YCHW Ch 69

“Yes. It’s a pleasure for me too, to chat with you like this.”

“Really? Then don’t forget. I am by your side, Your Majesty.”

Yoonso noticed a piece of concern in Yeondeok’s face and reached out, squeezing his arm tightly before letting go.

“Yes, I know. If it weren’t for you, I would truly be nothing.”

“Don’t say such things. The people of Jiseo Palace all say in one voice that Your Majesty is a good master. They say it’s a godsend to be able to serve you. Of course, you know that I’m the one who feels that the most, right?”

He had never thought of himself that way, but it seemed he was actually a greedy person. Despite clearly being surrounded by good people and in an environment he could accept as a great blessing, he kept digging endlessly in pursuit of what he lacked. Yoonso felt the wave of emotion wagging its tail between joy and sadness and nodded his head.

As they walked, chatting about this and that, they soon drew near the Yeong위원. The small talk and the stroll after getting out of the palanquin both helped to ease Yoonso’s mood considerably.

He had always gone around the wall surrounding the Yeong위원 to get to the archery ground, in case he ran into the noble ladies and made them uncomfortable. He was about to do the same this time and pass by the side gate, when through the open gate, he saw a familiar back in the distance, and his steps naturally came to a halt.

There was a short stone bridge over a fairly large pond covered with water lilies that had not yet bloomed, and Hwi and the Worthy Consort were standing side by side in the middle of it, talking. Yoonso’s gaze was stolen by the sight of the two, and he could not look away from them.

The atmosphere of them standing together was very natural, and the Worthy Consort’s complexion also looked comfortable. Perhaps because they were of the same age, or perhaps because they were both mature and steadfast, he even had the impression that they were harmonious.

It must have been an ordinary scene that had continued since before he entered the palace, before he even knew Hwi. A solidarity, time, and trust that he did not know must be flowing between them.

“I heard His Majesty went to Geumju with Lady Worthy Consort this time.”

“Yes. Don’t they look so good together? Whenever they’re so affectionate like that, they seem like childhood friends, or like a pair of * twin lotus blossoms on a single stem.”

“I know, right? If this weren’t the palace, they would have just been a handsome couple.”

Whispering voices could be heard from over the wall. It seemed the noble ladies were gossiping while stealing glances at Hwi and the Worthy Consort. Yeondeok tugged on Yoonso’s sleeve as if to say they should go, but Yoonso did not move.

“But why didn’t he take His Majesty the Empress with him?”

“I wonder. Maybe because Lady Worthy Consort is more familiar with it?”

“Still, I heard His Majesty the Empress’s guardian star is that magnificent. They say that even inside the palace, His Majesty only seeks out His Majesty the Empress.”

“He can’t just disregard appearances. But you can’t ignore the affection built up over time. By the way, do you know what kind of person His Majesty the Empress is?”

“I heard from Eunhwa that he is a truly beautiful and handsome man. That it seems like the scent of orchids would waft by if you passed him?”

“What? That’s not the kind of story I’m curious about. Though I’d like to see him once too, of course.”

“She said he’s a generous and good person. But who knows. The Empress is different from us.”

“That’s true. He must have grown up in a noble house.”

Just as the noble ladies’ chatter showed signs of dying down, Yoonso, who had been standing still with an expressionless face, turned away. Yeondeok followed, looking back and forth between Yoonso’s face and the scene behind them.

“Uh… Your Majesty. Don’t take what those children who don’t know any better are saying seriously. Subordinates always like to gossip about their superiors, you know.”

“I know. It’s not as if they said anything wrong.”

The afterimage of the two people standing side by side on the stone bridge, gazing at each other, would not disappear. Along with the noble lady’s comment that they would have been a handsome couple if not for the palace. And within his heart, which could not deny it, a storm arose.

The wind, swirling in circles, crashed here and there, making a mess of his heart. Yoonso strode forward with rough steps, as if treading on cut and fallen grass.

“Your Majesty, are you not going to the archery ground?”

Huije, who had approached him quietly, spoke. Yoonso, looking only straight ahead, nodded his head.

“If you’ve drawn a sword, you should at least slice a radish… If you don’t feel like archery, how about trying something else? For instance, um, for instance…”

Huije’s effort to gauge his mood was commendable, and Yoonso could not ignore her.

“It’s fine. I just want to rest.”

“Of course, resting is good too, but you should straighten your shoulders and back! Like a gallant man.”

Hwi’s words that he should no longer be a man in front of anyone came to mind, and Yoonso let out a hollow laugh.

“I’m not a man anymore.”

“Pardon? If Your Majesty is not a man, then what…”

“A petty person.”

He was acting like a man, being childishly jealous of a woman, so if this wasn’t being a petty person, what was it? Huije’s eyes widened and she was at a loss for words, but Yoonso repeated it without a care.

Petty person, petty person, petty person.

The Worthy Consort was a good person by anyone’s standards. If they had not met in this palace, he himself would have followed her around like a puppy. But for such a petty, petty reason…

He had never been jealous of anyone, nor had there ever been a reason to be, so this fire burning inside him felt so unfamiliar and uncomfortable. He simply hated and resented Hwi for driving him to this point. If only he had known that he had other partners…

When his empty steps stopped, he had reached the Jiseo Palace. Yoonso stared blankly into the air for a moment before belatedly looking around at the magnificent hall and the court attendants who had come out to greet him. Suddenly, it felt as if a heavy rock was settling on his shoulders. It also felt as if a swamp of water lilies was wrapping around his ankles, slowly sinking him from the feet up.

“Your Majesty. I will show you something nice.”

Just then, Huije stood in front of Yoonso, blocking his view, and took out a piece of white linen cloth from her bosom. She then skillfully folded the cloth into a shape resembling a bird with its wings spread. Huije placed it on her palm and then blew on it with a whoosh. Then, the bird made of linen floated up into the air with a swoosh swoosh and flew gracefully around Yoonso.

“Wow!”

Yeondeok let out a shrill cry of admiration. Yoonso followed the bird circling around him with fascinated eyes. He knew that the powers of the Yongrin were mysterious, but this was the first time he had seen such a skill. He was also grateful to Huije for using her power like this to lift his spirits, so Yoonso couldn’t help but smile.

“It is truly mystical. You can do things like this?”

“I knew it! I knew you would like it. Even though Your Majesty likes it so much…”

Just as Yoonso was observing with fascination how Huije’s face had suddenly become sullen, a familiar voice came from behind.

“It seems you are doing something interesting.”

As the familiar voice was heard from behind, the bird that had been flying in the air fell with a thud. Huije quickly returned to the appearance of a disciplined Yongrin, bowing her head in respect. Yoonso looked down at the fallen bird, then picked it up and handed it to Huije. Huije hastily took the linen cloth and put it back in her bosom.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

While he offered a belated greeting, Hwi’s gaze remained stuck on Yoonso, almost stubbornly. He stared at Yoonso for a long while before taking a step and approaching.

“I have come early. It was difficult to wait for the Hour of the Monkey.”

Hwi’s words, coming from someone who had been spending time with the Worthy Consort just a moment ago, felt like mere lip service. Yoonso calmly led him inside.

“Please, come in.”

Upon entering the bedchamber, Hwi did not sit down but walked around the room with his hands clasped behind his back. Yoonso could find no reason for his behavior and simply stood idly to one side. Then, suddenly, a window flew open with a thump and a breeze came in.

Who would dare throw open a window in the room where His Majesty the Emperor was? Yoonso furrowed his brow and looked that way, but there was no one outside. He was staring at the open window with suspicion.

Dandelion seeds, looking as soft as downy feathers, drifted over the window. Following them, dozens more seeds poured in, creating a mystical scene.

The sight of the white seeds filling the room was truly magnificent, but Yoonso, not knowing the reason, looked at Hwi. Had he used his sacred power? Why? Did he get the idea after seeing the bird Huije had flown? Whatever it was, he did not want to leisurely watch a display of sacred power. Using sacred power would accumulate that much poison, and even if it was a small amount of power, he did not want him to have to bear it.

Their eyes met and held for a long time. At some point, as if time had stopped, the floating dandelion seeds came to a sudden halt in their places, then fell all at once. After that rather strange and eerie movement ended, Hwi opened his mouth.

“I thought you would like it.”