Chapter 28: Beyond the Virtuous Gate

It was not that he disliked the change in the Empress.

In fact, he found it more enjoyable than expected to receive reactions that differed from the past whenever he cracked a joke.

However, a lingering sense of unease remained.

He still could not bring himself to believe that the man had truly lost his memory.

As he had realized while listening to the surveillance reports recently, the Empress was, in reality, a truly dull human being.

Every time he received a report stating that the Empress spent most of his time in a daze, as if devoid of any vitality, Gangcheon felt a sense of “I knew it.”

And yet, when they actually faced each other, that wasn’t the case at all.

There were intermittent moments when the Empress’s expressions seemed so lively that Gangcheon wondered if the Black Shadow bastards were submitting false reports.

Teasing him while watching the expressions that were slowly being revealed—unlike before—was quite entertaining.

Every time they kissed, watching the eyelids that clamped shut in distaste, he found it amusing how the brow, which had been deeply furrowed at first, gradually smoothed out.

It was also a novel feeling to see the reactions, which had been purely innocent and ignorant, slowly shift.

There were times when a laugh escaped him involuntarily upon sensing the tension leave a body that was once as stiff as a board, unable to even lean in pliantly.

Reactions he would have found stifling in the past had now reached a point where he was willing to wait a bit for them.

As he waited, sometimes an unexpected reaction would occur, and other times the expected one would arrive, creating a new kind of fun in guessing how the man would respond this time.

Dealing with him made Gangcheon feel that human affairs were truly unpredictable.

To think he would find cute or funny traits in this wooden human.

Even now, Haeryeong, sensing his gaze, blinked rapidly with a look of bewilderment.

“Do you perhaps have something to say?”

“I intend to have dinner at the Consort’s Palace today.”

“So we must part ways here.”

As he trailed off his sentence, the Empress placed a hand on his chest.

Gangcheon wondered if he was about to let out a sigh.

However, contrary to his expectations, Haeryeong simply looked up at him.

The expression waiting for him to speak was so clear and pure that it made Gangcheon want to tease him again.

“Since it seems we won’t meet until tonight, give me a parting kiss.”

When Haeryeong’s brow furrowed slightly, Gangcheon instead wore an even deeper smile.

As he urged him with a “Hurry,” the Empress’s eyes began to fill with trouble.

Gangcheon narrowed his eyes, staring at him intently.

Why was this so enjoyable?

“Your Majesty, this is in front of the Great Hall.”

“What of it?”

He had told him several times that such excuses would not work, yet Haeryeong still insisted on stating the obvious.

This point was also somewhat laughable.

It was about time he gave up and leaned in obediently, yet he persisted with his weak resistance.

If he were to act coquettish and speak indirectly, Gangcheon might have listened, but his stiff behavior only made the Emperor’s desire to indulge him vanish.

Of course, whether or not he would actually indulge him if he did act coquettish was something that would vary from moment to moment, but that wasn’t the point.

“So you are saying you won’t do it?”

Gangcheon let a crooked smile form.

He thought the man would have complied by now.

However, it seemed the location—in front of the Great Hall—was something Haeryeong could not tolerate.

He stumblingly voiced a pathetic excuse.

“Chang-i is…”

“Su-yong.”

When Su-yong, who had been following, stepped forward and took the hawk, Haeryeong’s expression turned even more sullen as he looked up with eyes full of injustice.

Gangcheon grinned, waiting to see what other excuse he would come up with.

No, he was looking forward to it.

“At least wait until we have passed through the gates… before you speak of this.”

“If it’s something we can do outside, we can just do it here.”

The Empress’s downcast gaze busily scanned the surroundings.

A moment later, Haeryeong met his eyes with a firm expression that said he absolutely could not do it.

“I beg you to withdraw these impossible words. Divine punishment shall surely follow.”

“No ruler in history, no matter how wicked, has ever engaged in such… wanton acts in front of the Great Hall.”

The word “wanton” was so small it was barely audible.

Hoping to see a flush on the man’s face, Gangcheon looked down only to see trembling, lowered eyelashes.

The face caught at the end of that gaze was white rather than red.

“Very well, let us do as you say.”

He wanted to tease him a bit more, but he set that desire aside upon seeing a face so pale it looked as if the man might faint.

Stepping away, Gangcheon descended the low steps and glanced up at the plaque hanging over the gate as he passed through Hyeonjeongmun.

The characters implied that anyone passing through this gate to enter the Great Hall must be wise, virtuous, merciful to the people, and rule the nation justly.

Gangcheon let out a chuckle as he looked at them.

Knowing how difficult it was to find that meaning in those who entered this gate, he couldn’t understand an Empress who turned deathly pale over a simple kiss.

Yet, he didn’t particularly dislike that innocence.

It wasn’t a bad thing to have at least one such person in the country.

Even if an Eumin Empress provided little help in politics, was it not good to have at least one decent and virtuous person?

He watched in silence without urging him further.

Haeryeong, who had been turning his head and scanning the area, swallowed hard with an expressionless face.

Despite his calm face, he looked busy fumbling with the gloved hand that held the hawk.

Watching him blankly, Gangcheon reached out and pulled the glove off.

He handed it to a court lady standing behind Haeryeong and let a smile grace his lips.

What would he do now?

When Gangcheon simply watched him in silence, the man let out a visible sigh and took a step closer.

His eyes, still trembling with anxiety, half-closed after confirming no one was around.

When Gangcheon tilted his head down slightly, Haeryeong lifted his chin in response.

The lips placed obediently against his were markedly softer than when they had first touched.

Recalling the memory of wetting parched lips delirious with fever, Gangcheon let out a soft laugh, causing Haeryeong to open his eyes while their lips were still joined.

Before the lips that were merely touching shyly could pull away, Gangcheon grabbed his chin.

Their gazes remained locked until he tilted his head and their lips overlapped fully.

His trembling pupils were hidden beneath the dark thicket of his lashes, and Haeryeong’s lips parted slightly.

Gangcheon leisurely sucked on the alternate lips and lightly traced the moist inner membranes.

Haeryeong exhaled a jagged breath, his tongue demurely hidden in the cave of his mouth, never once coming out to meet the other.

In an instant, a pull in his lower abdomen grew so tight it was painful, causing his facial muscles to loosen involuntarily.

Gangcheon gripped the back of Haeryeong’s head, sliding his fingers through the long, trailing hair.

He used his tongue to push open the partially closed mouth and delved inside.

Instead of leaning into him, the man tilted further back, forcing Gangcheon to lean his upper body forward to follow.

A chuckle burst out as he pursued and entangled the tongue that was darting around as if trying to escape.

‘How can he be this unskilled?’

As they pulled their lips apart, a wet friction sound echoed quietly.

He pulled back until the long thread of saliva snapped, then gave a final short kiss before releasing him.

Gangcheon scolded him in a low voice.

“I told you to breathe.”

Only then did Haeryeong gasp for the air that had been blocked and retreated several steps.

“Your grace is boundless.”

Watching the round crown of the head bowed before him, Gangcheon chuckled, noticing the red flush that had returned to the man’s eyes.

He gently rubbed the area beneath Haeryeong’s eyes with his thumb and spoke as the man’s lips began to dry again.

“I am looking forward to the upcoming heat cycle.”

He was curious to see what kind of display this unskilled man would put on during the cycle.

A light excitement swept through his body as he gauged the other’s reaction.

Through his narrowed vision, he saw Haeryeong clamp his lips shut.

Had he not said he feared the foreign experience?

The man stole a glance with eyes that were a bit wetter than before, then bowed his head as usual, expressing his gratitude.

After watching the rapidly trembling downcast eyes for a moment, Gangcheon stepped away.

“I shall see you tonight.”

“Yes. Your Majesty.”

Answering the slightly subdued voice with a bright smile, he boarded the waiting palanquin.

As the palanquin departed and passed the man standing to see him off, a steady gaze followed him.

Gangcheon leaned back comfortably, closing his eyes as if to savor that gaze.

While heading away from the Great Hall toward the Consort’s Palace, Gangcheon, who had kept his eyes closed the entire time, called for Manchul.

“Manchul. If one were to name a pet bird after someone, what would the reason be?”

Manchul hesitated for a moment, drawing out the time before answering bluntly.

“I know not about birds, but in the case of dogs, people often name them after someone to make it easier to curse them indirectly.”

Gangcheon, who had been resting his head on his hand, snapped his eyes open and glared silently at the back of Manchul’s head visible through the palanquin.

“Are you suggesting right now that the Empress gave the bird that name just to curse me?”

“That would be unthinkable, Your Majesty. I was merely stating a general theory…”

Manchul, who had stopped and bowed his waist, hurried to catch up a moment later and continued in a calm voice.

“Besides, Your Majesty never specified that it was the Empress’s bird to begin with.”

‘He’s become a real sly fox as he’s aged.’

Gangcheon clicked his tongue loudly, causing Manchul to bow again.

“I looked upon you kindly because of our old bond, but it seems your liver has grown outside your body.”

“Shall I split you open and trim that swollen liver for you?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

If he had named it after someone he wanted to curse, he wouldn’t have smiled at the hawk like that.

Regardless of what Manchul said, Gangcheon thought whatever he pleased and let out a chuckle.

‘If I had known he had such a cute side earlier, it would have been better.’

He felt a slight regret for the three years spent since the man entered the palace, but also a sense of relief that he had finally realized it now.

Arriving at the Consort’s Palace with a pleasant smile thanks to the Empress, Gangcheon met an unexpected rejection at the door and furrowed his brow.

“What did you say?”

Court Lady Han of the Consort’s Palace prostrated herself as if she didn’t know what to do and reported again.

“I am terrified to report… but Noble Consort Jeong has stated that he is unwell in mind and body… and instructed me to say he is unable to receive Your Majesty.”