Chapter 45
Chapter 45. Lady Yun was beside herself with rage, but
“Your Majesty, this concubine has erred.”
Queen’s Palace.
Lady Yun prostrated herself before the Queen.
“Hong Seung-hwi, or rather Hong Ga, who is now a Royal Lady, is my grand-niece. She has been in the Palace for many years, but she has not been able to fully win His Highness the Crown Prince’s heart, and I felt pity for my niece who lived in constant anxiety. So I prepared jewels and silks for her. That child then relied on me and told me all the details of the East Palace. What would I, who receive Your Majesty’s utmost favor, have to gain by stirring up trouble? I beg you, please understand.”
Lady Yun wept as she offered her apology and excuses.
“That day, Your Majesty was in distress, and Gwaya there shouted at me to leave, telling me that I should let Your Majesty rest quietly. I was returning with that thought in mind…”
My niece earnestly pleaded with me, grabbing my hand and asking me to spare a moment to discuss something important. I could not refuse her so I briefly visited her quarters.
She explained, in a mournful tone, that Hong Seung-hwi had found evidence that Gwaya had used sorcery to harm His Highness the Grandson, and she had excitedly shown her a silk pouch. Lady Yun had advised her that such matters required utmost caution and that she should first report it to His Highness the Crown Prince. However, it seemed her niece, perhaps due to the Crown Prince’s recent exclusive favor towards Gwaya, had rashly gone to His Majesty the King.
“I should have sternly admonished her, making her remember that a concubine’s duty is simply to endure and serve His Highness with all her heart. I failed to consider the depth of my niece’s jealousy towards Gwaya, who monopolizes His Highness’s favor. Because I felt too much pity for my niece’s situation, I could not reprimand her severely, leading to this disaster. Please punish this concubine, Your Majesty.”
Her words were truly masterful.
While admitting fault, she subtly shifted the blame entirely onto Hong Seung-hwi, skillfully framing herself as merely a benevolent soul who pitied her niece, unable to win the Crown Prince’s love.
Yunseo, who was prostrating herself behind Lady Yun, quietly awaited the Queen’s words.
“…Indeed. I know well that you cared for your niece, even preparing restorative tonics with precious medicinal herbs for her each season. I know well. However…”
“!”
Restorative tonics?
Yunseo let the Queen’s words that followed drift away, her mind conjuring the face of Hong Ga’s daughter, Geum-ah. Her pale complexion, her slow cognitive development, and her clumsy actions – Yunseo had a hunch they might be related to those tonics.
‘It is necessary to investigate the ingredients of the medicine Hong Ga has been taking from Lady Yun.’
As Yunseo reached this conclusion, the Queen’s admonishment continued.
“Are not the other concubines of the Crown Prince also your close relatives? If you converse freely with them and relay information as you did with Hong Seung-hwi, the same incident will repeat itself. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. From now on, I will keep my distance from the Inner Palace of the East Palace and live in seclusion. May I offer one more word?”
“What is it?”
Lady Yun prostrated herself again, then raised her head when the Queen granted permission.
“The position of head of the Inner Palace of the East Palace is vacant, and many Seunghwi, unable to frequently attend His Highness the Crown Prince since entering the Palace, are in a state of panic and have been sending people to ask me, who has been in the Palace for a long time, for advice quite often.”
“…Is that so? Hmm. That could be the case.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Until now, Hong Seung-hwi, who entered the Palace the longest, served as the head of the Inner Palace. But now she has committed a crime and is to be dismissed, so what will happen from now on?”
“!”
Why was the conversation suddenly veering in such an odd direction?
“It has been quite some time since Consort Hyundeok sadly passed away, and His Majesty also recently rescinded the order for a marriage ban to select a new Crown Princess. All these troubles arise because the mistress of the East Palace is vacant. Therefore, it would be best to re-issue the marriage ban and welcome a virtuous and wise lady from a noble family as the Crown Princess.”
“…Hmm.”
“Before, for various reasons, prominent families were reluctant to participate in the selection of the Crown Princess. But now, everyone knows that His Highness the Crown Prince has an upright character and possesses the qualities of a wise ruler. If it were now, there would be many noble ladies from prestigious families participating in the selection. Considering His Highness the Grandson, who is lonely, and our Lord of Pyeongchang, wouldn’t it be good to provide them with a strong maternal family?”
Lady Yun was indeed a formidable opponent.
Realizing that directly eliminating Yunseo was not easy, she immediately devised another scheme. If she could not act directly, she intended to introduce a strong rival within the Palace who could check Yunseo and fight in her stead.
“Gwaya, what do you think?”
The Queen asked Yunseo.
Before Yunseo could answer, Lady Yun interjected, “What words can a mere Palace Lady offer? Gwaya only desires His Highness’s favor. However, the position of Crown Princess is of great importance. Even if she has received His Highness’s favor, can a Palace Lady from a humble family truly bear it?”
“Hey! I did not ask you. Did I not just tell you to live in seclusion?!”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
Lady Yun prostrated herself again.
However, Lady Yun’s actions, believing she had succeeded in capturing the Queen’s attention, carried an air of composure.
Watching Lady Yun slowly bend and straighten, Yunseo realized once more.
In this harsh society of social hierarchy, it would not be easy to protect not only Hongwi but also Lee Hyang’s love.
“Gwaya, what do you think?”
The Queen asked again.
Yunseo opened her mouth, intending to say what she had told King Sejong the previous day: “How dare a mere subject offer an opinion on the affairs of the superiors?”
However, what came out of her mouth was different.
“Because my love for His Highness the Crown Prince is so great, I am not in a position to say anything, Your Majesty.”
“L-love, how can someone of humble birth be so shameless!”
Lady Yun stared at Yunseo with a look of astonishment.
The Queen also looked at Yunseo with surprise. She had never seen a woman openly reveal her feelings in front of others like this.
But Yunseo’s expression was serene.
Her clasped hands in front of her, her body held upright – not a flicker of wavering.
She believed that if all one possessed was their heart, then revealing that heart fully would be the most powerful persuasion.
“….”
The Queen mulled over the words of the Palace Lady Gwaya,
and at the same time, recalled the Crown Prince’s profound affection for Gwaya.
‘If they are so happy together, perhaps selecting a Crown Princess right now would be too hasty. If the Crown Prince does not even glance at the noble lady we select… Moreover, if Gwaya were to become pregnant during such a time, it would only complicate matters further.’
However, Yunseo could clearly see from the Queen’s demeanor that Lady Yun’s suggestion of a “virtuous lady from a reputable family as Crown Princess” had left a deep impression on Queen Soheon.
‘Lady Yun acting this way means she has reached some understanding with the forces allied with her regarding the position of Crown Princess?’
With whom had she made what kind of deal?
Was she trying to fill the position of Crown Princess, which had been avoided until now, to check me, and in the meantime, plot something else?
Whatever that something might be, it would be closely related to Lee Hyang’s future reign, and even more distantly, to the safety and governance of our Hongwi.
“Gwaya. The position a woman of the Crown Prince holds is difficult to attain or maintain with mere love, so you too must keep in mind what has been discussed today.”
The Queen, perhaps sharing the same suspicion, subtly warned Yunseo.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will keep it in mind.”
“Your Majesty, Gwaya is merely a…”
“Hey!”
As Yunseo spoke, Lady Yun tried to interject and say something else, but the Queen slammed her hand on the writing desk before her.
“What have you been listening to? Did I not tell you not to meddle in the affairs of the East Palace? I have overlooked the incident where Hyundong hit the Grandson on the head, resulting in a palace servant being beaten with a rod and still being teased by the Grandson’s childish imitation, and the fact that you openly discussed the East Palace’s sleeping arrangements! Do you truly wish to see all these matters brought to light?”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
Lady Yun’s face turned deathly pale.
“Because you have handled many royal affairs well in place of the vacant Crown Princess, I have overlooked your past transgressions out of appreciation for your service. But this is the only time. From now on, never, ever! Speak of or even think about the affairs of the East Palace. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lady Yun bit her lip and lowered her head. The knuckles of the hands clutching the hem of her ornate skirt turned white, devoid of blood.
“Hyundong must also show proper respect to the Grandson from now on. When our Hongwi is officially appointed as the Crown Grandson next year, you must address him properly as His Highness the Crown Grandson!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Yunseo, though she inwardly chuckled while prostrating herself, did not feel entirely triumphant.
She had realized that it would not be easy for her, lacking a strong background, to secure a proper position within the royal Inner Court.
What should she do? How?
‘Just as successfully carrying out the Royal Pharmacy’s affairs to accumulate wealth and power, and gathering external forces, it is essential to build a base of support within the Palace.’
Jang Ok-jeong could ascend to the position of Queen not only due to her exceptional beauty but also because of her brother Jang Hee-jae’s immense wealth, and King Sukjong’s political need to strengthen royal authority by using the Southerners to check the Westerners. These factors combined made it possible. Yunseo keenly realized that, apart from Lee Hyang’s profound affection, she possessed nothing yet.
But she could not be discouraged.
She could not be discouraged, especially for Lee Hyang, who accepted even the fact that she was a soul from the future and promised to wait until she could love him completely!
The calm weather suddenly turned into a fierce wind as Yunseo descended into the courtyard of the Queen’s Palace. Lady Yun, who had left the Queen’s Palace before her, was waiting for her. A cold, sharp killing intent poured from her eyes.
Regardless.
Yunseo slightly bowed, showing respect, and tried to pass by Lady Yun.
But then.
“This is not the end of it.”
“?”
Lady Yun strode forward and whispered to Yunseo. As if pre-arranged, Jo Jeon-eon and the attendants standing behind Lady Yun pretended not to see or hear anything.
“You must have been happy, thinking you’ve accomplished something, right?”
Lady Yun sneered at Yunseo.
“However, even if you cry and beg for forgiveness, saying you were wrong today, it will be useless. I will tear you to shreds.”
“Says who?”
“What?”
“Do you think you can do as you please?”
“W-what, your, your will?”
“Why? Shall we see who gets torn apart?”
“Y-you wretch, how dare you!”
Lady Yun’s eyes widened in fury.
It was quite amusing to see the lady, who always acted so noble, rolling her eyes like that.
“Getting too excited is not good for your health, Madam. Please take care of yourself. I shall take my leave now.”
Yunseo bowed respectfully, as if the previous use of informal language had never happened, and left the spot.
“Y-you wretch! Did you just threaten me?”
Lady Yun roared, hopping mad.
“What? Threaten me?”
Yunseo turned back to Lady Yun with a look of surprise.
“You just threatened me!”
“What are you talking about? How could I possibly…”
“J-just now, that, that…”
Lady Yun’s eyes wavered with shock.
Looking at Yunseo, who was smiling brightly, or rather, looking at her eyes that now held a chilling smile, Lady Yun finally understood.
She had exploited the fact that she had deliberately spoken at a distance, where others could not hear.
No matter how angry she became and rushed to the Queen’s Palace to report it, if Yunseo claimed she was falsely accusing her, she would have no recourse.
Who would believe that a mere Palace Lady had spoken rudely to a Madam?
Since no one had heard it.
She felt like she was going mad.
That wretch,
I will never let her go!
---------------------------------------
