Chapter 12

The Restless Anxiety of Court Lady Park

Yoonseo, who had maintained her composure the entire time, became dazed at the very end by Lee Hyang's striking physique. Following the lantern light carried by the eunuch assigned by Eun Naegwan, she hurried absentmindedly toward Court Lady Park's quarters.

As she drew near—

"Gwon-ga!"

A dark figure suddenly sprang out of the shadows and grabbed Yoonseo's arm.

"…Your Ladyship!"

"What in the world happened? Oh dear, truly! Truly!"

Had she perhaps received royal favor? She tried to examine her, but it was too dark to see clearly.

Court Lady Park quickly pressed a small piece of silver into the hand of the eunuch holding the lantern and hissed like a snake.

"Tell Senior Eun that I wish to see him at first light. How dare such an important matter happen without my knowing. Tell him I will not let this slide!"

"Y-Yes, Your Ladyship."

Court Lady Park, who oversaw all the court ladies of the Eastern Palace, was known for her fiery temper and exceptional skill in amassing wealth. She was someone everyone in the palace feared.

With such a person angrily thrusting silver into his hand, the eunuch was both terrified and delighted. Bowing so deeply his nose nearly touched his knees, he ran off at once.

"Let's go inside. We'll talk once we're in."

Court Lady Park had only just learned that Lady Gwon had entered the Eastern Palace to attend upon the Crown Prince.

For her—who had once thought Yoonseo somewhat dull but recently sharper, and had even dreamed of gathering wealth and power together—this news was like a bolt from the blue.

"Even the clever ones fall victim to their own schemes and die without a trace in this palace… and that naïve girl…"

Enraged, Court Lady Park had not properly eaten dinner and had wandered outside her quarters past midnight, agonizing over whom to assign as attendants if Gwon-ga truly became the Crown Prince's concubine.

Once inside, she saw Yoonseo's fine court lady attire and caught the pleasant fragrance emanating from her body. Her face turned pale.

"D-Did you truly receive royal favor?"

"They say if you do, you end up wearing your skirt inside out. Mine's on properly, isn't it?"

Now that she looked, the skirt was neat and her hair was tidy—she didn't appear to have been tossed about. Court Lady Park felt relieved, but then anger rose again.

"No, you… you dressed up like this and still came back rejected? Honestly!"

You foolish thing.

Thinking of the girl who must have gone in full of hope, all dressed up, only to be coldly turned away, her chest tightened with both pity and frustration.

"You even wore a perfume pouch and still got rejected—word will spread across the entire palace. What's there to smile about? Have you no sense at all?"

Seeing clearly how upset Court Lady Park was—as if she herself had been rejected—Yoonseo couldn't help but chuckle softly.

A gentle warmth filled her chest, and the tension that had stiffened her body gradually melted away.

Even with extraordinary modern knowledge, a person from the 21st century living in the 15th century—especially in the palace, at the very peak of a rigid class system with strict social hierarchy and slavery—would never find life easy as a mere low-ranking court lady.

Though she had acted boldly outwardly, she had been constantly on edge, aware that things could go wrong at any moment. To have someone in the palace who sincerely looked out for her—it was a small but real comfort.

"Your Ladyship, I didn't go there to receive royal favor in the first place. The other day, I told you, didn't I? That I would follow you and serve our young lady well—to achieve 'happiness through money and power.'"

"Hmph, you're quite good at dressing up a rejection."

Though she spoke that way, Court Lady Park seemed somewhat reassured to see Yoonseo still spirited.

Still, a rejection was a rejection, and perhaps she wanted to comfort her.

"Shall we have a bowl of grain wine? Brewing alcohol is banned because of the drought, but a few cups from the recent royal ancestral rites were secretly saved by Eun Seolli."

"Shall we…?"

At the mention of grain wine, hunger rushed in all at once.

She had acted bold, but this body of "Gwon-ga" was tall, slender, with curves and a pleasing face.

After being bathed and groomed, she had secretly worried Lee Hyang might suddenly turn and demand they sleep together.

But Lee Hyang seemed so burdened by endless memorials, court affairs, and the obsessive duty to match King Sejong's perfection that he had no time to feel desire.

Yoonseo even suspected that the rumors of the Crown Prince's lack of interest in women might stem from psychological impotence caused by pressure.

And yet—she had almost tried to pounce on such a man.

She could have been charged with insulting the sovereign (if such a crime existed), perhaps even added offenses—only to end up dying miserably in the infamous Naesusa prison.

As she trembled at the thought, Bangja Junggeum brought in a tray of food that smelled so delicious it made her mouth water instantly.

On a lacquered ashwood tray sat a celadon wine bottle, two celadon cups, three potato-like lumps, and skewered grilled beef.

Court Lady Park poured her a drink.

"Have a cup."

Turning slightly, Yoonseo took a sip. The strong alcohol burned thrillingly down her throat into her stomach.

It was a remarkably fragrant liquor, clean and elegant in taste.

"Wow, this is good."

At Yoonseo's wide-eyed admiration, Court Lady Park proudly explained.

"It's Hyangonju. A rare wine only tasted in the palace. It's made by fermenting imported whole wheat from Liaodong with mung bean powder, then adding fresh mash twelve times—"

Still hungry and already a bit dizzy from the strong drink, Yoonseo half-listened to the long explanation while silently chewing the beef.

Junggeum is really good at cooking. Maybe I should open a restaurant with her someday.

"What did His Highness say?"

Once Yoonseo seemed to have eaten enough, Court Lady Park asked about the events of the night.

"He said our young lady will now reside in the Seoon-dol room of Jaseondang."

"Our young lady is coming to the Eastern Palace? That's wonderful—… hm."

Court Lady Park, who had been about to brighten, suddenly cut herself off and took a sip of wine.

"Kah," she exhaled, frowning slightly.

"Why?"

"Don't you know? The Crown Prince already has concubines, including Hong Seung-hwi."

"Ah!"

Right—he did have concubines.

The residences of Lee Hyang's concubines were gathered just beyond a wall behind Jaseondang, each in its own small hall.

"Hong Seung-hwi has quite the temper. If she finds out you were in the Eastern Palace today, she'll try to rip out every strand of your hair."

"But nothing even happened."

"That's exactly why it becomes a problem."

"…What do you mean?"

Could you explain that in a way I can understand?

Ah… the alcohol is hitting me.

As Yoonseo asked, her words beginning to slur, Court Lady Park looked at her as if she couldn't believe she didn't understand.

"Just drink another cup," she said, pouring more wine before calmly explaining.

"You were there for well over one shijin—more than two hours. Do you know what His Highness is usually like? He thinks women are ignorant and not worth long conversations. Even when he visits the concubines' quarters, he only does what he must and leaves."

Only does what he must… Is it not psychological impotence, but premature—

"…Does he, um… do that often?"

Why am I even curious about this?

Puzzled, Yoonseo suddenly recalled his sharp nose and those broad shoulders that seemed ready to tear apart his dragon robe.

If only Lee Hyang shaved his beard, he'd have a face that practically begs for a kiss.

As Yoonseo grinned with a flushed face, Court Lady Park stared at her in shock.

"You—there's nothing you won't say!"

She smacked Yoonseo on the head again with her chopsticks.

"Ah, come on! Five court ladies worked hard to apply precious scented oil to my hair!"

"I-Is that so? Well… you do look very pretty today. And that silk you received from Her Majesty the Queen—don't go giving it away to those leech-like half-siblings. You should have some proper clothes made. I've already asked Court Lady Gu of the Sewing Bureau."

"What? Clothes for a mere court lady… from the Sewing Bureau?"

"A mere court lady? Gwon-ga, Gwon-ga. Do you not realize? From today on, your name has been entered into the ranks of those with real influence in the palace. Her Majesty the Queen has rewarded you, His Majesty has taken a liking to you—and even the Crown Prince!"

"!"

At those words, Yoonseo sobered instantly.

This isn't good.

She had already prepared herself to be targeted by Grand Prince Suyang and the Yun faction when she stepped forward for Hongwi in the Queen's palace.

But if she stood out this quickly, she would become a target of jealousy and caution among the palace staff—and, in turn, a marked target for anyone wishing to eliminate Hongwi.

They had tried to kill her even when she was considered foolish. There was no way they would leave alone a now-capable Lady Gwon, backed by greater power and connections.

"Your Ladyship, once our young lady moves to the Seoon-dol room, please allow me to stay in the Eastern Palace as well. In one of the annexes close to Jaseondang."

"…Why? So you can linger around His Highness and try to receive the favor you didn't get today?"

Though spoken half in jest, there was a faint suspicion in the crease of her brow.

"Your Ladyship, after living in the palace this long, do you still not understand my position? The once-foolish Gwon-ga is suddenly attracting attention!"

"…Ah!"

Only then did Court Lady Park realize what Yoonseo was worried about. The teasing expression vanished from her face.

"There are three or four empty rooms in the annex where Senior Eun resides. If you stay in one of them, no one will dare lay a hand on you. And…"

She tapped the table lightly with her fingernail, thinking, then nodded firmly as if reaching a decision.

"I'll assign you a personal servant. Security in the Eastern Palace is strict, but just in case, that child will protect you. It will also be convenient for errands."

The servant's name was Maegeum.

She was a girl picked up by Nosandae, Court Lady Park's estate steward, while returning from business in Pyongyang during winter. Though she could barely speak—no one knew what she had done in the past—her movements were as stealthy as a cat, and her courage as fearless as a tiger.

With Court Lady Park going this far to support her, Yoonseo finally felt she could share her plans openly.

"Your Ladyship, there is a way to earn great wealth while simultaneously checking Grand Prince Suyang and the Papyeong Yun clan. However, it requires initial capital and cooperation from the Eastern Palace."

"…?"

"I've heard that salt is still being produced and distributed privately, not yet monopolized by the state. I'd like to venture into salt production—and also develop silver mines."

"What?"

Court Lady Park stared at her as if thinking she had gone mad after a single private audience with the Crown Prince.

But Yoonseo continued calmly.

"Of course, that will be carried out with thorough preparation. For now, there are a few items I want to produce and sell at your Bansongbang residence. Please assign Nosandae and five or six workers to me. And I would also like to meet Maehyang—the head gisaeng of Daewongak, who is Nosandae's adopted daughter—as soon as possible."

"You'll… make something and sell it?"

"It's an item that can earn you a great deal of money, Your Ladyship. It will take about fifteen days to create a prototype. After seeing it, you may decide whether or not to lend me the Bansongbang residence."

Court Lady Park examined Yoonseo's face closely, then let out a sigh.

"Maehyang… she's the lead gisaeng who stood at the front to welcome Their Majesties' return to the palace. Though she's a gisaeng, she's not officially registered, so she holds her own even among noblemen. If I tell her to meet you, she'll expect something truly impressive."

"Your Ladyship… how did you come to have someone so remarkable as a servant?"

At that, Court Lady Park clicked her tongue, set down her chopsticks, and spoke sternly.

"Court ladies may be looked down upon outwardly as palace servants, but from high ministers to royal relatives, they all scramble to build ties with us—forming sworn sibling bonds and such. After all, we serve those closest to the seat of supreme power."

Oh.

They say the scale of one's power is inversely proportional to the distance from the supreme authority. The influence of those serving at close quarters was truly immense.

"Very well. I have no children—what use is hoarding my wealth? Go to Bansongbang whenever you have time and proceed with your work."

Court Lady Park readily gave her permission.

She was truly generous, this Court Lady Park.

And after the night watch drum sounded, Lee Hyang picked up a bowl filled with ripe cherries and headed toward Cheonchujeon.