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Sunkissed fingers adorned with a jade ring moved gracefully. Her voice, tinged with complaint about being forced to learn tea ceremony by her mother even before she turned five, wasn't false; her touch while making tea was elegant. It was exactly as portrayed in the textbook. The emperor, leaning lazily on his chair while attending to his duties, happened to catch sight of her graceful movements as she prepared the tea. Intrigued by the emperor's curious gaze, Sook-bi smiled subtly. Thanks to learning how to smile from her mother, her smile was as beautiful as a painting. The coral hairpin securing her black hair emitted a soft sound with every movement she made, subtly captivating the emperor's hearing.
Not doubting the effectiveness of her method, the emperor almost felt captivated by her gaze. Sook-bi, with her demure smile fitting for the daytime, raised the teacup. Smiling back, the emperor accepted the cup. They shared the warm tea, taking turns sipping from it. After drinking about half of the cup, the emperor handed it back to Sook-bi. She extended her hands to receive it. Before her hands could leave, the emperor reached out and grasped her slender wrist. The three bracelets on her wrist emitted a dazzling sound.
"Your gestures are so enchanting that I can't take my eyes off you."
Blushing at the compliment, Sook-bi smiled shyly. The emperor moved his hand from her wrist to her chin. Her petite face fit perfectly in the emperor's large hand.
"If only other concubines behaved like you, it would be truly wonderful…"
The emperor uttered incomprehensible words with a smile that seemed to exude fragrance.
"The Emperor likes Kang, so all of them, except for you, act like Kang. That's truly annoying. Why don't they understand that no matter how hard they try, they can't be like Kang? It baffles me."
The Emperor paused for a moment, piercing her with his eyes that seemed to shake.
"So that's why I like you. You know you're different from Kang and don't act like that."
"A concubine is a concubine, and a Prince is a Prince. A concubine never forgets her duty as a concubine."
The Emperor chuckled. Leaning on one armrest, he lowered his head. From top to bottom, the Emperor and Sook-bi looked at each other. It was a position never truly equal.
"Then, wouldn't you tell that to the other consorts? They can never become like him. Of course, the same goes for your sons."[1]
"...Does it apply to King Jinyeong as well?"
Sook-bi mentioned her son. King Jinyeong was her firstborn and a son. Naturally, her affection was directed towards her son. Moreover, Jinyeong showed qualities fitting for a future king. Her father had said so, and the shaman he secretly consulted had also confirmed it. Of course, she also secretly hoped that her son would become the crown prince. He excelled in literature, magic, martial arts, archery, and possessed all the qualities required to become an emperor. Even his character was excellent, and the palace servants treated him respectfully. During the time when Emperor's beloved son, Yeon Kang, was neglected, he was a kind child who secretly handed over sweets, fruits, tea, and other things he saved.
He was a completely different child from King Gyeonghye, who resembled the arrogance and cruelty of Gui-bi and the Emperor. Thinking in sequence that there was no child other than him who could become a crown prince, the Emperor belatedly came to his senses at the sound of Sook-bi's laughter as she wrapped her arms around his face. Sook-bi, too, was surprised, looking at the Emperor as if she could see through him.
"King Jinyeong is a little different."
The Emperor, as if to snap her out of her reverie, lightly tapped Sook-bi's cheek. It was so gentle and soft that it felt more like a caress than a tap. Enjoying his touch, Sook-bi squinted her eyes like a cat basking in the sun. Her long eyelashes cast shadows.
"That child is liked by Kang, so that's the only significance it holds."
"Your Majesty..."
"So, try harder. If it's King Jinyeong, he might become a crown prince, don't you think?"
With that said, the Emperor gently touched the hairpin in Sook-bi's hair and spoke softly.
"You suit the jade better, so next time, wear that and come to meet the Son of Heaven. Understand?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sook-bi couldn't contain her exhilaration at the mention of "King Jinyeong might become a crown prince." It was almost as if she had received confirmation from the Emperor's own lips. As his hand descended further, touching her skin lightly, Sook-bi cautiously brought her cheek to meet his hand. She thought of her son, who was staying in another palace. Imagining a ceremonial headdress on Jinyeong's head instead of an ordinary crown, her heart raced.
The Emperor, though seeming to look at himself, ultimately smiled at her as she searched for her son. The destination for consorts was not the Emperor himself. The Emperor's love was like flowers blooming in spring; once they wilted, it was over. Many flowers died before fully blooming, without getting a chance to bear fruit.
But if a son became the Emperor, the story changed. A son couldn't abandon his mother. Even for appearances, a mother had to be there. That's why concubines protected their lives and strove to make their sons crown princes to preserve their honor. Even a gentle woman like Sook-bi would eventually use her son as her pillar of support.
The Emperor knew this truth to his core. Because that's what the Empress Dowager did. She only strived to make him Emperor, not out of love for the Emperor, but for herself. Similarly, the Emperor only used the Empress Dowager as a political tool, nothing more and nothing less. The Empress Dowager was one of the burdensome obligations he had to uphold.
If that annoyance exceeded its limits, he always had the confidence to slit her throat. The empress dowager wouldn't oppose that situation either. Just as his relationship with the empress dowager was forged for mutual benefit, so too was the empress dowager's relationship with the situation.
Yeonhon, who overlapped her mother over the shy figure of Sook-bi, waved his hand and told her to stop. As the atmosphere, which had been subtly filled with affection, quickly changed, Sook-bi, who was taken aback, soon obeyed the command without hesitation. She got up somewhat awkwardly and bowed before the emperor. The emperor didn't even glance at her. Sook-bi, her head spinning with thoughts of Yeon Song, didn't notice the emperor's coldness. A palace maid reached out her hand. Sook-bi took it and gracefully walked out of the Cheonggeum Palace.
Not long after she left the palace, General Ye Hoyeong strode in with measured steps. Ye Hoyeong, who entered the Moheonjeon used by the emperor for private affairs or to meet his ministers, immediately prostrated himself upon seeing the emperor.
"Servant Ye Hoyeong, greets the heavenly emperor."
He had already raised his prostration, so he just called out his name without any unnecessary formalities.
"Rise."
At the emperor's command, Ye Hoyeong quickly lifted his head. With every move, he exuded strength befitting a general. As the emperor sat down and gestured for him to approach, Ye Hoyeong stood up and walked briskly towards him. He sat down modestly at the emperor's feet, his eyes sparkling. The emperor, uncomfortable with Ye Hoyeong's excessive loyalty, blinked with a troubled expression. Ye Hoyeong smiled innocently.
"Your Majesty!"
His voice was filled with power, almost roaring. The emperor openly grimaced. He gave up on scolding and sighed. Misunderstanding this, Ye Hoyeong strengthened his demeanor and asked.
"Your Majesty, do you have concerns? Why do you sigh like that?"
"...It's nothing."
Except for Ye Hoyeong, everyone in the Moheonjeon knew. Ye Hoyeong was as tall as the emperor, with an even more imposing stature. He was nicknamed the "Walking Mountain." Moreover, his gaze was so piercing that just being looked at by him made one sweat profusely, like being stared down by a hawk raised in the palace. While it was typical for children from Ye Hoyeong's family to have good physique, Ye Hoyeong exceeded that excessively. Perhaps his loyalty was proportional to his physique; he was famous for his unwavering loyalty to the emperor.
The emperor, lost in thought as he drummed his fingers on the armrest, picked up the imperial decree. Ye Hoyeong accepted the decree with the imperial name written on it. Quietly, Ye Hoyeong unrolled the scroll.
With an intensity that didn't miss a single word written on the decree, Ye Hoyeong read it, focusing his eyes. After reading it all, Ye Hoyeong widened his eyes and looked at the emperor.
"Your Majesty, my son Damyeong is only 12 years old. He has too many shortcomings to enter government service as an official. He's decent in martial arts, but lacking in manners and etiquette."
"Can't he learn those along with Kang?"
Ye Hoyeong, upon hearing the name of the emperor's beloved prince, blinked like a fool. Ye Damyeong was Ye Hoyeong's eldest son, destined to be a close aide like his father. Ye Hoyeong's family had been active as close aides for generations. If a son was born, he was expected to become the emperor's right-hand man and devote his life to him. Ye Hoyeong followed that rule too. At the age of 13, he became a close aide and served behind the emperor. Damyeong was also preparing to become a close aide, studying diligently in the Sagan.
But to become a close aide at 12 and study alongside the prince? The officials wouldn't be pleased with that. It would make sense if Kang were the crown prince, but he was not. There was no way the emperor wouldn't know that... Ye Hoyeong lowered his hands holding the decree.
A slight doubt flickered in his eyes, based on his loyalty. The emperor looked at Ye Hoyeong, an old friend and loyal subject, with amusement, stroking his chin. Ye Hoyeong, overwhelmed by the emperor's appearance akin to a divine fish or a moonlit flower, looked down.
"Your Majesty, as is customary in our household, when Damyeong reaches the age of 13, he will become a close aide and protect the crown prince. Damyeong is now only 12 years old and lacks many qualities required to become a close aide."
"Isn't it you who protects the emperor?"
The emperor smiled as if drawn with a brush, chin in hand. Ye Hoyeong, who had unknowingly raised his head, was captivated by that smile. The half-folded golden eyes was so beautiful that it dazzled his eyes. Ye Hoyeong, who had once boasted about his own wife's beauty, corrected his thoughts upon seeing the emperor today.
The emperor was much more beautiful, incomparable. The saying "fish hiding when seeing a beauty, cranes falling to the ground..." seemed fitting. Ye Hoyeong blushed deeply and looked down. He noticed the emperor's footwear. Perhaps even his feet were so beautiful... Ye Hoyeong foolishly murmured as he stared at the emperor's fingers trembling in his field of vision.
"You're truly beautiful, Your Majesty."
"I know, so snap out of it, Ye Hoyeong."
The emperor addressed Ye Hoyeong as before. Ye Hoyeong snapped his head up at the sound of his name being called. The emperor looked down at Ye Hoyeong with a stern face. Realizing his mistake, Ye Hoyeong slammed his head hard on the floor. It made a loud noise, shaking the courtiers who were maintaining silence. The emperor covered his mouth with his sleeve, swallowing his irritation as he looked at Ye Hoyeong.
"Your Majesty! Please punish this humble servant! I have committed the crime of daring to speak words that should never be spoken to the emperor! I will accept punishment for this crime!"
"We'll deal with punishment later. For now, listen carefully to what the emperor says."
"I humbly receive your command, Your Majesty!"
The thunderous voice left the servants unable to regain their composure. The emperor, faced with Ye Hoyeong's unwavering attitude, unchanged since childhood, was at a loss for words. His habit of becoming absent-minded and murmuring "You're beautiful..." whenever he saw him since childhood was the same. He wasn't angry. Ye Hoyeong was consistent only towards the emperor, but he was colder than ice in official matters.
As always, the emperor reached out and firmly grasped Ye Hoyeong's hand. Ye Hoyeong swallowed dryly, staring at the emperor. With his remaining hand, the emperor gently stroked Ye Hoyeong's head. Soon, Ye Hoyeong calmed down and looked at the emperor with loyal eyes.
"You must protect the emperor. However, it should be your son who protects my son Kang."
Ye Hoyeong was searching for the reason. The emperor, ignoring the presence of the attendants and pulling Ye Hoyeong closer as if to kiss him, touched Ye Hoyeong's ear with his lips.
"Damyeong must become the eyes and ears of the emperor. He must report everything to the emperor—where my child goes, whom he meets, what other princes say... He must not leave anything out."
The emperor's words were slow and precise, even the pronunciation. Ye Hoyeong nodded. The emperor then gently held Ye Hoyeong's cheek in both hands, making him look at him, and smiled warmly.
"You know very well why the emperor chose your son."
Ye Damyeong and Yeon Kang were of the same age, gender, and similar status. The son of a close aide and the son of the emperor. The emperor chose the most suitable child to monitor his own son. The servants openly regarded it as a favor, so Yeon Kang couldn't be at ease. But if Ye Damyeong became close to Yeon Kang, he would confide in him things he couldn't tell the emperor.
"Don't worry about the close aide position. Although it's traditionally at 13, there have been plenty of instances where those below have become close aides... As long as there's justification, it's fine."
The emperor spoke what he had prepared in advance before Ye Hoyeong could speak.
"If he's said to be the emperor's most beloved son, then they won't be able to say anything. Being a son incomparable to a trivial prince, who would dare to object?"
The crown prince was the most esteemed figure in the kingdom after the emperor. No one could touch the crown prince except the emperor himself. He was chosen by the emperor and ordained by the heavens as the father of the nation. As the emperor said, he was never trivial.
Above all, the position of the crown prince was where the son acknowledged by the emperor as the heir could ascend. Based on the emperor's affection and the evaluations of those around him, Kang had the qualifications to be the crown prince. The fact that he came from a household of humble merchants who didn't hold official positions could be a concern, but it could also be turned into an advantage. This was because of their lack of external connections. The household that bore the empress and the prince had a history of tormenting the people and engaging in vile loan-sharking, like a boulder in history.
It was better for the common people to live without such external connections, so Ye Hoyeong, too, regarded Kang as the crown prince in his own way.
However, today, after facing the emperor alone, his thoughts changed. No matter how he looked at it, the emperor seemed to have no intention of making Kang the crown prince.
"Your Majesty, haven't you cherished His Highness?"
Understanding the subtle implication immediately, the emperor laughed aloud.
"So you thought I'd make Kang the crown prince."
The emperor chuckled. Ye Hoyeong pursed his lips and then closed them. He had interpreted the emperor's command to make Damyeong a close aide to protect Kang in that sense. So does that mean his son Damyeong won't become a companion to a crown prince, but rather someone who will protect the prince? As a father, he couldn't help but worry about his son Damyeong. Damyeong had to become a close aide like himself to protect the emperor.
"He's my son, but Kang's heart is too weak."
The emperor sighed, stroking his chin as he looked at Ye Hoyeong.
"Being an emperor isn't just about having a strong heart. You need to distinguish between public and private matters, place talent appropriately, and even discard loved ones when necessary. Kang can't become the crown prince in that sense. If the emperor becomes blinded by love and places his beloved child on the throne, who will take responsibility for the countless people?"
The emperor's composed words contained no inaccuracies. Being a ruler was such a position. One had to always be just and fair, not swayed by personal emotions, with a clear mind and an impartial heart. Any tilt in one direction could lead to distorted judgment.
Indeed, as soon as the emperor ascended the throne, he swiftly eliminated the most bothersome external influences. He ordered the execution of all the influential relatives up to the ninth degree. It was the emperor's determination not to repeat the mistakes of the past. He eliminated the external influences, exiled the loyalists planted by the empress and the crown prince[2], and even executed the regent who blamed himself for the empress's affairs.
In the vacant positions, individuals personally selected by the emperor were appointed. The emperor was someone who lived thoroughly in the present. Even Confucian scholars who became close aides against the backdrop of their family's glory couldn't avoid the emperor's wrath. If a talented individual from a humble background in the past was suitable for the position, the emperor elevated them to high ranks without hesitation. That's how much the emperor prioritized finding the right person for the job.
Ye Hoyeong trusted the emperor's vision and intellect. If Kang wasn't suitable to be the crown prince, then so be it. He might not become the crown prince, but he would become a talent for the emperor in the future. Ye Hoyeong understood the reason why Damyeong had to protect His Highness. There was nothing better than having his son protect the emperor's most beloved son and showing loyalty. He realized it was a waste of time to worry about whether his son would become someone in the family who would be responsible for protecting the crown prince. There was no need for such worries.
"I hope your son and Kang become close friends."
The emperor affectionately stroked Ye Hoyeong's cheek as he put aside his doubts and returned to being a loyal subject.
"I hope he becomes the kind of person who can know everything Kang does, right here."
He withdrew his hand and smiled gracefully. Ye Hoyeong swallowed dryly at his slightly tilted eyes, which were so beautiful.
"For example, if he indulges recklessly in pleasure houses, that kind of thing."
In Yeon Kingdom, one had to hold a wedding ceremony to go to the pleasure house. If a maiden did not hold a wedding ceremony, or if she indulged in pleasure with others before marriage, it was believed that her body would devalue, and the future household would be ruined due to rumors. Therefore, they strictly adhered to tradition. Of course, if they held a wedding ceremony and had a night-time banquet at the same time, they could enjoy drinking and dancing in the pleasure house without any problem.
According to that tradition, Kang's wife had to hold a wedding ceremony to go to a brothel. Watching the Emperor, who revealed he hate Kang going to a brothel, Ye Hoyeong had doubts.
"Your Majesty, anyway, won't the prince soon reach the age to hold a wedding ceremony? It is natural to have a wife, have children, and share pleasure with each other...."
"That's what I don't like."
The Emperor's tone turned icy as he spoke with a stern, unyielding expression. The conversation about Kang seemed to have abruptly shifted his demeanor.
"Kang holding a wedding ceremony? With his father still here?" He managed to suppress his anger and smiled faintly. But it didn't seem like a genuine smile at all. Imagining Kang getting married and spending time in bed with a woman made him seethe with jealousy. He seemed like a young lad feeling jealous of a woman, which seemed too amateurish and twisted to be considered a father's emotions towards his son. Ye Hoyeong widened his eyes slightly at the awkward and twisted emotions displayed by the Emperor.
The Emperor, who had wiped away his smile as if removing a mask, looked at the door and muttered in a strained voice, "Even if that child is said to be the best in the world, he probably hasn't even thought about marriage yet."
It was jealousy. Seeing the Emperor, who seemed oddly naive like a child when looking into the distance, Ye Hoyeong couldn't help but smile wryly.
Returning to his estate at a critical moment, Ye Hoyeong summoned his son to the study. Ye Damyeong, unruffled, entered the room where Ye Hoyeong awaited. Having just returned from the palace, Ye Hoyeong was still dressed in his court attire, his face stern as he looked at his son. Ye Damyeong, noticing his father's gaze upon him, slowly knelt down. Ye Hoyeong sighed silently as he looked at the small back of his son, who was beginning to develop muscles.
When it came down to sending his son into the treacherous palace, Ye Hoyeong didn't feel quite right about it. While he should have been pleased to receive the mandate to protect the Emperor's son, there was a damp heaviness settling in his heart. Was he a loyal subject, or a father? Standing on the ambiguous boundary between the two roles, Ye Hoyeong slowly approached his son.
"Damyeong."
At the call of his father, Damyeong lifted his head subtly. There was still a youthful vigor on his cheek with traces of baby fat. His fingers were warm as they brushed against his son's unruly hair. After lifting his son up and watching him for a while, Ye Hoyeong let him go with a slow breath. Undoing the sword hanging from his waist, Ye Hoyeong handed it over to Damyeong. Taking the sword that had been passed down through generations, Damyeong's eyes widened in surprise at the solemn atmosphere.
As Ye Hoyeong gently stroked his son's head, he instructed, "From now on, you must protect the Emperor's son. Remember where he goes, who he meets, and with whom he converses. Then report everything to the Emperor."
Pausing his words, Ye Hoyeong retrieved a bracelet, a plaque, and a wristband symbolizing the Emperor's trusted guard. Placing the wristband on his son's wrist himself, the plaque read 'Trusted Ye Damyeong[3].' Placing the plaque on Damyeong's palm, Ye Hoyeong spoke firmly, " Prince Kang will receive his title in a year and become a ‘King’. You must build a strong relationship with the Prince, and in the future, you must also find out what he does in private. Do you understand?"
"Isn't that surveillance, father?" Damyeong asked abruptly. Ye Hoyeong had no answer. Even he considered the Emperor's decree as surveillance. No prince had ever been monitored like this before. Though honest, even someone as discerning as Ye Hoyeong had to carefully organize his thoughts before responding.
"That's what His Majesty desires. You just need to do as His Majesty wishes."
Damyeong seemed to shake his head as if he didn't understand, but he yielded to his father's cold gaze. In addition to Damyeong, Ye Hoyeong called upon others separately. They were also trusted guards. As the chief guard, Ye Hoyeong summoned the quietest and most agile among the Emperor's protectors to safeguard the Prince.
It wasn't that he didn't trust his son. It was just that there was a slight possibility, and to ensure his son's safety, he called upon them.
"I don't know if he'll go to the pleasure houses, but... if, by chance, the prince decides to visit, stop anything from happening, no matter what it takes."
Damyeong silently nodded his head. Stepping away from his son, Ye Hoyeong added, "Make sure he doesn't even touch a woman's fingertip."
He laughed as he turned to look at his son, who seemed surprised.
"If that happens, His Majesty will be deeply saddened."
It wasn't just about sorrow; it could escalate to the point where everything related to that person might be eliminated. Swallowing those words, Ye Hoyeong extinguished the torch.
In an instant, the estate was engulfed in darkness.
[1] The emperor doesn’t have any romantic feelings yet with Kang. This passage means that the concubines cannot be like Kang, whom he pours his affections. They cannot get the same affections as he give to Kang.
[2] Most likely the deceased one
[3] Chin Ye Damyeong. Chin in Chingun
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