Chapter 51

The palace servants of Giryung Palace opened all the wardrobes (ui-geol-i-jang) and took out the long robes. Yeon-oh had been called into the second room connected to the inner chamber and was watching the palace servants while drinking tea. In the room he was in, perches were lined up, and the palace servants displayed magnificent robes on the empty perches.

Are they not getting tired?

Yeon-oh watched indifferently as the insides of the countless wardrobes, which densely filled the considerably large second and third rooms, were emptied with their doors wide open.

“Wasn’t His Majesty supposed to go to Donhu Palace today?”

He spoke, waving his hand at the sight of a brightly embroidered light yellow robe that Cheong-ryu had brought out.

“Does it not please you?”

“Isn’t what I’m wearing enough?”

Yeon-oh was wearing a slightly dark tawny robe, although the color itself was muted. The robe, which had a subtle sheen, was certainly valuable. However, it was far too modest to wear when receiving the Emperor.

“Consort Gwi-bi Mama, please just try it on.”

Cheong-ryu insisted, which was unlike her.

“I have never worn such a color, not even when my mother was alive.”

Yeon-oh grimaced. He used to wear flamboyant Gongja-style overcoats well, but he hadn’t done so since coming to the Imperial Palace. Imperial family attire was so long and flowing that if the color stood out, it would look terrible. Most of all, since coming here, he had lost all interest in clothes.

What does it matter what I wear?

As long as it was well-washed and did not have a serious hole, it was fine. That was his mindset.

“How about you at least try it on? Everyone is hoping so much.”

Court Lady Dong said softly. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] So-ha, who was nearby, also gently agreed.

“Please do.”

“We won’t know how it looks until you try it on.”

Cheong-ryu bounced the light yellow robe in her hands, agreeing enthusiastically. Not immediately refusing was his mistake. Court Lady Dong reached out, took the teacup Yeon-oh was holding, and set it aside. So-ha boldly untied the knot of the robe Yeon-oh was wearing and gathered it up.

“You all…”

“If this isn’t good, we also have the light purple robe that Consort Gwi-bi Mama likes.”

Cheong-ryu quickly approached and draped the robe over Yeon-oh’s shoulders. Cheong-ryu’s swift action, having been eager for him to just try it on, was understandable.

When Cheong-ryu tucked Yeon-oh’s right hand into the sleeve, Eunuch Beom, who had approached without a sound, pulled his left hand and helped him put on the robe. Beom Yu was a young eunuch who had just turned eighteen this year. He had a small build even among the eunuchs. His presence was faint and he was quiet, but he carried out his duties without issue. As the Inner Eunuch was busy with outside matters of Giryung Palace, Beom Yu mostly helped with tasks inside the palace when a eunuch was needed.

While the Inner Eunuch, in his mid-twenties, was also young, Beom Yu was closer in age, so Yeon-oh treated him more comfortably.

“Yu, even you.”

Beom Yu took the lead in assisting with the undergarments worn in layers beneath Yeon-oh’s outer robe, bath attendance, and the processes a male concubine required that female maidservants could not provide.

Beom Yu pretended not to see Yeon-oh’s pained expression looking at him. Since he wasn’t addressed as ‘Eunuch’ or ‘Grand Eunuch’, the Consort Gwi-bi wasn’t actually angry. He took the robe So-ha was holding neatly folded and backed away.

“It suits you much better, Consort Gwi-bi Mama.”

“It’s not about suiting me… where are you going?”

Beom Yu, who had whispered his observation, backed away until he reached the third adjacent room. Court Lady Dong and So-ha appropriately blocked Yeon-oh, who was trying to follow him, and continued to help him dress.

“You all.”

“Mama, you look so good in it.”

Cheong-ryu looked up at Yeon-oh with sparkling eyes, expressing her admiration. The young maidservants her age behind the girl also vigorously nodded in unison.

Yeon-oh pondered how to explain to the young maidservants the problem of wearing clothes of such an excessive color at his age, which was over ten. Just thinking about it already gave him a headache.

“Girls…”

“Consort Gwi-bi Mama, since you are wearing the robe, could you please put on this silk ribbon and this bracelet just once?”

Mo-hwa, who was usually shy and never spoke unless paying respects, pleaded earnestly. On her respectfully offered hand lay a silk ribbon embroidered with gold thread and a dark-colored openwork silver bracelet. Cheong-ryu also nodded lightly, agreeing with her friend.

Cheong-ryu took the bracelet from Mo-hwa and tried to put it on Yeon-oh’s wrist without even asking permission. Cheong-ryu, Mo-hwa, and all the young maidservants were cautious and mature for their age, as was expected of Imperial Palace maidservants. Although they had the innocent cheerfulness of their age, they were not the type to force things upon their master. However, whenever they suggested embellishment to Yeon-oh, they had all become increasingly unreasonable and insistent. Although it was rude, it contained no ill will, so it was not enough to warrant punishment. But it was getting excessive, and a line needed to be drawn.

The worst culprit was Court Lady Dong. Court Lady Dong was passing the silk ribbon in Mo-hwa’s hand to So-ha, who was tidying Yeon-oh’s hair.

At Yeon-oh’s intent gaze, Court Lady Dong bowed her head tightly like a person strict with etiquette and protocol. So-ha naturally tried to seat Yeon-oh in the chair.

Just as he was considering how to stop them.

“Consort Gwi-bi Mama, His Majesty has arrived.”

Beom Taegam (Grand Eunuch), who had gone to the adjacent room, reported hastily.

“Where is he now?”

“The Emperor is arriving!”

“He is at the rear garden gate.”

The rear garden gate meant right in front of the inner chamber. Yeon-oh stopped trying to take off the light yellow robe. He scanned the maidservants with a dissatisfied look, warning them.

“You will all be punished, mind you.”

Yeon-oh quickly turned and returned to the inner chamber. The moment he entered the inner chamber, the door connecting to the adjacent room in the other direction opened, and the Emperor entered.

“I greet the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great fortune.”

Court Lady Dong and So-ha, who were following Yeon-oh, also paid their respects.

“It seems… there was a busy matter. Did I not send word to Giryung Palace?”

Seonjae, who had entered the inner chamber as if storming in without being received by his master, paused when he saw Yeon-oh bowing without his waist sash. He looked back at Wan Taegam, who was following him.

“I apologize.”

Wan Taegam said respectfully. Except that his head was slightly tilted. That gesture was a habit Wan Taegam unconsciously displayed when he had something to say but couldn’t because there were too many ears listening. He was smiling politely, but it was an action he often took when he was feeling quite wronged.

Seonjae knew he shouldn’t, but he stood with his back to Yeon-oh and looked down at Wan Taegam.

“What is it?”

“Please raise Consort Gwi-bi Mama first.”

Wan Taegam was intimidated by the Emperor’s threatening tone but said what needed to be said.

“Rise.”

Seonjae commanded, only turning his head back. And immediately muttered to Wan Taegam as if scolding him.

“What.”

“Your servant thought Your Majesty would stay at Yechun-gak for one hour. Thus, I misinformed you about the time of your arrival at Giryung Palace. I apologize.”

“I know you don’t feel sorry at all.”

Seonjae turned his body, grumbling like an insolent person. While he was talking secretly with Wan Taegam.

Yeon-oh was also pushing back against the combined attack of Court Lady Dong and So-ha. Court Lady Dong tried to tie a waist sash with yellow jade ornaments around him, and So-ha tried to tie his hair with a pure white figured silk ribbon embroidered with gold thread.

Seonjae, who turned back, sent a peculiar look at Yeon-oh, who was silently pushing away the two maidservants. Yeon-oh bowed to the Emperor, who had noticed the scuffle between him and the two.

“I apologize.”

Court Lady Dong and So-ha retreated half a step, trying to conceal their presence. Seonjae, seeing them, spoke.

“Finish attending to the Consort Gwi-bi’s clothes.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“We are honored, Your Majesty.”

The attitude of the two maidservants was cautious and polite, but a look of triumph was pervasive. Court Lady Dong tied the waist sash around Yeon-oh with a vigorous movement.

Yeon-oh spoke to So-ha, who was approaching.

“It’s all right.”

He didn’t forget to quickly shake his head.

“Consort Gwi-bi Mama…”

So-ha tried to insist strongly but, realizing the Emperor was present, withdrew without raising her voice. Yeon-oh removed the openwork silver bracelet from his wrist and handed it to the retreating So-ha. So-ha tried not to accept it, but she couldn’t dare disobey the command of her superior.

Seonjae looked alternately at the deferential maidservants and Yeon-oh.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. If you grant permission, I will go change my clothes.”

Yeon-oh approached the Emperor and requested.

“I will not grant permission.”

The man sat down in the main seat of the reception area, which was only separated from the inner chamber by a partition. As always, he occupied someone else’s room as if it were his own.

“…”

Yeon-oh looked up briefly at the man who had firmly rejected his request.

“Why did you take off the bracelet?”

It was a problem if a concubine’s adornment was excessive, but simplicity was not a problem.

“It is too extravagant for this concubine.”

“Are the bare head and lack of accessories also too much for the Consort Gwi-bi?”

Yeon-oh carefully scrutinized the man sitting in the main seat. There must be a reason for his visit. He wouldn’t have suddenly come just to pick a fight about his adornment.

“I refused that because it did not please this concubine.”

Seonjae laughed at Yeon-oh’s evasive answer.

“I am pleased with it.”

It was difficult to fathom the man’s inner thoughts as he smiled with crinkled eyes.

“…”

He was only certain of one thing. That he was trying to harass him. There was nothing else for certain.

“Bring the silk ribbon.”

At the Emperor’s command, So-ha, who had been minimizing her presence, quickly handed the silk ribbon to the Emperor’s eunuch. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] It was a cautious movement, but her footsteps were very quick.

‘Why that one?’ Yeon-oh could not hide his expression.

“The Consort Gwi-bi’s adornment is too plain. You were like this even when you were purifying your virtue in front of the Cheonghan Hall. Do you not know that if the Consort Gwi-bi is too humble for his position, lower-ranking concubines might needlessly watch and have to reduce their own adornments?”

The Emperor said politely. To Yeon-oh, that tone felt like an ominous sign. He felt somewhat difficult to endure.

“I apologize. My taste is simple, and I find it difficult to fully adopt the splendid attire of a Gwi-bi.”

The Emperor fiercely countered the carefully chosen excuse.

“Are you accusing me of extravagance right now?”

The man was indeed dressed lavishly, as he had said. He wore a robe of glossy, luxurious black silk richly embroidered with gold thread, and leather shoes embroidered with threads of the same color. If merely glimpsed, it was not obvious, but when caught in the light, a subtle sheen radiated from the embroidered areas.

On his head, he wore a golden jamdo (a knife-shaped hairpin), and he wore rings on both his right and left hands. Two of them were archer’s thumb rings. On the right, he wore one made of reddish-brown amber, and on the left, one with a dull surface carved out and a delicate gold embossed pattern made prominent by a black gold treatment on the inner base.

Seonjae spread out his two hands and examined them.

“How could that be? Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, so there is no such thing as extravagant adornment for Your Majesty. It is this concubine who is lacking and short-sighted. I had not considered that lower-ranking concubines might reduce their own adornment because of my lack of embellishment. Your Majesty is correct. I will be careful not to be lacking in adornment in the future.”

Yeon-oh calmly promised to change his perspective.