Chapter 39

Queen Soheon's Fit

"What has happened for things to turn out like this?"

The Queen Consort's voice carried both concern and reproach.

She had advised her to carefully discern the monarch's will and report with utmost care so as to secure the position of a wet nurse maid—but now, it seemed she had only obtained the position while losing favor. It was disappointment mixed with worry.

After deciding to bury her bones here in Joseon, Yunseo cast aside her previously passive stance of observing the women of the palace from a distance.

And now, she could clearly see how Lady Yun, the wife of Grand Prince Suyang, had been exerting influence over the Crown Prince's inner palace.

So this is how she subtly shakes the Queen Consort and flaunts her influence over Ihyang's concubines. After all, Ihyang only took women reluctantly under the pressure of His Majesty and the Queen Consort—so they must believe that who he embraces is ultimately decided by Lady Yun, who resides here in the central palace.

Yunseo carefully chose her words.

While working together on a childcare book, she had grown close to Princess Jeongui, who had advised her:

"You must not conduct the politics of royal women so bluntly. You must strike elegantly. Your words are too rough—they may provoke disdain."

"Your Majesty, every evening, the Crown Prince's dinner table is never without dishes made from beans, lotus root, and spinach, prepared in various ways. As the Royal Grandson dines with His Highness, when preparing the child's meal, I consult with Lady Park and the royal kitchen court ladies to carefully select vegetables that can replace meat. Therefore, there is no need to worry about His Highness's health. I shall devote myself even more earnestly to attending to his well-being."

Though this was not what she had meant to ask, the Queen nodded for the moment.

But Lady Yun did not withdraw.

"Your Majesty, I know all too well how you have always worried that the Crown Prince devotes himself only to state affairs and shows little concern for producing an heir. So when I heard that His Highness had bestowed his favor upon this maid Kwon, I was overjoyed. Since that day, I have gone to the temple daily to pray that she may conceive a royal heir… Ah, but now His Highness has grown indifferent again…"

With a sorrowful sigh, Lady Yun lifted the ribbon of her embroidered robe, pretending to dab tears from her eyes.

"Even the Buddha is indifferent—how great must Your Majesty's worries be? My heart aches so deeply for you."

This was the very moment Yunseo saw how Princess Jeongui's words—that even the monarch's bedchamber is part of royal politics—were realized.

And it was also the moment she had been waiting for.

Yunseo bowed deeply toward Lady Yun.

"How can I ever repay the effort of the Lady, who even prays daily on our behalf? I shall express my gratitude properly at a later time. For now, please accept this humble bow."

Rising from her seat, Yunseo brought both hands to her forehead and offered a full formal bow.

Lady Yun let out a faint scoff and waved her hand gracefully.

"But what a pity. All those prayers with precious incense and offerings of fine silk to a powerful Buddha—and yet no result."

"It will not be in vain, Madam. One day, the Buddha will surely be moved by your sincerity and grant an answer."

"…?"

Without further engaging her, Yunseo turned back toward the Queen and bowed.

"Your Majesty, after returning from the Onyang palace, His Majesty ordered the ministers to address the Crown Prince as 'Your servant' and commanded His Highness to face south and take full charge of state affairs as a king would. Since then, the drought has persisted to such an extent that even the Dano banquet could not be held. His Highness has been observing abstinence, purifying both body and mind, and preparing for a rain ritual."

"Yes, I am well aware of that. But what does that have to do with your relationship with Ihyang?"

"It is directly related, Your Majesty."

At Yunseo's confident reply, a faint ripple of unease appeared on Lady Yun's face—and even on the expressionless face of Court Lady Jo seated behind her.

"The reason His Highness does not summon me at night is not indifference—it is restraint for the sake of the people of Joseon, who long desperately for rain. It is abstinence practiced so that he may conduct the rain ritual with complete purity of body and mind. Please do not be concerned, Your Majesty."

"!"

"!"

Lady Yun and Court Lady Jo's faces changed instantly, while the Queen finally showed signs of relief.

To dispel any remaining doubt, Yunseo continued:

"However, I cannot cease my affection for His Highness. I write him letters filled with my feelings several times a day and send them to him. His Highness gladly receives and cherishes my letters, so please do not worry."

"I see. That explains it—just yesterday, Ihyang mentioned during his morning greetings that you grow more lovely the more he sees you."

"!"

Yunseo flushed and bowed her head.

Thinking that she would soon have to explain today's events to Ihyang made her both embarrassed and excited—it felt like she was gradually drawing closer to him.

Suppressing her fluttering heart, she turned back toward Lady Yun, drawing her blade of counterattack.

"Now that you understand the situation, Madam, I ask that you not be disappointed and continue to devote yourself for the sake of Her Majesty and the royal family."

"Of course I shall. Your Majesty, I am so relieved and happy—I am truly glad I came to the palace today. It seems a warm spring breeze is finally entering the once cold and barren Eastern Palace."

Despite the situation, Lady Yun did not hesitate even for a moment and spoke as if she were genuinely delighted.

A formidable opponent.

But this one would sting.

"Your Majesty, please grant me permission to return immediately to the Eastern Palace with the Royal Grandson. I shall come again tomorrow."

"Hmm? Already? Princess Jeongui will be arriving soon."

"I shall send word that I will meet her separately. This is too urgent to delay even for a moment."

"What could be so urgent that you dare withdraw despite Her Majesty's reluctance?"

Lady Yun asked sharply.

Yunseo met her piercing glare calmly and inwardly felt relieved that when King Sejong had once warned, 'If my sons die, I will kill you,' he had not included 'my daughters-in-law.'

"Not everyone in the world thinks as you do, Madam."

"What did you say?"

Ignoring Lady Yun's demand, Yunseo bowed again to the Queen.

"Your Majesty, I must return at once to inform Head Court Lady Eom and Lady Park that it is necessary to strictly reestablish discipline among the palace maids of the Eastern Palace."

"!"

"!"

The Queen showed a belated expression of realization, and this time even Lady Yun trembled with visible agitation.

"Once a court lady enters the palace, she is not to be released before her superiors permit it—this is a rule established to prevent confidential matters within the palace from leaking outside. Yet now it seems that everything happening in the Eastern Palace—even matters concerning the Crown Prince's bedchamber—is being leaked out without restraint."

"No, that is not—how I came to know—"

Cutting her off coldly, Yunseo said:

"Would such irreverent palace women dare to leak information only to someone as devout and concerned as you, Madam? This concerns the safety and dignity of the Crown Prince and the Royal Grandson—I cannot delay even a moment."

"Y-you!"

"Your Majesty, I beg your permission."

Because she had long cherished her dearly, Queen Soheon had never bothered to examine the hidden meanings behind everything Lady Yun said. But now, she slowly swept her daughter-in-law with a newly sharpened gaze.

"..."

Only after hearing Kwon's words did the Queen finally realize it—

That her second daughter-in-law, who lived outside the palace, knew far too much about what went on within, spoke of it to the Queen without hesitation, and even dared to meddle in the affairs of the Eastern Palace—something entirely beyond what was proper!

In that instant, the genuine joy she had felt these past few days while watching Hongwi sank heavily, and the pain of that day resurfaced—the terror of being dragged into the royal power struggle and struggling desperately within it…

Hhk.

Overwhelmed by the vivid resurgence of unbearable pain, the Queen clutched her ears with both hands.

"!"

Yunseo sharply realized that the Queen was about to be consumed by the ghosts of her past.

Without hesitation, she hurried forward on her knees and took the Queen's hands.

"W-What are you doing?"

Lady Yun, who had just felt her carefully built position crumble in an instant, seized upon Yunseo's sudden action with delight and cried out.

How improper!

How ignorant of palace etiquette!

But Yunseo paid her no attention at all. Gently holding the Queen's hands, she softly tapped the back of her hand—tap, tap, tap—and whispered in a quiet voice.

"Your Majesty, can you feel my touch on the back of your hand?"

"N-no… I hate it. I hate it. I hate everything!"

"Your Majesty, please focus on my fingers tapping your hand. Tap, tap, tap. Your Majesty."

"…I… I!"

"Yes, I know. I know, Your Majesty. I understand the unspeakable anguish you cannot even put into words."

I understand your pain.

Your Majesty, do not be trapped in that past suffering—come back to the present, here and now.

Tap, tap, tap.

Overtaken by the trauma that had been suddenly triggered, the Queen's consciousness had been dragged back to that very moment—

The moment she heard that her father, who had departed for Ming with countless people seeing him off like drifting clouds, had been captured in Uiju on his return and, after enduring horrific torture, had died.

That overwhelming pain seized her completely.

Tap, tap, tap.

That is in the past.

Your Majesty, return here—to the present—where your sons have grown safely, and where our Hongwi brings joy.

Tap, tap, tap.

It was a stimulus that awakened reason, paralyzed by fear and pain.

Gradually, the Queen regained her senses.

Yunseo stopped tapping her hand and, holding the Queen firmly in her arms, spoke to Lady Yun.

"Please take your leave now, Madam. Her Majesty must rest quietly and regain her composure."

"...!"

Lady Yun stared intently at Yunseo, then suddenly smiled as if she had realized something.

Ah… so that's it.

She's using sorcery.

Whether it was a shaman tapping her hand or a sorcerer chanting spells—whatever it was, such a thing had no place in the royal court!

Unaware of modern therapeutic methods used to calm sudden episodes of post-traumatic stress, Lady Yun firmly misunderstood Yunseo's actions as the use of magic.

"Madam, could it not be that kind of thing?"

Court Lady Jo, seemingly thinking the same, whispered softly into Lady Yun's ear.

"That—what? Ah!"

That thing.

The silk pouch that Kwon had once hidden inside the desk in the Royal Grandson's room—after writing something and tearing it into pieces!

I see! At last, we can remove this ominous creature who has the highest chance of bearing the Crown Prince's son!

Lady Yun's anticipation swelled with excitement.