Ipchun (eul) 1795

In the early hours of the morning, residents and labourers were up and about as soon as curfew was lifted. Work resumed on the unfinished structures of the fortress. Calls from the foremen, labourers and the cacophony of their work was soon entangled in the bustle of the city that threw itself with zest into the brew of daily life despite the glaring presence of soldiers. A large crowd gathered at the Sinpungnu, careful to stay a distance from the Jangyongyeong (rifle soldiers) that surrounded the palace as they peered through the open gates, murmuring among themselves.

Within the Haenggung, the sounds were muted despite the number of people gathered at the Deukjungjeong: officers, officials and successul candidates of the military and literary examinations. Rank by rank, they stood, awaiting the arrival of the King. It was so quiet even the tiniest sound of a shuffle of feet or a cough could be heard and carried far if anyone had the temerity to do so. Ranged at the sides, behind the officials, families of the candidates waited forbearingly, witnesses of this special ceremony. Their required patience soon came to an end when a herald finally announced the King's arrival.

As one, they knelt and bowed four times. Silence fell as the King addressed the assembly; commending the candidates, his expectations of them and of those gathered for the special occasion and his hopes for the future. Thereafter, the names of the candidates were announced. Before the jangwon of the Mungwa examination was called, the four senior passers given special acceptance in the palacial exam of the previous year were called up. Seated at the pavilion, each of the elderly candidates stood up to receive a red plaque after making his bow. After them, the jangwon of the Munkwa exam was called. Getting up, head bowed, he stepped forward to receive a similar red paper plaque before returning to his place. The parasol awarded for his excellent perfomance was also handed over. One by one, all five literary examination passers was called up.

Next were the successful candidates of the military exam, of which nineteen were elderly passers who received the same honors as those in the Mungwa exam. The jangwon of the Mugwa exam was smiliarly bestowed with a parasol. When all the awards had been handed out, palace servants placed soban with a flower, drink and side dishes before the successful passers. Other soban were also presented to the rest. Everyone was invited to partake of the celebratory feast as the royal orchestra played.

Seated far down south, Hong-do meticulously noted down the details. Pavilion, servants, royal guards, successful candidates, tables, officials, families. A grin cut across his face as he visualised how the passers would look with the flowers stuck to their caps in the painting; like grasshoppers. They would look like an unwieldy lot of overgrown grasshoppers. The whimsical chuckle that threatened to escape was hastily stifled. He looked to his "guard" standing at the side. The dazed look on Yunbok's face reflected his inner distraction. It had been so the entire morning. What was he thinking about? It did not look like he had gotten much sleep either for there were dark circles beneath his eyes.

When the feast was finally over, Hong-do decided it was worthwhile to skip the archery contest later. There would be a total of four archery practices to be held over the rest of the days. He did not think it was necessary to attend them all. They could spend the time working on the other drafts and get some rest. As they made their way out of the Haenggung, Hong-do had to prevent Yunbok from making the wrong turns and running into other people. What was wrong with him? He turned to voice a question to the man beside him before remembering it was Han-pyeong and not Suk-kwon.

Suk-kwon had gone out first light to try to track down any information on suspicious activities that might give them a clue to the whereabouts of the fugitives. Cheol-ju with four soldiers slipped in beside them once they were out of the Sinpungnu. He glanced now and then at Yunbok, exchanging puzzled looks with Hong-do. They made it back to the mansion in good time. Hong-do had to grab Yunbok's sleeve when he seemed set to continue to blunder blindly straight into the house.

"All right, what's troubling you?" he said as he steered Yunbok into his own room, pushing him down to sit. The soban for their lunch were already in the room. "Are you there at all?" he waved his hand before Yunbok's face when he did not answer.

"I'd like to go to Siheung," Yunbok said just as Hong-do was about to try a shout at him when there was no response.

"Why?"

"I ... I have to see her," Yunbok muttered.

"Wait... wait...wait." Hong-do grabbed his arm as he made to get up. "Hold on. Why do you suddenly want to see her? Did you receive some news?"

"No. It's... just a feeling. I have to go see her," Yunbok said simply, a little cloudy look in his eyes.

Hong-do stared at him, perplexed. Not entirely certain he understood what brought on this malaise. If there was no urgent message from Siheung, all was well with the rest of the family. If Yunbok insisted on going, could he be allowed to make the trip back? Siheung was not far, Yunbok could horse it there and be back within a day. But what would happen if he was not back within the day and the King suddenly made his visit? What was he supposed to say? He doubted his Majesty would be amused with the absence of a person he came by to see was not around due to a strange whim he had to visit his family.

"You can't go. Not without his leave at this time," Hong-do stated simply, wondering if Yunbok would fly into a tantrum as he did back then when they had that argument about his seeing a gisaeng. He felt silly at this expectation when Yunbok only frowned.

"Is it possible to ask for persmission?" Feeling his head beginning to pound, Yunbok pressed his hands to his head. "I have to go."

"I don't know. I can try if you really want to do this. If I manage to see him and he says no, what are you going to do?" Anxiety rose in Hong-do when Yunbok only shook his head. "Look, if you're worried, Suk-kwon can send one of his agents to check on them. You don't have to go yourself."

"Special passes are needed at this time, I don't know if they will have them." It was a weak excuse for they knew either Cheol-ju or one of the other four assigned to them would be able to pass the security checks since they were agents.

"If I may." A voice broke in. Hong-do gave a start, having forgotten that Han-pyeong had followed them. "I can make a trip to Siheung. I'm.. not that vital for this task so I'm sure it will be fine if I am absent for a while. I should be able to pass the check points easily."

"That is true," Hong-do said slowly when Yunbok made no reply. "But I think we should ask Suk-kwon when he comes back."

"I'll go look for him..," Yunbok got up, more to get moving than to sit about.

Hong-do swallowed the words he was about to say for he knew Yunbok was in no mood to listen. Hurriedly, he followed him out of the room. In his present confused condition, it was not a good idea to leave him alone. He knew he was right when Yunbok went to Suk-kwon's room. Had he forgotten he had gone out? Yunbok stood at the door for a moment before turning about, heading to the courtyard.

None of the soldiers were about, since they were in the guest quarters. Like a sleepwalker, Yunbok turned about and went to the guest quarters with Hong-do and Han-pyeong following. Each door of the rooms the soldiers were in was opened. Yunbok stared blindly as the occupants within looked up in surprise at the sudden intrusion before heading for the courtyard again, with his anxious nannies in tow.

Instead of two, there were now three for Cheol-yu was ill at ease with Yunbok's strange behaviour. At the courtyard, Yunbok stood for a moment. What was he looking for? Thoughts wavered and vanished. The chill he had felt in the night returned. The urge to go to Siheung doubled. Hong-do peered at his face. There was that familiar stubborn light in his eyes. What had he made up his mind about? The courtyard was empty as the household and servants were partaking of the noon meal but Hong-do was vastly afraid it would soon change.

Just as Yunbok looked he was about to head for the stables, the gates opened and Suk-kwon appeared a moment later. One look at the tableau in the courtyard told him something was up. He nodded when Hong-do made a gesture at Yunbok and mouthed some words. The lost and frightened look in Yunbok's eyes when he approached him was disturbing. Making a quick decision, he threw a series of signals to Cheol-ju who vanished into the house before he spoke to Yunbok.

"Is something wrong?" he said gently, sensing he should not agitate Yunbok.

"I have to go to Siheung."

"I see. All right, you have not eaten anything have you? You cannot go on an empty stomach, have your lunch before you set off. You know she will be more upset with you if she knows I let you go in such a state," Suk-kwon said cajolingly, lightly turning Yunbok about, feeling his resistance.

"Look, just a drink and a bite and you'll be off. It won't take long. Let's not make a scene out here," he said, noticing a maid with a basket entering the courtyard from the garden. Hong-do and Han-pyeong hurriedly gathered about, pretending to make conversation as Suk-kwon steered Yunbok to Hong-do's room. Cheol-ju handed a cup to Suk-kwon and left, closing the door behind him.

"A drink before you leave." Suk-kwon held a light but firm hand on Yunbok's arm. The other two men waited with bated breath.

"I don't want a drink. I want to get to..," Yunbok muttered, pulling at the restraint. Why were they trying to stop him?

"This is ridiculous, I have to beg you to take a drink?" Suk-kwon interrupted, pretending outrage. "You did not take breakfast this morning and now you're not going to take any snacks. How am I suppose to explain to her when she sees your condition?" Inwardly, he prayed Yunbok would just take the cup, he would rather not knock him out with force.

"A drink. A drink," muttered Yunbok, flickers of anger flaming. Why this harping on a drink? Annoyed, he grabbed the cup from Suk-kwon, downed it with one gulp and made for the door but was halted.

"Wait. Eat something as well," Suk-kwon said, tensed.

"No. Let me go!"

Confused and frustrated, Yunbok lashed out. Hong-do pushed Han-pyeong back towards the door as Suk-kwon countered the blow Yunbok directed at him. The two men watched open-mouth at the struggle as Suk-kwon got Yunbok into an arm lock and tried to hold him down. He need only have to delay him for a few moments for the potion to take effect but he taught his apprentice too well. Even in his semi-delirium, Yunbok automatically responded. He twisted Suk-kwon's fingers. The distraction of pain loosened Suk-kwon's hold on him. Caught off guard, the older man was off balanced. Wide-eyed, the other two watched as Yunbok flipped Suk-kwon over.

Muttering apologies under his breath, Suk-kwon recovered to restore his hold before Yunbok could get clear. He used his heavier weight to bear Yunbok down to the floor, struggling not to inflict injuries by taking the brunt of the fall. Waves of dizziness overwhelmed Yunbok as he tried to get up, his fingers scrapped weakly at the floor as he steadily descended into a benumbed state before he finally fell unconscious.

The other two men were frozen for a moment, staring at the figure on the floor before looking about them, as if they were waking from a dream, expecting a clamor but all was quiet for the battle had been soundless. Suk-kwon sat up, shaking bent fingers, trying not to howl. Fortunately for him, none of them was broken. He regarded the senseless Yunbok ruefully before frowning.

"Is... he all right?" Han-pyeong said as he approached slowly, withdrawing his hand as he started to reach out to Yunbok.

"Can you tell me what happened?!" There was anger in Suk-kwon's voice but his hands were gentle as he turned Yunbok over. He removed the crooked jeonnip, checking Yunbok's pulse before lifting him up.

"I don't know. He was distracted all morning and only became like this when we got back," said Hong-do, feeling he ought to be doing something but knew not what. "You drugged him with the drink?"

"Have to. The three of you looked ready to jump him out there. I didn't want to make a scene. He'll sleep it out, I'll put him in your room." Suk-kwon carried Yunbok into the bedroom and lay him out on the bedding Hong-do spread on the floor and covered him.

"I really can't explain it," Hong-do said when they returned to the study room. "He only kept saying he has to go to Siheung and see her."

"I have never seen him behaved like this. What brought it on?" Suk-kwon thought back anxiously to the past few days. Was the stress too much for Yunbok? How did it relate to his desire to see Jeong-hyang all of a sudden?

"I think..," Hong-do hesitated as he recalled an incident. "Can you send someone to Siheung to make sure she is all right?"

"You think something has happened?" Suk-kwon was not sure he understood Hong-do's sudden concern.

"Once before, he said the same thing. He wanted to return home. To see...Young-bok." Hong-do flicked a glance to Han-pyeong who was gazing at the bedroom. "That was the day after we finished the portrait. I stopped him because I was asked to keep him in the palace so he would not know his brother had passed away. I think, somehow he knew. His reaction then was mild compared to now. There was only disappointment."

"I don't like this." Suk-kwon fingered his beard, not liking the implications. That bond between the two was strong. If something happened to one of them, would the other sense it? In the years he had been with them, nothing untoward had happened to either one so he did not know if it was so. What was he to do if Jeong-hyang had suffered an accident? "The agent at the Sohn residence would have notified me if there is trouble."

"Is their bond that deep?" Hong-do felt it was an extraneous question when he already knew the answer.

"There is only one way to find out. I'm afraid I cannot spare any of the five with us." Suk-kwon motioned to Hong-do to listen as he made to speak. "I do not know how he will be when he wakes up. I need them to keep an eye on him. Secondly, if he really comes by to visit, those five will be the extra security for they are the best there is."

"Then there is only one other person we can send." Hong-do looked at Han-pyeong who did not seem to hear until Hong-do addressed him again.

"I will go," he said when Hong-do reiterated the question. "I don't have much to do here. He is the one who is suppose to help you."

"You will have to go alone, will you be able to make it there?" Suk-kwon was reluctant to impose such a task on someone who ought to be resting at home at his age. "You need not rush."

Han-pyeong understood Suk-kwon's concern. "I will be fine. I can be there by this evening if I go now."

"How much did you tell him?" Suk-kwon looked at Hong-do.

"About Jeong-hyang, their marriage, their family and a little of his life," Hong-do replied. "He does not know much about the Han family or of Kyoung-mi."

"I see. You will have to know or you may inadvertently exposed him." Suk-kwon turned to Han-pyeong. "You know who Jeong-hyang is staying with?" he continued almost audibly, leaning close as Han-pyeong nodded. "Kyoung-mi is a cousin of his good friend, Young-joon. Her husband is at Siheung to oversee his family business. This young woman was infatuated with him years ago but the problem was resolved a few years back and she married. She has no idea what he really is but she does know he was once a royal painter. You can introduce yourself as you are."

"Infatuated?" Han-pyeong was astonished. "Is it wise to .."

"There will not be any difficulty. It will allow you to see Jeong-hyang more easily. She knows everything of course."

"I.." Han-pyeong was certain he would face the same condemnation from her as he did from this man who had taken Yunbok under his wing better than he had. "I understand. I am ready to set off," he said. It did not matter what they think of him. If this was the only way of easing Yunbok's troubled mind, he would do it.

They looked at one another but there was nothing further to add. Han-pyeong went to his room to pack a few things and to make sure he had all the proper papers that would ease his passage. At the courtyard, he found the other two with their host, master Choe. A horse was being readied for his urgent trip back to Siheung, master Choe expressed his hope that all was well. Not knowing what had been told to master Choe, Han-pyeong made the customary responses. Suk-kwon handed him a food package just before he set off.

"I hope he doesn't suffer an attack of apoplexy or something midway. He's too old for such a stressful trip, short as it is," said Hong-do when he sat with Suk-kwon in the study room. Neither men was in the mood for the noon meal so they ended up having drinks instead. "What will we say to him if the news is bad?" he said softly as he swirled the liquor in his cup.

"If the vase is broken, is there any need to cast another stone?" Swallowing his drink in one gulp, Suk-kwon slapped his cup back down on the table, unwilling to contemplate such a catastrophic outcome.

"He'll never forgive us," Hong-do said morosely.

"It won't matter because I doubt he will stay." Another cup of wine went down Suk-kwon's throat. He poured out another cup and drank that too.

"I think you have enough," Hong-do said with some alarm as he took away the wine bottle. "Is there any news?"

"Nothing." Suk-kwon did not bother to argue. Instead, he turned away, tossed his hat aside and lay down. "There seems to be something going on in another department."

"Which one?"

"Uigeumbu. I know a few of their field agents. I spotted a couple of them."

"That does not sound good. Which plump target are they after?"

"I'm not at liberty to blow their covers so I do not know. I hope those two are not involved."

"It's getting worse and worse," observed Hong-do, taking a swig from the wine bottle without realising it and another.

Suk-kwon noticed what he was doing and reached out for the wine bottle. "I think you have enough of that too. Aren't you suppose to be at the archery contest this afternoon?"

"I was thinking of finishing the draft we started last night." Hong-do placed the wine bottle firmly a distance away. Neither of them could afford to get drunk. He pulled one of the soban over, determined to eat something to offset the wine he had consumed. "With four archery contests scehduled for two days, there's no hurry." The food had gone cold as he took a bite of the osinban but it was delicious nevertheless. "Better eat something."

"I'll try to find out what the Uigeumbu are after," said Suk-kwon after a while as he chewed thoughtfully at hwayangjeok. "Discreetly as I can of course," he said when Hong-do stared at him for it was unwise to meddle with the investigative department. "I'll be out for the afternoon." He pushed the soban away, picked up his discarded jeollip and got up, belting on his sword.

"How long will he stay unconscious?" Hong-do wanted to know.

"The drug is good for the rest of the afternoon. I'd say he'll wake around evening. I'll be back by then." Suk-kwon turned to leave, hesitated before going to the bedroom. The brow was cool when he lay a hand against Yunbok's forehead. He regarded the weary, sleeping face for a while, shook his head and left.

Siheung gibang

In a private room of a gibang, two men faced each other across a table lavishly spread with food. However, neither men spared a glance at the fare nor did they seem to care there was not a single gisaeng to attend to them. Though they were nearly the same age, the older man was more finely turned out in rich silks, with a silver and gold jangdo on a cord with many tassels and a gatkken liberally sprinkled with gold and jade beads. The other was as well dressed but with less ornaments and was visibly upset.

"You are a fool," said the older man.

Silence greeted that angry statement. The rebuked man looked uncomfortably at the cup before him.

"Is this how you repay our efforts in garnering this post for you? Is this what you think we expect of you?"

How was he supposed to answer? There was no suitable counter he could think of to defuse the anger so the younger man kept quiet. Resentment however broiled beneath the surface. How could they blame everything on him when they themselves had put on the pressure? If they had waited for another few more months, the lands and the expected free labor would be fully secured. So would their primary plan but no, they had to keep emphasizing they want everything to be done before the end of the royal visit.

"Barely a year and already you are raking up enough mud to call attention to what should stay hidden. How are you to resolve this situation?" the angry man's face mottled even further at the stonewall. "Answer me!" he slapped the table with his hand, making the dishes and cups shake.

"I will have to silence the one I sent." The chastised man blinked his eyes rapidly as he struggled to come up with a solution that would appease the fury.

"You are even worse than a halfwit. Kill him while he's in the lockup? How are you going to explain it away on top of the other incident you instigated and even the one before that?!"

"I..," the young man slumped even further.

"If you can't control your covetousness, how can you expect to gain secure profits?" The fury glinting in the man's eyes abated as he got hold of himself and took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he ruminated for a while before coming to a decision. "You will have to prove your worth. Clean up this mess as you see fit. If you do it well, you will be finely rewarded." He got up, ignoring the younger man's bewilderment. "I will contact you once you have settled the matter to our satisfaction," he said over his shoulder before he opened the doors and left, leaving behind a frightened man with a heap of problems he could not hope to resolve, to stew and fret helplessly.

Korean Words

hwayangjeok - pan-fried beef and vegetables on a skewer

osinban - five coloured vegetables