Chapter 64

The bright sunlight shone transparently through the curtains. The light falling upon the sleeping face grew stronger and fainter as the gently swaying curtain moved. Yeon-oh’s eyes slowly opened.

He was surrounded by thin curtains on all sides. Yeon-oh, who was about to close his eyes again, suddenly opened his eyes wide as he realized the sunlight streaming into the bedchamber. He tried to spring up, but his body did not react as he expected. His languid body felt light yet weary. His body was stiff and light at the same time, like the day after shooting one hundred arrows, a tradition his father, who grew up under a military grandfather, had instilled by emphasizing a robust physique from his childhood.

He reached out and drew back the thin curtain that allowed the outside to be seen. Judging by the shape of the long, stretched shadow, it was late afternoon. A soft breeze was coming through the slightly opened window.

“Consort Gwi-bi Mama, have you awakened?”

Court Lady Dong’s voice resonated from beyond the curtain. Yeon-oh rubbed his heavy arm with his hand and looked around.

“Court Lady Dong, now…”

“It will soon be evening. You have been asleep since dawn until now. We will prepare water for washing. Please do not worry. His Majesty sent word to the Empress Dowager’s Palace, informing her that it would be difficult for Consort Gwi-bi Mama to pay respects. May we draw the curtains up?”

Instead of answering, Yeon-oh moved his hand to draw back the concealing curtain himself. Seeing this, Court Lady Dong approached and tidied the curtains. Court Lady Dong smiled softly, looking at Yeon-oh’s face, which seemed to be not yet fully awake.

“You said evening?”

The inside of the bedchamber was much more tidied than when he last saw it, but it was not as pristine as when the palace servants had attended to him.

“Yes.”

Court Lady Dong smiled softly again, looking at the bewildered Yeon-oh. Yeon-oh ignored the ambiguous smile and wiped his swollen face with his hand.

Cheong-ryu and the palace servants brought the water for washing. Yeon-oh slowly washed his face, like a sluggish child. So-ha approached the bedside with a tray holding various combs. His hair was being combed while Yeon-oh was drying the moisture from his face. Court Lady Dong meticulously wiped his face, which was still half-asleep, one more time with a dampened towel. He rinsed his mouth as the palace servants advised and put on his long robe.

“The Imperial Physician has arrived.”

At Court Lady Dong’s words, the palace servants around the bedchamber quickly retreated.

Yeon-oh’s face crumpled in surprise.

“The Imperial Physician?”

So that was why they had been tidying things up right after he woke up; because the Imperial Physician was here.

“When he examined you at dawn, you were fine. Since you have awakened, he will examine you one more time. There is no need to worry.”

“No, I am healthy. I am not in any pain…”

Yeon-oh tried to stop Court Lady Dong, who was treating him like a patient.

“His Majesty sent him.”

Court Lady Dong whispered, grasping Yeon-oh’s hand as he tried to hold her back. The Court Lady, who had given the sure reason why he could not refuse to face the Imperial Physician, stepped backward.

“I greet Consort Gwi-bi Mama.”

The Imperial Physician entered according to the Court Lady’s gesture and paid his respects. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Following the Imperial Physician were a Physician of Internal Medicine, a Physician of Pharmacy, and a female physician (yeo-ui). Counting their assistants who had not entered the inner chamber, a considerable number of people were waiting for Yeon-oh.

Yeon-oh quietly submitted to the examination. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] When the Imperial Physician was about to withdraw, he expressed his thanks and asked the female physician, who was a disciple of Jang Tae-ui, if she could examine the palace servants of Giryung Palace. The Imperial Physician readily accepted the request.

Court Lady Dong looked fondly at Yeon-oh, who cared for his servants.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Yeon-oh tried to ignore Court Lady Dong, who was smiling teasingly, but he grumbled disgruntledly because her smile was too bright.

“The Grand Head Eunuch is waiting.”

Court Lady Dong calmly parried his attempt to pick a quarrel.

“Wan, Eunuch Wan?”

Yeon-oh could not hide his astonishment. The Grand Head Eunuch never left the Emperor’s side. It was unusual for the Grand Head Eunuch, who should be attending to the Emperor, to be waiting for him while he was asleep.

“It has been about three sijin.”

Court Lady Dong informed him of the huge fact in a casual tone. The person who would have been a burden even if he had arrived an hour ago had been waiting all afternoon.

“Why…”

Court Lady Dong smiled at the bewildered Yeon-oh and withdrew. And shortly after, she returned to the inner chamber with Grand Eunuch Wan.

Grand Eunuch Wan appeared, leading three young eunuchs.

“I greet Consort Gwi-bi Mama. May Consort Gwi-bi Mama enjoy great fortune.”

The young eunuchs held wooden boxes made of zadan wood in their hands. The meticulously polished zadan wood looked more like jade than wood, and the entire beautiful red box was intricately patterned with gold. The young eunuchs, who paid their respects in time with Grand Eunuch Wan’s words, knelt and courteously presented the zadan wood boxes in their hands.

“Please rise.”

“I am sorry.”

Grand Eunuch Wan expressed his gratitude and rose, then opened the zadan wood boxes held by the eunuchs he had brought, one by one. The boxes, which were themselves extremely precious, were filled with gold. Yeon-oh’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Eunuch.”

Grand Eunuch Wan courteously closed the opened wooden boxes. Following his gesture, the eunuchs holding the boxes paid their respects and withdrew. Court Lady Dong, who had been standing by them, also retreated to the entrance of the inner chamber, where sounds would not be easily heard.

“His Majesty bestowed these as a commendation for the ‘Yeonhwaman’ the Consort Gwi-bi Mama played for him.”

“This is too excessive.”

Grand Eunuch Wan smiled faintly at Yeon-oh’s words.

“How is your health, Consort Gwi-bi Mama? Is there anywhere you are uncomfortable?”

“This person is fine.”

“His Majesty commanded this servant to personally ask the Consort Gwi-bi Mama and return with an answer. I am relieved that you have no discomfort. With all due respect, may this servant offer a word?”

Grand Eunuch Wan lowered his voice further. He was facing away from the entrance of the inner chamber, so his face was not visible at all from where Court Lady Dong was standing.

“Please speak.”

“Consort Gwi-bi Mama, His Majesty is very fond of ‘Yeonhwaman.’ He values ‘Muryeong-ak,’ ‘U-hwa,’ and ‘Punggyeong-ryu’ just as highly as ‘Yeonhwaman.’ I informed you of this, knowing it is improper, as I thought it would be beneficial for the Consort Gwi-bi to know. I shall take my leave now.”

Grand Eunuch Wan paid his respects and withdrew.

“Go carefully…”

Yeon-oh belatedly saw the eunuch off. Left alone, he blinked his eyes, then scratched his cheek, recalling the musical pieces the eunuch had just told him.

“Yeonhwaman,”

“U-hwa,”

“Punggyeong-ryu,”

“Muryeong-ak.”

They were all musical pieces about spring and flowers. Pieces mostly played in the spring, expressing flowers in full bloom. They were delicate, beautiful, and graceful pieces. They were also pieces played sweetly and lovely by the musician, excluding any hint of sorrow. They were far removed from the Emperor, who was like a frigid wind. They were also far from high-minded pieces that spoke of enlightenment, the subjects favored by scholars who boasted of listening to Geum performances, or praising ancestors and offering tribute to heaven.

“…Does he like spring?”

A stammering word escaped his embarrassed lips. Yeon-oh shook his head, denying the words he had uttered.

“Or is it that he likes flowers?”

Yeon-oh sealed his lips to avoid uttering any more disrespectful words. His tightly sealed lips involuntarily curled up into a faint smile.

******

The palace servants of Donhu Palace were busy from the morning. Close glances were exchanged between the eunuchs and the palace servants. Only after checking the trays multiple times for any potential issues were they brought into the main hall.

It was no longer surprising that the Emperor slept in Yechun Pavilion for two nights in a row. Today, the Emperor, who had gone to the main hall to attend to court affairs at dawn, returned to Donhu Palace after the morning had passed. Relief and satisfaction were evident on the faces of the Donhu Palace palace servants. Because Dam So-ui had shown signs of disappointment when the Emperor had left much earlier than expected on his last visit, the Donhu Palace servants had felt great pity for their master.

It wasn’t that the Emperor had completely stopped visiting Dam So-ui during that time. However, the favor was noticeably less than before. For a while, he had sought out only the Consort Gwi-bi for several consecutive days, and the bestowal of a massive amount of gold upon the Consort Gwi-bi had caused a stir not only among the concubines but also among the court officials. Just a few days ago, it was the same.

The Emperor had a loud argument with the Consort Gwi-bi’s uncle, the Chancellor of the Jungchuwon, that could be heard outside the royal audience hall, yet he still visited the Consort Gwi-bi that night. He had specifically sent someone to the Empress Dowager to inform her that it would be difficult for the Consort Gwi-bi to pay his respects. He personally commanded the Imperial Physician to check the Consort Gwi-bi’s condition as soon as he woke up. He even had the Grand Head Eunuch, who served him closely, personally deliver a large amount of gold to the Consort Gwi-bi. He even left some Imperial Eunuchs at the Consort Gwi-bi’s residence.

It seemed that the favor had completely tilted toward the Consort Gwi-bi. However, he visited Donhu Palace that evening and slept there the next day as well. Furthermore, judging by the fact that he specifically had Dam So-ui attend to his breakfast, the Emperor’s favor for Dam So-ui seemed to remain.

A palace servant with round eyes whispered anxiously.

“I hope Mama does well.”

“Shush.”

Court Lady Jin quickly warned her and lowered her eyes. The Court Lady’s face, which was bowed, was not much different from that of the servant who had whispered her worry.