Chapter 7: The Azure Princess Part 5

Whoosh! thud!

The arrow flew and struck the center of the target.

Five or six arrows were embedded around the bullseye. Seeing that not a single arrow was stuck outside the target, it was truly a sight to behold.

“I heard that Princess Jin has overcome her long illness and has risen from her sickbed.”

Hyeon Dang, the headmaid of the Vermilion Bird Palace, reported with her head bowed and her hands folded in her sleeves.

There were several main houses in the inner palace, but the Vermillon Bird Palace was unique in having a space dedicated to practicing swordsmanship and archery.

Though it was unusual for such a place to exist within a main house meant for women, it wasn’t so surprising after all when considering who the owner of the place was.

“That’s really good news to hear.”

The Vermilion Princess carefully adjusted her bowstring and dusted off the hem of her elaborate gown which was richly embroidered with exquisite patterns.

Her sleeve which was momentarily lowered to facilitate the pull of the bowstring looked almost like the folded wing of a butterfly.

Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon was not only of noble birth but also skilled in the arts of the sword and archery even though she was a woman.

As a member of the Jeongseon clan, the foremost noble house of Cheongdo country, she was the first among the four great consorts to be elevated to the position of a Vermilion Princess. At the age of eighteen, she was six years older than Crown Prince Hyeon Won, yet no one in the main palace dared to question her status.

She was the sole daughter of In Seon Rok, the most trusted confidant of Emperor Woon Sung.

In fact, she was so influential and thoughtful that it would not be strange to see her ascend to the position of the Heavenly Maiden. Had it not been for the current mistress of the Heavenly Dragon Hall, Ah Hyun, she might well have commanded the realm as the heavenly maiden herself.

It might sound blasphemous, but among the court ladies who admired the Vermilion Princess’s character, such discussions were not uncommon.

Her fiery red hair and her eyes seemed to reveal both beauty and strength of character.

Although she was small in stature compared to the robust warriors, her upright posture and commanding presence made it clear she was not to be underestimated by men.

If a gentle heart and thoughtful inner world were essential for the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace…

The quality required of the Vermilion Princess, the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace, was fiery courage.

However, what followed a brave temperament like a tail was frivolity. And for the Crown Princess Consort, the flower of the royal court, such frivolity was not needed.

Those who could shine with dignity like a flame without frivolity were truly fit for the position of the Vermilion Princess, and such individuals were rare in the world.

And so it seemed almost inevitable that the Vermilion Princess would ascend to her current position.

The young girl who had just celebrated her birthday and was now barely nineteen years old already exuded the grace of a mature sage.

“I must send a gift to the Azure Princess. Overcoming a long illness is indeed a joyous occasion.”

The Vermilion Princess changed her clothes with the help of her maids.

After finishing her morning archery practice, it was time to enter the central hall of the Vermilion Bird Palace and check on her maids.

Leaving her archery training center with her red silk clothes hanging down, she let out a quick breath as she felt the autumn morning air.

“It’s cold!” is what she uttered before she instructed the headmaid to ensure the maids’ attire was sufficiently warm for the increasingly cold mornings and evenings.

“And it is said that the selection process for the White Princess will end soon.”

“Oh, is that so!”

Two of the four palaces in the harem had yet to find their mistresses.

The Azure Princess of the Azure Dragon Palace and the Vermilion Princess of the Vermilion Bird Palace had been selected relatively quickly. However, the appointment of the mistress for the White Tiger Palace and the Black Tortoise Palace seemed distant.

The Azure Princess appeared to be a fine person at first glance, but she was still young and her recent illness meant she had not yet found the time to communicate with the Vermilion Princess.

“Surely, the White Princess will be a worthy one, someone from whom we have much to learn.”

“Shall we prepare a gift in advance to offer before she enters the inner palace?”

“Yes, that seems like a good idea. But first, we must prioritize a gift for the Azure Princess, who has overcome her illness. What would be appropriate to give her?”

The headmaid of the Vermilion Bird Palace, Hyeon Dang, was known for her efficient and determined work ethic. She could be said to be reflecting the temperament of her mistress, the Vermilion Princess.

“The ‘Guardian Heart Mirror’ from the palace’s treasure room might be good. It’s a mirror stand engraved with a pine tree carving to wish for good health.”

“Let’s go with that then. It’s been a while since we’ve had a cause for celebration, so I’m really glad.”

“…. However, there is one more matter I must bring up.”

Suddenly, the headmaid’s expression turned grave. The Vermilion Princess tilted her head in curiosity.

“…I’ve heard that a warrior played a crucial role in curing the Azure Princess’s illness. The maids of the Azure Dragon Palace were saying with their own mouths that without that warrior, they couldn’t be so certain of the consort’s recovery.”

“Ah, truly a benefactor then. As someone who shares in the responsibility of this inner palace, I should express my gratitude to this man as well.”

“However…”

The headmaid seemed to struggle with her next words.

“This person is an apprentice warrior from the White Immortal Palace… and I’ve heard he comes from the Hwayongseol clan.”

“…. Hwayongseol clan?”

The Vermilion Princess’ typically graceful and clear voice lowered in tone to match the intensity of her gaze.

“…….”

Was it the chill of the autumn morning air that caused the atmosphere to suddenly grow colder?

The tension made the maids swallow nervously.

The Hwayongseol clan.

It was the name of the treacherous clan that killed the Vermilion Princess’s uncle.

***

“I admit it. Perhaps I went too far with the salt soup.”

“Tae Pyung, please; I don’t want to kill you.”

It’s been quite some time since I visited the Azure Dragon Palace.

It must have been a few weeks since I reported the situation to the White Immortal Elder and returned to my daily life.

The injuries that once covered my body have mostly healed and only a scar on my thigh remained.

During this time, the kitchen responsible for the inner palace’s meals managed to acquire a salt known as Thousand Flames.

It was said to have come from a fishing village at the eastern end of Cheongdo and was discarded by Emperor Woon Sung because it was not to his taste. It traveled in circles and ended up in the kitchen of the inner palace.

This salt was so luxurious that it took years just to produce a handful.

With such a premium product, shouldn’t one experience its “original flavor”?

It wouldn’t do to diminish its taste by mixing it with various spices, so I simply mixed the rice in boiling water and seasoned it with this salt to serve. This was the so-called Thousand Flames soup rice.

And after seeing that meal, Yeon Ri’s patience seemed to have exploded at once and she stormed out of the White Immortal Palace in tears and frustration. It took quite some effort to bring her back.

“I never imagined we’d come to the point of calling plain rice mixed with water and salt a ‘soup’!”

“Considering the situation alone, that might seem so, but hear me out, Yeon Ri! This is Thousand Flames we’re talking about… refined for seven years in the Cheonrang region of the East Sea…”

“It’s just salt…!”

“…You’re not wrong.”

However, the old Eunuch enjoyed the meal without any complaints.

By this point, it seemed as though he might find plain rice alone to be the most delicious meal in the world. Yeon Ri’s expression was completely stiff when she saw the old Eunuch like that.

“By the way, it seems the White Immortal Elder didn’t eat within the palace today?”

I brought out some pickled cabbage and radish salad for Yeon Ri who was in tears before asking the old Eunuch.

The old Eunuch spoke while chewing thoughtfully on rice.

“Perhaps he’s gone for a walk on the White Immortal Mountain again. When you visited the Azure Dragon Palace, the White Immortal Elder had just returned from a meeting with the high officials of the main palace… Since then, he seems to be busier than usual.”

“Considering the room is always tidy when I go in to clean, it doesn’t seem like he comes and goes during the night…”

Yeon Ri, who single-handedly managed the cleaning of the vast White Immortal Palace, would have been the first to notice if the White Immortal Elder had visited.

The White Immortal Elder’s whereabouts being unclear wasn’t a new thing. If anything, it meant more resting time for me, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

My duties were simply to maintain the White Immortal Palace, help Yeon Ri with her tasks, and take my days off as they came.

It was while I was pondering the day’s schedule and enjoying my meal,

“Are you there?”

Hui Yin, the headmaid of the Azure Dragon Palace, came to the White Immortal Palace with a group of court ladies in tow.

***

The court ladies from the Azure Dragon Palace set down various bundles on the porch and were inspecting their contents.

The court ladies’ attire with the unique cloud and lightning embroidery of the Azure Dragon Palace looked neat yet vibrant with life.

Among them, one attire stood out as distinctly different….it belonged to Seol Ran.

When the hadmaid was planning to come here, Seol Ran also followed. She seized the opportunity to come and see me. It was definitely a face I was glad to see.

“I’ve been thinking that this would be a good opportunity to offer both apologies and thanks.”

Saying so, the head maid Jang Hui Yin lowered her head.

The gesture was meant as a show of gratitude and apology towards Yeon Ri and me. But the old Eunuch who was overseeing us widened his eyes in surprise.

“N-no. It’s unheard of for the headmaid of the Azure Dragon Palace to bow to a mere maid and an apprentice warrior. The high officials of the main palace would be aghast.”

“That’s precisely why I came all the way to the White Immortal Palace, where there are no prying eyes.”

“But the imperial law…”

Hui Yin shook her head at the old Eunuch’s protest, then slowly lifted her face.

While it mattered little to me, Yeon Ri still wore a sullen expression on her face.

“No matter what…. when you consider what might have happened to us that day… this level of apology is not enough….”

“It might not seem much of a reward, but I’ve brought some food supplies from the main house of the Azure Dragon Palace. Since I’ve heard you have a hobby in cooking, I gathered a variety of ingredients so you can experiment with different dishes. Most of them keep well, so please use them whenever you find the time…”

Before Hui Yin could finish speaking, Yeon Ri grabbed her hand and stars shot out of her eyes.

“May I call you ‘Unnie’?” (TN: Like big sister)

“…Yes?”

“Such warmth and generosity in your heart, Hui Yin-unnie… Inspired by your benevolent spirit, I think tonight’s dish should be meat pancakes…”

With a voice full of emotion, Yeon Ri picked up a bundle of meat pancakes that a maid was inspecting.

Hui Yin was momentarily taken aback by Yeon Ri’s heartfelt reaction but soon returned to the main topic.

“The ingredients are a personal gift from us maids, and there’s also an official thank-you present from the Azure Princess herself.”

“Oh, I hardly deserve such gratitude. I’m truly humbled…”

“It’s nothing grand. Just a wooden jewelry box and a handwritten letter expressing her gratitude.”

“…. Well, I’m delighted to accept. How thoughtful, haha.”

“It’s a relief to hear that the Azure Princess’s health is improving.”

After the other maids had left, Seol Ran remained for a while and sat on the floor of the White Immortal Palace Palace to get some fresh air.

It had become routine for us to share stories about our respective situations whenever the opportunity arose.

“Are you having any troubles in the inner palace?”

“It’s actually more comfortable once you get used to it. The Heavenly Dragon Hall is always well-maintained, so there isn’t much in the way of heavy duties. What worries me is your well-being, Tae Pyung. You seem to injure yourself whenever things start to settle down…”

“Still, I recover quickly, so there’s no need for you to worry too much.”

I rested my chin and thought for a moment, then finally asked.

“Any developments with Jang Rae-nim?”

When I said that, she reacted in surprise as if she had just seen the palace catch fire.

“Wh-What are you talking about, Tae Pyung? Why would Jang Rae-nim’s name suddenly come up?”

“The atmosphere was so good that I thought there was some romantic development between you two.”

“I told you not to say that! If you’re to find a partner, you should look for your own first! I can manage on my own, so don’t worry about me!”

She was right, of course. Worrying about Seol Ran’s love life was unnecessary.

Even though I’m just an apprentice now, when the story of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story begins in earnest, men will line up without envy under the heavens…

“Ah, right. Let’s open the jewelry box and the letter from the Azure Princess. I’m curious about what’s inside.”

“Oh, shall we? I’m not particularly interested in jewelry or ornaments, so feel free to take a few if you like.”

Saying this, we opened the wooden box the Azure Princess had sent. It contained various ornaments and hairpins.

“…How strange. Is it common to gift such items to a young man…?”

“It really is strange. This hairpin looks rather nice; would you like to have it?”

“It was a gift of gratitude meant for Tae Pyeong. Is it really okay for me to take it?”

“It’s not like it was given for me to wear around. It might be better for the hairpin to find its rightful owner this way. The Azure Princess would understand.”

Seol Ran had once spent three days and nights talking about how she wanted a flower hairpin that the ladies carried.

Her eyes were shining as she looked at this hairpin with a pretty crystal butterfly decoration attached to it. It was clearly a luxury item, and even from a man’s perspective, it was beautiful… Women would definitely be eager to hold it in their hands.

In addition to that, she also fiound a jade butterfly pendant and a silk cloth embroidered with a giraffe.

Seeing her suddenly smile so brightly and happily, I was reminded that even this almost superhuman-like heroine is, after all, a girl of her age.

“The letter… it’s here.”

And it was the moment when the personal letter on a silk scroll was taken out from under the wooden box.

That the atmosphere grew cold due to an odd sense of unease we felt from the look of the letter.

The beautifully decorated pale pink letter was tied with red silk thread, and beside it hung a piece of embroidery, which was possibly made by the Azure Princess herself.

The care put into it… seemed to go beyond a simple letter of thanks.

“Tae, Tae Pyeong… this is…”

“Let’s, let’s read the contents first before making any judgments…”

When I opened the scroll and looked at its contents, I found words carefully describing my appearance under the moonlight in the inner chamber. It was written in rhymes so it must be a poem.

It’s not uncommon for a woman of the Azure Princess’s stature to be talented in poetry, calligraphy, and painting. The issue, however, lies in the subject of her art.

The image she saw through the haze of her fever was described in rhyme by comparing it to the roots of a giant tree that always firmly supported her, and in the corner, a picture depicting plum blossoms and the moon was drawn with love.

The script and the painting stirred a ticklish sensation in the heart merely by looking at them.

“…….”

“…….”

After studying the contents, I folded the scroll again and fell into deep thought.

“Tae Pyeong… this is…”

“Could it be that I’m reading too much into this… It almost feels like…”

The silence continued for a moment, and then Seol Ran stood up, grabbed my shoulder, and spoke. The tone of her voice was serious and desperate.

“Tae Pyeong…! I know I said to find a partner within the palace… but laying a hand on the crown princess crosses a line into capital punishment!”

Eventually, Seol Ran clutched her head and cried out. Escaping wouldn’t change reality.

It was not uncommon for young court ladies and warriors to develop romantic feelings in the palace. As long as no major scandals ensued, the worst one might face was a minor punishment and expulsion from the palace.

Moreover, high-ranking officials could, with the main palace’s permission, take palace women as wives or even receive them as gifts from the emperor himself.

However, if the object of such affection was the crown princess consort, the gravity of the situation would change entirely.

“Ah, it will be years before Crown Prince Hyeon Won is due to take concubines… If rumors like this start circulating now, Tae Pyeong, you could literally lose your head! Taepyeong, you’ll be executed, you’ll really die!”

“Ah, no… this is…”

“Right, the Azure Princess herself must know this isn’t acceptable… Why on earth would she…?”

Seol Ran was dripping with cold sweat as she reviewed the contents of the scroll again. But no matter how many times she looked, the words remained the same.

Eventually, she took the scroll to the kitchen and threw it into the lit hearth. It would be disastrous if anyone else saw it. This document threatened her brother’s life.

“Th-then again, the Azure Princess is still young and was stricken with illness before she could receive a proper education as a crown princess consort… She may not know the laws of the palace well, so she may not be able to distinguish between public and private affairs…”

Azure Princess Jin Cheong Lang in the “Heavenly Dragon Love Story” was portrayed as a mystical, wise, and thoughtful woman. A young fairy hidden deep within the Azure Dragon Palace.

But that was a story from years later.

“Pe-Perhaps she doesn’t know yet that her affection… could become a poisoned dagger to the other party involved…”

“Th-Then, shouldn’t it just be a matter of enduring until the Crown Princess Consort receives proper education? The wise Eunuchs of the inner palace…. or perhaps intelligent people like the Vermilion Princess will surely counsel her well.”

“Yes…. Tae Pyeong. But remember, the Azure Princess is far above you in status. We can’t predict how she might act before then.”

Seol Ran grabbed my sweaty hand, locked eyes with me, and spoke earnestly.

“Time. Time will resolve everything. The Azure Princess will soon realize how serious this matter is. Until then, you must maintain an ironclad defense. Your life depends on it.”

“…. Yes.”

“Death could be just around the corner. You must be careful…!”

Yes, I have to be careful to survive.

At this time… I couldn’t have known.

The cruel truth that my struggle to survive in this romance fantasy novel was only just beginning.

***

The moonlight shining into the inner chamber was bright.

The inner palace of the Cheongdo Palace was situated in one of the most favorable locations. It was second only to the main palace where the emperor resided.

The energy gathered at her fingertips felt as if it were an extension of her body.

After recovering from her fever, the energy flowing through her body felt like a well that would never dry up.

The Azure Princess Jin Cheong Lang was seated at her desk and reading some scriptures when she found herself gazing quietly at the night sky.

The face of a man seemed to superimpose itself over the full moon for no reason. Could this be some form of her illusion technique too?

She covered her mouth with the long sleeve of her robe, looked up at the sky, and suddenly whispered to herself.

“If I have cause to visit the White Immortal Palace, might I see his face again?”

Though no one was there to hear that,

If the subject of her musings had heard such words, it would have surely sent shivers down his spine.