Preface.
In the year 688 of Seongjong Era, 20 years-old King Yeonghyeon, son of the Heavenly Emperor Yeonghwi, has been decreed by the heavens as a consort and was given the name Hee.
The bell rang three times.
As soon as the clear and resonant sound of the bell reached the shaman's toes, she raised her hands and struck the drum. Her sleeves, long enough to touch the ground, moved gracefully like a butterfly's wings, but her hands hitting the drum were fierce and determined, as if forging metal. The shaman, with her eyes covered by silk, stood up and vigorously pounded the drum, as if possessed, drawing the gaze of everyone in the Heavenly Temple.
Boom, boom, boom.
One man, seated on the most honorable throne, watched the burning altar with indifferent eyes, his chin resting on his hand. The flames wavered with the wind and died down like a flower that hadn't fully bloomed. His golden eyes followed the subtle changes in the flames, narrowing, slightly widening, or occasionally forming a secretive smile. His smile exuded confidence that the fire would never be extinguished.
The sound of the drum rose high towards the sky. It was an arrogant sound. The shamans were beating the drums loudly, urging the heavens for a response.
The priest presiding over the ceremony lay flat on the ground, trembling, and watched the pale feet of the shamans. The echoing bell sound that followed the drumbeats started from the shamans' ankles. Their pale ankles, showing blue veins, moved slowly but brilliantly to the rhythm, capturing everyone's attention. The bell bestowed by the Emperor himself rang. Its sound clouded their rationality.
As the faint sound, like a drop of water falling on the surface, lingered in the air, the flames suddenly flared up. The emperor, who had been watching the fire with a bored expression, sprang to his feet. The shamans, who had been beating the drums and entrancing the crowd, also stopped dancing. The people, who had been entranced by the shamans, gradually came to their senses and looked at the fire. The heated breaths of the shamans filled the Heavenly Temple.
"Aah…"
The priest’s faint groan broke the silence. He swallowed the lingering anxiety at the tip of his tongue. However, instead of dissipating, the anxiety solidified into a knot in his chest. The priest closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again. His gaze landed on the emperor seated at the highest place in the Heavenly Temple. The emperor’s dragon robe, embroidered with gold thread depicting two wolves ascending against a pure white background, filled the priest’s vision. Summoning more courage, the priest looked up further, seeing the emperor’s face that seemed to make his breath stop. The emperor’s golden eyes curved like a crescent moon ruling the night. In contrast, the priest’s face was etched with deep despair.
The emperor stood up. The precious jewels on his crown clinked together, producing a resplendent sound. The emperor descended the twelve steps with measured steps. Once he reached the floor, the shamans prostrated themselves, praising him with their whole bodies. Following the shamans, the consorts, disfigured princes, princesses, palace ladies, and eunuchs pressed their hands to the ground and touched their foreheads to the backs of their hands. The emperor stopped at a point as he walked among those who couldn’t even dare to breathe. The priest, shaking madly, was now very close. The emperor slowly bent down. The priest, who had been half-raising his eyes, closed them tightly when he saw the long, white sleeves. From the sleeves emerged a hand even whiter than the robe. That delicate, flower-like hand gracefully lifted the priest’s chin. The priest, caught in the gentle grip, could only stare at the emperor. The emperor’s golden eyes held a deep smile.
“You must convey the answer given by the heavens. That is your duty.”
“Your, Your Majesty…”
The thumb holding the priest's chin pressed against his chapped lips, parting them. The emperor’s golden eyes narrowed. As his smile shifted towards demanding an answer, the priest’s face twisted as if he might burst into tears. Even at the sight of the old man on the verge of crying, the emperor’s gaze remained unwavering.
“Hurry and tell us. What answer did the heavens give? Whom did the heavens designate as the emperor’s new consort?”
The hand holding his chin was endlessly gentle, and the emperor’s tone was plain and exceedingly kind. The priest, looking up into the emperor’s golden eyes, felt a dizzying sensation as if he were standing at the edge of a roof, his legs trembling. His heart pounded violently. The tremor, born of fear, showed no sign of stopping. He was terrified of the emperor.
However, the moment spring arrived in the once icy golden eyes, the priest’s mouth began to open.
“The new consort the heavens have chosen for Your Majesty is….”
At the mention of a new consort, the living concubines’ faces tensed with anxiety, and the prince's displeasure became subtly apparent. The civil and military officials seated behind watched the emperor and the priest with keen interest. The emperor's hand, which held the priest's chin, cut through the warm air. His long, white, yet manly fingers touched the priest's lips. As if urging him to speak, the silent gesture seemed almost fragrant. The emperor was a person whose very existence was shrouded in mystery. He was like a flower that bloomed in perpetual blue all year round. The priest, mesmerized by the emperor’s beauty, blinked and his gaze landed on one of the concubines. She was an exceptionally striking beauty, even among the emperor’s harem. Her black hair was tied up, revealing her neck and cheeks. The priest, gazing at her face, still as delicate and fair as a young girl's, with an expression of pity, turned his head to look at the emperor. The emperor’s lips moved gracefully, forming a beautiful smile.
“Who is the new consort of the Son of Heaven?”
“The new consort for Your Majesty is….”
The priest swallowed dryly, fixing his wavering gaze on the floor before opening his mouth again.
“Your Majesty’s son, King Yeonghyeon.”
As the name of the emperor’s son and prince was announced, the eyes of those gathered in the Heavenly Temple widened in shock. The only surviving noble consort was frozen, unable to breathe, and King Gyeonghye stared curiously through his mask. In this solemn ritual, someone even dared to let out a gasp. Normally, the emperor would have found and punished such an insolent person, but he maintained his smile, seemingly pleased with the announcement of his son becoming a consort. In fact, his smile grew deeper with each passing moment. The priest swallowed dryly at the emperor's serene smile, which seemed to transition from spring to summer.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
Among the concubines, Yeo Soo-eui, who had been quietly holding her breath, suddenly rushed forward. A guard stationed at the Heavenly Temple stepped forward to restrain her, but the emperor raised his hand to stop him. As the emperor turned towards her, Yeo Soo-eui, with tears in her eyes, approached and prostrated herself at his feet. Her rounded, delicate shoulders shook uncontrollably as she sobbed aloud.
“Y-Your Majesty… something must be wrong! Kang, no, King Yeonghyeon is your own son! We must appeal to the heavens once more…!”
Despite her fear, Yeo Soo-eui spoke out to protect her only son, but the emperor’s laughter cut her off. He laughed heartily, his pleasing voice resonating as he looked down at Yeo Soo-eui weeping at his feet. Swallowing her sobs, she raised her head to look at the emperor. He was smiling kindly, like the happiest person in the world. His kind and beautiful smile made Yeo Soo-eui stop crying and stare at him in a daze. Before she realized it, he had knelt on one knee and placed his hand on her cheek. She trembled slightly at his gentleness, which he showed for the first time since their wedding. Whenever he was kind or gentle, there was always a reason, and that reason usually involved their son. The emperor, kindly wiping away her tears, began to speak.
“Surely, you’re not jealous because your son is a consort and you’re just a concubine?”[1]
“Your Majesty!”
Yeo Soo-eui called out to the emperor with a pale face. She shook her head vigorously and grabbed his wrist. The emperor coldly pushed her away. She fell to the side but didn’t even groan, quickly crawling back to prostrate herself before him. Her frail back trembled incessantly, but the golden eyes watching her remained indifferent.
“Your Majesty, please… please rescind that order. Kang is your son.”
She pleaded with the emperor through her desperate sobs.
“And now, he is the consort of the Son of Heaven.”
The emperor, his laughter ceased, spoke firmly and called upon his trusted soldiers. Yeo Soo-eui, lost for words in despair, looked at the emperor. While observing the gathering soldiers, the emperor did not take his eyes off Yeo Soo-eui. As the soldiers silently assembled, kneeling with one knee on the ground and raising their hands to their chests, they gazed at the emperor with steadfast loyalty and trust. With a smile of assurance, the emperor shattered Yeo Soo-eui's hopeful gaze with a single blow.
"From now on, King Yeonghyeon is no longer your son. Treat him as the wife of the Son of Heaven."
Yeo Soo-eui let out a sob and collapsed to the ground. However, there was not a single soul who pitied her. The concubines, faced with a familiar yet newfound adversary, clenched their fists tightly within the sleeves of their garments. Despite knowing this all too well, the emperor, as if boasting, announced to those present in the Heavenly Temple with an unyielding voice.
"Yeonghyeon is no longer a prince. He is now a consort of the Son of Heaven."
Deliberately pausing, the emperor slowly turned to face the concubines, who were gazing at him silently, before continuing.
"Hee-bi."[2]
His smile deepened elegantly, like a fresh breeze descending from the heavens.
[1] Consort is the highest ranking concubine in the royal household, usually the most favored of the King. Concubine is not the primary wife, lower ranked than the consort and is usually not part of the royal members of the family.
[2] Hee is Kang’s consort title which means joy. So this had two meanings. One, the emperor means its joyous event/ happy. Second, he decisively named him Hee as in, joy.
禧妃 huibi