Chapter 81

“I am merely insufficient, and I am sorry. Co– cough, cough…”

“That is enough. Why blame a sick person? Please sit down. It seems the Empress’s health is the priority. Why is everyone standing? Everyone sit down. Consort Hyeok, you may also rise.”

The Empress Dowager released the stifling atmosphere and spoke gently.

“I am overwhelmed by your grace, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

The hand of Consort Hyeok, who rose and gathered her ledger, was visibly trembling. Her crestfallen voice sounded pitiful.

The Empress Dowager looked disapprovingly at Consort Hyeok, then noticed Yeon-oh, who was about to sit down, and acknowledged him.

“Consort Gwi-bi.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager spoke in a gentle voice, as if her recent fierce reprimand of the Empress and Consort Hyeok was a lie. Her face, even bearing a subtle smile, was benevolent, as if she did not know what anger was.

“I hear the wall of your consort residence collapsed?”

Yeon-oh lowered his raised body and paid his respects.

“I apologize, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. There was an accident due to my negligence in managing the palace. In the future…”

The Empress Dowager lightly laughed upon seeing Yeon-oh, who was about to beg for forgiveness.

“No, no, Consort Gwi-bi. How can you blame the Gwi-bi when the wall collapsed on its own?”

The Empress Dowager comforted the apologetic Yeon-oh with a refreshing voice. Although he should have been touched by her benevolent face and concern, bewilderment took precedence. It was even more awkward because the wall did not collapse on its own, contrary to the Empress Dowager’s words.

However, revealing the cause of the accident now would only be tattling on the one who had committed the offense to the Empress Dowager.

“I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty the Empress Dowager’s boundless grace. I will repair the collapsed wall as quickly as possible.”

Yeon-oh, who had been nervous and bewildered, expressed his gratitude to the Empress Dowager, putting on an expression of being deeply moved.

“Do so.”

The Empress Dowager nodded at Yeon-oh’s words without saying anything further. Yeon-oh smiled back at the gentle voice and warm smile coming from the main seat and gauged the surrounding silence.

It was quiet all around, and there were no eyes staring at him. Yet, Yeon-oh felt pricking stares fixed upon him.

“You may all withdraw for today.”

At the Empress Dowager’s dismissal, the consorts, led by the Empress, rose from their seats and paid their respects.

“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, we withdraw.”

The Empress was the first to leave the hall. Yeon-oh followed after the Empress had fully descended the platform. Court Lady Dong attended to him, whispering in a low voice.

“I hear they will be having tea at the Empress’s Palace today.”

“Indeed.”

Even after leaving the hall, Yeon-oh was cautious. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] He alternated his gaze between the Empress walking ahead and Consort Hyeok following behind. He wanted to offer comfort to Consort Hyeok, but since they were moving toward the Empress’s Palace, it was not easy to do so.

The Empress had decided not to receive formal greetings for the time being. Instead, she sent word that after paying respects to the Empress Dowager, everyone would visit the Empress’s Palace for a light cup of tea together.

Originally, the consorts were supposed to pay their respects to the Empress, and then the daughters-in-law, led by the Empress, would pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

However, the Empress’s health varied from day to day. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] If she could not receive greetings on days her health was poor, the consorts would have made a wasted trip, so it was decided that they would pay their respects to the Empress Dowager first, as before. Instead, when the Empress was healthy enough to greet the Empress Dowager, she would ask them to stop by the Empress’s Palace before parting, as was happening today.

The Empress’s complexion was not bright today. Having just been severely scolded by the Empress Dowager, she seemed intent on showing her well-being by having tea with the consorts.

The daily life of a consort was not easy.

“Yun So-hwa?”

“She entered confinement starting today.”

The incident the Empress took charge of was concluded simply. Citing the reason that Yun So-hwa must be suffering from recent events, the Empress ordered her to remain in her residence.

Yun So-hwa’s eunuch, Yi-chun, insisted on his innocence until the end. Since it was also revealed that the eunuch had not privately visited the residences of the two consorts, the case was dropped because it was difficult to prove his guilt. However, as he was involved in a disgraceful incident, he was expelled from the Imperial Palace.

Considering his merit for having served the Emperor’s consort for a long time, his life was spared, and the Empress promised to help Yi-chun even after he left the palace.

Concluding the incident, the Empress sent gifts to all the consorts to apologize for being away for a long time and not being able to attend to the official palace duties. It was said that she paid special attention to the two victims, Consort Du-Cheob-yeo and Consort Jin, when sending gifts.

The Empress’s Palace bustled with activity, welcoming many consorts for the first time in a long while.

“Consort Gwi-bi Gyo, please partake.”

“Thank you.”

Entering the hall, Yeon-oh dismissed his complex thoughts. As he sat down, the consorts came in one after another according to their rank, filling the seats.

The Empress, who had invited the guests, fixed her makeup and slowly ascended to the main seat.

“Welcome, everyone.”

Coinciding with the Empress taking her seat, tea was served to the consorts. Like the hall, which was decorated for spring, the teacups were also brightly colored. Inside them were flower buds of floral tea, which seemed to have been gifted by Yeon-oh.

“Your Majesty the Empress, thank you for the invitation.”

Yeon-oh smiled at the familiar scent of the floral tea.

“I have bravely brought out the precious floral tea gifted by Consort Gwi-bi, so please enjoy it, everyone.”

The Empress made eye contact with Yeon-oh to express her gratitude, then smiled and offered the tea. Serving maids carrying teapots approached the consorts and poured water into the teacups.

As Yeon-oh opened the teacup lid to help the serving maid.

Ssal-leuk.

Consort Bi was the first to pull a handkerchief from her bosom. The silk handkerchief was embroidered with spring flowers and a poem. Following Consort Bi, Consort Hyang, Consort Neung So-yong, and Consort Du-Cheob-yeo also took out handkerchiefs.

All of them held two handkerchiefs, draping them long. One was embroidered with spring flowers and a poem, and the other was a light solid color.

“…!”

Court Lady Dong, standing beside Yeon-oh, looked around and let out a troubled gasp. Yeon-oh, who turned his gaze at the surprised intake of breath near his ear, met the eyes of Court Lady Dong, who quickly lowered her widened eyes.

He subtly looked around in the direction Lady Dong had been watching.

Every consort, one by one, took two handkerchiefs from their bosoms and held them elegantly.

“Cough, cough.”

The Empress, who was coughing as quietly as possible, was visible. She covered her mouth with a thickly folded handkerchief. Though it was covered by her hand, the handkerchief held in her hand was likely also embroidered with spring flowers and a poem.

When the Empress coughed, Consort Hyeok, who seemed to be lost in thought, and Dam So-ui, who was examining the floral tea, also looked around and hurriedly took out handkerchiefs.

Yeon-oh was the only person in the hall with empty hands, without a handkerchief.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Everyone in the hall cast their gaze on Yeon-oh’s empty hands. The quiet stares felt like sharp blades piercing him.

Yeon-oh calmly picked up his teacup. However, his hands were so stiff that he felt he might drop the cup at any moment. Nothing about a consort’s daily life was easy.

“Cough. Cough, cough, hmm……!”

The Empress’s coughing echoed painfully in the quiet space. The Empress tried to suppress the irregular coughs that burst forth, but it seemed difficult to hold them back.

The Empress, who coughed for a while, spoke with difficulty.

“I am ashamed to face my younger siblings.”

Her face, distressed by the coughing, soon realized the cold atmosphere below the main seat. Every consort seated was holding a handkerchief embroidered with spring flowers and a poem, just like the one she held. As if by promise, they also had a light solid-colored handkerchief draped.

“…”

An awkwardness clouded the Empress’s face. Unlike the Empress, who was observing the atmosphere below, and the faces that quietly sent judging looks, Yeon-oh calmly drank his tea.

This was not the first time in his life he had been alienated. Still, he was flustered. Such blatant exclusion was quite rare.

Court Lady Dong called Yeon-oh in a low voice.

“Consort Gwi-bi.”

The meaning seemed to be that they should make an excuse and leave the awkward situation.

“It’s fine.”

Yeon-oh lowered his teacup and smiled subtly. Consort Hyang saw him smiling and acknowledged him.

“Consort Gwi-bi Gyo, is there something good happening? Why are you laughing alone? Give your younger siblings a chance to laugh with you.”

She was faulting the one who was not supposed to be smiling for smiling.

“It’s because I thought how far I have to go to become a proper consort.”

“What do you mean by that? If Consort Gwi-bi, who is the most favored by His Majesty recently, is not a proper consort, then who would you call a proper consort?”

Consort Hyang said with a wide smile. Her eyes stabbed at Yeon-oh’s empty hands.

“Isn’t the poem embroidered on the handkerchief Consort Hyang is holding the Peach Blossom Feast from Guanhe? Did you do that while thinking of His Majesty? Since not just Consort Hyang, but everyone has a spring-related poem embroidered on their handkerchief.”

“That is…”

“To be a member of the consorts, one must observe the Emperor’s will well. Am I favored? I am just a lazy person who doesn’t even make the effort to embroider a handkerchief to catch the Emperor’s eye. I have a long way to go. I cannot keep up with those who have long experience in the Imperial Palace.”

Yeon-oh’s words were praising the consorts for holding handkerchiefs to match the Emperor’s will. On the surface, they sounded like good words. However, they could also be interpreted as pointing out that the consorts, who vie for favor, decorated their handkerchiefs to look good to the Emperor.

“Consort Gwi-bi, this is…”

Consort Hyang did not immediately say that the handkerchiefs were held for the Empress. Although they were openly ostracizing the Gwi-bi, they could not say it out loud.

Moreover, it was possible that the Gwi-bi knew something she did not.