) But the king had heard it too and I'm sure he's already expecting them to ask anytime." Ji Mong paces the length of the room.
"Araseo. For now, leave and attend the palace assembly before you anger the king any further." Lady Oh sends Ji Mong on his way.
The palace assembly resumes with the princes and the two queens in attendance. This morning, the court is alive with Mu, Yo and Wook arguing with how the tea tax should be implemented to the farmers.
Since Darye (tea ceremony) is deeply ingrained in their kingdom's tradition, every household practices it and the ceremony is highly valued in the royal court. It is usually performed in official functions and rituals and is treated as sacred. Thus the demand for tea in the market is high and since the kingdom is situated in a much colder climate, tea plantations are only cultivated down south. The lands governed by the Naju Oh Clan and GyeonJu Kim clan. It is harvested only during the late winter going to Spring.
With the harvest season over, the tea farmers are now obliged to remit their taxes to the government. Mu wants the tax of the tea farmers reduced since the kingdom had suffered a drought just this summer and has affected the tea fields. Yo will not agree to it accusing his brother of using his position as the seja to further the gains of their clan. He will only agree to it if the king also reduces the tax the northern family remits. Wook, who now holds the treasury position, is being pulled on both sides. He understands the reasoning behind Mu's request has nothing to do with his clan's advancement and is really for the farmers but Wook's clan's territory is also in the north, it would benefit them too if he agrees with Yo.
King Taejo only listens. They haven't passed half of the day and he is already coming down with a migraine. He looks at his adviser beside him, only seeing him today. He had heard Ji Mong arrived a few days ago and was trapped in the Sky tower with the storm raging around them,
"Pyeha, if I may speak…" Queen Shinjeong addresses the king. Observing that King Taejo seems distracted today, she might as well make her move, "The summer season is at its close and soon the festivity for the Lantern Festival and Spiritual Cleansing Ritual will be upon us, wouldn't it be better if we could prepare early for it."
The three princes momentarily stop their argument and the ministers all became attentive, as they too are excited to celebrate a festival, a welcome change from the arguments and formalities they were all enduring lately.
"What does my queen have in mind?"
"Since it's the last festival closing the year, why don't we open our palace and let even the ordinary people come and celebrate with us. It would be a good opportunity to reassure them that the royal family only has the best intention in mind." Queen Shinjeong plans to put her son in charge of the festival this time, ensuring to endear her son in people's eyes so they could win their opinions too.
"Yie pyeha," Queen Yoo surprisingly agrees, seeing an opportunity to bring back the 14th prince to the palace, "It would be nice if we could have all your sons back in the palace performing the sword dance like they did a year ago."
But Queen Yoo's words only served to remind King Taejo of the attempted assassination against Mu at the last Spiritual Cleansing Ritual. He can't have a repeat of it again so he assigns his second queen the preparation of the festivity this time, "Guerehabnida. Then the 8th prince will be in charge of the festivities then."
"Yie pyeha," Wook, caught of guard of his mother's plan, could only accept the responsibility.
"Ah pyeha, since we are doing the festival different this year, why don't we give an equal opportunity to all your sons to lead the sword dance?" Queen Shinjeong subtlety suggests replacing Mu as the head performer of the ritual.
Now everyone tenses. They all know the head performer of the ritual is symbolic of the holder of power in the court. Mu, being the seja had always led the ritual. Queen Yoo, for the past years, had worked to replaced Mu as the head performer but the king always shuts down her move. With the Hwangbos rising in power, Queen Shinjeong tries this time around.
"What do you suggest?" King Taejo asks warily.
"May I speak pyeha?" Ji Mong cuts in before Queen Shinjeong succeeds with her own plans.
King Taejo glances at his adviser, nodding.
"Since Queen Shinjeong is suggesting for equal opportunity, why don't we leave it to luck then?" Ji Mong smiles, hiding his intention well. If they are replacing Mu then he's putting So in it, "Draw lots?"
King Taejo's stoic face breaks into an absurd confusion.
"We put everyone's name in a pot and let the heaven choose. Whichever name we draw gets to lead the ritual. It's fair for every prince or would you rather we let them wield sword against each other until the last person stands?" Ji Mong continues to display his ridiculous smile to mislead the queens. Of course he's going to rig the draw lots.
King Taejo fails to see what his adviser is up to so he agrees, "Guereohara (Do so.)"
"Yie pyeha, shall we do it now or we wait for all the prince to come home?" Thanks to the second queen's suggestion, now Ji Mong sees an opportunity to present the 4th prince to the court without looking like he deserted his post. The letter from Gen. Park that he is holding is no longer needed but it's still better that they have a fall back just in case something goes awry.
"Ji-geum-eun. (Now.)" King Taejo answers.
A eunuch brings a large vase for water drawing and had all the princes line up with their wooden rectangular family crest, where their names are carved.
"Baek-Ah hyungnim, do you think I could skirt this one out? I don't want to lead the sword dance." Eun whispers to Baek-Ah as they fall in line.
"Gocheong haji ma, the heavens will not choose you." Baek-Ah assures Eun.
Queen Yoo puts her own crest in place of Jung's and Guen Sun puts in Lady Shinjuwon's in place of the 4th prince. Save for the individual names carve in one side, the crest all look and made of the same wood, hard to distinguish from each other.
Ji Mong stands in front of the vase held by a eunuch. He puts his hand inside it, the vase going deeper than half of his arms length. He fumbles for Lady Shinjuwon's crest, feeling for the carved hanja of her name. When he takes a hold of it, he withdraws his hand and reads the name loud and clear, "Shinjuwon Soyong."
He turns the crest for everyone to see. The two queens are angry but seeing as the draw lots were done in front of everyone, they can't do anything about it.
"Kuereom, the 4th prince will be leading the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual then." King Taejo announces and adds to his self, "This should be interesting."
The powers in his court are shifting and his 4th and 8th son are coming up fast.
"Pyeha," Queen Shinjeong is not yet done. "Since the whole kingdom is celebrating, shall we release a court lady or pardon a prisoner or perhaps… grant a marriage proposal on the night of the festival?"
If King Taejo did not overhear Myung Hee's request to his second queen, he might have trusted that this second suggestion of his second queen will be for the benefit of their people but as it stands, he guesses Queen Shinjeong will be proposing a marriage between her son and Lady Oh's apprentice on the night of the festival.
"We shall see then, if the festival goes well." King Taejo doesn't commit. His second queen is really coming in strong on him today. Though he already has his first son as the seja and his 4th son as a back-up seja, he's beginning to see his 8th son too.
Ji Mong clasps his hands behind his back tightly.
Now the game for the throne begins.
Tonight, Wook comes to visit the Damiwon asking for Hae Soo. Since Lady Oh is still at the king's chamber, Hae Soo was called by an unaware second ranking gungnyeo.
Still reeling from the intense argument she just had with her cousin a few days ago, Hae Soo didn't want to see the 8th prince, unknowing of how should she act in front of him.
"Shall we walk?" Wook attempts a smile, trying to make Hae Soo comfortable.
"Maybe we should stay here. Perhaps the tea room at the second floor?" Ha Jin suggests. With everything getting complicated between the two of them, Ha Jin draws a line, all formal and not much welcoming anymore. She turns for the stairs but Wook grabs her hand.
"Let's walk." Wook insists, pulling Hae Soo with him.
They come to the pavilion, the one they used to hang around before. Wook releases her hand as soon as they step in it. He walks further to the pavilion while Ha Jin leans by the balustrade near the entrance, maintaining distance.
With his back turned to Hae Soo, Wook starts the conversation with an apology, "I'm sorry about Myung Hee hurting you. Please know that she didn't mean it. She's just under a lot of stress lately. I hope you understand."
A lot of stress, I understand but betrothing me without me agreeing to it is different.
Ha Jin doesn't answer. Never in her entire life had she imagined she would be forced into an engagement and at a very young age. She's afraid of Myung Hee, afraid of this period she's trapped in. Not long ago, Ji Mong is threatening her to end whatever she has with Jung. Then she slipped up in a royal function and innocent people lost their lives so she could keep hers. Then she comes home to a household that swore to protect her, only to be slapped by her cousin and be threatened to put in the street. She doesn't mind the streets if she is still in the 21st century. She's a degree holder, she could get a job but this is Goryeo with a caste system in place. Status and clan control everything. If Myung Hee disowns her, she will not survive.
She chews the inside of her cheek, pursing her lips and holding herself from crying. She's scared of what she had gotten herself into. She crosses her arms against her chest, unconsciously putting her guard-up.
"Hae Soo-ya, say something." Wook is afraid of Hae Soo's silence. He doesn't want her to hate him. This is why he couldn't agree with Myung Hee's way. Instead of winning Hae Soo's heart, she's only going further away.
"What can I say? Do I get to disagree to it?" Ha Jin didn't mean to sound sarcastically. Judging from the way Wook had reacted when Myung Hee told her she's betrothed, it might be that Wook is also being forced into it. "Joesonghabnida, I didn't mean to be rude. I should leave."
"Hae Soo-ya." Wook turns back to stop her from leaving, "Can you at least hear me out?"
Ha Jin's only answer is to stay put. If she opens her mouth to speak, she might say something more offensive than her last words.
Wook walks back to her and Ha Jin automatically presses herself to the balustrade. Wook notices it and stops a meter from her, respecting her space, "I know you're afraid but can you at least trust me?"
Ha Jin keeps her eyes off from Wook as she voices a difficult question, "Did you agree to the marriage?"
"Would it be so bad to marry me?" Wook returns the difficult question to Hae Soo. "I can provide you a household, untouchable in the court. I can even make you a queen."
Ha Jin is handling the situation with her heart on the line. She doesn't see it as a mere negotiation or political strategy for their clan, "It's a relationship wangjanim. You don't just promise eternity to someone lightly. Besides I never wanted to become a queen and you're already married to my cousin. I will only be a second wife."
"If I make you my first wife, will you accept?"
Wook's words confuse Hae Soo. She fails to see that he is handing her his heart and making a confession, "Wangjanim, I think you're misunderstanding me. I do not wish to enter a marriage for convenience. If I decide to marry, I want it because I share the same love with the man I want to spend the rest of my life with."
"Hae Soo-ya, I admire how innocent Myung Hee had raised you and I like you that way but you have to understand that marriage among nobles and royal family is more of an agreement and alliance between clans rather than the love you aim to have." Wook explains once more what Baek-Ah had already explained to Hae Soo.
"So are you telling me that you want the marriage to happen?" The fear is too evident in Hae Soo's eyes even when she masks it with anger.
"I'm telling you, I want you to trust me." Wook takes a step closer to Hae Soo, reaching to her trembling wrist, "I promise I will never hurt you. Please… you don't have to be afraid of me. It's painful to see you being like this to me. Have I ever failed you with my promise before? … You can trust me."
Wook tries to sweet talk Hae Soo out of her angry mask. Taking something from the inside of his sleeves, he reveals a red string bracelet with a jade stone at the middle. He touches Hae Soo's left wrist and ties the bracelet around it, "It's from Myung Hee. It's her present for your birthday but she was too sick to give it to you that time so she asked me to hand it to you. I'm sorry I only gave it just now. Please keep it as a sign of my promise."
Ha Jin looks at the bracelet in her wrists, experiencing a déjà vu. Closing her eyes, she had seen this before but she's perplexed. Is she seeing that girl's hand in her dream or that flash of memory of Hae Soo. It's been a while since she saw a flash of memory. She had lost it after she settled upon Hae Soo's life. Either way, the bracelet looks the same from both the dream and from the flash of memory.
Ha Jin shakes her head to dispel the dizziness.
"Gwaenchanha?" Wook asks as he notices Hae Soo momentarily swaying.
"Where did you say you get the bracelet?" Ha Jin asks once more.
"Your Myung Hee unnie says this bracelet is a family heirloom, handed down to the ladies of your household. She said you would like it." Wook retells what Myung Hee told him about it.
Ha Jin finds the bracelet strange. It feels as if it's hers but she doesn't like it.
"Waeyo?"
"Nothing." Ha Jin looks up to the 8th prince, examining his face, seeing nothing. "Kamsahabnida."
Wook breaks into a warm smile this time. He puts down her hand but doesn't release it, interlacing his hand with hers, "Don't worry about the marriage. It can't happen until you finish your apprenticeship. We have time. I will figure something out. So if we could go back to the way we used to be, I would really appreciate it."
"Cheongmal?" Ha Jin is surprise that the 8th prince is letting her off from the engagement easily.
Wook nods, smiling tightly as he pats her head.
"Ah before I forget." Wook holds Hae Soo by the waist and lifts her to the balustrade, sitting her down. He takes another thing inside his sleeves, an ointment. "Jjamkan, kaman isseo, (Stay still for a second.)
He dabs a little of it on the thin dark welt on Hae Soo's cheeks, "Mianhaeyo, please forgive your unnie. She didn't mean to hurt you. She is inconsolable with guilt after you left."
Wook lies smoothly. Myung Hee didn't even know Hae Soo is missing for the whole weekend. The storm had kept her inside her quarters.
Ha Jin stays still the way the 8th prince had asked her too. She gives a small smile, assuring the 8th prince. Wook sighs a relief that Hae Soo isn't hard to convince. Now, he only needs Myung Hee to forgive Hae Soo to bring back the peace in his household.
From a far, they don't look like two people who had just broken an engagement. They look like lovers meeting secretly at the pavilion and So is raging in jealousy as he watches them. He knew they were close before but he never pay attention to it because they were supposed to be 'family' but observing his brother now, affectionately dabbing an ointment on Hae Soo's cheek, it seems his affection is not innocently familial at all.
"Where have you been? I thought I told you can't leave the sky tower." Ji Mong exclaims the moment So reaches the landing of the stairs, still wearing his hood over his head.
Mu sits at his usual chair by the table, racking his chair at its two feet calmly.
"I thought you said, no one is allowed to visit the apprentices at the Damiwon then why is my 8th brother meeting Hae Soo at the pavilion?" So asks, his tone quiet and accusatory. He uncovers his hood from his head, his skin a little flushed from maintaining his self-control.
"Micheosseo? (Are you crazy?) What if someone saw you?" Ji Mong scrunched his eyes shut. The 4th prince and his little queen are really driving him crazy.
"Wook is allowed to visit Hae Soo as her family and her guardian." Mu explains, keeping his head above the two who look mad at the moment.
"But it doesn't look like my 8th brother is just harboring a familial concern for her. He was touching her cheek affectionately. She wouldn't even talk to me and she's letting him touch her cheek. Her cheek!" So looks like a boy about to throw a tantrum for not getting his candy.
Mu purses his lips together, holding down a laugh. It's strange but he finds his brother's jealousy adorable. So could literally scare the wits out of a man but he definitely looks the part of a younger brother right now. He momentarily forgot that they have a pressing issue to discuss.
"Anjara, (sit down)" Mu pulls a chair for So, "If you have listened to us and send the lady a letter then she wouldn't be so angry with you right now. As it is, you waited how many months again?"
"Daseot (Five)" Ji Mong answers, taking a seat at the balustrade.
"Five months to write her a letter. The lady is virtually clueless as to when were you coming back or if you were ever coming home. If Ji Mong didn't dragged you back here, she would have what? Waited 2 years? You weren't really expecting that she would just open her arms and welcome you warmly that easily, were you?" Mu patiently explains pouring a glass of water for his brother.
"Why not? I'm home now, isn't that what matters most?" So stubbornly asks.
Hands downs, his younger brother really has no clue when it comes to women. Mu tries again, "You promised her a month and you didn't turn up after that. You broke your promise to her and you didn't even bother to explain. If she did that to you, will you be alright with it."
"Mul-lun anh-seub-ni-da. (Of course not.) I would have come and find her wherever she is." So confidently answers taking the glass of water to drink from it.
"Geu-reo-ji! (Exactly!) So don't expect her falling into your arms anytime soon. Apologize sincerely and lose that arrogant mindset of yours. Algessniya?" Mu happily plays the part of an older brother for So.
So doesn't answer and only plays with his glass of water.
"Ah, you can show-up at the court safely after three days. Your father had sent out a command to have all his sons back to the court." Ji Mong narrates what happened at the court a while ago, including the part where he drew So's name to lead the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual.
"But it's hyungnim's position?" So points out what everyone already knows.
"The second queen is waving her new found power in the royal court and is changing a few decrees here and there." Mu explains, turning serious now. "Ji Mong and I think she would be proposing the marriage between our 8th brother and Hae Soo on the night of the festival since the king is required to grant a favor at the occasion."
"And you will stop it." It's not so much as a statement but a command in Ji Mong's part. He walks to the table and seat between the two.
"How? I don't have that much power in court yet. There is no doubt that Gen. Park will stand with me and mobilize the military if I ask him to but this isn't that kind of situation where I need soldiers and wouldn't I be accused of coup?" So turns to his brother, "Hyungnim, can't your position as a seja to disallow the union?"
"I think you already know I would have used my position as a seja to stop it but right now, politically, we all know the Hwangbos are more powerful than I am and they will gain more after this marriage." Mu admits how precarious his standing as seja is.
"We either cut off Hae Soo from her clan, which she won't survive, or you take the Chancellery seat of your adoptive mother to gain a higher standing than the 8th prince and hinder the engagement without bloodshed." Ji Mong proposes.
"Andwaeyo!" So instantly rejects both options. Standing-up, he expresses his decision with anger and finality. "I might as well mobilize the military and stage a coup to seize that throne but I will not asks for the Kang's Chancellery seat!"
So walks away but Ji Mong grabs his arm, "You might have the command of our military forces but the Hwangbos hold the treasury department, they can cut off your budget and starve the military or they can buy their private army to go against you. Your choice."
Ji Mong doesn't really care if they start a coup now and burn the whole kingdom to the ground but So is as clan less as his little queen is. He might win the war but without a backing of a clan, he and his little queen will not survive the throne long enough to see a happy ending.
"Do you even know that crazy consort? What she wants? What she does to get it? Shinjuwon soyong doesn't offer a hand without getting an arm in return!" It's the first time So ever revealed anything about his adoptive mother and he is trembling from fear and anger. He turns his back from the two, breathing to keep his self-control.
She can have your soul for all I care but you will not hand my little queen to that sly, conniving snake that is your 8th brother.
Mu pulls Ji Mong's hands from So, "Mianhaeyo So-ya. Lets just find another way."
"I don't see any other way!" Ji Mong exclaims out of frustration. " Even if his birth mother takes him back, the Chungju Yu Clan had fallen out of grace from the king's favor. They won't get it back in two months time."
"Kueman hara Ji Mong-ah!" Mu commands, "Let it rest, we'll find a different way."
Ji Mong stands-up, coming closer to the 4th prince to advice him in a low voice, "I don't know what happened to you in the Kang household to make you that afraid of your adoptive mother but if she wants to use, join her fray and use her too. You can't play a victim forever. It will cost you more than what you have already lost."
Ji Mong bows to the seja and the 4th prince to leave. He can't stand being at their presence right now. He is too angry to reason out with them.
Maybe I should prepare a poison for the three of us. We might as well have a toast to leave this lifetime behind.
The sun casts a soft sunlight this afternoon as drizzles of rain fall from the sky. Lady Shinjuwon is gathering the berries from the Belladonna shrub in her garden when Guen Sun informs her that she has a visitor at the Daechung. She stands up and takes a hold of the bowl with her gloved hands. She follows Guen Sun to the Daechung and was surprise to see the 4th prince sitting at one of the chairs at the table, with a tea being served for him by one of the servants. She smirks, walking slowly the long length of the table, her fingers gliding at the top of it.
"What brings my prodigal son back? I didn't know you could reach Songak from Anju in a day's time."
As soon as the servant exits, Guen Sun closes the door and stands by the foyer, making sure no one disturbs the two. So braces his self to be engulfed with that nauseating smell of sweet musk in the air as he watches the door close upon them.
Lady Shinjuwon puts down the bowl of berries by the table and takes off the gloves from her hand. So watches the poison berries wondering if he came at a wrong time. But then again, there is never a good timing with his adoptive mother. She is always a predator playing with her prey.
"Why does my son seek me?" Lady Shinjuwon stand besides So, leaning by the table. Her fingers ghosting around So's arms coming up to his chin, tipping it to make him look at her.
"I want the Chancellery seat." So goes straight to the point, looking at his mother's dark eyes.
Lady Shinjuwon releases So's chin and laughs maniacally then abruptly stops, "And why would I give you that?"
"Because I'm your only heir and your only way to get to that throne, whether we both like it or not." So returns at looking at the other side of the wall, maintaining an emotionless face. He reclines his back to the chair, acting coolly. Ji Mong is right, this game of his adoptive mother works two ways and he'd be damned to play the victim forever.
"And what would you give me in return?" Lady Shinjuwon stops leaning beside him to take a seat at the head of the table, establishing whose in charge.
"You can have the regency when I take the throne." So is careful not to promise an exact date, knowing that he wouldn't actually take the throne at all. It belongs to his first brother and he swore with his life that he would keep it that way.
But of course Lady Shinjuwon is too smart for it, "When will we have the throne?"
So tenses but maintains his composure, "You shall have it when the time comes."
"I want an exact promise. Who knows if you're just fooling me and doesn't really intend to take the throne?" Lady Shinjuwon smiles treacherously.
"I will take it when my father dies." So lies smoothly.
"Ah… Shall I poison him now?" Lady Shinjuwon suggests.
So feigns a smirk to hide his nervousness, "My father is old, I don't think he would last long. Let him live the remaining years of his life peacefully. He founded this great kingdom, he deserves to die on his own."
"I see, I guess you haven't lost your ability to sympathize." Lady Shinjuwon pulls the bowl of poisoned dark violet berries in front of her. "For all the lessons I have put you through, I guess you've never lost your weakness to sympathize. That's generous of you. It would be your downfall."
"Eomonim, it would be more dangerous if I lose my humanity. By then I wouldn't have qualms to betray you." So looks at Lady Shinjuwon with a threatening gaze.
Lady Shinjuwon goes into another fit of maniacal laugh, "Don't worry my dear son, you can never betray me. After all, the king agreed to hand me the card that is causing all of you this trouble. So tell me, when do I meet this pretty lady that caused the shift of power in the court?"
When Lady Shinjuwon came to cash in the king's favor, she had asked to adopt Hae Soo to her clan. Now she has control over Hae Soo, the 4th prince and unknowingly at Ji Mong, the 8th and the 14th prince.
King Taejo doesn't know why Lady Shinjuwon wants to adopt Hae Soo but with his hands tied by his word, he had no choice but to grant her the custody of Hae Soo, trusting that Lady Shinuwon wouldn't get her hands on Hae Soo for as long as Myung Hee, her guardian, is alive. Myung Hee is unknowingly competing with her to register Hae Soo with their respective clans. At the moment, Myung Hee still has Hae Soo's custody but if she dies without completing the registry, then Hae Soo will become clan less and Lady Shinjuwon can now legally put her into her registry.
So freezes, struggling to not show any emotion, "What do you mean eomonim?"
"I'm telling you, I would give you the thing you most want if you hand me that throne." Lady Shinjuwon maintains a sweet sickly smile on her face, "Am I not a reasonable mother?"
"Eomonim!" So's composure breaks upon hearing the threat looming above Hae Soo's head. He doesn't know what deal his adoptive mother made with the king but she no doubt holds the card against him now. His hands ball of its own accord and he shuts his eyes, taking a calming breathe.
"Please don't hurt her. I will get you that throne, just give me some time."
"Who says I'm going to hurt her? You're misunderstanding me my dear son." Lady Shinjuwon inclines her head at So, "I'm going to let you have her, tied in a beautiful ribbon, in a red dress down the aisle. In fact, do you want me to get rid of her cousin who caused that angry welt on her cheek?"
She pauses for a greater emphasis, "Oh! Did you not know?"
So is lost. Hae Soo had refused to tell him how she got that marked and it's only been days but his adoptive mother is well informed.
"Her cousin had slapped her hard and threatened to put her on the streets when she refused to marry the 8th prince. Cruel of her, isn't it?" Lady Shinjuwon tightens the web around So, capturing him well. She plans to get rid of Hae Soo's guardian and intends to make So an accomplice. It would hurt Hae Soo to find that her beloved prince had killed her cousin. Another card to wield on So just in case he acts up against her after he gets what he wants.
"Lady Myung Hee had hurt Hae Soo?" Now So sees Myung Hee as a threat to Hae Soo too. He's playing well into Lady Shinjuwon's trap and Lady Shinjuwon is enjoying it.
"Listen well eomonim. I will only offer this once. I will seat at the Chancellery seat and become the heir of your clan. You will go back to the north and wait patiently until I get the throne. You will protect Hae Soo and let me marry her and I will hand you the regency after I sit in that throne."
"Arasseo…" Lady Shinjuwon nonchalantly answers. She takes a berry and stands to her full height, coming in front of So. "Seal the deal?"
She puts the poisoned berry on her mouth and pulls So for a kiss, sharing the poison in his lips. With one berry, the poison isn't fatal. It only numbs their senses and throws them to hallucination.
Editors' note:
The elders were right when they warn us not to play with devil, isn't it?
Sorry, no kiss for our 4th prince. Remember that in the kdrama, So only got to kiss Hae Soo after he gets unmasked? Ha Jin will have to get rid of his mask first before we get a kiss between the two. and the seja is on point, So can't just smile his way back to Hae Soo's arm after disappearing on her. XD
At this point, no one is innocent anymore. Jung is a letter stealer but so is the crown prince. Myung Hee is crazy but so is Ji Mong. Wook lies to win Hae Soo's heart but so is Wang So, (No wait, So hasn't lied yet.) Everyone has their own design to possess Hae Soo and only Lady Oh is looking after her without a hidden agenda.
Preview:
So struggles with his mask and Eun makes him reveal his scar. Gen. Park comes home for the festival and Jung? Shall I call back Jung? We have too many antagonist at the moment, I'm drowning. Lol. Lady Shinjuwon will head for the north but she will move another pawn before leaving.
