8th Dongji 1794
The clouds hung heavy around his face as he walked up the path. Despite the three jackets he was wearing and the thick quilted winter coat, he shivered. Cold, it was so cold. Yet he welcomed it. A cold winter with heavy snow. Truly welcomed for it meant there would be no drought next year. Harvest would be good. His chest seemed to shrivel as he drew breath. Ah, but he was getting old. He clapped his cloth wrapped hands to get some warmth and blew on them. Soon, he would be home. Anticipating happy faces and a hot meal, he picked up his pace. Familiar smells wafted to his nose as he neared the workyard. But where was everyone? He surveyed the empty workyard thoughtfully.
Muffled calls came to his ears. He followed the noise. It was coming from the creek. What was everyone doing? Pots left boiling on the fires, tasks left unattended. Really! The moment he turned his back, everything was in shambles. No one noticed his presence as he sidled up behind those standing at the top of the path. Curiously, he peered over their shoulders to see two men having a bout below. The onlookers shouted encouragingly, urging the fighters on. He squinted for the glare of the sun on the snow made it difficult to make out who was who.
That rascal! His eyebrows shot up when he recognized P'ado. Who was his opponent? It was not Yunbok. Ah! It was Seong-cheol, Bong-chol's son. Was it a friendly or serious bout? It was one-sided for Seong-cheol was trying too hard to land punches on P'ado who skipped and dodged nimbly out of the way. At the rate Seong-cheol was going, he would not last long for he was panting heavily. Where was Yunbok? He cast his eye around the spectators. Not among them. Neither was Bong-chol. Did those two took the opportunity to have this friendly while their fathers were away?
Laughter and groans rose. He peered once more over the shoulder of the man nearest to him. Seong-cheol had tripped and evidently could not carry on any longer. A grinning P'ado offered his hand which Seong-cheol accepted. The man whose shoulder he was peering over turned and jumped when he saw who was standing behind him.
"Having fun?" Suk-kwon beetled his brows fiercely at Chang-sun, looking like a disgruntled bear awoken from its hibernation for snow speckled his brows and beard.
"Ahhh ... ha .. ha..."
Chang-sun laughed lamely, raised his hands in a warding gesture and scooted hurriedly back to the workyard. The rest, having similarly noticed Suk-kwon's presence, hurried to do likewise. Some hunching over as if they were expecting a lash over their shoulders. Below, the hurried exodus alerted the young men. They squinted up at the path to see who was there. The men's reaction was already a clue who it could be. They exchanged wry grins before arranging their faces into a more suitable apologetic facade.
"Well?" Suk-kwon demanded as the two young combatants finally dawdled their way up to him.
"Eh ... we were .. exchanging .. er ... views," P'ado offered sheepishly, nudging Seong-cheol who nodded vigorously, a calf-eyed look in his eyes. His untied pungcha slipped down over his face with the movement.
"I expect better from you, Seong-cheol, being the elder," Suk-kwon said severely, knowing the two were really settling an argument. One of many they usually had. "Since you were exchanging views, I expect a nice establishment over there," he thumbed at the wood pile over his shoulder, "before the end of the day."
"I was..," Seong-cheol began when P'ado kicked him.
"Of course, ajoshi, certainly," P'ado said and hurriedly pulled Seong-cheol after him before he could start whining as he was wont to do.
Snorting under his breath which ballooned a heavy cloud, Suk-kwon left the two to it. He made his way over to Yunbok's house, calling aloud as he entered the courtyard. A small figure by the chicken coop looked up and ran over.
"Ajoshi, you're back!"
"How's my little flower blooming?" Suk-kwon grinned, crouching down to tap Pokkot's nose playfully. "Here." He handed her a butterfly pendant with multi-coloured tassels he removed from his coat.
"It's beautiful, ajoshi!" She set down the basket and fingered the pendant with wonder. As Suk-kwon watched her, a pang hit him. Dressed warmly in thick quilted clothes, all he could see of her were her eyes. They were too much like Yunbok's. It gave him a doorway through which to glimpse how Yunbok must have looked like when he was a child. Yunbok kept insisting he failed to see the resemblance despite the persistent remarks on it from the others.
"Where is aboji?" he asked although he could guess where Yunbok was.
"He went to harvest mulberry branches early this morning. Omoni's in the kitchen. Oh, I'm supposed to look for eggs." Pokkot clapped a hand to her mouth and looked back at the chicken coop where the birds were huddled up amidst the straw like so many lumps of feathers. "Omoni's waiting for them." She tried to stuff the pendant into her sleeve.
"I'll get them, why don't you keep that in your room?"
Suk-kwon took the basket from her as she nodded in agreement and skipped off to the room next to the kitchen. Eggs, he mused. With food rationing, would the hens be laying? He peered at the bottom of the chicken coop and unlatched the gate before groping gently under warm bodies, ignoring the pecks as the hens took umbrage at the disturbance. He was rewarded with three small brown eggs. Humming cheerfully under his breath, he closed the chicken coop, picked up the bsaket and made his way to the kitchen, calling out before he stepped through the door.
Jeong-hyang smiled in welcome as she looked up from the boiling gamasot. "Did you have a good trip?"
"It was a good one." He handed her the eggs, not inclined to speak of the soldiers, the camps, the sickness and corpses he encountered along his journey. "Anything happened while I was away?"
"Thankfully it's quiet." She broke the eggs into the gamasot and stirred to mix them up thoroughly with the tojangguk.
"That is good. Here, a little something I bought," he rummaged in his pack and came up with a small jar. "It's supposedly one of the best jeotgal available, according to the pedlar," he said as she opened the jar to examine the contents. Salted shellfish. "Managed to bring him down to thirteen nyang."
"What was he asking for initially." She covered the jar carefully. It would greatly enhance the meals for the rest of winter.
"Would you believe it, he was asking for thirty! Daylight robbery for such a small jar!" he grumbled.
"Master Park, you can bargain the shoes off a beggar," she smiled, not at all surprised at the high price. Such as it was when grain was scarce and demand was higher for other foodstuffs.
"Aigoo! A beggar would have more sense of preservation than a peddlar!" he snorted. "I'll see you later," he nodded to her before making his way to his house.
Once there, he made for the back room and locked the door. Opening his pack, he removed a large wrapped package and opened it to reveal a suit of clothes and various small pouches. The pouches were emptied of their contents and checked for damage. Satisfied they were not marred in any way, he tied up the package again and put it away in the secret compartment near the bandaji. All was in order. He sat back and mused for a while, frowning. Heaving a sigh, he put away his gat and coat before changing into a work jacket and baeja.
As he stepped into the workyard, he eyed the industry of the workers. As it was late afternoon, the mulberry gathering work was already completed. All that was left was the processing so most of the workers were in the workyard. All heads were down, diligently eyeballing the task before them. He headed for the area where mulberry branches were broken down into fibres. Picking up a few fibres, he rubbed them between his fingers, examining them closely as the workers watched anxiously.
Coming to a decision, he murmured an order before he roved to the other work stations. His action was noted but roused no surprise. More orders were given out. The workers began to pick up their pace. Those at the vats began to remove the boiling fibres, laying them out to cool before dumping them into sacks. These were brought to the mullebanga where they were hauled rapidly up and down into the water for a quick cleansing. A difficult task for the amount of water was much less than usual. The workers tried their best to clear out the impurities. The strenuous work left them warm and perspiring in the cold.
At the workyard, the vats were emptied, washed and turned over to dry. The fires were left to burn out to provide some warmth. The rest of the paper processing continued unabated. His survey completed, Suk-kwon turned into the woodyard where the two youngsters were busy stocking up the wood. He was not surprised to see a contrary scene. P'ado was hard at work while Seong-Cheol was moving at a snail's pace, picking up the split logs like an old man as he shuffled to and fro. However, he hastened his pace when he saw Suk-kwon. Annoyed, the older man contemplated setting him to cleaning out the outhouse.
P'ado tried to keep a straight face. He knew that look of Suk-kwon's; Seong-cheol was heading for trouble. He tried to catch his friend's eye but could not as he was bending up and down so fast in stacking the wood that it was a wonder he was not suffering from dizzy spells. A little too late, since it was obvious ajoshi was not fooled. What would it be? Clean the outhouse? Empty the jar of the outhouse? Wash all the pots? Fill all the water jars? Sharpen all the axes? Fill a quota of fibres? Visions whirled through his head, only to vanish when a small group of workers tramped up from the path. Ah! Aboji had returned. Tempted though he was to call, he remained silent and continued with his chopping of wood.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Yunbok stopped to exchange a few words with Suk-kwon. Nowadays, there was a shadow hanging about aboji's eyes. Something was vexing him. He was certain he knew what it was. Half of him wanted to tell aboji to forget about telling him about his birth father, the other hankered to know. Would there be trouble if he knew? Perhaps that was why aboji was worried. But what kind of trouble? All his fears and speculation rose up once more before him.
He paused to take a breather as the workers off load the wood, staring after Yunbok who walked away with a distracted air after depositing his. Suk-kwon went down to the creek to check on the cleansing. Trouble indeed. Just a little or very big? Perhaps the truth would make him angry. What would he do if he was angry? Perhaps he would come here to the woodyard and take out his anger on the logs. That was what aboji had advised. He had done it on a few occasions so he would not harbor anger with those he did not agree with. It did feel good but painful.
Perhaps he would even run away? Where would he go? To immo? Ajoshi Im or ajoshi Heo? They were the only three people he knew outside of this village. Of course there was ajoshi Han. He tried to imagine himself feeling so angry he would run off elsewhere but failed. It was hard to visualise himself desiring to be elsewhere when he had a happy home, parents who loved him, sister, ajoshi. He fingered the cloth headband around his head, feeling the braid with the black jebiburidaenggi dangling behind. In just a few months, he would be an adult, he would have another name, he would be issued his hopae and he would attend a hyanggyo. Aboji insisted he should go although he did not want to. Was it important? Perhaps it was his birth-father's wish? He sighed as Seong-cheol looked at him curiously.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. You better get those stacked by the time ajoshi comes back." P'ado nodded to the piles of wood on the ground. "Otherwise, he's going to think of extra chores for you to do, like the outhouse," he grinned evily at Seong-cheol who made a face.
"Ah, what's new? I've been sent there so many times I can call it my second home!" Seong-cheol laughed flippantly.
"Really? You can clean it out before you go home today," came the dreaded booming voice. Unnnoticed by either youngster, Suk-kwon had ascended the path to hear the last sentences.
P'ado wanted to laugh uproariously at the dumbfounded look on Seong-cheol's face but did not. Neither did his friend say anything further but accepted his fate sadly. Ill luck that ajoshi should return to hear what he said. But his friend was asking for it, slacking when he should not. If he continued the way he was doing, perhaps ajoshi would refuse to have him at the paper mill, he had overheard him said so to aboji once.
As he worked away, he wondered if he should talk to ajoshi. Ajoshi would know all there was to know about his birth father and perhaps he could prepare him for whatever aboji would reveal. Would ajoshi tell him anything now? He had persistently refused to whenever he raised the questions over the last few years, citing that the time was not right. Now was the right time, was it not? He split the last of the logs and helped to stack the wood, after which, taking pity on Seong-cheol who had the most woebegone expression on his face, helped to clean out the outhouse as the sun drew its rays down below the horizon. The workyard grew silent. Seong-cheol finally could leave once the outhouse was cleaned, thanking him for his help. He waved as he disappeared down the path to the village.
Knowing he would reek, he cleaned himself up thoroughly before sitting down for dinner in the front room. Yunbok and Suk-kwon had already started on theirs; tojangguk and chapchae that had freshwater clams instead of meat. Oh, for a bite of bap! It was not possible to have it daily. Only once a week could they have it. It was two to three times a week in the second year of the drought with additional ration dole from the government granaries but it became harder to raise the grain. All the efforts in the current year had been to ensure there were enough to share out among the villagers, concentrating their efforts on a few fields. No money crop for the last two years but they had not had to dig in deep into their coffers. Most of the time, they make do with other available food from their own vegetable patch, dried seafood and the fowls.
He ate hungrily, made faces at Pokkot when she brought in some jeonggwa whereupon she deliberately brought it back to the kitchen. He waved his chopsticks at her in warning and scowled. Where did she think she could go with it?
"Such ferocity should be reserved for the battlefield," laughed Suk-kwon when he craned his head in the direction of the kitchen. "Not against little girls."
"Stop picking on her, do," Yunbok murmured.
"Aboji, I'm not picking on her, it's the other way round," P'ado said defensively just as Jeong-hyang came in with Pokkot in tow.
"Here." She placed the dish of jeonggwa on the soban as Pokkot stuck out her tongue at him behind Jeong-hyang.
"Oppa always fibs," she declared as she sat down with the older woman.
"Aigoo! When did I ever tell lies?" P'ado protested.
"You told me yesterday to look in the bough of the jujube tree for a surprise but I saw nothing!"
"P'ado, you didn't trick her into climbing the tree did you," Jeong-hyang said disapprovingly as P'ado tried to keep his face straight.
"Too juvenile for words. I think he should not have the ceremony next year. Not until he grows a beard as long as my hand." Suk-kwon held up his hand and wagged it.
"It's just a harmless trick," P'ado said lamely, knowing Suk-kwon was right. He was getting too old for such nonsense. "I'm sorry," he said to Pokkot who stared at him in surprise.
"On the other hand, Pokkot should know better than to climb trees," Yunbok said in mild censure to the girl who looked abash.
"Yes, aboji," she said softly, hugging Jeong-hyang's arm as she peeped at Yunbok. Was he angry? There was only curiosity in the dish of candy, he was not looking her way.
"How was the trip?" Yunbok sampled the jeonggwa: just a little on the bland side.
"Cold. Hard to slog through thick snow sometimes but everything went off without a hitch. It is confirmed the King will go to Hwaseong with Lady Hyegyong to commemorate the sixty-first birthday of the late Prince Sado," Suk-kwon said as he finished his soup.
"A procession then," Yunbok nodded. "Sixty-first?" That was an odd date. Was it not usually a big celebration on the sixtieth?
"Prince Sado's tomb was not completed in time last year so he must have decided to switch the celebrations to this year to coincide with his inspection of the fortress," Suk-kwon popped a candy into his mouth. "Then there's the Queen Dowager's fifty-first birthday as well."
"I presumed all is going well with the fortress construction?" Yunbok ignored the bit on Jeong-sun's birthday. What did he care about that tigress?
"It will be a city to rival Hanseong, surpass it even." Suk-kwon waved his arms to emphasize his point. "A well fortified fortress. Most of the existing reservoirs are being repaired and new ones are being contructed. The commercial centers and daeyu dunjeon are already flourishing. Self-sufficient, the fortress will be able to withstand any long sieges if it comes to that."
"When will the King visit Hwaseong, ajoshi?" P'ado tried to imagine a royal procession but was unable to. Perhaps it was akin to the type of procession he saw once when the new magistrate took over Uiryeong but on a much grander scale.
"The beginning of spring."
"I wish I can see it, it will be an event to remember! Wouldn't it aboji?" P'ado said eagerly, wishing there was a chance they could view it. Would it be possible?
"Indeed," Yunbok said noncommittally. "We can't really make a special trip over there as you very well know," he smiled when P'ado looked disappointed.
Suk-kwon coughed and caught his eye. His eyes narrowed when the older man merely gazed meaningfully at him. "There are many chores to do," Yunbok said abruptly, "finish the jeonggwa, P'ado and turn in. Have an early night."
"But ..," P'ado said in puzzlement and stared after Yunbok as he got up and went to the back room. What was wrong? He could not catch the expression on Jeong-hyang's face but he could see she was suddenly tensed as she lifted the dish of jeonggwa and gave it to him. Did she and Pokkot not want some of it?
"We have ours in the kitchen," she said, anticipating his question before he opened his mouth. She chevied Pokkot to collect some of the dishes as she lifted the soban and vanished into the kitchen. Suk-kwon got up and left, leaving him all alone. Hurriedly, he finished the jeonggwa and carried the bowl to the kitchen.
"Omoni, is there a problem?" he asked as he handed the bowl to Pokkot. Jeong-hyang bustled about in the clean up.
"Why do you think that?" she said without looking at him. He was sure it was because she did not want him to read whatever it was on her face.
"Aboji's acting kind of weird. All tensed up. What's all that about having an early night? We don't go to bed so early," he wondered if she would answer him with something tangible. "Omoni?" he said, troubled as she stopped what she was doing to stare at the wall before her. Pokkot looked at him and Jeong-hyang curiously as she washed the dishes.
"It's not for me to say, P'adoa." She shook her head and turned to him. Were those tears in her eyes? Why? He looked at her bewildered as she approached to cup his face in her hands. "Will you promise me one thing, P'adoa?"
"Yes?"
"Whatever aboji has to say, listen with an open heart. Always remember that we both love you very much, no matter what happens."
"What will happen, omoni?" he said, bewildered and frightened. Why was she making it sound like he would not be seeing them any more. Was it because of his birth father? "Are the two of you going somewhere? Are you leaving me? If my birth father is the reason, I don't want to know. I don't want to know!"
Pokkot stopped to stare, troubled by the panicked tone in his voice.
"Hyangya, what are you doing?" came an angry voice. Yunbok stood at the kitchen door, annoyance in his eyes. P'ado looked to one and the other as they stared at each other. "Have your dinner. No more of this nonsense," he sighed and turned away. "P'adoa, turn in."
"Aboji," P'ado called but Yunbok ignored him.
He turned back to find Jeong-hyang busy with the dinner for herself and Pokkot. That set look on her face meant she would tell him no more so he made his way to Suk-kwon's house. What was going on? He fumed worriedly as he took his bedding and spread it out in the daecheong. More than ever, he felt he should tell Yunbok he did not want to know anything about his birth father. Knowing he was a soldier, then a farmer was good enough. He had no memory of his birth mother, it was just vague impressions whenever he thought of her. He knew she died of starvation. There was a drought back then. There was no food, she had given him all she had and was found just before she died. Every year, on Chuseok, he would go to her tomb to pay his respects. That was all he needed to know. All he wanted to know. He punched his bedding as he lay down but he could not sleep.
Truly? That was all he wanted? Omoni sounded so fearful. Why did she say those words? Did they fear he would do something? There must be some secret, a bad one. What was his birth father? Was he really just a simple farmer? He sat up and looked towards the back room. Ajoshi was awake of course, it was too early to turn in. He got up and went to the door and hesitated. Taking a deep breath, he called softly and was bidden to enter. Suk-kwon put aside the book he was reading when he saw the boy's anxious face.
"Ajoshi, omoni said something to me earlier ..," P'ado pleated the cloth of his baji nervously as he sat down.
"What did she say?" Suk-kwon said when he stopped. The boy was upset, he could see that.
"Ajoshi, what is aboji planning? Are they going away after telling me about my birth father? Why do they want to do that? Did my birth father do something bad? Are they afraid I will do something hurtful? Why do they think that?" The questions tumbled out, almost in a jumble from his mouth as he fought to voice them.
"I'm afraid it is not my place to tell you, P'adoa." Suk-kwon put up a hand as frustration flashed in the boy's eyes. "I can only tell you, your birth father was no ordinary man." By saying that, the boy would be coming up with his own conjectures, wild ideas. He would have to try to guide him through a more controlled course.
"Not an ordinary man?" P'ado repeated in puzzlement. What did ajoshi mean by that?
"Neither is aboji. P'adoa." Suk-kwon decided he would have to reveal a little more about Yunbok just to temper the boy's disquiet. "Wait, just listen," he said as P'ado opened his mouth and lowered his voice. "Your aboji was once a court official." P'ado's eyes widened at that. "I will not tell you everything because that is his story to tell. All I can say is that his life is at stake should any member of the royal court knows where he is."
Aboji was a court official? P'ado tried to absorb that bit of startling news. It was hard to take in. Were they afraid he would reveal his whereabouts?
"Why didn't..," he burst out and shut up abashed when Suk-kwon shushed him. "Why didn't aboji just say so?" he whispered.
"Because you are not ready. What is the point of burdening you with such a matter?" Suk-kwon watched the boy's reactions carefully.
"Why now then? Is there some connection to my birth father?" P'ado felt it must be so, he understood now his parents' worries.
"Yes. I can tell you no more, the rest I leave to your father."
P'ado felt a whole new vista opened up before him. Unknown and dangerous. If he was indiscreet, he was certain something terrible would befall aboji. What was he to do now? Did he still want to know about his birth father?
"Ajoshi, I have been thinking I ought not to know about my birth father," he said slowly. "I think ... it is better just to know what has already been told me."
Suk-kwon understood what the boy was feeling but it was only the shock of knowing the dangers to Yunbok that was impelling it. "I doubt that will be enough. Right now, you are fearful for your parents' safety and do not wish to cast them into trouble because of the information that awaits. But you will always wonder about it. There will be dissatisfaction," he said. "You have to know about your birth father. You must know who he is, what he is. How else can you honor him?"
"Then he was a honorable man?" There was relief in P'ado's voice.
"That he was, you were thinking otherwise?" Suk-kwon smiled as P'ado nodded. "I do not blame you for thinking so since your parents and I have been evading this issue. That should ease your mind to be able to sleep tonight, won't it?"
"Yes, it does, ajoshi," P'ado nodded. "I will wait patiently for aboji to tell me the rest."
"Be off with you. I have work to do," Suk-kwon nodded to the ledgers beside him. "Make sure all the doors are locked."
"Yes, ajoshi," P'ado grinned and left the room with a much lighter heart.
The boy ought to be more settled with what had been told him. Hopefully, it was enough. Judging from his positive responses, it was unlikely he would react adversely when told how Hak-sun died. But if Yunbok chose to tell him the truth about himself and Hak-sun's role as an assassin, he would not be able to predict what he might do. Would he repudiate the people who had raised him? Too, there was the letter Hak-sun left behind for him. Unpredictable viables. Sighing, he picked up a ledger and worked on it. He had a few hours to go.
The candle flickered but she just sat and stared at it, needlework forgotten in her lap. Visions rolled before her eyes; the past, the future. How long she sat there in a daze, she had no idea until the flame of the candle puffed out as the wick bent so far down it hit the melted wax. Startled, she blinked in the darkness, her eyes adjusting rapidly. She looked at the rolled up figure to her left but knew he was not sleeping. Putting aside the needlework, she got up quietly. He turned as she lifted the quilt and slide in beside him. His warmth was a balm after the chill in the room. They held on to each other but said nothing, thinking their own thoughts.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking earlier," she said finally.
"It's done, no point lamenting over it," he said soothingly, knowing her fears had overwhelmed her at that moment.
"Do you have to go?" She felt his thin frame with a pang. She herself was not any better, she knew, still he had it harder than her with the daily chores.
"How can I say no?" He caught her wandering hand. The last thing he needed was for her to start feeling whether his ribs were showing. He knew they were and so were hers. They already had a mild discussion over the sharing of food, he did not want another one. "You are coming with me, of course."
"You can't leave me behind," she declared adamantly. "I don't think it will be anything like the last time, do you?"
"I don't think so. I suppose we will leave Pokkot...and P'ado with Ae-young."
"I guess." She freed her hand to touch his face, afraid.
"You are a goose." He turned to her. "A silly goose."
"That makes the two of us, doesn't it?"
"Shall we take flight?" He laughed when she pinched him and stopped when a soft cough sounded outside the door. "I guess it's third watch."
She sat up to light the tunggyong as he got up to open the door leading to the porch.
"Brrr ... it's c.. ...colder than ice itsss ...self, I'm sure." Suk-kwon shivered, puffing heavily, teeth chattering as he sat down. Quickly, Yunbok drapped a quilt around him. Jeong-hyang brought over the brazier nearer to the older man and put in more charcoal. "Aren't you cold?" he looked at the two of them.
"Ah, well, we were covered up but now that you mentioned it." Yunbok held his hands over the brazier. Jeong-hyang brought over their quilt and drapped it over them as she sat down beside him. "What is it this time?"
"The King wants a uigwe (record) of events of the visit. Talented painters are appointed to provide illustrations for this task." Suk-kwon rubbed his hands and blew on them.
"How do I fit in? It's not possible for me to walk around out there, brandishing paper, brush and paint," Yunbok scoffed as Jeong-hyang huddled closer to clasp him around the waist.
"Aigoo, do you think our master's wits are addled? Of course you're not going about so." As warmth permeated him finally, Suk-kwon heaved a sigh. "Listen, a Fortress Drill will be held at Hwaseong. Originally, the garrisoned fortress troops were supposed to take part but the King has ordered 2, 700 troop levies from the southern provinces. You, will be one of them."
"Hahaha, you're joking!" Yunbok stifled his outburst hurriedly. It could not be true, he felt.
"I'm afraid not," Suk-kwon ignored Yunbok's disbelief. "You will be one of the detachments called up from Gyeongsang province and will report to military headquarters in Hanseong."
"Hanseong! Are you mad? I'll be recognized!" Shock held Yunbok immobile. "You're asking me to deliver myself into their hands?"
"Really, it's been years. Eighteen years since any of your colleagues last saw you. You were young and looked very much different from what you are now." Suk-kwon knew the news was unwelcome and could not blame Yunbok for his reaction. "No one is expecting you to wear a military uniform or even daring to return to Hanseong."
It sounded so plausible Yunbok decided to humor him, still certain that he was having a joke a his expense.
"Say I do as requested...ordered. How am I suppose to accomplish my task?"
"You won't be taking part in the Fortress Drill. You will be part of the troops under my command," Suk-kwon grinned at Yunbok's astonishment. "Our job is to aid one of the painters as he goes about his task."
Suspicion hit Yunbok. "I don't suppose it's someone I know," he said.
"Indeed, your old master. You are to aid him secretly," Suk-kwon nodded as Yunbok sighed, accepting that the proposed task was no jesting matter. "Security will be very tight. Movements will be monitored so to make it easier for the painters, they have to be escorted."
"It's ridiculous," Yunbok objected. "All they have to do is check everyone who goes near Danwon or whoever accompanies him."
"It can be done," Suk-kwon said firmly. "Once we get to Hanseong, our identity will be fluid. You don't have to understand how we will make the arrangements. We will know if she attempts to detain anyone. Listen," he said more strongly when Yunbok looked unconvinced. "She has to be absolutely sure if she intends to arrest anyone. If she makes a mistake, she undermines herself. His majesty has ruled firmly for so long now, she cannot afford to make an error."
"It's too much trouble to get a renegade painter, isn't it?"
"This is a very important occasion for the King. You know how filial he is towards his parents," Suk-kwon chided. "It is difficult to have parents reaching the age of sixty. He wants the best there is with this being Lady Hyegyong's sixty-first birthday. Had Prince Sado lived, it would have been an even grander occcasion. There is every chance you will be in and out without anyone the wiser. The troops under my command are all my men. They will look out for you."
"How long am I to stay around Hanseong?"
"I'm afraid I have no idea," said Suk-kwon apologetically and huffed when Yunbok stared at him. "Well I'm not a painter, how am I suppose to know what kind of painting task our master has set?"
"What about ..," Yunbok began as he wondered where he was going to put Jeong-hyang if he was running about with a military troop but Suk-kwon anticipated him.
"It will be difficult for her to accompany you but she can go part of the way with you and sojourn at Siheung. The arrangements are already made."
"She can't stay there alone," Yunbok protested.
"No. She will not be unescorted, Young-joon has volunteered for this task."
"Young-joon?!" His friend had volunteered? He was putting himself out but Yunbok supposed his friend was anxious and wanted to do what he could to help. "There's one other thing. I have intended to tell P'ado everything after your return."
"Why, particularly, at this time?"
"I was thinking the winter season will make it difficult for him to get anywhere. Moreover, with the current crisis, travel is hampered by checkpoints. I had planned to make a journey to Anseong to leave Pokkot with Dong-min."
"And I will be here to hold him. I see." Suk-kwon could not fault the plan. "Everything you said, does that include what you are?"
"Yes," Yunbok nodded. "Is there a problem?" he asked as Suk-kwon frowned.
"No but it will be too much to take. Since I will not be here to hold him down, I prefer that you tell him that point after your task is done."
"But why do you think he will accept the other points without an adverse reaction?"
"For one, he has a stolid realistic outlook, both in character and foundation. Secondly, I already gauged his response earlier. He was very upset with whatever Hyangya told him earlier." He eyed an anxious and guilt stricken Jeong-hyang. "I told him his father was a honorable man, that you were once a court official and that your life is in danger should anyone from Hanseong know of your whereabouts to prevent any more wild guesses and anxieties on his part. He told me it is better not to know anything more about his birth father. He is worried for you."
Yunbok allowed himself a small glimmer of hope. "That doesn't necessarily mean he will not feel resentment. His father was so close to reuniting with him and it was taken away," he said.
"This is all conjectures, we still have no idea how he will truly respond," Jeong-hyang put in, unable to hold back any longer. "I have always wanted to say so but I think you are over reacting and thinking too much. Can't you just sit back and see what happens?"
"I..," Yunbok could not see how he could possibly do that.
"You have this terrible tendency to think the worst of everything," she continued, "and you're taking me along with you. We have been going over this matter through the years. Just this once, loosen the reins."
"She is right you know," Suk-kwon agreed as Yunbok sighed. "We will have to leave soon. I will be closing down the paper mill tomorrow and have all the unfinish processing completed. We are not getting as much mulberry due to the drought. The trees are adversely affected. The fibre is too brittle."
"Will you be compensating for the short fall this year?"
"Unfortunately, no," Suk-kwon said regretfully. "They will only get paid for the working days, they will understand. They can spend the rest of the time in cajolling up better winter vegetable sprouts. When do you intend to tell him?"
"When you have finalized everything," Yunbok reflected once more on the plans he had made. With the recent news, the situation had changed. "I am thinking that since we will be going elsewhere, we might as well bring the children."
"You want to bring him where he can easily head for his destination once he reads the letter," Jeong-hyang said at once, guessing what was on his mind.
"Yes, I am sure Hak-sun left some stipulations for him. We can bring him part of the way...," he hesitated, "but then, if his destination is different. Will she be staying at a jumak in Siheung?"
"No. Young-joon said arrangements have been made to have Jeong-hyang stay with Kyoung-mi."
"What? Kyoung-mi?" Yunbok and Jeong-hyang exclaimed in unison.
"You know she married the young scion of Sohn?" Suk-kwon reminded them and they nodded. "They shifted to Siheung from Gyeonggi a year ago because the family want to set up a textile branch in the city."
"That's providence," Yunbok laughed.
"It will be good to see Kyoung-mi," Jeong-hyang smiled.
"Indeed," Suk-kwon nodded. "You are both cousins to her so there will be no problems. Once Hyangya is settled, Young-joon can accompany P'ado to wherever he needs to go."
"I'm afraid of where it is he has to go." Yunbok rubbed his eyes wearily, his head felt as if it might split with all the scenarios he was coming up with.
"If it is Hanseong. We will see what we can do." Suk-kwon rubbed his hands once more before getting up. "That's all there is for the moment. I'll let you know when everything is ready."
Yunbok saw him to the door and stood outside for a while to make sure the older man reached his house before he returned to the back room, making sure the pangchang totally covered the door. By then, he was chilled to the bone by the cold. Shivering, he returned to his bedding and was grateful when Jeong-hyang drew the quilt around them and took his hands into her own to rub and warm them.
"Have I been very foolish?" he said as his shivers died away, staring at the red embers in the brazier.
"It's not just you. Better to prepare for the worst than to be devastated when it strikes, that's what we always think. But both of us have been brooding too much over it these few months. It's showing in you, in me, and that is stressing him because he can sense our anxieties."
"So much for cherishing these so called last few remaining months," he snorted, "when all we do is make him unhappy. So, have you decided yet? If he repudiates us, where do you want to go?"
"I am thinking, maybe near Anseong?"
He shook his head. "It's too near the capital."
"That's true. I don't want to go north however, the winters are harsher in the northern provinces. I don't think Pokkot will like that either."
"South? Near the sea? Jeolla-do? Jeju?" His eyes took on a faraway look. "Do you remember that sunset?"
"That will be nice, to enjoy the rising and the setting of the sun everyday across the ocean. Even if there is famine, it is easier to acquire provisions as there is the sea to sustain us," she nodded. "I wish you're not so certain he will be unable to accept what you are."
"Certain, no," he sighed, rubbing an itching eye. "Whatever it is, we have fulfilled our promises as best as we can. I will miss all our friends here if it happens that way."
"Master Park, most of all," she sighed.
"Yes." It would be the hardest parting yet since he left Hong-do. Mentor and friend, he would not find the like again. "He's getting old. I should be here to take care of him. And yet .."
"It can't be helped. We have to trust P'ado would take up the duty. There is Young-joon to help."
"Little goose," he wiped away her tears. "Sleep, it will be a busy day tomorrow."
The bedding was slightly cool to the touch but soon warm up rapidly once the quilt was drawn up.
"I wonder how you'll look in military clothes," she murmured.
"Extremely silly, I'm sure," he laughed. "I never imagine I will work with my old master again. This will probably be our last cooperative effort."
She turned to him. "There's one good return on this venture though."
"What?"
"I believe soldiers are fed better rations, you're too thin," she tried to pinch the area around his ribs but there was scarcely any hold she could find.
"Stop that. If I'm thin, you're no better," he caught her hand. "Once we get up north to Gyeonggi, everyone will get better food and I expect to see you look prettier than you are now by the time we come back."
"How dare you say I look ugly." She tried to pull her hand away so she could pay him a good return for that remark and fought a losing tussle that tossed off half the quilt.
"Now see what you've done," he grumbled, letting go of her hands to pull up the quilt.
"How is it my fault?" she crossed her arms, the worries that had ballooned when she heard he would be returning to Hanseong temporarily forgotten.
"All right it's mine," he smiled, knowing she was successfully distracted. "Let's just think of the bounty that await our return," he hugged her around the waist. "Green fields, scent of flowers, colours of joy, songs on the wind under the high blue sky, golden ears of bounty waving gently in the breeze," he felt her relaxed and a soft sigh, "waiting to be plucked. The laughter of water, cool and clear to the touch, the joy of life to sing with." He felt her fingers on his face and her warm breath.
"And there will be us."
"Us," he murmured and all was silent.
Korean Words
chapchae - various vegetables cooked with meat
tojangguk - bean paste soup with spinach
uigwe - record