Chapter 82

In the early period after Yeon-oh’s entry into the palace, the Emperor seemed to show absolutely no interest in him. However, the Emperor had recently sought out Consort Gwi-bi Gyo quite often. Since they did not know whether some intention of the Emperor was connected to the poems embroidered on these handkerchiefs, they could not rashly deny the other’s words.

“Consort Gwi-bi is lazy? My younger siblings holding handkerchiefs with a common theme was merely a coincidence. It happened accidentally. It is a truly wondrous coincidence. However, does the poem on my younger siblings’ handkerchiefs relate to any intention of His Majesty, Consort Gwi-bi?”

Consort Neung So-yong spoke in a familiar voice and gently tucked the handkerchief she was holding into her bosom. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Her manner of redirecting the conversation was smooth. She was skilled both at eliminating unnecessary cause for dispute and at feigning that ostracizing the one was not her true intention.

“Does His Majesty not like flowers?”

Yeon-oh held his teacup with an indifferent expression. He swept the rim of the teacup with the lid, cooling the hot tea. The gesture was suitable for appearing distracted while not breaking etiquette. His movement was also graceful and leisurely.

“Yes…?”

Consort Neung So-yong, who was skillfully controlling her expression, raised her voice in surprise. Ignoring Yeon-oh, who had lowered his gaze, confusion arose on the faces of the consorts looking at each other.

“…His Majesty, hmm? No. I must have been mistaken.”

Yeon-oh, who raised his gaze at the perplexed voices, was just as bewildered. No one in the hall seemed to know that the Emperor cherished a geomungo composition that not only loved flowers but actually praised them.

‘Is it a secret?’

Yeon-oh realized belatedly that he had almost made a mistake. It seemed he had already made a mistake, but he had not revealed everything.

The Empress in the main seat spoke at the opportune moment.

“Everyone, please enjoy the tea.”

The Empress had already handed the handkerchief she was holding to the palace matron, putting it away. Instead of the silk handkerchief, she was now holding a small, simple cotton gauze folded in her hand.

Like Consort Neung So-yong, Consort Hyeok, Consort Du-Cheob-yeo, and some of the consorts had also tucked their handkerchiefs into their bosoms.

******

The Empress’s first tea gathering concluded peacefully afterward. A person rushing to follow Yeon-oh as he left the hall called him.

“Consort Gwi-bi Gyo!”

“Consort Neung So-yong.”

Consort Neung So-yong’s face, bearing a light smile, showed no hostility. Consort Jin and Consort Du-Cheob-yeo could be seen following at a moderate distance behind her.

“Consort Gwi-bi, I was momentarily taken aback earlier.”

“Is that so?”

“It is a widely known custom for consorts to carry handkerchiefs embroidered with poems related to seasonal flowers when visiting the Empress. I did not think Consort Gwi-bi would be unaware. I briefly forgot that neither Consort Gwi-bi nor her palace matron knows the affairs within the consort palace from the past year.”

Consort Neung So-yong wore a fabricated smile, but what she said was direct and unreserved. Although she did not often step forward in the consort palace, Consort Neung So-yong was quick to grasp a situation. If anyone, she would have known that Yeon-oh might be unaware of the handkerchief custom.

However, he could not coldly reject someone who came later to show goodwill and attempt to salvage the situation, swept away by a momentary emotion.

Consort Neung So-yong, Consort Jin, and Consort Du-Cheob-yeo seemed to be gradually distancing themselves from Consort Bi due to the recent chest-binding cloth incident. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Yet, even if they were distancing themselves from Consort Bi, they were not Yeon-oh’s friends.

Furthermore, the members of the consort palace were not gentle enough to proactively inform others of something they might not know.

“That is already in the past, isn’t it? Please do not worry about it. I should have prepared the points of caution for meeting the Empress in advance, but I was negligent.”

“Please invite your younger sibling to Giryung Palace sometime.”

Yeon-oh had no friends in the Imperial Palace. While it was debatable whether friends could even exist in the Imperial Palace, he could not just ignore those who formed groups and interacted.

“I will contact you soon.”

Consort Neung So-yong smiled more brightly than ever at Yeon-oh’s words.

“I withdraw.”

“Consort Gwi-bi, I withdraw.”

“This younger sibling also withdraws.”

Following Consort Neung So-yong, Consort Jin and Consort Du-Cheob-yeo approached, paid their respects, and gracefully moved away.

“Hmm.”

Court Lady Dong cleared her throat, rousing Yeon-oh, who was watching the three departing figures. The next moment, an elegant fragrance wafted over him. A thick voice, like the scent brought by the speaker, echoed.

“Consort Gwi-bi, how could you exclude Her Majesty the Empress when you are such a devoted person to her? The rumor is that you are a kind and considerate person to the palace servants, but it seems that is not entirely true. I thought Consort Gwi-bi would at least step out and retrieve a handkerchief, even if you were late.”

Consort Bi was holding two silk handkerchiefs draped between her fingers.

“Consort Bi.”

“Wasn’t it too much for you to accuse us younger siblings of being consorts who vie for the Emperor’s favor?”

Yeon-oh chuckled wryly, looking at the passage of the allegory embroidered on Consort Bi’s handkerchief. He did not think she knew, but choosing one of the Emperor’s most cherished musical pieces was a fun coincidence. He also thought that Consort Bi was not one who received the Emperor’s favor for nothing.

“Consort Bi must be a lucky person.”

Yeon-oh blatantly stared at the embroidery on the handkerchief.

Consort Bi withdrew her hand at the gaze that significantly looked at her handkerchief. Since the stare was so profound to simply ignore, curiosity was piqued as to whether some great secret was hidden in the handkerchief.

“What do you mean?”

Yeon-oh, who was about to say a few more words about Consort Bi perfectly matching the Emperor’s taste, although she wouldn’t know it, changed his mind. There was no such thing as kindness in the consort palace. There was no reason for him to be the only one dispensing friendliness there.

“Since Consort Bi and I are not close, I tried to adhere strictly to etiquette. Yet, since last time, Consort Bi keeps giving me instruction as if I were a younger sibling.”

At Yeon-oh’s reproach, Consort Bi slowly bent her knees and lowered her body. Even though the ranks (Consorts) were the same, a Gwi-bi and a Bi were clearly different. Her beautiful face, while paying respects, stiffened uncomfortably.

“I apologize.”

“Because I addressed you as a ‘younger sibling’ in consideration of Consort Bi, who entered the palace before me and is my ‘elder,’ do you truly think I am your younger sibling?”

Consort Bi had always worried about being older than the others who entered the palace with her. The word “elder,” which was clearly brought up intentionally, was an unpleasant phrase that touched a nerve. Consort Bi’s elegantly curved shoulder twitched and became rigid.

The words were spoken with the intent of offending the one, but he did not intend to fight fiercely.

“Since all the consorts are older than me, I thought I would treat them as younger siblings…”

It was when Yeon-oh was about to offer words to soothe Consort Bi. Hurried footsteps approached Consort Bi. Dam So-ui knelt down with her and spoke in a kind voice.

“Consort Gwi-bi Gyo, please settle your temper. Didn’t Consort Bi speak out of concern for Consort Gwi-bi?”

“Dam So-ui.”

“Ah, I apologize! Consort Gwi-bi, I interrupted the conversation between the two Majesties without permission. My heart was hasty… Please look upon my deficiency with leniency.”

Yeon-oh was unsure if he had successfully salvaged the situation after touching Consort Bi’s pride. Originally, he had planned to resolve the matter by expressing his own shortcomings and elevating the other person, but the situation became twisted. Now, reaching out too familiarly would look like intimidation or pretense.

“Both of you may rise.”

“I am overwhelmed by your grace.”

“I am overwhelmed by your grace. Consort Gwi-bi, the Empress is a generous person and will not worry about Consort Gwi-bi not carrying the same kind of handkerchief, as Consort Bi feared. You do not need to worry. Ah, in fact, I did not know that there was an etiquette among the consorts to carry handkerchiefs when visiting the Empress.”

Dam So-ui spoke with a kind expression, as if worried for Yeon-oh. It was an unusually friendly attitude. This made it awkward to speak further to Consort Bi, who was standing elegantly next to her.

It was impolite to address a person who was distant when someone was speaking directly to him.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I brought a handkerchief quite by accident and avoided making a mistake. If I had known such an etiquette existed, I would have informed Consort Gwi-bi in advance… Are you well?”

Dam So-ui, glancing at Consort Bi standing beside her, expressed concern for Yeon-oh. Consort Bi, who had been silent throughout, subtly smiled.

“Dam So-ui is the only one who understands and acknowledges my concerns. It seems my excessive worry caused me to overstep in the words I offered Consort Gwi-bi, committing a rudeness.”

“No.”

“Then, I will take your word that you have forgiven me and withdraw.”

There was much to take issue with in Consort Bi’s words, but settling the matter here was better for both. Yeon-oh gently saw off Consort Bi, ensuring he did not become more upset.

Dam So-ui paid his respects to Yeon-oh with a nod, then paid deep respects to the departing Consort Bi as well. He also withdrew soon after Consort Bi left. Something felt unsettling, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what the problem was.

“It’s difficult to live in the Imperial Palace.”

A drained sound flowed from Yeon-oh’s lips.