Chapter 69

A heavy silence descended upon Cheonghan Hall. At the center of the audience chamber, before the high seat, the Panwonsa (Director of the Privy Council) bowed his head.

From the lofty seat, a fierce voice resonated softly.

“Panwonsa, are you stating that you will do absolutely nothing?”

“I am sorry, Your Majesty. This humble subject…”

“Or have you decided not to follow My command? The order to move the Jang-oh Army from Hyeopsu to the southern coast to assist with the difficulties in the south; is it impossible because they are the personnel needed for the upcoming spring hunt?”

“That is…”

“And what did I say then? Did I not tell you to reduce the escort? You say that too is impossible because My safety is paramount? Am I a man who cannot protect his own body!”

At the Emperor’s descending hand, a teacup on the writing desk clattered with a fragile sound.

“Since the spring hunt is held in an open area, Your Majesty’s safety is the most important matter. There must be no single oversight in the preparation for the spring hunt. If we suddenly reduce the escort and change what has been planned…”

“Since you are preparing with such tremendous effort, suggesting a small diversion of gyeokgu (polo) during the spring hunt is a luxury, so that too is impossible. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Are you not simply refusing to do everything I wish to do? Did you not also say that My accepting the memorial to not remove the funeral screen for the late Empress Sun-tae-bi would be improper protocol? When I said I wished to show filial piety, the Panwonsa recited the strictness of protocol from the time of the First Emperor, who received the Mandate of Heaven. Can the Panwonsa only respond to My will with the word ‘impossible’?”

The Panwonsa, who had been bowing his head, tried to softly open his peaceful lips. The Privy Council ministers and subordinate officials lined up on both sides kept alternating their glances between the high seat and the Panwonsa.

It seemed a renewed argument over protocol was about to break out between the deeply angered Emperor on the high seat and the seemingly tactless Panwonsa. If that happened, the Emperor would surely fling the teacup onto the audience chamber floor.

“All of you, stand down. I was disrupting people so busy with spring hunt preparations by summoning them. How could I dare to make another request?”

The Emperor, having issued the command to withdraw, rose first.

“I apologize. Please, grant your consideration…”

“Dismissed!”

The eunuchs shouted loudly, having confirmed the Emperor rising abruptly from the high seat and descending. The Panwonsa‘s voice, attempting to address the Emperor, was drowned out by the eunuchs’ solemn cry.

The Panwonsa, who had been standing at the center before the high seat, quickly stepped back to the side.

The Emperor, who had swiftly left the high seat, turned to Grand Eunuch Wan, who was following him, and said.

“I will go to Giryung Palace.”

The face of the Panwonsa, who had maintained a gentle expression while consistently expressing his dissent and refusal to the Emperor, stiffened.

“…”

The Emperor violently shook his dragon robe and quickly left the audience chamber. He was tall, a head and a half taller than the eunuchs who followed him. He was not just tall; he had broad shoulders and, as he claimed, possessed the strength to take the desired life with a single hand, even when alone.

The Panwonsa could not maintain his usual composure. The Emperor, whose anger had surged upon hearing his refusal, was going to find his nephew.

The Emperor’s extravagant dragon robe fiercely fluttered with his large strides. He swiftly left the Cheonghan Hall area and passed through the middle gate, which marked the boundary between the outer and inner palaces.

The Emperor’s steps in front were so fast that Grand Eunuch Wan, who was far behind, and the eunuchs following in a long line were practically running.

It was a long way from Cheonghan Hall to Giryung Palace.

Seonjae entered the long corridor leading to Giryung Palace and violently swung his arm. The man’s walking speed grew faster and more ferocious with every step.

When he left the corridor and the area became secluded,

“The nephew and the uncle refuse to listen to a word!”

Grand Eunuch Wan was startled by his enraged shout, which was clearly audible even from a distance. The shoulders of the following eunuchs flinched in unison.

“Y-Your Majesty.”

Grand Eunuch Wan quickly approached the Emperor, who had finally stopped, unable to contain his anger.

“Their reasons for impossibility are so fluent and grandiose!”

Fortunately, they had passed the middle gate earlier. Giryung Palace was isolated, and few people passed by, but one never knew. Grand Eunuch Wan and the eunuchs busily scanned the surroundings, lest anyone hear the Emperor’s twisted shout.

“I understand now why the Gyo Marquisate family has never become an in-law family until now. They haven’t been unwilling; they’ve been unable! How well they know their own supposed excellence. They won’t concede a single word!”

The Emperor’s low voice was severe and harsh, yet the content of his words was somewhat childish. The man, who had stopped to shout, aimlessly wandered the passageway, blocked by the high imperial palace walls on both sides.

“Your Majesty, I worry for your health. Please, calm your anger.”

Grand Eunuch Wan bowed deeply. The eunuch could easily guess that if the Emperor had been alone with him, he would have thrown something or kicked the wall.

“A truly excellent family.”

The Emperor mumbled under his breath and sharply turned around. He started walking again.

“…”

Grand Eunuch Wan had hoped that the master, having voiced his enraged shout, would change his direction. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] But Seonjae proceeded even faster toward Giryung Palace.

At the eunuch’s hand signal, the entourage followed the Emperor. What greeted the Emperor’s seemingly endless procession was silence.

“We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great blessings.”

“We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great blessings.”

Giryung Palace was inherently remote and deserted. But today, Giryung Palace was quieter than ever. Everyone but the few palace servants guarding the palace had left their posts.

Normally, the Emperor would have simply departed if a consort’s residence was empty. The Emperor was a busy person.

Grand Eunuch Wan hastily signaled for Seok-wi.

“Where is Consort Gwi-bi?”

The cold voice inquired of the eunuch who was about to bow.

“She went out for a stroll at Seokgeum-won.”

Seok-wi, who had learned by Grand Eunuch Wan’s side and grown up as an imperial eunuch since childhood, quickly gave his answer.

At Eunuch Seok’s reply, the Emperor’s eyebrows fiercely arched.

“Go and fetch Consort Gwi-bi.”

Grand Eunuch Wan commanded, urging him to run without even waiting for the Emperor’s permission. Eunuch Seok, bowing at the chief eunuch’s command, ran out, seemingly forgetting he was in front of the Emperor.

“…”

Seonjae, whose eyebrows were severely furrowed, turned to Grand Eunuch Wan. Grand Eunuch Wan, who had been observing the Emperor’s mood, smiled gently with a respectful face and spoke softly.

“Seok-wi is quick on his feet.”

“Indeed.”

Seonjae’s throat rumbled, and he slightly eased his expression. The subtle smile on Grand Eunuch Wan’s face deepened a little. The man, who was about to say something to the eunuch’s kind and generous smile, sighed inaudibly.

On his face, having come to an empty consort’s residence, lingered the belated query and regret: Why did I come here?

Yeon-oh returned long after the Emperor had arrived at Giryung Palace. He had run as soon as he heard the news, but the palace was too vast, and Giryung Palace was too remote, so it took time.

“We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy great blessings.”

Yeon-oh, running into the chamber, was dressed in layers of pure white silk gauze, with the outermost layer being pale crimson. It was an attire well-suited for spring. Since Seonjae’s casual comment, Yeon-oh avoided overly modest clothing.

“Where have you been, Consort Gwi-bi?”

The man’s voice was lower than usual.

Grand Eunuch Wan checked the Emperor’s face and cautiously helped Yeon-oh, who was bowing, to rise. Before moving away from Yeon-oh, the eunuch whispered in a voice barely audible.

“Flatter him.”

It was a dictatorial tone uncharacteristic of Grand Eunuch Wan. It seemed to be because the situation was so urgent that there was no time to leisurely backtrack. Yeon-oh glanced back at the eunuch with eyes full of bewilderment and then looked up at the man who was watching him.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. This concubine deserves punishment for making Your Majesty wait. I left my post to see the weeping flowering crabapples in Seokgeum-won. Do you know that the weeping flowering crabapples are beside the stone path of Seokgeum-won?”

“Has it already come to that? I did not know Consort Gwi-bi also had a deep knowledge of flowers.”

The Emperor, who had spoken lightly, added an uncomfortable follow-up. It felt as though he had arrived deeply aggravated from somewhere.

“I apologize. This concubine does not know much about flowers. I frequently went to see the calligraphy of Gwanhae written at the entrance to Seokgeum-won, and in doing so, I picked up knowledge one by one from those who know the place well. A few Chinese fringe trees have also bloomed early. I went out to see the sight, thinking the weeping flowering crabapples must be in full bloom if the Chinese fringe trees have bloomed.”

“The weeping flowering crabapples are splendid and beautiful. I hope you enjoyed viewing the flowers.”

“It is all thanks to the efforts of the palace servants who care for Seokgeum-won. It is good to see the flowers blooming, but a thought suddenly occurred to me while looking at them. Soon the rain will fall, and when the fully bloomed flowers drop, a landscape from the u-hwa (allegory) will unfold. Coincidentally, the opening phrase of the u-hwa begins with the weeping flowering crabapple…”

Seonjae, who had been nodding as if in agreement with Yeon-oh’s words, stopped moving and slowly looked to the side. The man’s gaze fell upon Grand Eunuch Wan, who was bowing his head.

Following that, a look of suspicion fell upon Yeon-oh.

The only person in the world who could have told Yeon-oh that the Emperor liked the u-hwa was Grand Eunuch Wan. The man’s twisted and sullen gaze briefly looked back at Grand Eunuch Wan and then stared intently at Yeon-oh again.

“I said that flattery is better delivered through the Geum performance, not words.”

Seonjae spoke in a lowered voice.

“It is still midday.”

The Emperor’s face instantly hardened at Yeon-oh’s refusal. A cold, furious expression looked down at Yeon-oh. Driven by the unexplained chill, Yeon-oh stole glances at the man’s face and Grand Eunuch Wan’s face.

Grand Eunuch Wan subtly shook his head.

“…”

To Yeon-oh, Grand Eunuch Wan’s face was like an answer sheet with the blurred answer written on it.

Although Grand Eunuch Wan had advised that the Geum performance should not be refused, that advice could not be followed. It was not the hour approaching evening; it was the middle of the day when the Emperor should be attending to state affairs.

“Has something displeased you?”

Yeon-oh asked cautiously. Seonjae, who was about to take a step closer to him, paused his movement upon seeing the subtle flinch of his shoulders.

“Are you comfortable, Consort Gwi-bi?”

At the Emperor’s question, Yeon-oh recalled a fact he had tried to forget. It was the first time he had faced the man again after spending the night with him.

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s consideration, I am fine.”

Yeon-oh wanted to answer with a taciturn demeanor. Contrary to his wish, a shameful heat rose to his cheeks.

The Emperor extended his hand toward Yeon-oh. It was difficult to grasp what that meant. Toward the bewildered Yeon-oh, Seonjae extended his hand further and said.

“Your hand.”

Even after hearing the word, he did not fully understand.

“…”

Yeon-oh was careful not to let any foolish sound escape his mouth as he hesitantly placed his own hand over the large hand extended toward him.