Chapter 18

2: Spring Dream

Dawn hung on the edge of the eaves, clinging to the leaves that had grown there. The early morning rain whimpered pitifully. Even the raindrops, which had been the only remnants of vitality, were silenced by the distant, shimmering golden light. Unfailingly, the sun rose, and dawn disappeared without leaving a trace. The faint blue hue that had clung to the tips of the leaves also let go and bid farewell. Newly born leaves, barely a few days old, basked their entire beings in the warm sunlight, melting away any remaining moisture. A few lingering raindrops trembled in the expanding realm of sunlight.

A thud echoed as the rainwater collided with the ground. Startled by the intrusion of a stranger, the rainwater sought refuge in puddles. But even that was shattered as the stranger stomped on the puddles, breaking them into pieces. The peace that had lasted only briefly during the dawn vanished without a trace.

"Ugh, these darn trees! I must ask Sangseon[1] for help... Every time I come, these branches prick me like needles, it's maddening!"

Leading two apprentice eunuchs, the senior eunuch grumbled as he pushed aside the dense branches and bushes without hesitation. When his headgear was knocked off by a branch, the enraged senior eunuch grabbed the shoulders of the apprentice eunuchs and pushed them forward.

"You two go ahead! I can't move because of these trees!"

Without a word, the apprentice eunuchs cleared the way for the senior eunuch. This was the path leading to the remote Cold Palace. The trees had grown arrogantly up to the eaves, and the dense underbrush below resembled a forest, causing great discomfort with every step. If only there were flowers to smell or a stroll to take, but the emperor, who did not even allow sunlight into the Cold Palace, would never permit flowers.

The Cold Palace was situated in the northwest, where sunlight never penetrated and a chilly aura prevailed. It was famous as the place where the Empress, deposed a hundred years ago, had hung herself on her son's orders, making it a site steeped in resentment. The coldness of the Cold Palace was so extreme that it was considered unusual, and it was perpetually dark. The remaining windows were covered with layers of boards, preventing even a ray of light from entering. As if that weren't enough, the trees in the inner courtyard were left untended, growing exponentially and further blocking out light. Thus, despite the absence of boards, the courtyards remained in darkness due to the leaves. The Emperor had only added trees to the windows to exacerbate their torment.

Five locks hung on the door stripped of its paint. Although one lock would have been sufficient, five were intentionally placed as a clear indication that one could never leave this place except to meet death.

The eunuch, still trembling in the faint light of dawn, rummaged through his pockets. He took out five keys, unlocked the door, and gathered the chains. After returning the keys to his pocket and hesitating for a moment, the courtier stepped back. The two eunuchs came forward awkwardly and pushed the door from both sides.

Creak... The door emitted a mournful sound, as if it too harbored resentment. They already knew that the seams were worn, causing a groaning sound whenever the door was opened or closed, but the courtiers still shook hands nervously due to the eerie atmosphere.

Inside the Cold Palace was even graver than outside. The ground was littered with animal excrement, broken earthenware, and carcasses of animals. A foul smell wafted up. The eunuch bravely kicked his foot against a rat that dared to linger in front of him. The gray mouse scampered away in alarm.

The women, who longed for the day of their death, had to kneel in front of the approaching eunuchs three times a day, confessing their sins. They would pray and confess in front of them until permitted by the eunuchs, but the depraved eunuchs rarely allowed it. They mocked the pitiful pleas of the concubines and even withheld food in severe cases. When that happened, the women would collapse on the floor, crying. Despite begging and pleading, the eunuch would cruelly laugh and leave food for the rats instead. Until their dying breath, the women, who had been taught not to touch men other than the Emperor, could not even cling to the eunuchs’ clothes. It was a miserable end, all because they didn't please the Emperor's heart.

The eunuch struggled to breathe in the unhealthy air of the palace as he kicked aside the stones underfoot and stood in front of the door with two locks. The sound of the locks clicking into place echoed as the door opened, unleashing the darkness that had been trapped within like a flood, engulfing the eunuch and his companions in a shroud of coldness. Unlike the warm palace during the day, the Cold Palace was as cold as eternal winter.

"Your Excellency, come out and confess your sins to His Majesty!"

The eunuch called out to Her Excellency with his chapped lips, but there was no response, only the howling wind in return.

"Ah, must be too hungry to come out and confess today. How dare you not confess your sins to His Majesty!"

The eunuch grumbled indignantly as he entered. With each step, the floor creaked and groaned with the sound of the wooden planks giving way. Despite complaining every time he came here, a woman appeared as he lifted the curtain.

"Are you looking for Her Excellency?"

It was a face that had not withstood the passage of time. Once receiving limited love from the Emperor, she had aged ten years in the span of one. With patches of baldness from falling hair and eyes gouged out in a fight, she looked like a demon in the darkness. Startled by her grotesque appearance, the eunuch recoiled. She chuckled at the sight of the eunuch, revealing her missing teeth.

"Her Excellency passed away yesterday."

"Suicide?"

The eunuch clicked his tongue in disbelief. He had always thought she would die eventually from her incessant complaints, but to actually die was surprising. Nevertheless, she had endured for quite a long time.

The eunuch called for the apprentice eunuch who was waiting behind him. The apprentice courtier quickly approached, bowing his head respectfully as the courtier whispered to him.

"Go and summon the innkeeper."

"Yes, sir."

He tilted his head back and retreated, disappearing quickly. The woman, who had been a concubine, followed the eunuch who was searching for the body of Her Excellency. When the eunuch angrily shouted, "Come here!" she sulked. Despite being told, she pouted and even displayed some grotesque coquetry. She seemed sane on the surface, but in the end, she was also a madwoman. The eunuch sent her back to where she had been.

"Ugh..."

The eunuch grimaced as he saw the body of Her Excellency rolling around aimlessly. Suicide, natural death, or homicide? He had to distinguish and report it to the Emperor.

He sighed as he looked at the dead woman lying on the bed. Her clothes were worn and disheveled, her hair tangled, her fingernails torn... She looked so deteriorated that it was hard to believe she was once the daughter of a prominent noble. Sitting on a creaky chair, he examined the body with a blank expression before getting up again. He covered the corpse with a tattered blanket.

Finally, he felt relieved.

Who would want to pay attention to a lifeless body? No one. Except perhaps the deceased's father, who had passed away before his daughter.

Suddenly, the eunuch wondered if the Emperor would mourn over this fact but then chuckled. The Emperor probably wouldn't even know she was trapped here. Since ascending the throne at the age of fifteen, the Emperor had sent more than ten women to the Cold Palace but had never once visited them.

[1] Sangseon. Refers to a sector who is assigned for taking care of weeds, branches, etc.

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