A Dragon Lives In That Scholar's Deep Spring - Chapter 7

– CHAPTER 7 –

“There are reasons, so do not ask anything to that woman, especially do not disturb her mind, and if she wants something, give it all. If you have any difficulties alone, send me your father immediately, and I will help you.” 

Why does the master tell her to give everything, including clothes and money, to such an ignorant lady? Perhaps, despite his coldness towards women, he didn’t notice her ignorance hidden behind her beauty?

“Still, if you don’t wear clothes, you might get into trouble Sun-yi. Why did you just leave it like that? Hurry up and get dressed, now!”

“I warned you. The smaller the creature, the…”

“My master said to make sure to keep the lady warm. First, put on the lower garment, then the upper garment, and… Let’s see, put on the inner garment and the trousers as well. The undershirt… Yes, that’s right. You should wear this.”

Her master said that he would immediately leave after handling important matters. It meant there wasn’t much time to get dressed. Whether or not she understood the busy mind of Sun-yi, the lady just stared blankly.

“Have you ever not been disrespectful or not put on the lower garment?”

“… The smaller the creature.”

Sun-yi, who had completely forgotten the instructions of her master and was tormenting the lady in her desire to receive praise, was floating in the air the next moment.

“It’s not a difficult thing to kill.”

And just as the chilling voice of the lady was heard, everything turned black before her eyes.

* * *

“You look like you’ve been reading books all night.”

Although there was much to do, Do-gyeom briefly visited the Eastern Palace. Do-gyeom first composed himself and then responded calmly.

“Thanks to Your Highness’ generous wine, I couldn’t read books.”

His unhealthy complexion was undoubtedly due to the mysterious woman’s influence, but it didn’t seem appropriate to reveal it hastily. He didn’t want to burden the already heavy-hearted Crown Prince further.

“If you can’t even handle wine, you must be a human being, right?”

Although blunt, the Crown Prince ordered to bring a tea known for its recovery properties. Only when he met Do-gyeom did he seem to relax a bit, even leaning against the desk.

“Yes, until now, it was just a simple job. You used to avoid unnecessary suspicion and wouldn’t even move.”

In response to the command to gradually bring up the matter, Do-gyeom hesitated for a moment. However, he had already prepared everything during his journey to the Inner Court.

“It’s about the conversation we had last night.”

Unexpectedly, Eons’s eyebrows twitched at the topic.

“Is it about the marriage issue?”

“Both of the late crown princesses, their deaths, and the situation were unclear, weren’t they?”

“Uh huh.”

Eon, who stopped speaking, glanced outside and then gestured for Do-gyeom to come closer after adjusting his posture. The two narrowed the distance between them, with Eon’s writing desk between them.

“This is unlike you. What’s the reason for bringing up such matters in broad daylight?”

“I heard that the seated lady has already been decided for this selection.”

Eon’s expression stiffened immediately, but he wasn’t oblivious.

“I thought there were no secrets in the palace, yet the news spreads fast. How did you find out?”

“I happened to meet the Left State Secretary on my way back. He’s not talking about putting someone in charge but rather aiming for the Crown Princess position. That’s what was said.”

“I heard when I went to offer morning greetings. It’s said they would issue a decree immediately to start preparing for the marriage.”

Do-gyeom lowered his tone even further and asserted.

“We must stop it.”

“Stop it?”

Eon looked dismayed as if questioning the feasibility of Do-gyeom’s words.

“Surely, they’re trying to establish their influence through this marriage, aren’t they?”

A healthy competition can be a foundation for mutual growth and strengthen the country for the people. However, leaning too much to one side leads to stagnation.

The power of the middle-ranking officials, who had grown in stature over the past few years, combined with the external forces, had reached a point where they threatened the royal authority.

To avoid them, a woman from a family unrelated to those in power was chosen as the Crown Princess. But after two failed marriages, all that remained was the resentment of the people for wasting state funds on unnecessary marriages.

Rumors even spread that Eon brought in the Crown Princesses to prevent the Crown Prince’s misfortune.

“It’s my fault for not protecting the Crown Princesses.”

Such rumors were enveloped by layers of thick walls surrounding the Inner Court, making it impossible for Eon to respond.

“It’s not your fault. It became like this because they cunningly exploited your youthful moment of weakness. You know that, don’t you?”

“It’s just speculation. Isn’t it more persuasive now that I’ve lost the Crown Princesses due to my lack of virtue?”

“At least one thing is certain.”

Do-gyeom pressed on firmly with determined eyes.

“There will be no more Crown Princess for the impoverished. You have matured, and now I’m here in the palace, too.”

What kind of person was the Crown Prince? He was the only friend Do-gyeom had left after losing everything. So now was the time for Do-gyeom to protect his friend.

“At least the same thing won’t happen again.”

While the palace maid brought in refreshments, the two men remained silent until the maid left and closed the door slowly. They savored the delicate tea until Do-gyeom broke the silence unexpectedly.

“… But why are they so effortlessly allowed to do as they please, to bring in the Crown Princess they desire?”

Eon’s tea cup trembled slightly. It may not have been noticeable at first glance, but even minor stimuli conveyed a greater impact. The tea in the cup rippled.

“Isn’t there any way? Considering that I’ve already defied the ministers’ recommendations twice, surely this time even His Majesty couldn’t have done anything differently.”

Gradually, Do-gyeom judged that it was time to clarify the purpose of his visit to the Eastern Palace.

“If the Lady has already been decided, the scope of the decree will be narrowed.”

“Yesterday, it was said that there would be more officials assigned to the Palace of Rituals than before, and they would be sent out across the country.”

“That statement must be followed through.”

“Why?”

“Because there is a woman who will turn seventeen in the residence of my maternal uncle in the south.”

“…Are you implying?”

Understanding his intentions immediately, Eon slammed the cup down with force.

“Are you suggesting involving your relatives in this selection?”

“If we expand the search for Crown Princess candidates nationwide, it will take long to reach the final selection.”

“But the Crown Princess has already been decided, hasn’t she!”

As the royal family members turned into pawns, caught in a whirlwind, measures had to be taken somehow. As long as the marriage was not finalized and celebrated, it was not too late.

“I intend to delay the selection.”

“…What do you mean?”

“If coincidences repeat, they cease to be coincidences. Who benefited from the deaths of the previous Crown Princesses? Surely some have filled their barns, gained legitimacy and power, while Your Majesty and Your Highness lost people’s trust and righteousness.”

“…”

“Now, the third Crown Princess will gain fame just by living long. If we wait, the rain will eventually fall, and even the blessings from the heavens will be attributed to the Crown Princess and her supporters, rather than to the Crown Prince.”

But is it not the same as staining their hands with blood to kill a new Crown Princess? If they commit the same mistake, they will be no different from them.

“Twice is enough.”

So they must stop it before it’s too late.

“Isn’t it time to end this now?”

* * *

Despite hurrying back to the village after visiting the Eastern Palace, the sun was already high in the sky.

“Master!”

As Do-gyeom finally reached his house, he encountered the steward standing anxiously in front of the gate, waving his robe.

“Why are you here outside the gate?”

“Weren’t you supposed to be at the Gyujanggak? You said to contact you there if anything happens!”

“Oh, I had to go to the Eastern Palace in a hurry…”

Do-gyeom casually replied, sensing that something he feared had happened.

“Something terrible has happened. The lady you brought with you has disappeared!”

They had agreed that she would wait quietly. How could this have happened? As Do-gyeom pondered this, he suddenly snapped back to reality as if doused with cold water.

“She disappeared.”

How could he have blindly trusted that woman without any calculation from the start? The more he thinks about it, the more he can’t convince himself. 

Even if she was left far away from the palace, disregarding the safety of the people was unacceptable. How could he have believed her words so easily as if he were possessed? …Could that woman be a nine-tailed fox?

“Is anyone hurt?”

“Um, that… it’s Sun-yi.”

“Sun-yi?”

His heart sank. Do-gyeom, deep in thought, passed through the gate like the wind and headed towards the main hall.

“It’s not a serious injury! It seems Sun-yi, forgetting the master’s instructions, offended the lady, and after putting down her belongings, I heard squeals and hurriedly went to see.”

The steward, who followed Do-gyeom hastily, explained the situation hastily.

“The child is lying on the floor of the main hall, and the lady is nowhere to be found.”

“Where is the child? Is the child seriously hurt?”