Chapter 76

As they were not far from the Empress Dowager’s Palace area, Jeokju seemed completely familiar with the local geography and was skillful at finding the way.

The place Jeokju took Yeon-oh to was a gap between two walls. An old stone lantern and decorative stones perfectly concealed the spot where the two hid.

Jeokju put a finger to his lips to caution Yeon-oh and pointed to the wall he was standing against. Yeon-oh nodded and focused his attention on the wall Jeokju indicated.

“Consort Yun So-hwa, what did you just say to this palace?”

Anger was contained in the woman’s voice, which trembled at the end.

“I apologize. My shallow thought seems to have angered Your Majesty. I apologize if the words suggesting you consider it merely a lack of fortune were unpleasant. My intention in saying that was not that Your Majesty lacks fortune, but to suggest that it may not have been fate.”

Consort Yun So-hwa, who had always acted very respectfully and humbly toward Yeon-oh, spoke with a cold and even brazen attitude. Her polite manner, where she would bow her head just by making eye contact and earnestly talk about the humbleness of her status, advising Yeon-oh to keep his distance, was nowhere to be found.

“Haha, Consort Yun So-hwa. I cannot believe you would act so reckless, even though this palace received great help from you. Did I belittle your help? I was merely curious and asked for information and help, but your attitude is like, ‘It’s all your fault, so why are you taking it out on me?’ When did this palace ever displease you?”

“I know that Your Majesty looks after this insignificant concubine. I always follow Your Majesty with a grateful heart.”

Consort Yun So-hwa spoke courteously to the enraged person, but still maintained a cynical attitude.

“So, in the end, you also know nothing?”

“I apologize. The phenomenon of fragrance emanating from his body is something this concubine also heard for the first time. Since the aftereffects differ from person to person, if the fragrance is one of the aftereffects, wouldn’t it be an individual difference?”

“That certain someone is certainly lucky.”

Jeokju’s eyes widened at the sharp sound coming from beyond the wall. A deep hwacha (tea) fragrance was emanating from Yeon-oh, who was pressed tightly against her.

Yeon-oh was just as surprised.

“…”

Yeon-oh gestured for the wide-eyed Jeokju to be quiet.

“His Majesty frequently visiting him must also be just that certain someone’s luck.”

“That must be His Majesty’s will.”

“It seems Consort Yun So-hwa is displeased, as I acted as if I demanded repayment from my benefactor instead of showing gratitude and grace. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] I apologize. Although the Empress Dowager told you to no longer attend to His Majesty’s bedding, I shall say a word to His Majesty when I see him. Isn’t that the duty of one who has received grace? I have wasted your time with something unnecessary. You may withdraw.”

The woman’s voice, which had expressed displeasure, gradually turned bitter toward the end.

“I withdraw.”

ConsortYun So-hwa maintained her proud attitude until the end. After Consort Yun So-hwa left, the other person’s presence was also heard moving away shortly after.

Yeon-oh and Jeokju did not move for a while.

“…”

The number of people Consort Yun So-hwa would call “Your Majesty” was not small. Although one must be at least a Bin to be officially called ‘Your Majesty,’ there were many courtesies among consorts where they would elevate each other, so Consort Yun So-hwa would respectfully address anyone with a higher rank as “Your Majesty.”

Yeon-oh was neither close enough to the consorts nor sensitive enough to his ears to identify them just by their voice. However, by listening to what the person with Consort Yun So-hwa was saying, Yeon-oh could somewhat figure out who was angry and what had been exchanged between them.

Consort Bi.

The person with Consort Yun So-hwa was Consort Bi. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Consort Bi had received the Emperor’s favor before Dam So-ui and had carried the most imperial grandchildren in the past three years. Consort Bi had become pregnant four times but had not been able to hold a single imperial grandchild.

In the court, it was often mentioned that this was because the Emperor lacked virtue, but no one dared to directly say that to the Emperor. He was not a man to even blink an eye if he heard it.

In the end, the one who suffers the most is the person who lost the dragon seed.

Among the consorts, Consort Bi was mocked as the one who had received the most blessings, yet was the most unfortunate.

Therefore, speaking words related to ‘fortune’ in front of Consort Bi was dangerous behavior. Especially saying she lacked fortune was a great offense.

And judging by Yeon-oh’s deduction, Consort Bi seemed to have been given Ja–an–hong by Consort Yun So-hwa and taken it.

Jeokju checked the presence outside and then led Yeon-oh back to where he had been. Only after returning to the original spot without being caught by anyone did Yeon-oh open his mouth.

“You must not speak of what you just heard to anyone.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Nor should you speak of Her thoughts about my aunt to anyone else. If anything happens, come to Giryung Palace, and if I am not here, ask Court Lady Dong for help.”

Jeokju seemed not to know what the strange conversation she had just heard meant, although she thought it was odd. She seemed more surprised that Yeon-oh told her to ask Lady Dong for help when he was absent.

“I will also tell Sister Geumgye.”

The face that seemed to have something to ask soon nodded greatly. Shortly after, Geumgye, holding the two boxes, and Court Lady Dong, holding the silk, approached where they were.

Yeon-oh intently watched Court Lady Dong’s face, who was chatting affectionately with Geumgye.

“Consort Gwi-bi, please let Lady Jeokju attend to you on the way to Giryung Palace today.”

“I shall.”

Court Lady Dong smiled brightly at Yeon-oh, who was looking at her. Yeon-oh withdrew his intent gaze and answered readily. They headed toward Giryung Palace, chatting lightly about everyday matters. There was much to talk about, as the days they had been apart were long.

Geumgye and Jeokju arrived at Giryung Palace, handed over the Empress Dowager’s gifts, and soon left. Their regret was great, but Yeon-oh could not keep them for long.

It was full spring, and the temperature difference between day and night had widened.

Yeon-oh took off the thick, long robe he was wearing to prepare for the chilly dawn. Entering the chamber, he dismissed those around him. However, Court Lady Dong did not withdraw and followed him to the next room, attending to him.

Yeon-oh, who was choosing an outer garment to change into, turned to Court Lady Dong.

“I will withdraw after doing just this.”

Yeon-oh was newly convinced that Court Lady Dong held some secret. He slowly went through the complex words that had been poured into his mind.

” Court Lady Dong, you told me not to get close to Consort Yun So-hwa, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“What was the reason you said that?”

Considering Consort Yun So-hwa’s demeanor toward him and her attitude toward Consort Bi, it was correct advice. It was not good to get close to a person who changed her actions according to the other party, to the point where she seemed like a different person.

Court Lady Dong attended to Yeon-oh, seating him on a chair. Yeon-oh, seated in the chair, motioned for Court Lady Dong to take a nearby chair. Yeon-oh flipped over the teacups prepared on the table and poured tea for himself and Court Lady Dong.

“It is because of Consort Yun So-hwa’s past.”

Court Lady Dong lowered her voice, checking the surroundings, which were empty.

“Past?”

Yeon-oh, who was tilting the dark, reddish teapot, stopped his movement.

“Do you know that Consort Yun So-hwa was a concubine His Majesty had since he was a Prince?”

“I heard it from herself.”

“In His Majesty’s Prince’s residence during his pre-ascension days, there were only the wife, who is now the Empress, and one concubine. Consort Yun So-hwa was sent by the late Emperor, who said it was too simple for an Imperial relative’s inner residence to have only one wife. His Majesty kept only the Empress and Consort Yun So-hwa in the inner residence until he ascended the throne.”

Court Lady Dong’s eyebrows inclined uncomfortably as she spoke.

“That was the case.”

Although Yeon-oh already knew some of the contents from Consort Yun So-hwa, he just nodded.

“Consort Yun So-hwa gave birth to a child less than seven months after arriving as a concubine in the Prince Jeyang’s residence.”

“What…?”

“His Majesty, then as now, visited the inner residence according to rank. Since there were only the Empress and him, he must have visited Consort Yun So-hwa quite often. At the time, when the Prince’s wife had no news of a child even a year after marriage, rumors circulated quietly in the Imperial Capital because the concubine, who had only been brought in recently, conceived a child too early.”

“And that child was born in less than seven months?”

“Consort Yun So-hwa insisted on her innocence. Premature birth is common. However, no one believed Consort Yun So-hwa’s words at the time. This was because the baby, born just over six months, was healthy with no ailments and was even larger than other babies born at the same time.”

Court Lady Dong sighed and laughed bitterly while sipping the tea Yeon-oh offered.

Only then did Yeon-oh understand why the atmosphere among the consorts was not good when he first became aware of Consort Yun So-hwa. Consort Yun So-hwa was intimidated just by the looks around her, while the surrounding consorts tried to avoid her.

“So, what happened?”

“The servants in the Prince’s residence who were guarding Consort Yun So-hwa were all sent to work in remote areas. The incident of the Prince Jeyang’s concubine being pregnant disappeared as if it had never happened. In the Imperial Palace, rumors circulated that Prince Jeyang would make a big issue of the concubine and drive her out, but it ended with just replacing the people one time. His Majesty continued to keep Consort Yun So-hwa in the Prince’s residence.”

Yeon-oh showed no reaction to Court Lady Dong’s composed words. Upon reflection, he felt like he had asked something unnecessary. Since the Emperor did not make an issue of it afterward, the present Consort Yun So-hwa existed.