The next morning, Seorin woke up and saw Taehyung staring sadly at the ceiling. She knocked her head on his arm. “Taehyung, what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking it’s been many days and it’s the right time for me to see Namjoon hyung,” Taehyung said.
“You should go,” Seorin said.
“Seorin, do you want to accompany me?” Taehyung asked.
“I can go outside?” Seorin asked.
Seorin was three months pregnant and her stomach was already started to show. If she walked outside the manor then her pregnancy wouldn’t be a secret anymore.
“Seorin, you’ve been locked at home for months,” Taehyung said. “Don’t you want to go outside?”
“I do want to go outside but… I decided I want to continue staying home,” Seorin said.
Taehyung understood Seorin didn’t want to risk losing their child and he held her hand. “Seorin, I’ve made you worried.”
“It’s enough that you know,” Seorin said. “Taehyung, on the way home remember to buy braised pork and soft dates for me.”
Seorin licked her lips and felt hungry.
“Seorin, recently you’ve been craving for a lot of food,” Taehyung said.
“Um, is something wrong with my cravings?” Seorin asked.
“Elders say if a pregnant woman is carrying a boy then she’ll crave food,” Taehyung said. He placed his hand on Seorin’s stomach. “Do you think our child is a boy?”
Seorin kicked Taehyung, she was angry because she thought now he tries to control her craving. “Taehyung, take your hands away.”
Taehyung kissed Seorin, dressed, and unwillingly left the chamber. He regretted it after understanding the fact that Seorin misunderstood him completely.
West of the city of Hanyang there was a busy shop that crafted Good quality Porcelain and Jade. He stood at the front of the shop and greeted customers. The Crafting Master of that shop grinned after he saw Taehyung step out of a horse carriage.
“Fifth prince, what wind brought you here?” Crafting Master asked. “Someone bring the rare tea to the Fifth prince!”
“Master, you’re too generous,” Taehyung praised. “I heard you have a rare jade bracelet at your shop. I came here because I’m interested in seeing the rare jade bracelet.”
“Fifth prince, I understand,” Crafting Master said. “Please come inside. We can drink tea and talk.”
“Sorry for troubling you Crafting Master,” Taehyung said and walked into the shop.
The rich young customers who were inside the shop gossiped about Taehyung.
“Fifth prince is kind and gentle as rumored,” the first young man said. “A while ago I heard he bought a rare pair of jade bracelets for his wife.”
“You don’t know how much the Fifth prince dotes on his wife,” the second young man said. “To Fifth prince gold and silver can’t compare to a beauty’s smile.”
“What about you?” the first young man asked. “Aren’t you going to buy this ring? It's only five hundred silver coins. Are you not buying it because your heart will miss the silver coins?”
“No, I have selective vision!” the second young man said. “Sir, are there other rings similar to this ring?”
Crafting Master led Taehyung into a private room.
“Oh my god, I’m begging the Fifth prince to take the jade away,” Crafting Master said. “You caused me to lose peaceful sleep by keeping the jade here.”
“Your cheeks look a healthy pink and you look livelier than in the past,” Taehyung said.
“It’s an act!” Crafting Master said.
“Show me the jade,” Taehyung said.
Crafting Master obediently pushed a hidden clay ornament and exposed a secret passageway through a wall.
Taehyung looked down at the spacious descending stairway. “It’s impressive.”
Crafting Master led Taehyung down the stairs and to a locked metal door that had light shining through the gaps of the door.
“He’s inside,” Crafting Master said. “I’ll be guarding and waiting for you outside.”
“Um, is there anything else?” Taehyung asked.
“It’s better if you see him yourself,” Crafting Master said.
Taehyung thought it wasn’t good news. He watched Crafting Master walk upstairs then he unlocked the door.
Inside the room Namjoon’s hair was messy, his face was pale and he sat gloomily at a table.
“Tae,” Namjoon said.
Taehyung’s back turned cold to see Namjoon’s disturbing calmness as though Namjoon predicted his visit.
Namjoon stared at the barricaded window. “I’ve been asking myself when Tae would visit me. I didn’t think you would visit this soon. Is it twelve or thirteen days…Tae, look at this place. It’s hard to see if it’s night or day.”
Taehyung understood Crafting Master’s words, Namjoon was mumbling to himself.
“How did you know it was me?” Taehyung asked.
Namjoon turned around and looked at Taehyung. “Fifth prince, what’s scaring you?”
Taehyung didn’t know why Namjoon’s dragon eyes looked soulless.
“Tae, you don’t need to be scared,” Namjoon said. “I’m your captive and I can’t do anything to harm you. Tae, look at me. Even if you gave me a sword I still wouldn’t be able to do anything.”
Taehyung looked at Namjoon’s two missing fingers and he shivered. He didn’t expect saying to his Yoongi hyung that he could deal with the empress and Namjoon would lead to Yoongi cutting off two of Namjoon’s fingers and using it to force the empress to kill herself.
“Tae, why did you cut off two of my fingers?” Namjoon asked. “I thought about why for many days. But after I heard the ringing sounds of funeral bells I understood why. Tae, is my eomma dead?”
Taehyung was startled to see Namjoon calmly treat the empress' death as something trivial.
“It’s good that she’s dead,” Namjoon said. “I’m not the crown prince anymore, she wouldn’t have survived much longer in the palace. Imperial mother had lived a tiring life. The sooner she closes her eyes the sooner she can rest. Death is an escape for her.”
Taehyung couldn’t believe it was the Namjoon he knew in the past. He didn’t know how a lively Namjoon could say such despairing thoughts.
“Is that why you killed Park Sang-Hee?” Taehyung asked.
“Sang-Hee…” Namjoon asked. He vaguely remembered Park Sang-Hee. “Yes. She lived a life of suffering. It’s better for her to die.”
Namjoon looked down at his hands. “I used these two hands to choke her to death and pushed her down the well. It’s an unforgivable crime… but it was worth freeing Sang-Hee.”
Taehyung didn’t know how he could understand Namjoon’s eerie indifference.
“Tae, do you think I’m too cruel?” Namjoon asked. “Tae, did you expect I’m capable of being this cruel?”
Taehyung didn’t want to admit he suspected his Namjoon hyung was possessed by a demon.
“Tae, the truth is there’s no one that isn’t cruel,” Namjoon said.
“What are you implying?” Taehyung asked.
“Tae, we’re all cruel,” Namjoon said. “For me, Park Sang-Hee died. But Tae, you, Fifth sister, and everyone else caused her to become insane. Tae, who do you think is crueler?”
Taehyung didn’t know what to say.
“Tae, I only wanted to leave,” Namjoon said. “I wanted to escape my cage. Tae, why did you detain me?”
“You truly want to leave?” Taehyung asked.
“If I didn’t want to leave then why did I request many times to take my crown prince position away?” Namjoon asked. “Why did I fake my own death? It’s a pity my fifth brother ruined everything.”
“You don’t want to be the crown prince?” Taehyung asked sarcastically.
“This imperial city is only full of cruel people,” Namjoon said.
“If your intention was to leave then why did you need to warn imperial father about me?” Taehyung lost his coolness after hearing his hyung's words.
“Warn imperial father…” Namjoon asked. “It appears Advisor Jimin is Tae’s ally.”
Taehyung was impressed by Namjoon’s intelligence.
“Tae, you win!” Namjoon said.
“Do you want me to die, Hyung?” Taehyung asked.
“No,” Namjoon said.
Namjoon didn’t know why he warned their father. Did he want to harm Taehyung? But he thought Taehyung was more suited to sit on the throne than Hoseok. If he decided to let go of his crown position… why did he need to warn their father?
Namjoon thought about his father’s disappointment and hurt. Perhaps he wanted to compensate his father’s pain. His father couldn’t see through Taehyung. So if he warned his father about Taehyung then his father didn’t need to be troubled about Taehyung.
“Namjoon hyung, do you think your life is full of unbearable sufferings?” Taehyung asked. “Do you think you can only escape if you leave? Do you think everyone close to you suffered too and they can only escape if they die?”
Namjoon nodded his head.
“Namjoon hyung, why is it that everyone else that suffered can only escape if they die?” Taehyung asked. “Yet you suffered too but don’t think you need to die to escape.”
“Why didn’t you stab your heart a little deeper?” Taehyung asked. “Is it because you didn’t want to die? Is it because you’re scared of death?”
“Namjoon hyung, do you think you’re clean and innocent?” Taehyung asked. “The truth is you’re dirty too! You think you’re righteous. Yet you’re scared of death and too deceitful. If you didn’t want to become the emperor then you should have said you didn’t want to before you became the crown prince. If you didn’t want to marry Park Sang-Hee then you should have kept your distance from her at the start and not given her hope. For your own gains, hyung, you used others. Do you think your actions are righteous? Namjoon hyung, you don’t need to act like this, it’s too ugly.”
In Namjoon’s world, he was the only good and beautiful person inside his world. He thought he didn’t care about the grievances of the outside world but he didn’t expect the world he built for himself was too weak. Taehyung only said a few words to him and his world turned to dust. He wasn’t good and beautiful as he thought so his world was no longer good and beautiful. He was a bad person so he had built an ugly world.
“Hyung, you’ve only stepped on others’ hopes and good intentions,” Taehyung said. “You’ve hurt the people who supported you for what you call freedom and escape. Do you know why your imperial mother died? She wanted you to stay alive so she killed herself. The palace isn’t a cage, it’s not dust but you perceived it as a cage to justify your cruel actions in the past.”
Namjoon fell into a hopeless state.
“If you think the palace is a scary place then this place doesn’t have any scary battles,” Taehyung said. “You can be happy on your own here.”
Taehyung left the room and he didn’t look back at the soulless Namjoon.
Namjoon awoke from his dark thoughts after he heard the sound of the door lock.
“Let me out!” Namjoon cried out. “You don’t need to trap me here!”
Namjoon yelled, kicked, and punched the door but there was no reply outside the door.
The silence was killing Namjoon.
“You don’t need to trap me here… you can kill me but you don’t need to trap me here…” Namjoon mumbled.
Taehyung stood outside Namjoon’s room.
Taehyung’s back was sweaty. He heard Namjoon yell hysterically and Namjoon mumbled to himself. Taehyung didn’t know why his most intelligent hyung became like that. Was it because Namjoon was too intelligent and punctured a brain nerve?
Taehyung couldn’t answer Namjoon, who was crueler? Was it true Park Sang-Hee would suffer less if she died? But after everything Namjoon had done, Namjoon lost to himself.
Taehyung left the Porcelain crafting shop. On the way home a messenger delivered a message to Taehyung from Porcelain crafting shop, Namjoon killed himself. Taehyung felt remorseful he had indirectly caused his Namjoon hyung to shed fresh blood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While Taehyung was away from home, a maid rushed into Seorin’s chamber.
“Mistress, a few women from Lee Jonghyeok’s manor are here to see you,” the maid said.
Seorin was eating dates when the maid delivered bad news. She didn’t know what Lee Jonghyeok was scheming, but she changed into a loose dress to protect hers and Taehyung’s child.
Seorin asked the maid to escort the women into her chamber.
The maid led the women into Seorin’s chamber and poured tea.
“Seorin, I heard you’ve been ill,” the second aunt said. “I wanted to visit you earlier but I heard you were bedridden. Two days ago, I heard you’ve recovered so I came to visit you today.”
Although Seorin had stayed home for many months, she didn’t forget how insincere Lee Jonghyeok’s daughter-in-laws were.
“Aunts, forgive me for making everyone worried,” Seorin said.
“Unnie, I remembered you brought a bracelet for Seorin,” third aunt said.
“Third sister, thank you for reminding me,” second aunt said. She pulled out a pink jade bracelet and gave it to Seorin. “Seorin this is for you. I think the colour suits you.”
Seorin couldn’t refuse and wore the bracelet. She admitted it was a beautiful bracelet with a good scent.
“Unnie, it’s a beautiful bracelet,” the third aunt praised. “Unnie, you’re too frugal. Last time I wanted to wear it but you didn’t let me… why does it have a sweet scent… isn’t this the teak wood fragrance?”
Seorin’s face paled and she took off the bracelet, teak wood fragrances were rare and it was used to abort children.
“Third sister, is it the teak wood fragrance?” second aunt asked. “I didn’t know. I only thought it was a good scent… Seorin, forgive my ignorance…”
Seorin was scared to death but she spoke calmly. “Second aunt, it isn’t your fault. You didn’t know.”
Seorin assessed the women who hid their intentions well.
The women praised Seorin’s dress and she couldn’t avoid them purposely touching her waist. Although her stomach was only slightly round, it was still rounder than before she was pregnant.
“Seorin, I noticed you’ve been eating a lot of food,” second aunt said. “Seorin, are you pregnant? If you’re pregnant you should share the good news with your aunts.”
“Of course,” Seorin said.
Seorin was certain the women visited her to see if she was pregnant but she didn’t know why.
Seorin asked the maid to escort the women to their horse carriage and she waited for Taehyung’s return.
A while later Taehyung returned to the manor and found Seorin in deep thought in their chamber.
“Rinnie, are you worried about something, or are you missing your husband?” Taehyung asked.
“Earlier Lee Jonghyeok’s daughter-in-laws came to visit me,” Seorin said.
“Why did they come?” Taehyung asked.
Taehyung sat on the bed and pulled Seorin onto his lap. There were maids cleaning in their chamber so she protested but he hugged her and didn’t let her go.
Luckily the maids kept their eyes on the floor and quickly left the chamber.
“Taehyung, don’t forget you’re gentle Fifth prince,” Seorin said. “Why are you more of a scoundrel by the day?”
Taehyung put his face on Seorin’s shoulder as a drop of tear escaped from his eyes and spoke in a sad tone. “Seorin, hyung died.”
Seorin sat still on Taehyung’s lap.
“Hyung, broke a teapot and slit his throat,” Taehyung said. “When someone discovered what happened it was too late. He lost too much blood and his last words were… it’s clean red blood, finally, I’ve escaped…” Taehyung said.
In front of others, Taehyung acted like he was not an ounce affected after his hyung died. He could only show how guilty and sad he felt in front of Seorin.
Seorin understood Taehyung’s feelings. She knew Taehyung didn’t kill Namjoon but in Taehyung’s heart he blamed himself for Namjoon’s death.
Seorin turned around and wrapped her arms around Taehyung’s neck. He kissed her forehead.
“Alright,” Taehyung said. “Seorin, you didn’t tell me why Lee Jonghyeok’s daughter-in-laws came to visit you.”
“I think they came to see if I’m pregnant,” Seorin said. “Perhaps I’ve given away the secret about our child.”
Taehyung listened to Seorin recount about the bracelet and how the women behaved strangely.
“What does Lee Jonghyeok want?” Taehyung asked. “The empress is dead. He should be satisfied Consort Lee’s death is avenged.”
“Will it be troublesome if he knows I’m pregnant?” Seorin asked.
“Yesterday, we got lucky because of Yoongi hyung's special medicine and Yunji's help as the medicine can't be consumed by the pregnant women, but Seorin, now I’m worried our peaceful days are over,” Taehyung said.
“What should we do?” Seorin asked.
“We’ll silently follow them and deal with them at the right opportunity,” Taehyung said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the palace Jimin announced the emperor’s arrival in the imperial court.
The court officials who supported Hoseok were surprised to see why Lee Jonghyeok was at the palace.
The emperor sat on his throne, his head and heart were plagued with the deaths of the empress and his Second son.
“Your majesty, I have something important to report,” One official said.
“What is it?” the emperor asked.
Jimin gave the emperor the petition that the official prepared.
“Your majesty, I and many other court officials recommend the Third prince to become the crown prince,” the same official said.
The emperor hid his displeasure. He couldn’t bring his Second son back to life but he was dissatisfied with his Third son’s black heart.
“Lee Jonghyeok, what do you think?” the emperor asked.
“Your majesty, I disagree,” Lee Jonghyeok said.
Everyone was silent and thought Lee Jonghyeok was daring to openly oppose Hoseok.
“Your majesty, I believe the Fifth prince is more suitable to be the crown prince,” Lee Jonghyeok said.
The emperor listened to Lee Jonghyeok’s opinion.
“Fifth Prince is intelligent, humble, and patient,” Lee Jonghyeok praised. “That year in Daegu, he worked tirelessly day and night to find ways to prevent severe floods and saved the livelihoods of many citizens. But he humbly gave the credit to others. In Southern Busan, his strategies helped to subdue the rebels. Everyone here can clearly see that the Fifth Prince is a selfless and diligent person.”
The other court officials thought Taehyung deserved Lee Jonghyeok’s praises. In the past, they didn’t acknowledge Taehyung’s achievements because they knew the emperor didn’t favor Taehyung.
The emperor’s expression darkened. No one dared to dispute Lee Jonghyeok’s words. It implied everyone hid the extent of his Fifth son’s contributions to the Kingdom and his court officials deceived him!
“Everyone here also knows Fifth prince is a gentle and kind person,” Lee Jonghyeok said. “He is respectful and compassionate toward citizens. If he becomes the crown prince, it’ll be a blessing for all the citizens.”
The court officials who supported the empress and Namjoon kneeled in front of the emperor and agreed with Lee Jonghyeok’s recommendation to make Taehyung the crown prince. After the empress and Namjoon died, they were scared Consort Jung and Hoseok would eliminate them. So Lee Jonghyeok’s words gave them a chance to live.
“Your majesty, Third prince is the most suitable candidate to be the crown prince,” the previous official said. “Your majesty, you also need to consider your grandchildren.”
“Your majesty, I agree your majesty should consider your grandchildren,” Lee Jonghyeok said.
“Lee Jonghyeok, what are you saying?” the emperor asked.
“Congratulations your majesty,” Lee Jonghyeok said. “In a few months, your majesty will have a grandson.”
“Lee Jonghyeok, why are you the only one congratulating me?” the emperor asked.
“Recently my daughter-in-laws visited Fifth prince’s wife and accidentally found out Fifth prince’s wife is pregnant,” Lee Jonghyeok said.
“Truly?” the emperor asked.
“Your majesty, if you don’t believe me then your majesty can send your imperial physicians to examine Fifth prince’s wife,” Lee Jonghyeok said.
The emperor wasn’t certain if Lee Jonghyeok’s words were true, but his fingers trembled. He was angry why his Fifth son didn’t inform him about his Fifth daughter-in-law’s pregnancy.
Hoseok was shocked to hear his Fifth brother’s wife was pregnant. His mother’s imperial physician reported that Seorin had a chest infection and he knew Physician Kwon wouldn’t dare lie to him and his mother.
The loud commotion in the imperial court made the emperor angrier. The emperor dismissed everyone and he summoned only one official who stayed neutral to the imperial calligraphy room.
Inside the imperial calligraphy room, the emperor sat on the highest chair and he gave permission for that official to sit.
“Official, between Third prince and Fifth prince who do you think is more suitable?” the emperor asked.
“Your majesty is wise and knows who is more suitable,” that official said.
“I don’t want to hear pleasantries!” the emperor Kim Seokjin said. “I won’t punish you if you give me your honest opinion.”
“Your majesty, I believe the Fifth prince is more suitable,” the official said.
“Why?” the emperor asked.
“Your majesty, truthfully I’m not close to neither Third prince nor Fifth prince,” the Official said. “Your majesty, forgive me for my ignorant thoughts.”
“Alright,” the emperor said. “You’re free to speak your thoughts.”
“Your majesty, the Fifth prince is truly someone who is fair and merciful which makes him more suitable to be the crown prince,” the official said.
The emperor silently reflected that official’s words. He knew citizens of the Hanyang needed a ruler who was fair and merciful to guide the kingdom through calamities and peaceful periods.
“I understand,” the emperor said. “You can leave first.”
That official bowed to the emperor and left the imperial calligraphy room.
On the way back to the official’s Manor, That particular Official remembered his daughter’s shame eight years ago. That year he and Taehyung caught his daughter trying to seduce Hoseok when his daughter was betrothed to Taehyung. Taehyung didn’t expose his daughter’s shame in front of the emperor. If it wasn’t for Taehyung’s mercy and forgiveness then he would have lost his position in the imperial court years ago. So he wanted to repay Taehyung for sparing his reputation.
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That official thought his dead daughter was foolish while alive. If his daughter was wise then she would be alive and become the empress. Even though it wasn’t certain Taehyung would become emperor, he didn’t know why he felt it was inevitable Taehyung would become emperor. He admitted in the past he didn’t expect the carefree and powerless Taehyung would one day have many court officials to support him to become the emperor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N ~~~
Quite a long chapter... but please enjoy.... ^_^
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