Chapter 5: A Small Reprieve

“There is no other answer. I will gladly do so, so please convey that to His Majesty.”

“Yes. I understand, Mama.”

Hwaun watched Eunuch Oh, who answered with a deep bow, before adding a few words with a slightly bashful expression.

“…You work so hard, coming all the way to Jeongan Palace yourself every time.”

Eunuch Oh replied with a light smile and a relaxed demeanor.

“How could performing the task His Majesty commanded be considered hard work? If this allows Mama to feel His Majesty’s sincerity, then it is naturally what this lowly servant must do.”

A Chief Eunuch serving the Emperor was not originally in a position to frequent a concubine’s palace for minor matters. Furthermore, even when dealing with the Empress’s palace, it was rare for Eunuch Oh to move personally. Yet, for some reason, Eunuch Oh visited Jeongan Palace almost every single day to deliver messages, which made Hwaun feel quite embarrassed every time. Hwaun let out a very light sigh and continued.

“I have mentioned it to His Majesty several times, but he simply will not listen….”

It was exactly as he said. When messages were sent to Jeongan Palace, he had tried subtly suggesting that another internal official be sent instead of Eunuch Oh, and he had even spoken directly about it more than a few times. However, the Emperor would cut him off every time, saying he was barely holding himself back from coming in person and sending Eunuch Oh instead, so Hwaun shouldn’t worry about unnecessary things.

Was that all? The Emperor had even made a grand declaration that he would make sure everyone in the Imperial Palace—no, everyone in the entire world—knew exactly how specially he cherished and loved Hwaun, which had horrified Hwaun even more.

Eunuch Oh, who couldn’t possibly be unaware of the situation, let out a good-natured laugh. Since his master no longer suffered from the agony of being unable to direct his wandering heart, Eunuch Oh’s own mind had become relaxed in every aspect as well.

From his perspective, his lord was spending more blissful days than ever before because of Hwaun, so traveling back and forth to Jeongan Palace was truly nothing. If he could, he felt he could carry the Jin Consort on his back and still smile foolishly. Eunuch Oh replied.

“I, too, do this with a joyful heart. Please lay down your worries, Mama. Now, I shall take my leave. His Majesty is waiting….”

“Thank you. Please go safely.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Hwaun watched Eunuch Oh withdraw for a moment before reflexively turning around to look at his reflection in the mirror once more. Before he knew it, a full smile was spread across his face. It was clear he had developed this expression the moment he thought about going to see the Emperor.

Last night, Ihan did not come to Jeongan Palace. Even on days when he didn’t receive Hwaun’s attendance due to concerns for his health, the Emperor was the type to stubbornly insist on staying at Jeongan Palace just to ‘sleep,’ but he couldn’t help it when faced with state affairs. After having dinner with Hwaun yesterday, Ihan went straight to Anjeong-jeon to handle government duties until late and fell asleep there.

When he thought of the Emperor, who must have struggled alone with all sorts of headaches until dawn, a sense of deep affection naturally rose within him. No one could take the Emperor’s place. No matter how great his ministers were, the burden the Emperor carried was a task permitted only to that one man.

The world was experiencing a reign of peace, but whenever Hwaun thought about how many sleepless nights the Emperor had to endure for that peace, his heart sank with a heavy weight.

“Ajin.”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Tell them to prepare some lotus flower cookies so I can take them to Anjeong-jeon later.”

“I will. I should also tell them to pack various other snacks that His Majesty enjoys frequently.”

“Yes. Please.”

While the Imperial Kitchen would surely put out snacks according to the Emperor’s taste on its own, Hwaun wanted to bring something that contained his own heart, remembering how the Emperor always ate the lotus cookies with particular enjoyment whenever he came to Jeongan Palace. Moreover, although it was embarrassing to admit to himself, His Majesty specifically liked anything Hwaun personally gave him, so it certainly wouldn’t be a wasted effort.

“Let’s go now. We must not be late for the morning greetings.”

After becoming a Consort, Hwaun’s hair ornaments, which used to be nothing more than simple jade crowns and hairpins, had increased to include kingfisher feather decorations. Hwaun still didn’t particularly like flashy decorations, but Ajin’s opinion—that if Hwaun, as a high-ranking consort, dressed too simply, it would inevitably restrict the Jeong Concubine from dressing up—was too logical for him to ignore.

Hwaun checked until the very end to see if the dark blue jade, which he had tried to keep as muted as possible, looked too flashy. He then followed Ajin and stepped out of the bedchamber.

As he walked out of the pavilion and down to the stone floor, the servants in the courtyard bent their knees to offer greetings to their master.

Jeongan Palace, where only young maids and clumsy apprentice eunuchs used to come and go, was now home to incomparably more palace servants than before. The place that maids used to try to avoid even by giving bribes had long since changed into the palace where servants most wanted to stay.

The servants, who had grown accustomed to receiving envious looks wherever they went, caught glimpses of their master today as well—beautiful as an immortal descended from heaven—and smiled secretly. Hwaun’s robes fluttered with every step he took into the courtyard in the gentle morning breeze. It was a sight that would leave anyone, man or woman, completely mesmerized.

Ajin secretly glared at the servants who dared to sneak insolent peeks at their master, but it was useless. Even if they knew of such behavior, Hwaun was not a master who would scold them, so Ajin couldn’t really stop them further.

Leaving behind the prayers of those who hoped their master would forever be loved and happy, Hwaun slowly boarded his palanquin.

“To the Empress’s Palace!”

Myeong-an, the Chief Eunuch standing at the very front, shouted in a thunderous voice. It was the start of an ordinary day, which was now nothing special.

“Brother!”

Hwaun, who had stepped off the palanquin and was walking toward the pavilion of the Empress’s palace, stopped in his tracks at the voice from behind and looked back. The one approaching almost at a run with a bright smile across his face was the Jeong Concubine, Song Hyeon.

After Hwaun received the title of Consort and became a superior, Song Hyeon had been following him around and openly calling him “Brother” in private settings.

At first, Hwaun naturally tried to dissuade him, saying it was out of the question, but after hearing the circumstances of how much Song Hyeon had suffered for a long time missing his family, especially his older brother, he couldn’t bring himself to heartlessly refuse. Moreover, Song Hyeon usually called the Suk Consort “Sister” and stayed on comfortable terms with her, so it didn’t seem like it would be a major issue.

In other words, by the time Ihan first heard about it and made an incredulous face, it was already far too late to act petty about it.

Hwaun, who stood waiting for him, spoke first to Song Hyeon as he reached him with quick steps.

“Your complexion looks much better today. Is your cold completely gone?”

Song Hyeon had recently caught a very severe cold and suffered greatly for several days. It had been so pitiful to see the usually bright and energetic person bedridden with a pale face that Hwaun had been worrying for several days. At Hwaun’s concern, Song Hyeon’s face immediately brightened, and he poked his face toward Hwaun as he spoke.

“Yes! It’s all better now. My fever is all gone, too.”

It was a gesture full of a child-like desire for someone to check his forehead. The way he didn’t use formal speech properly was also excessively natural.

At the sight of Song Hyeon becoming more of a spoiled child every day in front of Hwaun, Jua—whose face turned pale with every such occurrence—restrained Song Hyeon from behind in a small voice, “Mama…!” Hwaun looked at Jua with a gentle face and said.

“It is fine, do not worry so much. Even His Majesty looks kindly upon the Jeong Concubine acting like this, does he not?”

Jua replied with drooping eyebrows.

“…It is all thanks to the Jin Consort Mama treating him with such generosity.”

She said it was “thanks to him,” but her expression clearly conveyed the hidden meaning: ‘Because you dote on him so much, isn’t our master’s acting out getting worse by the day?’ Hwaun smiled apologetically and reached out his hand to Song Hyeon, who was glancing sideways at Jua, to check his forehead. Fortunately, there was no heat.

“The fever seems to have gone down completely. Still, be careful not to catch the cold wind for a while.”

“Yes. I will, Brother.”

After giving a small smile to the obediently answering Song Hyeon, Hwaun began to walk again. Song Hyeon, walking right beside him, spoke again.

“Anyway… can I come play at Jeongan Palace after the greetings? We could have a meal together for the first time in a while.”

“Ah….”

A look of regret appeared on Hwaun’s face. At that expression, Song Hyeon’s cheeks puffed out in anticipation of something, and Hwaun replied.

“Today, His Majesty asked to have lunch together….”

“…If His Majesty even takes away Brother’s lunchtime, when am I ever supposed to spend time with you?”

At Song Hyeon’s grumbling voice, Jua sighed from behind. It was now at the point where it was embarrassing to even try to restrain him every single time.