Chapter 37:
White strips of hanji paper containing passages of Buddhist scriptures sways as it hang freely underneath the tree. The mourners gather on an open area at the base of Mt. Songak, overlooking the town and sea below. Myung Hee's body is laid to rest in a red coffin on top of pyre while a Buddhist monk chants prayers in front of the coffin.
Wook holds a torch, leading the burial rites for his wife. If he was good at sporting a stoic face before, today his face is practically devoid of any emotion. As a custom in their era, men are not allowed to grieve or cry during the funeral rites. He goes through the motion of stepping in front of the pyre and lowering the torch to it, starting the fire and burning it. Every action, meticulously and robotically done.
When the servant handed him the arrow and his two brothers, Jung and So, reacted after seeing it, he knew right there, his wife was not a victim of random thievery like what the servant had just described. He too, is familiar with the arrow and had a hunch. He sent his people to examine the place where Myung Hee's party was attacked. Their belongings were overturned, the horses were cut lose, the silvers and good were taken but the supposedly arrows that rained upon them are missing. He bets his servant was only lucky enough to survive with the arrow lodge in her upper arm. With their clan native to the north, it's not hard to find out that private armies of the clans in the north commonly use the said arrow. The question lies with whose clan has the motive to kill Myung Hee and why.
He stands, watching the pyre go in flames and with it is the kindness and devotion Myung Hee had inspire in him. He might not have love his wife the way he loves Hae Soo but Myung Hee is the only one holding him back from succumbing to the darkness his mother created in him. He had been carefully playing by the rules all this time, staying quietly in the corner and contented to hold whatever position the king hands him. With the death of his wife, he realizes what Yeonhwa had been telling him, their clan is only a plaything to other clans who control power in the court. Their lives are mere casualties to the other clan's bid for power. He swears by his wife's grave, he will no longer be a victim from here on out.
Behind Wook are his siblings and servants all dressed in the mourners' white ceremonial clothes. Baek-Ah stares blankly at a space between the sky and Myung Hee's red coffin, unaware of his surroundings. A tear courses down his cheek, a spite to the customs of their time that kept Myung Hee out of his range. He reaches out to Hae Soo's hand beside him, holding it while she cries. Behind her is So, watching their hands entwining out of grief. Jung stands on Baek-Ah's other side, looking after his 13th brother. With the death of his brother's love, Jung sets his own problem aside to be there for Baek-Ah. He can do that much for his brother who only cared for him regardless of his resentment towards him.
Not far, standing by the trees, a stranger visibly tries to blend in with guests who are paying respect to Myung Hee's funeral. So observes the man, taking notice of him from the beginning. Catching the stranger's gaze, the stranger's eye quivers a little, acknowledging the 4th prince. So grinds his teeth together, wondering if he should get rid of the spy or hear him out first. He'll reserve his judgment for as long as the spy maintains his distance.
Queen Shinjeong appears at his son's household, visiting to see how Hae Soo and her son are doing. Yeonhwa welcomes her on her own, seeing as Wook and Hae Soo wouldn't come out of their rooms. They pass by Wook's quarters on their way to the sarangchae and observe that no lantern is lighted inside.
"How is your brother doing?" Queen Shinjeong stops in front of Wook's quarters to observe.
"He mostly stays inside his room. The servants also report he doesn't touch his food." Yeonhwa is starting to be alarmed by the lack of response from her brother, "Go cheong hajimaseyo eomonim, I'll take care of him."
"Johda. (Good.) I don't think he could afford to grieve for long. There are many things to be done. We have to talk to the Haes and secure our alliances. We should have married your brother to Hae Soo sooner now we have nothing to hold against the Haes. They could easily discard us." Queen Shinjeong regrets.
"Maybe we should consider an alliance with a different clan eomeonim." Yeonhwa suggests.
"With whom? There's not many who are more powerful than the Haes."
"If the Haes would discard us then we should find a way to cut their power and abandon them first. We have the treasury of the palace to back our finances now. We can afford a larger private army." Yeonhwa had been thinking on how to strengthen their clan's power ever since Wook held the treasury department, "And maybe we should reject my betrothal to the far away rich clan."
"Yeonhwa-ya!" Queen Shinjeong had personally arranged Yeonhwa's betrothal.
"If I could marry into a powerful clan rather than a rich clan, wouldn't it be more advantageous to us?" Yeonhwa reasons out.
"Like who?"
"Like my 4th brother? We all know he's more likely to sit on that throne rather than the seja at the moment." Yeonhwa had planned it all out in her head. She's going to have that throne no matter who sits there, "My 4th brother trusts me. I can make him see differently."
Queen Shinjeong considers it for a moment, "It's not a secret that the 4th prince is in love with another girl and his mother, Lady Shinjuwon, will not take kindly into making a deal with us. Not after our clan's betrayal."
"Hae Soo. He's in love with Hae Soo." Yeonhwa doesn't want to admit it but she needs to consider facts, "Hae Soo is clan less now. Lady Shinjuwon will most likely consider me, coming from the clan who holds the treasury."
Underestimating the Kangs, Yeonhwa fails to take into deliberation that the Kangs power stems from the treasury they have. They don't need the treasury of the palace, the Kangs could easily buy the palace if they want to.
"Let me think about it. I will make an arrangement with Lady Shinjuwon. For the meantime, it would be in our interest to take Hae Soo in. It seemed everybody wants that girl." Queen Shinjeong retains the household arrangement for Hae Soo instead of sending her back to the north, "You try befriending her too. It will come handy to us."
Yeonhwa breathes in annoyance, accepting her mother's command, "I'll see what I can do."
The morning assembly at the Heogyong Hall is conspicuously full and rowdy today. The princesses and concubines who don't normally attend the meeting are surprisingly present, filling the hall with their murmurs and excited giggle. All of them on the look out for the only face they never paid attention to before.
The princes take their places at the aisle, each quiet and contemplative with their own dilemma. Yo worries for Jung who hadn't showed up in any of their family meals lately. Wook and Baek-Ah are still trapped in their mourning solitude. Eun is shaking his head from the hangover last night. Jung is a statue with no emotion beside Baek-Ah while So and Mu arrived last, coming in together. A eunuch announces their presence at the door and everyone falls silent. The princes who are all in reverie, notices the abrupt lack of noise everywhere and they finally sensed the weird atmosphere around them.
"Is this how our assembly will be from now on?" Won whispers beside Eun.
"Chal mo-reu-gess-seub-ni-da. (I don't know.) I wish they would all go away." Eun answers, forming another stupid idea on his head, "No, they could stay. They could all replace me here so I can leave freely."
Mu and So takes their place beside their brothers with Mu looking around and So oblivious to the people's newfound curiosity on him. Two princesses giggle behind them and Mu couldn't help but glance back, looking at them strangely. The princesses blush upon the attention, covering their faces with their small hands. Mu makes a 'tsk tsk tsk' reprimanding sound and turns back in the aisle in time to hear the eunuch call for attention as King Taejo enters the hall.
King Taejo sits on his throne and lets his eyes pass through the fullness of his assembly, immediately noticing his daughters and concubines. He turns to Ji Mong, raising his eyebrows in question.
"I think they were all curious to see the 4th prince." Ji Mong purses his lips in doubt, whispering his answer to King Taejo's ears.
King Taejo turns his focus on his daughters, sighing. "May I ask all the unaccountable people to please leave the premise so we could start the palace assembly."
The princesses and the concubines erupt in shy giggles once more, shuffling in their feet, looking at the 4th prince one last time before bowing to the king and leave. It would take several long minutes before the Hoegyong hall empties to its usual occupants. Everyone's curiosity towards the 4th prince fascinates King Taejo for now so he patiently waits for all of them to go. Once they are all gone, King Taejo addresses his unaware 4th son.
"So, our 4th prince…" King Taejo smiles amusedly, "You should reconsider your choice of staying unmarried, whilst you find your mother and I, besieged with multiple requests from the other royalties."
"Yie?" Confusion appears on So's face.
King Taejo laughs wholeheartedly, something he hasn't done for so long. For all the intelligence his 4th son has, So is insensitive to how people views him these days.
So could only meet his first brother's playful gaze, laughing with their father. The whole hall breaks into a nervous chuckle, following the lead of the king and the crown prince.
"What's our first subject to discuss for today?" King Taejo maintains a smile.
Mu lets out a deep breathe, the playtime over, "We are still in the discussion regarding the tax being imposed to tea farmers down south."
"And?" King Taejo prompts, "What does our treasury say about it?"
"Pyeha, if I may…" Wook steps out of their positions to speak, "If it would help our tea farmers to recuperate from this year's drought, then we should cut them some lax, lowering their taxes by 5% would be enough."
"That is quite a fit to be accomplish…" Yo debates, "Pyeha, I held the treasury department for years, cutting off some tax from the people would mean fewer revenue for the palace and tightening of budget from the other department to meet the palace' expenses. Besides, we will be entering the winter season soon and the demand for tea would surge up once again, if …"
"Keureso, I thought that the 5% cut from the tea farmer's tax should be temporary, only up until they get back on their feet." Wook cuts Yo's sentence. They had worked out this plan already. Though Wook is now wary of the Chungju Yu clan, he follows with the alliance, thinking their own clan can't handle the seja and his 4th brother at the same time.
"By next year, after their good harvest in Spring, then we shall impose a 7% increase tax on them to get back the revenue we've lost."
"But that is not fair. You cut them slack by 5% only to raise their tax by 7% afterwards. These people are farmers, they are ordinary people who live from hand to mouth everyday. Surely we could care more for them?" Mu argues.
"Then, will the aristocratic clans governing the lands of these farmers take responsibility for them and pay the excess 2%?" Yo throws Mu's words back to him.
But the aristocratic clans down south are not as rich as the northern clans so as much as Mu would like to commit, it's just not possible for their clans to do so.
"I assume the chancellery seat of the Haes will be decided upon by the 8th prince? And since Wook wangja and Yo wangja had already argued their side, we only have the Kang's to ask for their decision. So wangja, what would be the stand of your clan?" King Taejo hasten to end their discussion that started out as light and turned into a heated argument as always.
Mu glances at So and So maintains a neutral expression, "4%."
"Eh?" Wook and Yo asks.
"Cut the farmer's tax by 4% and maintain it for two harvest season. It's a slow burn of revenue but at least the farmers get to earn back what they have invested and the palace budget won't suffer too much as we wait for the farmers to find their bearing." So explains.
He, Ji Mong and Mu had also gone through their own plan too. One of them has to argue against the two clans while the other tries to reach a compromise. It is So's task to do the compromise since he holds most of the power in the court. It would make him look neutral in the eyes of the ministers and he might just earn their trust too.
"4% then." King Taejo agrees, "Is that fair enough for everyone?"
Yo and Wook catch each other gaze, they need a better plan to outpower their siblings. Yo wonders what's the point of inviting his 4th brother to their family meals if he couldn't curry favor from him. That will have to change soon.
The two nods, submitting to their 4th brother once again.
"Next?" King Taejo's playful mood is gone. He hopes the next agenda wouldn't be too heavy.
"Pyeha since the feast is over and everyone had their fill of rest, maybe we should send our military officials back to their posts so they could better man our borders." Wook opens their second topic with a request, planning to send So's company back to the north.
"It has come to my attention that the roads going to our provinces up north had become more perilous with thieves and wild thugs robbing and victimizing the innocent travelers." King Taejo had heard about what happened to Myung Hee, "I am sorry for your loss, my son."
Wook only nods.
"Kuereom, we'll be sending Gen. Park and Jung wangja back to their post once again." King Taejo commands.
"Yie?" Yo looks up to the king, a question on his mouth, "What about our 4th…"
"The 4th prince is now holding the Chancellery seat of their clan, he will be staying in the palace to handle officials matters." King Taejo cuts into his 3rd son's sentence.
"If our 4th brother is staying then he wouldn't mind working with the seja to launch an investigation to the perilousness of our provincial roads. Our people would better appreciate it if we could ensure their safety as they travel." Wook suggests instead.
He might not be able to send their 4th brother away but it would make him and the seja busy with their investigation. They have long and various networks of road at the middle of thriving forest from the capital to the north. It would take several months or even years and a big budget to improve it and he won't provide the latter.
"Guerehabnida. The seja and the 4th prince will be assigned the task." King taejo acquiesced. He then addresses his two sons, "While you are in that matter, it wouldn't be much of a burden if you could look into your 8th brother's wife's accident. We owe it to your 8th brother to find his wife's perpetrators."
"Yie pyeha." Mu and So answers automatically, accepting the command.
Wook didn't expect his wife's death would become an official matter. With him suspecting the northern clans of their involvement in his wife's death, he's still on the fence if he wants his 4th brother to dip his hand on the matter. He'll see where this investigation will lead to, "That would be kind of you pyeha. Kamsadeurilkeyo. (Let me thank you for it.)"
Nodding to his two brothers, Wook returns to his position, his face devoid of anything.
Ji Mong opens their next agenda, "The Gwageo (The civil government official exam) is coming up this summer pyeha. I think we should start preparing for it."
"Guereohara, how many of our princes will be taking it this time?" King Taejo asks.
"Ah, the seja, the 3rd, 4th, 8th and 9th had already passed. Only the 10th, 13th and 14th will be taking theirs." Ji Mong answers.
"Kuereom pyeha, can my youngest son stay this time. He needs to brush up with his lessons." Queen Yoo finds a way to have Jung stay in the palace.
"Araseo." King Taejo agrees once more. His head beginning to throb with so many requests and plea from his queen and sons. "Are there anymore concerns?"
The ministers and the princes look at each other, murmuring. When no one raised their hand, Mu moves to close their assembly for today.
Feeling the cold ground and the growing grass underneath them, Ha Jin and Baek-Ah lies at Myung Hee's tumulus (mound of earth raised over a grave) looking at the sky above them. They had been like this for the past whole week, getting wasted together and just lying here with no care in the world. Hae Soo is not allowed to leave her quarters for seven days as mourning custom yet everyday, Baek-Ah helps her to slip in their household and come here to while away.
So only watches them from afar with no idea on how to handle their grief. He had his own fair share of deaths far too many to count that at some point he had closed himself up from it to not lose his head against madness. He wanted to be there for Hae Soo but he doesn't know how.
Today, he stands by the opening at the low walls of Myung Hee's tumulus waiting patiently as always. The two, Baek-Ah and Hae Soo, lie at the side of the mound where only the top of their head is visible to him.
Coming-up the hills, Eun trudges around with Soon Deok following him as usual. He hasn't gotten anywhere with his plea with his grandfather and Soon Deok's presence is annoying him at the moment, "Ya! Why won't you leave me alone?! We're not married yet, go away!"
Soon Deok steps back, taken aback by Eun's shouting. Eun proceeds up the hills where he passes his 4th brother by the entrance of Myung Hee's tumulus. He looks up at him with accusing eyes, remembering he's the one who got him engaged,
"Hyungnim ddo silheohabnida. (I hate you too!)"
He said it like a kid throwing a tantrum that it's hard for So to take him seriously. Eun then approaches Hae Soo and Baek-Ah on the mound.
"Joesonghabnida wangjanim," Soon Deok bows in greeting to So, not forgetting her manners.
"Gwaenchanha," So nods in greeting, "I see, you're not faring well with your betrothed."
"It's all good, he normally snaps at me even before we got engaged." Soon Deok smiles but her eyes are shaking a little. "How's Hae Soo?"
Sighing, So directs Soon Deok to where Hae Soo and Baek-Ah are, "I'm not the one she needs right now."
A sadness in his voice. For all the things Hae Soo had done for him, So doesn't know what he can do for Hae Soo right now and Baek-Ah is out of commission to ask.
"I see, you can try being by her side. I'm sure that's enough." Soon Deok offers a smile, assuring So. They start walking towards where the three are hanging-out.
Plodding in front of a tipsy Baek-Ah and Hae Soo, Eun directs his annoyance to the two, "Ya! It's been a week since I got engaged, aren't you going to congratulate me?!"
Eun shouts at the two. Truthfully, he only wants to cheer them up.
"Both of you are really cruel!" Eun kicks at Baek-Ah's calf.
"Ah!" Baek-Ah reaches to his calf, twisting in pain.
"Mwo rago? Yak-hon haess-eo-yo? Nuguende? Onje? (You're engaged? To whom? When?)" Ha Jin squints shaking her tipsiness. She sits up looking at Eun.
With all the burial and mourning rites she had to go through, Ha Jin didn't have the time to ask what's happening around her.
"geok-jeong hajima, I won't invite you." Eun assures Hae Soo sarcastically.
He pushes Baek-Ah and inserts his self at the middle of them, taking the bottle from Ha Jin and lying down. He pulls Hae Soo with him. The three of them laze once more, looking at the darkening sky.
"Why is everyone engaged at such a young age?" With Ha Jin close to being drunk her tongue is slightly lose, "From where I came from, people get married of their own choice, of their own time, of the person they wanted to be with. They might struggle with finances but no one gets forced into a marriage unless you're one of those chaebol kid. Though I think it's only in the dramas."
Ha Jin laughs at her inside joke with the two watching her, their mouth gaping. Baek-Ah transfers to Ha Jin's other side.
Eun turns to his side prop in his elbow, "What's a chaebol? Wah, I didn't know the north is such a free place. I think I would love to live there too. Shall we leave here?"
"I didn't come from the north. I was born and raised in Seoul, it's down south." Ha Jin nonchalantly answers.
"Mwo?! Ya! Stop spouting nonsense." Baek-Ah tries to cover Hae Soo's mouth, afraid that she might get in trouble again, thinking she's in one of those times where she talks about strange things they couldn't understand. It was fine if it's only the two of them but since Eun is around, Eun might accidentally repeat it to someone else.
Ha Jin pushes Baek-Ah's hand away, "Kuende if I'm clan less then does that mean I'm free to run away and marry anyone from the common folk. Wah… I guess there are perks at being clan less."
"You don't mean that, right?" Baek-Ah is ready to hit Hae Soo in the head if she says that she's serious.
"You're lives are so complicated. Hae Soo's too, how did I ever ended up here?" Ha Jin closes her eyes, feeling the alcohol coursing in her bloodstream.
"Kuere, we're all young, we shouldn't be thinking about marriages and palace responsibilities." Eun rest his back at the ground, looking at the sky before closing his eyes like Hae Soo's.
"It would be nice to run away." Ha Jin responds.
Baek-Ah knows it's just the alcohol talking on Hae Soo. Though if he's honest enough, he too would like to leave the palace and see different places. For once, he lets Hae Soo be and makes his self comfortable beside her, mirroring the two.
Listening to the three of them, So and Soon Deok finally steps in, watching the three casually lying on the ground. With all the talk of running away, So becomes afraid that Hae Soo might leave him. He grows quieter, wanting to feel Hae Soo's touch to calm his worries.
"Soo-ya." Her name slips out of So's mouth, an appeal, "Jib-e kaja. (Let's go home.)"
He takes her hand and slings her arms at his shoulder, abruptly hoisting her up on his back to give her a piggyback. The movement wakes Ha Jin's drunken state. She opens her eyes and sees herself being carried already, "Oh! So wangjanim. Yeogi eseo mwo hago isseoneunde? (What are you doing here?)"
So doesn't answer. Jostling her, he makes her comfortable upon his back and addresses his 13th brother, "Baek-Ah-ya, you and Eun should also go home. The path going down will be too dark in a bit. You might have a hard time traversing it."
Nodding to Soon Deok, So doesn't wait for his brothers to answer and takes a drunken Hae Soo with him.
Walking under the light of a waning moon and lanterns at nearby houses lending their weak light to the path So and Hae Soo are navigating into, the streets are empty and quiet save for Hae Soo, whose drunk playing with their shadows, forming different animals through her hands and making out the animal's sound to go with her shadow.
"Chirp... Chirp." Ha Jin makes a sound of a bird then makes a dog next,
"Arff… arff…" She drops it to form a rabbit after, "Oh! How does a rabbit sound?"
She takes a peek beside So's face, innocently asking. Her breath too close on his ear, it's sending a pleasant goose bump down his spine.
"Deokki-Deokki?... Aniyo?" Ha Jin giggles to herself, "That would be the sound of my heart right now."
So smiles, his ears turning red. He finds a drunk Hae Soo adorable, the kind that reminds him of little kids who run around silly. The kind of childhood he lost after he was adopted to the Kang household.
"What's your favorite animal?" Ha Jin asks.
So tenses, remembering what everyone thinks of him.
"Waeyo?" Ha Jin is unaware that she had just open a box full of painful memories for So.
"They've always called me a wolf dog." So answers quietly, not wanting to burst Hae Soo's bubble.
"Ah… I heard about that." Ha Jin momentarily tries to swim through her hazy state of mind, finding nothing wrong with her question, "But I ask what's your favorite animal not what everyone thinks of you? Besides what's wrong with being a wolf? I've read wolves are smart, sharp. They like freedom and most of all, loyal. They keep to one mate for life even if their partner outlives them."
So shakes his head, unbelieving but charmed nonetheless, "Trust you to find the good in everyone. I wish I could tell you not to change."
"Waeyo? What's wrong with what I've just said?"
"Nothing." Hae Soo's unwavering trust on people is making So nervous. On a good note, it made her accept him openly but on the other side, it also makes her susceptible to everyone's deceit. "I've always liked this part of you."
"Jinjja? Kuereom I promise to never change if you promise that you won't either." Ha Jin tightens her arms around So, resting her head on his shoulder.
So can feel the smile that had formed on Hae Soo's lips, trusting as ever. He sighs. He doesn't want her to change so he promises his self that he would protect her innocence instead, "Na neun pyeon-ha-ji anh-eul geo-si-da (I will not change.) For you, I never will."
"Keureomyo." Ha Jin contentedly rest on So's back, his warmth seeping on her clothes. She continues with playing on her shadow, making different animals, teasing So and laughing.
Their night would have been quiet and uneventful the way Ha Jin wants a normal day if not for the man standing at one of the gates of a hanok and another person following them at a distant. The first one is the stranger who watched them from afar during Myung Hee's funeral. This one doesn't bother to hide. He just appears everywhere waiting for So to acknowledge his presence. So only looks at him in passing, a warning on his eyes. The spy minutely nods, watching them.
The second one follows them at a distance, not eager to make contact. So had never seen him before. He is sure it's not one of Lady Shinjuwon's. He seems relatively harmless, contented to follow for now. He wonders where this one came from and what he wants from him. He shrugs, there are too many people following him these days, it's starting to annoy him. He'll have to warn this second one to leave him alone, lest the stranger finds on his own what happens to strangers who follow him.
His adoptive mother's spy takes his self from leaning on the wall and leaves on the other direction, walking towards the other spy following the 4th prince. He hides in one of the corners and waits for the other spy to pass him. The moment the other spy does, he steps out of the shadow and decisively knifes him by the chest without bothering to find out his motives. The other spy falls easily to ground, sinking on his own blood that surges upon his throat.
With the seven-day mourning period ended, Ha Jin is forced to come back to the Damiwon and resumes her duties. Sober but with a migraine, Ha Jin finds Woo Hee and Soon Deok by the vegetation, picking fresh Napa cabbages.
Woo Hee sees Hae Soo first and carefully greets her, "Gwaenchanhseubnikka Hae Soo Ssi?"
Ha Jin feigns a smile to not offend her friend. She sits alongside the two, joining at the chore, "Soon Deok-ah, I forgot to congratulate you. Mianhaeyo, I was drunk last night... Kuende, is your engagement a welcome news or not?"
Soon Deok doesn't understand Hae Soo's question and stares at her blankly.
"I mean, do you like your engagement or are you being forced into it too?" Ha Jin rephrases her sentence. It's a tactless rephrase but her head is too cloudy to think of a better sentence.
Soon Deok doesn't seem offended. Her face struggles to maintain her neutral expression yet her blush is giving her away.
Woo Hee and Hae Soo momentarily stopped picking a cabbage to watch Soon Deok turn red.
"I guess it's a cause for joy?" Soon Deok avoids their eyes.
"Oh, I didn't know you like the 10th prince." Woo Hee comments.
"Jinjja?" Ha Jin chuckles, a light one, "That's great then. Eun is self-indulgent a lot of times but he'll come around."
Ha Jin thinks Soon Deok and Eun would make a good pair, both innocent and fun in their ways. They are what each other needs.
"He keeps snapping at me these days." Soon Deok anxiously confesses, "I think he doesn't like me at all."
"With your status as a general's daughter, I think the 10th prince clan is lucky enough that you accepted not the other way around." Woo Hee answers matter of factly and this doesn't escape Soon Deok.
Soon Deok might be as childish as Eun at times but she is her father's daughter, smart and inquisitive. For a trainee haengsu gisaeng, Woo Hee seemed to know a lot about palace politics and powerful clans than she should. Soon Deok wonders if there is more to her than she lets on.
"Woo Hee-ya, where did you say you come from?" Soon Deok asks.
"Hmmm…?" Woo Hee lifts her head.
"You said you were from the Balhae? What was your clan?" Soon Deok clarifies the information Woo Hee once shared.
"Cheo-yo? keunyang, I came from a lowly household." Woo Hee throws her practiced answer.
Soon Deok doesn't buy it. With Woo Hee's grace and well-mannered words, she doesn't need this apprenticeship to learn courtly manners.
"Jukhahaeyo (Congatulations!)!" Ha Jin throws her arms around Soon Deok happily, unconsciously distracting Soon Deok.
Soon Deok drops the matter for now and accepts Hae Soo's congratulations, letting herself be happy with Hae Soo, then she remembers,
"How about your engagement with the 8th prince? Will it not happen anymore?" Soon Deok voices what everyone avoids to ask.
Ha Jin tells them what the 8th prince had promised her, showing them her red bracelet. Soon Deok and Woo Hee catch each other's gaze, unbelieving.
"You trust the 8th prince too much." It's not a question but a statement from Woo Hee.
"I don't see why I shouldn't." Ha Jin had heard that argument way too many times but no one would explain to her why she shouldn't.
"I think the 8th prince likes you…" Woo Hee continues with their chore, cutting at the base of the napa cabbage to free it. She tells Hae Soo what everyone is keeping from her,"…not in a familial way."
"Eh?" If Ha Jin were drinking a water right now, she would have spewed it in surprise, "Ani…"
She thinks about it for a second, remembering how Wook kept shouting at her for several months when her cousin was pregnant. "He treats me the way he treats everyone. He's kind most of the time but he scolds at me whenever I make a mistake and…"
He used to make my heart flutter. A little.
It was an unconscious gesture of her heart. Like everyone else, when Ha Jin met the 8th prince, she too understood when Chae Ryung once told her that no once can hold a candle against the 8th prince's kindness and dependability that lends a certain charm, unique only to him. If the 8th prince wasn't married to her cousin, she might have given him a second glance.
"And?" Woo Hee prompts.
Ha Jin shrugs, "I'm still living in the same household. I don't want any complications or misunderstanding to rouse between us."
"Don't you have plans of marrying the 4th prince? You're together right?" Soon Deok pulls at another cabbage.
Ha Jin laughs, "Why does the talk of me being in a relationship always end up in marriage. I'm only 17. Can't we all slow down and enjoy our lives?"
"Because everyone gets married at our age." Woo Hee points out.
"Are you getting married too?" Ha Jin throws the question at Woo Hee.
"I'm a gisaeng," There's sadness in Woo Hee's voice that is hard to detect. If she is still a princess in their kingdom, she would have clamored to get married by now but her life had taken a different turn when they lost their kingdom to the war.
"Mianhaeyo," Ha Jin purses her lips, catching herself being insensitive.
"Gwaenchanhseubnida. Shall we go back? I think we have enough cabbage already." Woo Hee stands, carrying her basket with her.
The two scurries behind Woo Hee with Ha Jin catching-up with her and looping her arms, apologizing once more.
Shortly the three reaches the main lobby of the Damiwon and Ha Jin couldn't help but notice that the place is unusually packed with well-dressed and beautifully groomed ladies, talking in low voices.
"Who are they?" Ha Jin whispers at Woo Hee and Soon Deok.
"Oh! Them." Soon Deok playfully giggles, "They are the other princesses and concubines. These days, they prefer having tea in our Damiwon."
Right. The king had married at least one daughter from each local landlord. How many daughters does he have?
"Waeyo?" Ha Jin watches them as they walk towards the door at the back.
At that moment, So comes in with the seja, engrossed in their own conversation.
"You're about to find out." Woo Hee answers.
The whole place had fallen into a more pronounced hushed conversation and giggles, all staring at the 4th prince. Today, So is at his usual ponytail. His scar, hidden underneath the layers of bb cream, Ha Jin had taught him how to use. He looked unconcerned and his normal scowl is not in place. After his mask came off, his brooding form appears less. Instinctively, his walls are always up but little by little, he begins to relax around people.
Two princesses, the one giggling behind Mu and So the other day at the Hoegyong Hall offer them seats over shy glances and small hands covering their smiles. They introduce themselves as the daughters of the 14th concubine. Mu and So politely accepts the greeting with Mu struggling to hide his playful smile. He'll remember to tease his 4th brother about it later. The newfound attention So is experiencing from several nobles and princesses is amusing to Mu.
"So wangjanim," One of the princesses ask over bashful lidded eyes "May we call you orabeonim from now on?"
"Yie?" So was taken aback by the request.
Mu had to bite his lips hard to stop his self from letting out a ridiculous laugh.
"Would you like to have tea with us? I'll request for another cups to be served." The other princess asks.
"Please." The first princess throws in a sweet smile with the request, pulling a chair in front of them.
"Heol?!" Ha Jin watches with a gaping mouth. It's the first time she sees a girl showers So attention. If she never liked Yeonhwa's attention on So before, this one makes her raised her left eyebrow, the kind Yeonhwa is good at doing. "Have tea with them?"
Is this Goryeo's version of 'ra-myun mogu kal-lae?" (1)
Ha Jin lets out an annoyed exhale.
"Orabeonim, please seat with us." The other princess request once more.
The cabbage Ha Jin is holding is dangerously about to fly out of her hand. She breathes, stomping away before she loses her composure.
By late afternoon, after their basic medicine class, Ha Jin is tasked to organize the herbs in their inventory, arranging them in their proper boxes and storing them. She's at the middle of reaching to a clear bottle of fermented pomegranate at the second top most shelves when So found her. He came this morning to check if she finally came back but was sidetracked by the princesses asking to have tea with him. By the time he and Mu had shaken them off, the apprentices were already in their class, losing his chance to steal Hae Soo for a few minutes.
So watches Hae Soo tip toes and tries to reach the box at the upper shelf, her smalls hands unable to touch the edge of the wood. Smiling, So approaches her from the back and easily takes out the box for her, surprising Hae Soo.
Ha Jin jumps on her feet, shuffling from the unwelcome presence of a stranger behind her. So holds her on both side, steadying her. When Ha Jin recognizes So, her foul mood comes back and she shrugs his hands on her, stepping away.
"What are you doing here? Please leave before Lady Oh sees you and I get punished." Ha Jin addresses So in cheondemal (formal speaking).
"I wanted to see you." So senses the annoyance on Hae Soo but doesn't comprehend it. He advances on her, reaching for her hand but Ha Jin crosses it against her chest defensively.
"I'm not allowed to accept visitors." Ha Jin turns her back and walks the other way.
Confusion floats on So's face wondering what cue did he missed this time. He follows behind her, shadowing her as she moves around the room, arranging boxes that she had covered a while ago. A heavy and tense silence settles between them and So couldn't help but ask,
"Please tell me what's wrong."
"I told you I'm not allowed to accept visitors. Leave." Ha Jin repeats again, not bothering to look at So.
So exhales exasperatedly. Hae Soo is too complicated for him to understand. He wishes he could read into her mind for once and see what she truly means. She had never pushed him away before and the simple shrugging of his hand on her hurts him. He waits for her to say more but Hae Soo remains quiet. He closes his eyes frustratingly and leaves by the door without saying anything.
On his way to the queen's quarter to have dinner, Jung came early and was directed to the garden where his mother and his 3rd brother are taking a walk. He was busy ruminating about the arrow he had seen that he didn't notice he was well into the pavilion already where Queen Yoon and Yo are standing looking over the pond. As he turn passed a tree he can already hear their voices, careful, low and arguing. Instinctively, Jung stays by the tree to listen.
"How could your uncle's men be careless?!" Queen Yoo keeps the anger in her voice, "Even if they'd cleaned up after themselves well, it's useless. Your 8th brother's clan could easily find out that those arrows are from our private army."
Jung freezes over. All his life he had been sheltered, brought up innocently by a mother and a brother who loves him dearly. Even the politics of the court couldn't touch him unless he chooses to do so. He was free to do whatever he wants and live his life however he wants. His family could afford him to be that way. He had looked upon his mother and 3rd brother with so much respect and affection that he wouldn't believe anyone if they ever say his family had a hand with the seja's attempted assassination last year.
"We're not the only ones who are using the said arrow." Yo tries to appease his mother, "Even the Hae's and the Hwangbo's army uses it."
"Yes, I'm sure a parent would be eager to get rid of their only daughter." Queen Yoo sarcastically points out.
"Forgive me Eomeonim, but the Kangs would have more motive than us, seeing as my 4th brother publicly staked a claim to the girl whose supposedly about to be betrothed to my 8th brother." Yo reasons out once more, suggesting passing the blame to the Kangs, "Their army uses the same…"
Jung comes out of his hiding, unable to stand listening anymore. His perception of his happy family shattered with only a few sentences he heard.
"Jung-ah…" Yo sees him first, his eyes a round of surprise and nervousness. Queen Yoo stills, afraid to turn and meet his youngest son's trusting gaze.
But there is no innocence or naïvetés on Jung's eyes this time, only accusation and hurt, "Waehabnida? Wae?!"
Queen Yoo breathes, sighing before turning to look at her son whom he had protected all his life, "Jung-ah…"
She hesitantly advances towards him but Jung steps back.
"U-ri Jung-ah, nae a-deul, chal due-ra-kal ke-yo, (My son, please listen to me first.) Queen Yoo feels hurt to see his youngest son looking at her like a murderer that she is. She slowly steps towards him, reaching to touch his face. She looks every bit apologetic and gentle, not a trace of being a unpleasant queen, "Eomeoni is only trying to give you what you have wished for. Your 8th brother's wife won't see reason in spite of us offering her a better deal."
Wang Ryeom Shiek had secured a meeting with the Haes first before Myung Hee reached her parents. Offering a truce with them plus alliance with the 2nd most powerful clan, the Haes were inclined to accept the good deal but held out for a moment, knowing that Hae Soo's hand is not theirs to give. They asked him to give them some time. The proposal had prompted Hae Hyeonhui to look at his adoptive daughter's registry, planning to finally register her under their family and that's when they found out that Hae Soo's registry is missing.
When Myung Hee came at her parents' house and conclusively tells her parents what she is planning to do with Hae Soo, Wang Ryeom Shiek had just arrived for their second meeting and had heard the whole argument. Misunderstanding the Hae's motive for holding out on the engagement, Wang Ryeom Shiek reports to his niece, the queen, and they got rid of Myung Hee, thinking she's the obstacle that is hindering the engagement to fall through.
Jung trembles with the knowledge that his mother and his brother are not the person whom he had trusted all along. His world suddenly turned up side down. How could he face his 13th brother or the girl he loves the most, knowing he has a hand on the grief they are experiencing at the moment. He stops breathing, feeling as if a knife went through his chest. The realization that it was his hand that caused his brother's and Hae Soo's grief sucks the air out of his lungs. He bends over, his hand braced on his knees, the burden too much to bear.
Queen Yoo goes down to the ground to catch her son, pulling him into an embrace, "Mianhada Jung-ah, eomeoni ga chal mot hae-seo-yo. (I'm sorry, mother did wrong.) It is not your fault but eomeoni's. Leave everything to eomeoni, I will make everything right again. geok-jeong haji ma."
Jung could only let his mother hold him, trying to keep his sanity from slipping away.
So walks at the plaza with no destination in mind, wanting to air his frustration out. He passes Baek-Ah on one of the shops, dinning alone. His sketchbook is spread in the table and his hand full of ink everywhere. Baek-Ah is back into sketching scenes of everyday people, relieving is grief through illustrating once again. He doesn't look like he'd welcome a company so So passes by him without drawing his attention.
So continues on the street, counting his steps. By the time he reaches the market, Lady Shinjuwon's spy approaches him discreetly, maintaining a distance enough for both of them to talk over the noise and the people around them.
"Joesonghabnida wangjanim. I only came to deliver a message from your mother." The spy inconspicuously matches So's pace. "If you could give me a few minutes of your time, I'll disappear after."
"Malhae pa. (Talk)" So calmly commands.
"Your mother wants you to know that she had already taken a step to grant her end of the bargain." The spy starts.
"It's not our arrows who killed my 8th brother's wife, isn't it?" So clarifies as he walks with his hands on his back, looking as if he's just casually strolling.
"Anidbnida." The spy confidently answers, "You mother had already taken your woman' registry even before your 8th brother's wife departed for the north. To her, there's no point in spilling your 8th brother's wife's blood anymore."
"Then the arrow came…" So was going to say his clan, his biological family when he caught his self and corrected it, "from the Chungju Yu clan?"
"Yie wangjanim."
"Wae?" Like Wook, So had a hunch the arrow came from one of the northern clans but blindsided of the brokering engagement between Hae Soo and his 14th brother, So hasn't catch up with the motive behind it.
"There's a deal going down between the Chungju Yu Clan and the Hae Clan but you need not concern about it. Your mother is on top of the situation and will uphold her end of the bargain so you just concentrate in delivering your part." The last sentence is a warning for So.
So doesn't answer. For as long as the king is alive, he has time.
"And that other person who was tailing you, I got rid of him already."
So falters in his step minutely, "I don't suppose you've ask him why."
The spy nods, "That one is clumsy and inexperienced. He confessed he was sent by someone you trusted from the palace in exchange of me helping him."
"And you didn't." So concludes.
The spy raises his eyebrows as an answer. He bows in greeting and leaves the other way, their conversation never taking place.
Ji Mong stands by the balcony of the Damiwon. He came to arrange a favor with Lady Oh a while ago and now they both watch as the gungnyeo(s) close the place for privacy.
"There's too many royalties on my Damiwon these days, I wish they would all leave." Lady Oh massages her temple, complaining.
"Who would have thought our 4th prince will be too popular." Ji Mong chuckles lightly, "I mean in a good way."
"Tell him, I would appreciate it if he and his horde of ogling princesses will stay away from my Damiwon from now on."
Ji Mong only laughs loud, entertained by his aunts' complain.
As the last of the gungnyeo leaves the outer pool in a dim light, So comes in and nods at Ji Mong and Lady Oh by the balcony. The two comes down and greets him with Lady Oh excusing herself to retire for the night.
"Ya!" Ji Mong drops honorific and talks to So like a father, "This is the first and the last time I would do this favor for you. Do not try to pull any tricks on the lady or I will cut that hand of yours if you so much as try to touch the tips of her fingers."
"I'm just going to take a swim at the pool and Hae Soo is just going to serve a tea by the side, what are you talking about?" So looks incredulous. It's the only chore he could think of that he could spend time with Hae Soo without burdening her too much.
"There's a small bathing pool in our Sky tower. If you wanted to take a bath, I could just call a gungnyeo to assist you." Ji Mong doesn't trust So.
"You can't swim in a tub." So points out.
Over a suspicious look, Ji Mong makes his warning clear once more before being shooed away by So.
So walks to the outer pool, closing the sliding doors a bit behind him that only a small petite frame like Hae Soo's can pass through. He takes out his outer clothes, leaving his thin black sokjeogori (upper undergarment) and seokpaji (undertrousers) on. Though Hae Soo had seen him naked up before, he is still not confident to take off his sokjeogori. It might make Hae Soo uncomfortable. He goes down on the warm water and wait by the side of the pool, watching the waning moon once more.
Shortly, he hears a familiar thread of footsteps traversing the grounds. As this person uses her foot to slide the door to the side, So turns to find Soon Deok by the door.
"Ya!" So submerges his whole self, neck down, in the water when he sees it's not Hae Soo on the door. "Yeogi-eseo mwo hago isseo?! (What are you doing here?)"
"Ani… Lady Oh…" Soon Deok shuffles at her feet turning her back from the 4th prince and shutting her eyes," Lady Oh instructed me to serve tea for a royalty bath. I didn't know it was you. Joesonghaeyo."
Ji Mong only arranged a private bath with Lady Oh. He didn't specify for Hae Soo since he thought it was understood already.
So sighs, it's a good thing he didn't take off his sokjeogori at all.
"I'll ask Hae Soo to come instead. Joesonghaeyo." Soon Deok suggests.
"Hara. (Do so.)" So commands.
"Kuende…" Soon Deok turns a little, glancing at So but not really looking, "Why are you asking for Hae Soo? What are you planning to do?"
"Ya! Soon Deok-ah, I'm the 4th prince. A prince. Why are you questioning my command?" So feigns authority to cut the awkward meeting short.
"Ah yie… yie…" Soon Deok puckers her lips playfully mocking, seeing through So's trembling command. "Have you… you know…"
"Kkeo-jyeo. (Get lost.)" So turns his back from Soon Deok, snapping.
Soon Deok giggles, "Araseo, araseo, kuende I don't think Hae Soo wants to see you."
"Waeyo? I don't know what I have done this time to make her angry." So confesses.
Soon Deok only continues with her annoying giggles, "A word of advice, you shouldn't be granting favors to your gawking admirers in front of Hae Soo. You might just see a few of things fly towards you next time."
"What does that mean?" So naively asks.
Shrugging, Soon Deok takes herself from the door and leaves to call for Hae Soo. A teasing smile still lingering on her lips.
Shortly after, against Ha Jin's annoyance, she appears with a tea set on tray. She finds So lost in contemplation and kneels by the mat, folding the her legs underneath her. With force, she puts down the tray at the floor, rattling the tea set and breaking So's reverie.
"You're still angry." So quietly concludes, his heart pounding hard on his chest.
"I don't know why you still need a tea when you were already served with it by those pretty princesses this morning." She then mimics one of the princesses' voice, repeating, "wangjanim, can we call you orabeonim from now on? Wah.. jinjja? Orabeonim?"
The sarcasm on Ha Jin's sentence is too pronounced So finally understood the cue.
He wades through the water, carefully approaching her. It's a simple problem, one every couple goes through. Hae Soo's jealousy is harmless and adorable, endearing to So, he only wished he understood it sooner so they wouldn't have wasted a day apart.
"Soo-ya…" So stretches his hands to the mat where Hae Soo is sitting. He pulls it closer to the side of the pool so he could easily reach her. He holds her hand discreetly, seeking her approval, "I thought by now, you would know I would never look at other woman but you. I only have eyes for you. You know that night you first held me at the courtyard on your household? I remember it clearly. Vividly."
So takes her hand and touches it upon his cheek, "You were wearing a satin blue coat over pristine layers of white sokgot. You took me in your arms, in spite of the dark blood coating my whole body, unmindful if it stains your clothes. You let your coat surround me and with it your warmth, a blanket of promise that you will always stay. As I rest on your arms, you called my name excitedly and I look up. Against the backdrop of the first snow, the twinkling stars and the dazzling moon behind you, you look beautiful and innocent. My moon. My goddess. My bearer of light in the darkest of my nights."
Veneratingly, he plants a chaste kiss on her palm, drawing Hae Soo out of her annoyance. Hae Soo is not the most beautiful girl in their kingdom but in So's eyes she is perfect. He wouldn't want her any other way.
Ha Jin couldn't help but gulp, the intensity of So's gaze is smoldering her, beckoning her to lean in and descend upon her prince.
My moon… My goddess…
She had heard those words before. For a second, Ha Jin closes her eyes and lets herself be lost at the memory of the moon lake with the crown prince.
So takes this as an invitation to share the moment with her, their argument forgotten. He pulls at her hand while his other hand reaches to her cheek, cupping her face. He closes the gap in their lips this time, slightly opening his mouth as he takes her lips with his, drinking a fill of her. This kiss takes away and gives off their breath at the same time, sweet and longing.
Ha Jin feels that yielding in her once more, sinking boneless into his caresses. She steadies herself, bracing her hand on So's shoulders, melting at his touch. She tastes the words on his mouth, honest and doting, letting it wash over her annoyance. She comes up for air and So lets her be long enough to ask, "Are you still angry?"
Against the heady kiss she had just experience, Ha Jin answers, "Will you still have tea with them?"
"Aniyo. The only tea I'd be drinking from now on is the one serve by you." A smug smile appears on So's lips. He reaches to kiss her once more, teasing this time. Ha Jin pushes at him and avoids him, catching up with the playful atmosphere.
"Ya!" So exclaims and lowers his voice imploring, "Please don't ever push me away again. Silheoyo. (I hate it.)"
It's a simple request meant to bridge whatever space is created by an argument but to So, he meant it possessively, bordering on dangerous obsession.
Taking it casually, Ha Jin makes a mistake of joking about it, "What if I don't want your touch anymore? What if space is what I need?"
"You can't, I won't let you. Nae go-si-da (Your mine. Only mine.)" So warns. He softly tugs at her neck, pulling her down for another kiss. Against her mouth he confesses, "Pogo. Sipeoseo. Jinjja. (I. Really. Missed. You.)"
"Na do. (Me too.)" Ha Jin gasps on his lips.
So's hands slides down on her waist, encircling around it. He pulls at her, planning to make her go into the water with him.
Ha Jin catches up with it and pushes at him, breaking their kiss but So will continue with what he's doing.
In between kisses Ha Jin struggles to say, "Ya!... You can't… my clothes… will get wet…"
He chuckles, loving the playful atmosphere. He tugs once more and
Splash!
Ha Jin falls into his arms in the water and So's laughter rings in the garden, light and pleasant.
At the end of the week, Ha Jin sits by a table in the corridor, opening to the courtyard at the side of Damiwon. Books are spread in front of her and on her hand is a brush. Underneath her elbow are two hanji(s), she's writing something on it.
Jung sees her from the entrance of the corridor. He wasn't really looking for her. He was only strolling around and accidentally saw her. Hesitantly, he approaches her, greeting her formally.
Ha Jin automatically gathers her things, not in the mood to have an argument with Jung.
"Ani, kajima. (Don't leave.) I'm not here to trouble you." Jung anxiously tells Hae Soo, his usual bright smile missing. "Nor am I here to argue with you."
"What do you want Jung wangjanim?" Ha Jin observes Jung looks as if he hasn't slept for a few days. He seems tired and uneasy.
"May I sit?" Jung politely asks.
Ha Jin reluctantly nods. Though she couldn't give back the love Jung wants, she does care for him at some point, "You look tired. Have you slept?"
Jung takes a sit beside her. He lays his hands on the table and rests his forehead at it, avoiding Hae Soo's gaze, "Mianhaeyo… for your loss… I don't think I've ever express my grief over your unnie's untimely… passing."
He has no right to bring it up nor does he have the right to feel sorry for her and his 13th brother.
Ha Jin doesn't answer. Myung Hee's death is a sore spot she doesn't want to touch at the moment. She continues with tracing a character at her hanji instead.
"What are you doing?" Jung curiously asks without lifting his head.
Ha Jin's hand stop mid writing, "Practicing. You told me my handwriting before and my handwriting now are different so I've been working on it."
"Oetteokhae?"
Ha Jin doesn't know if she should tell Jung but, "My letter, the one you returned to me. I've been tracing it for the past few months."
"Johada. I'm glad it has some use for you." Jung honestly tells Hae Soo, "Hae Soo-ya… I'm sorry if I've been a burden to you."
In as much as Jung wants to hold on to Hae Soo, he thinks he doesn't deserve her anymore. Because of his selfishness, Hae Soo and Baek-Ah lost the person they love and he couldn't stomach it. He regrets ever asking his mother for the favor. Letting Hae Soo go will not make-up for the mistake but it's a start.
"I will be taking the Gwageo this coming summer. After I pass, I would be leaving the palace and will never return for a long time. I hope you'd find happiness with my 4th brother." Jung sincerely wishes her a happy future, releasing her from her promise.
Ha Jin is surprised, another complication gets resolved. Things just keep falling into place these days.
Must be that my Myung Hee unnie is watching me from above. Unnie, kamsahabnida. I'll visit you this weekend with Baek-Ah again.
Uttering a prayer in her mind, Ha Jin breathes, imagining her cousin looking after her from above. It feels as if her life is finally turning for the better.
Kuere, life should be simple.
"Then I hope you'll find a better girl that would love you more than I did. Gi-eok-ha-ji mot-hae-yo, joe-song-hae-yo. (I'm sorry for not remembering.)" Ha Jin wonders how much did Hae Soo loved Jung, would they have been married by the end of her apprenticeship if she didn't accidentally intervene. "Please know that I will be cheering on you wherever you go."
Jung could only smile bitterly against the cold wood his cheek is resting. They sit like that for a long time, the silence stretching between them. Jung couldn't think of any words to say anymore and Ha Jin could only continue with what she's doing. It's an awkward silence at first and as they grew accustomed to it, the silence became restful, comfortable.
Soon, Lady Oh arrives, looking for Hae Soo. Behind her are two strangers dressed finely in silk hanboks. The tall man walks alongside a frail looking but beautiful lady, both of them sporting warmth that beckons people to them.
"Hae Soo-ya," The lady calls gracefully, a bit tired but smiling.
Ha Jin and Jung raise their heads at the sound of Hae Soo's name being called.
Jung quickly stands-up, shuffling on his feet, recognizing the two strangers. He bows 90 degrees over and over, in greetings and apology, "Eomeonim, abeoji."
Ha Jin looks from Jung to the strangers, raising her eyebrows in a question of confusion.
Eomonim? Abeoji? Aren't Jung's parents the queen and the king?
"Jung wangjanim, O-raen-man-i-yo. Yo-jeum-en eo-tteoh-ke ji-nae-se-yo? (It's been a while. How have you been doing?)" The pretty lady's voice sounding like Myung Hee's.
"Cheo-yo? chal ji-nae-go iss-eo-yo eomeonim. (I'm doing great.) Kamsahabnida." Jung shyly answers.
"That's good then." The lady turns to Hae Soo next, "Won't you give eomeoni a hug Hae Soo-ya?"
Everyone looks at Hae Soo who stands from her sit, lost. She doesn't recognize Hae Soo's parents, Lady Sewon and Hae Hyeonhui.
Footnotes:
1 ra-myun mogu kal-lae is a phrase more or less the same with "Netflix and chill"
Editor's note:
I think this is going to be the last breather. Next chapter we'll see the fall of a clan and a character gets framed for it. We'll test Hae Soo and So's relationship.
Hello, I'm so sorry for not updating last week and this coming next week. I know I promise to finish this before the first anniversary of Scarlet but with my packed sched right now, I'm lucky to even catch a sleep of 3 hrs. Mianhaeyo.
