Chapter 38

Lady Yun, Wife of Grand Prince Suyang

"Grandmother, your humble grandson pays his respects."

"Mother, have you been well? A servant who accompanied the Ming envoys brought back fine silk. I thought it would suit you well, so I brought a few varieties."

Dowon-gun, dignified in a deep blue coat and a black bokgeon embroidered with gold, and Lady Yun—radiant in a purple silk dangui adorned with plum blossom embroidery—bowed before the Queen Consort.

Yunseo gathered her stack of papers and quietly retreated to a corner, while Hongwi had already run over and climbed onto the Queen's lap, kicking his legs excitedly.

It had been about a month since she last saw Dowon-gun at Lady Yang's residence.

Back then, Hongwi would stiffen just at the sight of him and his mother—but today, he leaned comfortably against the Queen, his round eyes calm and curious.

"Royal Grandson, have you been well?"

Lady Yun greeted Hongwi with proper courtesy.

"Auntie… are you well too?"

At his lisping pronunciation, Dowon-gun chuckled and mimicked him,

"'Auntie… are you well too?'"

Then he added politely,

"I hear your formal investiture will take place soon. Will you still speak with such childish pronunciation at that time?"

At those words, Hongwi flinched slightly and glanced at Yunseo.

Yunseo smiled softly and nodded.

Reassured, Hongwi leaned back against the Queen again, kicking his short legs as he replied casually,

"My nanny said so. I'm still a baby—if I become too smart and even speak perfectly, I won't be a cute baby anymore."

"Puhahaha!"

The Queen—who rarely even smiled broadly—burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking.

"Yes, yes, Kwon-ga is right. Our Hongwi is already exceptionally clever like His Highness—if his pronunciation were perfect too, he wouldn't seem like a child. Hyeondong, your concern is sweet, but do not worry too much. You were the same at that age."

"…Yes, Grandmother."

Dowon-gun answered with a slightly displeased expression, while Lady Yun briefly cast a sharp glance at Yunseo.

At that exact moment, their eyes met—

and Yunseo felt her heart drop at the sheer hatred and killing intent contained in that gaze.

So that's how she could push Suyang to stage a coup…

And later, even before her own son Yejong's body had grown cold, enthrone Seongjong and assume regency…

To walk such a ruthless and merciless path, one needed eyes like that.

Which also meant—

that Yunseo herself might soon have to harbor such venom.

Recalling Friedrich Nietzsche's famous words—"If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you"—Yunseo felt a chill run down her spine.

Yet the moment Lady Yun turned her head, her expression softened instantly into one of gentle warmth as she addressed the Queen.

"Hyeondong missed you dearly, Mother. When he saw the Hangzhou silk today, he kept saying this and that would suit you, urging me to show you at once. So I brought a few samples."

"Oh my, what a lovely thought. Come here, Hyeondong. Let your grandmother hold her first grandson again after so long."

Dowon-gun rose and approached the Queen.

Hongwi slid down from her lap and sat beside her, stretching out his legs.

After patting Dowon-gun's upper body a few times, the Queen looked him in the eyes and asked,

"What have you been studying lately?"

"I am studying the Elementary Learning, Grandmother. And Father says that while studying texts is important, a man must cultivate a great spirit—so he is teaching me horseback riding and archery as well."

"Ah, that is true. One must strengthen the body from a young age to remain healthy throughout life."

"Yes, Grandmother. I will train diligently and grow into a man like Father—one who resembles my great-grandfather."

Dowon-gun answered properly and then moved aside.

At once, Hongwi naturally reclaimed the Queen's lap.

Having spent an hour with her every day these past few days, he had clearly grown very attached—and watching this made Yunseo feel immensely proud.

"Mother, these are three types of summer silk. Would you like to see them?"

"With your refined taste, how could they be anything but excellent? Let me have a look."

Lady Yun called behind her, "Attendant Jo."

The attendant who had been waiting near the doorway brought forward a neatly wrapped silk bundle tied with red tassels and carefully unfolded it before the Queen.

Inside were bolts of silk in beautiful hues—deep violet, dark red, and bluish-green—so fine that even Yunseo, who knew nothing of silk, could tell their quality.

Sitting closer, Lady Yun spread them out one by one and began to explain.

"This is a double happiness butterfly-patterned silk. If you make a dangui from it, Mother, it will be very cool. I have also found a highly skilled seamstress—if you like it, I will have one made for you."

"Oh, how nice. Kwon-ga, come and take a look as well. Such fine silk is rarely seen even in the palace."

Concerned that Yunseo was sitting unnoticed in the corner, the Queen beckoned her over.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Though she had no desire to approach Lady Yun's overwhelming presence, Yunseo respectfully moved closer and sat a step behind her.

Lady Yun continued to ignore her completely.

"Mother, this bluish-green saraneungdan is very light yet strong, with a beautiful pattern. If you make a long jacket from it, it will help you endure the heat of summer."

"Yes, indeed. But you should take that one and wear it yourself within the palace. His Majesty has instructed us to avoid excessive luxury—how could I, as Queen, wear such a thing?"

"Ah, I was thoughtless. Please forgive me, Mother."

"It is not that your thinking is shallow—it is that your heart for me is that deep. Is it not so, Kwon-ga?"

The Queen turned to Yunseo again.

"Yes, I believe so as well."

At that, Lady Yun slightly turned her head and cast Yunseo a cold glance from behind—

clearly displeased, as if to say, What would someone like you know to interfere?

"Princess Jeongui will arrive soon. Shall we have some refreshments while we wait? Hyeondong, Hongwi—what would you like to eat?"

"For me, simply seeing you is enough, Grandmother."

"I want sweets! And ripe sweets—and snacks too!"

Dowon-gun declined politely, while Hongwi wiggled excitedly, pointing out what he wanted.

Seeing this, Lady Yun turned her head slightly and spoke coldly to Yunseo,

"How do you usually attend to the young master, that he desires so many things to eat?"

Yunseo, who had actually been restricting Hongwi's snacks out of concern for cavities—since palace sweets were loaded with honey and syrup—felt wronged, but simply bowed her head.

"My apologies."

She couldn't exactly come all the way to the Crown Prince's quarters to interfere directly, and Yunseo had no desire to exhaust herself with pointless confrontation.

"Grandmama, Hongwi wants to go catch colorful fish and eat them!"

It seemed Hongwi disliked the way Lady Yun kept glancing at Yunseo with those frightening eyes—he suddenly began begging to go outside and play fishing.

"I will take the young master out and play with him."

When Yunseo offered, the Queen shook her head and instead asked Hongwi,

"Hongwi, can you play with Jaseon? This maid Kwon needs to stay here a little longer with Grandmother and your aunt."

No, no, Your Majesty.

I don't want to sit here and face Lady Yun any more than Hongwi does…

Yunseo screamed inwardly, looking at Hongwi with desperate eyes.

Hongwi! Tell her you can't be without your nanny!

But the heartless Hongwi simply shouted cheerfully, "Yes!" and jumped to his feet, turning first to Dowon-gun.

"Hyung, want to come fish with me?"

Oh my.

Our Hongwi has changed this much!

The child who used to shrink back and avoid eye contact with Dowon-gun was now speaking so confidently!

Yunseo felt so proud her chest swelled with emotion, tears almost forming—

when suddenly, as he was heading out with Dowon-gun, Hongwi turned back and shouted,

"Nanny! If anyone hits me, I'll tell Jaseon right away!"

"!"

"!"

Yunseo flushed bright red and lowered herself in embarrassment, the Queen burst into laughter again, her shoulders shaking, and Lady Yun's face flushed with anger.

Because Yunseo had always told him, "Young master, if anyone hits you, tell me immediately. Anyone who dares lay even a finger on you—I won't let them off. And if I'm not there, tell Jaseon!"

"Oh my, our Hongwi has become quite the little rascal. He used to be so withdrawn—seeing him so bright and carefree now is a good thing. So do not trouble yourself over it, my dear."

Only after noticing Lady Yun's expression did the Queen offer her gentle reassurance.

At that moment, palace maids entered carrying refreshments.

Small tables were set before the Queen, Lady Yun, Yunseo, and Attendant Jo.

"Let us eat. Fine peaches have just arrived from Sariwon. The weather is dry, so the fruit is sweet, but it worries me for the crops. The Crown Prince has lately abstained from meat and is preparing for a rain ritual. Kwon-ga, take good care of our Hyang."

"…Yes, Your Majesty."

After asking him to wait five days ago at Bihyeongak, Lee Hyang had begun keeping his distance from Yunseo.

He summoned her only once—to question her in detail about the Imjin War and the Manchu invasions—and even then, he barely looked at her, busy writing down everything she said behind his desk.

On other days, he sent word through Chief Eunuch Eom that he was too occupied with state affairs and that she should write things down instead.

So Yunseo filled page after page with clumsy handwriting—writing about good and bad kings of Joseon, tyrants and wise rulers, and anything she could recall.

She also wrote about historical figures from China and Japan—Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the Qing emperor Hong Taiji—recording everything she knew.

If I had known I'd end up here teaching history to Crown Prince Munjong, I would've studied history much more seriously…

Still, she found some comfort in knowing she remembered a great deal about Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his remarkable achievements.

As she wrote whatever came to mind, she was sometimes reminded of the love letters she used to write to a boy she had a crush on in high school, and her heart would grow soft.

The only time she could see Lee Hyang in person was during the evening meal.

Though he usually dined with the King, lately, due to the drought, he ate simple vegetarian meals in the Crown Prince's quarters with Hongwi.

Perhaps because he was not eating meat, his features grew sharper and more refined day by day—so much so that even while attending to Hongwi, Yunseo would find herself stealing glances at him.

And whenever she did, she would recall that intense night they had shared, her face flushing red—

and at those exact moments, their eyes would meet.

Then Lee Hyang would smile at her in a low, meaningful way, as if he had been thinking of the same thing—forcing Yunseo to lower her head to hide her burning cheeks.

Whenever Lee Hyang smiled, Hongwi would ask, "Father, what's so funny? I want to know too!"—making him laugh even more.

And so, the palace maids whispered among themselves—

that Yunseo must have disappointed him after a single night and thus never became an official royal consort,

muttering, "Pretty to look at, but not worth eating."

Yet at the same time, they fiercely envied and resented her for being the only one who could draw such smiles from the Crown Prince.

Just thinking of Lee Hyang made Yunseo's heart flutter softly, her face naturally flushing again.

Seeing this, Lady Yun—who had been watching her with cold eyes—spoke sharply.

"This maid Kwon received the Crown Prince's favor only once and has not attended him since. How can she be expected to care for His Highness's well-being, Your Majesty? At Suyang's residence, we too have been observing a vegetarian diet lately, and I personally prepare various dishes with care. I will send the recipes through Lady Hong Seunghwi—perhaps it would be better to entrust His Highness's care to someone more capable."

"Is that so, Kwon-ga?"

The Queen Consort looked at Yunseo with surprise.