Hello,
I'm so sorry for not being able to write lately. I'm trying to get through three projects at the same time. Hopefully I'll be done with it by the the second week of June. That's the only time, I can write again T_T
Hope to see you all soon.
Chapter 48:
The throne hall empties its occupant with only the king, Ji Mong, Wook, So and Gen. Park, who are left after the assembly to talk about the Khitan's proposal in private.
"You've crossed the line." So quietly warns Wook. He faces him so close, Wook is inclined to be intimidated but he's not.
"I was merely delivering the message." Wook matches So's unperturbed demeanor, So couldn't read anything on his face.
Even though King Hyejong recognized Wook and Won as loyal to him after the uprising against the late king, So, Gen. Park and Ji Mong never trusted the two again. They always have their guard up when the two are around.
"With all due respect Pyeha, the 4th prince is our ambassador to the Khitans. Why the scroll is sent to our 8th prince is unexpected. We are predisposed to doubt the contents of it." Ji Mong advises King Hyejong with a carefully crafted sentence.
"The letter was sent directly to me, I only handed it to our 8th brother for it weighs on my chest to ask such a demand from our seja." King Hyejong look liked he had aged as he confesses how the scroll fell into Wook's hands. He didn't know what to do with it.
On one hand, his beloved daughter is too young to be sent away. On the other, he knows his 4th brother will not marry anyone but Hae Soo and asking him to marry the princess of another kingdom in a bid to maintain peace is an unfair favor for him. He couldn't make a decision.
"Silhseubnida. (I don't want to.)" So's answer is of no surprise.
"I know." King Hyejong sighs. The lines of conflict are drawn on his forehead and at this moment, he is more like Mu, their older brother, rather the king who has to be authoritative. There are tremors in his hands that So, Gen. Park and Ji Mong notice.
"Maybe the seja and I can visit the Khitans one of these days. Offer a different marriage or another deal." Gen. Park suggests, "Their new king had always been friendly towards me and the seja. I'm sure he'll hear some suggestions if it's coming from us."
"If you could give us a few days, we'll work on it, Pyeha" Ji Mong seconds the motion.
"There is another clause that our 8th prince failed to say." King Hyejong's shoulder sags, "Since they won the war against the Later Jin, their king had crowned himself an emperor and is asking for all tributaries of Later Jin to submit to them."
Meaning all tributes that are being sent to China will now be sent to the Khitans.
Silence falls in the hall as everyone digests the information
"In my opinion, we shouldn't do that." Gen. Park disagrees after thinking about it, "If we pay them tributes then that would mean we are submitting ourselves under their rule."
"We have signed a peace treaty with them, a truce, not an agreement that they will be owing our kingdom. To ask for tributes from us means they think of us lowly of them." So supports Gen. Park.
"You should have cut them off from the start. Your support has made them believe that they are now greater than us." Wook butts in.
"We shall rectify it." Gen. Park assures Wook and King Hyejong.
"Then you will be needing more soldiers and treasury to fund another war that we can no longer afford." Wook reminds them of the problems that they have been discussing in the assembly for the last few weeks.
"Are you saying that we should just hand our kingdom to them?" So argues.
"Anibnida." Wook confidently answers, "I'm saying the noble clans who are withholding their private soldiers from joining the royal army should be hastened to support our cause. Otherwise, our forces will not be enough."
Finding a reason to sent So and Gen. Park out of the palace, it would be easier for Wook to manipulate the king if the two are not around.
"It is not for you to assess." So warns Wook, reminding him of his position.
"Our 4th prince is only saying that our forces are enough to go against the Khitan but why go to war when we can settle it with diplomacy?" Gen. Park meddles between the two.
Wook shrugs. Either way, the situation will need for So and Gen. Park to leave the palace for a while. It will buy Wook enough time to put his people in place. That's enough for him.
Coming back to the Damiwon, Ha Jin excuses herself from Baek-Ah, Woo Hee, Jung and Eun's company, feeling a bit dizzy. She had been quiet since they left the hall and the group doesn't know what to tell her. They watch her walk-away, receding to the back door of the Damiwon.
As she steps to the corridor where she usually reads, Ha Jin finds Yeonhwa sitting on her table having tea with a little girl who has a familiar face that she hasn't seen much since Lady Oh died.
"Hae Soo, Agassi," Kyeong Hwa sees Hae Soo first and stands-up to greet her with the grace Lady Oh had taught her.
Ha Jin returns the greeting with a formal bow, looking from Kyeong Hwa to Yeonhwa. With the rain pouring hard just outside the corridor, framing the two, Ha Jin couldn't help but feel suspicious towards Yeonhwa. It is not normal for the two princesses to hang around in this part of the Damiwon, let alone at this kind of weather.
Kyeong Hwa leaves her place at the table and comes beside Ha Jin, excited to see her who used to mentor her too, "Agassi, Yeonhwa gongju told me the apprenticeship under the Sanggun will be opening soon. I thought I should visit. Abeonim says, I should learn the ritual of tea brewing for the king under you."
"Ah kuereyo?" Ha Jin isn't feeling all too well since this morning but she smiles at Kyeong hwa and treats her kindly like she usually does, "I'd be glad to do so."
Noticing a small patch of Kyeong hwa's clothes wet at the shoulders, Ha Jin fusses over Kyeong Hwa and smoothens the disheveled hair on her shoulder, "Kuende, shouldn't you be staying in your quarters at this kind of weather? You might catch a fever."
Kyeong Hwa flashes her an innocent smile, unaware of the talk at the assembly regarding her status, "Joesonghabnida, I did not mean to worry you. Yeonhwa gongju came to visit eomeonim this morning and invited me to come to the Damiwon. I haven't been out of our clan's quarters for so long, I was thankful when eomeonim agreed to let me leave."
The two reaches the table where Yeonhwa and Kyeong Hwa had been having tea. Yeonhwa nods at Hae Soo while Ha Jin returns the greeting with a bow.
"I guess the assembly had concluded already." Yeonhwa turns to Kyeong Hwa, "Kyeong Hwa gongju, why don't you go and see Woo Hee Sanggun, I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."
"Ah yie, I must pay my respect to the Sanggun." Kyeong Hwa thoughtfully says, "Sil-lye-hab-ni-da. (Will you excuse me, Hae Soo Agassi.)"
"Go ahead. The Sanggun is at the lobby a while ago." Ha Jin releases Kyeong Hwa from her presence and watches her leave.
As she disappears at the end of the corridor, Yeonhwa speaks-up, "The princess is such a sweet girl, isn't she? She's the eldest of the king's three daughters. When I went to their quarters a while ago, her two sisters were both clinging at her, they will surely be heart broken if their sister suddenly leaves."
Yeonhwa didn't have to say those things to appeal at Hae Soo's conscience. Ha Jin is already having a hard time looking at Kyeong Hwa.
"Are you telling me to welcome the sejabin from the Khitans?"
"I'm telling you, Kyeong Hwa gongju is too young to be sent away." Yeonhwa reclines her back to the chair, her hand absentmindedly playing at her teacup while she looks far ahead at the garden,
"When I was sent away to marry an old merchant from the Later Jin, I had no one by my side. My servants don't speak our language. My husband was too fragile to attend to me. My in-laws treated me with distance and no one ever cared for my company since I'm a stranger from a different land. I was locked in that big compound of ours, not that I mind though. The loneliness is bound to make you home sick at some point. I was lucky that my husband was weak and old. It only took me a few months to earn his trust and run his household. But I cannot say the same for our sejabin. She's too young to understand politics or climb her way out. If we send her to marry the king of the Khitans, she'll disappear in his harem after the night the king beds her. She's lucky if the queen and other concubines take kindly to her but I doubt they would. She's a sejabin from a kingdom they have been trying to conquer for so long. They would certainly punish her every time their kingdom doesn't get their way with us."
Ha Jin is aware of that and feels sympathy towards the sejabin but she and So had fought to be together for so long, "I won't give up So wangsejanim, if that is what you are asking."
"Everyone knows that." Yeonhwa shrugs, "That's why even the king couldn't dare ask you or So wangsejanim to consider taking the option of him marrying the sejabin from the Khitans."
Now that Ha Jin is sure what king, So would be, she also remembers that King Gwangjong married two princesses; Kyeong Hwa gongju, who was the second wife and was sent to live at the Buddhist temple after marrying King Gwangjong and the princess seating in front of her now, Yeonhwa gongju, fated to become King Gwangjong's queen. She couldn't help but be afraid of the future in front of her.
"There's another condition that my 8th brother did not reveal at the assembly?" If Yeonhwa notices Hae Soo had turned pale, she doesn't show.
Ha Jin clutches at her tightening chest, her heart pounding, her breathing becoming labored.
"The Khitans were asking for tributes to be sent in their kingdom." Yeonhwa turns to look at her, waiting for her reaction, "Don't worry, you won't be sent away even if you volunteer."
Ha Jin is confused.
"The qualifications of becoming a tribute are the same with marrying a king." Yeonhwa holds Hae Soo's gaze making sure she understands, "A tribute or a woman marrying a king must have a pure body, untouched and unscathed."
Yeonhwa's eyes fall at Hae Soo's legs underneath the table. She might not have seen her scars left by her torture but everyone had seen her ambling at the stairs. They know she wouldn't survive a torture without a scar and that automatically disqualifies her as So's wife if he ascends the throne.
Ha Jin freezes, realizing what Yeonhwa is saying, "So wangsejanim doesn't care for scars."
"Of course he doesn't. Even he is hiding a lot of them in his body." Yeonhwa casually agrees, "But a rule is a rule. He might have the assembly's support at the moment but they don't take kindly to kings who break their tradition and laws."
Ha Jin knows Yeonhwa is right. How could she and So ever forget that one simple rule? She grits her teeth together, holding herself collected in front of Yeonhwa, who is scrutinizing her.
Yeonhwa takes a sip of her already cold tea and puts it down, standing up to come closer to Hae Soo, "You won't be able to marry our seja, why sent our sejabin away?"
She reaches out to touch Hae Soo's flowing mahogany hair and brushes it affectionately. Yeonhwa can see she had shaken Hae Soo thoroughly, "You have always been kind, Hae Soo Ssi. I know this time you would also choose to be kind. Please save our sejabin. So wangsejanim will not listen to anyone but you."
Yeonhwa walks away and Ha Jin's knees give way. Falling to the floor, Ha Jin tells herself not to cry. The rain continuously pours from the dark sky and Ha Jin feels as if the walls are closing on her again. Backed against the wall, her options sit heavily on her conscience once more.
So comes to the Damiwon to look for Hae Soo as soon as they were dismissed from the throne hall. It's only Jung, Baek-Ah, Eun, and Soon Deok, who are at the Damiwon having lunch. Gen. Park joins them while So excuses himself upon learning that Hae Soo isn't with them.
Coming down at the main hall, Jung follows So by the door, "Hyungnim."
"Later, Jung-ah. I'm in a hurry." So closes his hand at the door, about to exit.
"You won't find Hae Soo in her room. I've already checked." Before taking his seat at their table, Jung knocked at Hae Soo's room and found it empty.
So stops and turns at Jung, "Why are you always at Hae Soo's room?"
"I'm merely hanging out with her. Is there anything wrong with it?"
So doesn't know if it was the issue at the assembly a while ago but everything is annoying him at the moment. Even Jung's tone feels off to him, "You can hang out outside of her room. It makes me uncomfortable."
Everyone is running in a tense atmosphere today and Jung is no different, "How about instead of telling me what I can and cannot do with Hae Soo, you tell your mother's right hand man to never lay a finger on her. I shall cut it for him the next time, he does."
So turns to look at Jung, "What do you mean? Where is Hae Soo?"
"I don't know where Hae Soo is but I know your mother's right hand man doesn't think twice of hurting her whenever Hae Soo does something wrong." Jung tells on Hae Soo, breaking his promise of keeping his mouth shut, "Marry her ha?! You can't even protect her from your own clan and now you'll be marrying another sejabin."
Suddenly, So's hands are wrapped at Jung's collar. Jung's tone is bordering at being rude and insulting, So is not in the mood to be patient.
"Have you seen her for the last whole week?" Jung doesn't even flinch, "Of course not. She's been hiding from you because she has a bruise at the corner of her lips, courtesy of your mother's right hand man."
So's sight is turning red, his anger cresting. He had warned Guen Sun never to lay a finger on Hae Soo and now he finds out he had been mistreating her.
He releases Jung and pushes him away. He should be enraged with Guen Sun and not with his 14th brother. It makes him angry that he keeps finding out about these kinds of things from other people, instead of coming from Hae Soo. He turns for the door to ride to their household at the port.
It is close to dark when Ji Mong returns to the sky tower and the rain is continuously pouring. It seems a storm is coming and the wind is starting to whistle. The lanterns around the tower had been lighted and Ji Mong couldn't wait to get out of his shoes soak in muddy path. As he turns the steps of the sky tower, he sees someone reclining at one of the pillar, soaking in the rain.
"Ha Jin-ah?" Ji Mong takes a closer look and quickly strides to where Ha Jin is the moment he recognizes her, "What are you doing under the rain, my daughter? So wangsejanim went out to look for you."
Ji Mong hastens to share the umbrella he's holding with Ha Jin. Ha Jin looks up, her eyes squinting through the water skidding on her forehead. She's trembling from the cold and it appears she had been here for hours.
"Ajeo…ssi." Ha Jin's voice breaks, "I was waiting for you."
Ji Mong isn't sure but he can sense that the water running down Ha Jin's cheeks is not just rain but tears too. The rims around her eyes are sore and her hair is disheveled from being under the rain for too long. The hem of her chima is dirtied with mud and she appears to be not herself. Because she was soak in the rain, her concealer had come off and the fading bruise at the corner of her mouth is now visible.
"Let's get you out of the rain, you're going to be sick again."
Ji Mong leads Ha Jin inside the sky tower, sitting her at the chair by the table. He calls for a gungnyeo and gets a thick heavy towel to wrap around Ha Jin. Ha Jin sits with her legs up in the chair, drawn into her body as she hugs it to herself, shaking. Ji Mong puts a warm cup of tea beside her.
Crouching in front of Ha Jin, Ji Mong looks like a worried father, "What are you doing under the rain, Ha Jin-ah? Gwaenchanhayo? (Are you alright?)"
"Ajeossi…" Ha Jin's voice is muffled by her chima hence Ji Mong heard it incorrectly.
Abeoji? Are you finally calling me abeoji?
Ji Mong's eyes softens and affection dances on his face. He draws a chair to sit in front of Ha Jin.
"Why did Hae Soo disappear after So became a king?" Ha Jin asks it so quietly, Ji Mong had to strain to catch it.
"There was nothing written about Hae Soo in King Gwangjong's reign." When Ha Jin looks up, her face is dry but her voice is hoarse, "He never married her, did he? It says in history, King Gwangjong married Queen Daemok and Kyeong Hwa gongju but not Hae Soo. What happened to them?"
Ji Mong sighs, of course Ha Jin would wonder why nothing is written about Hae Soo after So ascended the throne, "Hae Soo did not disappear… "
Careful of his words, Ji Mong tells half-truths about the original Hae Soo, "She… died… Hae Soo had been sickly as you can tell by your body and when she got pregnant, she… died giving birth to their daughter."
Ji Mong remembers the original Sol fondly, "Hae Soo and So had a beautiful daughter. She named her, Sol."
"Sol? Like So wangsejanim's name, the sun?" Ha Jin coughs in between, listening attentively. All the while looking pale and subdued.
"Ne, like the little girl you tried to save in the quarry that night." Ji Mong manages a nostalgic smile through his worry, "Your daughter brought you here."
"She did?" Ha Jin tightens her arms around her knees, missing the child she briefly met. Then worry settles on her stomach, "What happened to her after?"
"To protect her from the court and the enemies of the king, King Gwangjong and Hae Soo hid her outside the palace. She grew up loved and free from the politics of the court." Ji Mong spins a better tale for the family that never was, "That's why nothing is written about Hae Soo and Sol after So ascended the throne."
Ha Jin rests her head on her knees, feeling a tingling pain on her fractured legs. It usually aches when it rains, "Will my child and I meet the same fate as Hae Soo and Sol?"
"Of course not!" Ji Mong hastens to assure Ha Jin, "Abeoji will make sure that you and Sol will have a different life this time."
A tear skids down Ha Jin's cheek and she quickly hides her face at the top of her knees again, "But I wouldn't be able to marry So once he ascends the throne this time again."
"And why not?" Ji Mong is puzzled.
"Because only a woman with a pure body, without a scar, can marry a king. My legs are damaged after the torture." Ha Jin feels stupid for having to cry over a scar. She never thought it would become a disability to her. It's such a simple matter to have that much merit on their relationship. Her head couldn't wrap itself on it.
Like her and So, Ji Mong had overlooked that rule.
Things are always complicated isn't it?
"We'll have that rule changed." Ji Mong isn't deterred, "I'm sure our seja would say the same so stop worrying my child and let abeoji do things for you."
"Didn't King Gwangjong married Yeonhwa and Kyeon Hwa gongju? It seems he's going to end up marrying them soon." Ha Jin continues to sob on her knees, feeling helpless.
"Hush my child, Abeoji will not let that happen." Ji Mong's hand hovers above her head, wanting to pat her hair, assure her that everything will be fine.
"Please don't." Ha Jin warns him of touching her, "You make me see things… Painful memories."
Ji Mong freezes, "Mianhada. I… didn't know that."
He lowers his hand and keeps it to himself. In a very patient and adoring tone as if talking to a child, Ji Mong promises Hae Soo, "I'll make things better for the three of us this time. Will you trust me on this?"
Ha Jin doesn't answer. She tightens her arms around her knees, shaking from the cold.
The gungnyeo Ji Mong had called for finally arrives and he lets her help Ha Jin to So's room.
So arrives at the Kang's household by the port, soaking wet and uncaring. He looks for Guen Sun everywhere as servants follow him, waiting at his command. He finds Guen Sun at a pavilion, drinking with his men. He barrels into the table, takes a hold of Guen Sun and throws a punch at him. Servants and soldiers hold him back while another servant helps Guen Sun up. Guen Sun flicks the servant's hand away and stands on his own.
"I warned you not to touch Hae Soo in any way." So shrugs Guen Sun's men's hold on him, looking all murderous and angry.
Guen Sun's spits out the blood on his mouth, "And I warned the lady not to stand against our clan. Be grateful, it wasn't your mother whom she had to faced."
He wipes his mouth with the blood, "Ah, chuk-ha-hab-ni-da wangsejanim (Congratulations, your highness). I heard you are getting married to the sejabin of the Khitans."
"I'm not marrying anyone but Hae Soo." So automatically answers.
"Let's ask you mother when she gets here soon." Guen Sun casually goes back to his chair and pours another makgeolli at his bowl.
"Lady Shinjuwon is coming?" So clarifies.
Against the back drop of heavy rain and thunder, So doesn't like how things are turning to be. He never wants Hae Soo to meet Lady Shinjuwon.
"Did your sister, Hae Soo Agassi, forgot to mention it?" Guen Sun is trying to provoke So, "I told her to tell you."
"She's not my sister. Stop addressing her that and in the future, do not come near her again." Keeping an unpertubed demeanor, So's voice is dangerously getting quieter, "If you need to tell me anything, address it to me directly. Do not linger around her anymore."
Guen Sun raises his bowl as if on a toast, "I only take orders from your mother and your mother alone. By the way, your 14th brother is too close to our mistress, you might want to tell him to distance himself from Hae Soo Agassi. We're beginning to think they have something more than friendship. The boy is even allowed inside her room."
He baits So with malicious words, intending him to doubt his 14th brother.
So keeps his head level headed knowing Guen Sun is just taunting him, "I will deal with my brother on my own."
Guen Sun shrugs and makes a show of sighing, "You know it would be easier for you if you and Hae Soo Agassi would come back home and start living in this household. You can even share her quarters and no one would say anything."
He smirks, "Our household is good at keeping secrets. Have you outgrown sleeping at your mother's bed?"
So loses it and takes a step towards Guen Sun. Guen Sun's men automatically hold him back. So's anger bring a malicious laugh on Guen Sun's throat, it rings annoyingly at the pavilion.
So throws their hold on him and is about to approach Guen Sun when an idea comes to his mind. He stills, "These men of yours and everyone staying in the capital will report to the palace's garrison by tom morning. I'm turning over all our private soldiers here under the rule of the palace."
"Neo mi-cheoss-eo?! (Are you insane?!)" There's an instant change in Guen Sun's mood, no longer teasing but angry, "You're giving away our forces?! You can't do that. You'll leave us vulnerable in the capital!"
"Watch me." So dares. He's no longer the child who once feared Guen Sun, "The next time you hurt Hae Soo, I'll volunteer another half of our forces in the north."
"Your mother will not stand for it." Guen Sun warns.
"Nan sang-gwan epseo. (I don't care.)" So turns his back and leaves.
It would be late into the night by the time So comes home to the Sky Tower. He leaves a watery trail behind him as he climb the stairs, all wet and cold from the brewing storm outside. There are no stars tonight, only lighting cutting through the heavy clouds every so often.
So finds Ji Mong sitting by the table, drinking a tea to keep himself warm, "Where have you been?"
Seeing the folded towel at the table beside the chair Hae Soo occupied a while ago, So takes the towel and dabs himself with it, "I took care of some things. Have you heard anything from Hae Soo? She's not in the Damiwon when I went looking for her."
He inspects the towel, already wet on some parts. There's a lingering faded smell of that familiar citrus scent.
"I found her wandering under the rain... Sobbing." Ji Mong explains, annoyance sipping on his voice, "I tucked her in your bed."
So doesn't waste a minute and goes straight to his room.
Ji Mong blocks his way by the door, "We need to talk first."
"If this is about the assembly a while ago…" So is not in the mood to explain his answer again.
"Anibnida. Hae Soo-ga hon-in-eun on-je ha-sil keo-e-yo? (When are you going to marry her?)"
They had this conversation so many times, So had lost count of it.
"What are you planning to do with the rule that a king can only marry a woman without any scar on her body?" Ji Mong reminds him.
The question makes So stop on his tracks, getting on the same page as everyone, "I won't be a king so it won't matter."
"You will become a king!" Ji Mong couldn't help his voice from rising, Angry now. "It's in your stars! Your father knew about it. Your brother, the king knows it. Even the people of this kingdom are set on it. It's useless denying it! We better have a plan."
"Then I will change the stupid rule." So doesn't understand what's the question. Of course he would change the rule.
Only you weren't able to.
Ji Mong thinks.
You succumbed in politics, drown in your anger and let my little queen die.
Frustration keeps Ji Mong in his place by the door, "Marry her now before you ascend the throne. It's the only way you'd be able to keep her."
But So can't, "If I had that choice, do you think I wouldn't have taken it already?"
"Is't the lady consort?"
So doesn't have to answer for Ji Mong to grasps it.
The contradictions are driving Ji Mong mad. They have been circling the same issue for so long and resolution is still out of reach.
So would like to blame Ji Mong for pushing him to ask for the consort's help before. If he didn't then maybe the consort wouldn't take interest on Hae Soo and make her a hostage, dangling her like a priced trophy at the end of the consort's goal. But it's useless to argue about it. It's done and the consort would have find out about his relationship with Hae Soo anyway.
"We're going with the first option of marrying the sejabin to the Khitans. There is no question on it. The general and I will accompany her to the north." So focuses on their problems at hand first, "You will take care of Hae Soo while I'm gone. Make sure that the lady consort's right hand man doesn't go anywhere near her."
Ji Mong nods, hearing the answer he wants to hear. Naturally, So would choose the first option. Ji Mong just needed to be assured.
"Step aside. I need to get out of these wet clothes." So commands.
Ji Mong's face darkens. So might be the seja but Ji Mong will not be commanded to let his daughter share a bed with a boy, who hasn't married her yet. The change in the holder of power is instant, "Get your clothes and change in my room. Don't pull a trick on me. The lady is burning with fever."
For a moment, So thought he would get away with it. He shuffles on his feet and Ji Mong leaves the door, sitting on the table again. He watches the 4th prince goes inside his room, leaving the door ajar. He comes out after a minute with his dry clothes in hand.
King Hyejong wakes-up from the heavy thunder that had just shaken his whole quarter. He sits up groggily, his sight blurry. A shadow moves at the side of his eyes and he shouts, "Whose there?"
Another one moves on the other side and King Hyejong quivers in fear. Coming from a bad nightmare where someone is trying to kill him, King Hyejong looks for anything sharp to defend himself.
"Is anyone in there?" He calls out.
Sweat drips at the side of his forehead and he finds the dagger he keeps at the side of his bed.
Another shadow moves and he doesn't hesitate to let his dagger fly. The dagger caught the moving shadow by the chest. Through the see through gauzy net hiding his presence, he sees his eunuch drops to the floor, dead.
King Hyejong screams and his soldiers, eunuch and gungnyeo(s) come pouring at his door.
The next day, rumors of the king going out of his mind fly fast on everyone's lips. King Hyejong skips the assembly and Wook presides to everyone's surprise. He tells them a curfew will be put in effect starting tonight and no one is allowed to loiter around the palace after midnight.
Ji Mong fetches Ha Jin back to the Damiwon. She missed the assembly again. She hears about the new decree from Baek-Ah and Woo Hee when they went to attend to her. Her fever is still raging high and she couldn't focus on what they were saying.
Jung is inconspicuously avoiding the Damiwon, confused of how to treat Ha Jin after he hears her conversation with Ji Mong. He keeps wavering whether he should confront her or not.
So, Ji Mong and Gen. Park visit the king's quarter and learns that the king is not doing well. His mind is not right as they talk to him and he kept insisting he hears things, they couldn't hear at all. Rims of deep black circle his eyes and he swears that someone is attempting on his life. He asks So to tighten the security at the palace.
The three could only follow at the king's demand, worried that the king's health is fast deteriorating. He wasn't like that two weeks ago and the three knew that the poisoning is becoming worst.
The following nights, the palace sees an increase in number of palace guards manning the perimeter not just the king's quarters but everywhere. Even the princes and princesses were not allowed to leave their quarters after the curfew. Baek-Ah once forgot about the time and had to stay in Woo Hee's room, only too happy to oblige.
Yeonhwa never fails to come to Damiwon with Kyeong Hwa on her side, determined for Hae Soo to see Kyeong Hwa all the time. The little princess is proving to be kind and cheerful, it is weighing heavily on Ha Jin's conscience.
One afternoon, at the beginning of fall, Ha Jin wanders through the town alone, needing some space to think. She passes through the many stalls of different merchandise in the market, amusing herself with different colourful sights of good.
Shortly, she finds herself at Myung Hee's grave at the clearing in Mt. Songak.
Wook had just finished pouring a cup of wine and performing a prayer at Myung Hee's grave when he turns around and sees Hae Soo arriving, "Hae Soo Ssi?"
Hae Soo is lost in her thoughts and looks up at the sound of her name.
"Did you come here by foot?" Wook's forehead is crumpled with worry.
"Ah yie." Ha Jin is surprise to encounter the 8th prince here, "It's not that far."
She and Baek-Ah used to hang out here all the time and they never had a problem hiking the place but that was before Hae Soo's torture left her with fractured legs. Only when Wook pointed it out did Ha Jin felt her legs aching. It is far and a hike from the foot of the mountain.
Wook holds out his hand to support her and sits her at the mound of the tumulus, by the blanket he had spread out.
"It would be your unnie's death anniversary in a few weeks. I thought I should come here and clean it myself." Wook breaks their silence as they sit side by side. He offers a drink for Hae Soo from the provisions he spread on the blanket by the floor.
Ha Jin takes the cup of wine and hesitantly drinks. It's the only liquid Wook had brought. She would have preferred water but there's none.
"Do you feel better? I heard you've been sick lately." Wook asks how she is doing.
Ha Jin softly smiles, assuring the 8th prince, "I'm doing good. It's just the weather."
"Myung Hee used to worry about your health all the time even when she herself, is sickly." Wook reminisce on his wife's memory, genuinely missing Myung Hee, "I should sent you a herbal tonic or have my servant make you your favorite stew. I've been neglectful of you, mianhada."
"Anibnida. I am no longer your responsibility. Please do not feel apologetic towards me." It's been a while since the two of them sat down and talk, Ha Jin lets herself be comfortable in spite of the insistent nagging of the memories of the daughter of the moon in her head.
"I should be apologetic." Wook sighs, "I'm sorry I had to be the one to deliver the message from the Khitans. I know how much my brother and you wanted to marry already… Anyway, my brother made it clear from our private talk with the king that he will not marry the sejabin from the other kingdom. Therefore, it would be our sejabin who would be sent away."
The words had its intended effect of making her feel bad and Wook knows it, Yeonhwa and him had planned it well. Ha Jin swallows her smile and chews her lower lip.
"I see that you are still living in the Damiwon all this time. Is there a problem in your household?" Wook navigates their conversation, inquiring if the ajeossi ever raised his hand on her again.
"Kuenyang. I got used to living there." Ha Jin is thankful her bruise had healed already, she doesn't need to hide anything.
"If you want, you can live in your unnie's household again. Your room and your unnie's are still the same." Wook offers just in case she says yes.
A breeze blows around them and Ha Jin arranges her coat around her. The sky is clear today and the weather is sunny. She should have taken a walk with So instead, if only her conscience doesn't weigh heavily on her chest. She took a walk on her own hoping her mind would clear.
"Kamsahabnida. Unnie-ga geu-ri-weo-yo. (I miss unnie.)" Even though Ji Mong is trying hard to be a father to her, it would take some time for her to accept it and she just wants a family beside her.
She glances at Wook thinking he used to be family to her. She wonders when did everything become so twisted and complicated.
"Na-do, (I miss her too.)" Wook's words ring sincere.
"It's strange being a Kang." Ha Jin unconsciously opens up, "They told me, I have been adopted to the Kang's household even before my unnie died."
Wook isn't aware of that, finally discovering the secret behind her lost registration. His mind process it diligently, realizing his 4th brother had always been a step advance from him. Adopting Hae Soo into their household made sure no one can have her but him.
"That means, I have been a Kang for several years now. Except for our seja and the lady consort's right hand man, I've never met anyone from that household."
"I guess you should be thankful you've never met the consort." Wook cautions, he too finds it strange though.
"Everyone tells me that. I couldn't help but be nervous of meeting her. Guen Sun said she's visiting soon." Ha Jin tells Wook.
"Ah well, if after meeting her, you decide you don't like her, which I think you would." Wook keeps it light and playful, encouraging Hae Soo to relax in his presence, "You are welcome to come back to your unnie's household. I'll be happy to become your uncle again."
Ha Jin finds Wook funny, a chuckle escapes her lips.
"Wae?" Wook pretends he's being serious.
"Myung Hee unnie is my cousin, not my aunt." Ha Jin laughs through it.
"Ah matda. (Oh, that's right.)" Wook chuckles at his mistake too, "I'll be your older brother then."
They laugh together through the ridiculousness of their conversation. Wook absentmindedly inclines his head to the side, meeting Hae Soo's shoulder and he quickly sits-up as if electrocuted, "Mianhada. I didn't mean…"
"Gwaenchanhseubnida." Ha Jin assures him, remembering she once promise to be there for Wook when things are tough.
Wook smiles softly, his gentle self coming out naturally. He stares the other away. Though he looks embarrassed, his words are confident, "I miss you to… I mean, I miss how we all used to be. When your unnie is still alive and we all live simply in our household, our quiet walks in the town in the afternoon, our little excursion at the top of this mountain... "
Ha Jin understands what Wook means.
"If only I have that much power, I'll put everything back to how it used to be." Wook thoughtfully says out loud, seeing through the last of the laughter leaving their lips, the mood turning reverent and nostalgic.
Wook takes a deep breathe, noticing the sky turning orange, the sun dipping low in the sky, "It's getting late. We should go back."
Ha Jin nods, feeling a little bit lighter. They arrange the provisions back to the blanket and walk back to a tree where Wook's horse is tied.
"Let me give you a ride. It would be too taxing for you to walk back."
Ha Jin hesitates but accepts it knowing the 8th prince is right. He helps her up in the horse, her legs both on each side.
Wook positions himself beside her, holding the reigns around her body. It brings a familiar jump on his hearbeat. He notices the dwikkoji Hae Soo kept wearing everyday for the last two years, contemplating if it's the only dwikkoji she has on her possession. Her collection of dwikkoji is still on her room back in their household.
They ride down the mountains, through the town. It would be night by the time they reach the Damiwon.
So and Ji Mong, see them from a far as they arrive. The two were coming from the king's quarter and were planning to have dinner at the Damiwon when Wook's horse passes them and goes through the main gate.
So's face darkens, recognizing Hae Soo at the horse. He and Hae Soo haven't really talked since the commotion at the assembly and now he sees her on Wook's company. Jealousy sparks at the back of his head, nagging and insistent.
When he and Ji Mong reaches the Damiwon, Hae Soo is already on her quarters, resting. A gungnyeo lets them know she's tired and will not be coming out of her room. That upsets So greatly. It is only out of respect for the Damiwon's rule that he doesn't barge at Hae Soo's quarters.
Late into the night, Jung was drinking in the town alone when he forgot about the time. Once he realizes how late it is, the curfew had been set in the palace and he couldn't come back easily. Unfortunate for him, it is So and his platoon who are making rounds and one of his men, catches the movement he made in the dark. He had no choice but to scale the walls of Damiwon and sneak inside.
Ha Jin is just coming from the main floor of the Damiwon, going to her room when he sees Jung jump from the wall at the garden. She hears a commotion from where Jung came from and remembers that no one is allowed to walk the grounds of the palace after the curfew.
Jung is in a hurry to look for a room to hide, when Ha Jin pulls him in her room just in time for the soldiers to come through the courtyard leading to her quarters. She's about to enter her room, pretending as if nothing is amiss.
"Agassi." One of the soldiers calls her attention. She turns to meet them outside her door.
"Yie, nari, is there anything I can do for you?" Ha Jin answers, "It's late, what brought you to the quarters of the ladies?"
"It has come to our attention that someone had sneak into the walls of the Damiwon, have you seen anyone suspicious here?" One of the two soldiers asks.
"I was just coming back from the main quarters to check on the lanterns. Apart from the gungyeo(s), who closed the main door, I didn't see anyone around." Ha Jin lies smoothly.
"I'm afraid, we'll have to check your quarters, Agassi." The other soldier hesitates, knowing she's their mistress from the Kang's household and the seja will not be happy if they ever cross her.
"I can't let you do such thing." Ha Jin maintains her place in the door, unmoved.
Shortly, So comes in with two more guards as his attention was called for. Ha Jin is nervous to be seeing him but keeps up with her pretense.
"Hae Soo Agassi," So addresses her formally, still upset from a while back. They stare at each other, noticing Hae Soo is perfectly fine. He doesn't understand why she's been avoiding him, "Please step aside. It will be quick and thorough."
He takes a step towards the door and Ha Jin restricts him, "It is the king's order that no men are allowed to come inside the ladies' quarter. If you want to come in, you will have to ask permission from the king."
"Soo-ya." He whispers her name, withholding his anger. Ha Jin wouldn't move an inch. They stare at each other, both of them challenging. They haven't talked since the other day, he doesn't want their first talk in days to be an argument. He releases a sigh, extending his patience. He wishes he could read her mind. She doing this to him, hurts him a lot.
So turns back, bringing his soldiers with him.
Ha Jin returns to her room, closing the door and finding Jung behind it.
"Mwo hae? (What are you doing?)" Jung doesn't look the least of being grateful. He smells of alcohol and the lines in his jaw is too prominent, he's upset.
"You've been in hot waters with your brothers lately, I don't want any misunderstanding to arise." Ha Jin keeps her voice down.
"Ne do-eum-eul pil-yo eop-da. (I don't need your help.)" Jung reaches for the door to leave.
He's been acting strange to Ha Jin lately, it's starting catch her attantion. He never talked to her like that before. "What's wrong, Jung-ah?"
She holds the door close and Jung grabs her on both arms, pushing her back to the wall, "You're not even her!"
Ha Jin is startled.
His voice rises, unnerving Ha Jin, "How dare you pretend to be her. Who are you?! What did you do to Hae Soo?!"
She freezes on her stead, lost as to how to react to Jung's accusations.
"Jung wangjanim," her shock is fast turning into nervousness, she couldn't think of anything to say, "What are you talking about?"
"Don't lie to me! I heard you talking to the astronomer. He calls you his daughter, Ha Jin. Is that your real name? Ha?! Is that why you keep saying you don't remember anything? Why you were not the same after your accident?! Answer me!" Jung is too close on her face, she could see the lines of anger throbbing on his jaw, his teeth clenched, "You're not Hae Soo, aren't you?!"
"Jung wangjanim, you're hurting me." There's nothing to move back to. Jung is holding her trap against the wall, "You're being ridiculous, how can I be a different person?"
Panicking, Ha Jin denies it as much as she can, not knowing what would happen if the truth about her comes out.
Jung is aware he sounds absurd. How can the girl in front of him become a different person over an accident. Even he can't believe it when he heard them talking. He thought they were speaking in codes or something but after thinking about it thoroughly, it makes senses how Hae Soo had changed after she drowned. It's not that she doesn't remember. She really doesn't recognize them because she's not Hae Soo anymore.
"Then how come you don't remember anything until now? It's been years. Your parents are gone. Your cousin is dead. Your servant is missing. Anyone who was ever close to you before you drowned are gone. I'm the only one left and you still don't remember!" Jung falters a bit, wilting over the fact that Hae Soo had been lying to him all this time. The frustrations and pent up anger he had been hiding all come to light as his head hang low, shutting his eyes close to prevent the tears from escaping.
"You're not her..."
Sensing Jung's hold on her becomes loose, Ha Jin attempt to worm her way out of his grasp, slowly guiding his hands out of her arms, "I know how hard these past few years had been to you. I'm sorry, I still don't remember."
Jung steps back, as if the fight in him had been extinguished. He gazes at her eyes, searching the once familiar face he knew. He goes back to that last night he saw her before her accident. It was when he told Hae Soo he's leaving for the north. Hae Soo came in without her servant, Chae Ryung. She sat by the balustrade, listening attentively in his story. When he discloses to her that he would be leaving, she looked sad but she never said anything. At that moment, it felt like his heart was breaking.
He momentarily advances a step closer to stand in front of her. She was looking at him as if asking him not to leave. He was only going to stroke her cheek to assure when he was enticed to lean in and favor her lips with a light touch of his lips. Warmth radiates at the contact where they touched. It was abrupt and fast but he could never forget the way Hae Soo blushed afterwards, her lashes dark and long against her pink skin, her long mahogany hair gleaming under the light of the moon. She smiled shyly at him then. The warmth she radiates was enough to sustain him as he leaves for the north and promises to come back as soon as he can. It was the picture he always goes back to when he misses her.
If he kisses her now, will her lips feel the same? Will it taste like that sweet tea she drunk before meeting him that night? She looks the same yet feels unfamiliar. This strange girl who had been living as his Hae Soo all this time, whom everyone liked more than the real Hae Soo, whom he and his brothers had all fell for. Why did he never saw that she isn't his Hae Soo anymore?
"I hate you." Jung didn't mean it but he wants to be angry with her for fooling them all this years, "You and my brother deserves it each other. You're both liars, GO – HA – JIN – SSI."
Enunciating every word of her real name to spite her. He sidesteps her, getting to the door and leaving. Ha Jin is left scared and anxious that Jung might reveal her secret. She wanted to stop him but she knew she had hurt him too much.
The next day, So is still fuming in anger. He couldn't sleep nor relax on his bed knowing Hae Soo is hiding a boy in her room. He knew it was Jung. Why his 14th brother is allowed in her room and not him is beyond his understanding, it pisses him off. He comes to the Damiwon after the assembly and looks for Hae Soo.
Hae Soo is writing on a notebook when he finds her at the corridor overlooking the gardens beside the Damiwon. She was concentrating hard on her brush and a ray of light dancing in the leaves of a nearby tree is creating a soft radiance around her, So stops a bit, smitten. It's unfair how staring at her or her simple smile could melt away his anger but he forgets why he is so upset. He misses her so much, he they aren't talking to each other lately is beyond him.
"Soo-ya."
Ha Jin looks up from what she is writing, a little nervous as she recognizes So's voice.
"Come walk with me." So offers his hand, smiling softly, Ha Jin missed him too.
She closes her notebook and arranges her things. It's a beautiful weather to spend away from each other, she readily agrees and puts her things away.
They walk with their hands intertwined, basking on each other's presence and setting their worries aside. As they leave the main gate, they unfortunately run into the reason that's making Ha Jin avoid So lately.
"Hae Soo Agassi, So wangsejanim, annyeong hasibnikka." Kyeong Hwa greets them, coming through the wooden double doors of the main gate with Yeonhwa.
The two returns the greeting. Ha Jin attempts to let got of So's hand but he has no plans of releasing hers, steadying her beside him.
Yeonhwa discreetly watches their interwoven hands with a slight jealousy.
"Agassi, I heard from my father that you and So wangsejanim are getting married soon. I-geo, seon-mul-ib-ni-da. (Here, I brought you a gift.)" Kyeon Hwa holds out a small box.
"Yie? Seon-mul? (A gift?)" Hae Soo and So exchange looks.
Kyeong Hwa opens the small box and reveals a pale green-blue celadon ceramic perfectly hand carved with a flower and a tassle bead design hanging at the side, "It's a red powder use to make that red circles adorning the bride's face. I hear you like make-up so I thought, I'll get you your own."
Ha Jin stares at the gift, wordless and Kyeong Hwa misunderstands it, "Oh, of course you have one already. Joesonghabnida, I guess I have a lot of things to learn."
Kyeong Hwa shyly apologizes.
Ha Jin couldn't look at Kyeong Hwa without having her conscience nags at her.
"Hae Soo Agassi would love to receive it." So accepts the gift for Hae Soo who seemed to have frozen beside him, "Kamsahabnida. Go hurry along inside, it's getting cold here. We can't have our sejabin get sick."
"Ah yie. Let me not worry you." Kyeong Hwa bows politely to the two and walks with Yeonhwa towards the Damiwon. So watches Hae Soo, worried that she suddenly became quiet again.
Inside the king's quarters, Ji Mong is checking the temperature of the room, lighting incense to help King Hyejong relax. Woo Hee had just brought an afternoon tea for the king and King Hyejong easily dismisses her without completing the ritual. He shares the tea with Ji Mong and together they spent a relax afternoon.
"Pyeha, if I may speak." Ji Mong asks over a cup of tea.
"Do so." These days, King Hyejong sports that glaring fear in his eyes, he looks demented.
"Our seja will not change his mind." Ji Mong almost feels sympathy towards the king.
"I know." King Hyejong is resigned to it, "I was thinking of asking Hae Soo Agassi if she would accept becoming a second wife. Our seja is only marrying the princess in paper."
Ji Mong disagrees as softly as he can so as not to make it look as if he's going against the king, "It's not that the two are being selfish. You know our seja had been loyal to you. He would always have your back but he had fought so hard and waited so long, it would be unfair to him if you force him to marry a princess from another kingdom even if it's only in paper."
"But our sejabin is too young to be sent away." King Hyejong speaks out of a father's heart.
But so is Ji Mong. He wouldn't have his daughter's heart break, "Think of it as chance for her to see the world. To learn a different culture and it is her duty to our kingdom. The Khitans promised to support your throne. Even agreed to give us the lands of Goguryeo if we seal our pact with them."
The duty to the kingdom speech pacifies King Hyejong's worries for now.
"And I hear, Yeonhwa gongju is seen in her company all the time." Having his own idea, Ji Mong attempts to get rid of the two princesses who were meant to marry So in the future, "Why don't we marry her to one of their prince too? I'm sure Kyeong Hwa gongju would be happy to know she won't be alone there."
"Yeonhwa gongju?" King Hyejong did hear that too, "But my sister was once married to a merchant in Later Jin already."
"And she's a widower with a great fortune. All the more reason for them to want her. Her value as a princess lies not on her chastity but on the political power she could bring them. She could bridge connections."
I'm sure one of their princes has a political ambition that Yeonhwa gongju can match.
Ji Mong leaves his conscience behind and plans strategically. He might sound cruel but it's his only way to ensure that his little queen will not suffer the same fate Hae Soo did in their original lifetime.
Besides, he's not the only one who had discarded his conscience to win the throne game. The Chunju Yu clans have forfeited early by the death of the 3rd prince but that doesn't mean other clans don't eye the crown. Someone is poisoning the king and Ji Mong suspects it's coming from the Hwangbo clans, the only clan left strong enough to tip the balance in the court. Yeonhwa is only a casualty.
"Pyeha…" A eunuch calls from the door, "13th prince Wang Baek-Ah is here to see you."
"My 13th brother?" It seems odd to King Hyejong to get a visit from Baek-Ah. He and his 13th brother used to hold company at the sky tower before he became a king but after he ascended the throne, he seldom sees Baek-Ah outside official functions, "Come in."
The doors slide open and in came Baek-Ah, who looks nervous. He addresses King Hyejong as Hyungnim rather than king. Ji Mong vacates his chair and offers it to Baek-Ah, staying behind the king.
"What brings my brother here?" For the first time in days, a smile appears at the king's lips, touched to see his brother, "Did you enjoy your trip with the Sanggun?"
Baek-Ah grins like a boy, his hand playing at his own nape, "About that…"
He circles around the topic, looking from Ji Mong to King Hyejong, his foot tapping nervously at the floor, "I'll be turning 27 by the lunar new year… I…"
King Hyejong and Ji Mong listen.
"… was wondering… since I'm passed that marrying age… I would like… to ask for your blessing… to… ahm… wed Woo Hee Agassi…"
When King Taejo was still alive, there is a natural order in these things. Princes who are numbered starting from 1 and above, should marry first. Since their father died and King Hyejong ascended the throne, all his brothers are not of equal status when it comes to power but they are equal at everything else, including the chance to marry.
"Oh." King Hyejong look at Ji Mong, "Shouldn't our 4th brother marry first?"
"Kuerehabnida." Baek-Ah agrees, "It seems, he and Hae Soo Agassi are taking their sweet time. I think they wouldn't mind if Woo Hee and I marry first."
If one of the royal bloods gets married, it would take a year before another one could follow according to traditions. Ji Mong thinks it would get more complicated if So and Hae Soo waits another year.
Who knows what would happen in another year?
"If you may wait a few more months, why don't we deliver our seja and Hae Soo Agassi to the aisle first." Ji Mong suggests, "It is only right by tradition."
"Of course, they should." Baek-Ah awkwardly smiles, showing his teeth. For now, he's contented to get the king's blessing. "I would need to register Woo Hee Agassi under my clan first anyway."
King Hyejong pats him at the shoulder, "It is kind of you to understand, Baek-Ah-ya. Please be assured that you have my blessings. Chukhahabnida. Is it a season of wedding? Shall I expect our 14th brother to come forward and ask for my blessing too?"
King Hyejong chuckles for the first time in a while. He appears to look better when he does.
"You're not saying anything."
So and Ha Jin are sitting opposite each other, taking a ride in the boat at the middle of Donji lake. The sun is dipping low in the sky, it's framing Hae Soo with it's soft warm glow. Lilies devoid of its white flowers float lazily around them and chirping birds are heard everywhere. It would have been a sweet date if Hae Soo is paying attention but as it is, So had to rocked the boat to catch her attention.
Placing the paddles at the side of the boat, So makes himself comfortable at the floor, holding out his hand for Hae Soo to join him. Ha Jin hesitates for a second before reaching So's hand and lets him guide her to sit in between his knees, enclosing her.
"Chu-wo? (Are you cold?)" So arranges Hae Soo's coat on her shoulder.
"Aniyo. Nan gwaenchanhnayo. (I'm fine.)" Ha Jin returns to crossing her arms against her chest as soon as she finds her balance to seat, reclining her back to So's knee, her knees bend and drawn over So's other leg that is lying flat on the floor.
Playing at the opening of Hae Soo's coat, So's fingers are inching inside, in the strap that is holding her jeogori together, imagining untying it, "Why are you so quiet? I haven't seen you lately. I miss you."
Ha Jin is aware of So's fingers edging where it shouldn't and she's not in the mood. One look on Kyeong Hwa a while ago and all her worries come back. Keeping her silence, she doesn't answer.
So tips her face in his direction. Her face is bare of make-up today only a moisturizer and quick powder in place. The bruise Jung had told him days ago is no longer there. He favors a light nuzzle on her cheek, moving to kiss her lips and Hae Soo draws away, avoiding his lips.
Thwarted, it upsets So, "Soo-ya what's the problem? You've been cold to me lately. Have I done something wrong?
There's a tension running in between them for days and Hae Soo had been quiet all this time, it's driving him crazy. He kept asking what's bothering her and she kept answering nothing. He even asked Baek-Ah for help but to no luck, Hae Soo wouldn't say a word. She is often like this, here beside him but her mind is elsewhere and her mood is always down or bordering in annoyance.
"I can't do anything if you won't tell me what's bothering you." So is starting to be frustrated.
Ha Jin attempts to move away but So keeps her where she is. She chews at her lower lips, trembling as she chokes on words that she doesn't want to say. Her hands are tightening in a fist, holding her tears at bay, "I don't want you to marry the sejabin from another kingdom…"
So waits for her to finish everything she has to say.
"… But it would… be punishing… to send our sejabin away." Ha Jin explains it in a broken sentence, stopping every now and then for her tears not to fall. She's afraid of losing So and at the same time her conscience keeps her awake all night, knowing the princess is supposed to become So's wife in the future or that sending her away will only make her a hostage. Can she be that cruel to a little girl who never did anything wrong to her.
"I was four when I was sent away." So explains, assessing it in a distant perspective.
He understands what Hae Soo is saying but between choosing who should be sacrificed for the good of the kingdom, he'd rather not offer himself. He had gone through hell in the past to get where he is, he won't dawn a cape of goodwill and save a kingdom that repeatedly asks him to sacrifice his own happiness. He had done his part as the ambassador for the last six years. He had enough.
"It's her duty to the kingdom as the sejabin. Her father is the one sitting in the throne, is he not? They could afford to sacrifice this much."
"She's only 11!" Ha Jin argues.
"What should we do then?! Shall I marry the sejabin from the Khitans? Is that what you want?" So argues back, losing his patience.
"Of course not!" Ha Jin had never heard him use this tone on her. They have never fought a serious argument before.
Silence settles between them after the heated rise on their voices. Ha Jin succumbs to her knees, hiding her face in her hands as she sobs. So pulls her closer and wraps her in his embrace. They both take a minute, calming down.
"Soo-ya…" So strokes her arms, gentle once more. "Let it be. Every princess who marries outside the kingdom will be sent away. Even if Kyeong Hwa gongju is not married this time, she will marry in the future. She will have to leave."
Only she didn't because you married her.
Out loud she says, "Dol-a-ka-ja. (Let's go back.)"
Pushing So away.
"Silheo. (I don't want to.)" So argues, letting his hand fall back to his lap. "Soo-ya you're being unreasonable. Why are we fighting over this? The king and I had already agreed, we are sending the sejabin away."
"She'll only become a hostage there." Ha Jin repeats.
"Then do you want me to marry the sejabin from the Khitans?!" So raises his voice again, repeating his question, "Stop this Soo-ya. It's her or us. Can't you see it?"
"I do!" Ha Jin matches his tone, then lowers it, "I do… I understand that but it doesn't make it any less hard to accept."
So closes his eyes in a bid to simmer down his frustration. When he opens his mouth, his tone is even, "Soo-ya, anyone who wants to sit in that throne will have to sacrifice something to keep it. Let it be. It's the least of the sacrifice the king has to make."
"Will you also reign the same way when you sit in the throne?" Ha Jin asks, gazing at So and searching his eyes. She had read about how King Gwangjong reigned with an iron fist. He was one of the great kings of Goryeo.
Great. Not necessarily in a good way.
He was strategic at rooting all his opponents out of his court. For 50 years, he reigned alone. All his brothers left one by one. His queen hates him and his son grew up afraid of him. He was alone with his adviser towards the end of his reign and he died alone, unhappy. The same way the king reigned and died in the folklore of the lantern festival.
"I thought we were running away?" So returns her gaze earnestly, "Did you change your mind?"
Ha Jin purses her lips in sadness and looks at the water by the lake. It ripples in circle as dragonflies play at the water, "It doesn't seem like we would be able to run away. It's been years, who are we fooling?"
Her words ring true to both of them.
"Will you hate me, if I sit on that throne?" So considers it, tired of having to fight the odds all the time.
"I could never hate you…" There are many things she can't control but Ha Jin could at least trust how she feels towards him. She loves him, as sure as the sun takes its place in the sky everyday. She wants a different future together.
If I work hard on it, will it change?
She's exhausted of having to always worry about them.
Uncrossing her arms together, she lets So guides her chin to look at him.
A smile starting to form on So's lips. It felt good to hear Hae Soo say it that she would always choose him, "I should warn you. I'm holding you to that promise."
Ha Jin answers with a soft smile, "Don't ever forget it."
She leans in and favors his lips with a quick chaste kiss, catching him off guard.
"Ya!" He covers his lips with the back of his hand, pretending to be offended. Hae Soo never initiated a kiss before, "Eoh, the lady has became shameless."
"Mwo rago?!" Ha Jin acts mortified. She chuckles, leaning away.
So joins her laughter, setting their argument aside. As fast as how their argument started, So is ready to move passed it. He captures her waist, turning her whole body to face him. His hand going through the insides of her coat, to the small of her back. He have been imagining doing things with her ever since that night in the pool so it exasperated him when he couldn't get her alone after that and then Hae Soo seemed to always find a reason to avoid him. It never occurred to him that Hae Soo is doing it on purpose because Ha Jin thinks he's hiding something from her.
He meets her lips once, twice, laying her down to the floor of the boat but Ha Jin braces her arm accidentally at the side, tipping it dangerously to the water. They both freeze. Her other hand on his chest trying to push him away.
"Wae…?" So draws the syllable out in a tantrum, ''Mwo…?"
He tugs at Hae Soo's arm that is braced against the side, pushing her softly to lie on the floor, "You can't tease me like that and expect me to hold back."
Hae Soo chuckles.
He kisses her fervently, demanding and eager. Pulling her below him, he aligns their body together, hovering above her, careful to not press his weight on her. Their boat still racking side to side.
"Jamkkanmanyo. Jamkkanmanyo. (Wait. Wait.)" Ha Jin squirms underneath him, stopping him from moving, "We're on your boat."
"And? No one comes to this part of the palace." So assures him, leaning in for another kiss.
"The boat might turn over. Stop." Ha Jin deflects him.
So continuously purports her neck with kisses, its tickling her, "I can be very, very careful."
"So-ya keu-man haseyo. (So-ya, stop.)" There isn't much firmness in Ha Jin's voice and So is enjoying her dilemma. She wiggles to her side, attempting to sit-up but only succeeding to tip their boat to the side again, this time the water almost went over their boat.
So sighs, getting off Hae Soo and settling to the other side to balance the boat. He slings his arm around her waist while Hae Soo turns to face him, his upper arm going underneath her head to become a pillow.
"So-ya," Ha Jin hesitates, her hand playing at his collar. She turned serious again, "Is there something you need to tell me?"
So thinks about it for a second, "Saranghanda?"
Baek-Ah once told him that when a girl asks him a question that is suspicious, he should always answer with 'I love you'. It always distracts them.
He instantly feels a light smack of hand on his chest, "Aisshhh… Ya! Wang So wangsejanim, you're evading my question with a cheap trick."
"Kuende, nan neo-reul jeonmal saranghae. (But I do love you.)" Clearly Baek-Ah's suggestion did not work. So would remember to scold Baek-Ah later, "What is it you want to know?"
"Ani…" Ha Jin stares at him, worry and something akin to jealousy are transparent in her eyes. Remembering what Jung told her last night. She asks her question with a slight pout in her mouth, "Did you… have you… seen another girl… before me?"
The questions sounds ridiculous to So, "Eop-da. (There's none.) Why would you think that?"
"You're not lying to me, are you?" Ha Jin wants to be sure. So's actions and behavior don't add up together. "I won't be angry if you tell me you had a woman before me. I would understand that. Just… don't lie to me."
"Soo-ya, there's no one before you." So confidently answers. Somehow her inquiry is making him grin, finding her jealousy adorable, "There's no one to be jealous with. It's just you. Always."
"When you go to the fields, do you spend time in a gyobang too? I've seen all our soldiers do that when I was staying in Jeolla." Ha Jin squints her eyes, distrustful.
"I did." So nods, finding no reason why he should lie about it, "You can ask the general and my 14th brother, I only ever drink with Gen. Park."
And that's where the problem lies. It was Jung who kept saying So is hiding something from her.
"You've met with a gisaeng before? You're not meeting a gisaeng while seeing me, are you?" If So got his experience from a Gisaeng, that isn't a very uncommon custom. She could forgive that but if he did that while they are in relationship, that would still be cheating and she won't tolerate it.
"What?! No?! I've never touched a gisaeng." So feels the questions are getting out of hand and notices Hae Soo's mood is plummeting by every question she asks.
Stretching his understanding, Baek-Ah warned him against going head to head with a lady when they are jealous, he won't win the fight. He should just give in to whatever the lady wants. It would be the fastest way to end the argument and her doubt.
Since they are on the topic of past lovers, So is curious, it's his chance to ask, who was the boy before him, "Weren't you seeing another boy before me?"
"They told me I did." Ha Jin's answer is carefully crafted, framing it in a way that So can't take it against her because she has an excuse, "I don't remember at all."
Outsmarted, So watches Hae Soo for telltale sign that she's lying though he knows it is possible Hae Soo really doesn't remember, "If they tell you, you did, did they also say who it was? Who said that you did?"
"Chae Ryung did."
A person So knows he could no longer ask, "Who was the boy, Soo-ya? Was he your lover?"
"A…ni… jamkkanmanyo… (Hold on)" The situation suddenly coming back to bite her. She sits up, becoming defensive.
So follows, turning serious. There's a jealousy on his voice, "Is't Jung? Why is Jung always in your room? It was him last night, isn't it?"
"Yes, he is." Ha Jin sees nothing wrong of coming clean about it, though she's a bit nervous, touching on topic that is too close to truth. Jung is volatile these days, she's afraid, he might suddenly say something about what he heard, "The two of you haven't been getting along lately and I don't want another misunderstanding to come between you, so I hid him. He was drinking at the town and lost track of time. Your men happened to come across him and he run off at the Damiwon."
"Was he your lover?" So repeats, rigid and quiet. Ha Jin notices the change in him in an instant. His face had darkened and the possessiveness in him is unmistakable, Ha Jin is inclined to prance around the truth.
"Aniyo."
At least, not in that sense of the word 'lover'
Ha Jin is not sure what Jung is to Hae Soo. She knows they use to see each other but how far the two had become intimate to be called lovers, she doesn't know. Unless she asks, which she will not. Besides, Hae Soo appears to be the quiet one and her body definitely feels like it had never been touched at all.
So seizes her wrist, his other hand wrapping at her nape. He pulls her to him, almost on his lap. He meets her lips with an imposition. He didn't close his eyes nor was he gentle. He watches her reaction, seeking validation. His fingers dig at her skin, his lips sucking at her lower lips. It was rough and possessive, as if trying to erase something with his touch, "Neon nae keo-ya, Soo-ya. (You're mine, Soo-ya.) Hang-sang, yeong-weon-hi (Always and eternal.)"
Then he pulls back. Even through his roughness and commanding hands, his vulnerability and insecurity seep in his eyes. He needs to hear that she is his, "Yak-suk-hae. (Promise me.)"
"Wangsejanim…" Ha Jin is a little anxious. Kneeling in the space in between his lap, she towers some inches over him.
"Yak-suk-hae! (Promise me!)" He sucks at her neck, his hands grasping all over her, deprived and needy, "Please, Soo-ya. What if your memories suddenly come back?"
It terrifies him that he might lose Hae Soo at the possibility of her remembering. He keeps touching her, wanting to be assured that she's there, that she'll never leave.
"So-ya," She wraps her arms around So's shoulder, stilling him. In a patient and comforting voice so they don't end up arguing a second time in an hour, she promises him, "I won't remember. Trust me"
"Soo-ya…"
"Even if I do," She cuts into his sentence, "I will always choose you."
So pulls her for an embrace, resting his cheek on her chest, "Dol-a-wa-seo hon-in-ha-ja. (Let's get married after I come back.)"
The proposal startles Ha Jin, Of course they've been talking about eloping but not getting married. There is no one to give her hand anymore except for the consort and So decides, she can go to hell.
Ha Jin just stares at So, debating if she just heard a proposal.
"Say something." So waits in anticipation.
Ha Jin's face softens, forgetting that she needs to answer, "Ne, hon-in-ha-ja. (Yes, let's get married.)"
There was no ring, no anything. It feels like a spur of the moment but it's not. They've been slowly walking towards that goal for a long time, she's just not expecting they will really have a wedding ceremony. So had told her before that he might not be able to marry her but they could elope. Somehow marriage was always off the table and it never bothered her because to her it's just a piece of paper. What's important is them, their relationship. So is the one who is very particular with marriage.
"Do you mind if we get married in a small ceremony? We'll have a big wedding after I sit at the throne." So apologizes hesitantly.
"Aniyo, let's get married with just us." The tears suddenly welling in Ha Jin's eyes. She feels stupidly happy, "With a Jeong hwa su (freshest and cleanest water drawn)."
It's an old tradition, one that predates Goryeo. The people wakes up early at dawn and pray in front of a freshly drawn water, symbolizing their purest offering to the heavenly god.
So smiles, brushing Hae Soo's long hair out of her shoulders, "Kuere, let's get married here at this lake at the break of dawn. Will that be alright?"
Ha Jin nods, sitting on So's lap, her knees trembling from happiness, "I'd love that."
So envelops her in an embrace, planting a kiss on her hair. He dabs at her eyes, "Achu saranghanda. (I love you so much.)"
When he says it this time, it's reverent and adoring.
The news of the sejabin and Yeonhwa marrying into the kingdom of Khitans are sent to their families privately. Ji Mong and So made sure that there are no big fares or fancy announcement that would add to Hae Soo's anxiety. They forbade Kyeong Hwa from staying at the Damiwon and Woo Hee comes to her quarters to give her lessons instead.
Yeonhwa visits her mother's quarters, who has become a queen regent but no longer has jurisdiction on the court. She finds her in a meeting with Wook.
"Am I really going to be sent away again?" Yeonhwa is passed crying about this kind of thing. She's afraid to be leaving but she refused to be reduced into tears.
"Mianhada, Yeonhwa-ya, your mother had turned useless but I had a talked with the king this afternoon. It is a prince of your age, the 3rd son of the king whom you would be marrying. It's the best I could negotiate for you." Queen Shinjong looks every bit apologetic to her daughter.
Yeonhwa is not listening, glaring at her brother, "Orabeonim! You need to do something about this. I don't want to be sent away. I haven't done anything wrong. How long are you going to serve as our brother's dog?"
That didn't go well on Wook's ears, "Be quiet or I might sent you earlier than you should be."
"Orabeonim!" Yeonhwa's anger had always been her defense to cover her weakness.
Wook stands up and reaches to touch Yeonhwa's hand. When he spoke, its in a gentle manner Yeonhwa haven't heard him for years, "Pack your things light and go quietly. The seja and the general will escort you and the sejabin to the Khitans. Once they are gone, I will put things in order and rid the palace of our first brother."
Stroking her hand, Wook promises, "Once I sit on that throne. I will have you called back here, alright?"
He pulls her into a hug, the most affectionate and sincere he had been for years, it's making the hairs on Yeonhwa's arm stand on its end.
"Trust me on this."
The sun is out and the sky is blue with occasional speck of clouds dust. It's a beautiful morning and the assembly is suspended to bid the princesses farewell. So is standing with Hae Soo by the stairs of the king's quarter. He'd always wanted to have this kind of farewell, someone fussing over his clothes and telling him to be careful. In this case, Hae Soo is handing him an odd shape almost oblong, gift wrapped in a white linen cloth.
"Mwoya igeo? (What's this?)" So weighs it on his hand, it's a little heavy and solid for a lock of hair.
"I was taking a walk in the market the other day when I passed by a stall selling these things." She opens it for him and inside is a bronze dagger sheathe in a matching brown simple animal hide. Its hilt is etched with a familiar pattern of flower and leaves.
"Eh? A dagger?" It looks unremarkable to him, "Soo-ya, there are many daggers in the garrison. I would have preferred a lock of hair."
He's been expecting for a lock of hair and a poem every time he leaves but he always gets an odd gift from Hae Soo.
"Eiii, look closer." Ha Jin takes off the dwikkoji from her hair. The one So gave her when he promised they would run away together. Not one day pass did she ever forget to wear that dwikkoji.
She puts it side by side with the blade. It's flowery design perfectly fit the one etched at the hilt of the dagger, "We matched. Couple daggers."
It sounds ridiculous even to Ha Jin. Of course 'couple things' are never the rage in that period. When a man and woman are in love, they just write poems or send a lock of hair to their lover and get married. If they were in modern times, they would have gotten a ring. As it is, garakji (a pair of rings that symbolizes engagement) only appeared during the Joseon dynasty out of Confucian customs.
They've never been a normal couple and Ha Jin wants to feel a little normalcy from her time. She was thinking of what they could match and remembers So's token of promise, her dwikkoji. It is not just a simple ornament in the hair. It is also a pin with a sharp end, resembling a dagger.
"Couple daggers?" So looks at Hae Soo strangely. She had always been peculiar. Sometimes it's hard for So to get a read on her.
"Waeyo? Silheo? (You don't want it?)" Ha Jin's face falters, hiding her disappointment. "Give it back then."
"Aniya!" So puts it out of her reach, "I never said I don't like it. Why do you always take back what you give me? Igeo, naekkeoya! (It's mine.)"
Ha Jin pouts like a kid.
"Couple daggers?" It's starting to sound pleasing in his ears. "Johahaeyo."
He inserts it on his belt, making sure it would never be lost. Ha Jin finally smiles, putting back her dwikkoji on her hair.
The crowd gathers and forms a column on each side of the two palanquins as King Hyejong, Won and Ji Mong come out of the quarters and escort a crying Kyeong Hwa out. Her mother, Queen Uihwa and her siblings were forbidden to come. So and Gen. Park mount their horses and wait for the ceremony of goodbye to be over.
When Kyeong Hwa reaches her palanquin, she turns around and cries loudly, "Pyeha, I don't want to leave. Jebal."
Yeonhwa gets in her own palanquin and shuts the door, not wanting to hear the loud cries of the little princess. Ha Jin balls her hands into a fist, staring at the floor, disturbed to hear Kyeong Hwa pleads.
"Abeonim!" Kyeong Hwa wails loudly, struggling against Won's hold,
"Gongjumama, hush. Remember your mother's words. This is for your own good."
Everyone looks away, unable to watch the princess weep.
King Hyejong comes down in the stairs looking disheveled and deranged. There are scratches in his face and neck. Though his hair is neatly tied in a bun, he keeps turning everywhere, looking out for something he could only hear, "Do not be stubborn Kyeong Hwa! This if for the good of our kingdom."
"Abeonim, jebal. I don't want to leave!" Kyeong Hwa repeats, worming out of Won's hold and runs to her father, kneeling in front of him, "Let me stay for a few more years. I promised I would marry when I reach my 16th year."
So had been watching Hae Soo all this time, seeing her shake. He meets Ji Mong's gaze and the two exchanges understanding.
King Hyejong grabs his daughter by the arms and shakes her, "Why are you being like this! Can't you do one good thing for your father?!"
His backhand slaps Kyeong Hwa frantically and it's sound ring crisp in the courtyard.
Everyone is alarmed.
"When I tell you to leave, you will leave quietly!" King Hyejong screams at his daughter, "The Khitans will send troops to protect me when we uphold our end of the bargain."
Ha Jin couldn't listen to it anymore and steps out of her position.
Ji Mong blocks her path, seizing her arm, "Haji-ma, Hae Soo-ya. (Don't do it, Hae Soo-ya.) Let it be."
Ha Jin is disoriented, expecting that familiar pain in her stomach or the water surrounding her whenever the astronomer touches her. When it didn't come, she feels relieved.
"But she's only a child." Ha Jin pushes at Ji Mong.
Ji Mong hardens his arms around her and whispers in her ear, "What shall we do then? Let your prince marry her? Stop this. It's for your own good, my child."
Watching Kyeong Hwa gets slapped and fall to the ground brings out unpleasant memories to So. Remembering his child self on Kyeong Hwa, he couldn't help by feel pity for Hyeong Hwa. He unmounts his horse and walks towards the the king and the princess, extracting Kyeong Hwa from the mad king's hold, "Pyeha, you do not need to hurt the princess."
"She's being stubborn!"
Kyeong Hwa hides behind So, terrified.
"I need her delivered to the Khitans. It's the only way our kingdom would be safe." King Hyejong couldn't stay still. One minute he's in the courtyard. The next, he's some place else, imaging harm coming to him.
So is worried for the little princess and the king. The soldiers and the servants have started whispering. Surely, by the end of the day, people would know the king had lost his mind.
"Let me do my job as an ambassador and broker a different deal with the Khitans." So can feel Kyeong Hwa shaking behind him, "For now, let Kyeong Hwa gongju stay. She's too young to be sent away. I'm sure I could ask the king of the Khitans for some time."
King Hyejong squints his eyes, looking at So with reverence, misunderstanding, "You will do that? You're marrying to the Khitans."
"Yie?" Everyone is succumbing to confusion. The seja definitely did not say he's marrying to the Khitans.
"Congratulations is in order then. What do you want as a gift?" King Hyejong reaches to shake So's hand.
"Tssss…" Wook smirks. This is going better than what he planned.
So flicks the king's hand away, catching himself being impolite. He will not be outsmarted like this, "Aniyo. I'm not marrying the sejabin from the Khitans. I said I will broker a deal with the Khitans so I could buy our sejabin some time."
He explains it again, emphasizing that he will not be marrying the sejabin from the Khitans.
He turns his back to a surprised King Hyejong, taking Kyeong Hwa with him and handing her to Hae Soo and Ji Mong.
"I got you what you want. I expect a reward when I get home." So unexpectedly smiles at Hae Soo, keeping it casual to calm Hae Soo's worries, "You can stop feeling guilty. I know you've been worrying about the princess."
Ji Mong told him of Hae Soo's fears that night, Hae Soo slept in his bedroom, sick.
"Next time, you can just tell it to me straight and I promise, I'll makes things better." So assures her with a light touch on her cheek. He doesn't know whether the Khitans will agree to this development but he'll just make plans as he go along.
He wipes the smile on his face as he turns towards the direction of the general. Mounting his horse, he didn't even give a polite goodbye to the king and just left, taking his soldiers with him.
Ji Mong watches them recede to the courtyard, hoping So is not making a big mistake.
Night settles at the palace and a ruckus of table being over turned and glasses smashing on the wall are heard outside the king's chamber. Wook turns up outside the chamber and the eunuchs bow their heads in greeting, one of them giving a caution that the king had been in an outburst since the afternoon. Though it's been quiet since Woo Hee Sanggun came to serve the king with a tea.
There was no answer from the inside; hence they just let the 8th prince in. When Wook enters, he finds the king's chamber in disarray. Pillows are strewn everywhere, broken glasses litter the floor, scrolls are piled at the corner, chairs are over turned and the king's seal is completely forgotten at the floor. The king lies on his unkept bed, his blanket wrap around him.
Woo Hee kneels at the middle aisle, the tea she prepared untouched. She looks up as Wook passes her.
"Pyeha," Wook calls the king's attention.
King Hyejong is shaking underneath his blankets, "Something is wrong with me Wook-ah. I feel so cold even when the summer sun is shining in the middle of the sky. The tea couldn't make me feel better."
He sits up, his blanket all over his shoulder, looking around, "I did the right thing, didn't I? I was sacrificing my daughter for this kingdom to have allies, why do my people think I'm cruel?"
"It's not that our people think that you are cruel, it's just that they have rallied behind our seja. They have lost trust on you." Wook stands so still, even a movement at the hems of his hanbok can't be seen, "I have warned you about it so many times but you trust our 4th brother more than anyone else."
"So will never betray me." King Hyejong isn't so sure anymore after what happened in the courtyard this morning.
"Our 4th brother had always been unpredictable and it seems he had grown cocky and proud, he was even disrespectful to you." Wook reminds him of how So rejected his request in front of the assembly, "If he comes back with the support of the Khitans, I'm pretty sure our people would no longer see the need for you to remain in the throne."
In King Hyejong's unhinged mind, the threat is real. He looks at Wook for guidance, "What shall I do?"
"It would be best if you abdicate the throne to me, Hyungnim." There is no change in the expression on Wook's face, calm, guarded and unreadable, "If I become a king, I will make sure that you get to live a very comfortable life. The throne is only a burden. As your brother who is concern, I do not mind carrying the burden for you."
"Wook-ah." There is fear on King Hyejong's face, crumbling like a wilted flower on a grass of needle. He would say nothing after that as if forgetting how to speak.
Woo Hee is still at the aisle as afraid as King Hyejong is. She pretends she couldn't hear anything and couldn't wait to get out the king's chamber.
A week later, So and Gen. Park's company is nearing the territory of the Khitans. With Yeon Hwa's big entourage, it can't be help that they stop and camp every night. They are in a pine forest up north tonight. Tents where put up and bonfires are dancing brightly every few meters.
Yeonhwa takes a lantern and goes deeper into the forest, walking on her own. She stands in the middle of the trees, looking at the almost uniformed branches blotting the dark sky. The moon is on its' waxing stage, days into becoming full.
"I thought I would find you here." So breaks into Yeonhwa's reverie, "I heard you're not eating the food your servants had been cooking for you."
Yeonhwa sighs. She doesn't want to talk to anyone. The least of it is her 4th brother, "What do you want?"
The last time she and So had a good old sibling conversation was when they were still both living on their 8th brother's household. It's been so long, it feels as if it was a different lifetime ago.
So shrugs, "Nothing. Can I offer you a drink?"
He takes out a leather flask and offers it to Yeonhwa. She only looks at it.
"Wae? A princess doesn't drink from a flask?" So asks.
"I sent you an invitation to visit me in my house when we were both in Later Jin, you never answered nor visited." Yeonhwa glances away from So, rejecting his offer of a drink.
So puts his hand down. He did received the invitation many times, "I was in Later Jin for a punishment…"
"-So am I." Yeonhwa doesn't let him finish his sentence, "because we were associated with the Haes. I'm not even friends with that girl, why I was punished was beyond my comprehension."
She's as good as Wook with twisting truths and since no one really knew, Wook and Yo orchestrated the whole scheme against the Haes, So is incline to feel pity towards his sister.
"Mianhada, Yeonhwa-ya."
"What for?" Yeonhwa walks over a tree trunk and reclines her back to it, resting, "Let's not say empty words towards each other. It's the least I want to hear from my brother whom I cared for since we were kids."
So follows her to the trees.
"I am genuinely sorry." At that time, he's mind was fixed at surviving in Later Jin and building connections so he could free himself from the consort's hold that he didn't have time to grant himself a free day to visit his sister.
"No, you're not." Yeonhwa says it casually, "You and our other brothers have forgotten about me after I was shipped to Later Jin. No one even bothered to ask, how am I after I came back."
That is true. They were all busy with their lives that their sister leaving the palace, whether she wanted it or not, never concerned them.
"If you are, you would have considered how I feel about this journey we're making. You found a way to free the sejabin because Hae Soo is so concerned about her but you were ready to deliver me to the hands of our neighboring kingdom without considering that maybe I also don't want to be sent away again."
So never thought about that. This is all just a job to him. If Yeonhwa puts it that way then it does feel heavy on his chest. He stays silent.
"See, you've forgotten about me too." Yeonhwa smiles bitterly, "You know when we were kids, I sincerely liked your company. Even after we grew-up and you came back to the palace and everyone is drawing a wide berth from you, I sincerely stayed by your side because I cared."
So is aware of that. He just never looked at Yeonhwa beyond their sibling relationship. Yeonhwa did appear beautiful and caring but way out of his league so he never considered it. When Hae Soo entered his life and showed him, he is capable of being loved his eyes had been fixed on her ever since.
"I don't know what to say..."
"Gwaenchanhseubnida orabeonim." Yeonhwa takes her back from the tree trunk. She had enough watching the moon and talking to someone. She wants to be alone now.
"Yeonhwa-ya." So calls back but stops. He doesn't want to give promise he can't fulfill. Though he feels for his sister, he's not going to sacrifice his own freedom to free Yeonhwa.
Yeonhwa just walks away.
The next few days, the assembly is once again suspended as King Hyejong calls in sick. He goes to the Damiwon, taking a dip at the inner pool to relax. The Damiwon is closed and the king's guards are manning outside. Only the Sanggun, who attends to the king is allowed at the inner pool.
Ha Jin is taking a walk at the courtyard with Baek-Ah when Kyeong Hwa gongju shows-up, bringing another gift with her to thank Hae Soo and the seja for letting her stay. Ha Jin assure her it's nothing. They spend the morning together with Kyeong Hwa following Hae Soo everywhere, wanting to befriend close to her.
As always, Woo Hee dismisses her gungnyeo(s) and takes care of the king's bath. She stoops at the edge of the poolside, soaking herbs in the water. She left out the poison on the bath today, out of pity for the young king who is troubled.
Won and Wook arrive, their steps light, their mood joyful. They greet the king informally with Hyungnim.
King Hyejong rests into the pool, the water high up to his chest. His arms spread at the edge of the pool, looking all worn out and tired. Won crouches at the edge of the pool, behind his back, "How are you doing today, Hyungnim? I heard from your adviser that you have been sick again."
"Ah Won-i," The dark circle around King Hyejong's eyes are getting darker while his face is looking paler. He's groggy and tittering between unconsciousness and consciousness, "I feel so tired even after I sleep. My joints are aching. My muscles are sore. What is wrong with me?"
Woo Hee just continue with alternately dipping different pouches of herbs on the king's bath. Her guard is up and she's observing. She didn't know the two would show up so she took out the poison. If the two finds out she's not doing what they have asked her to do, she'll be punished.
Wook stand by the corner edge of the pool, watching just like Woo Hee.
"Shall I help you rest, Hyungnim?" Won asks, his hands wrapping at the kings shoulder, massaging his stiff muscle. King Hyejong responds to eat with a relief, closing his eyes.
Won looks at Wook and Wook nods, giving a signal.
Suddenly Won pushes King Hyejong under the water, keeping his head under the surface.
When Woo Hee realizes what's happening, she stands up and runs to the king to help him. Wook yanks her arm as she passes him and keeps her in place "Wangjanim, what are you doing? Please stop."
King Hyejong struggles weakly underneath Won's grasp. There aren't even that much splash of water, only unintelligible gurgle and a few bubbles.
"Stop, please!" Woo Hee pleads.
It didn't even take long and King Hyejong succumbs to the water without a struggle. A few more minutes and all the movements from King Hyejong seizes. The water becomes calm and the bubbles stopped. Won withdraws his arms from the water and King Hyejong floats face down.
Wook releases Woo Hee and she falls to the floor, shocked. When she regains her mind, she immediately goes to the edge of the pool and tries to reach for the king's body, "What have you done?"
Won stands up and shrugs, wiping his hands on his hanbok as if, he only washed his hands. He exchanges a smirk with Wook and let's Woo Hee gets her hands to the king.
"Is there someone in there?" Won calls the attention of the soldiers standing outside the door. He pretends to sound frantic, "Help, the king needs help."
The king's entourage, his private guards, the eunuchs, gungnyeo(s) and Ji Mong, came through the door and Won wrenches at Woo Hee's hair and she screams in pain. The sleeves of her hanbok all wet as she had been trying to get the king out of the water.
"We caught the Sanggun drowning the king." Won handles Woo Hee like she's a rag doll, yanking her up as she struggles against him.
"What?! No, please I'm innocent." Woo Hee vehemently denies the accusation, terrified.
Ji Mong and the entourage surrounds the inner pool all-looking confused. Everyone is frantic, trying to get the king out of the pool. When the guards finally pull King Hyejong's body out of the water, the eunuch examines the king's body and declares the king is no longer breathing. A eunuch tries to do first aid but the king's body is already weak from the poison, the moment he stopped breathing, blood pours out of his mouth, nose and ears.
Through the door, Ha Jin, Baek-Ah and Kyeong Hwa, arrive too and they were as stunned as everyone is taking in the scene in front of them. Kyeong Hwa runs to her father's lifeless body.
Baek-Ah sees Woo Hee struggling on Won's arm. He and Ha Jin attempt to come to her but soldiers block their way.
"What's going on?" Baek-Ah is angry to see Won mistreating Woo Hee.
"The lady had been caught red handed murdering the king." Wook calmly explains behind the wall of soldiers separating them and the two.
"Please, wangjanim." Woo Hee calls at Baek-Ah, "I have nothing to do with it."
Won yanks hard at her hair, warning her to shut-up.
"Release her, Hyungnim, please." Baek-Ah goes through the soldiers who caught hold of him.
"Woo Hee could never do what you are accusing her." Hae Soo is also kept back by the soldiers.
The accusation doesn't make sense.
The eunuch and gungyeo(s) inspect the pouches soak in the water. It's full of herbs that are not poisonous at all.
Kyeong Hwa wails and the gungyeo(s) attempt to calm her down, separating her from the king's body.
"We must let the seja know of what happened here." Ji Mong declares, suspecting the 8th and 9th prince of foul play, "I shall send a messenger immediately. In the meantime, I will have the minister notified and have the palace in interim while we wait for the seja to come back. He should be crown king before the whole kingdom and our neighboring kingdom learns that the throne is empty."
"There will be no need for that." Wook calmly speak through the chaos. He takes out a piece of hanji and unfolds it carefully, showing the seal of the king, "The king has abdicated the throne to me the other night."
Everyone hasn't reared back from the shock of witnessing the king dead and now Wook announces he will be seating at the throne. Everyone became so still, they could hear even the ominous silence enveloping the whole palace. Nobody saw it coming.
Ha Jin and Ji Mong exchange look. The two of them knew, the 8th prince is not meant to take a sit in the throne.
Baek-Ah pulls Hae Soo behind him, protective by instinct.
Won momentarily releases Woo Hee and comes to his knees, announcing, "Manse, manse, man manse."
The gungnyeo(s), soldiers and eunuch are all confuse. They observe the royalities in front of them at a loss. Should they bow down or not? The eunuchs kneel first out of fear that they might be punished by the new king if they appear to be disloyal to him. The gungnyeo(s) follow and the soldiers were the last.
Wook lets his eyes pass the crowd in front of him, waiting for Ji Mong, Baek-Ah and Hae Soo to do the same. With no choice, the three are forced to kneel but they didn't repeat the words that will declare Wook their king.
Their kneeling satisfies Wook for now. He turns to the soldiers and commands, "Put the disgraced Sanggun in prison. We will have her tried after we bury the king and I am officially crowned."
The soldiers immediately take a hold of Woo Hee and Baek-Ah pleads, "Please, Hyungnim, Woo Hee agasssi could never do what she is being accused off."
"Are you saying that I, the king, is lying?" Wook emphasize the word king, as a warning to Baek-Ah. He will not be opposed at this early stage.
"Anibnida, Pyeha." Baek-Ah swallows, keeping his head level headed. It will only worsen Woo Hee's case if he go against his 8th brother. He watches Woo Hee being taken away for now, his hand tightening on Hae Soo's wrist.
Editor's note:
A year into writing this, I still can't watch ep 18 and above. It's too traumatic. T_T I tried watching it to take down notes for the next chapters but I had to stop.
My sched is getting hectic again so I might not be able to write consistently. Though we only have two more chapters left and an epilogue. Something like that :)
Let's do this!
