Chapter 12

"It's absurd!"

The news that the emperor had summoned Kang to the Cheonggeum Palace spread like wildfire. The first person to hear this fact, Gui-bi, screamed in disbelief and threw the red vase she was holding to the ground. As it hit the floor, the vase shattered into pieces. The last masterpiece made by a deceased artisan was destroyed in her hands. The servants around her trembled at her outburst. Gui-bi's hysteria was beginning to spiral out of control. When Prince Yeon Ju received the title of King Gyeonghye, she was quiet, but now he grabbed a maid's hair as if to say, "When was I ever quiet?" Just because she was closest to Gui-bi, the young maid's hair was torn as if it were a piece of cloth. The maid screamed in agony as her scalp tore apart.

After finally seeing blood from the maid's head, Gui-bi's hysteria subsided, and she began to walk around nervously.

"This is ridiculous. What makes that child so special that she's being brought into the palace! If I had known this would happen, I would have begged Father to kill her! Why does Father forbid me!"

As she grabbed the light blue skirt and stomped her feet, an official approached her and admonished her, shaking his head.

"Your Highness, there are ears outside as well. Please be careful."

"Careful? Do I look like I'm being careful? Even I, the Noble Consort, have never stayed in the emperor's palace for more than a mere ceremony!"

She suddenly kicked the crying maid, whose hair she had pulled out, as if to express her frustration. As the maid rolled on the ground, her hands were cut by the glass shards she touched in despair. When the maid sobbed loudly, Gui-bi, as if not wanting to hear it, kicked her back several times.

"Argh! I can't calm down! This won't do, go and call Lady Borim!"

"Lady Borim...?"

An official asked. Gui-bi could call the court ladies if she wanted, but she needed a plausible reason to torment them. Gui-bi looked at the official with lingering anger, then pursed her lips. She had impulsively told him to call her, but now she seemed to lack a proper reason. Rubbing her chin and puffing on the cigarette she had been smoking, Gui-bi eventually came up with a reasonable excuse and chuckled. Transformed from a demon to a gentle and beautiful lady in an instant, she twinkled her eyes and said,

"Actually, I've been thinking I need a fashionable headdress lately. I should ask that woman to make one for me."

"But that task is handled separately by the Imperial Jewelries, Your Highness."

"Those who work in that department may not be as skilled in making headdresses as the daughter of a renowned house known for it."

She chuckled defiantly, ignoring any objections, and asked for another cigarette. The maid approached and lit it with a flint. As she lazily smoked the cigarette while reclining on the bed, she smiled seductively.

"What are you waiting for? Go and call her."

"B-But what if His Majesty finds out about this? Lady Borim is often called by His Majesty..."

"His Majesty doesn't love that woman, so don't worry."

Perhaps due to the slight hallucinogenic effect of the cigarette, Gui-bi’s demeanor became more relaxed than before. The maid, whose hair had all been torn out, staggered away alone and left the room. Blood dripped and congealed where she had been. Gui-bi calmly closed her eyes and chuckled, exhaling smoke.

"Lock that woman up. How dare she spilled blood in my chamber? Lock her up immediately!"

The maid, whose hair had just been torn out, hadn't even left the chamber yet. Hearing those words, she sank into contemplation and fell to the floor. However, two hefty officials were already grabbing her arms and pulling her away. The maid cried out, "Mother! Mother! Please forgive me! I won't spill blood again!" But  Gui-bi, as if she couldn't hear, continued to smoke her cigarette and laugh.

"Daring to spill blood in the chamber... It's only natural to face the consequences. Don't you agree?"

"Your words are just, Your Highness."

The other maids replied somewhat nervously, their voices ending on the same note. Gui-bi smiled contentedly at the unquestioning trust directed towards her. She was the daughter of a powerful general and the emperor didn't dare to disrespect  Gui-bi because of General Kang Hochang.  Gui-bi knew she could kill maids for trivial reasons and summon concubines and servants to torment them, but she didn't care much. To the emperor and  Gui-bi, the maids and officials were just replaceable commodities.

 Gui-bi waited, smoking her cigarette with a bored expression until the court lady arrived. Her mind was boiling, her head was cooling; it was a perfect state.

"Your Highness, Lady Borim has arrived. Should I let her in?"

"Tell her to wait in the anteroom."

 Gui-bi draped a light yellow robe over her shoulders. The slightly darker ivory-colored robe, flowing richer as it went down, paired with a bluish skirt, creating an innocent yet elegant look. As  Gui-bi gently walked, holding the maid's hand, the yellow robe and bluish skirt swayed, creating an illusion of flower petals fluttering.

In the anteroom, a tense woman awaited. Seeing  Gui-bi's stern expression, she kneeled and greeted her respectfully.

"Your Highness, I heard you haven't been feeling well lately. Are you feeling better now?"

She tried to modulate her voice as much as possible, but due to her nervousness, her voice trembled as if it were a string.  Gui-bi, who had been looking at her with a dry gaze, took off her robe and handed it to the maid. The maids brought a tea set symbolizing Gui-bi. As the maid was about to turn the teapot, Gui-bi coldly grabbed her hand.

"Leave."

The maids hesitated for a moment before leaving in single file. Lady Gui-bi, still looking at the person kneeling on the floor, spoke.

"Get up and pour the tea."

Normally, it was the maid's duty to brew and serve tea, but it was not appropriate to ask a woma, even one who shared the emperor's bed, to do such a task. Both the woman and Gui-bi knew this, but neither of them protested.

The woman brewed the tea under Gui-bi's sharp gaze and handed it to her, floating flower petals on the tea as a garnish.

Worried that Gui-bi might find fault, Lady Borim cautiously grasped the teapot. Fortunately,  Gui-bi didn't torment her under the pretext of the tea.

 Gui-bi surprisingly smiled leisurely and openly scrutinized Lady Borim. She was not to the emperor's taste. The emperor greatly favored flashy and ostentatious women. He didn't particularly prefer elegant and aloof-looking women like Lady Borim.

But why does His Majesty value that woman's son so much? Lady Gui-bi clenched her fist, suddenly overcome by jealousy, and glared at Lady Borim. Lady Borim, startled, widened her eyes as she held the teacup. Her black eyes trembled like a surface of water.

Lady Borim’s eyes resembled those of the child.

Gui-bi chuckled as she poured the tea. Her brown eyes met her straight nose this time. Overall, her son resembled her facial features. The face shape was the same as the emperor's. Thinking of that child, who nestled in the emperor's embrace with an innocent face, Lady Gui-bi chuckled.

"It's a momentary cuteness. A child may seem cute when he's young, but as he grows older, he becomes rigid and unattractive.... Ultimately, what captures the emperor's heart is a beautiful woman."

Gui-bi set down her teacup and smiled kindly.

"Or perhaps it would be better to subtly reveal a flaw on her face without her knowing.... Maybe I should do that when he's grown enough. I will never hand over the position of crown prince to Kang. The crown prince must only be my son."

Until Yeon Kang is driven out of the emperor's embrace, until Yeon Ju safely ascends to the position of crown prince, she needed a target for her frustration.

The beautiful woman was just perfect. She was Yeon Kang's mother, but she was a woman who could only be embraced by the emperor, not loved. She was even timid and fragile, unable to stand up to the emperor.

Gui-bi chuckled and spoke.

"I've heard that your household makes excellent hair ornaments. Could you perhaps make a lovely one for me?"

When the woman was surprised and couldn't say anything, Gui-bi grabbed her hand tightly and said,

"It's only natural for a younger sister to make one for her senior, isn't it?"

"But, Your Highness, my skills in making hair ornaments are poor and outdated. Are you sure it's alright?"

"It's fine."

Gui-bi gently spoke as she wrapped both of the beautiful woman's hands with hers.

"I've heard that your household even received the phoenix seal with your hair ornaments. I'm truly looking forward to it."

"Your Highness."

"Why are you saying that?"

The beautiful woman stopped timidly observing Gui-bi and placed her hand over Gui-bi's hand on her back, lifting her gaze. The eyes that had been aimlessly wandering in the air gradually met Gui-bi's gaze.

The beautiful woman smiled elegantly at Gui-bi and spoke.

"If I were to make Your Highness the most beautiful, and thereby gain His Majesty's favor... wouldn't it be proper for you to help me even once in the future?"

Gui-bi looked at the delicate proposition from the fragile woman with a faint, almost amused smile. She brushed away the woman's hand on her back and continued.

"If it's possible, we shall see. And if it truly happens, I will help you with all my sincerity."

Gui-bi ceased her laughter and muttered coldly.

"But, only once."

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