Chapter 22

A silence descended inside Cheonghan–jeon (Hall of Clear Tranquility or Hall of Pure Leisure), the Emperor’s private audience hall. Only the sound of embers spitting in the brazier filled the room.

“What did you just say?”

At the cool, low voice, the eunuch’s head was bowed even deeper.

“Consort Cheob-yeo spoke briefly with Consort Hyang-bin about the Gyo General’s Household. When Consort Hyang-bin remarked that ‘Consort Cheob-yeo has a very solid faith in the Gyo General’s Household,’ Consort Cheob-yeo asked, ‘I have every reason to. Don’t I?'”

The eunuch cautiously repeated the words he had just reported. The Chief Eunuch Wan, standing beside him, quickly waved his hands, signaling the reporting eunuch to withdraw.

“I withdraw.”

Only the Emperor, Chief Eunuch Wan, and Neung Sah-hyeon remained inside Cheonghan-jeon. Neung Sah-hyeon, having received Chief Eunuch Wan’s gaze, staunchly held his ground with an unyielding expression. A silent exchange passed between the stubborn face and the eunuch’s earnest look of caution.

Then, phfft, a sound like a puff of air echoed.

At the sound made by the Emperor, Neung Sah-hyeon glanced at Chief Eunuch Wan. Chief Eunuch Wan shot a look at the Imperial relative, who was built to physically beat a cow with his fists, then bent his waist gracefully.

“Your Majesty.”

“Is she not merely a Cheob-yeo yet? Was it empty talk when I said she was a rustic idler who simply ate and played in the countryside?”

Neung Sah-hyeon frowned his thick eyebrows at the Emperor’s muttered words.

“Your Majesty, to call the legitimate son of the Gyo General’s Household a rustic idler…”

Seonjae silently looked at his older nephew, who was correcting him. Neung Sah-hyeon, the son of the Grand Princess (the Emperor’s sister) and the legitimate son of the Neung clan, had inherited none of the physical characteristics of the Imperial bloodline.

Based on his physique, he should have been riding horses and wielding great spears. Instead, though he was strong, he was a hopeless, sickly bookworm who couldn’t even ride a horse well.

The Emperor kept Neung Sah-hyeon by his side for his astuteness and his candid, unfiltered advice. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] While kind in his dealings with people, Neung Sah-hyeon was more scrupulous than the Emperor’s own brothers (who were old enough to be his grandfathers) when it came to following laws and Imperial decrees.

“Those were not My words.”

“What does it matter who said them? This subject requests that the Imperial Family keep its promise with the Gyo Clan as soon as possible. Did you say ‘merely a Cheob-yeo’? Why is Consort Cheob-yeo still only a Cheob-yeo? Is it not because Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager are disregarding and failing to keep your promise?”

Chief Eunuch Wan cautiously expressed agreement with Neung Sah-hyeon’s words, though he was apprehensive. The Emperor’s cool gaze fell upon the eunuch, who was nodding slightly.

“Consort Cheob-yeo was not ignorant of the Gyo General’s Household’s prestige.”

The Emperor repeated only incomprehensible words.

“Who in the world is ignorant of the Gyo General’s Household’s prestige? You must immediately promote Consort Cheob-yeo to Consort Gwi-bi. If not, shouldn’t she at least be a Consort Bi? It is fortunate that she was promoted this time, but why is she only a Cheob-yeo?”

Chief Eunuch Wan looked at the exasperated Neung Sah-hyeon with the expression of one who had discovered a hopeless fool.

“Did you not hear My words? That one was mobilized to harvest jujubes in the village. The owner of the jujube tree house took the young master of the Gyo Household helping out for granted.”

“I heard Your Majesty ruined all the jujube trees at that house. Why bring up past stories? What is that one’s business as a Cheob-yeo who has become the Emperor’s concubine?”

“I did not ruin all of them. Is the Head of the Gyo General’s Household still neglecting the Yeongsan affairs?”

The Chief Eunuch Wan smiled awkwardly at the Emperor’s question.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Not only the Yeongsan affairs, but the Goksan affairs are also delayed, causing everything that passes through the Eastern trade route to be late. The insolent rumor that the Imperial Family tricked the Gyo General’s Household is growing even louder in the marketplaces.”

When uttering the word “tricked,” Chief Eunuch Wan lowered his eyes deeply.

“I thought the Gyo General’s Household was reserved.”

“Where is there a dignified grand noble family like the Gyo General’s Household? Is it not because those dignified people were tricked that unnecessary disputes have arisen? Your Majesty did not view the Gyo General’s Household as reserved, but rather as soft and pliable.”

Neung Sah-hyeon spoke fearlessly.

“So, even a kind, rustic young master is still the legitimate son of a grand noble family, then.”

“He must have been a pure and kind rustic young master. But after being stabbed in the back, would he not feel the need to look after his own interests? Did Your Majesty not think too lightly of the Gyo General’s Household?”

The Emperor commanded the vigorously speaking Neung Sah-hyeon.

“Withdraw now.”

“Your Majesty.”

“I will permit the second son of the Gyo General’s Household, Gyo Jin-oh, to enter the palace. Although the Head of the Gyo General’s Household is deeply grieved, I cannot simply ignore the harm caused by the delay in the Goksan and Yeongsan affairs.”

Neung Sah-hyeon attempted to retort to the Emperor’s words again.

“Minister Neung, you are leaving now!”

However, Chief Eunuch Wan raised Neung Sah-hyeon from the chair and dragged him toward the door.

“Eunuch Gong!”

“You have spoken plenty for today, so save it for another time.”

Chief Eunuch Wan easily pulled away Neung Sah-hyeon, who was strong but possessed poor athletic ability. The eunuch flung him outside the door of the private hall, quickly shut the door, drew the curtain, and returned inside.

“There will be some entertainment watching young Master Gyo fight hard in the concubine’s palace.”

The Emperor tapped his writing desk with his fingertips, whispering to himself.

“After Consort Hyang-bin returned to her residence, only Consort Dam So-ui and Consort Cheob-yeo remained and spoke. It seems Consort Cheob-yeo said something to Consort Dam So-ui. The volume was low, so no one heard the exchange. Consort Dam So-ui’s Court Lady must know, but she has not reported anything separately.”

“To Jun-ah?”

The Emperor’s expression twisted strangely at the mention of something happening to Dam So-ui.

“Should I press the Court Lady further?”

“I will go Myself.”

“Are you going to Giryung Palace?”

The Emperor gave a crooked smile at the eunuch’s words. The man lightly shook his head.

“I will go to Dam So-ui’s residence.”

At the chilling voice, Chief Eunuch Wan courteously bowed his body.

******

Donhu Palace (Palace of Benevolent Peace) was located closest to the Emperor’s sleeping quarters, excluding the Empress’s palace. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] The Emperor arrived at Yechun-gak (Pavilion of Beautiful Spring) inside Donhu Palace, which was known for its beauty.

This was his third consecutive day of visiting.

“What, what should I do…”

Dam Seo-jun sat on a long chair, continuously wringing his hands. The Emperor, sitting on the same chair, quietly observed the pale, gentle-looking face.

“What do you mean, what should you do?”

Dam Seo-jun’s face, who would have abandoned all pretense of etiquette and trembled his shoulders and cheeks to complain had he not been in front of the Emperor and in the position of a concubine, became full of sorrow.

“You heard your concubine’s words, Your Majesty. Consort Cheob-yeo now knows that this concubine did not drink the Baekhong.”

In contrast to Dam Seo-jun, who was anxious and worried, the Emperor remained leisurely.

“Is there anyone in the concubine ranks who doesn’t suspect it?”

Dam Seo-jun naturally moved closer and sat next to the listlessly speaking Emperor.

“Everyone may have only suspected it, but they wouldn’t have known for sure. I understand why Consort Cheob-yeo is angry. She must be devastated that the Empress Dowager suddenly issued the Baekhong to be drunk on the morning she entered the palace. But since this concubine didn’t drink the Baekhong, I will look unscrupulous.”

Looking at the face that was pouring out its plea, the Emperor narrowed his eyes as if looking at a pitiful creature and smiled faintly.

“Your Majesty, why are You laughing? Are you even listening to this concubine’s worries?”

“Are you afraid of that one?”

“Consort Cheob-yeo said to this concubine, ‘Why didn’t you drink it?’ Your Majesty, why do you keep only smiling…”

Dam Seo-jun was small for a man. His gentle appearance, with drooping eye corners and soft lines, made him look even younger than his age. However, he was clearly a respectable man to anyone who looked.

Gyo Yeon-oh of the Gyo Clan was tall even among ordinary men. His father and eldest brother, the Head of the Gyo Household, were civil officials, but his grandfather was the master of the General’s Headquarters, so he inherited the family’s imposing stature.

However, although he was tall, he did not appear to have a strong build or a large physique.

His looks, which resembled his mother, who was said to be a beautiful woman, lacked any trace of menace or harshness. He looked only quiet and sorrowful when expressionless, and when his expression lit up, he had the liveliness of his age.

While Dam Seo-jun possessed a more rounded cuteness, Gyo Yeon-oh appeared more delicate in terms of having a slender impression.

“Are they not both about the same?”

Seonjae spoke without concern, as if measuring something with his hand.

“Consort Cheob-yeo is a handspan taller than this concubine. Is she not a descendant of the General’s Headquarters?”

“Jun-ah, you are three years older than that one.”

“What does age matter? What if rumors spread among the concubines that this concubine did not drink the Baekhong? What if the Empress Dowager then issues the Baekhong to me? I know it would only be fair for me to drink it, as Consort Cheob-yeo has already done so… but my uncle said that if one’s constitution doesn’t agree with the Baekhong, things could go terribly wrong.”

Watching Dam Seo-jun worryingly mumble and pout his lips, the Emperor reached out a hand and patted his round head.

“I will not permit it.”

At those words, the gently lowered eyes lifted slightly. The face, which had been relieved by the Emperor’s words for a moment, quickly fell again.

“What if Consort Cheob-yeo tries to harm this concubine? Judging by the face she made when addressing this concubine earlier, she seemed genuinely upset.”

“You are a So-ui, and she is a Cheob-yeo.”

“That is the current hierarchy, yes. But is that all? Is Consort Cheob-yeo not the legitimate son of the Gyo General’s Household? In contrast, this concubine… I am worried that the Gyo General’s Household might treat the Dam family badly.”

The Emperor covered Dam Seo-jun’s head once more, tousling his soft hair.

“Stop worrying about things that have not happened.”

“Your Majesty.”

Dam Seo-jun tidied his tousled hair and followed the Emperor, who had risen.

“Consort Dam So-ui, show Consort Cheob-yeo the proper place of your rank.”

“The rank…”

“I need to sleep now.”

At the Emperor’s words, Dam Seo-jun smiled and commanded that nightclothes be prepared. Thanks to Dam So-ui, whose favor had been continuous since entering the palace, the faces of the palace servants in Donhu Palace were filled with contented smiles.