Chapter 32

“That old man has some stamina. His shouts from the main hall even echoed all the way here to the royal study. Shouldn’t he be serving as the Minister of War, not the Minister of Works, to be exerting such effort?” At the Emperor’s remark, Neung Sa-hyeon gave a disrespectful look.

“Have you forgotten that the Gyo gentleman’s elder brother holds the post of Chief Administrator of the Privy Council, a position effectively equal to the Minister of War?”

“I know.”

“Surely, you haven’t forgotten that the Minister of Works did not desire the ministerial post, yet Your Majesty insisted on appointing him? According to the original flow, he should have been doing practical work under the Chief Administrator. You transferred him to the Ministry of Works because there were too many Gyo Clan members in key positions in the Privy Council.”

Neung Sa-hyeon grumbled like a petulant child full of complaints. The Emperor narrowed his eyes and looked at the presumptuous face.

“Ahem.”

Wan Taegam cleared his throat loudly to break the atmosphere.

“Did the Minister of Works return home safely?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. He received help from the minor eunuchs until he left the main hall, but by the time he crossed the Geumsuha river, he was able to walk on his own. His family had sent a carriage in advance, so he returned home without incident.”

Wan Taegam reported quickly. The eunuch finished his report on the Minister of Works and waited for the Emperor’s next words. Neung Sa-hyeon, who had been grumbling like a Gyo Clan member, also directed his keen gaze toward the seat of honor.

“The Gyo Clan members are truly devoted to their family. Is an uncle receiving a slight punishment enough to make his nephew weep so loudly that he almost leaves the Harem?”

The Emperor spoke with an expression that suggested he had seen all sorts of strange people.

“Consort Gyo-gwi must have thought his uncle was punished because of him. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Would forcing a man nearing his sixtieth birthday to beg for forgiveness all day long be considered ‘a slight punishment’?”

Neung Sa-hyeon challenged the indifferent Emperor’s words.

“Was there any separate news from Giryung Palace?”

“There was none. It seems Consort Gyo-gwi wept until he fell asleep. It appears his grief was quite deep.”

“The Gyo General’s Household will not behave insolently anymore. By the way, is there still no news from the Imperial Medical Office?”

The Emperor unfolded a memorial he had set aside.

“You mean regarding the side effects of the Ja-an-hong? The Imperial Medical Office is searching through their records, but they say there is nothing new yet.”

Wan Taegam said with an apologetic air.

“Didn’t the herb gatherer from Namcheon say that if the Ja-an-hong is properly settled, all minor side effects disappear after one childbirth?”

Neung Sa-hyeon reported exactly what he knew. Wan Taegam looked at Neung Sa-hyeon with an expression that was both pitying and exasperated. The remedy, like a folk medicine mentioned in Namcheon, was known to the Emperor, Neung Sa-hyeon, and the eunuch. Seonjae looked at Neung Sa-hyeon with the gaze one reserves for a barbarian.

“Leave.”

At the chilly Imperial command, Neung Sa-hyeon felt unjustly treated, wondering what wrong he had done. But as not only the Emperor but also Wan Taegam seemed to view him as uncivilized and savage, he rose with his mouth firmly shut.

“I withdraw.”

The Emperor merely waved his hand dismissively at the figure who was bowing politely.

After a brief silence.

“Your Majesty.”

Wan Taegam spoke carefully.

“Withdraw.”

“Yes…”

At Seonjae’s resolute order, the eunuch bowed deeply and backed away.

******

Last night, the Empress Dowager did not receive evening greetings. While it was protocol to offer greetings both morning and evening, the evening greeting was often skipped during the seasons when the days were short. However, it was clear to everyone that the Empress Dowager’s refusal to receive greetings last evening was for the sake of Consort Gyo-gwi.

This morning, Consort Gyo-gwi was the first to visit the Empress Dowager’s hall and offer his greeting. He, who was said to have walked through the Harem weeping yesterday, had a clear face. No trace of tears could be found anywhere on Gyo Yeon-oh’s composed countenance.

“You may all withdraw.”

“Empress Dowager, we withdraw.”

There was no particular topic of conversation during the morning greeting, other than Yeon-oh’s immaculate face. The Empress Dowager dismissed the gathering early. The concubines who had finished their greetings left one by one.

Yeon-oh, who was the first to emerge, waited in front of the Empress Dowager’s hall. The concubines, dressed in accordance with their rank and flawlessly adorned, paid their respects to the Gwi-bi as per the etiquette. Yeon-oh spoke to the concubines gathered to observe protocol.

“This younger brother would like to offer the Yeongsan flower tea to the concubines.”

“The Yeongsan flower tea?”

Jin Mi-in replied with a look of pleasure. Consort Bi and Neung So-yong, who were next to her, simultaneously cast their gaze upon Jin Mi-in. At their stares, Jin Mi-in bowed her head low.

“I apologize. This younger sister forgot her manners upon hearing the words ‘Yeongsan flower tea’ and interrupted Consort Gwi-bi’s speech.”

Consort Bi, who had been watching Jin Mi-in’s behavior, smiled with composure.

“The Yeongsan flower tea is certainly worth the excitement. Isn’t that so?”

“Indeed. Is the Yeongsan flower tea not something rarely seen in the Imperial Palace, and even harder to acquire these days?”

Neung So-yong, understanding Consort Bi’s intent, chimed in.

“The Yeongsan flower tea given by Consort Gyo-gwi will be even more special. The timing is not yet right, so the Gwi-bi has not held his official investiture ceremony, correct? We may consider today’s tea gathering as an opportunity to offer our congratulations for Consort Gwi-bi’s investiture in advance.”

Consort Bi’s words implied that refusing Yeon-oh’s tea gathering was equivalent to not celebrating the Gwi-bi’s investiture. Neung So-yong and Jin Mi-in accepted Yeon-oh’s invitation with cheerful faces.

“Since Consort Gwi-bi has invited us, we must not refuse.”

“We look forward to the Yeongsan flower tea.”

Even without the Consort Bi’s strong encouragement, the Yeongsan flower tea was worth drinking. Moreover, building a friendship with Yeon-oh, who had become the Gwi-bi, was not a bad idea.

“Let us all go.”

A concubine with a gentle appearance followed the Consort Bi and said.

“We dare not refuse Consort Gwi-bi’s favor.”

“This younger sister has not yet had the chance to taste the Yeongsan flower tea. Is the flavor truly that magnificent?”

The concubines all expressed their anticipation and headed toward Giryung Palace. The distance from the Empress Dowager’s hall to Giryung Palace was considerable. However, because the morning greeting was offered at such an early hour, it was still morning when they arrived at Giryung Palace. Giryung Palace, which was isolated and rarely had visitors, was surprisingly well-maintained.

The sight inside the room was dazzling enough to drop one’s jaw. The hall where the concubines were received had thick, plush carpets covering the entire floor. On the walls hung calligraphy by master writers and famous paintings only heard of through rumors. Throughout the room, artifacts that could have been family heirlooms were placed as mere decorations. The tea service, their original purpose for visiting, was also extraordinary.

The teacups served to the concubines were the work of a master craftsman from the South. The southern master’s teacups, whose maker would politely reply that any newly ordered items would only be delivered three years later, were objects whose already-made cups traded at a higher price than newly commissioned ones, and they were presented to every visiting concubine.

“Please drink.”

Yeon-oh offered the tea. The flower tea was not only fragrant but also a pleasure to behold. A beautiful flower brightly bloomed in the light-colored teacup.

“Heavens…”

“The fragrance is truly wonderful.”

“And the taste is even better!”

The concubines who tasted the tea exclaimed their admiration one after another.

“It’s profound yet not overpowering.”

“I see why everyone seeks the Yeongsan flower tea.”

Jin Mi-in praised the tea, genuinely surprised. Catching Yeon-oh’s keen gaze, she flinched, rolled her eyes, and quickly sipped the flower tea.

No matter what anyone said, Yeon-oh’s face had been consistently clear since dawn. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] No word truly reached his heart. He merely accepted every compliment as a given.

When everyone had fully tasted the flower tea, Yeon-oh put down the teacup he had merely been holding.

Clack.

The satisfied smiles shared while drinking the flower tea were slightly disrupted by the cold sound of the teacup hitting the table.

“Dam So-ui.”

“Yes, Consort Gwi-bi. I apologize, my greeting is late. Thank you for inviting me, Consort Gwi-bi. The flower tea is truly superb.”

Dam So-ui smiled gently.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Yeon-oh responded to Dam So-ui’s words with a short reply. There were no words intended to strengthen friendship or show consideration for the guest. No words like ‘thank you for coming’ or ‘please enjoy the tea comfortably’. Yeon-oh stared silently at Dam So-ui, who was looking at him defenselessly. His face, which had been perfectly clear all along, instantly became expressionless.

“Consort Gwi-bi…”

Dam So-ui stopped his attempt to speak with a friendly smile. No suitable words came to his mind, and the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward. Unfamiliar with the sudden change in atmosphere, Dam So-ui looked around.

“Does Dam So-ui have nothing else to say to this younger brother?”

“Pardon?”

Dam So-ui was utterly bewildered. This was a place for drinking flower tea. His innocent and naive face, which was looking around as if wondering what he was supposed to do besides praising the tea’s flavor, seemed only carefree to Yeon-oh.

“This younger brother is disappointed in Dam So-ui.”

Yeon-oh spoke in an emotionless voice. In the quiet, indifferent tone, the aloofness and arrogance of a high-ranking great noble were evident.

“Co-Consort Gwi-bi.”

Dam So-ui placed his teacup down in the completely chilled atmosphere and overtly looked around, trying to solicit help. However, no one was looking at him.