CH 108

“Do you have anything to say, Your Majesty?” 

After the morning greetings, the Empress ordered Yeonbin to stay. Sukbi and Jeongbin seemed to wonder what was going on, but the two had no choice but to greet the empress, who quietly waited until they left the room, and returned to their palaces. Soon after, in the space where only Yeonbin remained, the empress opened her mouth. 

“The management of the relief center took an unprecedented amount of manpower.”

“…”

“It didn’t end simply in distributing grain. We tried to make the women, the elderly, and the children who had lost their parents not be exempted from His Highness’s reach.”

When the empress said that, Yeonbin’s heart beat fast because he remembered the request he dared to ask the emperor last time. At that time, the emperor had already given an answer that he realized what he had never thought of through Hwawoon’s request, but hearing that it was actually reflected in the national affairs moved him deeply. Hwawoon hurriedly got up from his seat, kneeled on the floor, and said, lying face down. 

“All the people will be deeply moved by His Majesty’s boundless grace.” 

“Yes, it should be. However…”

“…?”

“Do you know that I released soldiers from my family to add manpower to it?” 

“Did you?” 

Hwawoon, who raised his head, looked surprised for a moment at the Empress’s question, but he soon slightly bowed his head again. The empress continued, staring as if she would not miss any reactions from Hwawoon. 

“Every nation needs manpower and funds. Therefore, when I heard the will of His Majesty, I told my family to actively help His Majesty in the work he was doing. When I, the empress, came forward and set an example, the other ministers couldn’t help but be wary. They also followed to offer more soldiers and funds little by little. That was how the work could proceed smoothly.” 

“All the people will appreciate your grace, Your Majesty.” 

“… In fact, people are praising me. ‘The benevolent empress is looking at even the people at the lowest and helping His Majesty’s grace reach even lower places, so doesn’t this mean we have a very virtuous empress?’” 

Hwawoon nodded as if he had heard something that was bound to be natural.

“There is nothing wrong with what the people say.” 

“Isn’t it unfair?” 

“… Sorry?”

Hwawoon, confused by the sudden question of the empress, raised his voice and asked again with his eyes open wide. The empress calmly faced Hwawoon’s gaze and still kept his expression and even a small gesture in her eyes. The empress said again. 

“There is no word about you anywhere. In the first place, this was done because of your request to His Majesty, but the people don’t know about it, so no one praises your virtues. It can be said that I’m enjoying all the praise. Even if you don’t feel it’s unfair, you might be upset about it.”

Hwawoon replied immediately. 

“Certainly not, Your Majesty. I don’t feel upset at all.”

“Why?” 

“Even though I dared to speak about it in front of His Majesty, His Majesty thinks about the people so deeply more than I do, and you take care of them more than I do. Even if I hadn’t spoken about it, His Majesty would have ordered it sooner or later, and you would have helped him in doing it.” 

“Hmm…” 

“I would have had nothing to say even if I were punished because I dared to speak presumptuously about what His Majesty should have done. Nevertheless, His Majesty listened to me, and you helped in realizing it. I am just grateful for it. How could I hold a disrespectful feeling?”

While Hwawoon answered, the empress keenly studied his face throughout. She listened to his tone in detail and carefully examined each movement of his eyes and fingers. If there was anything he hid. If he was soothing his heart inside. And if he was angry because the empress enjoyed the things he should have enjoyed.

The male concubine who was the owner of Jeongan Palace a long time ago was very loved by the emperor of the time, but he was so weak and his family was humble that he could not afford to be greedy for power. He had no power to support him, so even if he had such greed, it wouldn’t be easy.

The reason why the noble concubine of the previous emperor was able to have a disloyal heart was that not only did she have the emperor’s love, but she also had a father and brothers to support her from behind. They took advantage of the Emperor’s heart and held several key government positions. 

However, the male concubine of Jeongan Palace from a long time ago had nothing else but the emperor’s heart. He had nothing in his hands except for one magnificent palace. The empress thought that if he had a better family, his attitude could have changed, too.

Thus, the empress had no choice but to study Yeon Hwawoon. Yeon Hwawoon already had enormous power that couldn’t be compared to the person who was the owner of Jeongan Palace in the past. Of course, Yeon Juwon was the emperor’s greatest loyalist, and although Yeon Hwawoon now seemed like a person who would not think of such a thing at all, Jaran, the empress, always needed to see everything thoroughly. No one knew what kind of reaction would have happened when the son of the family with the highest prestige in the nation got the emperor’s love.

In the past, the empress left the unruly Yeonbin alone because even though he was troublesome for the internal court, it was rather beneficial for the entire imperial family. 

“I will gladly join the people in praising your grace, Your Majesty.” 

Thus, the empress, Jaran, looked at Hwawoon, who answered without hesitation, and soon smiled alone. At least now, Hwawoon was a man who had no fault. After a while, Jaran said,

“… His Majesty knows it.” 

Jaran continued while Hwawoon was once again unable to answer the sudden remark. 

“His Majesty already knows what you thought for the people. And so do I.”

“…” 

“So don’t worry.” 

The desire to win the praise of the people could mean the desire to gain the position of the empress. If he had a desire for it, the empress would not have let him alone. However, the man in front of her was acting like he had no desire for anything.

Jaran recalled the face of the emperor, lifeless like a withering flower these days. The reason why Jaran looked at Hwawoon so persistently today was not only for her own sake but also for the sake of the emperor who must be clueless in this regard. Looking at Hwawoon who looked innocent, Jaran only nodded. 

***

The emperor, who had a luncheon at Cheonggeon Hall, entered the Emperor’s room alone with a cup of tea. Eunuch Oh, who waited outside as if he had been kicked out because of the order for everyone to leave, let out a sigh that came from the depths of his heart. Eunuch Oh had served the emperor since the time he took the throne, but his master had never been as difficult to deal with as he was these days.

He was not annoyed or angry with Eunuch Oh. However, Eunuch Oh thought it would be better if the emperor was angry at him. If so, he would not have been so frustrated as he was now. The emperor just said nothing. He didn’t even laugh. He neglected his meal and sleep, pushing himself endlessly. Therefore, how could Eunuch Oh not be anxious with concern? If the emperor’s situation did not improve, he had no choice but to ask the Empress for help. 

“… Your Majesty?!” 

Suddenly, like a thunderbolt, the emperor stormed out of the room. While Eunuch Oh, who was deep in thought, flinched in surprise as if he would faint, the emperor passed him as if running and shouted in a loud voice.

“Let’s go to Jeongan Palace!” 

The man’s heart overflowed like a tidal wave over the floodgate, and Eunuch Oh had no choice but to hurriedly follow the emperor, whose whole body was already soaked. 

***

“I already gave them everything I had… Can I give them more?” 

“I think this is enough, so why don’t you give it back after a while?” 

When Hwawoon, who was standing by the pond of Jeongan Palace and watching the colorful fish eating, shook the empty food pocket, Jeongan Palace’s new head eunuch, Sojeong, bowed and answered. Sojeong, who initially couldn’t even raise his head and trembled just by looking at Hwawoon’s face, still looked pale next to Yeonbin, but he looked much better than before. 

“Then shall we go in now, Your Highness?” 

Ahjin, who was standing next to Hwawoon with a displeased look on her face, asked, taking a step closer to Hwawoon. Ahjin was actually not happy with everything in this situation.