Chapter 36

At the Emperor’s permission, the eunuch opened the door and entered.

“I humbly apologize.”

Wan Taegam approached the Emperor with his head bowed. He did not even glance at Yeon-oh, who was laughing. It seemed the eunuch had heard Yeon-oh’s laughter from outside when he came to report.

“What is it?”

Wan Taegam reported with his gaze fixed on the floor.

“The son of the Governor of Sakbang is reportedly fleeing to Sakbang after abducting the ruler of Baekha Kingdom, who was in the capital. It will only be a matter of time before the news reaches Baekha Kingdom. The Governor of Sakbang is currently confined to Goksan’s private residence under the direction of the Left Lieutenant-General, who happened to be in the capital. The Left Lieutenant-General is said to be pursuing the Governor of Sakbang’s son fleeing toward Sakbang.”

“Tell the Left Lieutenant-General that he may attack Sakbang if necessary, and that he is to prioritize recovering the ruler of Baekha. We will issue an Imperial decree shortly.”

The Emperor made a decision immediately. The man, who had given the order and was about to turn away, approached Yeon-oh.

“Consort Gyo-gwi, you are truly blessed.”

The laughter that had been lingering on Yeon-oh’s face had subsided. The “Left Lieutenant-General” mentioned by the eunuch was Yeon-oh’s second elder brother, Gyo Jin-oh. The Emperor was speaking sarcastically, implying that since Yeon-oh’s full brother had achieved a military feat, any punishment Yeon-oh might have earned would be canceled out.

“I humbly apologize.”

Seonjae shook his head at Yeon-oh’s words.

“That was not Our question. Consort Gwi-bi. Why did you laugh just now?”

A faint smile reappeared on Yeon-oh’s indifferent face.

“Your Majesty asked if this concubine was jealous.”

“We did.”

“Does not jealousy require a heart filled with affection? Your Majesty is the parent of all the people and a benevolent ruler, so I respect Your Majesty. However, there is not a sliver, not a fragment, of affection in my heart. Therefore, please do not worry about my jealousy. I respect my husband, but you would not fault me for lacking affection, would you? I trust you can well surmise why it is absent, without me needing to tell you.”

Jealousy in a concubine was a sin. But indifference could not be called a sin.

“…”

Wan Taegam, who was standing by to assist the Emperor, bowed low enough for his head to touch the ground.

Seonjae looked around the elegant hall. He could punish a concubine for lacking virtue—one who told him to his face that he respected him but held no affection. However, doing so would be a loss of face for the Emperor himself. Until now, he had never sought affection from a concubine. If they fulfilled their duty, it was enough. It was the same with Yeon-oh. He did not seek the other party’s sincerity. But he had not expected to be denied to his face.

“Lack of virtue is a sin, Consort Gwi-bi.”

“I apologize.”

“No. We cannot stand by and watch Consort Gwi-bi become a person lacking virtue. Writing an Imperial decree is quick. We must help Consort Gwi-bi accumulate virtue by assisting Us.”

Yeon-oh raised his bowed head. Woo Seonjae smiled only with his eyes.

“…”

Forgetting his insolence, Yeon-oh stared up at the Emperor’s face.

“We will stay in Giryung Palace tonight.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yeon-oh, who had thought ‘Surely not’ at the mention of the man accumulating virtue and providing assistance, grew flustered at the direct command. Seonjae gently touched Yeon-oh’s shoulder, patted his arm, and whispered:

“Young Master Gyo, you will be serving a man you dislike all night.”

A low voice, laced with laughter, fell upon his ear.

“…”

Yeon-oh’s face trembled imperceptibly.

“The Left Lieutenant-General will achieve merit, and Consort Gyo-gwi will assist Us. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] It will be a blessed day for the Gyo General’s Household.”

The Emperor said softly as he rose. The man’s steps as he turned away were very light.

Yeon-oh paid his respects to the departing Emperor while still kneeling. His face, deathly pale, watched the tall man’s back as he left the hall, lost in thought.

******

A fragrant aroma filled the room. It was the scent of the water brought in by the bustling palace servants. They said the water in the white porcelain basin was heavily infused with relaxing herbs and fine fragrances.

Yeon-oh merely dipped his fingertips into the precious herbal water. Suddenly, the Emperor’s question came to mind.

‘Are you jealous?’

The reason he had laughed so freely at that question was genuinely because he held no jealousy toward Dam So-ui. Even though the Emperor was the Son of Heaven and stood above all people, Yeon-oh found the man’s question shameless. To deceive a person in such a manner and then assume he would still compete with someone else to win his heart?

Not controlling the laughter that burst out in that moment was his defeat. After a short time had passed, he thought he understood. The Emperor hadn’t asked the question because he was curious or suspicious. Yeon-oh had been behaving so outrageously that he had left the Emperor speechless, so he had simply spouted nonsense in return.

“Haa…”

All that came from Yeon-oh’s mouth were sighs.

“My Lord, this is precious herbal water.”

Court Lady Dong, who was watching, spoke softly. Yeon-oh shook his head, waving his hand as a sign to take it away.

Court Lady Dong quickly approached. His strong hand gently pulled Yeon-oh’s arm and dipped it into the water.

“It helps to relieve tension, so please keep your hands in it.”

Yeon-oh gave him a resentful look.

“The fragrance is very pleasant.”

Court Lady Dong pretended not to notice the wistful gaze and spoke a known fact. He took out the fluttering sleeping robes that the young palace servants had brought in, feeling excited, and cautioned, “Please keep them submerged.”

“…”

His claim not to be jealous of Dam So-ui was genuine. Dam So-ui was not worth the effort. Furthermore, it was because Yeon-oh himself had come to realize he did not have the right.

Yet, his heart still felt chilled when he saw the Emperor. It was not easy to sever one’s first love. He knew he had been thoroughly used by the man he had started to like subconsciously, yet merely facing the man made his heart pound.

Why could he not stop this feeling? He knew better than anyone that he was foolish. He was foolish, inadequate, and frustrated. He felt pathetic for being so helpless over someone who had no interest in him whatsoever.

To make matters worse, that man was now scheduled to come for a sleep-over out of duty and protocol. The past days, which he had considered painful enough, seemed to be mocking him now.

Drip.

Tears dropped onto the fragrant hand-washing water. The ripples created on the water were pitiful. The circular ripples continued for some time. His vision, blurred by tears, slowly returned to normal. Whether it was the effect of the water infused with herbs or the result of crying, he was able to feign composure after a long sigh.

Yeon-oh wiped away the traces of his tears with his wet hands and dried the fragrant water with a clean cloth.

“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor arrives!”

The shout came from a distance. The man had finished his decree quickly, as he had said.

Cheong-ryu quickly entered the room, took the white porcelain basin, and carried it out. The young palace servants who entered with him collected the large lanterns placed around the room. The room, left with only a few small lanterns, became distinctly darker.

The young palace servants looked at Yeon-oh, who was wearing a simple sleeping robe instead of the various rare ones they had prepared, with pitiful expressions before withdrawing.

When the room door opened again.

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

Yeon-oh greeted the Emperor with a calm face that showed no trace of shyness.

Three eunuchs followed Seonjae into the room and moved quickly with their heads bowed. They helped the Emperor remove the informal robe he was wearing, collected his clothes, put a sleeping robe on him, and then withdrew without a sound.

“Consort Gwi-bi.”

“I will prepare the bedding.”

Yeon-oh lifted the blanket that a palace servant had neatly folded and attended to the Emperor, making it comfortable for him to lie down.

After the man got onto the bed, Yeon-oh took his place beside him.

“Sleep well.”

Seonjae watched with interest as Yeon-oh formally spoke his goodnight and lay down. He could have put his hand between Yeon-oh’s head and the pillow to make him sit up, but he did not. He silently watched the indifferent head that was settling down to sleep for a moment, then lay down himself.

No matter how wide the Imperial bed was, if two people lay on it, they could not help but feel the other’s presence. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Yeon-oh stuck to the very edge of the bed, turning onto his side away from the man. Being in the dark, confined space where the other’s body heat was transmitted, his breathing automatically hitched.

“Insolent.”

A low voice echoed coldly in the darkness. Yeon-oh momentarily held his breath and turned slightly to look beside him.

“…”

The man was lying comfortably, as if it were his own room.

“Who told you that you could turn your back to Us?”

“…I apologize…”

Yeon-oh awkwardly moved and lay straight on his back. But he was still stuck to the very outer edge of the bed.

“Consort Gwi-bi, have you forgotten what We are, and what you are?”

Laughter was buried in the deep bass. It was clearly a voice of mockery. Yeon-oh, who had been cowering, glanced irreverently at the person beside him.

“…!”

The Emperor was slightly tilted toward Yeon-oh. Yeon-oh’s eyes widened at the sudden sight of the man’s face right in front of him.