Cheongmyeong 1795
A flicker of movement off to the side caught Hong-do's eyes. The women and Pokkot were approaching the daecheong. A warning rose to his lips. He stifled it, afraid to agitate Ui-sik. Would the women see what was going on? A sharp indrawn breath behind him indicated that Suk-kwon had also noticed. He hoped the man would not do anything foolish, his drunkeness had rendered him completely useless in this crisis. With fear, he watched as they came nearer. Ah! Hesitation. They had seen what was happening. Had Ui-sik seen them? If he had not, perhaps they could slip away and alert the sentries. Ah, too late. Ui-sik had turned his head. He had seen them.
Stay where you are. Hong-do prayed silently. Don't make any movement that will provoke the mad fellow. For surely the man was insane to want to kill his wife for her supposed betrayal. His attention switched to Yunbok as he spoke. Something moved in the shadows beyond Ui-sik. He stared in astonishment.
"It's very clear to me where you stand but I'm only hearing one side of the story, should you not let your wife speak? To plea her case?" said Yunbok.
"Plea her case? She will only tell lies. Just as she did before. If only I had known, I would have eliminated you the first time I saw you instead of letting events play itself out," Ui-sik hissed angrily. "You were lucky, you escaped the trap they set."
"What do you mean?" Yunbok kept his eyes on Ui-sik, he hoped the rest behind him would not make any signs. "Are you referring to the attempt to arrest me at the barrack jilcheong?"
P'ado held himself still by force of will as he watched shadows gathered at the panjangmun. Torches came into sight. His eyes widened. There was absolutely no sound at all as more appeared and spread out. How was it possible their feet were so silent? Unaware of what was going on behind him, Ui-sik gave rein to his rage.
"Yes! Yes! Curse you and your protectors. She is looking for you. I know not why but it is enough that you are wanted."
"How do you know who I am?"
"How do I know?" Ui-sik laughed. "I did not initially. Someone betrayed you ... your son. Your beloved foster son!"
P'ado felt the blood draining from his face. His head swam and he trembled. No, that was not true. He shook his head when he felt the incredulous stares of the other men beside him. "You lie! I did not!" he shouted, striding forward, fists clenched. Yunbok grabbed his arm before he could advance further.
"In what way?" Yunbok said evenly, forcing P'ado to remain where he was by twisting his arm slightly, feeling the boy shaking with rage and shock.
"A mere slip of the tongue," chuckled Ui-sik. "Master Han bought replicas of your paintings. The boy was looking through them while we were hiding outside Hwaseong, waiting for the chance to slip in. "Aboji really has talent, I wish I'm like him". Wasn't that what you said, P'ado?" he smirked when the boy looked stricken. "My curiosity was further roused because of the tale she told of her chance meeting with a young painter. I asked to see the paintings and dropped further questions. He did not see he was betraying you with every word because thanks to my beloved wife, he thought we are trustworthy." He shook Song-mi who closed her eyes in despair. "She betrayed herself too and lied. I should have not believed you," he hissed, the dagger glinting dangerously.
Something sang through the air. Ui-sik gasped as unexpected pain blossomed from the arrowhead that protruded suddenly through his right shoulder. It was what Yunbok was waiting for. Before the man could react further, he leaped forward and grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the dagger and twisted it hard behind his back. P'ado rushed to pull Song-mi away. The wrench of his arm combined with the pain of the arrow wound caused Ui-sik to scream. Both Hong-do and Suk-kwon dashed forward and threw themselves on him, bearing him straight down to the floor with violent impact.
"Kneel to his Majesty, the King!" came the call.
The women knelt hastily. Jeong-hyang pulling Pokkot down with her as royal guards spread themselves out. Several of them made their way into the house to check every room. The old couple and their daughter who were at the kitchen appeared and placed themselves with the women. Already flat out on the floor, Yunbok, Hong-do and Suk-kwon remained still. P'ado and Song-mi knelt down, heads bowed, dazed and shocked by the sequence of events.
A command was rapped out. A couple of soldiers entered the main hall to pull a moaning Ui-sik to his feet and dragged him off to the side of the courtyard. After searching him thoroughly, the soldiers reported to the commander there was nothing to be found saved for a money pouch and a dagger. Those searching the house returned. There was no other person in the building except for a child. At that, Song-mi made as if to get up but Jinjia leaned forward in the soldier's arms and reached for her so he was handed over promptly. More commands. The soldiers spread out to guard the perimeter of the residence. A pair of booted feet paused for a moment. A eunuch removed the boots. Then feet in beoseon approached the three on the floor.
"Rise, Danwon. The rest of you may rise as well."
Hong-do got to his feet, head bowed.
"Your Majesty, I was not informed of your intention to visit," he said.
"It is a fine night for a walk. Is there a better place to rest than this drafty hall?"
"Perhaps my room, Majesty," Hong-do suggested tentatively, wishing Jeongjo had given advance notice for none of the rooms at the retreat was suitable. Nor was anyone dressed properly for they were in baeja, jeogori and baji.
"Are you completing the work there?"
"No, sir. All the work is done at the workroom."
"Show me to the workroom."
"Yes, sir. This way."
"I'll need you as well, master Seo," an inaudible murmur to Yunbok who bowed in acknowledgement. "The rest may stay out here," a louder command.
With a sigh of relief, Jeong-hyang and the rest hurried to Song-mi and P'ado once Hong-do and Yunbok had led Jeongjo away. Song-mi only shook her head dumbly to their anxious queries, withdrawn once more into her shell. Having heard Ui-sik's dislcosure, Jeong-hyang could only pat P'ado's hand, trying to comfort him. She could see he was in anguish over his mistakes which almost gave Yunbok up to the Queen Dowager. Pokkot followed her example to soothe him though she did not understand his distress. The old couple and their daughter whispered nervously among themselves, wondering what was it that would bring the King to their doorstep. All of them sat and waited as Suk-kwon tried to wish away his drunkeness.
In the workroom, Hong-do and Yunbok hurried to move the painting they were working on from the floor to the side of the room. Pots of paints, brushes, papers, notes were cleared away. There was nothing they could do about the dabs of paint that spotted the floor here and there but they tried to remove all the debris.
"The workroom can use an airing, Danwon," came the mild criticism after Hong-do had cleared the desk and tidied up the poryo for Jeongjo.
"I'm sorry, sir, I would have done so if I had known you are coming. Would you like me to do it now?" Hong-do said apologetically.
"Indeed." A brief pause as Hong-do hastily opened the windows to let in fresh air. As if knowing he was in need of it, a breeze immediately flowed through the room. "Are those completed pieces I see?"
"Yes, sir." Hong-do nodded to Yunbok. They uncovered the frame of the first painting, the royal procession, and brought it over to the desk and held it upright and steady so Jeongjo could examine it close up.
"Ah ... it is as splendid as I hope," came the pleased comment as they waited. "Excellent work. How far along are you now?"
"We are halfway through the fourth screen, sir," Hong-do said as they returned the painting to the far wall and covered it once more.
"Do you need more time?"
"We wll be able to complete the rest on time, sir," Hong-do said confidently.
"I look forward to viewing them." A pause and barely perceptible sigh. "There are matters to settle. The room has freshened up, close the windows."
Yunbok got up to obey the command and returned to his seat.
"Recount the incident at the daecheong, Hyewon. The distance was too great to hear what the assassin had to say."
"Yes, sir," Yunbok said and carefully related what had happened. "Thank you, sir, for your timely intervention," he finished.
"It was a situation that invited tragedy if the deadlock was not broken. Providence provided an alternative." Silence fell, both of them waited patiently, knowing Jeongjo was sorting out what he had heard. "The husband's words implied theirs is not a bond of affection, rather perhaps some form of coercion." Another pause. "How did you come to know her, Hyewon?"
"Sir, it was many years ago that I came across her." Yunbok recounted the unpleasant event. "I did not know she survived. I come to know about it recently after encountering her twice again. Once outside Siheung, where she was chased by creditors. The second when she was captured outside Hwaseong."
"Hence your sympathy and offer of aid. Neither of which has resolved the matter and instead unearthed a riddle."
"Yes, sir. The waters are too murky. Her husband's words cannot be taken as truth."
"We will see if she will be honest. Summon both wife and husband."
"Both?... Yes, sir," Yunbok said hastily, biting off his question.
He went out of the room to the daecheong to have a brief word with the commander. The commander had the soldiers brought forth a tightly bound Ui-sik, his wound roughly bound up in cloth. Song-mi turned pale when she saw him and whiter still when Yunbok beckoned to her. Visibly trembling, she handed Jinjia to Iseul and followed Yunbok. The guards marched their prisoner to the workroom as Yunbok trailed behind with Song-mi. They put him near the door, bound his feet and left uneasily when Jeongjo commanded them to do so. Song-mi knelt several paces from the desk and bowed.
"Mistress Na, I am aware of your past history. There are several questions which I believe only you can provide the answers. Will you be honest with us?"
"Yes, your Majesty."
"How much truth is there in your husband's words?"
If anything, she went even paler. "All of it, your Majesty."
Yunbok could not help but winced at that answer.
"The first encounter was but once but you claim your affections are true?" Hong-do said incredulously.
"Explain."
"I lived through years of lies and menace, sir. The man I called husband... is not sane..."
"How dare you!" snarled Ui-sik. "How can you say that?"
"When I wanted to die," she cut through his angry retort. "When all I thought about, as I lay there, was death. He came and took me away. Even in my despair, I thought he was a saviour. A good kind man who buried my poor parents. Who provided the money to pay the physician and woman healer. Who went out of his way to encourage my living. When I recovered, he professed his affections and wished to marry. I was extremely touched and refused him because I was tainted. I could not do such a thing to a good man but he was persistent, persuasive. Moved by his sincerity, I agreed."
"He did not try to consummate the marriage at once as I was still afraid and wounded. This consideration moved me further. He continued to treat me kindly. When I finally agreed to intimacies ...it was then .. that ..," Song-mi shuddered.
What was she was implying? Yunbok fidgeted uncomfortably, frowning as he glanced at Hong-do who looked equally bewildered.
"You enjoyed it." The gloating sneer from Ui-sik was so offensive that Hong-do could barely restrain himself from getting up to smack him in the mouth. Yunbok felt that the man deserved a beating. There was no comment from Jeongjo. After a moment, Song-mi picked up where she left off as she composed herself.
"There was a mark..," she shuddered. "When the robbers used me, I tried not to see. I tried to block out whatever was happening to me but I saw things that remained with me forever. A mark on one of the attackers' chest. The same mark on my husband."
Stunned silence. Her husband was one of those who assaulted her? Yunbok could hardly believe his ears. Neither could Hong-do as they stared at each other. For what reason would Ui-sik return to the scene of his heinous crime to rescue his victim? Remorse? His current behaviour belied that notion.
"That's ridiculous! Are you mad?" Ui-sik shouted, struggling in his bonds. "She's insane. I can prove it!"
Out in the daecheong, heads craned as eyes stared down the corridor. What was going on? Who was it that was shouting so fiercely? Aware that the private audience must be kept discrete, the commander elected to move everyone out to the porch; soldiers and civilians alike. P'ado raised his head for he recognised that voice. Immensely angry and filled with rancor. In the workroom, Song-mi raised her voice over Ui-sik's muttered growls.
"I thought I was mistaken, that my eyes were playing tricks. My husband could not be one of those...," she gulped as tears fell. "I was shattered and yet I could not dismiss the image. I became frightened and reluctant to share a room with him. His behaviour changed. His words became threatening if I refused him. When he laughed, I remembered how they had laughed and jeered. When our son was born and his friends came to offer their well-wishes, I knew I was right. Among them were familiar faces. They were terrifying. Whenever they came to visit, I refused to prepare refreshments for them. He would get angry but he never asked me the reason for my refusal. More than once, I thought of leaving with the baby. One day I tried to run when he was out in the fields but he found us within a day. He was furious and ..."
"Lies, all lies. Did they feed you too much freedom here?!" Ui-sik itched to get his hands on the woman and toppled over as he tried to hobble over. "Freedom, you hear me?!"
"That was the final act that sealed my conviction. There were no more doubts. I wanted to kill myself. I do not understand why he went through so much trouble when he could have simply..," she swallowed. She closed her eyes as she fought to compose herself. After a while, she continued. "Why did he want to keep me with him? How can I live with such a monster? When he is good, he is a kind loving husband. He is someone else on another turn. Everyday I fear for myself and for the baby. I know he will never let us go."
"Can you not seek help from the villagers?" Hong-do said, fixing all his attention on the woman so his ire would not rise further.
"He told them stories of my mental instability after I tried to run away." She blotted away her tears with a sleeve and cleared her throat. "It is readily believed because everyone knew of the tragedy. They thought he was a magnanimous man. No matter how I tried to solicit help, no one believed me. I must confess that I ... unknowingly supported his lies."
"How?" Was the story she told the truth or fabrication? Hong-do was not sure.
"To escape the nightmare I find myself in, I recalled the happy times, especially that day because of you," she looked at Yunbok. "You tried to provide even though you had not much to give, you were truly generous. Even though I hate you for running away, your selfless act stood out like a beacon when I found no helping hand. I cling to the hope that one day, one day, you would be able to release us from this pit we have fallen into. In the midst of this desire, this fantasy, it become my dream. A dream of hope in my times of despair. When all is bleak, I dream. I forget where I am. I walked about in a daze or stand lost in thought. Perhaps I even articulated whatever it is I yearn for so much. Freedom."
"I see. Did you do it too when you were outside the house?" Hong-do said sympathetically for there was a distinct ring of truth in her words.
"I'm afraid so. Especially when he had one of his ..."
"Be silent!" yelled Ui-sik, face red as he contorted his upper body to push himself upright. "Be silent, I tell you!"
"He would get angry when I did so, accused me of dreaming of someone because he heard the words I uttered. Words referring to someone. His abuse would become harsher when I denied I was thinking of someone else."
"How did you know who I am?" Yunbok ignored the venomous look directed his way.
"It is as he said. P'ado accidentally revealed the painter behind the original paintings is you. A careless innocent statement." She bowed her head regretfully. "I made it worse because I remembered the painting you did. I was very eager to see the replicas. By looking at them, I cherished the hope that my dream is coming true. He saw my intense interest. It was a momentary lapse on my part, I did not think clearly. He asked me if the one I always dream about is you, remarking that I never looked as happy as I did with him. Because master Han and the others were present, he did not loose his rage but I saw it. I flew into a panic. If you are a unsubstantiated dream, what can he do? But if you are real. Fear took me. I hurried to tear up the replicas and fed them into the kitchen fire. When he asked me why I did so, I said they were dreams. Impossible dreams."
"He gave you the benefit of the doubt?"
Song-mi shook her head. "I doubted it. I saw the suspicion and determination in his eyes and knew it was too late for falsehood. When he was arrested, there was a glimmer of hope. Even though it seemed his return was impossible, I was afraid to rejoice too soon. Not until I hear he is gone forever can I ever relax my guard. My fears were borne out when he came tonight. He declared he was going to take me away. I find it difficult to hide my feelings. I cannot... cannot pretend any more. The days I spent at the Sohn residence and in this place, I found some peace of mind. Hope for the future, for my son but now ..."
"You have no future without me, don't you get it?! Nothing! No man to look after you, no shelter, you stupid woman ..," red suffused Ui-sik's face as he tried to free his hands.
"Send for the soldiers to remove him." The cold precise voice cut through the loud tirade.
Yunbok was more than happy to obey that order. Ui-sik continued to bellow invectives when he went out. The man had lost his mind to behave so before Jeongjo. Whatever credibility he had was gone. Who would give him the opportunity to defend himself when he implicated himself with every word? The commander at the corridor nodded and sent two soldiers back with him. Out there in the corridor, he could hear Ui-sik going on and on.
"What? Just like that?" The tirade was unbearable when he went in. "What about my side of the story?! Is this fair to me? Where is the justice? I ask you! I demand justice! You hear me?! Do you want me ..," the sentence was cut off when one of the soldiers slugged Ui-sik in the face, angry with his disrespect.
"Gag him and hold him at the courtyard."
"You think to silence me?! I'm more useful alive than ..." the shouts were cut off again once the soldiers had dragged him down the corridor. Out at the porch, the others stared incredulously when the soldiers hauled him roughly to the courtyard and round the corner, beating him again when he struggled. Was he the one creating the furor at the workroom? How was it he was not silenced immediately?
In the workroom, the sudden silence was a shock.
"You have our sympathy," the icy note was replaced by concerned query. "Tell me, who is the younger man sitting before me?"
"Master Seo, sir."
"Is that who he really is?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well. Arrangements will be made to secure a place for you. Master Seo will oversee this matter."
Yunbok bowed in acknowledgement, not at all displeased with the additional task and yet he couldn't help but feel apprehensive.
"Thank you, your Majesty. What is to become of him?" That was the utmost concern she had and she waited for the answer with trepidation.
"You will not see him again. Is that satisfactory?"
"Yes. Thank you, your Majesty." The tension left her. Yunbok smiled to see her clear brows.
"May you find what you seek, mistress."
"Your Majesty." It was a dismissal so she keunjeol four times solemnly and withdrew.
"Opinion?"
"Too much trauma over the years. It's a miracle she has not lost her wits," remarked Hong-do.
"She appeared in possession of her faculties."
Hong-do and Yunbok exchanged a glance at that observation of doubt and nodded in agreement.
"She has to be kept under observation for a while at her new residence. That can be arranged?"
"Yes, sir," Yunbok nodded. "Do you have a preference, sir?"
"Send her to the far north if it can be done but do make sure she and her son are well cared for."
"Yes, sir."
"Can we trust her not to reveal Hyewon's identity?" Hong-do said worriedly.
"Which is why I suggested Hyewon to make the arrangements."
To allay her fears and suspicions. To gain her trust. Yunbok understood. Now that her chains were removed, he hoped she would be amiable. Hond-do wasn't so sure. There was something about Song-mi that didn't quite ease his mind. The King had seen it too or he wouldn't order her to be put under observation. Should Yunbok even be the one handling her settlement? He wasn't sure but he had no credible argument to offer against the command.
"Sir, would you happen to know how the assassin end up here?" Hong-do said, moving on to another subject that had been on his mind. Jeongjo's arrival had been both timely and suspicious. He was sure the King knew where Ui-sik was all the time. "If Ui-sik's patrons intended to remove him, they took too long to extricate him and the written accounts of his confessions from the archives."
"That is true. They are slow to respond. Anything else?" Noncommital respond. What were they supposed to infer from that?
"Sir, there has to be an inside leak. How did he know his wife is here?" Yunbok stared across at Hong-do. Surely ...
"I know I was not followed when I returned here. If I were, he could not possibly have been hanging around out there, dressed in a uniform."
"Come, now Danwon, speak your mind."
"Sir, the one responsible in releasing him and destroying the confessions ... is one of our own."
"As always, both of you have never disappoint me. I ordered his 'release'."