“He is of average height. Similar to Yuyoung, but a touch taller, I’d say. His build is on the slender side, and his eyes, nose, and mouth are neither upturned nor drooping. Only, the hawk-like sharpness of his gaze and his long eyebrows gave more of a cool impression than a merely gentle one.” The way he volunteered facts no one had even asked about made it obvious the prince’s looks had quite taken his fancy—with the caveat, of course, of “compared to that portrait.” Left to go on like this, they would hear of nothing but the prince’s appearance all the way out of the capital. Yuyoung smoothly cut in. “Then, Your Highness.”
“Does it seem to you that His Highness the prince has the ability to commune with birds?” At Yuyoung’s subtly probing words, Igang grumbled, “Ah, right,” as if annoyed. “That was the first I’d heard of such a thing.” He muttered as though he had completely forgotten, then gave a hollow laugh. He himself found it absurd. In truth, he had already passed through the gate an hour earlier, bound for Hwangju. But today of all days, the many birds circling around him had caught his eye, and just then, seeing the palanquins of the elders heading toward the palace, he had stopped by the valley briefly. He had wondered: even if he were the sun’s half-body and could call birds, would the birds really come flocking to the prince like that? If so, was something wrong on his end—was his ability as a half-body somehow incomplete? He had intended to verify it, and had deliberately turned his words to enter the palace, but upon actually meeting the prince, his curiosity about a far greater matter had taken over, and he had come away having asked only pointless questions he needn’t have asked. But even in the midst of it, one thing had become clear. “He definitely does not have the ability to communicate with birds.” If he had truly been one who understood the speech of birds, he would have realized that it was his own master who had clipped the hawk’s wings into that shape—not that the hawk had been struck by some gale. [unreadable] “He didn’t even seem to suspect that I had cut the hawk’s wings with a blade to test my own ability and thrown them down before him.”
“Hmm… then it seems our guess was right.”
“Indeed. So many birds gathering like this — surely not mere coincidence.”
Standing before his two retainers, Igang said in a firm voice, “Go.”
“Hong Huian has no powers like mine. To begin with, he is not even someone who can be called a demigod.”
One could tell as much just by looking at Huian, without even speaking of powers. His looks were fair and his hair color handsome enough, but his wings were far too small — wings so small they could be hidden beneath his clothes. [unreadable] Igang spoke, [unreadable], as if to keep anyone from meeting his eyes:
“He is one far better suited to me than to the likes of you.”
Of course, that was no reason to drop his guard just yet. He needed to watch a while longer. The probing must not stop.
In any case, he would not be bored for a while.
Smiling, Igang tugged the reins. With a loud neigh, the horse reared up on its hind legs — and then broke into a gallop.
Though it was said to be a measure to escape the curse, the emperor still seemed thoroughly awkward about having a male daughter-in-law. Even while Huian offered his greetings, he cleared his throat several times, and — having no words of his own to add — briefly charged him, right in front of the empress, to “help the empress and lead the inner palace well,” looking for all the world as if addressing a newly appointed official rather than his son’s spouse. Then, pleading the still-early evening hour, he slipped away.
“His Majesty is ever in the Hall of Diligent Governance, with no leisure for anything but state affairs. He does not rest even on his days off, so I am always worrying his health will suffer.”
Having thus hurriedly brought the day’s business to a close, the empress spoke with great warmth and returned with Huian to her residence, Wonang Palace.
“Are you hungry?” the empress asked, settling herself onto an ornate cushion.
Once Huian had settled into the seat opposite, she leaned back languidly, making herself comfortable, and gazed steadily at his face. It seemed only now did she have the leisure to examine him calmly. Unlike a short while ago, when she had barely acknowledged his greeting before rising at once to go see His Majesty, she now studied Huian’s face for a long time — from below to above, from above to below, as if carefully scanning his entire body — then finally sighed softly and said —
“They say Hye’s envoys will attend the wedding as well? I must tell them then — to drive out at once that court painter or whatever who painted you. Really, however bad a painter may be, how could he paint that badly?”
Huian could say nothing as he watched the empress click her tongue again and again, growing more incredulous the more she thought about it. [unreadable]
But thinking of Huian, who had declared so confidently, “I’ll handle it myself — don’t worry,” there was no cause for worry… though he felt a pang of unreasonable guilt all the same. [unreadable] Who could have known he would be so disconcerted by such a sight — not in Hye, but in far-off Juwon?
“Anyway, you are far more handsome than I had imagined. Juwon’s clothes suit you wonderfully — a most pleasing sight.”
The empress nodded with a satisfied expression and asked at once, “So — how is Seonu Palace to live in? Comfortable?”
“By the grace of Their Majesties, I am enjoying every luxury.”
“For one who is to become this nation’s crown prince’s consort, it would never do to want even for that much — and that is hardly luxury to begin with.”
Her tone made clear that, if not for Huian’s own sake then for Juwon’s dignity, he ought to accept such treatment gladly. Huian judged it wisest not to even bring up things like reducing the number of side dishes he would not touch, or keeping only two attendants and dismissing the rest of the palace staff — and silently bowed his head.
“If you need anything, you have only to say so. Little time remains until the wedding, and there is a mountain of things to do — a whole year of preparations would still fall short. If any attendant disobeys you, you may have them flogged on the spot. That is for you to decide.”
“I shall.”
She watched in silence as Huian answered with crisp courtesy despite himself, then let a light smile play about her lips as she said:
“Since Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager passed away, I have been the mistress of this inner palace. Once you become the crown prince’s consort, every disposition concerning the concubines — whatever it may be — will rest in your hands. The crown prince is still young, but he is twenty this year.” [unreadable] She wanted to tell him plainly that it was only good fortune the crown prince had not yet taken a concubine. For Huian, who had assumed there would be at least three or four, it could only be deeply disconcerting.
“This concerns your own household. It will be the same while you stay at Seonu Palace. You needn’t seek my approval for every matter of managing the palace people. Whether you spare or kill a few servants, that is for you to decide.” “I shall keep it in mind.” Huian answered with lowered gaze. Pleased by his obedient tone, the Empress leaned back, half-reclining against the armrest. “You are a clever person; you will manage well on your own.” At those mostly ceremonial words, Huian suddenly felt something turn cold within him. Only now did he truly feel that he had stepped into the palace’s invisible war as one aligned with the Empress’s side. “Oh, and His Highness will not be in the palace for a while.” After various instructions and remarks, the Empress finally brought up the Crown Prince. “Yes, I heard he leaves for the provinces this afternoon.” “Yes. He leaves for Hangju over the state treasury recovery matter.” “Our Crown Prince is a man too busy to manage otherwise.” The Empress said with subtle sarcasm. “Even when he is in the palace, it is hard to see his face once in three days. Do not think it is only you—he is always swamped with official duties, so do not take it personally. If even the concubine said it—His Highness visited the Crown Princess’s quarters two days in a row, and she said she feared the sun would rise in the west tomorrow.”
Her talent for mocking while pretending to defend the Crown Prince was nothing short of exquisite. Huian felt inwardly relieved at her words. If she could make even the concubine say such things, it was certain the Crown Prince would visit his quarters even more rarely. “At any rate, His Highness will return no later than two days before the wedding.” Huian silently calculated the days. The wedding was set for [unreadable] days hence, meaning he would return only the day before the rites. Of course, to Huian it hardly mattered. “Until then, you may learn the court etiquette here and prepare for the wedding. I will say it once more—if you need anything, whatever it is, tell me. I have said all I have to say. Is there anything—did you hear what I said about tomorrow?” Huian thought for a moment, then said, “There is nothing.” The Empress nodded as if that settled it. “You may withdraw now. The hour is late—I will not summon you again today. Do not worry; rest well.” “Your grace is boundless.” Huian bowed and rose from his seat. When he left Wonnyeong Palace, the sun had already set. Guided by the waiting eunuchs and court ladies back to Seonu Palace, he found Wiryang waiting from outside the main gate, greeting him tearfully. “How long were we apart, for you to make such a fuss?”
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