Actually, I want this story becomes one shot, but I think about it again and feel the need to write the story from other perspectives. After a review suggested the same thing, I begin to work for two chapters with The Queen and Baek Ah.
This chapter is Queen Daemok, a parallel chapter from the previous chapter. Next chapter is going to be Baek Ah turns.
Thank you for the lovely reviews, faves and follows.
Yeonhwa stared at her reflection in the mirror.
She was the Queen of Goryeo.
She had the world.
She even turned her back on her family, her brother and mother, so she could be the only queen and her son could become the Crown Prince.
She should feel satisfied and yet she didn't.
It had been years since Lady Hae Soo passed away.
The Queen smiled bitterly.
Yeonhwa was beautiful, she was from the powerful family, and yet she never even held a candle to Hae Soo. Even in death, that woman still owned the king's heart, even freeing the slaves as a reminder of her. Her body went two degrees colder recalling the times she shared the bed with the king. He never looked at her eyes, never acknowledged her. The child and perhaps in the future, children, only became the result from the deal they made when the king just ascended the throne.
She thought after they were having a son, he would change, but he was not. He became more distant, he even never seen his own son since the Crown Prince was born. She had to do something, that was why she spoke to the king to see their son when he was having his birthday. She wanted their son got a chance to become king someday.
She was shocked when the king found out her true intention.
When their second child was born and didn't even live to see the day, she was devastated, for it was also a son. The king didn't say anything, didn't even feel sad, and she had to deal with her grief alone. At one point, she thought living as a commoner was so much better than living as a queen. But, she didn't give up. She must not give up. She already cut the ties from her family. She had no one left, only her son.
It was getting harder for her to approach the king since then. She even had to make him drunk to share the bed together. When she was carrying the king's child again, he only smiled coldly and said, "You play your part as queen really well."
For today she would stay with her son, playing her part as both his father and mother. That was what she did everyday.
Two years later, she was surprised when she received news the 14th prince was visiting the palace along with his daughter. Yeonhwa didn't know he had a daughter and mostly she didn't know the king released him from his exile. She knew about his marriage to Hae Soo, but never thought they could have children. The Queen snickered. Even a lady like Hae Soo couldn't stay true to her love and yet had another child from another man. She was sure the king would realize what kind of woman Hae Soo was.
When she caught a glimpse of Wang Jung's daughter, her heart almost stopped. The child resembled Hae Soo so much. Her hopes to have the king's attention vanished. She knew the king won't let the child alone.
When the Crown Prince had another birthday, she tried to make the king visited his son, but His Majesty didn't even acknowledged her. Later, she received news the king sent birthday presents for Wang Jung's daughter, making her trembled with anger. She met the king in the throne room, ignoring the ministers' eyes. All of them retreated, leaving only her and the king.
"You never visited your own son and daughter and yet you send birthday presents to your niece whom you just met?"
The king stilled and then looked at her with his penetrating eyes. "It's my concern to give birthday present to any child I want."
"I also have nephew and niece. You never sent them birthday presents."
His Majesty laughed bitterly. "I thought you already cut the ties with your family. Remember our deal?"
Yeonhwa trembled, both with anger and sadness. "Is it because she is Hae Soo's child?"
She saw the king set his jaw before leaning on the table. "Leave the child alone or you will pay the consequences. You don't want your children to have the same fate with your brother, do you?"
Yeonhwa gasped.
Without another word, she turned around and left the throne room.
She was more curious then ever about Hae Soo's daughter. She sent some men to investigate, but those men never returned to give her the reports. One of her court ladies said the king slayed all her men, making Yeonhwa trembled with fear.
The king was not lie when he said to leave the child alone.
As if it wasn't enough, weeks later she received news her brother had passed away.
The Queen could only mourned the loss of her brother alone, questioning whether she made the right decision or not by abandoning her own family.
Years gone by, she witnessed the child grown into beautiful young lady. As the child grew older, she showed many resembles to Hae Soo. Even in one glance, the Queen couldn't even make the difference between the child and Hae Soo. As for herself, she had another two princesses and as always the king never seemed to care.
Often she saw the king's demeanor when he was with Jung's daughter. His eyes showed so much compassion, love, and caring which he never shown to his own children. Yeonhwa didn't dare to send other men to investigate for the king would just slay them afterwards. In the end, she just watched the king's interaction with the young lady.
One day, she saw the young lady came into the palace alone and she saw her opportunity, only stopped by the palace guards. When she threatened them to release her, the guards didn't budge and only said because it was the order from the king. Later, she met the king again in the throne room to seek answers.
"Why are you letting the palace guards to stop me?" she asked.
His Majesty looked at her eyes. "I know you will come to me sooner or later. I guess your men being slayed was not enough for you to just let the child alone."
"I demand answer!" She shouted in desperation.
The king only took a deep breath before answering, "I told you before just focus on being queen and not too greedy. If you do that, I don't need to slay more innocent people in your behalf."
Yeonhwa laughed bitterly. "Is she really worth it? She is just your niece!"
"You may leave."
"Your Majesty!"
"I said leave!"
Eyes brimmed with tears, she turned around and left the room.
Later, she changed her plans. She sent three of her court ladies to seek information and just like before, she never seen them again. She received news the ladies were beaten to death by the king.
Yeonhwa slammed her table hard.
What was so special about the young lady that made the king protected her like this?
If she couldn't ask another to seek information, then she would do it.
That night, wearing her disguised clothes, she sneaked out from her place. She didn't even reach the palace gate when none other than the king stopped her at the garden.
"You always been curious, Queen. Even to an innocent child."
Yeonhwa clenched her jaw.
The king walked closer, circling her like a predator to a prey. "Do you feel so afraid of her? Afraid I might make her my second queen?"
Yeonhwa narrowed her eyes. "Do you really?"
The king chuckled. "You still haven't changed. The world is not only about marriage, Queen."
"I saw you with her. You never treated your own children like that. Why? Why is she so special?"
"She is indeed special. That's why I treat her differently. Return to your place and like I said before, leave the child alone."
Yeonhwa clenched her fist and turned away from the king, walking back to her place.
Since that day, she didn't dare questioned the king about the child.
Years went by, she had one son and three daughters. They were all grown up while she was getting older just like the king. She knew the king's health was deteriorating. There was time when the palace doctor informed her the king was ill and being carried to the palace by Jung's daughter. When she demanded to see the young lady, the doctor said the lady had just left the palace. Yeonhwa never sent people again to seek information, she only heard rumors the young lady was married to the governor's son by her own choice, not by the king's order.
Her heart twisted again.
If the king wasn't interested in her that way, then what was the reason?
Was the king favored her so much as a reminder of her late lover?
When she saw how the king interact with the young lady since she was just a child, she could see the pure love, not the love of searching a replacement of a lost love. That was what made her more confused.
The day when the king couldn't even rise from his bed, she heard His Majesty sent a messenger to fetch the lady. For the first time in years, the Queen met directly with the young lady. She was beautiful, her face resembled Hae Soo, she was elegant and yet fiesty, perfect combination of the royal family and the sunshine personality of Hae Soo. She bowed to her and her children, but she didn't say a word. She quickly went into the king's chamber and later on, the minister stated the king had passed away. The Queen hastily opened the door to see the lady hugging the king's body. She clenched her fist and stepped forward, only stopped by the minister.
"You dare to step in front of me?" she asked in threatening voice.
The minister bowed. "It's the late king's order, My Queen. He wants the lady to cover him up."
Yeonhwa blinked indisbelief. "What?"
The Queen saw the lady rose from the kneeling position and gingerly covered up the king's body with white robe. Then, she bowed deeply before saying, "Farewell, Your Majesty."
She turned around and walked out from the room, never glanced at her direction. Yeonhwa only stared in shock. Even when the king was dying, he was still thinking about the lady.
Her son finally took the throne just like she wanted. All the remain royal family members attended the funeral. Yeonhwa met the lady again. She came with Jung, dressed in white robe, her hair was pulled up as the sign of a married woman. The lady clutched a hairpin on her hand and stared forward, watching the flame engulfed the body of the beloved 4th king of Goryeo.
As the smoke carried away by the wind, Yeonhwa had a plan.
And this time even Gwangjong couldn't stop her.
Wang Ju, the 5th King of Goryeo, Gyeongjong, sat across the Queen, having tea. Yeonhwa smiled while pouring the tea to her son's cup.
"I need to ask you for a favor," she said.
Gyeongjong looked up at his mother.
Yeonhwa stared at her son. "I need you to take care Wang Jung's daughter."
The young king only sighed before drinking his tea. "I can't, Mother."
The Queen Mother furrowed her eyebrows. "You can't? You are the king."
Gyeongjong sighed. "Just because I'm the king, I can't do anything that I pleased. Besides I'm not interested in royal rules."
"I don't care about your interest. I just want that woman to be eliminated!"
The king tilted his head. "I know you never interested in what I want and yet you keep telling me to become king. As for your request, again, I can't do it."
Yeonhwa clenched her fist. "Why? Your father is dead. You don't have to be afraid of him anymore."
Gyeongjong sighed again, drinking his tea. "I can't do that because of Gwangjong's doctrine."
Doctrine?
"What doctrine?" she asked in confusion.
Gyeongjong stared at his mother. "Gwangjong stated in the doctrine to all the kings and royal family members after him to steer clear from Wang Jung's family."
Yeonhwa's heart almost stopped. "What?"
The young king emptied his cup. "That was the first doctrine the minister given to me after I ascended the throne." He rose from his seat. "If you don't need anything to say, I'm excused myself. And I'm sure you don't want to be punished from defying the late king's doctrine, do you, Mother?"
Without saying another word, Gyeongjong left the room, leaving Yeonhwa sat there in shock. She coughed several times while holding her chest. She realized her time was short.
And still...
There was only one question she never had the answer even until Gwangjong's death.
What was the lady to the late king?
History related:
Gyeongjong ruled for 6 years on 975-981. He avoided politics and royalty, and spent his time cavorting with commoners. After he passed away, his cousin, Wang Chi, ascended the throne as Seongjong. During Seongjong era, the first war broke between Goryeo and Khitan. The war continued twice until year 1018.