Chapter 31

Yeon-oh, having finished what he had to say, retreated from the shade of the tree.

“Oh dear, what should we do? Jin Mi-in, are you alright?”

One of the concubines who had been watching from a distance approached and raised her voice. She was a concubine who generally had an elegant and gentle demeanor but with a subtle slyness in her eyes, and she was about to fuss over the situation.

Jin Mi-in, who had been lying down in pain, sprang up, albeit limping.

“This younger sister is f-fine! I was so startled by the sudden fall that I overreacted.”

“Jin Mi-in.”

The concubine, Neung So-yong, who had approached to offer full consolation, looked at Jin Mi-in with a surprised expression.

“I apologize, Consort Gyo-gwi. It seems this younger sister misunderstood. Consort Gyo-gwi’s words are right; how could Consort Gwi-bi possibly push this sister? You must have made a mistake, not seeing me. I was also rushing to leave and made a mistake by not looking properly at Consort Gwi-bi.”

Jin Mi-in awkwardly laughed and offered her excuse.

“Are you sure you can get up suddenly, Jin Mi-in?”

Yeon-oh spoke with a face full of concern.

“Yes, of course. I usually suffer from dizziness, and it seems the dizziness came upon me the moment I bumped into Consort Gwi-bi, causing me to fall. I am ashamed that I didn’t consider my own condition and instead blamed the innocent Consort Gwi-bi. Please forgive me.”

Jin Mi-in repeatedly admitted her fault and begged for forgiveness. Neung So-yong, who had been setting the mood to console the injured woman, slowly retreated.

“Forgiveness? I also have fault for not looking around me.”

Yeon-oh replied with a generous attitude. As he spoke, he noticed Neung So-yong’s movements as she withdrew at Jin Mi-in’s urgent head gesture, and that Neung So-yong cast a glance at Consort Bi standing some distance behind her.

Jin Mi-in’s face, trying to maintain a forced smile, kept momentarily collapsing into a mournful expression. The broken branch of the tree, which the Empress Dowager cherished, was held in her trembling hand.

It was difficult to judge whether Jin Mi-in had planned to break the branch or if breaking it had been an accident.

“This younger sister once again apologizes…”

“I shall receive this fault instead, for not looking around properly. It is not the first or second time I have been scolded by the Empress Dowager, anyway.”

Yeon-oh took the broken branch from her trembling hand and lightly bowed. Court Lady Dong Yeong, who had been relieved that the situation was resolving much better than expected, looked back at Yeon-oh, who was taking the branch, with a bewildered face.

“Master.”

The Court Lady called Yeon-oh in a small voice, unable to hide her surprise.

“Consort Gwi-bi.”

Jin Mi-in was just as surprised.

“…But why is Jin Mi-in my younger sister? You are three years older than me, so why do you keep calling yourself ‘younger sister’?”

Yeon-oh muttered softly as he walked past Jin Mi-in. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] The grumbling, which was almost a monologue, was soft enough to be heard only by Jin Mi-in, her Court Lady, and Dong Yeong.

Jin Mi-in’s face, which had been on the verge of being moved by the unexpected situation, instantly flushed crimson. Jin Mi-in had only referred to herself according to the Imperial Palace protocol.

Having entered the palace at a relatively late age, her low rank, due to not receiving much favor, remained a burden on her heart. Yeon-oh, whose rank had risen several times every few nights since his entry, could not have known Jin Mi-in’s difficult situation. The gratitude he had generated in her seemed to shatter entirely before his eyes.

“Sigh.”

Court Lady Dong Yeong, who was following Yeon-oh, let out an audible sigh. Yeon-oh looked back at the Court Lady with a “what is the problem” expression. Yeon-oh’s gaze soon shifted to the broken branch in his hand.

Another sigh was about to escape the Court Lady’s lips.

“Will I be scolded severely?”

“Do you know how much the Empress Dowager cherishes that pine tree?”

The Court Lady wanted to strike Yeon-oh on the back a few times if she could. If he were a palace servant working under her, she would have already struck him several times.

“It’s far, but there are many fine pine trees on the mountain in Yeongsan. Will she forgive me if I offer to bring one over?”

“Will the owner of the mountain allow you to take it?”

The Court Lady’s point was valid. Yeon-oh, who should have said something like ‘That’s right’ or ‘Then what should I do?’, hesitated with an inexplicably awkward expression. After a moment of silence, Yeon-oh spoke.

“It’s fine by me. I’m in the Harem anyway, so I won’t be going to see the mountain, and the mountain won’t be harmed just because one tree is missing.”

The Court Lady was silent for a moment. Various thoughts seemed to be floating in the silence.

The Court Lady finished her thoughts and asked, confirming her suspicion.

“Consort Gwi-bi, do you own a mountain?”

“Yes.”

“You should have told me earlier about such a thing. For a man to mention just one tree, how petty! Tell the Empress Dowager that you can even dig up ten pine trees that she might like. You will surely receive her favor. Let us hurry now.”

The Court Lady spoke with great enthusiasm. The Court Lady served him more respectfully than ever, even avoiding small pebbles so as not to hinder Yeon-oh’s steps.

At times like this, she was a person easy to read.

*******

The Empress Dowager easily forgave Yeon-oh. It was exactly as the Court Lady had said. Yeon-oh returned to Giryung Palace with light steps. Contrary to his cheerful mood, the atmosphere in Giryung Palace was chaotic.

“Consort Gwi-bi, you have returned.”

“What happened?”

“I hear the Minister of Works is begging for forgiveness in front of the main hall.”

While Cheong-ryu dismissed the other servants, So-ha quickly spoke. The current Minister of Works (a third-rank official) was Yeon-oh’s fourth paternal uncle, who was in the capital.

Begging for forgiveness in front of the main hall meant the crime was not small.

“My uncle? What happened in the Ministry of Works?”

Yeon-oh blurted out the question, then realized his mistake. Neither So-ha, a palace woman, nor he, a concubine, had any way of knowing what was happening in the court, nor could they do anything even if they knew.

So-ha gently shook her head.

“During the court meeting, His Majesty severely scolded the Minister of Works over a matter concerning the Gyo General’s Household. He has not yet received His Majesty’s forgiveness, so he is in front of the main hall…”

“Master!”

“Consort Gwi-bi!”

Yeon-oh rushed out of Giryung Palace without a moment to think. Dong Yeong followed him as he ran.

“Master!”

The Emperor was the absolute ruler. There was nothing he could not do. He could punish any member of the Gyo Clan and even kill them if he wished.

It was not unusual for a member of the Gyo Clan to be interrogated and punished by the Emperor.

Nothing would change if Yeon-oh went to see the relative who was being reprimanded. He could do nothing, and he would only be in the way. But he could not believe it until he saw it himself.

“Your Majesty! Please forgive this subject’s disloyalty! Your Majesty, please graciously overlook the Gyo Clan’s inadequacy!”

A completely hoarse voice echoed from the end of the wide courtyard in front of the main hall.

“…Ha, hah, hah…”

Yeon-oh stood at the edge of the Harem district. The shallow breath that had climbed up his throat was expelled. His chest pounded as if it would burst from running so fast.

“Your Majesty! Please forgive this subject’s disloyalty!”

He was distracted by the mournful cry coming from afar, more than by the physical exhaustion that had surged up in the brief time.

His uncle was stripped of his official robe.

Since it was impolite to wear an outer garment when begging the Emperor for forgiveness, he seemed to be in scant clothing. Although he followed this protocol for a sinner, for a gentleman to appear before others without his outer garment was a source of shame and humiliation to the point of not being able to show his face.

The sound of his uncle, kneeling alone and prostrating himself in the desolate courtyard, begging for forgiveness until his throat was torn, resonated in Yeon-oh’s ears. He had heard there was no issue in the Ministry of Works. Yet, he could not understand why his uncle was begging for forgiveness and being punished like this.

“…”

Yeon-oh stood dazed, listening to his uncle’s sorrowful cry for forgiveness.

******

The Emperor only sent a eunuch when the Minister of Works’ throat was so hoarse that no sound could come out.

“Master, His Majesty has acknowledged the sincerity of the Minister of Works and tells you to rise now. He has commanded you to look after the family well. Please rise.”

“Your Majesty, I am eternally grateful for Your divine favor!”

The Minister of Works squeezed out his voice, which would not come out, to express his gratitude to the Emperor.

“Master.”

Court Lady Dong Yeong finally caught up with Yeon-oh. She called him in a lowered voice many times after that. Yeon-oh ignored her calls and only trembled his tightly closed lips. He stood firm until sunset with a choked expression that suggested crying would be better.

But he could not stay here any longer. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Court Lady Dong Yeong carefully shook Yeon-oh’s arm.

“Uncle!”

Yeon-oh, who had been holding his breath all along, shouted. The Minister of Works, who was moving unsteadily with the help of So Taegam, looked back toward the boundary between the main hall and the inner court.

The Minister of Works approached Yeon-oh with a limping step.

“Master!”

Tears welled up in the eyes of the Minister of Works, who had endured staunchly when begging for forgiveness toward the main hall.

“Are you alright…?”

Yeon-oh also spoke, tears streaming down his face.

“Of course, I am fine. Wouldn’t this younger man be much better off than my older brother? My throat is damaged, but I am otherwise perfectly fine. Compared to my childhood, when I was scolded by your grandfather, the Emperor, who forgave me before sunset, is truly generous.”

Yeon-oh’s face was covered in tears at the Minister of Works’ jest.

He had been the one to congratulate Yeon-oh on becoming the Emperor’s concubine. He must have believed that even if his nephew lost favor, he would live peacefully within the Harem due to the family’s power.

“…”

Yeon-oh could not say anything. His lips would not move. He could not say he was sorry, or the shameless words that he regretted it, or the obvious words that it was all his fault. His throat felt as if it was blocked by something invisible.

Tears incessantly streamed down his tightly closed lips.

“Why have you come all the way here? This humble subject and the Gyo General’s Household are fine. Please do not worry. You must also be healthy, do you understand? Court Lady, please escort the Master back to his chamber.”

The Minister of Works spoke cordially with a completely hoarse voice. Contrary to his bold words, he constantly wiped away tears while looking at the weeping Yeon-oh.

“Uncle, Uncle…”

Yeon-oh looked back as he was led away by Court Lady Dong Yeong.

“I am truly fine.”

The Minister of Works waved his hand toward Yeon-oh, who was looking back at him. His tired, yet smiling, face made Yeon-oh’s heart ache.

Yeon-oh continued to weep while passing through the Harem. He had not thought he was a person who cried easily before. In fact, he thought he was closer to being tearless. However, after coming to the Imperial Palace, he realized he was truly a person who cried a lot.

The tears, once started, continued until deep into the night.

Everyone in the Harem heard the news that Consort Gyo-gwi had returned to his chamber, shedding tears. The rumor that spread through the Harem permeated every corner of the Imperial Palace.