Chapter 24

It was three days later that the Song family was annihilated. And on the last day of the month, Court Lady Yoon appeared with a palanquin at the Empress Hall.

“The Empress has given you an order to keep the promise.”

That morning, Sa Heon-young was in a very good mood.

The night before, he had decided to take Young-young on a winter hunt. After their relationship, she listened intently when he told Young-young, who rarely had sparkling eyes, about winter hunting. Sa Heon-young brought a bow and showed her how to shoot a bow, and told a story of winter hunting, and Young-young said that she wanted to go with him. He hugged her from behind and taught her how to shoot her bow. Without the strength of her arms as much as her legs, she could not even pull Sa Heon-yeong’s bowstring. However, when Sa Heon-young grabbed her hand and pulled the string, she was excited and said, “Wow.”

He talked about hunting all night long. Young-young said she wants her own bow. When he asked if she could pull the string, she said she would practice. It was interesting and peculiar that Young-young, who had never said much even after buying all kinds of luxurious accessories, showed interest in bows, so he promised, ‘I’ll bring you a bow as pretty as the wife.’ He thought that if it was a children’s dragon’s bow, Young-young might be able to use it as well. If she wants to grab something she just has to let him grab her from behind. Shall he take her hand and pull the string to catch the bird? Then will she be as happy as she is now? On the night Young-Young was asleep, looking down at her face, Sa Heon-Young made plans to go hunting with her. On the way back, shall they go up the river? Has she ever been on a boat? Wouldn’t it be fun to ride a luxurious boat with a horn hanging on it? Does she want to let the lanterns float at night? He’s been thinking all night.

…… promise

Sa Heon-young’s good mood faded a little.

He knew his mother very well. The elegance and cruelty of a woman who lived her life in a noble way.

“Your Highness.”

Court Lady Yoon, who was bowing her head, raised her head. As Sa Heon-yeong looked down at her with her arms crossed, she opened her mouth with her wretched face.

“Despite the insolence, I’d like to say a word to you.”

“…….”

“Her Highness the Empress is patient. Please do not let her mercy be in vain.”

“The Mercy of the Exalted One.”

“…….”

“You say that many times. As if I had no respect.”

It happened in the year Sa Heon-yeong turned seven.

That summer was very hot. Sa Heon-yeong was a young child and his patience was lacking. The mask on his young child’s gentle skin was painful, and Sa Heon-yeong took off his mask one day from his front door. It was just that. His palace was very remote and there were few of his maids and attendants. So he thought it would be fine.

But it went straight into the prince’s ears. The prince said that it is not enough to beat Sa Heon-yeong, saying that the goblin-like beast must be well-tamed at first, to make him remember for the rest of his life.

The two were twins, but in fact, Sa Heon-yeong was able to overcome and subdue the prince if he wanted to. The Crown Prince was in good health in his outer appearance, but his body was weak, and Sa Heon-yeong, on the other hand, had a healthy body. But that wasn’t the case. So Sa Heon-yeong was helplessly beaten under the prince and watched in horror as the prince raised his sword high into the air. Someone help me. Save me. He turned his head to find Court Lady Yoon, a nanny like his mother. Court Lady Yoon, save me. And Sa Heon-yeong found Court Lady Yoon and her mother.

Court Lady Yoon brought his mother.

Sa Heon-young realized at that moment. Who informed the prince that Sa Heon-yeong had taken off his mask.

Court Lady Yoon informed the Crown Prince and brought his mother to the palace. His mother shouted, “Stop,” but the Crown Prince did not stop. The prince left a long cut on Sa Heon-yeong’s body. A cut like the stigma of a sinner. The wound was so deep that Sa Heon-yeong had to suffer at the crossroads of his life and death. Court Lady Yoon took care of him and demanded with a strict voice the whole time.

‘Be grateful for the mercy of the Exalted One.’

Sa Heon-yeong stared intently at the face of the traitor, whom he had regarded as his mother, with excited eyes. The first traitor in his life. The woman who taught him betrayal still speaks of the mercy of the exalted one. His stomach is twisted.

Court Lady Yoon, who recalled the same time, opened her mouth with a face full of injustice.

“Your Highness, I will never,”

“I don’t want to hear it, so stop.”

“Your Highness…… !”

“It is as if the lowly one dares to disrespect me by speaking about the mercy of the exalted one. Know that your master is a noble person, and that your humble life is not known. Get out of here right now.”

Court Lady Yoon looked up at Sa Heon-yeong.

She herself raised him. His Highness King Mun, who she was proud of even if others call him the demon king. As a court lady, she did not have any children, so Sa Heon-yeong was actually no different from her children. But sometimes she thinks. If he had been her real child, on that summer day, would she have been able to tell the prince about the mask? She didn’t know that the prince could be so cruel. Had she known he would be so cruel, she wouldn’t have said it…… , no, could she not have said it? It would have been difficult for her to save her own life if someone else had told the prince about it. How can she not say it?

Why can’t you understand my situation? Except for that time, I did my best for you.

It was only once, Your Highness. Only once.

“My wife will greet her tomorrow. If you know, disappear with that filthy thing.”

It was as if to disappear from life.

Court Lady Yoon looked up at Sa Heon-yeong and politely bowed her head.

“I will take my leave.”

Before Court Lady Yoon could even speak, Sa Heon-Young turned his back. Seeing him disappear, Court Lady Yoon bit her lip.

*

The next morning, the frost fell.

Sa Heon-yeong took Young-young, who had lost consciousness because of the long relationship, and carefully put her into his bathtub. Hng. Young-young shuddered slightly from the heat, but soon she calmed down again.

There was the sound of crackling, tapping, and sparks from the furnace. Young-young, who rested her head on the arm that Sa Heon-young gave to her, slept with her mouth wide open and wheezing. Sa Heon-yeong’s hands carefully wiped away her sensitive areas, and she groaned.

“Unng, hng. Wh, what…….”

“Are you waking up?”

Lord Heon-young? Young-young whispered. She didn’t mean to ask if it’s Lord Heon-young.” It was a confirmation tone. Sa Heon-young, who felt happy at the voice saying, “It should be you,” kissed her round forehead.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“You said we were going to the palace together today.”

“Yes. I will take the wife to the Empress Hall, and I have an attendance.”

Attendance. That means going to work. Young-young blinked her eyes and remembered the Empress. She was a very beautiful woman. Since Young-Young was born, she had never met such a beautiful woman. But looking back, she was a little scared.

“Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Queen Mother. You have to call her Queen Mother.”

Sa Heon-yeong shook his head and corrected it. Young-young asked slowly.

“Queen Mother?”

“You’re my wife. She has become your mother. It means Empress Mother.”

“Her Highness Queen Mother,”

“No, just Queen Mother. You can say that. When she calls you, all you have to do is say Queen Mother.”

“It’s hard.”

“Yes, the court system is a bit complicated in the first place.”

Young-young sighed. Not only her but also Sa Heon-yeong was naked. Unable to hold onto his collar, she grabbed Sa Heon-yeong’s long hair.

“Lord Heon-young speaks a lot of difficult things……, I can’t do that.”

Young-young muttered anxiously with a sullen face. Sa Heon-yeong whispered as he comforted her.

“Anyway, the only thing the Queen Mother wants from the wife is a song. She said it in the first place. I think she’ll ask you to do it once.”

“Yes.”

“You can come and sing a song while she takes a nap. You don’t have to say difficult things.”

Of course, the Queen Mother will despise her for all eternity. But it didn’t matter, because after this job he’d never let her soul into that messy place again. She only needs to go there once.

The hazy face showed no sign of clearing, so Sa Heon-yeong brought a sweet proposal to her.

“Tomorrow, let’s go out together to the market and pick a bow to take to the hunt.”

“Market?”

Young-Young had never been out before. She had been told it was a very large place, but she didn’t know the size of the place, so she tilted her head. Market? What kind of place is that?

Young-young was quite curious about it . She was like a bird. But unlike before, Sa Heon-yeong has become quite generous with this bird. This bird, even when the cage door was open, only tilted, tilted, but never left the cage. It was a bird that only walked out by touching Sa Heon-yeong’s finger. Without Sa Heon-yeong’s embrace, the bird did not move. She thought she couldn’t move.

As long as she was in his arms, he’ll let her enjoy everything in the world. Sa Heon-young smiled brightly.

“You can ask them to come in, but we can go out and eat something delicious.”

“Something delicious?”

“But you know? The wife’s legs have no power. So you have to hold me tight. If you can make a promise.”

“Yes, I know. I can’t walk. If I keep walking, I will lose strength and it will be a big deal.”

“You are good. If you promise me, let’s fly a lantern together. Write down your wishes and throw it back in the sky.”

“I have seen it!”

When she lived in the mountains, sometimes hundreds of lights would flash and flow somewhere. Looks like it’s a lantern. When Young-young nodded her head, saying ‘that’s nice’, Sa Heon-young laughed. Well, it’s not the time to fly the lanterns, but who’s going to say that when the inspector general said he would fly them?

Young-young told the maids about the lantern and a bow while she was dressing up, and she smiled broadly. The maids are amused, and the girls are envious, smiled bitter inside as they responded appropriately. What is the use of a lantern or a bow? How much is the value of the things hanging on Young-young’s body? It was when the maids were smiling because Young-young, who had a cute appearance, spoke lanterns, and had bright eyes, looked like a child with a luxurious appearance.

“Oh, I, I will do it.”

Young-young rushed after getting dressed up. She put on Sa Heon-yeong’s official cap, which was his official uniform. She also fastened the sword sash and she accepted the carnelian earrings from the attendant. The ruby

earring placed in the middle of the earlobe is the symbol of the inspection team, symbolizing that it has received the blood of the emperor. In ancient times, when appointing an Inspector General, the emperor directly bled and dripped a drop of blood into each ear. It was a ritual not to listen to anyone except the emperor. The ceremony was simplified later, and all inspectors wore ruby

earrings with their ears pierced in the middle of the earlobe. And on his left ear, he wears a rather slanted earring to indicate that he is an Inspector General. Young-young, who fitted the cold object that felt more like a weapon rather than an earring, in the right way, smiled.

“It’s done.”

“Thank you. I have a feeling that things will go well today.”

At Sa Heon-young’s words, Young-young smiled.

After she finished dressing up, Sa Heon-young hugged her familiarly. As he rode the carriage with her to the imperial palace, the two talked about what to do tomorrow. They will eat dumplings and rice lanterns, flew lanterns, and while smiling happily, saying let’s go on a boat, the carriage entered the Imperial Palace.

Rumble, rumble. Shaking subtly.