Chapter 18

Court Lady Dong entered the room holding the tea Yeon-oh had requested from Cheong-ryu.

“Consort Gyo, are you awake? When I last checked, your fever was severe. Should I call the Imperial Physician?”

Yeon-oh waved his hand to stop the Court Lady. Court Lady Dong, offering the tea, wore a respectful and gentle smile.

Seeing her, Yeon-oh felt a complicated mix of emotions.

It seemed the Gyo General’s Household had taken decisive action while he, in his lacking state, was foolishly manipulated and lost in shock that he alone had not foreseen.

Gratitude and apology toward his family, guilt toward Geumgye and Jeokju whom he failed to protect. Shame that he alone, like an idiot, failed to realize the danger when his brothers warned him and his family wept with worry. Despite blaming himself, he felt sorrowful and thankful for his family’s efforts and warmth in trying to help him regardless.

On the morning of his entry into the palace, the Imperial Family had coerced Yeon-oh into drinking the unexpected Baekhong. Given that such an incident occurred before his official entry, it was reasonable to assume the Gyo General’s Household had already investigated the situation.

“Did I really collapse for three days?”

“Yes, all the palace servants in Giryung Palace were worried about the Consort.”

Court Lady Dong quickly answered.

“And there were no unusual happenings during that time?”

“The Empress Dowager visited while the Consort was collapsed, although you were still a Consort then. Several concubine mistresses wished to visit, but as you were unconscious, those visits were postponed. Although they could not visit, many high-ranking concubines sent fine medicinal herbs and good tonics, wishing for the Consort’s speedy recovery.”

Court Lady Dong seemed as pleased as if she had received the gifts herself.

“The Empress Dowager visited, did she?”

It was regrettable that it wasn’t a dream.

“Yes.”

The sweet scent of the Empress Dowager’s sachet and the poisonous words she uttered made his aching head spin. When Yeon-oh placed his hand on his head, Court Lady Dong hurriedly approached to check his condition.

“Even Court Lady Dong would find it difficult to know what is happening with the Gyo General’s Household, correct?”

“Yes, that is correct. However, one piece of news reached even this servant’s ears. It seems the Head of the Gyo Household is so concerned about the Consort’s entry into the palace that he has been completely unable to attend to the affairs of Yeongsan.”

Yeongsan was another ancestral home of the Gyo Clan. Located between Yulguk and the eastern trade route, it was the most prosperous capital city in the vicinity. Being at the junction of sea and land routes, many people and groups traveled through it.

Small communities near and at the border would even ask the Gyo Marquisate family in Yeongsan for help when major resources or manpower were needed.

“The flower tea from Yeongsan is delicious.”

Yeon-oh spoke like a pampered young master from a wealthy family.

“Haha, I have heard so. Since the delicious flower tea from Yeongsan is tied up there, the nobles in the capital are quite troubled. The great merchants coming from the East have been stuck there for days, trying to buy Yeongsan flower tea, causing slight delays in the transport of other goods. The Imperial Palace has no problems yet, so it is not for us to worry about.”

Court Lady Dong reported what she knew in detail, pretending otherwise.

“…”

Yeon-oh gazed intently at the pleasantly smiling Court Lady Dong through a faint headache. Although the young servant was kind, the Court Lady, who had been in the Imperial Palace for over twenty years, was indeed more useful.

Consort Cheob-yeo.

Yeon-oh sipped the light, almost unscented tea. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] The fact that he was promoted to Consort Cheob-yeo during his three-day collapse was thanks to the flower tea.

‘Consort Cheob-yeo‘ created by the flower tea.

Yeon-oh smiled bitterly as he returned the teacup in his hand to Court Lady Dong.

“I want to drink the flower tea from Yeongsan.”

Court Lady Dong didn’t speak but looked at Yeon-oh as if he were a whining child. Her expression also seemed frustrated, as if she hadn’t heard what he had just said.

“How could this servant possibly acquire it…”

He had only just been promoted from Consort Jae-in to Consort Cheob-yeo. However, perhaps because the Gyo General’s Household had shown active movement, Court Lady Dong pretended to care for Yeon-oh with a much gentler attitude than a few days ago.

“You don’t have to. I have a lot.”

Yeon-oh smiled, his eyes crinkling. Confusion flashed in Court Lady Dong’s eyes at his relaxed and confident words. It was hard to tell if Court Lady Dong’s surprise was due to his confident statement or his childishly innocent smile.

“I-is that so?”

Court Lady Dong was bewildered but still acted compliantly.

“What was done with the two children’s quarters?”

“I have left them as they were for now.”

“Court Lady, please gather the belongings that would be best not to be touched by men. I will go and organize the baggage that must be sent back and the baggage that must be kept.”

“This is not something Consort Cheob-yeo should do directly. If you command the subordinates…”

Yeon-oh shook his head at Court Lady Dong’s words. The smile that had been on his face had completely vanished.

His quiet voice resonated calmly in the room.

“If anyone has touched the two people’s belongings, have them restore them to their original state. It would be best not to tamper with them.”

“Yes.”

“You may go.”

He could not remain idle just because the Gyo General’s Household was exerting its power. Just because he lived a life of leisure as a wealthy young master in the countryside did not mean he had learned nothing.

He had to reverse the loss of his people. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] And he would reclaim his lost position.

Consort Cheob-yeo was not the rank Yeon-oh had been promised.

*******

Yeon-oh sadly looked around the room where Geumgye and Jeokju had only stayed for one night. Although he had finished organizing their belongings, he found it difficult to leave. His heart ached that both of their belongings combined were so few.

Court Lady Dong attended to Yeon-oh as he emerged from the maidservants’ quarters. Yeon-oh gently pulled back his hand from the Court Lady’s touch.

“Have everyone residing in the building come in.”

“Yes.”

Court Lady Dong bowed and withdrew.

Yeon-oh entered his inner chamber, putting the luggage to be sent away in plain sight and setting aside the luggage to be stored. Having finished organizing, he opened a locked chest and took out a lavish box.

Not long after Yeon-oh sat on the seat of honor in his inner chamber.

“Court Lady Dong is here. Everyone is gathered. I will enter.”

All the palace servants of Giryung Palace lined up behind Court Lady Dong.

Court Lady Dong, Dong Yeong, was a curious woman. The Court Lady, who had been in the Imperial Palace for well over twenty years, possessed considerable beauty.

Such beauty could not have appeared suddenly. Given that high-ranking people frequented the Imperial Palace, she likely had many opportunities to be noticed and marry into a good position, yet she became a Court Lady.

Court Lady Dong seemed vulgar and materialistic, but at times, she displayed the wisdom of an experienced elder. She seemed frivolous, yet intelligent, and just when she appeared shrewd, she would quickly show a shallow side.

The essence of this unknowable Court Lady remained elusive.

Yeon-oh needed her ability immediately, so he decided to use her according to her utility.

“I apologize to you all. Unfortunately for you, my life thread is long, so you will continue to serve me as your master.”

At Yeon-oh’s words, the eunuchs and maidservants knelt.

“Consort Cheob-yeo, please withdraw your frightening words. We are pleased to be able to serve the Consort.”

Court Lady Dong, standing at the very front, spoke on behalf of everyone.

“Do not lie. I heard everything Court Lady Dong said the morning after my entry. Court Lady Dong wishes to go to Dam So-ui’s residence, does she not?”

Court Lady Dong was flustered by Yeon-oh’s smiling words.

“Th-that is…”

The eunuchs and maidservants, glancing sideways at the flustered Court Lady Dong, lowered their heads even deeper.

“What does our Court Lady Dong wish to acquire by going to Dam So-ui’s residence, which you call a gold mine? Is it the gold and silver that Dam So-ui, who receives many gifts, will bestow? Does she wish to wield power at the side of the favored Dam So-ui? Or does she wish to see His Majesty, who frequently visits there?”

Every time Yeon-oh spoke the name ‘Dam So-ui,’ the backs of the palace servants twitched uncomfortably. It seemed the Emperor’s favoritism toward Dam So-ui was immense.

“There is no way a humble person like this servant would wish to see a difficult person like His Majesty.”

Court Lady Dong quickly expressed her opinion. Her manner of dismissing the most uncomfortable possibility was characteristic of a shrewd Court Lady.

“Is that so?”

“As for His Majesty, this humble person would not even be able to breathe if I encountered him. Furthermore, this servant is merely one of the countless servants in the Imperial Palace. Wielding power? I only became a Court Lady because I had nothing to do outside the palace and simply drifted along here.”

Court Lady Dong’s words were entirely false. She was not someone who became a Court Lady by merely passing time. While there was much to doubt, since she wished to appear materialistic, Yeon-oh decided to trust her.

“Then, will our Court Lady Dong become my person if she has plenty of silver coins?”