Chapter 100

“However…”

“Though the court may become noisy, the Empress’s position is too dangerous given the current situation in the Consort Palace.”

Eunuch Wan agreed with the Emperor.

These days, there was much talk because the Empress was physically weak and often absent, but previously, her family’s background, which was considered lacking compared to the families of the other consorts, had frequently been an issue.

Not to mention the families of Consort Hyeok, Consort Bi, and Consort Hyang, the families of the remaining consorts were also considerable. With Gyo Gwi-bi now added, the situation would be suffocating regardless of which family’s child became the Empress.

“Consort Hyeok and Gyo Gwi-bi Mama get along well.”

Eunuch Wan spoke in a subtle voice.

“…”

Seonjae gave Eunuch Wan a reproachful look.

Eunuch Wan subtly shrugged, a faint smile on his face.

“Though Gyo Gwi-bi is a man, he can conceive by drinking Ja–an–hong, so it would be difficult to cite his being a man as a disqualification, would it not?”

“Do you think those who covet the Empress’s position have any sense of shame? There are countless people who would push with all their might if a puppet Empress could come from their family. If I use the Gyo Clan as a shield, choosing not to establish a new Empress, it might be quite useful. A diverting situation would unfold, with the Gyo Clan and all the great noble families fighting.”

“In this humble person’s limited opinion, Gyo Gwi-bi Mama is excellent material.”

“If the Emperor’s legitimate heir comes from the Gyo Clan’s legitimate son, would that child be the Imperial Family’s legitimate grandson? The characterization as the Gyo Clan’s legitimate grandson would be stronger. The Imperial Family’s backing will inevitably be the maternal family. The Imperial Family members who have been holding their breath will try to kill me, claiming I sold out the Imperial Family. And will the families who are in competition with the Gyo Clan quietly stand by? It would be better to take a new wife.”

“The problem is whether there is any place for Your Majesty to go.”

Eunuch Wan spoke audaciously.

“…It is all my fault.”

Seonjae sighed, recalling his past self who brought the Gyo Clan’s legitimate son into the Consort Palace. He stopped and then moved his steps toward the Donghwa Garden.

The Emperor’s attendants followed him like a long tail.

******

The summer sun in the Seokgeum Garden was intense. Running away from the scorching sunlight, Yeon-oh walked through the dense tree shade and found himself crossing into the Donghwa Garden.

Crossing the ornate stone bridge, Yeon-oh spotted Yun So-hwa in the distance. She, venturing outside her chamber after a long time, was observing someone intently. Her smiling face was gentle.

As he followed her gaze, a small figure darted out from between the shadows of the trees. A small child, about three or four years old, was running with a silk string in her hand.

The child’s eyes widened when she spotted Yeon-oh crossing the stone bridge. Her pink lips parted in surprise, mumbling endearingly. The child, who had briefly slowed her running speed, pattered over to Yeon-oh.

Her short, cute finger pointed at Yeon-oh as she shouted loudly.

“Bro… Bro, Brother!”

The child’s eyes sparkled brightly. A bright smile floated on the young face.

“…”

Yeon-oh offered an awkward smile to the small child who was flapping her short arms toward him. He could hear Court Lady Dong and the eunuchs and maids around them gasp in surprise.

Yeon-oh felt like he knew who the child was.

The small child, with her bright smile, had a face astonishingly similar to the Emperor’s. Where the man looked only cold and aloof, the child, with her delicately assembled features, seemed only warm and tender.

“Princess.”

Yeon-oh gently called the unfamiliar child who resembled a familiar face.

Princess Hwi-wan was the daughter of Consort Hyang.

She was the precious jewel of the Imperial Family and the Emperor’s only child listed in the Imperial Register. The child, whose natural expression was a perpetual smile, tightly grasped the finger of Yeon-oh, who had bent his knee to meet her eye level.

The sensation of a soft, tiny hand wrapping around his finger felt strange.

“Brother.”

“Princess, you must not call him that. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] You should call him Mobi (Maternal Consort).”

Court Lady Dong, who was standing a distance behind, approached Yeon-oh and said.

“Mo-biii?”

“He is Gyo Gwi-bi Mama. This is your first time seeing him, is it not? Princess must greet Gyo Gwi-bi Mama.”

Court Lady Dong spoke in an uncharacteristically endearing voice. Her pronunciation was subtly twisted. Princess Hwi-wan listened intently to Court Lady Dong’s high voice and smiled brightly, mimicking the court lady’s smile.

“Mo-biii Brother.”

The child looked at Yeon-oh and smiled, shaking the hand she held tightly.

“Woo Yun-hae…!”

A chilly shout suddenly came from somewhere. Everyone was startled. Princess Hwiwan, in particular, looked as if she was about to cry. As Yeon-oh and his party looked toward the source of the sound, the hurried sound of footsteps rushed from another direction.

“Princess Mama! Oh, oh… I pay my respects to Gyo Gwi-bi Mama.”

“Princess, come here! I apologize, Gwi-bi Mama… I pay my respects to Gyo Gwi-bi Mama. May Gwi-bi Mama enjoy great fortune. We were delayed because the Princess suddenly ran off.”

The wet-nurse court ladies, who had rushed over focused only on the Princess, stuttered in surprise upon finding Yeon-oh.

“Rise.”

The wet-nurse court ladies’ hands held silk bundles containing all sorts of items for the child. Judging by the poorly secured bundles, the Princess must have run off while they were taking out items. Children’s belongings were scattered here and there along the path they had run from.

“Princess, come here!”

“Princess.”

The wet-nurses continuously called the Princess in a lowered voice. The child, who showed a bright smile to the wet-nurses calling her, clung to Yeon-oh, tightly holding his hand.

A slight moisture had pooled in the child’s large, round eyes. She seemed momentarily very surprised when the chilly low voice had rung out.

“Princess Hwi-wan.”

“Yes.”

“Your wet-nurses are calling you.”

The child smiled sweetly at Yeon-oh’s words. Yeon-oh paused slightly because her habit of scrunching her cheeks when she smiled was exactly like the Emperor’s. The smiling face blinked, as if wondering why Yeon-oh was hesitant.

“Brother?”

“Princess Mama…! Gyo, Gwi-bi Mama, the Princess is still very young. Please be generous.”

“I apologize. Princess, come here.”

Others were more startled and embarrassed than Yeon-oh by the child’s address. The wet-nurses of Princess Hwi-wan, in particular, turned pale and stammered.

“It is alright. The relationship of kin in the Imperial Palace is complicated for a child to understand, is it not? Especially this person’s existence? Since the Princess is young, let the child call me whatever she finds comfortable. It seems best for now to let the caller feel natural, whether she calls me Mobi or ‘Brother.’ I am happy to be called ‘Brother.’ Where else would this person hear ‘Brother’ now?”

Yeon-oh smiled and gently wiped the corner of the child’s tearful eye with his hand.

Hearing his words, Court Lady Dong by his side tightly closed her eyes. She shook her head secretly, but Yeon-oh did not notice at all.

“Brother.”

Princess Hwi-wan only smiled shyly while holding Yeon-oh’s hand. Yeon-oh, who noticed the flustered wet-nurses, met the child’s eyes.

“The wet-nurses are waiting, shall we go with them?”

He comfortably adjusted the position of his finger that the child was clutching. Princess Hwi-wan, who walked a few steps, smiling happily, soon yawned with an exhausted expression.

Yeon-oh, who led the child to the wet-nurses, looked down at her sleepy face.

“The Princess has not had her afternoon nap today.”

“We shall attend to her.”

Both of Princess Hwi-wan’s wet-nurse court ladies seemed responsible and pleasant. Yeon-oh looked worriedly at the Princess’s face, which seemed ready to fall asleep at any moment.

“Are you sleepy?”

“Yes.”

The child, who immediately answered Yeon-oh’s question, hugged his knee with her arm and clung to him.

“Princess…”

“I-I apologize, Gwi-bi Mama.”

The wet-nurses hastily tried to separate the child from Yeon-oh. The child, who seemed about to fall asleep, completely hid behind Yeon-oh, causing the wet-nurses to grasp at the air. The hands trying to pull her away and the force trying to cling created a struggle.

“This person is fine. Wet-nurses, please check the items in your hands first. Court Lady Dong, pick up the Princess’s fallen belongings and bring them.”

“Yes.”

Court Lady Dong bowed her head and looked worriedly at Princess Hwi-wan, who was clinging tightly to Yeon-oh.

Yeon-oh looked down at the child clinging to his leg and spoke softly.

“Princess, you should go to your chamber and sleep.”

“Yes.”

The wet-nurses kept glancing at Yeon-oh while organizing the child’s belongings.

Consorts were unpredictable beings. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Especially consorts who were highly favored were even more so. And if their family’s authority was high, they were even more difficult to deal with.

A mere court lady could not disobey even if the command changed with every word spoken.

The Princess Hwi-wan, whom the court ladies served, was the Emperor’s only daughter. Consort Hyang’s family, which was the Princess’s maternal family, also held considerable power.

However, the Emperor had no great affection for his child. He never came to meet her separately, dine with her, or spend time with her.

Since the Emperor showed no affection for the Princess, her birth mother, Consort Hyang, focused more on securing her own favor than on her child, the Princess. The expectations of the maternal family for the Princess also faded. Above all, Princess Hwi-wan was still a young child.

Princess Hwi-wan was not abused or bullied. However, she was neglected relative to her status. The difference between a Princess the Emperor showed no interest in, and a Gwi-bi from a great noble family who was recently favored was enormous.

The court ladies who actually saw Gyo Gwi-bi realized that he was a far more magnificent mijangbu (handsome man) than rumored. This was evident just by seeing the Princess, who was severely shy, happily clinging to him.

Yeon-oh, who was whispering and smiling with the sleepy child, spoke to the wet-nurse court ladies.

“May this Consort carry the Princess and take her back?”