YCHW Ch 72

Ah…

A wave of dizziness washed over him, and Yoonso squeezed his eyes shut then opened them. The hall became as quiet as a dead mouse, and gazes, outwardly calm but internally tumultuous, gathered at Yoonso’s feet.

“How insolent. You dare to frame Her Majesty the Empress.”

Hyunbi’s sharp, chilling voice cut through the quiet chaos.

“It is not a frame-up, not a frame-up…!”

“Drag this person away at once and interrogate her severely. And straighten out the discipline so that no slanderous plots can prevail in this sacred palace.”

The officials dragged Wan away, and even as she was being dragged, Wan pleaded with Yoonso to spare her life. However, on Wan’s face, which begged for her life, was a resolution to defy even death. What could have made that girl act like that?

While Hyunbi sent the concubines away and restored order by having the court ladies keep to their posts, Yoonso looked up at the sky, which felt incredibly distant.

It was the same sky as usual, yet it felt unfamiliar. It was as if everything surrounding him had been overturned and had crumbled, leaving him dropped alone into a different world. Another realization that he was standing in a place he could not handle became a heavy air, pressing down on his body until his bones ached.

“Your Majesty.”

Hyunbi approached. Yoonso, lacking even the energy to compose his expression, turned to her dazedly.

“The truth is bound to be revealed, and His Majesty the Emperor will set all things right, so please do not worry.”

“Do you believe me?”

Hyunbi was not the type to make public pronouncements or flatter, so this meant she truly believed this was a frame-up. While he was very grateful, he also wondered how she could trust him so completely. Would other people think as she did? It was unlikely.

She lifted her head, gazed at Yoonso for a moment, and then spoke.

“Whether I believe you or not is unimportant. It is because the side that protects Your Majesty’s well-being must become the truth.”

As he was mulling over her words to discern her intentions, she glanced behind Yoonso. Hyunbi’s shoulders rose and fell as if she were swallowing a sigh.

“And, yes. I believe Your Majesty.”

Hyunbi’s answer firmly held onto the roots of his heart, which were about to be uprooted and collapse along with everything else. Feeling as if he might say something weak, Yoonso bit his lip and nodded. Soon, Hyunbi paid her respects and moved away.

Yoonso stared at her departing figure, then turned around. The person standing guard behind him was Huije. When their eyes met, she smiled brightly.

“I also believe Your Majesty!”

Her voice was truly booming, unsuited for the situation. And so, Yoonso couldn’t help but smile as well.

“Who could have done it?”

At Yeondeok’s question, Yoonso pressed a hand to his forehead and tried to single out who could be behind it. The first person who came to mind was Yi Sowon, who was hostile towards him. Since his father was a high-ranking official, he would certainly have the power to do so if he wanted.

However, when the doll was discovered and what was written on it was revealed, Yi Sowon looked completely clueless and surprised. It was hard to believe that he, whose feelings were all revealed on his face, would be pretending.

His thoughts soon moved to Seongbin. She was the person whose inner thoughts he knew the least. But she had no reason to harm him. And it seemed she didn’t have enough power to entice a court lady.

It wasn’t Hyunbi. If Hyunbi were behind it, he would have to throw away his eyes for being completely unable to judge people.

“At least, it’s no one within the rear court.”

He had naturally looked to the close concubines first, but he did not judge them to be the masterminds. Rather, would it not be faster to look around his father’s circle? After he ascended to the empress’s throne, his enemies would have increased.

“I think so too. Yi Sowon acts obnoxiously in every matter, but he doesn’t seem to have the guts for that. The other ladies are not the sort to do such an unpredictable thing either.”

“Right?”

“Yes, I hope so.”

“Could the purpose be to depose me?”

If the empress had truly cursed the emperor, he would have no excuse even if he were deposed and reduced to a commoner. However, not only was he the Yeongchunhwa with the most suitable guardian star for Hwi, but Hwi would also not stand by and let a deposition happen over such a falsehood.

…Would he believe it? That I was not the one who did it.

Yoonso erased the question that had suddenly popped into his head and rubbed his forehead. In any case, even if the truth were revealed, there would surely be those who harbored doubts, and the damage to his honor and dignity would be unavoidable.

Could that be the purpose? For what reason?

“By the way, I didn’t know Wan was that kind of girl. Your Majesty doted on her so much, she is truly ungrateful.”

His head throbbed at the thought of Wan, who must be locked in a prison cell. Yoonso let out a low groan and then spoke.

“Huije.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Huije, who had been guarding outside, heard the small call and came inside. Yoonso lowered the hand that had been caressing his forehead and looked at Huije.

“Wan must have a family. Could you find out where they live and protect them?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will obey your command.”

If she went so far as to commit the high treason of framing the empress, her family’s lives must be on the line. Therefore, the best course of action would be to secure their safety, have Wan reveal the truth, and then have the Ministry of Justice take the circumstances into account and reduce her crime.

After sending Huije out, all the strength drained from his body. Yoonso let out a deep sigh and clutched his head as if to tear his hair out.

“There was no word that His Majesty was coming, was there?”

“No, there wasn’t.”

After they had raised their voices like that the other day, Hwi had only visited the Jiseogung after Yoonso had fallen asleep and left before Yoonso woke up. Some nights, if he happened to open his eyes, Hwi would be beside him. Yoonso wanted to know if he was truly trying to sleep, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask and would just caress his face with his gaze.

He griped internally, wondering why he came and went silently like a stray cat instead of sleeping in a comfortable place, but on the other hand, he grew sad, wondering if it was because Hwi did not want to face him.

They fight when they see each other and feel sad when they do not. He had no idea what this fuss was all about. Still, shouldn’t they discuss this recent incident? Even though it was not something he had done, he felt as if he had placed a burden on his shoulders, and he was ashamed to see him.

Just as he was pondering whether he should ask to have dinner together and how he should convey the message, the door opened and a eunuch entered.

“Your Majesty. His Majesty the Emperor has said he will come to have his evening meal with you.”

“…Ah. I understand.”

Hearing that Hwi was coming, his heart became needlessly restless. As Yoonso adjusted his clothes, Yeondeok approached.

“Let me fix your hair a little.”

His hair was disheveled from when he had torn at it a moment ago. It was the instant Yeondeok brought her hand to Yoonso’s hair. The door opened again, and Hwi strode inside.

Not expecting him to arrive so quickly, Yoonso’s eyes widened as he looked up at Hwi. Hwi turned his head, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Yoonso and Yeondeok, who was standing right in front of him. Yeondeok, receiving his gaze, startled and stepped back to pay her respects.

“You two are very close.”

The remark, thrown out without warning, was completely random. While Yoonso was trying to figure out his intention, Yeondeok replied.

“Hearing that His Majesty was coming, I was just about to tidy Her Majesty’s hair. I will take my leave now.”

Once Yeondeok left the room, he was left alone with Hwi. Facing each other like this, the feeling of awkwardness still hadn’t faded, so Yoonso walked past him and sat on a chair.

“Do not be mean to Yeondeok.”

“He is cherished even without being tidied.”

It was an irrelevant answer. But after understanding the implication contained in the expression ‘cherished,’ he could not say anything else. When Hwi took a seat opposite him, Yoonso began to fiddle with his fingertips, lost in thought about what topic to start the conversation with.

As silence continued, he felt a gaze on him and lifted his eyes to find Hwi staring intently at his face. Even when he avoided the gaze, the stare persisted, so Yoonso hesitated before asking.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I am making up for what I could not see in the meantime.”

“…Were you busy?”

“That, and other things.”

He couldn’t help but think of their previous argument, and before he could even untangle that knot of emotions, this incident occurred, making him feel even more abashed.

Before long, court ladies brought in the royal meal. The main bowl contained not rice but abalone porridge, and Yoonso glanced at Hwi.

“I thought you might not eat well, so I told them to prepare something easy to swallow.”

“…I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your concern.”

“It is not gratitude, but the duty of a husband.”

At the cheesy reply, he found himself glancing at the court lady who was tasting the food for poison.

While waiting for the food tasting to finish, Hwi picked up his chopsticks, put a side dish in his mouth, and chewed. Startled by the unexpected action, Yoonso’s eyes widened, and Hwi moved the same side dish onto Yoonso’s bowl.

“What will you do if you eat it before the tasting is even finished?”

“This body is immune to most poisons, so it is fine. You must be hungry, you should eat something quickly.”

“…”

“So, it would be best not to use poison, even if you hate me.”

A leisurely smile hung on Hwi’s lips, and his eyes were filled with playfulness. But it was not funny at all, and Yoonso’s expression hardened.

“You make a wicked joke.”

“I do. This is better than seeing you all dispirited. If someone is jealous of you, be sure to treat them just like this.”

“…”

“I heard you were quite fond of the criminal. You must be upset that things have turned out this way.”

Did that mean Hwi also believed him? He had not thought that he would doubt him, but hearing what seemed like a confirmation, the tightness in his heart momentarily loosened. As soon as the court lady left, Yoonso asked.

“Are you not going to ask anything?”

“What is there to ask?”

“It is true that I wrote those characters. And yet, you believe me?”