The spring sun, fully ripened, was warm. Beyond the open window, the fragrant scent of flowers drifted in on the breeze.
The Empress, who so loved spring blossoms that she always wore a smile in the season when their scent brushed her nose, was expressionless today, unlike usual.
“They say the Crown Prince visited Cheongu-dang again last night, without fail.”
She tapped her cooling teacup.
“Yes. Last night as well.”
The Empress, chewing over her thoughts, lifted her chin and looked at Jeong Hae-yeon, who sat across from her moistening her lips with tea, and asked in return.
“Hae-yeon. Does it truly not bother you?”
“It has been ten days since you and that child entered the palace. Yet in those ten days, the only place the Crown Prince has visited is Cheongu-dang.”
Truly, he was not one for half-measures. The Crown Prince did not so much as glance at Yeongha-dang, close to Gyeongchun Palace, and instead frequented only Cheongu-dang, the farthest and most secluded.
Rumors that the Crown Prince had fallen head over heels for Woo Hui-seo spread far and wide through the palace, until now it was an open secret that could no longer be concealed. So much so that there were even those who looked at Jeong Hae-yeon with pity.
“Thanks to it, I get to spend cozy time with you, Mama. I like that.”
“What a carefree thing to say.”
The Empress’s voice rose at last, inwardly rankled by the sympathy directed at her niece.
Her sister and brother-in-law — who had three sons — had desperately wanted a daughter, and late in life had Jeong Hae-yeon, fulfilling that wish; their love for their only daughter was immense.
The Empress herself had only two sons, and all her nephews were boys as well, so she doted especially on the first niece she had ever seen.
Perhaps because she had been raised as a sheltered treasure. She was ever serene, and never seemed desperate about anything.
“In the end, it is you, Hae-yeon, who will become the Crown Prince’s spouse and inherit the late queen’s seat, so do not be too disheartened.”
It was the Empress and her sister who fretted anxiously, soothing her lest she be heartbroken at failing to become Crown Princess; on the contrary, Jeong Hae-yeon soothed them with a composed demeanor.
Saying that if it was the Crown Prince’s will, it ought to be duly honored.
Until then they had thought it only a matter of time — that in the end, the one to receive the Crown Princess’s golden seal would be her, so her composure seemed natural……
But was she truly unbothered?
“He’s a man, so he won’t conceive easily, but if one day he suddenly conceives and bears a son, that child will be the eldest grandson!”
The reason Hyeonhyeong, though a second son, could ascend the throne was entirely because the Crown Prince was born with sinhon……
…Had it not been for that extraordinary turn of events, Prince Oh — deposed years ago on charges of plotting treason and erased from the imperial family’s register — would have ascended the throne as the late Emperor’s eldest son.
Of course, it was not always the eldest son who ascended, but with no imperial grandson born with sinhon expected, and barring any defect, the custom of naming the eldest son as heir had hardened into convention.
“Then Seunghwi would become the birth mother of the Imperial Grandson. And since the birth mother of the Imperial Grandson cannot be kept as a mere concubine, even if they bend the law to make her the principal wife, who could thwart the Crown Prince’s will, armed with such a plausible justification?”
No one would want to catch his eye for no reason and get burned; everyone would watch themselves.
Of course, that was assuming the Crown Prince truly held Woo Hui-seo in his heart.
Seeing him visit Cheongu-dang every other day and hold him, she thought he must truly cherish him — yet at times, doubt crept in.
What were men, really, at their core?
No matter how high one stood at the pinnacle of power — no, the higher one stood at the pinnacle of power, the more one showered the one they truly loved with attention and gifts, too busy for anything else.
But there was none of that here. He sought him out and drowsed beside him, but the Crown Prince’s treasures did not flow into Cheongu-dang.
Was he deliberately using Woo Hui-seo to insult Jeong Hae-yeon and further unsettle the Empress’s mind?
She tried to gauge the Crown Prince’s true feelings, but his intentions remained elusive, just out of grasp.
And even if his intentions were impure, if he visited that often, worrying about a pregnancy wouldn’t be entirely unfounded.
“…Even so, what can I do about it?”
The Empress’s train of thought scattered at Hae-yeon’s murmur, her face bitter as if she’d swallowed some harsh medicine.
“If that is His Highness the Crown Prince’s will.”
“Oh, Hae-yeon.”
The Empress called her name, unable to hide her pity. Hae-yeon smiled, but could not hide her worry.
Right. How could the girl be at peace?
She must be boiling inside, yet forcing herself to seem unbothered, lest showing it sadden those around her even more.
“Mama. Aunt. I am fine.”
“So please don’t worry. It makes my heart ache when you do.”
“How could I not worry?”
She swallowed the words — that through the Prime Minister she’d heard the rumors going around, and that one day her mother, unable to bear it, had sent a letter full of worry — for saying them would only make her heart ache.
Her insides burning, she kept drinking her already-cold tea for no reason, so Hae-yeon tactfully brewed fresh tea with warm water and pushed it forward.
“Why are you drinking it all cold?”
“…So thoughtful. And the Crown Prince never appreciates it; no wonder you’re upset.”
It wasn’t merely political calculation that had made her choose her as Crown Princess; clicking her tongue at her heartless son who didn’t understand a mother’s heart.
Hae-yeon, smiling bashfully at that, seemed about to speak, her lips moving, then swallowed it and reached for the teacup.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Seeing plainly that she’d swallowed whatever might disturb her barely-settled mood, the Empress showed generosity.
“But….”
“Out with it. Will you keep me curious?”
Hae-yeon hesitated, then sighed.
“As kindly as you regard me, Mama, I wish you would also look after Seunghwi.”
“Yangje.”
“On the day I entered the palace, I keep seeing him cowed by your scolding….”
“Enough.”
The Empress, unable to listen further, cut her off.
“Yangje. Listen well.”
The Empress thought of Woo Hui-seo. Compared to her brother, known to be quite stubborn, he seemed weak —
“…he did seem.
‘When you cannot know how something will grow, you must not let the sprout take root in the first place.’
But for how long? If the Crown Prince’s favor continued, and he grew accustomed to riding on that favor — would he still be the same then? Would he stay meek and young forever?
He might forget his place, look down on Hae-yeon, and try to keep her in check. He might not even bother hiding his arrogance and act recklessly.
‘Seollan.’
Then it would be right to trample the sprout in advance, so that he never forgot his place and never harbored impure thoughts.
‘Prepare to go to Cheongu-dang.’
Rather than wasting words on her niece, who prattled carefree nonsense while keeping an empty room alone because of Woo Hui-seo, she would go herself.
‘Aunt, no, Mama…?’
As the Empress rose, Hae-yeon wore a bewildered expression.
‘Yangje. What are you doing, not following?’
‘Mama, that’s not why I said it. Mama… Your Majesty the Empress….’
The Empress ignored Hae-yeon’s attempts to stop her by walking ahead. She could hear her calling again from behind, but her steps did not slow.”
Just as he was about to ink his brush, Hui-seo pressed his forehead. A warmth, hotter than usual, met his lukewarm palm.
“Are you unwell somewhere?”
Sae-yeong, who had been grinding ink before him, caught it keenly without missing a beat.
“Shall I summon the royal physician?”
She was clearly recalling how he’d bounced back the morning after their first night.
“It’s fine.”
Hui-seo declined as he had then, inking his brush.
His legs weren’t as weak as that time, when even taking a step beyond the bed had felt daunting — there was nothing uncomfortable enough to make a fuss and call the physician.
“Mama, then how about lying down and resting a while? You can paint anytime later.”
“It’s not as if sitting takes that much out of me. And just lying down all the time… hmm….”
Savoring the aftertaste of their lovemaking, heat flushed through him. Hui-seo trailed off, unable to finish, and mumbled.
“Even if you just lie in bed and rest all day, who could find fault with you!”
Sae-yeong, catching from his faltering tone that Hui-seo was embarrassed, grinned.
“Will His Highness come to your chambers today too?”
“Who knows……”
Whether he was coming or not, the Crown Prince sent word through a eunuch around mid-afternoon [misi to sinsi, 1–5pm].
Since the bell announcing the hour had not yet rung, nothing could be said for certain.
“Since he didn’t come in the daytime yesterday, won’t he come today? The Nemubu just sent some lovely fragrant herbs. I’ll put them in your bath so the scent seeps into you.”
Having the affairs of his bedchamber laid bare before a girl younger than himself was somehow embarrassing.
Hui-seo drew lines on the painting paper, feigning calm, but as if reflecting his heart, the lines would not go as he intended.
“Wow!”
At just a single line drawn, Sae-yeong clapped and marveled. Even that reminded him of Sua, and Hui-seo felt a strange fondness.
“Ahem, that’s not it….”
Sae-yeong, abashed at her own silliness, cleared her throat and gazed at Hui-seo with sparkling eyes.
“This is only my humble opinion, but I think His Highness truly cherishes you, Mama.”
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