🌻 A Kingdom Between Us
Yun Yuhua nursed Seo Ju while everyone treated him like a wounded deer. Jinji had left the inn and was nowhere to be seen. Cheng Yi had to report the incident to Lee Jae and explain what happened to clear Seo Ju's interference and keep Joseon from any more threats. He also sent a letter to the Ming Emperor, stating that the diplomat was acting alone for personal greed.
Soon, weeks had gone by. Cheng Yi received a response from the Emperor. He read it and solemnly smiled at the letter. He sat there with the letter in his hand and sighed.
"I'll do it," he whispered to himself. Soon, he wrote a reply. After this, Cheng Yi sought the Joseon King. Lee Jae sat in the garden, staring at the pond. Cheng Yi entered and bowed respectfully.
"By the hands of your people, my nephew has been injured. How do you explain this?" Lee Jae asked sternly. Cheng Yi understood how distant his words could be, but he cared deeply for Seo Ju. Lee Jae then turned to look at Cheng Yi. "Answer!"
"I have sent a letter to His Majesty the Emperor. He commands our return with urgency. However, the matter regarding the disappearance of the Crown Princess remains unresolved. His Majesty grants Your Majesty time to ascertain the truth before he is compelled to take greater measures. As for His Highness the Crown Prince, I am deeply moved by his valor. If Your Majesty truly holds him dear, I humbly ask that you look within your own court to seek the true threat— for it is not we who endanger him." Cheng Yi stated. Lee Jae glared at Cheng Yi, understanding that he implied Seo Ju's safety had been jeopardized in Joseon. Cheng Yi smiled faintly, as if recalling something sorrowful. Then he added, "Although you may know more about what he does, have you ever asked him how he felt? A Crown Prince like him staying at his late Crown Princess' hometown since her passing speaks volumes."
Lee Jae stared at Cheng Yi, speechless, as the weight of his words hung in the air. After a long moment, he exhaled slowly, as if releasing a burden, and waved his hand dismissively.
"Go. There is nothing more to say," Lee Jae murmured, his voice heavy with something between resignation and frustration. Cheng Yi bowed deeply, his face unreadable, and turned to leave. As Cheng Yi exited the palace, his footsteps were swift, almost as if he had a sense of urgency. He made his way to his lodging, the stillness of the palace suddenly feeling oppressive. Meanwhile, inside, Lee Jae dropped the documents in his hands, groaning softly, and massaged his temple, the weight of the conversation lingering.
"Find out where the Crown Prince is," Lee Jae ordered, his tone sharp but resigned. The Head Eunuch, who had been silently observing, gave a quick bow before leaving.
Cheng Yi swung onto his horse without hesitation, urgency sharpening his focus. He drove the animal hard, the road to Gaeseong blurring past. By late afternoon, he reached the inn where Yun Yuhua was staying. He dismounted, drawing a steadying breath as the weight of the coming conversation settled on him. Before he could gather his thoughts, Qian'ai burst out, a familiar, bright smile breaking through the tension.
"Hey, Cheng Yi!" Qian'ai smiled. Cheng Yi smiled and entered the inn. Behind them, a shadow lurked in secret, watching closely.
"I have something to say to everyone," Cheng Yi stated. Qian'ai nodded as he went to grab Tian Ke and Yun Yuhua. Seo Ju stepped forward as well. Cheng Yi looked at everyone, and then at Seo Ju.
"What is it?" Tian Ke asked curiously. Cheng Yi smiled at everyone.
"I'll be returning to Huangcheng soon… His Majesty the Emperor has called upon me to retreat," Cheng Yi replied. The trio's bright faces turned sad.
"Oh, soon?" Qian'ai asked. Cheng Yi nodded.
"As soon as I'm done reporting to His Majesty here," he replied. The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of goodbye already pressing down.
"He could be so heartless," Yun Yuhua murmured softly. Seo Ju was taken aback by her words. Did they know the Ming Emperor? How could they? Her expression shifted into a pout, and Seo Ju couldn't help but chuckle at how carelessly she spoke sometimes. She glared at him, irritated that he was laughing without cause. Realizing she may have spoken too loudly, she flushed with embarrassment.
"That's too bad," Qian'ai commented, his tone more playful than anything. Tian Ke sighed but smiled, offering a comforting presence.
"Well, even if he's leaving, we'll see him again," Tian Ke said, his words light but with an undercurrent of warmth. The mood in the room softened as the weight of the sudden departure began to settle in.
"Promise you'll write to us, Cheng Yi!" Qian'ai added, his voice earnest and warm.
Yun Yuhua nodded sincerely. "We will meet again, I know it."
Cheng Yi smiled gently at the three of them. "A family is where home will be," he said softly.
"Always," Tian Ke replied, finishing the sentiment.
Seo Ju stood quietly, watching the others bade farewell, their cups filled with alcohol. Yun Yuhua, as gentle as always, helped clear the bottles. They lingered late into the night, sharing words, hoping for the day when they could meet again. A shadow watched Yun Yuhua closely outside the inn as Seo Ju approached her.
"Yun Yuhua," Seo Ju said softly, his voice carrying the weight of the hour. "You should rest. It's getting late."
Yun Yuhua smiled faintly, her eyes lingering on the others. "Cheng Yi will be leaving soon. I don't wish to miss even a moment now," she answered, her tone a quiet mixture of longing and resolve.
Seo Ju's lips curled into a gentle smile as he looked at her. "Then I will take care of things here. You should go and speak with him before he leaves."
Her cheeks flushed with his words. "You need not trouble yourself. You should rest. It's late for you as well," she said, her voice firm as she gently pushed his hands away.
Seo Ju chuckled, a lightness in his tone. "I've rested enough," he teased with a playful glint in his eyes.
"More rest would be good for you. You'll heal faster," she replied, her face serious.
He laughed, his amusement clear. "Your injury was far worse than mine. You should still be resting, Yun Yuhua."
She pouted, feeling caught between her thoughts and his teasing. Unable to find the proper response, she simply fell silent. Seo Ju's lips curved into a soft smile as he watched her reaction, gently taking the bottles from her hands.
The warmth of the inn contrasted sharply with the cold stillness of the Joseon palace. In the quiet palace, a shadow lingered, unsettling in its quiet presence. A step had crossed the threshold of a sacred space—where only royalty's feet were meant to tread. There, the uncovered portrait of the missing Crown Princess loomed, frozen in time. Hae-ju's face, graceful and captivating, smiled serenely from the canvas.
The shadow, unseen and silent, approached the portrait, his lips curving into a twisted smile. "If this woman truly is your descendant, she must be of Joseon royal blood... If His Highness and His Majesty should fall, the throne would pass to you... And should you marry me, the throne shall also be mine."
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The morning sun shone brightly, yet all of them awoke with the heavy weight of hangover headaches. Yun Yuhua, ever the considerate one, had already prepared their remedy. As she moved around, each of them groaned, and she smiled at them warmly.
"Good morning," she said softly. The others couldn't help but laugh, seeing the brightness in her smile, despite their discomfort.
"Where has Seo Ju gone?" Tian Ke asked, rubbing his temples. Yun Yuhua gave a nonchalant shrug, her eyes flickering with something unknown.
"He left early to attend to some matter," she replied. Tian Ke regarded her with a gentle smile before reaching over to pat her head.
"Do not fret," he teased lightly. "He will return soon enough to see you."
At his words, Yun Yuhua's face darkened, and she quickly turned away, her steps quickening.
"I am not waiting for him," she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. Tian Ke chuckled softly at her retreating figure. Beside them, Qian'ai and Cheng Yi sat silently, exchanging only a glance before the former sighed in exasperation.
"Have you thought of confessing to her?" Qian'ai asked softly, his voice threading through the heavy silence like a lifeline. Cheng Yi paused, his gaze drifting toward the distant sky, a small, wistful smile tugging at his lips.
"I have..." he said, voice thinning into the air, weighed down by a sadness he couldn't hide.
Qian'ai stepped closer, catching the falter in his tone. "But...?"
Cheng Yi hesitated, the truth thick on his tongue.
"I thought she'd be happier without me," he said at last, each word a quiet wound. "By the time I realized... it was too late. I should've spoken sooner."
A shadow crossed Qian'ai's face—frustration, sorrow, and something deeper. He rested a hand firmly on Cheng Yi's shoulder, anchoring him.
"You deserve someone who sees you for all that you are," he said, voice steady, carrying the kind of understanding only someone scarred could give. Cheng Yi offered a faint smile, hollow around the edges.
"I think not..." he murmured, the resignation in him too old, too familiar. "I've already accepted His Majesty's request."
Qian'ai's eyes widened, the unspoken weight of those words sinking between them. "Cheng Yi…"
Cheng Yi breathed out, a sigh like a closing door.
"She loves someone else. And he loves her back. Their bond... it's stronger than anything I could ever offer." His voice didn't waver, but the ache inside him bled through. Qian'ai's expression softened, empathy blooming raw and real.
"I know," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "It's hard not to see." He squeezed Cheng Yi's shoulder gently, grounding him. "But you're right. She deserves her happiness. And even if you're far away, you'll still be there for her. You always will."
Cheng Yi lowered his gaze, a quiet, unshakable resolve settling over him.
"I will. Her happiness is all that matters." His words were steady, but the hurt lingered, deep and unspoken. "Things were never meant to be... and I've made peace with it."
Qian'ai looked at him for a long moment—truly saw him—the loneliness, the sacrifices, the quiet strength. Then, with a voice roughened by emotion he rarely showed, he spoke, "You'll always be my older brother. Just like Tian Ke. Dage."
The word struck deep, carving warmth into the cracks of Cheng Yi's battered heart. He blinked once, the ache folding into something gentler.
"Didi," he said, the bond between them unbreakable, forged by everything they had lost and everything they still stood for.
Tian Ke, as always, had prepared a small package of food and snacks for Cheng Yi—a quiet gesture of kindness that spoke volumes. Cheng Yi offered his farewells, his voice steady, but his words had an unspoken weight. As he turned to leave, Seo Ju appeared unexpectedly, exchanging a meaningful yet straightforward farewell with the Ming envoy.
Cheng Yi mounted his horse, not looking back, urging it forward with a single firm motion. But as the distance between them grew, a soft, bittersweet smile curled at his lips—a fleeting expression that spoke of both resolve and sorrow.
His heart, quiet yet steadfast, whispered to the wind, "I hope you make her happy, Seo Ju. I trust you will. You're the one she needs." He paused, his fingers gripping the reins with a steady resolve. "Yun Yuhua… I never dared to tell you how I feel. But now, I realize you've become my dear little sister. I'll protect you, even from afar. And when the time comes for me to marry, I'll make sure the woman I choose is happy. That is my vow."
Cheng Yi glanced ahead, the horizon stretching before him—a vast expanse of possibility, clear yet burdened with the weight of his promise. With one final, quiet breath, he urged his horse forward, leaving the past behind him, his heart at peace, but still holding on to the future he had vowed to fulfill.