Chapter 33

The concubines in the room pretended to drink tea, hiding their expressions by covering their faces with their teacups or feigning to wipe their mouths. Not one of them met Yeon-oh’s gaze.

“Does Dam So-ui truly not know his own fault?”

A cold voice interrogated Dam So-ui. The voice was so quiet and calm that it made the listeners shrink even more.

Dam So-ui rose from his seat and knelt.

“Co-Consort Gwi-bi… If there is any inadequacy in me, please let me know! I-I will correct it properly.”

No concubine had ever made Dam So-ui, who was entirely favored by the Emperor, kneel before. Not even the Empress Dowager or the Empress made Dam So-ui kneel, except when receiving greetings. The Emperor, needless to say, was completely different. The palace servants of Donhu Palace boasted that the Emperor sat and spoke with Dam So-ui on an equal footing.

“Dam So-ui. Have you already forgotten the words this younger brother spoke?”

Yeon-oh spoke quietly, saying it in a low, casual, and effortless tone.

Dam So-ui took a deep breath. It seemed he recalled the memory.

“…Co-Consort Gwi-bi…”

Dam Seo-jun’s seemingly kind face turned pale. His shoulders, which trembled with fear, made him look pitiful. His quivering lips moved as if they were about to open but were hastily shut. When his lips slightly parted, he let out incomprehensible noises and suppressed breaths.

“Do you remember, or do you not remember?”

Yeon-oh did not raise his voice.

“This concubine…”

Dam So-ui gasped, urgently inhaling a tangled breath. His slightly drooping, round-tipped eyes, which made him look benevolent, busily darted around the room.

The bewildered face, unsure of what to do, wore an awkward expression as he looked up at Yeon-oh. He subconsciously shook his head, then restrained the movement when he noticed the concubines watching him with curious looks.

“If you have forgotten what this younger brother said, shall I repeat it for you here?”

Yeon-oh said without any tension. The indifferent and calm voice was so composed that it was chilling.

“I, I…”

Dam Seo-jun tried to say anything.

The situation was not inherently difficult. Even if Consort Gyo-gwi had the Gyo General’s Household behind him and was the great legitimate son of the Gyo Marquisate family, this was the Harem. However, while rank was important in the Harem, the Emperor’s favor was paramount. The Emperor had told Dam Seo-jun repeatedly that he would not allow Gyo Yeon-oh and the Gyo General’s Household to ask for the Baekhong to be given to Dam So-ui equally. The Emperor also said that everyone in the Harem would know that Dam Seo-jun had not drunk the Baekhong. Therefore, he should maintain respect for the high-ranking Consort Gwi-bi while acting with dignity.

However, he had been lacking in quick wit since childhood. Furthermore, Gyo Yeon-oh was the legitimate son of the Gyo General’s Household. The opponent was skilled at ordering people around and crushing them with authority. Dam Seo-jun was always weak against such people. The attitude of looking down from above and the emotionless tone of voice froze him. His mouth was rigid and would not open.

It would have been right to challenge the opponent who was persecuting him, the one who had come out to greet him upon his entry into the palace right after becoming Gwi-bi. He vaguely knew what he should do, but his mind was completely hazy. It might have been a little different if they were alone.

The concubines ignored him in his difficulty, having their Court Ladies pour them more of the noble flower tea. They were only interested in what Consort Gyo-gwi, who was pushing him while pretending not to notice his distress, had to say.

“Dam So-ui.”

Yeon-oh slowly picked up his teacup. He thought he suited the role of a wicked villain quite well. Seeing the face of Dam Seo-jun, who was trembling and watching the concubines’ reactions, made Yeon-oh feel surprisingly better from the mood he had been in yesterday.

Dam Seo-jun knelt and lowered his head, painfully inhaling and exhaling his breath. He was terrified that Yeon-oh might expose what he wanted to keep hidden to everyone.

“Consort Gwi-bi, this concubine…”

At the sight of him being so strangely scared, curious and intrigued glances were exchanged among the concubines. They had their suspicions but found it hard to be certain. Yeon-oh wondered if there was anyone in the Harem who truly didn’t know that Dam Seo-jun had not drunk the Baekhong. Everyone probably just assumed it, except for Dam Seo-jun himself. It would be embarrassing for Dam Seo-jun that the Baekhong which Yeon-oh had been forced to drink by the Empress Dowager, was something Dam Seo-jun himself had avoided. However, he seemed most afraid that Yeon-oh would use this as leverage to demand that Dam Seo-jun be given the Baekhong.

It was not that his character was innocent or kind, making him ashamed of his unfair advantage. He seemed to be acting this way because his fear of the Baekhong being dangerous and his strong desire to avoid it were overwhelming, leaving Yeon-oh with no pity. Yeon-oh ignored the distressed and confused Dam So-ui and drank his tea.

He elegantly used the teacup lid to stir the tea, cooling the hot liquid. He had plenty of time. He had nothing but time, essentially.

“…”

“…”

The time of silence flowed endlessly. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Only the occasional sound of Dam So-ui trying to suppress a rising breath, which sounded like a sob, echoed.

At this very hour, the Emperor was listening to reports from various departments in the royal study. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Yeon-oh wondered whether the Emperor, who prioritized holding and manipulating the ministers’ lifelines above all else, would truly abandon his duties and rush to the Harem.

The time it took to empty the hot teacup twice passed.

“Dam So-ui, can you not hear this person’s words?”

Yeon-oh blew on the beautiful flower that had bloomed in the tea water, making it move. Hoo-hoo. The sight of him pursing his lips and blowing air onto the petals was not just leisurely but almost cheerful. Yeon-oh took a sip of the fully brewed tea.

“Y-Yes, I can hear you.”

“Then why do you not answer?”

“That is…”

Dam Seo-jun gasped for air. He quickly moved his eyes, looking around again.

The concubines still maintained their graceful positions. Dam Seo-jun painfully parted his lips.

“This concubine, I do not understand what Consort Gwi-bi is… saying.”

Intrigued glances at Dam So-ui’s feigned ignorance shifted to Yeon-oh.

“I see.”

Yeon-oh did not get angry or appear dumbfounded. He was as indifferent as when he first called Dam So-ui. He slightly furrowed his brows and took another sip of the tea.

Yeon-oh took his lips away from the teacup and alternately looked at the tea water remaining below the petals and Dam So-ui’s kneeling face.

“…”

The moment their eyes met, Dam Seo-jun lowered his gaze deeply. The breath he was suppressing fluttered in his throat.

“I thought Dam So-ui understood human language, but it seems he does not. He seemed to understand it back then. To say ‘I don’t know’ to the question ‘Do you remember, or do you not?’ Did Dam So-ui’s Court Lady teach him to say that?”

At Yeon-oh’s words, Dam So-ui’s Court Lady, who was kneeling beside him, bowed her head even lower.

“Consort Gwi-bi, please scold this servant who has failed to serve his master well.”

“I do not wish to hear it. I did not say you could speak to the Court Lady. Take her out.”

Yeon-oh commanded in a flat voice. The palace servants of Giryung Palace helped Dam So-ui’s Court Lady rise and dragged her out.

“Consort Gwi-bi! Consort Gwi-bi! Please let this servant serve his master! Consort Gwi-bi!”

“Court Lady, Court Lady Jin…!”

Dam So-ui tearfully called after his Court Lady, who was being dragged away. He stretched out his hand and flailed, but the Court Lady was already pulled outside the hall.

“What happens if a Court Lady violates the Harem protocol toward a concubine?”

“They are given 20 strokes of the rod.”

Dong Yeong immediately answered Yeon-oh’s question. Surprised looks were exchanged among the concubines who were feigning composure while drinking the high-quality flower tea.

“Indeed.”

Yeon-oh replied indifferently and calmly drank his tea.

“Consort Gwi-bi…!”

“Dam So-ui, do you remember the words this younger brother spoke? Or do you still not know? Shall I explain again why this younger brother is disappointed in Dam So-ui?”

“Y-You cannot do this…”

Dam Seo-jun burst into tears.

“Dam So-ui.”

Yeon-oh set the teacup he was holding down roughly.

“…”

Dam Seo-jun continued his weeping and shook his head as if denying something. The expression and emotion on Yeon-oh’s face instantly vanished.

“I do not understand why Dam So-ui is crying. It almost looks as if this person is tormenting Dam So-ui, does it not?”

It was then.

CRASH!

The main gate of Giryung Palace opened with a sound that seemed to shatter it. Yeon-oh swallowed the bitter laugh that was about to erupt and finished the appropriately cooled flower tea.

“Jun-ah!”

The Emperor’s shout was heard first.

“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor arrives!”