Chapter 15

Our Hongwi Shines Dazzlingly

"During the day shift, it is myself and Court Lady Yun, and for the night shift, Court Lady Choi and Court Lady Lee."

As Yunseo reported, Hong Seunghwi hummed softly, muttering with a meaningful tone.

"Is that so? The aji (the nurse who cares for royal princes) has not yet entered the palace…"

Then she crouched down beside her daughter Geuma, who had been chatting with Hongwi.

Pulling Geuma into a gentle embrace, she whispered to Hongwi:

"Our Geuma sleeps beside me every night. But what should you do, little one, feeling so lonely? Your mother has passed away, and your aji has yet to arrive, so you must sleep alone… how pitiful. It truly pains this humble concubine's heart."

"!"

What a vile woman. As if she herself isn't raising a child.

Yunseo cursed inwardly and looked at Hongwi.

"..."

Hongwi didn't seem to fully understand what Hong Seunghwi meant.

But instinctively, she sensed the contempt and mockery in her gaze and tone, and her lips pouted as she looked up at Yunseo.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the Crown Prince's courtyard.

Some concubines subtly lifted the corners of their lips, pleased by Hong Seunghwi's malicious intent, carefully controlling their expressions. Others frowned, clearly displeased.

But Hong Seunghwi was the most favored by the Crown Prince, acting as the mistress of the Eastern Palace. No one dared step forward to properly oppose her.

Holding her daughter, Hong Seunghwi rose with a slight groan and looked at Yunseo with blatant ridicule.
Even if you've upset the Crown Prince's grandson, what can the likes of you possibly do? —her eyes mocked.

So this is how you want to play it.

Yunseo needed the Crown Prince's trust for future plans, but had no intention of gaining favor as a woman. She had intended to remain uninvolved in the concubines' schemes unless it concerned safety—just watching from the sidelines.

But to dare touch our Hongwi.

Yunseo sat down in front of Hongwi, meeting her at eye level.

"Little one."

At Yunseo's call, Hongwi let a single tear roll down, then lowered her head as if ashamed of it.

This—this was what it meant for one's heart to collapse.

"…Little one…"

"..."

"Little one, we court ladies take turns standing guard at night, don't we?"

"…Mm."

In truth, standing night watch continuously was exhausting, so the schedule rotated monthly.

Court Lady Gwon and Court Lady Yun had taken the night shift in March, so now in April, Yunseo was on the day shift.

As a royal, Hongwi slept alone.

But on the day Yunseo's soul came into Joseon—when Court Lady Park and Court Lady Han had deceived Court Lady Gwon, leaving her to die alone on night duty—and Yunseo awoke in that body, lying beside Hongwi…

Hongwi had been clutching tightly at Court Lady Gwon's robe tie while sleeping.

Hongwi still suffered from separation anxiety. She was nothing more than a young child not yet ready to sleep alone.

Babies instinctively crave stable attachment with those they perceive as their primary caregivers.

Because humans, more than any other animals, require prolonged care to survive, the longing for a close bond with a caregiver is etched into their DNA.

Though Hong Seunghwi had never studied child psychology, she had instinctively struck precisely at that point.

She had lightly poked at Hongwi's deep-seated fear born of insecure attachment—turning the nights she had to sleep alone into something frightening and sorrowful.

How dare she do that to our Hongwi!

Yunseo leaned in closer, whispering gently:

"Little one, shall I take the night shift from today?"

"…Mm?"

"Shall I stay by your side at night?"

"Yes!"

Hongwi's face brightened instantly.

"Hug me."

She stretched out her arms toward Yunseo.

Yunseo stood, lifting Hongwi into her arms and holding her firmly.

I'm here, Hongwi. I will protect you.
It was a gesture meant to let her feel that vividly.

As if responding to Yunseo's heart, Hongwi wrapped her arms tightly around her neck. Then she turned her head and looked straight down at Hong Seunghwi. The eyes that had been tearful just moments ago now shone with sharp clarity.

"In the Thousand Character Classic, there's a saying: Mangdam pidan, misigi jang. It means you shouldn't speak of others' faults or trust in your own strengths. Hong Seunghwi, you should study the Thousand Character Classic again."

It was a rebuke: do not dig into others' weaknesses, nor be arrogant about your own position.

Her pronunciation was more slurred than usual from excitement—but her words had never sounded more dignified.

"Oh!"

A murmur of admiration spread across the courtyard.

Head Court Lady Park, Lady Eom, and the eunuchs and court ladies attending Hongwi all twitched their lips, struggling to suppress moved smiles.

This dazzling resilience of children!

Just days ago, Hongwi had been a withdrawn child—unable even to report being struck on the head, quietly sobbing and constantly watching others' reactions.

And now, that same child was boldly confronting an adult attempting emotional abuse, quoting the Thousand Character Classic with precision.

Yunseo suddenly thought of the many children she had met in counseling.

Children abused or neglected by caregivers learn to endure painful realities by giving up. They numb their senses to block out the pain entirely.

When this numb endurance hardens, they gradually lose the ability to perceive and distinguish their inner states, eventually losing the capacity to feel anything deeply at all.

Those children, broken into hollow shells—who sometimes harmed themselves or lashed out at others just to feel something—when, through counseling, they slowly began to realize that the world was not filled only with violence and hostility…

And when they finally managed to meet her eyes and say, "Thank you, teacher," beginning their change—

On such days, Yunseo would tremble with both rage at the adults who had broken them, and awe at the brilliant resilience of the human brain, heart, and body—and she would cry alone.

Our Hongwi hadn't been abused like that, but she had been emotionally withdrawn, like an abandoned puppy without secure attachment.

And yet, that very child had grown enough to display the dignity of a royal descendant, boldly punishing the wicked person who tried to harm her.

Overwhelmed with pride, Yunseo hugged Hongwi even tighter and secretly pressed a quick kiss onto the top of her head beneath her ceremonial cap.

"…Gwon Court Lady…"

Hongwi clung tightly to Yunseo's neck, imprinting the presence of someone who deeply cherished her.

"!"

"!"

The concubines who witnessed this were shocked—by the deep psychological bond between the Crown Prince's grandson and Court Lady Gwon.

Moreover, the concubines suddenly felt fear at the dignified, kingly bearing Hongwi displayed.

They realized that if they continued to treat her carelessly just because she was a child, they might not be able to preserve their lives.

But Hong Seunghwi alone, consumed by the jealousy and envy she had built up over time, failed to grasp the situation clearly.

She still resented that Lady Gwon of the Yangwon clan—who had been less favored than herself—had somehow given birth first and become the Crown Princess. She could not endure the humiliation inflicted by that woman's child.

She, too, had borne a daughter, Geuma, proving her fertility. Soon enough, she would bear a son, and then she would seize the vacant position of Crown Princess.

And when that happened, misfortune would surely befall that detestable Crown Prince's grandson, and in time, the royal succession would belong to her own son.

Yet that wretched little child dared to mock her while being held in the arms of a mere lowly court lady!

"To change shifts as you please—this cannot be allowed."

Hong Seunghwi glared at Yunseo and finally shouted:

"How dare a mere court lady change her assigned duty at will? You will stand the day shift as originally assigned."

"Ahem… Lady Seunghwi."

Before Yunseo could respond, Head Court Lady Park, who had been standing quietly at the back, stepped forward and bowed before Hong Seunghwi.

"And what is it now, you?"

Hong Seunghwi snapped harshly.

"The inner court of the Eastern Palace is under my authority. How dare a mere court lady—!"

However, Head Court Lady Park was one of the most powerful figures in the palace, alongside the Chief Court Lady, and held deep trust from the Crown Prince.

"Assigning the duty rotations of the court ladies in the Eastern Palace falls under my jurisdiction. Please leave it to me."

"What nonsense is this? How dare you—!"

"If you involve yourself in such trivial matters, it will only diminish Your Ladyship's dignity."

Though her words were polite, it was, in truth, a firm notice.

Court ladies and eunuchs maintained close alliances to protect themselves from the whims of their superiors.

If a eunuch was unjustly beaten or mistreated, retaliation could come in subtle forms—strange smells in drinking water, poorly handled laundry—or even as severe as poisoned food.

From what they ate to what they wore, royal family members depended entirely on palace staff for every detail of daily life. If those under them harbored ill intent, their very safety could be completely threatened.

Hong Seunghwi was well aware of this. When Head Court Lady Park stepped in, she flinched and took a step back.

"Please do as she says, Lady Hong Seunghwi."

Even Chief Eunuch Eom, the head of the Eastern Palace eunuch bureau, stepped forward to pressure her.

At that point, she had no choice but to yield—for now.

"…I will not forget this day. Let us go!"

Her lips trembling, Hong Seunghwi roughly grabbed Geuma's hand and withdrew toward the concubines' quarters.

In her heart, deeper than her resentment toward the three-year-old Crown Prince's grandson, took root a fierce hatred for Court Lady Gwon—who had held the child and looked down on her with a cold gaze, as if she herself were the Crown Princess.

Within the palace, rumors spread swiftly from one servant to another.

In less than half a shijin (about an hour), word spread throughout the halls that the young royal grandson had moved his residence to the Eastern Palace—and how cleverly he had driven away Hong Seunghwi's vile scheme.

Even Seong Sammun, who had come to the Eastern Palace to teach Hongwi, heard of the incident. Upon returning to the Hall of Worthies, he praised at length—practically spitting with excitement—how profound the child's understanding of the Thousand Character Classic was.

It was also, in part, a boast that he, as the child's teacher, had instructed her well.

In less than a full shijin, the news reached Myeongrye Palace, the residence of Grand Prince Suyang.

"Ha! And to think she still speaks so clumsily."

Even before that, at dawn, Jeon Gyun, a palace eunuch of the main hall, had secretly sent his adopted young eunuch.

"At dawn today, His Majesty and the Crown Prince held a private meeting at Cheonchu Hall. I was eavesdropping beneath the western window but was nearly caught by the Royal Guards, so I only heard the beginning—His Highness spoke of formally investing the royal grandson as Crown Prince's heir next year, and that the official in charge of the ceremony would soon be appointed."

After giving the young eunuch a few pieces of silver and sending him away, Lady Yun—the wife of Suyang—faced her husband.

Grand Prince Suyang's face had hardened with disappointment.

"If the royal grandson is formally invested as heir, then even if something happens to my elder brother, the throne will pass directly to that child."

"My lord, he is still but a mere child. Before he can grow safely, he must pass through countless days as fragile as feathers."

At her attempt to console him, Suyang only frowned deeply and left for the study.

He intended to summon Prince Gyeyang to discuss countermeasures.

Lady Yun, meanwhile, summoned the shaman Mugai, a reputedly powerful spirit medium from the shrine beneath Seonbawi.

"What on earth has happened? Did you not say you were casting curses?"

Since last year, Lady Yun had been steadily executing her plan—removing those around the royal grandson to make him weak and frail.

Mugai had continuously cast harmful spells upon the nurse Lady Yi, causing her illness, and had carefully prepared to poison Court Lady Gwon, who had devoted herself to the child.

Finally, an opportunity came during the past two months when the King, the Crown Prince, and other key figures had all left the palace for Onyang.

And yet, while the nurse Lady Yi had indeed fallen ill and been forced out to her family home, Court Lady Gwon—who had even been poisoned—was instead more alive than ever, her once dull, lifeless eyes now shining sharply.

"What on earth happened to that nursemaid court lady?"

As Lady Yun demanded fiercely, the shaman Mugai—whose eyes were already sunken and dark when she entered—collapsed to the ground, trembling violently.