Chapter 71: Walking Into the Dragon’s Den

Haeryeong had vaguely guessed the Emperor’s inner thoughts.

It was likely a scheme to simply hand him a lot of money since he intended to pay him no more mind, was it not?

The Emperor did not care in the least if the Empress’s Palace was used for luxury in food or clothing.

It was only natural, as even if his country was small, Haeryeong had been raised as royalty and naturally preferred high-quality goods.

While his food came through the Bureau of Food Service, his eye for things like tea and silk was quite refined.

Had the Emperor tried to tighten the purse strings on such matters, Haeryeong might have succumbed to melancholy and taken to his bed much sooner.

Since anyone could have deduced that much, the Emperor likely didn’t want to bother himself with such trivialities.

Perhaps he simply wanted to say, “Take this money and stay quietly in your place.”

In the past, Haeryeong had no opportunity to know the man’s true character, so he had failed to notice this entirely.

Thus, in his young heart, he had even thought that such treatment was a form of affection in its own way.

‘How truly foolish I was.’

Haeryeong let out a sigh, clicking his tongue softly.

As his hand stopped turning the pages of the ledger, Iryeon cautiously gauged his mood.

“What is the matter, Your Highness? Is there a problem with the ledger?”

Haeryeong offered her a gentle smile and shook his head.

“No. Even to my untrained eyes, it is clear you have organized it quite neatly.”

Iryeon smiled back.

“But Your Highness, what brings you to examine the ledger?”

“It has already been a month since I regained my senses, and I felt it was time I became accustomed to the position of Empress. I cannot remain ignorant forever, can I?”

“You have thought well, Your Highness. If there is anything I can do to assist you, please give the command. I shall help you with all my heart.”

Haeryeong stopped flipping through the ledger and asked Iryeon a question.

“The only duty of the Empress I could think of was managing the Privy Purse. I had been meaning to ask what else I should be attending to.”

Iryeon answered without a moment’s hesitation, as if she had been waiting for this topic to arise.

“The matter Your Highness should hold most important is establishing discipline within the Internal Court.”

‘Discipline.’

While Haeryeong chewed over her words, Iryeon continued.

“The Privy Purse for the concubines should originally be allocated by Your Highness, but in the case of the Noble Consort, it is determined by the Great Hall.”

It had been that way from the moment the Emperor first brought the Consort until the day Haeryeong’s life ended.

He hadn’t wanted to antagonize the Emperor, and since there was only one concubine, he hadn’t felt the need to interfere and had simply left it be.

Furthermore, at that time, the Emperor had already stripped the Empress of all his duties, so any attempt to step forward would have only invited his wrath.

However, it seemed Iryeon felt differently than Haeryeong.

With the stern expression she usually reserved for scolding the court ladies, she continued.

“By nature, the one who holds the purse strings holds the superior rank, Your Highness. Therefore, you must advise His Majesty to allow the Empress’s Palace to determine the budget for the Consort’s Palace.”

Haeryeong almost puffed out his cheeks instinctively.

‘Are you not suggesting something far too difficult from the very start?’

“But… His Majesty seems to cherish the Consort very much.”

Iryeon smiled with a confident expression and bowed her head.

“That is not so. If Your Highness offers your counsel, he will surely grant it.”

Iryeon likely believed that the Emperor’s favor had shifted entirely to this side.

She had no idea how much that favor was like a flickering lamp before a storm.

Haeryeong had no intention of making her understand that reality.

‘What use is there in speaking of it? No, how could I even say it?’

‘How could I ever say with my own mouth that the Emperor’s favor is actually a cruel game to test me?’

To whom could he speak those words, which made his heart ache just to think of them?

He could not speak, if only for the sake of the tiny shred of pride he had left.

“Let us wait and see on that matter a while longer.”

“But Your Highness, how long will you tolerate the Consort’s insolence? Just look at what happened earlier. To coldly refuse Your Highness’s summons like that… it is unheard of.”

“He likely felt unwell. He must have his own circumstances, and how can I ignore them just because I am the one calling?”

Iryeon surely knew the Emperor’s Black Shadows were watching, so why was she acting so emotionally?

He wanted to tell her to mind her words.

Yet, he also felt pity for her, wondering how much her heart must have rotted away all this time to make her act like this.

In the end, Haeryeong soothed Iryeon gently.

“Do not look upon him with such hatred. Are we not all serving His Majesty together? In that sense, is he not like a sibling to me?”

It wasn’t that Haeryeong enjoyed speaking such empty platitudes.

However, if this reached the Emperor’s ears, there was no telling what might happen to Iryeon, so he had to be careful, did he not?

The Consort was also someone who had once held the Emperor’s absolute favor.

Even if the Emperor seemed to avoid the Consort’s Palace entirely these days.

Haeryeong let out a quiet sigh.

‘How much longer must I play this part of a puppet?’

The way his own heart was burning was every bit as intense as Iryeon’s, if not more.

Iryeon also let out a cautious sigh and finally relaxed her hardened features.

“Your Highness is so virtuous that it leaves my heart in a tangle.”

Haeryeong understood the hidden meaning in her words and let out a hollow laugh.

“What can be done when I was born and raised this way?”

The reason Haeryeong had grown up with such a mild temperament was partly because the atmosphere in Yeonseo was so different from Yeoran.

Since his childhood, his father and mother had shared a deep harmony, and the relationships between the other concubines were also cordial, without any jealousy.

It was the same for his siblings.

At least in Yeonseo, no one thought of killing their family members over the succession.

In Yeonseo, children born to concubines were raised as children of the Queen.

Thus, they grew up eating at the same table from a young age, and their brotherly love was so strong they all considered themselves to be from the same womb.

Furthermore, except for Haeryeong and his youngest sibling, the age gaps were not that large, so they were all close.

Haeryeong and his younger brother, who were born after a significant gap, grew up being doted on by their older brothers and sisters.

In an environment where anyone passing by would naturally hand them a confection, there was no room for greed to grow.

He had received an overflowing amount of what they call ‘downward love’ since childhood, and grew up believing it was natural to bestow it upon others.

“His Majesty might also be concerned, so set that matter aside. It is not urgent, is it?”

Seeing Iryeon’s reaction made him wonder if he had spoken out of turn.

He also wondered if he should have just handled it himself.

Iryeon looked quite dissatisfied, yet she quietly bowed her head and gestured her compliance.

Haeryeong noticed her unease but did not press the matter further.

Haeryeong turned his head toward the window and stared at the empty perch.

Because he could not speak his mind freely even with someone so close, he thought of Changcheon.

Since his heat cycle had not yet begun, he thought he should have followed Su-yong when he took the hawk out.

He could have stood in the clearing where no one could approach, stroking the hawk’s breast feathers and venting his frustrations.

A sigh escaped him at the missed opportunity.

‘This is all the fault of the Emperor, who spent the entire breakfast hour in wanton acts.’

‘Why does the Emperor never do a single good thing for me?’

Haeryeong’s expression sank into a pout.

****

That day, before the dinner hour arrived, he headed for the Great Hall as the Emperor had instructed.

Just as he had promised to arrange, the Head Court Lady of the Bedchamber was waiting for him, leading a line of court ladies and eunuchs.

“Have you arrived, Your Highness? I am the Head Court Lady of the Bedchamber, of the Hwang family, and I offer my greetings.”

As the elderly woman bowed, the others behind her followed suit, lowering their waists to Haeryeong.

“Rise.”

“His Majesty has commanded us to prepare everything so that Your Highness may stay without the slightest lack. If you find any discomfort during your stay, please give your command freely.”

“I shall rely on you during my stay.”

Haeryeong felt a bit puzzled at Head Court Lady Hwang’s soft expression.

In the past, she had always worn a quite strict expression, her voice so hard it felt as though a needle could not pierce it.

Seeing her now, swaying like a willow branch in a spring breeze, he realized that imperial favor truly was a powerful thing.

“Court ladies from the Empress’s Palace may not enter the Great Hall. Those of us here shall attend to Your Highness, so the others shall be sent back.”

Haeryeong looked back at the court ladies who had followed him and then nodded to Head Court Lady Hwang.

“Let it be so.”

Then he turned back toward Iryeon.

Their eyes met for a brief moment before she quickly bowed her head, showing only the crown of her hair.

“Iryeon-ah.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Once you return, look after Chang-i well. And every time Chang-i goes out for training during the day, hand a single apple to Officer Han Su-yong. It is for Nureongi.”

“I shall do so.”

Head Court Lady Hwang waited for Haeryeong to finish before stepping aside and bowing.

“Please, enter, Your Highness.”

A eunuch led the way, and Haeryeong followed behind.

The number of footsteps following him had increased significantly compared to before.

Upon entering, the sliding doors along the long corridor began to open slowly and silently.

Walking down a corridor that was far longer than the one in the Empress’s Palace, he somehow felt as if he were walking into the mouth of a tiger.

‘If the heat cycle begins, I shall be devoured not by a tiger, but by a dragon.’

‘So, am I entering a dragon’s mouth rather than a tiger’s?’

The long corridor felt like the interior of a giant dragon, making him want to turn back and run away.

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