Chapter 35

The distance from the Emperor’s sleeping quarters to Giryung Palace was considerable. This was due to Giryung Palace being isolated and set alone in a remote area of the Harem.

“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor arrives!”

Wan Taegam, who had been half-running to follow the Emperor, raised his voice to announce the arrival.

“We greet His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings.”

Seonjae walked past the greetings offered by the palace servants. He went straight into the inner chamber hall of Giryung Palace.

Yeon-oh’s hand, which was about to pluck the strings of the geom (a traditional stringed instrument/ Zither), stopped in mid-air. Sitting in front of the geom, he was dressed in light, everyday clothes, as if he had prepared for sleep early. His hair was loosely tied up at the top, which reminded one of his appearance in the Gyo General’s Household. His defenseless face looked at the Emperor, who was visiting twice in one day, with a puzzled expression.

“Everyone withdraw.”

Seonjae dismissed the attendants before Yeon-oh could pay his respects.

“We greet His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings.”

The Emperor was flawlessly and perfectly dressed. His attire was extravagant and luxurious, featuring a gold crown and a white jade hairpin with gold ornaments. Each time he moved, the precious decorations hanging from his waist belt clattered.

Seonjae stepped toward the kneeling Yeon-oh.

“Gyo Yeon-oh.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you make Dam So-ui kneel?”

Yeon-oh knew that the Emperor, who had sternly broken in at this late hour, was not merely here to interrogate him. And conveniently, there was no one around.

His serene face looked up at the man who was arrogantly looking down at him and said respectfully:

“I cannot very well make Your Majesty kneel, can I?”

The Emperor was a tall, imposing figure with a cold expression. When he did nothing, his face was excessively frigid, lacking any warmth. He had sharp, distinct features, like something drawn quickly with strong, clear lines. However, upon closer inspection of the elements that made up the man’s face, they were not simply elements placed where necessary but were delicately woven, as if every part had been meticulously filled in one by one.

Cold-heartedness deepened on the flawless face.

“What.”

Yeon-oh knew that this face, which outwardly appeared only cold, was expressing stupefaction. The man’s face was excessively arrogant unless he deliberately smiled.

“…”

Yeon-oh glanced up at the man’s furrowed brow and lowered his eyes.

“Gyo Yeon-oh, do you truly wish to die? [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Do you have multiple lives? Three or four, no, do you have about ten or so?”

Yeon-oh merely listened to the Emperor’s harsh words. The man was so utterly speechless that he first let out a sound like ‘Heu’ then laughed softly, ‘Haha’. There was no joy or warmth in that laugh. The low, chilling laugh made the listener hold his breath.

“Since We made your uncle kneel, Consort Gyo-gwi made Dam So-ui kneel. If We were to call the Gyo General’s Household members and strike them a few times, would Consort Gyo-gwi order a severe beating for Dam So-ui?”

“No. Dam So-ui seems frail; he would not endure a severe beating. I would call him over, scare him thoroughly, and perhaps toss a few cups of tea onto his face.”

Yeon-oh replied in a quiet voice.

Hearing that, Seonjae violently swung his arm. Chareureung, the luxurious decorations on his waist belt clattered fiercely. He could not open his mouth immediately.

Just this afternoon, Dam So-ui burst into tears merely from receiving a minor threat from Yeon-oh. He trembled, terrified that Consort Gyo-gwi would soon report to the Empress Dowager and force him to drink the Baekhong in front of all the concubines. Dam Seo-jun had always been somewhat timid. He found the unfamiliar environment of the Harem difficult. He was barely maintaining an appearance of being comfortable due to the Emperor’s favor.

He had been adapting relatively well, but a major change occurred with Yeon-oh’s entry into the palace. After various events and when Yeon-oh displayed behaviors befitting the legitimate son of the Gyo General’s Household, Dam Seo-jun began to become excessively fearful. Yeon-oh’s actions since entering the palace were unexpected even for Seonjae. He could easily imagine how much Dam Seo-jun would tremble if he heard what Yeon-oh had just said. Seonjae felt mentally exhausted just thinking about it, and his head began to ache.

“Gyo Yeon-oh.”

“Is Dam So-ui not the part you would be most pained by?”

“What did Dam So-ui do wrong to you—”

Seonjae, who was speaking, covered his forehead with his hand. Yeon-oh respectfully delivered the words he expected.

“What did the Gyo General’s Household do wrong to you, the Imperial Family, and the nation, Your Majesty? Did you expect this concubine to simply sit in his room and weep? This concubine will do what he can.”

“You.”

The Emperor glared fiercely at the calm Yeon-oh.

“Please give your command.”

The face receiving the man’s wrath remained serene. In the main hall, there were only high-ranking ministers who would bow their heads in apology even if he showed only a slight hint of anger. Palace servants who had lived in the Imperial Palace for many years would also hesitate and not immediately speak when faced with the wrath of Imperial Family members. Seeing the expression that maintained respect but held no fear whatsoever was strange, even absurd.

Even before his enthronement, when he was treated as a trivial Prince due to his humble maternal lineage, no one had treated him with such indifference after he had grown up. Seonjae quietly looked down at the formidable legitimate grandson of the Gyo General’s Household, who was completely unfazed by his authority or the intimidation of his physique. The anger he was about to unleash seemed to have retreated, so utterly speechless was he.

The majority of the Gyo Clan in the capital were officials. Until now, no one in the Gyo Clan had shown such a demeanor. Either Gyo Yeon-oh was an anomaly, or the Gyo Clan had been concealing their true nature. Seonjae believed the former was more likely. He also surmised that this was Gyo Yeon-oh’s true self.

The one time he sought out Yeon-oh after his entry into the Harem, Yeon-oh had shed tears while speaking. The Yeon-oh of that time had faith and human trust in the Emperor. However, the Gyo Yeon-oh of now seemed to have no emotional or human sentiments toward the Emperor.

“Young Master Gyo. Do you even know what We are?”

Seonjae felt a slight embarrassment about the childish words coming from his mouth. But he could not help but ask. Even if his disappointment in him was great and he had withdrawn his heart, people still possess fear and the instinct to survive.

Yeon-oh spoke with an expression of one who had heard an incomprehensible remark.

“What are you saying?”

No feigned emotion was visible on the puzzled face.

“Are you not afraid to defy Us, the Emperor? Are you not afraid that you will come to harm, or bring trouble upon your family?”

“Your Majesty is a benevolent ruler.”

Seonjae frowned at Yeon-oh’s calm words. A great deal of meaning was embedded in the insignificant words of respect. It was a statement that the Emperor, who ought to be a benevolent ruler, should not privately punish a concubine or punish an established meritorious family without justification. Seeing that he understood justification and practical benefit, Yeon-oh was clearly not without thought.

“Nonsense.”

Seonjae’s voice echoed softly.

“I humbly apologize.”

At the apology from a face that was not apologetic at all, Seonjae drew a conclusion: Gyo Yeon-oh had lost his fear.

“Young Master Gyo, are you insane…?”

Seonjae spoke words that he did not need to say. Yeon-oh’s eyebrows briefly wrinkled then returned to normal.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. This concubine is inadequate and seems to have caused you discomfort. I will dedicate myself to becoming a proper concubine. However, please do not worry, as this concubine has not gone mad or gone astray.”

Seonjae scowled, watching Yeon-oh smoothly evade his attempt at provocation. Seeing something so utterly abnormal, his lips kept twitching upwards in an almost smile. A concubine who would not yield a single word to the Emperor?

“Why are you tormenting Dam So-ui? Is it out of jealousy?”

Seonjae offered a similar frivolous remark to Yeon-oh, who had dismissed his previous words as nonsense.

“Haha, ha… Hahahaha!”

Yeon-oh, who had been listening with an expressionless face, suddenly burst into laughter. The unrestrained laughter was clear and cheerful. However, his laughing face was not merely joyful but suggested he had heard something utterly ridiculous and absurd.

He laughed so hard that his body slightly tilted. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Yeon-oh, briefly losing his balance, put his hand on the floor and straightened his back. Even while doing so, he continued to laugh.

“I-I apologize, ha ha, hmm!… I humbly apologize, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s expression had chilled. His remark was not made because he actually believed it was jealousy. Yet, it was also not something to laugh at this much. Yeon-oh’s laughter was clearly derisive.

“Is it funny?”

“I humbly apologize, Your Majesty. I was so taken aback by something completely unexpected that I momentarily breached protocol. Haha ha, hmm.”

“What is so funny?”

Seonjae thought he should not ask. But seeing the face that faintly showed suppressed laughter even while apologizing, he could not help but ask.

“Your Majesty.”

At that moment, Wan Taegam spoke cautiously from outside the hall. Since he had been commanded to withdraw, the fact that the eunuch spoke out meant something important had occurred. Seonjae looked down at Yeon-oh’s face, who was suppressing his surging laughter, and spoke toward the outside.

“Enter.”