CH 12.1

As he continued his words, the young eunuch’s face turned pale. Even he couldn’t believe what he heard. When he went to Jeongan Palace under the order of Officer Wi, he had braced himself if he were to be hit by a teacup thrown by Yeonbin. Still, at least I won’t get beaten if I tell him I came to tell this under the emperor’s order, right? He only went there with such a simple hope.

However, even after hearing that His Majesty visited Her Highness Sukbi’s palace and ordered to deliver the news to Jeongan Palace, Yeonbin only stayed on his seat quietly. He didn’t throw the teacup, and he also didn’t kick him out of anger.

The eunuch was so afraid that this meant Yeonbin would give him bigger trouble later. 

“They say Yeonbin has changed since he fell to the pond…”

Officer Wi murmured as he sat weakly. Just like the eunuch, strength drained out from his feet even if he didn’t go to Jeongan Palace and hear those words in person. 

Yeonbin had changed.

That was a talk that had been going around lately. The words that he called all the court ladies of Jeongan Palace had become the main gossip in this imperial palace.  

But that was just a rumor mocking Yeonbin. Everyone who heard the rumor was sure that was only Yeobin’s atrocity to attract the emperor’s attention, and that wouldn’t last long. Officer Wi also thought the same.

“No way…”

Officer Wi kept murmuring while his pupils were shaking out of confusion.

Gosh, no way. That’s unbelievable. It’s really unbelievable for someone, who never changes although His Majesty tried his best to change him all this time, to suddenly change overnight just because he experienced a near-death event. 

Officer Wi still tried to think like that, but Yeonbin, who he had been seeing for a long time, was never such a clever person who would stay low and wait for the right time when executing his plan. 

Then, what on earth was Yeonbin doing now? How should I accept all these unbelievable things?   

As the night went on, Officer Wi’s sigh also went longer. It was a very difficult task for him to survive in this imperial palace. 

***

“Even His Majesty, sigh… He doesn’t need to say such a thing…”

Ahjin, who was massaging her master’s hand in the flower bath, was upset no matter how much she thought about it. She had not been in a good mood since the eunuch of Gyeongsa-bang visited.

Frankly speaking, wasn’t it a very cruel move for an emperor to tell a concubine, whose name plate was taken out, which residence he was visiting? Under Yeonbin’s order, Ahjin had stopped visiting Gyeongsa-bang to find out the emperor’s whereabouts. However, how could the emperor send someone here? On top of that, how could he inform that he was visiting Sukbi’s Unhwa Palace?

Ahjin, who had been restless because her master’s health seemed to get worse recently, couldn’t continue to speak more about the emperor, and her lips were twitching.

Then, Ahjin suddenly realized that her master had shown no response despite hearing her grumble, and she felt her spine turn cold. As she raised her head, she saw Yeonbin was quietly staring at her. Ahjin quickly put down the basin she was holding and kneeled.

“Forgive me, Your Highness. I’ve talked carelessly.”

She had tactlessly made her master, whose heart was surely heartbroken, feel even worse by saying those words. Ahjin blamed herself for being this relaxed just because her master treated her generously nowadays and bit her lips.

Yeonbin’s wet hands carefully grabbed Ahjin’s arms and raised her up.

“Why are you always kneeling at any chance? I’m not looking at you because I was offended by you.”

“Your Highness…” 

“I’m only… looking at you because I feel happy that you’re feeling upset for me when you’ve always looked tense and frightened in front of me.”

Ahjin’s round eyes fluttered upon hearing Yeonbin’s words. Suddenly, she questioned if she was really upset because of things her master experienced.

So, I’m not afraid? I’m not afraid if Yeonbin were to vent his anger at me because His Majesty treated him badly? Am I really upset with what happened to His Highness and worried about him? 

Despite having such thoughts, Ahjin couldn’t believe it.

Meanwhile, Hwawoon was a bit happy. He didn’t care whether Ahjin was in a shocked state.