Chapter 30

The Empress Dowager’s hall was even bleaker than usual at dawn. The Empress Dowager had refused greetings for three days, citing her health. It was impossible to visit a superior who had dismissed people due to illness.

Yeon-oh, who was on the verge of heading to the Empress Dowager’s hall as soon as he heard the news, followed the palace servants’ advice and focused on recuperating.

And today, knowing that the Empress Dowager was receiving greetings, he immediately left Giryung Palace.

“I greet Consort Gyo-gwi.”

“I greet Consort Gyo-gwi.”

The concubines who had arrived earlier spotted Yeon-oh and respectfully bowed. These were the same people who, just a short while ago, had merely nodded silently and walked past when Yeon-oh bowed to them.

If this were before his entry into the palace, this moment would have been deeply moving, but now, he didn’t much care.

“Please rise and discontinue the bow.”

“I am sorry.”

“I am sorry.”

The concubines who had bowed exchanged glances at Yeon-oh’s indifferent reply.

Dong Yeong keenly observed the expressions of the concubines lined up according to their rank. The Court Lady tried to signal Yeon-oh, who was focused on entering the Empress Dowager’s hall. Since he had been suddenly promoted, it would be beneficial for his future life in the Harem to show humility and build friendships with the concubines who had entered earlier.

Yeon-oh seemed unaware of Court Lady Dong Yeong’s concerns and only looked at the Empress Dowager’s hall door. The eunuch of the Empress Dowager’s hall came out of the hall and bowed with a polished movement.

“Consort Gwi-bi.”

“Gong-gong (Eunuch).”

Yeon-oh also treated the eunuch respectfully and lightly acknowledged him.

“Please enter.”

“Thank you.”

In accordance with Yeon-oh’s nod, Court Lady Dong Yeong, who was attending him nearby, quickly handed silver coins to the eunuch.

“Consort Gyo-gwi enters!”

The Empress Dowager’s hall door opened, and Yeon-oh walked in at the front. Considering that he had previously been at the very end or the second or third from the end, this was a great change.

“I greet the Empress Dowager. Empress Dowager, may you enjoy great fortune.”

Yeon-oh’s bow was impeccable.

“Consort Gyo-gwi, please come in quickly. Consort Gyo-gwi’s etiquette, which I see after several days, has become even more excellent. I must give you a gift. Oh, and please sit down now.”

An elegant voice echoed from the seat of honor on the elevated dais. It was a reaction he had not expected.

Yeon-oh was startled but did not show it.

“I am merely overwhelmed that the Empress Dowager so graciously overlooks this concubine’s inadequacy.”

The last image of the Empress Dowager Yeon-oh remembered was her coercing him to choose between leaving the palace and Ja-an-hong. The Empress Dowager he faced after his illness was as affectionate as a long-lost relative. Rather than being moved, Yeon-oh was only frightened by the Empress Dowager’s drastically changed attitude.

“To be ill for almost ten days. Are you well now? You should not over-exert yourself. Hurry and show Consort Gyo-gwi what I have prepared. It is a small token of my sincerity, so please accept it. Now, please take your seat.”

The Empress Dowager spoke with great warmth.

“I thank you for your consideration, Empress Dowager.”

Yeon-oh bowed and stepped back from the seat of honor. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] The concubines who were preparing to offer their greetings watched him as he was escorted to his seat by Dong Yeong.

The concubines’ gazes followed Yeon-oh. The faces adorned with noble attire and bright makeup were expressionless.

“Consort Gwi-bi, please ascend.”

The senior Court Lady of the Empress Dowager’s hall guided him to his seat.

The Empress Dowager was looking down at everyone from the highest seat of honor on the dais in the reception hall.

One level below was an elegant throne. This was likely the Empress’s seat. Although smaller than the Empress Dowager’s seat of honor, it was engraved with patterns of a dragon and a phoenix, unlike the Empress Dowager’s, which was decorated with flowers and phoenixes.

The seat the Court Lady guided Yeon-oh to was one level below the Empress’s seat. It was the start of the dais, and the area around it was richly decorated. The large white jade adorning the center of the backrest was finished to look like misty gray streaks floating like clouds.

The wide footrest was no different from the Empress’s. The tea table placed beside the chair was the same as the Empress Dowager’s and the Empress’s.

“I greet the Empress Dowager. Empress Dowager, may you enjoy great fortune.”

While Consort Bi offered her greetings after Yeon-oh.

Clack.

A palace woman from the Empress Dowager’s hall carefully placed a wooden box on Yeon-oh’s personal tea table. Yeon-oh focused his attention on the palace woman who set it down, rather than the wooden box itself.

It was Geumgye.

Geumgye retreated with her eyes lowered, but just before turning around, she briefly looked at Yeon-oh, who was watching her. Although it was a very brief moment, her complexion did not look poor.

Court Lady Dong Yeong opened the wooden box and showed the contents to Yeon-oh.

“…”

The Empress Dowager on the seat of honor was looking at Yeon-oh, who was seated in the new spot, rather than at Consort Bi, who was offering her greetings. In the awkward silence, Yeon-oh alternated his gaze between the Empress Dowager and the Consort Bi who was still bowing.

” Consort Bi, please rise quickly. How is your body? I should not rush someone whose body is worn out, but are you not the most blessed person in the Harem these days? This person’s expectations for you, Consort Bi, are very high.”

“I am honored, Empress Dowager. My body has greatly improved.”

“You have suffered to come here. Please take your seat now.”

The Empress Dowager greeted Consort Bi with a noticeably concerned attitude. It was understandable. Consort Bi was the concubine who had conceived the most recently. Until Dam So-ui entered the palace, she was known to receive the most favor from the Emperor.

“…”

Yeon-oh sank into his own bitterness. Consort Bi had lost the child she was carrying just before winter. Counting back when that was, it was around the time the Emperor visited the Gyo General’s Household.

The master of the face he admired was not only already married with concubines but also had a concubine who had just lost her child. The man did not seem to care for Consort Bi who miscarried, as if he was heartless towards everyone except Dam So-ui.

When all the concubines had finished their greetings to the Empress Dowager, Yeon-oh rose from his seat and bowed.

“Empress Dowager, I dare not imagine how I can repay the grace you have bestowed upon this inadequate concubine. I will deeply treasure the gift you have given me.”

“I was worried whether this old woman’s taste would appeal to the eyes of Consort Gyo-gwi, who is in his prime. Fortunately, it seems it was not entirely shabby. This person needs to rest early after being ill for several days. Let us end it here today. You have all suffered to come here. You may all withdraw.”

The Empress Dowager spoke her parting words and rose first.

“Empress Dowager, we withdraw.”

“Empress Dowager, we withdraw.”

The concubines who had been seated quickly rose and bowed. Court Lady Dong Yeong, who was bowing with Yeon-oh, rose first.

“Let us go.”

The Court Lady collected the gift the Empress Dowager had given and attended to Yeon-oh. Now, he did not have to wait for someone else to leave first. The concubines, who were leaving in small groups, naturally stepped aside upon seeing Yeon-oh.

“Court Lady Dong Yeong, do you know any palace women or eunuchs in the Empress Dowager’s hall?”

“The Empress Dowager keeps only her own people close to her.”

Yeon-oh wished to confirm Geumgye and Jeokju’s faces one more time before leaving the hall.

“Where might the two of them be?”

Yeon-oh’s steps slowed, regretting leaving the Empress Dowager’s hall just yet.

“They were likely summoned briefly just now for the errand. They will be doing miscellaneous tasks under supervision, far from the Empress Dowager.”

The Court Lady comforted Yeon-oh, who couldn’t let go of his lingering regrets.

“Is that so.”

It was the moment Yeon-oh was about to move his feet again.

Thud.

Someone was standing where no one had been just a moment ago. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] The person who bumped into Yeon-oh let out a sharp scream.

“Kyaaak!”

The staggering person unfortunately fell toward a large tree, the pride of the Empress Dowager’s hall. The ledge surrounding the tree was about the height of a woman’s knee.

Jin Mi-in tripped over the high ledge and tilted backward. Her struggling hand, trying not to fall, grabbed a branch that came within reach of her fingertips.

Snap.

The moment the branch of the pine tree, which the Empress Dowager particularly cherished for its spreading branches, snapped.

“Oh my.”

“Gasp!”

The concubines who were leaving the Empress Dowager’s hall let out sounds of shock.

“Consort Gyo-gwi, why would you do this! What did this sister do wrong that you would suddenly push someone walking on the path!”

Jin Mi-in raised her voice, holding the broken pine branch with a trembling hand as she lay disgracefully on the ground.

At the pitiful cry, Court Lady Dong Yeong felt a headache coming on.

The rumors about Yeon-oh were grim. That he, being a man, was greedy to bear a child and drank medicine, or that he became Gwi-bi by asserting his family’s authority.

And now, he was on the verge of being labeled as having committed an atrocity by pushing a concubine of a much lower rank on the day he offered his first greeting to the Empress Dowager as Gwi-bi.

“I must…”

Jin Mi-in, who had been lying sprawled on the ground, tried to scramble up hastily but limped her ankle and fell again.

“Mi-in—Jin Mi-in! Did this younger brother push Jin Mi-in?”

Dong Yeong tried to interrupt Yeon-oh’s clumsy question. Yeon-oh gently pulled away Dong Yeong and patted the hand that was restraining him. Jin Mi-in eyed Yeon-oh, who was approaching her, warily.

“Are you trying to push me again? Was pushing me once not enough!”

“That was not intentional. This younger brother did not even know Jin Mi-in was there. Please show me your ankle, are you not hurt?”

Yeon-oh approached Jin Mi-in’s side.

“Consort Gwi-bi, even though you are a concubine, asking to see a woman’s ankle! What do you take this sister for!”

Jin Mi-in was disgusted by the flustered Yeon-oh.

“This younger brother was just worried that Jin Mi-in might have been injured…”

The watching concubines silently chuckled at Yeon-oh’s foolish actions. They exchanged knowing glances.

“Men and women must be separate, s-separate!”

“Exactly. Men and women must be separate, so how worried must you be that Jin Mi-in’s younger brother goes around harassing palace servants? This younger brother has refrained from speaking recklessly since we are both concubines like Jin Mi-in.”

At Yeon-oh’s whisper, Jin Mi-in’s cheeks stiffened.

“…”

A low voice rang out next to Jin Mi-in’s darkened face.

“Ah, are you trying to extort money now? I hear that Jin Mi-in’s grandfather poured a lot of his fortune into blocking his grandson’s reckless behavior with silver coins. Get up right now. Or shall I really break your ankle for you?”