"What are you looking s hard into, Lord Nam?" "I am reading Su She's poems." "Since when do you care about such frivolous things?" "The years since death has parted us never seems to have an end in sight. i resist thinking of you but i cannot forget…" "Every word must drill into your heart in the absence of that mutt…" "That woman has done more for me than you ever could Mistress Han, so let us not go there. So why have you so generously invited me over here?" "We are to dine with The Concubine Choi, her husband, your sister-in-law and that mutt that has moved in with us, exactly how you wanted it done." "And? How is she" "Her reputation without you is utterly destroyed, which is why you shall rest on my arms tonight." "Very well, if only we were on speaking terms right now…" "What a good thing that you are not." I let her walk away from me just as i called upon a servant to send Yeon a gift on my behalf and a little poem along with it.
"You seem exhausted from your affairs My Lord, are you sure that you're up for this right now? Have you even seen her upon your return?" "I have seen her, but she hasn't seen me." "So you haven't spent any nights with her at all…." "Who said that I ever did?" "Whatever you say, just let us head there now as i cannot afford to be late…aren't you going to change your clothes at all?" "I will be there for less than an hour then i need to catch up on my sleep." "Are you sure that you're alright? You seem a little off tonight." "Are we going or not? Because I would much rather get some sleep you know...."
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"…Your Highness has only been saying with me lately, despite Concubine Park's recent pregnancy. Shouldn't you pay attention to the other concubines as well?" "Very well, i shall be on my way to visit Concubine Park then finally..." "Your Highness! You know that I didn't meant it all! and it is rather late now, you might as well stay here and wait fr the other gusts to show up." "I knew that you would not let me out of your sight so soon." "You just love teasing me, don't you husband? Just like you always did when we first got married..." "A concubine's ceremony is rather different from an actual wedding ceremony, Concubine Choi." "Not by much though, I remember you even neglecting your favourites for me once upon a time ago, so you made it fair just for me." "But i cannot do that anymore since i have to help manage affairs of state even closely after my wife's death. And you are right, i should visit my concubines more often, since you are a mother now and need to spend more time without daughter." "But Your Highness….!" "I cannot neglect them all just for you." "You must be already thinking of them even when you are with me." "Do not be so temperamental; here I was thinking that you would be able t dedicate your mind to the harem for me as my Imperial Noble Consort (Step Empress) in the absence of my wife, but i was clearly proved wrong." "Your Highness! Please give me a chance to prove you wrong!" "And how will you do that exactly?" "When i pull of the most entertaining dinner for you, then i will surely change your mind. By the way, did you receive the sleeping robe that i sent you? What did you think abut it? Is it to your liking?" "The pattern of the golden dragon coming out of the cloud is particularly pleasant to look at, I liked the first one that i was sent." "The first one? What do you mean?" "The second one i was sent by The Mistress Nam was accidentally ripped up by my eldest daughter whilst she snuck into my chambers to play as usual. But the first one had much better material and is more comfortable to wear, i really must reward her for this." "Her? Don't you mean..." "I know in my heart what kind of person makes such clothes, it would have been impossible for The Embroidery Department to make me such detailed clothing, so i was really confused as to why you sent it to me in your name? When we both know that you possess sub-par embroidery skills? or maybe it was an oversight on your behalf?" "i…." "Servant, go back to my chambers and send the golden-woven robe to Seo Yeon personally as a gift before escorting her over here along with The Concubine Park!" "So, the other robe wasn't to your taste at all?"
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"Sister-in-law? What are you doing here? And why do you look so pale? Have you been crying? We still have some time before dinner, so I just ordered plum flower cakes from the kitchen…." "Forgive me, but the physician here said that my liver and intestines are bloated, so i should avoid sweets for a while, and it is time for me to take my medicine…."
"I bow in respect for The Young Mistress Seo and The Mistress Nam." "Yes, can we help you?" "The Third Prince bestows this golden-woven robe in exchange for the one that you embroidered for him." "I knew that he would recognise my style of embroidery…very well, i thank him for this..." "My lady, The Concubine Choi has called upon you both ahead of schedule as entertainment..." "Excuse me?" "...to pay homage for your brothel roots along with The Mistress Nam…" "She does, does she?" "Yeon? What on earth..." "Where is The Third Prince?" "He is also waiting for your arrival; you would both personally defy The Concubine Choi's orders…" "Very well, i shall just collect my zither to accompany the singing..." "My Lady, if you are so willing to perform, His highness will surely be pleased to see you both. Please follow me..."
"…Seo Yeon? Why did you bring along the zither?" "Your Highness, i rather thought that a song alone would be monotonous, so i was the one who thought that singing with an instrument would be best...." "You have been troubled Seo Yeon, my apologies." Seo Yeon, Seo Yeon, Seo Yeon, that was all I heard ever since i came into the palace where i was supposed to have a second chance of life with my son! Were we really so inveisible to the entire world! Why? Because of the infamous Seo Yeon! Or was it because i was widowed! Why did my husband have to gain an obsession until death, just like his half-brother who had walked in with The Mistress Han! Why was my life so unfortunate! I had finally risen from the ranks of servant to a main wife with no husband, no wealth, no power and no honour! There wasn't even a single person around us to take an interest in my son at all! How on earth was i going to survive here at al, especially when my brother-in-law had made it clear that Yeon wouldn't be here at all? So why was she here? What was her purpose in the palace in the absence of her brother?
"I do not know what Your Highnesses would like to listen to…" "Well, it looks like the flowers are in full bloom tonight, so you might as well sing a romantic song for us…wait, what are you doing? Mistress Nam, you are hardly showing any emotion at all. It is due to the fact that you have been widowed for almost a year now? You are simply not trying to put me off, are you?" "Your Highness, although this song did not clearly indicate romance directly; but every singe word describes the joy of a woman after the couple proclaimed it's love for each other. And the line of 2 partridges represent a pair of lovers…" Yeon defended me as soon as i felt the tears escape my face, although she had her eyes directly planted at my brother-in-law, who wasn't hesitating to stare at her right back without a single trace of emotion on his face this time. "Or did she sing it without affection in the face of these happy couples here? And she feels unhappy for it?"
"Replying to The Concubine Choi, The Mistress Nam has been feeling unwell since morning, so her voice is n tup to par. she doesn't even sing, so i have no idea why she was called here for entertainment at all…" "well, i simply assumed that she was called into the palace for some unique talent that she possessed that would surpass anyone in my husband's harem, but it seems as though i was mistaken this time. But as to her voice; I find this to be a coincidence since i could have sworn that i heard her singing as she was moving into my palace...." "That was me, Your Highness, I apologise for the confusion…"
"Very well, but since it is still her with a poorly voice, then why don't I treat her to a cup of sweet rose wine to fend off that cold f hers so that she can continue to sing for us?" "But Concubine Choi, when singing; performers cannot consume sweet, greasy or spicy foods and liquids." "But it is my husband who summoned you here; it is fine if you wish to disregard me entirely, but surely you cannot do the same to The Third Prince? So maybe The Mistress Nam should just drink the wine and you keep your much shut?"
"I was just going to suggest that a poem can be accompanied by music, may I give it a try now?" "Seo Yeon...." "Well well, no wonder why Hwi refuses to even step foot in this place where his sister is still constantly subjected to ridicule!" The Young Master Nam finally snapped, instantly changing he atmosphere in the room. At least he precious Seo Yeon had someone to stand up for her, although he really should have said something for me as well instead of watching me be humiliated over and over again tonight.
"Well well, it looks like The Young Mistress Seo is somewhat of a scholar in the palace so have so many followers under her, including the rising star of the palace. Alright, you may be excused for the rest of this dinner then…" "Forgive me Concubine Choi, but i was under the impression that we were all invited here fr dinner? Including The Mistress Nam, whom i could have sworn was promoted by your husband himself? Yet you have been mocking her all night long...do you think that this suggest that you do not hold our husband in high esteem at all?" "What?" "And i would very much like to hear why he has granted Seo Yeon a gold-woven robe? Is there a story behind this? Mistress Nam, you should also stay behind to dine with us since your son has just fallen asleep." "Gold-woven robe? What is this about?" "Concubine Park! Why did you come so late? And why are you bowing so low? What if you slipped up? Please, someone get her a cushion to sit on…" "So i take it that you are pregnant, Concubine Park? Congratulations, it s nice to see somebody pregnant at long last." My brother-in-law obnoxiously stated in front of everyone just as we sat down to eat, still unaware of what Yeon had been through behind his back, and i wasn't about to break that promise now, i really shouldn't...