In the pavilion of 8th Prince's residence Soo sat beside Myung Hee with a calm expression on her face. The melodious music of qin made their sweet morning more delightful.

Baekha was playing qin with a displeased heart though he didn't let his face show it. He had come to meet Myung Hee but unexpectedly she bought Soo with her and praised his skills so much in front of Soo that in the end he was somewhat forced to play for them. After finishing he looked up and asked, "Soo, did it match your expectation?"

Soo smiled, "It was beyond my expectation honestly. I have heard people playing qin a few times but none of that was close to this. Your Highness really knows how to move a person's heart."

Baek Ah laughed, "You are embarrassing me. There are many who are better than me. Even comparing me with them would be ridiculous."

"Is that so? I don't have much knowledge on classical music so I don't really know the difference."

Hearing this Baek Ah could no longer keep smiling. He was trying to be humble but he didn't expect that Soo would actually say indirectly that his music was average. It wasn't that he cannot tolerate criticisms in fact he welcomes them as it helps him to improve himself. However it was also true that he was not average in any way and he also didn't expect that Soo would say such words in front of Myung Hee

Seeing Baek Ah's changing expression, Soo quickly said, "But aren't those people who are remarkable are very old? Even though my knowledge is limited I can surely say that among the younger people if you claim to be second no one would dare to claim first."

Baek Ah laughed, "You are exaggerating."

Myung Hee took a sip from her tea before saying, "Don't take her words seriously. She has a talent for flattering others."

"Unnie!"

"Really?"

Both Soo and Baek Ah exclaimed at the same time.

Myung Hee turned to Soo and broke out into a merry laugh, "I was kidding."

Soo scoffed. After a while she thought of something and said, "Your Highness I have heard you are acquainted with Myung Hee Unnie since you were young. Then you must know a lot of things about her."

"Absolutely. I don't think anyone knows nuin as much as I know her."

"In that case can you tell me how she was before. As you know I have forgotten everything." Soo said with a pout.

Baek Ah lowered his voice and looked around to see if anyone was hearing them. "Before marriage Myung Hee nuin would often secretly dress up as a man to visit gibang."

With widened eyes Soo exclaimed, "Gibang!" She was stunned. She couldn't believe that her well disciplined and composed sister was so mischievous and fearless before.

"Beak Ah!" Myung Hee shot him a warning look.

But Baek Ah was not intimidated. He continued, "Haesoo, your cousin became quiet and stern after marriage. Before she was free spirited and cheerful just like you now."

Soo looked at Myung Hee and with a worried face said, "So you became boring after marriage."

"If I had known you two would gang up against me then I would have never let you guys meet each other." Myung Hee frowned.

"Nuin, it's too late to regret now. From now on I am going to meet Haesoo everyday and tell her each and every story that you want to hide from everyone."

"Please do so, Your Highness. And unnie, for this mistake you are going to pay for it by tolerating my teasing until I get tired." Soo warned her with an evil grin. "You are always making me understand to be less reckless and unruly. But now what is this? You were two steps ahead of me."

"Haesoo, ten steps. You never went to such risky places for fun." Beak Ah intervened. Having fun after spilling Myung Hee's secrets.

"That was before my marriage." Myung Hee tried to defend herself.

"I am also unmarried if you're forgetting."

Beak Ah's laugh, Myung Hee's misery and Soo's teasing were cut in when a maid appeared.

"Lady Hae, an invitation has come from the palace." The maid informed them.

"Who sent the invitation?" Myung Hee asked.

"Chief Consort Myungsun."

Myung Hee was surprised for a moment and then said, "His Highness still hasn't returned home. Send Her Highness a letter that we will visit her as soon as my husband returns home."

The maid didn't answer her and after a moment of hesitation said, "Lady Hae, the invitation is for Young Lady Haesoo."

Myung Hee was stunned to hear this. She looked at Baek Ah and saw his equally confused face. While others were having hard time understanding the situation, Soo was in daze thinking that the Consort was actually serious about having tea with her.

Baek Ah was the first one to speak, "Consort Myungsun is not someone who likes having people around her then why is she inviting Haesoo for tea all of a sudden." He said while scratching his head.

"When I had newly married Wook Wanjangnim and went over to her place to greet her a few times, she treated me lukewarmly. She had even told me that I am bothering her." Myung Hee evidently not in support of the meeting.

Baek Ah frowned, "You are forgetting the part when you fell gravely ill and Consort Myungsun sent valuable tonics which even 8th brother or any of the Imperial Physicians couldn't obtain."

Myung Hee's expression slightly relaxed, "Still, this is unlike her." She turned to Soo, "You! You must have done something stupid right?"

"Do you remember the Persian rug that His Majesty bestowed upon me? At the time when His Majesty was bestowing that on me Consort Myungsun was also present. She had said that she wants to invite me for tea but I didn't realize that she would actually do so. We didn't even talk much that day."

Soo's words didn't lessen Myung Hee's concern but only increased. Baek Ah attempted to reassure Myung Hee, "Nuin, I know you are not liking the idea of Soo entering the palace but trust me since Consort Myungsun summoned her she will definitely take care of her."

Left with no choice, Myung Hee bid Baek Ah goodbye and brought Soo inside to prepare her.


Soo looked over the many earrings placed in her dressing table. Some of them didn't match her dress, some of them were too simple and some of them were too extravagant. Behind her Chaeryung was carefully adorning her hair.

"You shouldn't enter the palace. The 8th Prince is also not at home. What should I do? What can be done?" Myung Hee sat on the bed with knitted brows. Her hands tightly clutching bed sheets at the frustration of not being able to do anything.

Soo looked at Myung Hee's reflection from the mirror. "Unnie, I also don't want to go there. You have to think over and over again before saying a single word. It's suffocating. But what can be done? I have to go unless of course we make some excuse but that is not a solution. She will keep summoning me until she gets to meet me. There's no way we can avoid her forever so it's better to just meet her and see what she wants." With a calm tone she continued, "Moreover Consort Myungsun herself invited me to the palace. In a way I will be her responsibility as long as I am inside the palace. If something wrong happens to me she will be the first one to be questioned. She possibly cannot be that reckless after all we are also from the Hae clan." She slightly laughed. The fact that she was now a noble was something she still found funny and unbelievable.

Myung Hee got up from the bed and walked to Soo. She placed her hand on Soo's shoulder, "Hae clan is no match for Yoon clan that Her Highness Consort Myungsun belongs to. Yoon clan is extremely powerful. They have the second largest army in Goryeo and have great influence over smaller clans. They can also easily beat the treasury of the royal palace. She might be a consort but her power and influence is no less than a queen. Moreover Consort Myungsun is His Majesty's most favored wife. If any problem arises he will definitely take her side."

Soo sighed and put on a rather simple earring. After Chaeryung finished doing Soo's hair, Soo stood up, "How about you accompany me to the palace then? You can see by yourself why she wants to meet me."

"I cannot. She invited you alone. It would not be proper if I tag along with you. But Chaeryung will go with you." Tucking Soo's hair behind her ear Myung Hee continued, "I also don't know exactly what kind of person Consort Myungsun is so I cannot advise you on how to behave around her but remember never offend her in any way not even by mistake."

Although Soo was also nervous, she couldn't show it after seeing how tense Myung Hee already was. She nodded reassuringly, "Don't worry too much otherwise it will affect your health. I can handle this." She said both to Myung Hee and herself.


Right after Haesoo entered the palace with Chaeryung, a middle-aged eunuch walked towards them.

"Greetings to Your Lady. Her Highness Consort Myungsun is waiting for you." The eunuch took a glance at Chaeryung before looking at Soo again. "Agassi, you have to leave your servant here."

"But she is my personal maid." Soo objected, feeling nervous and anxious.

"My apologies, Agassi."

Soo gave up realizing she cannot go against palace protocols and turned towards Chaeryung. "Wait for me."

"I will be around here waiting for you." Chaeryung reluctantly let her go.

The eunuch then led her to the quarters of Consort Yoon.

Upon reaching Chief Consort Yoon's quarters, the first thing she noticed was how spacious and splendid it was. It had a beautiful and elegant ambience and the flora and fauna were pruned tidily. She remembered Myung Hee's words, Consort Yoon might be a consort but her power and influence is no less than a queen. Now she felt like her sister was correct.

This cannot be just a consort's quarters in any way.

The eunuch took her inside. When she saw Consort Myungsun, she bowed respectfully, "Haesoo greets you, Your Highness."

Consort Myungsun turned around and said with a smile, "Oh, you have finally come. I was waiting for you. Come, have a seat."

Soo complied and sat opposite her.

"Do you like flowers?" The Consort asked.

Soo was a bit surprised. What kind of question is that? Even a person who is allergic to flowers would like them. "Yes. I like them." She kept her voice neither high nor low.

Consort Yoon passed a vase and some flowers to Soo. "Since you are already here why don't you accompany me in arranging flowers?"

As Hajin used to work in a perfume company, she has a vast knowledge about flowers and it's fragrances but arranging flowers was something she had never done before. Naturally she didn't have any confidence. Since Consort Yoon already pushed the vase and flowers towards her and it was a small thing she didn't have the choice of refusing too.

Soo picked up the vase and started choosing flowers. Occasionally she would take a peek at Consort Yoon's vase to get an idea of how to do this.

Consort Myungsun glanced at Soo, "Why are you only using peonies and roses? It's freezing outside and your choice of flowers are not fitting with this season."

They were surrounded with many different kinds of flowers but Soo's vase contained only pink peonies and pink roses. "Ah, I was not considerate enough. I was only thinking about its aesthetic. Let me correct it right away."

Soo took some camellias in her hand when Consort Yoon stopped her. "Let it be. They might not go with this season but they are simple and...don't look bad."

Soo took it as a compliment and smiled.

"Do you like roses?"

Soo nodded, "Very much. Who doesn't like them?"

Consort Yoon picked a peony from Soo's vase. "Do you know which flower is called Flower of King?"

Soo thought for a moment and then answered, "If I am not wrong, peonies, Your Highness."

Consort Yoon softly chuckled, "Is it not ridiculous that even flowers have classes?"

Soo half-smiled. "Certainly it is. However, even humans and animals have kings. Although it sounds ridiculous there must be a reason why classes need to exist between flowers too."

"If I ask you to choose one flower between rose and peony and remove the other, what would be your answer?"

Soo looked at her vase, rose and peony was completing each other. Removing one of them would make the vase lose its charm. Suddenly she thought of something and said, "I would remove the rose."

Consort Yoon raised her eyebrows. "Why? Didn't you say you like roses very much?"

"I do and I would have taken out peonies if we didn't have the conversation about kings and classes. Now that it is in my mind I cannot bear to remove the king of flowers peonies for roses."

"You believe in classes?"

Soo didn't know why but she felt that they were no longer talking simply about flowers. She gently smiled and shook her head. "I believe in rightful position. I cannot give peony's place to rose only because I like them. I believe in making one's own place with their own ability instead of snatching someone else's. Right now I do not see any reason to give peony's place to rose. If I change their positions only because of my preference then it would be unfair to peony and it's highly likely that rose would be miserable too. You see, if you snatch someone else's place then you would always be in fear that someone new would snatch your place from you. Insecurity and fear can make a person's life hell, Your Highness. Why knowingly walk on a hellish path when you have another choice?"

Consort Myungsun tilted her head and with a smirk, she asked, "But it's not easy to make one's own place right?"

"Certainly but because it is not easy not anyone can do it and it's fun isn't it?" Soo cheerfully said with a big smile in her face but the sharpness in her eyes didn't go unnoticed by Consort Myungsun.

Consort Myungsun stared at Soo with unreadable expression for a few seconds before saying, "Well, I never thought that flowers could be such an interesting topic to talk about." She laughed. Putting her vase aside, she asked, "I heard you lost your memory after falling from the stairs, so how are you managing things now?"

"My sister and her husband, both are very patient with me. Although there are some inconveniences, it's fine. Myung Hee unnie said I can always make new memories". Said Soo chirpily. There was no sadness or weariness in her voice. This question was asked to her so many times that she somewhat memorized the answer.

"Certainly you can. But I believe memories are what makes a person who he is. The hardships and lessons of life makes a person grow but you!" She sighed and shook her head. "You are no different than a little kid now. You are saying it's fine but is it really fine. Are you really fine? You forgot everything. You don't recognize anyone. You don't even remember your name. How can you be fine? You are pretending to be fine to not worry your sister aren't you?"

Pretending to be fine! Isn't that what she has been doing ever since she arrived in Goryeo? Although she has accepted her life in Goryeo but it didn't mean it made everything easy for her. She was abruptly transported to a foreign land and the rules and ways of the time were something she's still accepting and learning. Everyday she woke up with fear and anxiety. She might consider Myung Hee her home but she was always reminded by Yeonhwa that she was just a guest in her house and how much of a burden she was to her brother. Pretending to be something she was not was not very difficult for her. She spent 8 of her life pretending to be strong when she was on the verge of breaking at any point. Hiding her own pain and problems was Hajin's one of the best qualities. She didn't think anyone could actually see through her and definitely not Consort Myungsun around whom she's keeping her guards up.

Just at this moment the maids brought over the freshly brewed ginger tea and some snacks. Soo picked up the tea cup and took a sip. The weather was chilling and hot tea warmed her up.

"Try this red bean cake. New imperial chef's skills in making pastries is outstanding. You will definitely like it." Consort Yoon said before sipping on her tea.

Hesitantly Soo picked up one red bean cake and began to nibble on it with a painful expression.

Noticing Soo, Consort Yoon asked, "What is it? Does it taste bad?"

"No it's just... Red bean paste is not something I enjoy very much." She said, looking down.

Consort Yoon looked at Soo fondly before saying cryptically, "You're quite alike."

Soo looked up and asked with curiosity, "With whom?"

Consort put down her teacup, "As you know I do not have any children I will appreciate it if you would come over to visit me sometimes."

"Me?" Soo tried very hard to hide her astonishment but she failed nevertheless.

Soo's startled reaction satisfied the consort even more. She smiled warmly, "I am expecting you then Haesoo."

Soo recovered from her shock and reminded the Consort why she's in Songak in first place- to look after Myung Hee. But Consort Myungsun was relentless, in the end Soo couldn't refuse her and she agreed to visit her during the afternoon.

They talked for a while and when it was getting late Consort Myungsun gave Haesoo to her closest court lady Gaeul to escort Soo out of the palace. As Soo had expected Chaeryung was waiting for her and the moment she saw her she ran to her inquiring her about her meeting with Consort Myungsun.

When Soo and Chaeryung passed through the palace gates they saw Wook with his horse galloping towards them. His horse stopped right in front them and Wook got down from the horse with ease.

Soo, are you alright? It was winter but sweat beads could be seen on his forehead.

Soo nodded, Perfectly as you can see.

I left for the palace as soon as I heard about it. Come I will take you home. Wook said with his ever gentle smile.

Soo agreed and headed home with Wook while reflecting on her meeting with Consort Myungsun.

A/N: No Wang So sorry but let me develop the story first. I loved Soo and Baek Ah's friendship in the drama. Myung Hee is the person who connects both of them so I wanted them to become friends because of her but not while grieving over her.