Chapter 25: The Black Princess Part 4

Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong, hear this.

I have heard from the court officials about your deviation; disregarding the rules of the inner court by leaving the palace grounds is a transgression that cannot simply be overlooked.

…..

….

…

..

However, I also understand your situation with great magnanimity that you have just arrived at the Black Tortoise Palace and were yet to fully understand both the external and internal circumstances, so I am inclined to show leniency. The testimonies suggest that there was no malicious intent on your part, so I will take your situation into account this one last time.

However, view this not so much as mercy but as a warning.

The fact remains that you have greatly disrupted the laws of the inner court. I urge you to deeply regret this wrongdoing and, as the mistress of the Black Tortoise Palace, to reflect upon yourself and act with more prudence.

———————————==

The seal of Crown Prince Hyeon Won was stamped on it but the elegant handwriting meant that a court scribe had written it on his behalf.

Crown Prince Hyeon Won had little interest in the affairs of the inner palace to begin with. Headmaid An Rim knew this, but still, she could not relax because she did not know how the affairs of the state would proceed.

Waiting for the prince’s decree over three anxious days felt like it had halved her lifespan. Yet, when she finally read the document, its message was straightforward.

You are forgiven this time. Repeat it, and you die.

Although Crown Prince Hyeon Won had no real interest, the elegant writing of the court scribe made it appear as if he had generously understood the Black Princess with great leniency. It was an event so gracious that bowing three times a day towards the main palace seemed scarcely enough to express her gratitude.

“……..”

As a result, all the maids of the Black Tortoise Palace breathed sighs of relief but the Black Princess herself still wore a somber expression on her face.

As she combed the princess consort’s lustrous hair in the inner chambers of the Black Tortoise palace, Headmaid An Rim spoke to her.

“Black Princess, You don’t look good.”

“…No, it’s nothing. Just some fleeting thoughts.”

Seeing the dejected Black Princess made Headmaid An Rim herself feel heavy-hearted.

The next tea gathering was to be held at the Black Tortoise Palace.

It was important that everything be perfect for the Black Princess’s first public appearance among the mistresses of the Four Palaces.

However, considering the complex situation of the Black Tortoise Palace both internally and externally, there hadn’t been much time to prepare.

While the maids from the Vermilion Bird Palace, Azure Dragon Palace, and White Tiger Palace were showcasing their skills and beautifully decorating for the tea gathering, the maids of the Black Tortoise Palace had not had the time to worry about such preparations.

With the tea gathering preparations pressing and her duty to assist the Black Princess, An Rim was incredibly busy as well.

“I have a little worry.”

The subdued Black Princess Pohwa said while looking down.

An Rim’s heart was very heavy.

When An Rim first met the Black princess who would become her mistress, she thought that she was a very cheerful girl.

Her brightness and liveliness were like spring flowers blooming, and every natural gesture she made was alive, as if she was watching a dancer in every moment.

The girl was like a camellia blooming among wildflowers. Even though she was an orphan from heaven, a commoner, and although she lived without knowing the elegance of the palace, she had a dignity that seemed to have been given to her from heaven.

Her greenish hair matched every flower-shaped hairpin, making her seem like the earth that accepts all beautiful wildflowers and enhances their beauty. An Rim concluded then that she truly belonged in the Black Tortoise Palace.

“Because of me, someone was imprisoned.”

Moved by such a vision of the Black princess, An Rim could not help but worry about her subdued appearance.

“Are you talking about the warrior from White Immortal Palace?”

“Yes. He was merely swayed by my influence, yet he is now imprisoned and paying the price for his actions.”

“……..”

“Tell me, An Rim. What punishment will that man receive?”

“That is for the high officials to decide, so it’s hard to say.”

The Black princess recalled what Seol Tae Pyeong had told her.

There were many mitigating factors that could reduce his sentence, and if the Black princess actively intervened, it might just end with a corporal punishment.

“…. Is corporal punishment considered very bad?”

“It depends on the severity of the punishment. However, it is generally known that it involves flogging until the skin on the buttocks is torn.”

“Wh-What…?”

The Black princess had thought corporal punishment was merely a matter of being flogged a bit. However, the punishments for breaking the palace’s laws were not to be taken lightly.

“Normally, even a healthy man can lie prone for ten days and not be able to do anything, and if the punishment is severe enough, some may die from bleeding.”

“Is, is that really true…?”

“In the case of young servants, there are quite a few deaths.”

“I thought it was simply a matter of being beaten…”

Seol Tae Pyeong had said it would be nothing serious.

Since that man had said so, she had thought it wasn’t a serious matter but that was not actually the case.

…To tell the truth, Seol Tae Pyeong was naturally strong and could endure such punishments with ease. His recovery was remarkably quick as well and he would be relatively fine after lying down for just a couple of days.

But the Black Princess had no way of knowing such details.

“If it’s worse than corporal punishment, what happens?”

“…I don’t know.”

“.…..”

The Black Princess bowed her head deeply and shut her eyes tightly.

It was unbearable to simply watch as someone suffer so terribly just because they followed her whims. She had to do something.

Besides, how much trouble did Seol Tae Pyeong endure because of her? He had spent a month searching for her, and after breaking away from his unit, he had guarded and helped the Black Princess for over ten days. Each of those moments must have been a threat to him.

One must never forget the kindness they have received. He said that he would be okay with being flogged, but even such punishment could easily lead to death from the pain. She couldn’t just stand by idly.

“An Rim.”

“Yes, Black Princess.”

“It seems I always cause you trouble and worry. Could you, perhaps for the last time, help me once more?”

“…….”

An Rim felt uneasy.

However, it was not the place of a Headmaid to refuse a request from her mistress.

“What, what would you like me to do?”

“I must send letters to all the special unit members to apologize for my misconduct. Also, I need to plead for a petition for leniency for Seol Tae Pyeong.”

“Black Princess, it is not proper for the mistress of the Black Palace to send official letters to mere warriors, or to beg in such a manner. There are laws for the inner palace.”

“Then what should I do?”

“That is…”

An Rim was momentarily consumed by worry. However, she felt a spark of life return to the eyes of the Black Princess.

At last, she sensed a bit of the vigor she had seen in her mistress at first, and despite a deep sigh, An Rim ended up suggesting an alternative option.

“Since the palaces are currently scattered, it would be best to send letters to the person in charge of each palace. It would be more appropriate to explain the situation than to beg. That might convince some of them. However, it would be too inconvenient for you to do it directly, so I will write them properly for you.”

“That sounds good. Thank you, An Rim. Is there anyone else who might be able to help Seol Tae Pyeong?”

“Well, he is affiliated with the White Immortal Palace, so perhaps speaking directly to White Immortal might yield some solution.”

“Who is the White Immortal?”

“He is a Taoist priest responsible for matters related to Taoist magic in the palace. He receives treatment equivalent to that of a high official of the third rank or higher and performs irreplaceable duties. Since he was also a close companion of the previous emperor, even the highest officials cannot treat him lightly.”

“Yes, I understand. I must personally go to the White Immortal Palace and explain the situation then.”

“…Huh?”

The Black Princess pursed her lips tightly and stood up. It was a signal for them to leave.

There were many preparations the maids needed to make if a consort was to leave her palace. The Black Princess who didn’t know this felt an urge to dash off immediately, but due to the need to adhere to protocol, she had to wait a bit.

“Just a moment… I will inform the maids.”

“Yes. Is there anyone else I could mobilize to help?”

There were plenty to choose from.

Po Hwa Ryeong was still new to her role as Black Princess and had yet to fully grasp the power her position held.

If one could gain favor in the eyes of the mistress of the Black Palace, they would be willing to give their all as slaves to power, and one could find such people through the proper channels.

However, using just anyone could lead to repercussions; it was a common risk that came with power. Not to mention that it wasn’t easy to find people who could influence the council meeting.

“Soon enough, there will be a tea gathering.”

“Ah, yes… That’s right…”

“Then I must humble myself and ask the other consorts for help.”

“What? Oh, no, you shouldn’t.”

An Rim was taken aback and quickly shook her head.

Though the consorts of the Four Great Palaces were supposed to nurture beautiful relationships through mutual consideration and benevolent competition, as time passed, various conflicts would naturally arise and they would end up gnashing their teeth at each other.

You should never do anything that encourages your opponent.

Even though the consorts seemed to be noble women who always maintained elegance at tea gatherings, it was impossible to know what their underlying thoughts were. One should not be carelessly indebted to such people.

“That could become a significant debt that might later return to haunt the Black Princess. Besides, it’s unlikely that the other consorts will step forward to help such a man who lacks a strong backing.”

“You won’t know until you try, will you?”

The sight of her jumping up from her seat with determination igniting like a fire made her feel like she was indeed that old mistress she knew.

“That man must be suffering day by day in prison. Yet, if I, who lives in comfort at Black Tortoise Palace, am unwilling to endure even that discomfort…”

“…….”

“…that would be too shameful for me.”

Before the council meeting, it wasn’t hard to imagine the agonizing days Seol Tae Pyeong spent in the prison of the Red Palace.

The Black Princess swallowed her sorrow, clenched her fists tightly, and said,

“Even if it’s too hard and painful… just hold on a little longer… I… I will try as hard as I can…!”

***

“Aaaaah, I’m full…”

After setting down my bowl, I let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the wall.

The underground dungeon of the Red Palace had become considerably more comfortable than when I had first arrived.

A freshly laundered cotton blanket was laid out in one corner, and there were bags full of dried sweet potatoes, steamed potatoes, and other snacks to nibble on.

I managed to get enough food for three meals a day and although it was inconvenient not to be able to move my arms freely because of the shackles, I was able to bear it somehow.

They don’t make you do any extra work and it’s not too cold or too hot on a spring day like this… and there don’t seem to be any bugs or anything like that.

I sat quietly and read a book, wrote a few poems, and did some physical training by kicking around on my own. Anyway, I had a lot of free time so it was relaxing.

“…….”

To be honest, it hadn’t been this pleasant from the start. Such comforts are not usually extended to someone under suspicion.

To explain how things came to be this way, I would have to go back three days ago.

On the first day of my imprisonment, Jang Rae came to persuade me.

“The council meeting will be held soon. Your case will be discussed there, and Vice General Jeong Seo Tae has mentioned he might be able to lessen your sentence.”

“Is that so? That would be a great favor…”

“However, there is no favor without a price in this world. In return, you are to enter the Red Palace once you leave the White Immortal Palace.”

Indeed, he once said how there was a lack of talent in the Red Palace. It was typical of Jeong Seo Tae to scoop up anyone with a bit of skill with a sword.

“It’s an offer that should pose no harm to you. What do you think?”

“I don’t know when I will be able to leave the White Immortal Palace though.”

“It doesn’t matter. If you never leave the Cheongdo Palace, as long as we can take you to the Red Palace eventually, it’s all the same.”

Yet as I pondered what would happen if I just lingered in the White Immortal Palace forever… I couldn’t help but feel that there was a significant amount of consideration in their proposal.

“Does he know that I wish to remain in the White Immortal Palace?”

“I mentioned that.”

“You did, Jang Rae-nim?”

“You are still young after all, so there’s no need to rush into the Red Palace. However, it would indeed be a waste to let your sword skills go unused, so eventually, you’ll have to become a warrior of the Red Palace and dedicate yourself to the service of the Cheongdo Empire.”

The persuasion from Jang Rae was certainly appealing.

If I were protected by Vice General Jeong Seo Tae, who was one of the three most powerful people in the palace, even the high officials of the council would have to listen to his words a little.

However, there was no need to firmly decide my future course in such a manner.

“That’s alright. It would be a greater disloyalty for the Vice General to bother making insincere statements just for the sake of a third-rate warrior like me.”

Although I had framed my refusal as a compliment, it essentially conveyed that his offer was unnecessary.

“Do you have another plan in mind?”

“More than that… perhaps someone else might advocate for my mercy? Someone with as much authority as Vice General Jeong Seo Tae?”

“You seem oddly hopeful in this matter.”

“The position of Vice General isn’t leisurely enough to warrant worrying about someone like me. It would be inappropriate to bother a person who should be pursuing greater goals. That is my loyalty.

“Your mouth is always afloat, even if you were thrown into the water.”

Though he spoke in such a way, his lips curled into a smile.

“Well, I expected you to refuse. My concern was that if I gave you an opening, you might end up trapped in the Red Palace and unable to take care of the White Immortal Palace.”

“……..”

“However, remember that this conversation can be reopened at any time before the council meeting begins.”

After neatly summarizing the conversation, he quickly exited the prison.

He seemed quite at ease as if he believed I could change my mind at any time.

However, he returned the next day.

But for a different reason.

“Oh my… Tae Pyeong-ah… What happened… Ah, your… your arm, let me see…! Oh, look at this wound… It’s going to fester… Here, I’ve brought some medicine and cotton. I tried to bring some disinfectant too, but they wouldn’t give it to me… I’ll steal some if I have to, but for now, hang in there with this…”

Seol Ran wailed dramatically in front of the bars.

Her behavior was so over the top, it looked like she was a hysterical parent who had sent her child to jail, and it wouldn’t be surprising if someone told her to stop making a fuss.

“Oh my! Look at you! You’ve gotten so thin! What in the world happened, Tae Pyeong-ah… Your face has practically halved…”

But the food had been good afterward, and I seemed to have gained a little weight… But I chose not to mention this fact.

“Oh my… Warrior Commander-nim… How could this happen… Oh my…”

Seol Ran lamented while pounding the floor.

Jang Rae was standing next to her and carrying on with various bundles. Apparently, he felt sorry for Seol Ran who was struggling to carry everything by herself and was helping her.

The pallor of his face showed the emptiness in his heart though… It seemed like he was experiencing what they call a “moment of wisdom”.

(TN: a moment of wisdom or wise man’s time. It basically means the moment directly after rubbing one off where there is a moment of regret and deep reflection. lol.)

“Oh, Tae Pyeong-ah… eat something first… Here, take this… I’ve brought some dried sweet potatoes and mackerel… Are you getting decent meals? I couldn’t bear thinking you might not be eating vegetables, so I hurriedly gathered whatever greens I could… If I can get more vegetables, I’ll bring them too, so eat this for now, okay?”

“Ra, Ran-noonim. How on earth did you manage to get into the prison of the Red Palace…?”

“How did I get in? I saw Jang Rae-nim in front of the Red Palace and immediately threw myself down and started begging him… After days of begging, pleading just to see my Tae Pyeong’s face once more, the compassionate warrior commander granted my wish…”

Only then did the situation become clear.

Given that such personal favors could not be asked of his subordinates, it made sense that the warrior commander himself was carrying those bundles Seol Ran had packed. Perhaps he had succumbed to the unrestrained charm of a typical romance novel heroine.

Yes… Jang Rae… you too are helpless against it…

Seol Ran pleading so fervently with tears welling up in her large round eyes. It was easy to picture Jang Rae sweating profusely with his stoic face in the face of that.

There was a feeling of emptiness on his face after he became a porter. He almost looked like a doll. Who could blame him? Originally, it was said that the first one to fall in love loses…

“I’ve also brought some cotton blankets that are left in the Heavenly Dragon Hall. It’s fortunate that the headmaid allowed it. I’ll wash them and return them, so don’t worry too much; just use them to keep warm for now. It’s not too cold at night, is it? Thank goodness it’s spring… Also, wounds need to be treated before they fester, so make sure to apply the ointment! And I’ve brought plenty of snacks, but they might run out, so eat them wisely! What else was there… what else…”

“The talk is taking too long. Time to leave.”

“Warrior commander-nim… Just, just a moment… Oh, right! If you’re tied up in one position for too long, your body will stiffen, so make sure to untie yourself occasionally! I’ve put in a few books in case you get bored, so take them and make sure to read! And hygiene is important, so clean up regularly! Getting sick only makes things worse! And also… and also… Just a moment! Warrior commander-nim! Aaah!”

Seol Ran who was half-dragged away cried out in desperation.

“Tae Pyeong-ah! And remember, you must sleep at night! Being trapped in such a place could lead to pessimistic thoughts, so try to keep your thoughts positive! And also…! Just a moment! Just a moment!”

Bang!

With that, the exit of the prison closed.

“…….”

Thud!

However, it soon opened again and Seol Ran who was dragged by Jang Rae’s hand screamed as if it were her last breath.

“Herbal medicine! There’s herbal medicine from Mountain Rock Prescription included; take it three times a day!!!!!! Three times after meals—!!!!”

Drag.

“……”

Thus, the third night was passing.

At dawn, with the moon high in the sky,

I fell asleep leaning against the wall of the prison and opened my eyes because the tip of my nose felt itchy for a moment.

“…….”

Then I saw someone sitting on the opposite wall of the prison.

For a moment, I almost screamed. How could someone be here, silently, in a securely locked prison?

I was about to unleash my energy, thinking it might be a demonic spirit when I recognized the face and the color in my face drained.

“…Elder.”

“Your face looks much happier here than at the White Immortal Palace.”

“There were some circumstances.”

“I suppose I have a rough idea what those might be. You really are a handful.”

White Immortal Lee Cheol Woon was sitting against the opposite wall while nonchalantly eating the vegetables from the bundle.

His deeply wrinkled face and bent back showed he was an old man aged to his limit.

How he entered the prison was a mystery. His Taoist magic was beyond the estimation of anyone in the palace.

All he did was chew the greens and stick out his tongue, saying they were too bitter.

“…I am ashamed.”

“It’s fine. It’s not like this is the first or second time. Ah, my back… tsk tsk…”

White Immortal slowly rose from his seat and patted his back.

Then he looked towards a dark corner of the room and opened his mouth.

“Well,”

“……”

“Have you achieved what you intended?”

The White Immortal asked bluntly.

He did not inquire about the details surrounding the incident involving the Black Princess. Such an approach was very typical of him.

“No.”

I whispered before leaning my head against the wall.

“I have not succeeded.”

The regrets of the Black Princess were not something that could be resolved by someone else.

After all, humans are creatures who live their lives in regret while struggling to reduce the number as much as possible.

It’s sad, but that’s the beauty of life.

“Did you stick to your beliefs?”

“That too is unclear.”

“Ah, tsk tsk.”

The White Immortal clicked his tongue and vigorously shook his head.

“However, you do seem quite at ease.”

“Do I appear so?”

“Really, my bodyguard is utterly hopeless. I carefully selected each one of you, but those from the White Immortal Palace are all so excessively dramatic…”

He grumbled and walked while patting his back, and before I knew it, the White Immortal was already outside the prison cell.

The miraculous ways of White Immortal’s Taoist magic were hardly surprising anymore. I have seen them since I was just a child after all.

While he patted his back, the White Immortal said,

“Still, I’m glad that you seem to have gained some insight. When we return to the White Immortal Palace, prepare some food. It’s been a while since I’ve had a meal you cooked.”

“…….”

“What? You don’t like that? Tired of playing around and now you don’t want to work?”

I leaned against the wall with a smile on my face. This was always how the White Immortal talked.

“Yes. Let’s have some meat instead.”

“No consideration for an old man with no teeth… Ah, tsk tsk.”

***

Time passed and the day of the tea gathering arrived.

As with all things in life, it just flowed on and on.

The scene at the meeting showed Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong with her head bowed as if asking for a favor.

The scene of the Vermilion Princess, the Azure Princess, and the White Princess wearing puzzled looks on their faces.

The scene of Yeon Ri sitting on the porch of the White Immortal Palace, mending a blanket before she sighed deeply and looked up at the blue sky.

The scene of Jang Rae walking down a stone path with late spring cherry blossoms fluttering around before he met Seol Ran and started listening to her earnest explanations.

There was also the scene of Vice General Jeong Seo Tae sitting in his office in the main palace late at night, looking into space for a moment while inspecting a bamboo slip.

The scene of the White Immortal smoking his pipe while casually seated atop the White Immortal Mountain and overlooking the imperial capital below.

The empty gaze of Crown Prince Hyeon Won as he looked down at the scriptures.

And the scene of Seol Tae Pyeong who was leaning against the prison cell and quietly reflecting on his life.

Such were the scenes of life. They flowed inevitably like the landscapes of Cheongdo Palace.

It was within this flow that the lives of many unfolded.

“……”

On the morning of the Council Meeting.

While sorting the documents to be presented to the three presiding officials, Strategist Hwa An couldn’t help but twitch his eyebrows.

The agenda for this session of the council meeting was not particularly important. There were no controversial items, and most could be handled directly by Emperor Woon Sung without the need to elevate them to the official assembly.

However, the amount of reference materials was overwhelmingly large.

Despite his admonitions to the reviewers to discard any unnecessary documents, the basic mishandling of such tasks was frustrating.

The essence of managing council meetings, given their importance, has always been to preside with clarity due to the volume of issues to be addressed.

He wondered if they still didn’t understand this fact and sighed deeply as he looked over the list of documents.

“……”

However, when Strategist Hwa An looked at the list of those who had submitted the bamboo slips and scrolls, he found himself understanding the reviewer’s dilemma. There was nothing that could be omitted.

I thought we didn’t have any disputes on the agenda today… why then …

Hwa An had to double-check the list to confirm that his eyes were not deceiving him.

White Immortal Lee Cheol Woon, Vice General Jeong Seo Tae, Warrior Commander Jang Rae, Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon, Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong, Azure Princess Jin Cheong Lang.

And Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun.

Each name belonged to well-known figures within the vast Cheongdo Palace.