Chapter 95

“…”

Court Lady Dong closed the inner chamber door, returned, and watched him for a moment.

“Dam So-ui did not put it there.”

Yeon-oh picked up the teacup placed on the side table. He opened his lips into an elegant shape and gently blew on the warm tea to cool it. The face looking down at the teacup was clear and beautiful, but the brows that lifted as he spoke gave an arrogant and chilly impression, and his low whisper seemed sinister.

It was a look befitting the rumored wicked Gwi-bi of the Imperial Palace.

“Will it be alright not to keep this a secret? A rumor that the golden phoenix hairpin was found in the Giryung Palace will not be good for Gwi-bi Mama.”

Yeon-oh lifted his eyebrows and smiled. The sight of it looked rather villainous.

“The rumor cannot be spread. I just told you that if the rumor spreads that the golden phoenix hairpin was found in the Giryung Palace, Dam So-ui would be suspected of planting the hairpin here to frame me. Dam So-ui is afraid of being seen as the aggressor by others.”

“But why is your expression like that?”

“I am imitating His Majesty.”

“The calm face a moment ago was nothing like His Majesty.”

“That was me imitating the Madam of Yeongsan. It is not easy to throw words that turn the other person into trash while being unguarded and pretending to be graceful.”

Neither his current expression nor the face he wore when cornering Dam So-jun seemed manufactured. It seemed even less like he was imitating others.

However, Court Lady Dong did not point it out.

“…”

Yeon-oh was lost in thought.

“Since he poured tea on me last time yet treated me like a wicked person, I intended to make him kneel properly at least once.”

“Could you not become close with Dam So-ui?”

“There is no way Dam So-ui would not know that His Majesty used me for him, and even if he doesn’t know, he will find out eventually. If the person who was used because of him pretends to be close, would that be seen as brave? No, that would be a fool with no sense. If we cannot be close, I prefer to simply remain strangers rather than force a friendship.”

While speaking, Yeon-oh, deep in thought, recalled that his recent experiences seemed familiar. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Being framed as a thief in the consort palace, followed by ominous incidents in his chamber.

‘Yun So-hwa.’

Yeon-oh wore an expression of realization. The realization was momentary.

‘The method and sequence with which Yun So-hwa was bullied by Consort Bi.’

Court Lady Dong, seeing Yeon-oh’s eyes widen, spoke cautiously.

“Gwi-bi Mama, what is the matter?”

“Has… Dam So-ui visited Consort Bi recently?”

“Yes, a while ago Dam So-ui paid respects to Consort Bi, and since then, he seems to visit frequently. There was contact before, but it was not as frequent as recently. Dam So-ui is close with Hyangbin and also interacts with Consort Hyeok, who is close to the Empress, so he often visits the Seonin Palace. He visits Consort Bi’s Handan Palace just as often.”

Among the Empress, Consort Hyeok, and Consort Bi, Consort Bi was the most likely possibility. The methods were also similar to what was done to Yun So-hwa before.

“Please ask Chief Agent Cho Seom-neung of the Southern Heaven State to visit soon if I call him from the Giryung Palace. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Please arrange this in advance.”

“Yes.”

“If there is a maid who frequents the room next to the inner chamber and interacts with outsiders, put a tail on her. It would be good if we could find out if there is a mastermind behind the outsider.”

“I will obey your command.”

Court Lady Dong bowed her head and accepted the order. As if answering Yeon-oh’s gaze, Court Lady Dong met his eyes and nodded. Court Lady Dong did not say it aloud, but she agreed with Yeon-oh’s suspicion.

“There is a spy in the Giryung Palace.”

It took him some time to admit it. After accepting the bitter reality, it didn’t hurt as much as he thought it would.

******

Early in the morning, Court Lady Dong came to wake Yeon-oh. Gentle hands helped him rise, as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Court Lady Dong whispered lowly into Yeon-oh’s ear.

“It was Mo-hwa.”

The face shaking off sleep paused.

“Mo-hwa?”

Court Lady Dong looked at Yeon-oh with a downcast expression that matched her gloomy voice. Her face even seemed sorrowful.

“Yes, Mo-hwa’s face, hands, and feet have developed red blisters. It looks like a plague, so I have temporarily moved the maids who share her room to different quarters. I had the eunuch Seok guard the entrance to the pavilions of Mo-hwa and the maids who were moved.”

“You have suffered hardship.”

“I apologize.”

Court Lady Dong often used curt speech. Although her attitude was offensive to the court ladies, she was actually a person who cherished those close to her more than anyone.

“We cannot be sure it’s Mo-hwa yet. Summon Chief Agent Cho Seom-neung of the Southern Heaven State. Have him check around the maids’ quarters and all the pavilions in the Giryung Palace for anything dangerous or suspicious.”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Check all the bowls, clothes, accessories, and articles used by Mo-hwa, discard anything that can be thrown away, and replace them with new ones. Also check and replace the belongings of the maids who shared the pavilion with Mo-hwa. Burn and dispose of the collected items, and have those who checked the items wash with water that cleanses misfortune. Oh, has the Imperial Physician visited?”

Court Lady Dong shook her head at Yeon-oh’s question.

“Not yet. It is too early to summon the Imperial Physician. However, do you intend to look after her to that extent?”

“I have saved up quite a bit of blind money.”

Yeon-oh spoke with a laugh. Court Lady Dong opened her eyes wide and looked at Yeon-oh, who was speaking playfully, as if admonishing him.

“Mama, what do you mean by blind money?”

“Go on.”

“I shall withdraw.”

*******

Imperial Physician Jang, who had practically become the Giryung Palace’s dedicated physician, wore a serious expression. The eunuch guarding the pavilion door opened it.

“Please enter.”

“Thank you.”

Imperial Physician Jang entered the pavilion, preparing to lower his body.

“The formality is unnecessary. Did you examine the patient? Is it a serious illness?”

The clear and beautiful master of the Giryung Palace received Imperial Physician Jang graciously.

“I am undeserving, Gwi-bi Mama. I apologize, but this is a disease I have never seen before. Given the appearance and condition of the blisters, I suspect it is caused by consuming or being exposed to something toxic. It does not appear to be highly contagious, but just in case, it would be best for Gwi-bi Mama to avoid direct contact with the patient.”

“Will you prescribe medicine?”

“First, I will prescribe medicine to treat the blisters and observe the progression.”

“You have worked hard.”

At the elegant request to leave coming from the seat of honor, Imperial Physician Jang bowed his head deeply and withdrew. After the physician left, Court Lady Dong, who had been standing back, returned to the inner chamber. Cho Seom-neung walked out from the space connecting the inner chamber to the side room.

“What are the Chief Agent’s thoughts?”

Cho Seom-neung went to where Imperial Physician Jang had been and bowed gracefully.

“Imperial Physician Jang is a good physician with high acumen.”

“What happens if the symptoms of the cheung-cheung fruit worsen? You said it is currently about the second stage out of five.”

“When it enters the fifth, most severe stage, the blisters turn as red as blood, and itching occurs around the blisters. Fever rises, and some patients experience hallucinations.”

Court Lady Dong, who was listening, was expressionless, but she couldn’t entirely conceal her gloomy look.

“Is consuming the cheung-cheung fruit the only way to worsen the symptoms?”

“No. There are many ways to worsen the disease. You can feed the patient something that clashes with the nature of the illness, or create an environment that further stimulates it. To worsen the symptoms of the cheung-cheung fruit, feeding the patient peppermint leaf tea is sufficient.”

Cho Seom-neung reported what he knew with a gentle expression. Silence continued in the seat of honor for a while.

“Will she be in great pain?”

“She will sufficiently feel the terror of knowing someone is threatening her life.”

Unlike Yeon-oh, who was pondering, Cho Seom-neung replied with an indifferent attitude.

“Can the symptoms worsen to the point of endangering her life?”

“No.”

“Court Lady Dong, put peppermint leaf tea in Mo-hwa’s room. Tell Seok-wi, who is guarding the entrance to the maids’ pavilion, to withdraw and rest at the third watch.”

Court Lady Dong bowed her head at Yeon-oh’s command.

“Yes, Gwi-bi Mama.”

******

The Emperor stopped visiting the Giryung Palace. This was due to the earnest requests of the ministers, who pleaded with him to prepare for any unexpected situation, since one of the Giryung Palace court ladies had contracted a potentially plague-like illness.

Not only the Emperor, but all foot traffic to the Giryung Palace abruptly ceased.

The Gwi-bi did not leave the palace, citing the potential to spread harm. The Empress Dowager and the Empress accepted the Gwi-bi’s intention, allowing him to be excused from paying respects for the time being.

The Giryung Palace became like an isolated island.

Even the lowest-ranking eunuchs were reluctant to visit the Giryung Palace, so the repair of the collapsed wall proceeded slowly. The remnants of the burnt tree in the orchard and the pulled-out tree that had been planted as a pair looked desolate.

Fortunately, Imperial Physician Jang and the doctors from the Imperial Infirmary, who visited the Giryung Palace under the Emperor’s order, consistently came to attend to the patient, ensuring the herbal decoctions were not interrupted. Every time they visited the Giryung Palace, they brought in essential supplies and items sent by the Gyo House, allowing the daily routine of the pavilion to continue without difficulty.

Mo-hwa lay on a blanket that was simultaneously crisp and soft with the feel of newness. The new blanket, which smelled fragrant, was currently becoming damp with her own cold sweat.

“Argh, ugh…”

White hangnails had risen on her parched lips. Her murky vision, looking up at the ceiling, spun with dizziness. Whenever her head spun, she felt as if she might close her eyes forever.

This was different from the promise.