Chapter 27: Tea Gathering Part 1

– Hwa Ryeong-ah.

Hwa Ryeong-ah—Hwa Ryeong-ah—Hwa Ryeong-ah—

The Black Princess who was walking along the Azure Dragon Palace’s porch shuddered and trembled. It had not even been an hour since she visited the Azure Dragon Palace for a tea gathering today.

Her headmaid An Rim who was following her was startled and stepped back momentarily, but she soon regained her composure, bowed her head, and crossed her sleeves gracefully.

Her mistress sometimes twitched as if stepping on something sharp, and occasionally, she would stare silently at the distant mountains.

An Rim was quick-witted and remembered even these minor habits of her mistress. Because of that she knew how to adjust her actions accordingly.

However, these things seemed less like habits and more like sudden unexpected attacks.

…… At times like this, my memory, which never forgets what it sees once, acts like poison.

The Black Princess who was standing on the porch quietly looked up at the distant mountains and thought of that.

It may have been spring when she left Cheongdo Palace and caused all that fuss, but before she realized it, it was already mid-summer.

It seemed bluer than usual, with the hum of cicadas in the background and fluffy clouds floating in the sky.

Time flies, she thought, yet considering how frantic it has been, it made sense that time went by so fast.

Even so, it’s been a while since the seasons changed. So why does it still feel like it was just yesterday?

Hwa Ryeong-ah—Hwa Ryeong-ah—Hwa Ryeong-ah—

When she recalled her name that was uttered in such a serious tone in front of the back alley of the White Immortal Palace, she involuntarily bowed her head. Her damned memory vividly brought back that fleeting memory from that day as if it had occurred just yesterday.

The Black Princess didn’t know. There was an artistic technique known as “defamiliarization” in the world.

It involves taking everyday concepts or ideas and presenting them in a strange way to evoke a fresh perspective. This method proved not only effective but also universally applicable, even in human relationships.

She had thought of him as a close friend and had asked him to call her by name, but the moment he did so seriously, the girl became aware of the reality.

Usually, he spoke formally and respectfully with his head bowed before the Black Princess. However, in that moment where they became equals, the feelings that moment evoked in her heart were different from what she was used to.

The man before her was one way or another a subject and a subordinate. Seol Tae Pyeong’s respectful attitude planted such awareness in the Black Princess’s underlying psychology. However, once she experienced the unfamiliarity of their relationship, she came to see Seol Tae Pyeong as a man.

She was well aware of how dangerous this realization could be.

Therefore, after leaving the White Immortal Palace that day, she never carelessly visited outside the Black Tortoise Palace again.

For a long time, as the mistress of the Black Tortoise Palace, she had been refining her posture, commanding her servants, and concentrating on her duties. And before she knew it, summer had passed its midway point.

But this blessing and curse of a memory she had…

– Hwa Ryeong-ah—Hwa Ryeong-ah—Hwa Ryeong-ah—

There were times when those few trivial words seemed to take on a strange vitality and made her feel dizzy.

Whether they were eating rice soup at Chunhyang Pavilion, seeking an informant in the Poison Gland District, or having a meal in an abandoned house during a rainstorm… Warrior Seol Tae Pyeong acted with complete loyalty as a subject.

There was absolutely no benefit in assigning any deeper meaning to it. Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong was someone whose role was clearly defined.

“Haaah.”

“You seem very worried.”

“No, An Rim, if there’s nothing more to prepare, let’s head to the tea gathering …”

She had become quite accustomed to living as the mistress of the Black Tortoise Palace.

She was good at acting from the beginning, so it wasn’t a problem for her to pretend to be an elegant and dignified woman.

However, all the crown princess consorts present at the gathering were somewhat difficult to deal with.

Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon seemed to be a kind and magnanimous person, but there were times when her words directed at the Black Princess betrayed a certain hint of anxiety.

Azure Princess Jin Cheong Lang seemed to view Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong with displeasure for some unknown reason.

And while at least the White Princess Ha Wol always brightened the atmosphere with her fresh smile, glimpses of her unfathomable depths were occasionally revealed.

Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong’s senses sharply picked up on these subtle feelings.

When combined with her keen senses and superhuman memory, it often felt as if she could read people’s minds.

If only everyone could live together without worries, in harmony… but with so many complications, that seems impossible…

Po Hwa Ryeong sighed deeply as she walked out onto the porch of the Azure Dragon Palace.

The shrill cries of cicadas filled the palace grounds, echoing far and wide.

“Start at the Azure Dragon Palace and check the condition of the protective charms at all four major palaces.”

“…Huh?”

“Focus particularly on the Azure Dragon Palace. Lately, the energy there feels strange as if some of my talismans have been neutralized. This could develop into a major issue later, so check thoroughly and report back to me.”

It was an order from the White Immortal Elder.

Occasionally, the White Immortal Elder would delegate some of his responsibilities to me. This was usually when he was busy with other important matters or had some urgent situations to attend to.

However, it was a great burden on me to perform the role of the White Immortal’s deputy, and even more so when it involved the inner palace. I felt like shaking my head vigorously and resisting.

“D-Do you have other matters to attend to yourself? It’s unusual for you to entrust such important tasks to me…”

“Oh, talking back again, I see.”

Normally, when White Immortal assigned tasks, there was usually a reason behind them. I typically didn’t object.

But this time, I felt an urge to resist even more.

“B-But… If some of the talismans in the Azure Dragon Palace have been neutralized, isn’t that a very serious matter? Wouldn’t it be better if you dealt with it personally…”

“As I said, I have more important matters to attend to.”

“What are those…?”

“…The energy of the Heavenly Dragon has weakened significantly.”

“…….”

When he said that, I couldn’t think of anything to say in response. It really was a more important matter.

The energy of the Heavenly Dragon, which Lady Ah Hyeon of Cheongdo Palace controlled, had significantly weakened. As spring passed, rumors about this issue circulated widely around the Heavenly Dragon Hall.

It wasn’t easy to confirm the truth of these rumors since Lady Ah Hyeon seldom left Cheongdo Palace. However, there’s no smoke without fire.

With the beginning of summer, lower demonic spirits began appearing in groups on the White Immortal Mountain. It was unsettling that demonic spirits were emerging from the White Immortal Mountain in Cheongdo where the Heavenly Dragon’s energy was said to be the strongest. Even if these were lower demonic spirits, the situation was not ordinary.

During the last birthday ceremony, an event occurred where hundreds of demonic spirits roamed freely… It was reported that in the border areas, the number of such demonic spirits had increased.

It might only be a temporary phenomenon. Therefore, while we were observing the situation, it was inevitable that public concern for Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyeon grew within the palace.

…Did things happen like this in the “Heavenly Dragon Love Story”?

I’m not sure because this was a story from the past. The main narrative of the “Heavenly Dragon Love Story” hasn’t even started yet.

“Today, I need to tour the White Immortal Mountain to rectify the disturbed energies. The protective charms in the inner palace just need to be checked and repaired, but if it involves actual demonic spirits, there might be casualties, so you have to take action yourself.”

This is why the White Immortal Elder had entrusted me with checking the protective charms in the inner palace.

“……”

When he said it like that, I had nothing to say back.

……

“Yo-You’re going into the inner palace?”

After finishing the morning’s activities, Wang Han was sitting on the porch of the White Immortal Palace and sipping on rice wine.

When I came out after talking with the White Immortal, Han bowed his head and asked me.

“…If what I heard from Yeon Ri is correct, isn’t the inner palace more dangerous than a battlefield where arrows fly for you, Tae Pyeong…?”

“……”

“…Well, you only need to quickly check the protective charms without even meeting the princess consorts… but still, I feel a little uneasy…”

“Right… especially since the talismans from the Azure Dragon Palace has fallen off…”

“……”

“……”

Wang Han also has at least basic knowledge of Taoist magic, so he should understand.

Talismans engraved with Taoist magic do not fall off easily because they are mixed with spells that preserve the state of the talisman.

To remove it, either the pillar to which the talisman is attached must be completely removed, or the spell may be disrupted by the negative energy of a demonic spirit, or if not that…

“…Someone must have peeled off the talisman.”

“…Does that make sense? To remove a talisman of the White Immortal Elder, one would need at least half the level of Taoist magic skills, and how common could such a skilled person be within Cheongdo Palace…”

“……”

“……”

One person with that level of Taoist magic skill does come to mind.

Wang Han seemed to come to the same thought as me and his complexion took a turn for the worse.

“…I’d like to go in your place if I could, Tae Pyeong… but as you know, I’m swamped with external duties… It looks like I won’t be able to visit the White Immortal Palace for a while… This matter involves high-ranking officials of the main palace, so it’s not simple…”

“……”

“… Be strong, Tae Pyeong. Isn’t it said that a crisis is often an opportunity?”

Wang Han set down his cup of rice wine and pushed it away across the porch, then dusted off his clothes before he began to speak seriously.

“I cannot regard the crisis facing our dear Tae Pyeong as someone else’s problem, though.”

Wang Han crossed his arms and spoke with a grave expression on his face.

“Based on what I’ve heard from Yeon Ri, it seems the crown princess consorts are not completely incapable of understanding the situation. It appears they understand that their affections could become a blade against you. Though the situation with the Azure Princess is somewhat ambiguous.”

“So?”

“This… may seem like good news but it is actually bad news.”

Wang Han began to explain in an unusually logical tone.

“If they were unaware, you could just seriously tell them that their feelings for you were a burden and that would possibly shock them into realization…”

“……”

“However, they know their own feelings and yet they still harbor them … This means things got a little more complicated…”

“It’s been a while since Han said something sensible.”

“Kuh-huk.”

Just then, Yeon Ri who appeared from behind the porch casually placed a hand towel that was freshly rinsed in hot water on Han’s face.

It was a hint for him to wipe the snack crumbs from his mouth.

Han was startled but he quickly took the towel and wiped his face. Yeon Ri sighed deeply as she looked at that.

“Yeon Ri.”

“Tae Pyeong. It’s rare for Han to make sense but he’s right. To survive, you need to keep your wits about you. And the fact that the crown princess consorts continue to harbor affections even though they are aware of the dangers means… a few words from you won’t easily diminish their feelings…”

“T-Then…”

“…Definitely, it seems a shock therapy might be necessary.”

The heat of summer filled the courtyard of the White Immortal Palace. A haze rising in the distance seemed to speak of the intensity of the heat.

We sat side by side on the floor and began to seriously discuss our opinions.

“Ever since the Vermilion Princess made a sudden visit last spring, things have been quiet for a few months… Now that you’ve probably had time to sort through your thoughts, it’s time to take action. Yes, let’s see this upcoming visit to the inner palace as an opportunity.”

“An opportunity…?”

“As I said, the best way is to have the crown princess consorts start hating you.”

There was no point in trying to explain the situation in words and make them understand rationally.

In fact, even though the Vermilion Princess understood the entire situation clearly, she instructed me to stay away from her because she couldn’t control her emotions.

“Now you’re beginning to get a sense of who the mistresses of the Four Palaces are. Think carefully about what actions would make them lose their temper and dislike you the most, and act accordingly.”

“Was it not enough when I tore my pants last time…?”

“Yes. That time, we definitely hammered our fingers … This is a matter of life and death… Given the situation, we truly need to prepare ourselves to change their feelings….”

Know your enemy and know yourself and you will not face defeat in a hundred battles.

I had a rough idea of what Yeon Ri would say next.

“Tae Pyeong-ah… Think of this visit to the inner palace as a reconnaissance mission… I’ll be going to the inner palace just like last time, so I’ll help you.”

“A reconnaissance mission, you say…”

“If you think about it, each palace’s mistress has a different personality and naturally, different likes and dislikes. Identify exactly what type of person each consort despises and hates, and act exactly in that way,”

After saying this, Yeon Ri knelt down, took a stance, pushed her head out, and spoke firmly.

“But…! You must absolutely make sure that the crown princess consorts never realize your true intentions.”

“……”

“Ah… So Tae Pyeong is trying to escape this situation by behaving in a way that makes me hate him… When your intentions become completely clear to the other party, it all becomes meaningless. Do you understand? You need to become genuinely hateful, at least to the crown princess consorts.”

After saying this, Yeon Ri widened her eyes and continued.

“Just trust me, Tae Pyeong-ah. I have a plan…”

The atmosphere in the Azure Dragon Palace’s tea room felt as if it had captured the mystical aura of the Azure Princess.

The blue-gray fabrics and tea sets. The tea table simply fulfilling its purpose without any needless flair. And the unique sense of comfort that flowed through the interior space making it appear infinitely calm.

With Black Princess Po Hwa Ryung entering the Black Tortoise Palace last late spring, the four palaces finally all had their mistresses.

The mistresses of the four palaces dressed in colorful court robes sat around a low tea table in the middle. It was natural that each and every one of them was an elegant beauty, and each of them had a strong will and diverse talents, so it was truly a gathering of stars.

Consort In Ha Yeon of the Vermilion Bird Palace, Consort Po Hwa Ryeong of the Black Tortoise Palace, Consort Jin Cheong Lang of the Azure Dragon Palace, Consort Ha Wol of the White Tiger Palace.

Those who entered Cheongdo Palace as women all aspired to this coveted position. The four women seated there carefully observed each other as they cautiously continued their conversation.

“The summer has become quite hot. I hope it doesn’t affect the Heavenly Dragon Festival that will be held next month. It’s a festival that all the citizens of the capital eagerly await after all.”

“Yes, the high officials are also on edge because the biggest festival of the year is approaching.”

The Vermilion Princess and the Black Princess who were well-versed in the political situation within Cheongdo Palace were chatting together.

The upcoming Heavenly Dragon Festival was a massive event held every summer in front of the Great Star Gate on the Heavenly Dragon Avenue.

It was a festival filled with fireworks, lantern releases, and bustling street vendors. Officially, it was an event to pray for the health of the Heavenly Maiden who serves the Heavenly Dragon.

“…Come to think of it, I heard that the Azure Princess’s proficiency in Taoist magic has greatly improved.”

“Th-That’s right. The high officials all say that the Azure Princess’s Taoist magic is at an astonishing level.”

The Vermilion Princess casually turned the conversation to the Azure Princess after taking a sip of tea, and the Black Princess quickly agreed with her.

Rather than answering that question right away, the Azure Princess took a cup of tea and sipped it for a while.

She then covered her mouth with her sleeve and looked around for a moment with sharp eyes.

“……”

The Black Princess swallowed hard.

The Azure Princess seemed oddly wary of the Vermilion Princess and the Black Princess, while she seemed less guarded against the White Princess whose intentions were often mysterious.

“It’s not that impressive. I need to practice much more.”

Then, as she politely expressed her humility, she looked at the two of them again.

Her penetrating eyes forced the Vermilion Princess and the Black Princess to look away at times.

After she survived the divine fever, the Azure Princess’s eyes were no different from those of an immortal. But neither the Vermilion Princess nor the Black Princess could clearly understand this fact.

…Let’s enjoy some snacks after this is all over…

The Black Princess maintained her lively smile and tried to harbor just positive thoughts but …

I can understand why when it comes to me…. but why would the Azure Princess be wary of the Black Princess as well?

The Vermilion Princess was able to see through the oddity of the situation with her quick insight.

Indeed, opportunities to see the Black Princess were rare, so she hadn’t asked until now.

Why had Warrior Seol Tae Pyeong been persuaded by the Black Princess, and why, in turn, had the Black Princess defended him so fervently?

The reason was already clearly known.

The benevolent Black Princess hated to see anyone suffer unjustly because of her. She could not bear to leave the unfortunate warrior Seol Tae Pyeong, who had been forced into cooperation by her persistence, to deal with everything on his own.

In fact, everyone who knew Seol Tae Pyeong was aware that he was someone who disliked being involved in unnecessary matters, which is why the Warrior Commander of the Red Palace had somewhat accepted this explanation.

But, was that really all there was to it? Was it just that Seol Tae Pyeong had complied under the Black Princess’s persistence?

Seol Tae Pyeong was a man firm in his convictions, even when faced with powerful enemies.

Could it be that some quality of the Black Princess had stirred this loyal nature in Seol Tae Pyeong?

Was it too much of a leap in logic to entertain such a thought?

Even the Vermilion Princess could see that Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong was a woman who exuded a certain nobility that could not be described in words.

It must be this very nobility that Seol Tae Pyeong was devoted to, even at the risk of his life.

“Do you happen to know Warrior Seol Tae Pyeong of the White Immortal Palace well, Lady Black Princess?”

“Hic.”

“……?”

“M-My apologies, I just hiccuped.”

The Black Princess shuddered as if she was just stabbed in a weak spot and paused momentarily to steady her voice.

The White Princess tilted her head in puzzlement while the Azure Princess scrutinized her with even sharper eyes.

“You mean… the warrior of White Immortal Palace?”

“Y-Yes…”

“It would be strange if I didn’t know him. I requested a petition be submitted at the last tea gathering concerning that very warrior. But why do you ask?”

Why do you ask?

Her question made the Vermilion Princess suddenly fall silent.

…Why did I ask that? She had reacted impulsively and now found herself without a proper response.

“That is…”

The gaze of the Azure Princess was piercing again. She felt as if a blade was pointed directly at her.

“Recently, it’s been a while since I’ve wielded a sword… I was thinking, if his condition has improved, maybe it’s time to cross swords with him again.”

It was a hastily made excuse, but it was plausible considering that the Vermilion Princess had been sparring with Seol Tae Pyeong on a regular basis until a few months ago.

But she had been keeping her distance from Seol Tae Pyeong since she started having those strange feelings in her heart.

Th-This is not good for Tae Pyeong…!

Meanwhile, the Black Princess was growing acutely aware of the predicament her “close friend” was in.

“We-Well, I’m not sure. Tae Pyeong… Warrior Tae Pyeong seemed quite busy. I wonder if he’ll have time to cross swords with you…”

“Ah, that’s true… Haha…”

“…Are you considering even the schedule of a third-rate warrior?”

The White Princess who was listening from the side asked a purely innocent question without any particular intent.

In fact, it was ridiculous. Where in the world is there a crown princess consort who can’t change a lowly warrior’s schedule to her liking?

“Even if he is just a warrior, he is one of those who keep Cheongdo Palace running. It is said that if we do not care for the lowest parts of the building, the highest parts will easily crumble.”

However, the Vermilion Princess effortlessly handled the situation with her inspired eloquence. It was an improvisation that could be said to be expected of a member of the Jeongseon clan.

While the Vermilion Princess was skillfully handling the situation, the usually attentive Azure Princess was quietly observing the two with her head lowered.

Although she was typically bright and lively at the Azure Dragon Palace, this girl became curiously quiet during these meetings.

Although the Black Princess herself thought she was confident in every way, she had to quickly shift her eyes to the upper right or lower left whenever the Azure Princess glanced in her direction.

How could the youngest girl at this gathering emit such a great sense of pressure? Both Vermilion Princess and the Black Princess internally swallowed dryly at this thought.

While the conversation seemed friendly on the surface, they somehow felt like they were walking on thin ice.

The servants standing behind each mistress with their heads bowed must have been sweating profusely.

What could possibly be so suffocating about this situation?

Historically, it was not uncommon for gatherings of the crown princess consorts to devolve into nerve-wracking standoffs or murky confrontations… but this particular form was a first.

I just… I just wish it would end quickly…

As the Black Princess picked up her tea and took a moment to catch her breath, she silently shed tears in her heart.

Nevertheless, thanks to the White Princess steering the conversation towards the flowers blooming near the inner palace recently, the icy atmosphere had somewhat melted.

But a problem came up as the gathering was nearing its end.

“A warrior and a maid from the White Immortal Palace have visited. I hear there’s been an issue with the protective charms within the inner palace and they’ve come to check. It seems to be a really important matter related to warding off demonic spirits, but should we allow them into the Azure Dragon Palace now?”

Normally, it was highly inappropriate for a maid to speak out of turn during a social event among the crown princess consorts.

However, exceptions were made for matters of urgency.

A warrior and a maid from the White Immortal Palace had arrived.

The maid in the tea room reported this just when the tea gathering was coming to an end.

“What… what…?”

“…The White Immortal Palace?”

The room fell into a momentary silence as if a bomb had dropped right in the middle of the tea room.

Only the White Princess looked around with a puzzled look on her face.

“Since there is a tea gathering at the Azure Dragon Palace and all the princess consorts from the four palaces are assembled here… Normally, we would ask you to choose another day to visit, but….”

I don’t know whether the headmaid was inside attending the gathering, but another maid came out, bowed politely, and added.

“However, since this is a crucial matter of warding off demonic spirits, it might be best to seek permission to inspect the interior anyway. The protective charms are directly related to the palace’s safety, so it would be wise to resolve them as soon as possible to avoid any major consequences.”

“……”

Yeonri and I exchanged glances and the color drained from our faces.

We should just leave.

By the time those words came to our minds, it seemed like it was already too late.