***
“Lord Jungseorang.”
The moment Yu Yeong stepped through the main gate, a eunuch came hurrying over at a trot. Where was Eunuch Song, and why was this fellow the one running to greet him? At the unaccountable sense of foreboding, Yu Yeong narrowed his brow slightly. And sure enough—
“His Highness slept at Inyeong Palace last night.”
“Again……??”
Yu Yeong let out something halfway between a cry and a scream. He’d expected as much, but hearing it confirmed still left him dumbfounded.
“How many times is this, just this month?”
To the sighing Yu Yeong, the eunuch held up his fingers and counted: “This makes six, sir.” Six times this month — and considering barely eleven days had passed in this tenth month, that meant His Highness was spending the night at Inyeong Palace nearly every other day.
“Yesterday was the appointed night of union decreed by the Inner Court, so it couldn’t be helped. Of course, His Highness graces Inyeong Palace often even on days that aren’t appointed nights — but what can one do, when Their Highnesses’ affection as husband and wife runs so very deep?”
To the eunuch, who spoke with a beaming smile, Yu Yeong muttered under his breath, “No, no — Their Highnesses’ marital harmony deepening day by day is a fine thing, it’s just…”
“Every time, he summons me early in the morning, and then His Highness himself is off at Inyeong Palace — what am I supposed to do?”
He’d risen at dawn, dressed in full official attire, and entered the palace simply because he’d been told to come to Donggungjeon early this morning to go over once more the documents for the morning assembly. And yet the man himself wasn’t even in the Eastern Palace — how exasperating was that? What was more, this wasn’t even the first time it had happened.
“Fine. Then I’ll go to Inyeong Palace.”
With a sigh, Yu Yeong turned his steps around.
Even on his way to the rear palace, he kept sighing. It wasn’t that he resented the wasted trip at dawn, of course. For a subject, there was nothing more welcome than his master finding peace of mind and keeping his person at ease, by whatever means. Besides, the Crown Prince was not the sort to drown himself in wine and women and neglect his duties. Lately he practically lived at Inyeong Palace, yet he never once shirked his work.
Even so, the reason Yu Yeong couldn’t smooth the stiffness from his face was the worry that His Highness might be throwing himself a little too wholeheartedly into playing the doting husband. No — at this point, it wasn’t even playing at being a doting husband anymore. He simply was a doting husband, through and through. That was how deeply the Crown Prince had fallen for the Crown Princess.
Of course, he himself would deny it. He’d say it was all merely part of a plan for the future — but one had only to look into his eyes when he was with the Crown Princess to know. It was plain to see that he found his consort truly, achingly
dear and lovely — more than he could bear. This, he thought, was exactly what people meant by “honey dripping from one’s eyes.”
That was precisely what worried Yu Yeong. What would the Crown Prince do when that “future” truly arrived — that was his greatest concern at present. Of course, when the moment actually came, he might, with unexpected boldness, offer up the Crown Princess as a sacrifice. He was a cold man, after all. Unswayed by feeling, judging by reason alone, he would choose whatever course best served him. But what if, afterward, he lived out his life in regret, hating himself — that, Yu Yeong felt, was the thing to truly fear.
Of course, if the Crown Prince truly wished to keep the Crown Princess by his side, he could do so even by demoting her to the rear palace. If he could but keep her near, even so, that would be a mercy — but that wasn’t what worried Yu Yeong now. If, by some chance, he had to put the Crown Princess’s life up as collateral — to stand against Chancellor Jo’s schemes, or to dispose of Chancellor Jo — what choice would the Crown Prince make then? The mere thought of it sent cold sweat down his back and chilled him to the marrow. If Yi Chi heard him, he’d snort, “You and your worries — fretting already over something that hasn’t even happened.” But strangely, of late, such thoughts kept coming to him.
If only it were a needless worry.
By the time he’d finished sighing, he’d arrived at Inyeong Palace. Yu Yeong quickly wiped the worry from his face and entered the main gate with measured steps. The Crown Prince, as if just about to step out, was coming down to the main hall.
“From now on, unless Your Highness orders otherwise, I shall come straight to Inyeong Palace.”
At his deliberately decorous words, the Crown Prince spoke as he put on his shoes, as if it couldn’t be helped.
“It was only after you’d left yesterday that it occurred to me the Inner Court had fixed it as the night of union, you see.”
“That sounds as though, had it not been the appointed night, you would have slept at Donggungjeon.”
“Well, of course—.”
The Crown Prince, who had been speaking boldly, paused. Turning his head, he glanced at the firmly shut door of the bedchamber, then spoke to Yu Yeong again.
“No, I wouldn’t.”
At that, the palace servants of both Gihyeon Palace and Inyeong Palace, who attended the two Highnesses, all hid their faces behind their sleeves and laughed. And so once more the whole world learned just how devoted a husband the Crown Prince was — yet for some reason Yu Yeong couldn’t laugh. He knew all too well that those words hadn’t been meant to flaunt his affection, but came from a heart that sincerely cherished the Crown Princess.
Not that he could sigh aloud, so he decided to change the subject instead.
“By the way, is Your Highness not scheduled for a private audience after this evening’s lecture?”
“Yes. At last.”
“At last,” he said, though he didn’t look to be expecting much. Yu Yeong felt the same. At their last meeting he’d submitted a memorial impeaching Gwangpyeong along with the report on the Yanggang flood-control works, and
yet nearly a month had passed since with no reaction from the Emperor. At this private audience, too, it was clear the same matter wouldn’t get so much as a word, and only other agenda items would be discussed.
“Just in case, I’ve brought copies of the same documents you submitted last time. Please let me know if you need them.”
Yu Yeong spoke, gesturing to the documents tucked under his arm. The Crown Prince smiled at him. Of course he’d need them.
“I was just about to ask. Good thinking.”
Feeling quietly pleased with himself, Yu Yeong handed some of the documents to the Crown Prince.
“Please look them over before the audience, and if anything needs correcting, give the order.”
“Will do.”
Even as he spoke, the Crown Prince had already begun skimming the documents right there — then lifted his head with a puzzled “Hm?” expression.
“Is it raining?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than raindrops came pattering down onto the document he was reading. Yu Yeong quickly shouted toward Eunuch Song.
“Bring an umbrella, quickly.”
Eunuch Song came dashing over with an umbrella. By the time Yu Yeong took it and held it over the Crown Prince’s head, several characters had already been washed away by the rain.
“I’ll have this page rewritten.”
“So we shall.”
The Crown Prince closed the documents as he spoke, then slowly began walking. By the time he’d crossed the garden, already getting wet, and was leaving Inyeong Palace, the rain had thickened and soon began pouring down with fearsome force. Coming so late in the season, it was an all the fiercer autumn rain.
“Why does the rain pour so fiercely?”
Consort Son murmured fearfully, gazing at the unceasing sheets of rain beyond the window.
“We’ve been worried about the drought, so this is a relief.”
At Huian’s words, Consort Son knitted her brows into a worried V. “I’m afraid it might wash everything away.”
“What — you’re afraid the palace will wash away?”
Huian laughed, arm resting on the low desk. Don’t worry. He turned his gaze to the window, its bamboo blinds half drawn, and said,
“Pour as it may, this fortress won’t be washing away.”
Though the flowering trees I planted with such care may rot at the root and have to be dug up. As he thought this, gazing at the climbing rose saplings planted the day before yesterday by the Crown Prince’s order, Consort Son blinked and asked, “Even if it pours for three months and ten days?”
“You think it would rain for three months and ten days?”
At Huian’s words, Consort Son murmured in a small voice, “But still…”
“They say the dragon of the west has the power to summon rain. What if the dragon takes offense and makes it rain on this palace without end — what if this rain never stops? On days when the rain pours like this, the thought frightens me so I cannot sleep.”
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