Chapter 49: A Rain-Softened Morning

Gangcheon contemplated for a moment whether to pinch the cheek of the unresponsive Haeryeong, but eventually shook his head and pulled his hand away.

Hearing the sliding doors open and the eunuchs enter, he stood up from the bedside and approached the window, where the world outside was turning a hazy white as dawn began to break.

The rain that had fallen all night had paused briefly at dawn, only to start again.

From outside the window, the pitter-patter of a drizzle falling along the eaves could be heard once more.

Gangcheon turned his head back toward the bed and let out a sigh.

As he spread his arms, the eunuchs swarmed around him to assist with his morning attire.

He wondered what kind of face the man would make if he told him he didn’t want to go to the assembly because of the rain and the gloomy weather.

While he wanted to see that troubled expression, he didn’t want to wake the man sleeping so peacefully, leaving his mind in a state of conflict.

****

Mornings in the Imperial Palace were always early.

Since the assembly began at the hour of the Rabbit (5–7 AM), he used to head to the Great Hall in the biting cold air of winter before the sun had even risen.

Now that spring had arrived, the dawn came earlier, yet perhaps because the weather was overcast, the dim surroundings sapped his will to attend.

Riding in his palanquin toward the Great Hall, Gangcheon suddenly let out a short laugh.

Only a few years had passed, yet he had become quite lazy in that time.

When he was roaming the battlefields for over a decade, day or night, he never had the luxury of complaining about such things.

There were many times he had to stand up in the middle of a meal to deploy.

Furthermore, since he had to rush out whenever the horn sounded, he often slept on his cot in the barracks while still wearing his armor.

Yet, in less than five years, had his body become spoiled by luxury?

His feet felt too heavy to move because he wanted to burrow back into the side of the Empress, who was likely still fast asleep.

He was filled with the urge to turn the palanquin around right this instant, so what more was there to say?

Gangcheon closed his eyes and pulled the corners of his slightly upturned lips even higher.

‘How peculiar.’

Who could have known that he would become this anxious to cross the threshold of the Empress’s Palace?

But there was nothing to be done about it.

The way those round eyes stole glances at him was simply too cute.

Whether it was physical attraction or genuine affection—whatever it was—it seemed he was slowly growing fond of the man.

It wasn’t so bad.

The Empress’s unique reactions, the time they spent in bed, and even teasing him to see his response were all enjoyable, so that was enough.

However…

Gangcheon thought of another person and clicked his tongue.

His disappointment in Sirak was growing steadily.

Unlike when he cherished him in isolation, now that he had begun to compare him to the Empress, his dissatisfaction grew by the day.

At first, he thought it was enough for the man to just act cute, but that was no longer the case.

How could he not compare the two, when one always did his best to maintain etiquette even when unwell, and even dragged his exhausted body out to practice riding?

One used the Emperor’s favor as an excuse to exaggerate small pains and do nothing but whine, while the other had quietly endured without ever receiving a shred of proper affection.

When he hadn’t cared to know, it didn’t matter what kind of person the Empress was.

But now that affection for the Empress was slowly building, the differences between them became more glaringly obvious.

Tsk. Gangcheon clicked his tongue at the thought of Sirak.

Gangcheon had once been fully willing to hand over the title of Empress to him.

He was the partner with whom he had first learned the pleasures of the flesh, and the only one who had approached the “blood-crazed Emperor” with whispers and a light embrace from the start.

He was also the one who had opened the ears of a man who had heard nothing but war horns and drums on the battlefield.

There was a time when Gangcheon was so infatuated with Sirak that he preferred listening to him play the zither over resting his fatigue-ridden body.

But how fickle the human heart truly is.

As soon as he recognized the Empress’s virtues, Sirak’s flaws began to stand out.

If the man had even pretended to put in some effort, Gangcheon might have overlooked those flaws.

Since it had been less than half a year since he entered the palace, Gangcheon would observe him a bit longer, but as for the position of Empress… well.

Is it not best for the one who suits the role to possess it?

While the palanquin reached the Great Hall, Gangcheon let out a continuous sigh.

Dealing with just the Empress and one Consort was this much of a headache; how did the previous Emperor live with twenty-four concubines?

Then again, with that many, he probably wouldn’t have cared if one or two turned up dead.

Gangcheon opened his eyes and laughed languidly.

‘It was a blessing that I killed them all before the harem could grow further.’

‘Is that not so, Royal Father?’

****

The rain fell fitfully for three days.

It was a late rain that should have fallen at the end of February, but it fell in sufficient amounts, which was a relief.

If it continued like this throughout March, there would be no issues with the spring farming.

However, the water control project at Dorim Stream was still unfinished.

During that time, Gangcheon had received several reports from the Black Shadow Unit regarding the construction issues.

Having waited for the right time to verify it himself and reprimand those responsible, Gangcheon finally found a moment on the day the rain stopped to keep his promise to Haeryeong.

He also intended to stop by Dorim Stream to see how the work was progressing.

Haeryeong had been excited since last night at the mention of leaving the Imperial Palace on horseback.

He was so thrilled that it was hard to believe he was the same expressionless man, even tossing and turning in bed several times.

Last night, seeing him exhausted after one round of lovemaking, Gangcheon had intended to let him sleep, but the man’s constant shifting had reignited the fire, preventing any proper rest.

He thought he might let him sleep more in the morning, but…

Gangcheon clicked his tongue softly as he watched Haeryeong, who was practically counting the minutes until they could leave, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

No wonder he had woken up early and rushed his preparations this morning.

Haeryeong had finished getting ready for the outing long before lunch and was simply waiting for Gangcheon to appear.

It was hard to believe this was the same person who usually acted as if he didn’t care whether the Emperor came or went.

The moment he received word that Gangcheon was arriving, the Empress was already waiting in front of his palace with a full smile on his face.

Even while Gangcheon took his time with lunch, Haeryeong was restless as if his tail were on fire, and the moment the meal ended, he tentatively asked when they were leaving.

“Let us have a cup of tea first before we depart.”

Gangcheon laughed quietly at Haeryeong’s look of disappointment and gave a telepathic command to the Black Shadow Unit to prepare.

[The horses have already arrived at the Empress’s Palace, Your Majesty.]

Pretending not to hear Seok-hwan’s report, Gangcheon rubbed his lips against Haeryeong’s cheek, which was flushed a deeper pink than usual.

“Since I do not know the extent of the Empress’s riding skills, we shall ride together. The Imperial Steed is too large and powerful for you to handle, so I thought we would go together on your horse. What do you think?”

Haeryeong blinked rapidly, stalling for time as if lost in thought, before finally answering.

“I do not know if Nureongi can carry two people.”

“A horse is inherently a beast that can carry more than five times its own body weight.”

“When military rations run out on the battlefield, horses are used to transport grain until the ox-carts arrive. You would be surprised to see how well warhorses carry their burdens.”

“Is that so?”

Haeryeong asked with a look of disbelief and fumbled with his hands inside his long sleeves.

“But I heard Nureongi is still young. He is barely half the size of the Imperial Steed…”

Gangcheon chuckled and pulled at Haeryeong’s hand, which had been fidgeting.

“Is the Empress perhaps… hesitant to ride with We?”

Seeing him flinch, Gangcheon knew he had hit the mark.

Haeryeong rolled his eyes as if contemplating, then slowly spoke.

“Your servant’s horsemanship is not yet proficient; I fear Your Majesty’s noble body might come to harm.”

Gangcheon pressed a kiss to the palm of the hand he had pulled forward.

Haeryeong flinched and tried to withdraw his hand, but when his fingers touched Gangcheon’s face, he didn’t know what to do and ended up flattening his palm completely instead of curling it.

Gangcheon burst into laughter at his clumsiness.

“That is why I am saying we should ride together. In case you fall while running.”

“I shall be holding the reins with you, so you can run to your heart’s content.”

According to Su-yong’s report, Haeryeong seemed to enjoy riding.

Since he had been dejected about only being able to practice in a small circle while it rained, Gangcheon intended to let him run freely in the wide open today.

Of course, insisting on riding together was merely Gangcheon’s scheme.

With himself and the Black Shadows accompanying him, what did it matter if he fell? There were plenty of people to catch Haeryeong before his body ever hit the ground.

But if one gives something, one should receive something in return, should they not?

Without even a look of surprise, Haeryeong lowered his eyes and offered his formal thanks for the “limitless grace.”

Needless to say, Gangcheon’s eyes narrowed.

“I have told you several times that you should offer a kiss before such formalities. The Empress simply never grows accustomed to it.”

Gangcheon released the palm he had been peppering with kisses and leaned toward him.

Knowing Haeryeong was stealing looks with a distressed expression, he brazenly pushed his face forward.

“If you have done something well, you should give a reward. I am putting in such effort to please the Empress, yet the praise is so meager… I find my energy flagging.”

Gangcheon whispered, stopping just inches from Haeryeong’s face.

“Give me a kiss. Haeryeong-ah, you do it.”