Chapter 92

“Consort Gwi-bi.”

“Consort Gwi-bi, are you alright?”

The consorts who saw Yeon-oh exchanged glances.

“I have caused worry.”

Yeon-oh tried to speak calmly. Seeing the sorrowfully weeping Dam So-ui, he did not feel like the victim. He felt as if he were the perpetrator and Dam So-ui the victim.

He understood why the consorts were just exchanging glances.

Everyone was sending puzzled looks, wondering why Dam So-ui was disregarding etiquette so much, but no one dared to easily step forward. The strongest expression of discomfort was merely a furrowed brow.

Yeon-oh secretly sighed.

“…”

Recently, bad things had happened consecutively in the Giryung Palace. Now, even he had been injured today. From the outside, it would look like endless misfortune. It was stressful enough just dealing with the accidents, but he also had to worry about public perception.

“Consort Gwi-bi, since Dam So-ui is repenting so deeply, how about you graciously overlook the mistake? Is it not the role of a superior to cover the faults of his subordinate? I know you must be worried that the injury might spread to your beautiful face, but please quell your anger.”

Consort Bi, who was standing far away, stepped forward and spoke softly. Yeon-oh was speechless for a moment. He hadn’t even been angry yet, so being told not to be angry was utterly nonsensical.

“Dam So-ui seems very shaken after making a mistake toward Consort Gwi-bi. Please forgive him.”

Consort Hyang also added a word nearby.

“Dam So-ui, please get up. Why are you still kneeling? Did I not tell you to get up before I went into the pavilion? Did you not hear me?”

He could not get angry in this situation. If he scolded Dam So-ui now, Yeon-oh himself would only look like a petty person. If he acted overly generous despite suffering a loss, he might be seen as easy to exploit, but for now, he had to retreat.

“I am sorry, Consort Gwi-bi. How could this humble person rise when I dared to injure the Gwi-bi…”

Dam So-ui spoke plaintively with his kind face. It was not simply a matter of getting up; his attitude suggested he expected to be consoled for his own mistake.

“I did not see Dam So-ui approaching because I was momentarily lost in thought. Perhaps there is some fault on my part. Everyone will feel uneasy if you stay like that, so please get up now.”

Yeon-oh requested him to rise one more time.

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives!”

Just then, the eunuch’s shout was heard. The consorts quickly exchanged glances, stepped back, knelt, and paid their respects. Yeon-oh also bowed.

“We greet His Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great fortune.”

“We greet His Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great fortune.”

A suspicion arose instantly.

Dam So-ui was close to the Empress. Could Dam So-ui have known when the Emperor would visit the Empress? As if to confirm Yeon-oh’s suspicion, the kind and gentle face, stained with tears, shone sorrowfully.

“Jun-ah? Why are you doing that?”

The Emperor, who was entering, stopped his steps upon seeing Dam So-ui kneeling and weeping. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] At his words, Dam So-ui wept and bowed his face deeply.

“Your Majesty, this Consort was lacking and sinned against Consort Gwi-bi… Consort Gwi-bi, please look upon this humble person with leniency.”

The trembling voice soon turned into sorrowful wailing.

“Everyone rise.”

At the Emperor’s command, the consorts who were kneeling rose. The Emperor’s gaze, which had been observing Dam So-ui weeping and begging for forgiveness on the ground, landed on Yeon-oh’s neck.

The man’s face stiffened greatly at the sight of the neck covered with a white cloth. Seonjae approached Yeon-oh, who was standing one step away.

His face, after confirming the trace of the cloth visible between the collars of Yeon-oh’s upper garment at close range, stiffened rigidly, then his gaze fell upon the pathetic back crouching on the floor.

“Are you injured?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. This Consort is fine. I was careless and did not properly watch Dam So-ui passing by. They say it is not a serious problem, just a slight burn from the tea water.”

After hearing Yeon-oh’s words, the Emperor turned his body and looked down at Dam So-ui. Everyone around held their breath, focusing on the man’s movement.

“Help Dam So-ui up.”

Seonjae commanded Dam So-ui’s Head Court Lady. Dam So-ui, who was helped up by the Head Court Lady, stumbled, unable to maintain his balance. The Emperor, who was nearby, reached out his hand and supported Dam So-ui.

“I am, I am undeserving.”

Dam So-ui shed tears and thanked the Emperor.

“Stop crying. Too much crying is not good for your health.”

The Emperor spoke kindly, patting the weeping Dam So-ui. The consorts watching quickly swept their eyes over Yeon-oh and exchanged glances among themselves.

“Even though Consort Gwi-bi told him to get up early on, Dam So-ui was too shocked and begged for forgiveness for a long time. Dam So-ui, were you very flustered? Dam So-ui must be tired from kneeling for so long.”

Consort Hyeok softly added her words.

“Since you must be shocked, go back to your chamber now.”

“Ah, no. I promised to serve tea to the Empress. I wish to fix my appearance and serve tea to the Empress.”

“Do so.”

The Emperor lightly patted the back of Dam So-ui, who was shaking with sobs.

“I am undeserving, Your Majesty.”

Dam So-ui paid his respects to the Emperor, turned, and wiped the tears from his face. His appearance, attempting to compose his crying face, was quite pitiful. Yeon-oh once again reminded himself that he was in the position of a wicked superior.

“Are you alright?”

Seonjae, who had been watching Dam So-ui leave, turned to the side and spoke. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Yeon-oh, not realizing the question was directed at him, continued to cast his gaze on Dam So-ui, who was wiping his tears with a pathetic motion. Court Lady Dong subtly nudged Yeon-oh’s elbow, who was lost in thought.

“…”

Yeon-oh belatedly regained his senses with the pull on his arm. The Emperor’s action of taking Yeon-oh’s hand was sudden.

“Are you not watching who is carrying what next to you because you are so lost in thought?”

“I apologize.”

Seonjae brought Yeon-oh’s hand up to his own sight, examined it, and gently lowered it. Only after his fingers were released from the large hand did Yeon-oh realize. The Emperor had checked to see if his hand, which plays the Geomungo, was injured. He didn’t know whether he should be moved or annoyed.

“Confine yourself to your chamber and do not leave until your injury is fully healed.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Paying respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress is also excused until the Imperial Physician grants permission for you to go out.”

The command was too excessive.

“Seop-hyeon.”

Yeon-oh tried to say that the injury was not severe enough to warrant confining himself to his chamber. The Emperor ignored his gaze and turned to the eunuch.

“Do you have an order, Your Majesty?”

“Escort the Gwi-bi to the Giryung Palace. The Giryung Palace is far, so have him ride in my sedan chair. And order Imperial Physician Jang to examine the Gwi-bi’s injury.”

The Emperor’s face was expressionless and indifferent. Yeon-oh tried to say something about the excessive treatment and overblown consideration he had ordered. Several breaches of protocol were contained in the short command the man had just given.

“I obey your command.”

Chief Eunuch Wan stood by Yeon-oh, who was about to speak, and pointed him in the direction he should go.

“I cannot… This Consort riding Your Majesty’s sedan chair…”

The Emperor ignored Yeon-oh and headed toward the pavilion where the Empress was. The eunuchs followed him quickly. A small number of eunuchs remained next to Chief Eunuch Wan, guarding Yeon-oh.

“Consort Gwi-bi, the sun is warm. Please go quickly. His Majesty’s sedan chair will shield you from the sun and prevent your injury from worsening. By the way, why do you not use the palanquin given by the Empress Dowager?”

Chief Eunuch Wan spoke calmly. He was nothing short of a wicked official for not declaring the Emperor’s excessive command wrong.

“Chief Eunuch Wan.”

“The Imperial Command is absolute. Hurry, this way.”

Chief Eunuch Wan spoke more sternly in response to Yeon-oh’s call. He signaled the junior eunuch to go and send for Imperial Physician Jang and had the Emperor’s sedan chair placed in front of the Empress’s Palace checked in advance.