Chapter 106: Battle to Seize the Vice General Part 4

It was a significant turning point when headmaid Seol Ran ran out of the Crown Prince’s palace amidst the fierce battle for the Vice General position centered around the inner palace.

The reason was simple.

No matter what anyone said, Seol Tae Pyeong was completely devoted to his sister Seol Ran’s words.

The deep bond between the siblings of the Huayongseol clan was already well-known among the mistresses of the Four Great Palaces.

Anyone who dared to mess with Seol Ran would inevitably face the wrath of Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong. Even Ha Gang Seok, the head of the powerful Inbong clan, could not escape this truth. If even the head of an influential clan could be grabbed by the collar without a second thought, how could the various officials inside the palace be any different?

Once it was instilled, that fear did not easily fade.

At some point, under Seol Tae Pyeong’s protection, Seol Ran had become a figure who couldn’t be carelessly touched by anyone but the highest-ranking officials.

“Headmaid Seol Ran sent a letter saying she wishes to work at the Heavenly Dragon Hall.”

When Lee Ryeong, the headmaid of the Heavenly Dragon Hall, reported this, the ears of the Azure Princess who was sitting on the porch perked up.

“Maid… Seol?”

The location was the Azure Dragon Palace.

It was quite unusual for the headmaid of the Heavenly Dragon Hall to be coming and going from the Azure Dragon Palace, but considering that the Azure Princess was effectively the designated next mistress of the Heavenly Dragon Hall, it wasn’t all that strange.

By the end of the month, after the final meeting, the Azure Princess would officially ascend as the Heavenly Maiden.

Once that happened, she would formally have the Vice General under her command, so as long as nothing unexpected happened before then, everything would proceed smoothly.

However, it wasn’t likely that the other crown princess consorts would sit idly by, which made this a complicated time for the Azure Princess.

She was in a defensive position, not one where she could actively attack, which made it difficult to take the initiative on anything.

With something sure to happen at the next meeting, it was crucial for her to stay composed during this critical period.

In the midst of this, it felt like a pumpkin had rolled in on its own.

“Yes. She’s a maid who has worked at the Heavenly Dragon Hall since her days as an apprentice maid, but as you know, she has left before, so I am hesitant to bring her back. However, since she worked as a headmaid, she’s a highly skilled worker, and her experience at the Heavenly Dragon Hall could actually be beneficial, so I’m considering…”

“There’s nothing to consider! Just… just bring her in, no matter what!”

The Jeongseon and Inbong clans were already plotting inside and outside to snatch the Vice General away.

It would be ideal if the Vice General stayed at the Heavenly Dragon Hall, but if there were another pressing reason, it wouldn’t be surprising if he left at any time.

The situation was that she only needed to keep the Vice General until the meeting at the end of this month. Bringing Seol Ran into the Heavenly Dragon Hall meant gaining an incredibly powerful weapon in her hands.

“Azure Princess. All maids brought into the Heavenly Dragon Hall must be thoroughly…”

“Didn’t you say she already has experience working at the Heavenly Dragon Hall? She will surely adapt well and do her job. When Maid Seol arrives, treat her with the utmost care and place her in the most important position possible.”

“Y-Yes, I will do so…”

Before the Azure Princess enters the Heavenly Dragon Hall, cleanses her body, and starts her duties as the Heavenly Maiden, the environment has to be well prepared.

Currently, the most important task for Headmaid Lee Ryeong was to adjust the environment of the Heavenly Dragon Hall according to the Azure Princess’s requests.

In other words, if she said so, then it had to be done.

***

There is a saying: “Nothing is spicier than a sister-in-law.”

Strangely enough, even considering Seol Ran’s position as a senior maid, her status had risen beyond expectations.

Those who did not know much about the people in the palace only heard of Seol Ran through rumors, so they often thought that she was just a person who lived off her capable younger brother.

However, the maids who had worked under Seol Ran during her time as a headmaid in the Crown Prince’s Palace already knew well.

Though she seemed lively and innocent, almost like a naive person ignorant of the ways of the world, whenever there was a crisis or a task to be solved, she was the one whose eyes sharpened more than anyone else’s.

Because she had risen from the lowest rank, she was well-versed in practical matters and personally knew many high officials around her, so she also understood how affairs at the top were conducted.

Without even realizing it, she had become a capable and competent figure who excelled in many areas.

To conquer Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong, one had to first win over his sister, Seol Ran.

This was because, even if Seol Tae Pyeong was in the palm of one’s hand, he would refuse if his sister Seol Ran shook her head.

“It is a great honor to have a private meeting with Headmaid Lee Ryeong, who has been in charge of the Heavenly Dragon Hall for such a long time….”

“That’s not it. Um… First, why don’t you put your luggage in your private room?”

“Yes, yes….”

Seol Ran had returned to Heavenly Dragon Hall.

She, who had once been a junior maid, had returned as a high senior maid favored by the Crown Prince.

For Headmaid Lee Ryeong, it was truly an emotional moment to see the maid whose face she could barely remember return as a high senior maid—one of the few within the palace.

However, what was even more amazing was that the moment Seol Ran entered the inner palace, she was showered with a barrage of gifts.

From the time she first set foot in the inner palace and headed to Heavenly Dragon Hall, Seol Ran’s luggage which had initially consisted of just one bundle had grown to the size of an entire cart.

Azure Dragon Palace, Vermilion Bird Palace, Black Tortoise Palace, White Tiger Palace.

Each of the four palaces had sent all kinds of treasures. Be it jewelry, silk, gems, ornaments, money, or various fabrics.

It’s as if it’s not just a senior maid coming to Heavenly Dragon Hall, but a new mistress of the four palaces arriving….

Headmaid Lee Ryeong could only be dumbfounded as she looked at the huge pile of gifts.

She never thought she would live to see the day when the mistresses of the Four Palaces would be mindful of a maid.

No matter what anyone said, Seol Ran was a treasure that Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong cherished more than his own life.

She might not be someone fit to keep under my command.

Lee Ryeong swallowed her bitterness inwardly.

It might be good for a senior maid under her to have a high reputation, but if that attention came from the mistresses of the Four Palaces, it was an entirely different story.

It was best for those under one’s command to be easy to handle.

When someone received such favor from high officials, they were not only difficult to manage but often became arrogant or tried to assert themselves as equals.

Before even judging whether this was good or bad, it was simply human nature.

The influence of one’s environment and circumstances was unimaginably powerful, sometimes even blurring the essence of a person.

How many people placed in such a situation wouldn’t develop heightened self-esteem and start thinking of themselves as being on a higher level?

In the end, from the standpoint of Headmaid Lee Ryeong who had to manage such a person, it was inevitable that it would become a headache.

“Hmm!”

However, one should not judge someone like Seol Ran recklessly.

She was the protagonist of this entire story, a woman born with an extraordinary disposition.

Seol Ran who was dressed in the high senior maid uniform of the Heavenly Dragon Hall rolled up her sleeves and shouted with great determination.

There was a little less than a month before the Azure Princess would enter the Heavenly Dragon Hall as the new Heavenly Maiden.

It was a time when many preparations had to be made to ensure that the new Heavenly Maiden would not feel uncomfortable in her new environment.

Watching Seol Ran let this crucial time slip by, Lee Ryeong could only click her tongue in disapproval.

The first thing Seol Ran did was to gather the maids of the Heavenly Dragon Hall and teach them the practical tasks one by one all over again.

“When cleaning the hallway, make sure to bring both a cloth dampened with warm water and a dry one! When wiping stained areas, don’t just scrub with all your strength. Sometimes, it’s more effective to apply heat and gently sweep over the spot like this!”

“When you wake up in the morning, soak the dishes in water right away! And since you’re already up early, it’s also a good idea to prepare the vegetables you’ll use that day in advance! An Hwa! If you slice the radish diagonally like that, it’ll be too thin and lose its texture! Han Jin! You need to keep sharp utensils separated and handle them with care!”

“Here! Like this! When hanging laundry, shake it out from the inside to the outside! Now, follow along! If you handle it properly while it’s still damp, it’ll be much easier to iron later!”

A high senior maid was a highly skilled worker whose name was known by the personnel managers of the Inner Palace.

But most of them, rather than working hard on the actual work, focused mainly on managing the lower-ranked maids and court ladies. They enforced discipline and instilled regulations among them.

In short, they were the ones who dressed in refined maid uniforms and carried themselves with an air of authority.

However, one morning when Headmaid Lee Ryeong had dressed neatly and stepped outside the Heavenly Dragon Hall… she found Seol Ran on the roof, with her sleeves rolled up, cleaning the beams with a few maids.

“Ma-Maid Seol … what on earth are you doing right now…?”

“Oh! Headmaid! It seems the dust has accumulated too much on the beams due to their age, so we were taking care of it!”

She settled back down on the floor with the help of the maids, but she was covered in dust.

Even her high senior maid uniform, which cost more than most officials’ uniform, looked shabby when it was covered in dust.

While having a good grasp of practical work was certainly an advantage, for someone of her rank, roaming around in such a disheveled state could undermine her authority.

Being enthusiastic and diligent in everything was not always a good thing.

Once you rose to a position that required authority, there were times when you needed to uphold a certain dignity.

How could someone holding the title of a high senior maid be rolling up her sleeves, carrying rags, and cleaning things herself?

While it might set a good example for the other maids, it was a disqualifying trait for someone meant to lead the group.

“The chili peppers, cabbages, carrots, pumpkins, and spinach that arrived this month were in very poor condition. There seems to be a problem with the palace’s logistics, and if such problems arise, you need to inform me in advance. The meals at the Heavenly Dragon Hall must always be maintained at the highest standard, and if issues arise due to external factors, it creates serious difficulties.”

However, that side of her only seemed to show when dealing with internal matters of the Heavenly Dragon Hall.

When she had to deal with external officials, she would tidy up her immaculate high senior maid uniform, stand tall with her head held high, and say everything that needed to be said.

“I heard that a senior official of the Ministry of Personnel got drunk and fell asleep against the wall of the harem, where he was found and treated by a military officer from Red Palace. It is a serious problem that such a drunken person would go near the harem, a place for women, and that a Cheongdo Palace official would be so drunk that he couldn’t tell the difference between inside and outside and would behave disgracefully. You must formally take disciplinary action and make sure that the Heavenly Dragon Hall is properly informed. The Heavenly Dragon Hall will not overlook this matter.

“I heard that the ceremonial officer raised an issue with the rituals presided over by the Heavenly Dragon Hall, but this is not a simple matter. The arrangement of tea sets discussed in the proper ritual etiquette rules applies exclusively to the main palace, whereas the Heavenly Dragon Hall follows the Ceremony of Peace established by the first consort. Since the Ceremony of Peace does not regulate tea ceremony etiquette, conducting rituals in a way that is more convenient for practical purposes does not violate ceremonial rules. I urge the ceremonial officer to reconsider before submitting a proposal to the council.”

Even when conflicts arose with external departments, she would assert the Heavenly Dragon Hall’s stance firmly as its representative.

She knew when to uphold her authority and when to actively engage in practical work, so much so that it was almost hard to believe it was the same person.

“……..”

Headmaid Lee Ryeong had no choice but to admit it by now.

She’s… really good at her job….

She was a person without any flaws.

***

“What is… this is scary… how can she be this good….”

It had been over ten days since Seol Ran had started coming over to the Hwalseong District.

Most of the time, she stayed in the Heavenly Dragon Hall but she occasionally came to the Hwalseong District to check on my condition before quickly returning to her work.

The work in the Heavenly Dragon Hall couldn’t have been easy, yet she managed everything meticulously. This only went to show that she was no ordinary person.

Yeon Ri, who witnessed her efforts, couldn’t help but be impressed.

“…Weren’t you the one who said with your own mouth that Ran-noonim was an extraordinary person?”

“Well… that was when she first found a reason to truly pursue becoming the Heavenly Maiden… I didn’t know she would already have such influence inside and outside the palace… She’s still far from awakening her full power… I’ve never seen anything like this….”

Although Seol Ran moving to the Heavenly Dragon Hall had gone according to Yeon Ri’s plan, she was developing her talents even faster than Yeon Ri had anticipated. Not that it was a bad thing; it was just that she moved differently than expected.

“It really feels like all the attention of the inner palace is turning toward Maid Seol. The crown princess consorts of the four palaces must realize it too. They know that if they don’t win over Maid Seol, then Tae Pyeong won’t give them a second glance either.”

Thinking about it, she wasn’t wrong.

Whoever it was, if Ran-noonim lay down and opposed it even if it meant getting dirt in her eyes, I had no intention of pushing it through either.

They say the gaze of a sister-in-law is sharper than the chill of midwinter.

Only those who pass Seol Ran’s rigorous examination can take the Vice General as their own. The crown princess consorts must steel their hearts.

Thanks to this, the burden on my shoulders had eased considerably. After all, everyone’s attention was now on Seol Ran.

Conditions had been set for me to focus on the work in the Hwalseong District, and the workload itself had decreased significantly.

But as if the world were turning on its head,

A mere court lady was now in a position to judge the mistresses of the Four Palaces.

Seriously… is this even right?

Where have the rules of Cheongdo Palace gone…?

“Well… everyone knows about the bond between the Seol siblings by now. It’s obvious that Tae Pyeong won’t get involved with someone who doesn’t meet Maid Seol’s standards, and if she finds your match unsatisfactory, you’ll oppose it with all your might… that’s a given.”

If you want to win Seol Tae Pyeong, you must catch Seol Ran’s eye.

If you want to win Seol Ran, you must catch Seol Tae Pyeong’s eye.

This strange mutual dependence isn’t really all that unusual.

Even today, countless men of marriageable age are bowing their heads before their prospective fathers-in-law and begging for their daughters’ hands in marriage.

A family member judging if the relationship is right or wrong has always been a timeless phenomenon.

And Seol Ran had often received special treatment like this since her childhood.

She was even kidnapped by the Azure Dragon Palace once and showered with gifts.

Looking back now, it wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

Right.

Since Seol Ran had taken the lead, she would somehow manage to handle the situation well.

Thinking of my dependable sister, I decided to ease my mind.

After all, confident Seol Ran had said she would take care of it herself, so for now, it was fine to consider it someone else’s problem.

What kind of person was Seol Ran?

She was the special maid favored by the Crown Prince, the beauty who had won the heart of the Cold Warrior Commander of the Red Palace, the future Heavenly Maiden trusted by the great Taoist Master An Cheon, and a competent maid who had attracted the attention of countless high-ranking positions.

If it was her… I could trust her.

Yes. Now that it had come to this, things felt a lot easier.

………

…….

….

“…Tae Pyeong-ah.”

The next morning arrived.

A letter had been sent to the Hwalseong District from an entirely unexpected place.

In this absurd situation where the crown princess consorts of the four great palaces were trying to catch Seol Ran’s eye.

If such a thing could happen, it was clear that the opposite could also occur.

“A letter… came from the Crown Prince’s Palace….”

“…What… did it say….”

“His Highness, Crown Prince Hyeon Won… Wants to have a drink….”

“…….”

“…….”

How dare you go somewhere so easily.

It felt as if the god of fate was shouting those words at me.