Chapter 60

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

As soon as Yeon-oh recognized the Emperor’s face, his body reacted first by paying respects. The concubines who were following Yeon-oh also paid their respects simultaneously.

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

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

Yeon-oh stiffened his back at the synchronized voices of the concubines echoing from behind him. The thought that it was fortunate that his heart for the man had been broken crossed his mind repeatedly. If his longing for him had remained, could he have accepted the reality of directly facing the fact that the Emperor had dozens of wives besides him? He felt a belated sense of relief and a strange despair.

“You must all be surprised.”

The man was truly the Emperor. He took his many Consorts and Concubines for granted. This was what it meant to be the Emperor.

“…”

When Yeon-oh, who should have answered as the concubine in the front, showed no reaction to the Emperor’s acknowledgment, Consort Bi quickly stepped forward.

“We are merely overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s concern.”

Yeon-oh only realized that he should have responded to the Emperor’s words after Consort Bi spoke.

“The Consort Gwi-bi provided great assistance in resolving today’s matter.”

Consort Hyeok, who had been reporting to the Emperor earlier, gently added.

“Did the Consort Gwi-bi not simply insist on not handing over his own person?”

“Your Majesty, that was us misunderstanding an innocent person…”

Consort Hyeok was troubled by the Emperor’s words and offered an excuse.

“The Consort Gwi-bi was merely lucky today, was she not? Since the Court Lady of Giryung Palace fortunately turned out not to be the culprit, the Consort Gwi-bi was able to save her face. I do not know. Who is to say whether the Consort Gwi-bi would have handed her over if her person had truly committed the crime? After all, the Consort Gwi-bi is a very distinguished person.”

At the Emperor’s words, which were meant to blame Yeon-oh, the concubines lowered their faces. They dared not deny the Emperor’s words, nor could they side with the Emperor and criticize the Consort Gwi-bi, who was directly above them in rank. Thus, they all bowed their heads in respectful apology.

“I am sorry. Today, this concubine was extremely lucky, as Your Majesty said, and heard the undeserved compliment of having worked hard despite being stubborn. This concubine is immensely pleased to have been able to protect my innocent person.”

“I told you to learn how to yield…”

The Emperor approached Yeon-oh, who seemed not to give an inch, and spoke in a grumbling tone. At his less than dignified manner, Eunuch Wan, who was by the Emperor’s side, awkwardly cleared his throat with an “Ahem.”

“I apologize.”

Yeon-oh paid his respects before the man’s words were even finished. His attitude was not apologetic at all. Seonjae suppressed his emotions with effort, about to let out a sigh of bewilderment.

The man suddenly looked at the concubines and made a peculiar expression. Unlike his wrangling with him, Gyo Yeon-oh had quite adapted to the concubines’ quarters. Each of his concubines was from a renowned family, with overbearing personalities and immense pride. All of them had received considerable education in noble houses and were highly learned. The Empress, despite her position as the highest-ranked woman, had considerable difficulty managing the concubines due to her family background and upbringing. Not only the Empress, but even the Empress Dowager, who constantly chastised her daughters-in-law fiercely, often grumbled that his concubines were excessive.

“He was indeed a distinguished person.”

Seonjae’s whispered words, uttered with a sigh, were only audible to Yeon-oh, who was nearby.

“…”

Whenever he heard those sarcastic words, Yeon-oh genuinely wondered what the man wanted to hear. Since no one could be more distinguished than the Emperor, did he want to hear groveling words that dared not call such a trivial person as him distinguished? Or was he saying it purely to mock him?

A vague smile floated around the Emperor’s eyes as he met Yeon-oh’s gaze. The man smiled, slightly wrinkling the tip of his nose.

“Although she was stubborn, she handled the matter correctly and well.”

“I am overwhelmed by your grace.”

“You must have been sitting for quite a long time. Are you alright, Consort Gwi-bi?”

Yeon-oh showed caution at the Emperor’s sudden change of attitude from asserting his authority and being sarcastic. It didn’t seem like the Emperor was doing this to save his own face. It was too sudden and obviously an act of kindness, making Yeon-oh wonder if there was some underlying motive.

“I apologize. I thank Your Majesty for his concern. This concubine is robust, so Your Majesty’s concern is excessive.”

“Robust, the Consort Gwi-bi is. Have you forgotten who is the one who collapses so often? Is the Consort Gwi-bi not the person who overworks his body until he collapses because he doesn’t even notice when he is sick? You must be careful.”

Seonjae, who was pretending to be kind, momentarily forgot his pretense. He abruptly blurted out his true feelings and quickly continued the sentence.

“This concubine is truly healthy.”

Yeon-oh said indifferently. Then he noticed that the eunuchs and palace servants beside the Emperor were particularly wary, as if they were shy. Not only the eunuchs and servants, but Consort Hyeok also lowered her face as much as possible. The concubines he glanced at also seemed to genuinely believe the Emperor’s words of concern for Yeon-oh.

Is it not too much to see the man, who had just blamed him in front of many people, change his attitude so quickly and say a few worried words, as a sign of affection?

The Emperor smiled brightly and spoke gently.

“Are your hands not numb or aching? Did you not say your body was aching before you collapsed last time, Consort Gwi-bi? The Consort Gwi-bi’s hand is a very important thing, is it not?”

The man’s bright smile was not genuine; it held malicious intent. He would not smile so brightly if he were truly worried about a person. Seonjae reached out and abruptly grabbed Yeon-oh’s hand.

Yeon-oh instinctively swung his arm, trying to shake off the large hand, but the grip was strong, and he could not escape. Furthermore, there were too many eyes and ears watching.

“…”

As the Emperor held his hand, everyone lowered their gaze even further. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Yeon-oh was bewildered and felt wronged. How could they believe such an obvious trick so easily? He wanted to shout that everyone was being deceived. The Emperor pressed close to Yeon-oh and whispered.

“You should get along well with the Emperor, Consort Gwi-bi. Are you not my concubine?”

“Please let go.”

Yeon-oh also responded in a very low voice.

“Is your hand not injured, or is nothing aching, Consort Gwi-bi?”

Seonjae changed his grip on Yeon-oh’s hand, pretending to be affectionate. Yeon-oh attempted to shake off the large hand, prepared to be punished for his disrespect, but the man’s hand did not budge.

“Please let go…!”

Yeon-oh requested again in a lowered voice, lest anyone hear. He could attempt to shake off the Emperor’s hand with all his might, but he could not shout to be let go while everyone was listening. Seonjae only smiled brightly.

The man gently rubbed Yeon-oh’s hand with one hand and extended the other to touch Yeon-oh’s forehead. The long, trailing sleeve of his elaborate dragon robe spread out, creating a curtain between the Emperor and Yeon-oh.

“Do you not have a fever, Consort Gwi-bi?”

The Emperor spoke the words for others to hear politely and kindly. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Yeon-oh shook his head, trying to escape the large hand.

“Gyo Gongja (Young Master Gyo, Gongja means Young Master or Master), why do you speak such fluent flowery words? Your threats are very impressive. Well, it was good that you got a confession from the true culprit. If you are going to flatter me, I’d like to hear it in the form of a Geum performance, not words. Isn’t four songs a day too much?”

At the man’s whisper, Yeon-oh was reminded of the night’s forgotten memory. The words he had mumbled in his sleep, which the Emperor called flattery, and the Emperor’s sudden actions that followed.

At the memory swirling in his mind, Yeon-oh raised his voice.

“Your Majesty, this concubine is robust!”

Startled by the loud exclamation so close, Seonjae quickly released Yeon-oh’s hand and stepped back. A mischievous smile lingered on the man’s face.

“I see. But why are you shouting, Consort Gwi-bi? If you are going to flatter me again today, please include one more song. Everyone must have been surprised by the sudden accident, so go and rest.”

The Emperor bothered Yeon-oh until the very end before retiring. Before leaving, he approached Dam So-ui, who was standing at the back, and showed familiarity.

“You were here too?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You worked hard.”

The Emperor lightly touched Dam So-ui’s arm, then turned and left Seonin-gung. Dam So-ui, who had been about to say something, stared blankly at the departing Emperor. Even when the concubines paid their respects to the Emperor, he alone maintained a blank gaze.

“Consort Hyeok, I will take my leave.”

“Consort Gwi-bi Mama, please go carefully.”

Yeon-oh exchanged greetings with Consort Hyeok and left Seonin-gung. Eunuch Seok-wi, who had followed the Emperor, approached him as he crossed the gate.

“Eunuch Seok-wi.”

“His Majesty sent me. Since the Consort Gwi-bi came alone, I shall escort you. I also have to return to Giryung Palace, do I not?”

“Thank you.”

The concubines watched Yeon-oh leave.

“Consort Hyeok, I will take my leave.”

“Consort Hyeok Mama, I retire.”

“Please go carefully.”

Consort Hyeok paid her respects with a kind expression to the concubines, who began to leave one by one, led by Consort Bi. Only after all the concubines had left did Consort Hyeok raise her gaze. Her upright face was subdued. The eyes looking at the spot where the Emperor and Yeon-oh had stood looked utterly expressionless.

“It is when things are at their best.”

A dry, husky voice flowed from her open lips.