YCHW Ch 36

After the current emperor ascended the throne, the first reform he addressed was the system governing Yeongchunhwa’s entry into the palace. Originally, Yeongchunhwa were required to enter the palace immediately upon blossoming, forcing them to part with their families. Overturning this, the emperor revised the system so that unblossomed Yeongchunhwa could enter the palace upon reaching adulthood.

Of course, those who wished could enter the palace right after blossoming, and since entering granted favors to both Yeongchunhwa and their families, the poorer ones often preferred early entry.

The Hwasichung was initially an institution solely responsible for searching for blossomed Yeongchunhwa. However, with the emperor’s reforms, blossomed Yeongchunhwa could now live and receive education at the Hwasichung closest to their hometown. This led to an increase in the number of Hwasichung facilities, requiring more personnel, which reportedly faced significant opposition from the court.

Moreover, it was the emperor who expanded the authority of Yeongchunhwa.

Breaking the unspoken precedent that Yeongchunhwa could not interfere in court affairs, he appointed one of the three chancellors as a Yeongchunhwa, a truly groundbreaking move. Additionally, he made the Yeongweiwon, previously under the Ministry of Rites, independent under the empress’s direct control, allowing her to oversee Yeongchunhwa.

Thus, didn’t Yoonso’s father fervently insist that he must become the empress and wield that authority, practically making it his mantra?

The reformed system also contributed to Yoonso’s isolation in the private residence. Since there was no separate Hwasichung and the residence was close to the palace, it was granted the privilege of staying there for protection and education.

Had things remained as before, with immediate palace entry after blossoming, would his life have been different? If his protective energy was deemed unsuitable for the emperor, he might have been dispatched to the borderlands or a Hwasichung, gaining a limited chance to see the world.

Of course, that was merely Yoonso’s optimism. The reason he was considered a candidate for empress was the great potential he possessed. Even if his protective energy wasn’t suitable for the emperor, he would likely have been appointed a concubine, resulting in the same fate of being confined to the palace.

…What difference does it make to speculate about what has already happened? In any case, Yoonso surmised that the emperor, having endured hardships himself after ascending the throne at a young age, reformed the laws to show kindness to Yeongchunhwa.

In a world where some vile people believe others should suffer as they did, how benevolent an act was this? Those who had seen and experienced such an emperor would surely not ignore this matter.

After silently watching Yoonso for a while, Hwi spoke slowly.

“Then, will you go yourself?”

“…Since I’m not directly involved, it’s better if they go.”

A fugitive Yeongchunhwa going to the Hwasichung would be like shouting, “Come catch me.” Yoonso explained about the woman he met in Suhyang.

“It’s best to send a letter through someone. While they seek help from the Hwasichung and come here, we can keep an eye on the shrine to ensure it doesn’t do anything sinister. Oh, but that means staying here longer—will that be alright?”

“Why go to such lengths?”

A chill laced Hwi’s lowered voice, making Yoonso’s eyes widen. Thinking Hwi might be displeased about delaying their schedule, he cautiously gauged his reaction, but the next words revealed a different intent.

“You seem to have forgotten you’re a fugitive. You’ve bought some time, but with pursuers potentially closing in, you want to help a complete stranger? Exposing yourself to more people? You’re mistaken if you think this is a good deed—it’s foolish.”

Caught off guard, Yoonso blinked and scratched his cheek awkwardly. Hwi’s words weren’t wrong, though sharper than necessary. Reflecting on it, Yoonso realized Hwi was worried about him, and his feelings weren’t hurt.

“Still, knowing this, how can I close my mouth and pretend I didn’t see? If I can’t see that child safely return to their family, I don’t think I’ll feel at ease even if I leave. You’re right, sir—it does seem foolish to me too. But… didn’t you promise to protect me?”

With faith that Hwi’s presence would keep the pursuers at bay, yet feeling embarrassed for relying on him so much, Yoonso smiled silently as if brushed by soft grass. Hwi’s eyes wavered, moving over Yoonso’s face.

“That disposition of yours… it’ll end up holding you back.”

A laugh escaped Yoonso’s lips. With a mix of innocence and resolve, he replied.

“You say I’ll be held back again. Maybe so, but even if that happens, is it my fault? The world that holds me back for such things is the problem.”

Even if this incident caused him harm, he wouldn’t regret choosing to help them. It was for his own peace of mind, so who could he blame? He only felt sorry for making Hwi wait here. Yet, on the other hand… having this extra time together felt foolishly good.

Hwi stared at Yoonso with an unreadable expression, then suddenly reached out. As his hand neared Yoonso’s face, Yoonso tensed, his neck stiffening. Hwi’s fingers gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind Yoonso’s ear and withdrew.

Yoonso bit the inside of his cheek to keep his lips from trembling.

Hwi curled his fingers and stood, walking to the window. His back, gazing outside, was so resolute that Yoonso couldn’t discern his thoughts. For a while, Yoonso held onto a desperate wish to do anything to understand Hwi’s heart.

𓇢𓆸

“You’re here.”

Sooner than expected, the women arrived at the inn. The woman from Suhyang rushed to Yoonso, grasping his hands tightly.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

“It was just luck that I saw the child. I’m glad to help, so don’t worry about it.”

“Still, if it weren’t for you…”

Yoonso’s shoulder was pulled back, causing their hands to part naturally. Confirming Hwi standing behind him, Yoonso smiled and presented him to the women.

“This is my master.”

He thought Hwi might share his name, but Hwi remained silent with an indifferent expression. Unable to speak his name first, Yoonso gave an awkward smile, and the women bowed deeply to Hwi.

“Come, you must be tired from the journey—please sit.”

Yoonso seated the women, poured them tea, and waited for them to catch their breath before asking.

“How did it go?”

“We rushed to the Hwasichung and explained everything, and they agreed to help readily. One Yongrin is already secretly investigating that *moneylender, and they’ll deploy troops to raid the shrine at *noon, so if all goes well, we’ll see Hyungseo.”

“That’s a relief. I knew the Hwasichung would help willingly.”

“If they’re human, they should know to lend a hand.”

Yoonso’s hand paused as he lifted his teacup. The woman’s tone about the Hwasichung was noticeably cold and stiff. Another woman gave her a subtle glance, but Yoonso smiled without comment.

“By the way, what are your names? When I met Hyungseo, I mentioned the red knotted cord at the teahouse since I didn’t know your name.”

They introduced themselves: the woman from Suhyang was Kyungae, Hyungseo’s older sister was Eunkang, and the older-looking woman was Hyunsong. Yoonso introduced himself as Deokyoon, and though it was a pseudonym, exchanging names made him feel closer to them.

“I can’t just sit still—it’s making me anxious.”

As *noon approached, Kyungae chewed her lips nervously. Eunkang, Hyungseo’s sibling, calmly urged her to wait. Listening to their conversation, it seemed the three weren’t blood relatives, and Yoonso wondered how they were connected.

While quietly listening, Hwi, standing by the window, tapped the wall.

“It’s started.”

At Hwi’s words, everyone rushed to the window.

The room’s high vantage point offered a clear view of soldiers blocking the road. Seeing Yongrin with dragon-embroidered sashes stirred unease in Yoonso.

When the soldiers stormed the shrine, the priests would likely panic. Thinking of the people who prayed and donated their meager savings, trusting the shrine, Yoonso felt uneasy about their disappointment and heartbreak. Why the shrine was involved in buying and selling children was unclear, but it was something those serving the Dragon God should never do.

“I need to go see.”

As the outside grew chaotic, Kyungae left the room, wanting to watch from closer. The other women followed, leaving the room quiet.