Chapter 23

“Cho Seom-neung from the Namcheon Kingdom greets Consort Cheob-yeo. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Consort Cheob-yeo, may you enjoy great fortune.”

The Namcheon Grand Merchant who visited Giryung Palace was a woman in her late twenties. Her smooth, porcelain-like skin, which was so fair it looked ethereal and childlike, was particularly striking. The palace servants who received the guest exchanged astonished glances at her dazzling complexion.

Yeon-oh was more surprised by the Namcheon Grand Merchant’s refined etiquette than by her white skin.

“Please rise. Bring a chair for the guest. Grand Merchant, you are the first person from the Namcheon Kingdom I have seen take such care with etiquette. Hmm, I apologize. I do not mean that all people from the Namcheon Kingdom are ill-mannered. I have misspoke.”

“I thank Consort Cheob-yeo for her kindness.”

Cho Seom-neung meticulously maintained the proper courtesy even after rising. The Grand Merchant smiled slightly upon seeing Yeon-oh, who was genuinely surprised, offered praise for her etiquette, and then apologized for misspeaking.

“People of the Namcheon Kingdom are generally headstrong. This one, however, left Namcheon at a young age and has lived here in the south, so the etiquette of the Yul Empire is familiar to me.”

The Namcheon Kingdom was known to some people in the Yul Empire as the Land of the Immortals.

The land of Namcheon was shaped like a lotus flower, with the entire nation surrounded by the sea. Most of the land was mountainous. The sea surrounding Namcheon was fraught with treacherous whirlpools, and those unskilled in handling boats were often met with accidents.

It was said that when viewed from afar, Namcheon, enveloped in sea mist, looked like Bongnae (Penglai), the legendary land of the immortals.

According to legend, there were Three Divine Mountains (Samshinsan) where immortals lived, located east of the Balhae Bay. Bongnae (蓬萊), Bangjang (方丈), and Yeongju (瀛洲) were those three mountains.

It was said that the immortals living on these mountains never died and lived forever, and that the elixir of life grew there.

The people of the Namcheon Kingdom would become furiously angry if they were told that their land might be that legendary place. They would loudly proclaim that their noble land had twenty-eight famous mountains and should not be compared to the mere three mountains of Samshinsan.

They would also scoff and lose their temper, asking where in the world a medicine that could make people live forever existed, arguing that medicine was not so easily made.

Eight out of ten citizens in the Namcheon Kingdom were herb gatherers.

There was even a popular saying that children in Namcheon knew how to identify herbs better than a foreign herb gatherer and how to refine medicinal ingredients better.

They were viewed by foreigners as quick-tempered and arrogant in demeanor.

Rumors were rife that customers, seeking special medicinal ingredients or unique medicines that only Namcheon could produce, had broken off transactions because of the vendors’ arrogant attitude.

This was why Yeon-oh was surprised by Cho Seom-neung’s impeccable manners.

“The palace servants in Giryung Palace seem to have lost their minds over the Grand Merchant’s beautiful skin.”

“I apologize. I am happy to hear such praise from Consort Cheob-yeo. This one has met the Head of the Gyo Household in Goksan, and Consort Cheob-yeo does not resemble her older brothers. Nor do you look like Madam Gyo of Yeongsan.”

Cho Seom-neung spoke and openly scrutinized Yeon-oh’s face. While her attentive gaze pretended to examine Yeon-oh’s features, she was clearly looking for side effects of the Baekhong.

“Court Lady Dong.”

Yeon-oh called the Court Lady next to him. Court Lady Dong, as agreed, dismissed the attendants. The eunuchs and palace servants withdrew from their posts, drawing the curtains across various parts of the hall.

Court Lady Dong prepared tea on the small table in front of Yeon-oh.

“My aunt in Yeongsan is a spitting image of my father.”

“The Head of the Gyo Household is deeply saddened by Consort Cheob-yeo drinking the Baekhong. Does she not know that who the Imperial Family uses the Baekhong on is irrelevant to Namcheon?”

“My brother and the entire Gyo Clan will know that.”

Yeon-oh steeped the tea with smooth movements. Court Lady Dong received the teacup he offered and presented it to the Grand Merchant. The Grand Merchant accepted the teacup and offered an elegant gesture of thanks.

“I apologize.”

A smile appeared on the Grand Merchant’s face as she lifted the lid to check the cup. Inside the teacup, a small white flower was opening its bud in the warm tea water.

To the people of the Namcheon Kingdom, the white flower signified good fortune.

“My brother and my family know that Namcheon is not at fault, but they cannot help but feel slighted.”

“My Lord.”

“A Cheob-yeo is not called Mama (My Lord/Lady). One must be a Bi (Consort, Second Rank) to be called Mama. If this one, who drank the Baekhong, bears no ill will toward Namcheon, then the Gyo General’s Household will also forget their discomfort toward Namcheon.”

Cho Seom-neung placed the teacup she was holding onto the side table and rose.

“Command me.”

It was an appreciated gesture that the Namcheon Kingdom valued the Yeongsan Flower Tea. It was even more appreciated that the Namcheon Kingdom considered the Dam family’s Seokjeongwon a valuable trading partner.

“Is the Namcheon Grand Merchant troubled without the Seokjeongwon and Seokhyang Clinic of Seokwol?”

“It would be the Seokwol Dam Family who would be troubled.”

“Sever ties with Seokwol for a while.”

Cho Seom-neung paid her respects again.

“I will obey the command. However, how long is ‘for a while’?”

“Until this person can be called Mama by the Grand Merchant.”

The Grand Merchant smiled, and following Yeon-oh’s gesture offering tea, she rose.

“Do you have any separate message to convey to the Gyo General’s Household?”

“No. If the Grand Merchant likes the Yeongsan Flower Tea, I will write a letter to the Head of the Household and my aunt.”

“If you would do so, this one’s great worry would be relieved.”

Relief was visible on Cho Seom-neung’s brightly smiling face. Her eyes, which had been tasting the tea out of courtesy, widened. Yeon-oh returned her smile as he watched this.

Court Lady Dong, who had observed all this, glanced at the teapot containing the flower tea with a complicated look.

The Namcheon Grand Merchant, Cho Seom-neung, only rose after emptying the entire teapot. After the Grand Merchant left, Court Lady Dong opened the lid of the teapot and checked the empty contents.

“His Majesty values Dam So-ui greatly.”

Yeon-oh spun his own now cold teacup.

“Shall I prepare fresh tea?”

Yeon-oh shook his head at Court Lady Dong’s question.

“I wonder how His Majesty’s precious Dam So-ui will be treated by the Dam family. It would be nice if she were severely persecuted. Perhaps then I might finally see His Majesty’s face after a long time.”

Court Lady Dong silently watched Yeon-oh, who was making spiteful and malicious remarks in a pathetic tone.

Yeon-oh shrugged his eyebrows.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Shouldn’t such words be spoken with a fiercer face? By the way, was the Namcheon Grand Merchant perhaps sick from not drinking tea? To empty this entire large teapot before leaving… is she a water jug or something?”

Dong Yeong cleared the teaware with a slightly rough clatter.

“Because the Yeongsan Flower Tea is delicious, of course.”

“Yes, of course.”

“I do brew tea well. I learned diligently so I could be favored by my wife when I married, but I’ll never have one now.”

Yeon-oh made a self-deprecating joke, trying to prompt a laugh.

“Even if you cannot be favored by a wife of the Gyo Clan, you can at least be favored by all the neighborhood wives.”

Dong Yeong grumbled as she gathered the teaware.

“What does that mean? Are you insulting me? My eldest sister-in-law was fond of me, so it’s not like I wouldn’t be favored by a Gyo Clan wife. Court Lady Dong!”

Yeon-oh called out, but Court Lady Dong did not turn back.

*******

A solemn silence flowed inside Cheonghan-jeon. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Gyo Jin-oh’s face, paying his respects toward the main platform, was resolute.

“Is the Gyo General’s Household trying to rebel against My command?”

“Your Majesty, please withdraw your frightening words. The Gyo General’s Household has faithfully served the Imperial Family and the Court for generations. This servant and the Gyo General’s Household question why Consort Cheob-yeo, who entered the palace, is merely a Cheob-yeo. Should she not be a Bi?”

At Gyo Jin-oh’s words, the sound of the armrest being struck rang out sharply from the main platform!

“The Gyo General’s Household must not interfere in My household matters.”

“I apologize deeply.”

“The Gyo General’s Household knows the situation of the concubine’s palace better than I do.”

Laughter was present in the Emperor’s voice, but everyone knew it was not genuine. Just as a chilling remark was about to continue from the main platform, a quiet summons echoed from outside the hall.

“Your Majesty.”

The eunuch’s voice was the same as always. However, Chief Eunuch Wan, the Emperor’s eunuch manager, knew well the current uneasy relationship between the Imperial Family and the Gyo General’s Household, and that Gyo Jin-oh was inside the private hall.

The fact that he intruded in such a situation meant something urgent had occurred.

“Enter.”

Chief Eunuch Wan, who entered with the Emperor’s permission, moved with silent steps. The eunuch whispered so that only the Emperor could hear. Despite Chief Eunuch Wan’s efforts, the Emperor repeated the question aloud.

“Dam So-ui?”

Chief Eunuch Wan checked the area below the platform and reported.

“He says it is an urgent matter.”

The Emperor sent an inquiring gaze at the eunuch’s vague words, but only silence followed.

“Do not think that I will continue to merely observe the delay in the Goksan and Yeongsan affairs. More than anything, once the Gyo General’s Household is at peace, will you not be able to take away the person who is waiting for you at Seonun Temple as soon as possible? You must also consider the circumstances of the one waiting. You may withdraw now.”

Gyo Jin-oh, who was paying his respects at the Emperor’s command, paused. The gaze that had been watching his every move from the main platform rose first and left the seat.

“I withdraw.”

Gyo Jin-oh, who paid his respects a breath late, left the hall. Walking outside with a shadowed face, he discovered a middle-aged man pacing near the private hall. The middle-aged man, looking worried and slightly agitated, was listening to a young eunuch.

“Something has happened to Dam So-ui. Perhaps, my younger brother has made a move.”

Gyo Jin-oh, having completely left the private hall, sought out a familiar young eunuch. He gave the eunuch, who would do anything for silver, a description of the middle-aged man’s attire, asked him to find out where the man was going, and then left the palace.

He felt a slight lightening of his heart that Yeon-oh, isolated in the concubine’s palace, seemed to have made a move, but he quickly grew somber, recalling the Emperor’s final words.

*******

It was a bright, sunny afternoon.

“His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, arrives!”

Yeon-oh closed the book he was reading at the urgent voice from afar. The eunuch raising his voice seemed not yet to have reached Giryung Palace. However, the rough footsteps and the terrified voices of the palace servants rang out close by.

“I greet His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great fortune.”

“I greet His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great…”

A wry smile crossed Yeon-oh’s face as he pushed the book aside.

“That’s a quick reaction.”

Only a day had passed since the Namcheon Grand Merchant’s visit.

CRASH!

The door of one of the seldom-used halls opened and shut with a violent sound. The palace servants, startled by the rough noise and moving to intervene, recognized the person opening the door and quickly paid their respects.

“I greet His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great fortune.”

“I greet His Imperial Majesty…”

WHIP!

The curtain that Court Lady Dong had drawn was violently pulled aside by a rough hand. The threatening footsteps that had strode through Giryung Palace stopped immediately.

“Gyo Yeon-oh.”

A cold, low voice called Yeon-oh by name. It was remarkable that the Emperor remembered Yeon-oh’s name. As Yeon-oh stood up and turned around, he saw a man standing in the backlight, illuminated by the sunshine pouring into the hall.

Just like the first time they met, the backlight vanished, and a striking face emerged from the shadows. The cold, indifferent man’s arrogant expression was clearly marked with displeasure.

Yeon-oh stared blankly at that face for a moment, then paid his respects.

“I greet His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great fortune.”