“Tae Pyeong-ah, please listen carefully and don’t misunderstand.”
The first thing Black Princess did was dismiss all the maids in her inner chamber.
At this point, it wasn’t strange for her to request a private audience with him.
Who in the world would find it strange that the future Heavenly Maiden of Cheongdo Palace wanted to speak privately with her own aide?
Since they had to discuss a great matter, it was only natural to send away any unnecessary ears.
As she watched the maids naturally leave the room, her heart grew even more conflicted.
“Black Princess, rumors are spreading like wildfire throughout the palace. Certainly, someone like you who doesn’t concern herself with personal interests becoming the Heavenly Maiden Palace is—”
“I’m sorry… Tae Pyeong-ah… I don’t want to be the Heavenly Maiden…”
It was inevitable that an apology was the first thing she said to Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong who was standing right before her.
Black Princess had already long come to terms with her feelings.
General Seol Tae Pyeong… no matter what anyone said, he was a friend!
In this cold-hearted Cheongdo Palace, he was the one person with whom she could openly talk, her dearest friend…!
To say she had never once considered seeing him as more than a friend would be a lie, but after sorting out her feelings, she had firmly decided never to view him as anything other than a friend.
He was just a dependable, capable, and open-minded friend, and nothing more than a political ally who could help ease any discomfort she might encounter in the palace. That’s right. That was how Black Princess viewed him.
Because of her stance, she couldn’t help but feel a certain fear when she saw the other princess consorts trying to seize control of Seol Tae Pyeong with their eyes blazing with determination.
“Black Princess… are you truly burdened by the position of Heavenly Maiden?”
“If I’m being honest… it’s you who burdens me… Tae Pyeong-ah.”
“You say such cruel things with that innocent expression. As if it means nothing.”
“Well… to be honest, I never imagined you would become such a big deal when you were just an apprentice warrior… Who could’ve guessed you’d be the Vice General at this age?”
That was the truth. No matter how successful someone was destined to be, there was always a limit to how fast they could rise.
Since she didn’t know that Seol Tae Pyeong had the full support of Ah Hyun, the former Heavenly Maiden, Black Princess had never expected him to rise so quickly.
She had cheered when he became an Inner Swords Commander. She had been surprised when he became the Bright Moon General.
But now he had become a Vice General…
At that level, even the crown princess consorts couldn’t treat him lightly.
While the formal hierarchy of the Four Great Palaces placed their mistress far above, holding military power was an entirely different matter.
The boy who once stumbled around as an apprentice warrior climbed the ladder before she knew it and stood right before her.
At this rate, the next time I see him, will he be wearing the title of grand general?
No matter how fast he was rising, that still seemed too unrealistic.
The Black Princess shook her head and quietly gazed at Seol Tae Pyeong, who had grown much manlier compared to his days as an apprentice warrior.
“To get straight to the point… it seems the other crown princess consorts want you for themselves, Tae Pyeong-ah …”
“…….”
“You’re too great a person to be kept beneath me, Tae Pyeong-ah. Please spread your wings and soar towards that vast ocean. Birds with large wings are meant to fly high…”
“…Ah, is there still someone who feels that way?”
Only then did the Black Princess lightly smack her forehead.
That’s right. In truth, Seol Tae Pyeong’s thinking was far more sound and sensible.
Though he occasionally came to the inner palace to handle matters as the Inner Swords Commander, there had been very few direct interactions between Seol Tae Pyeong and the four crown princess consorts for quite some time.
The most contact he had was through the White Princess who was involved with him due to matters of her clan.
Between managing his duties as the Inner Swords Commander, carrying the title of Bright Moon General, training, and overseeing Hwalseong District, Seol Tae Pyeong had been leading a busy life. So he must have naturally grown distant from the people in the Four Great Palaces.
Given how long it had been since they had last communicated, he must have assumed that any feelings or impulsive desires those noble women may have had during those stormy years had mostly subsided.
From Seol Tae Pyeong’s perspective, this made sense.
However, that was the mindset of a rational and reasonable person.
In ordinary circumstances, such infrequent contact and growing distance might suggest a gradual drifting apart, but…
For someone harboring romantic feelings, this kind of separation only ignites the fire further, leading them to believe it is a “fateful rupture” or a “forbidden relationship” which only serves to intensify a young girl’s passion.
It was a story of two people yearning for each other in an environment so restricted that even meeting was nearly impossible.
Wasn’t this a common trope in any romance novel?
A man who couldn’t grasp this kind of girlish sentiment would dismiss it as utter nonsense.
“What, what kind of absurd talk is this…”
“Anyway, that’s just how it is, Tae Pyeong-ah. You have to understand it with your heart, not your head.”
“…..…”
…Some things were inevitable.
Seol Tae Pyeong rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought for a moment.
In any case, Seol Tae Pyeong also had great trust in the Black Princess. After all, they had been close since his days as an apprentice warrior and he knew well that she wasn’t the type to easily betray others.
There was a high chance that what Black Princess said was true.
In that case, there was only one thing Seol Tae Pyeong could say from his perspective.
“…Then, from my point of view, it would be best if Black Princess became the Heavenly Maiden.”
“…….”
Yes…
From Seol Tae Pyeong’s standpoint, the Black Princess was the most suitable candidate for the position of Heavenly Maiden.
She had the ability to maintain calm and smooth relationships with anyone, which was her greatest strength.
She valued harmony among everyone over personal feelings and was even completely free from political entanglements. She was the perfect choice.
Seol Tae Pyeong knelt down and bowed his head as he spoke.
“Why, why can’t the Black Princess just become the Heavenly Maiden…? Isn’t it just a temporary position anyway…”
Even if it was a favor from a close friend…. she knew it was right to shake her head here…!
Before even asking how the Black Princess herself felt about it, there was no way she could successfully carry out the role of Heavenly Maiden while making enemies of the Vermilion Princess, the White Princess, and the Azure Princess…!
It wasn’t a matter of right or wrong… it was a matter of ability…!
“Ugh… urgh…!”
Still, who exactly was Seol Tae Pyeong?
When the Black Princess stormed out of Cheongdo Palace to seek out the old woman, it was Seol Tae Pyeong who personally went out to find her.
He was the one who drew his sword and stood against the special unit members to settle the Black Princess’s lingering regrets, and he traveled across the entire imperial city while searching for the old woman’s whereabouts alongside her.
He was the one who stood by the Black Princess when things were tough and he was the one who took her situation into consideration even when the country was in internal and external crisis.
As for the other high officials who came to bribe her, she could just harden her resolve and send them away, but…
Could the Black Princess, with her innate sense of empathy and understanding, really refuse Seol Tae Pyeong’s request, especially when it wasn’t just anyone else asking?
“Ah, no… but still…”
“Black Princess…”
“……”
The Black Princess spoke with tears welling up in her eyes.
“…Fine… since things have come to this, let’s just give it a try…”
More than anyone else, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse Seol Tae Pyeong’s request.
***
Since the situation had already unfolded this way, she decided to give it a try.
Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong steeled herself.
She would become the Heavenly Maiden and stand at the pinnacle of this Cheongdo Palace.
She would command all below her, harness the power of the Heavenly Dragon, and govern the fortunes and misfortunes of the world as that very priestess.
Bring it on, world. This girl Po Hwa Ryeong is ready.
Who would dare stand in her way now?
The most authoritative crown princess consort, the lady of the Jeongseon clan, a master of martial arts, and a noblewoman who exuded nobility just by making eye contact with her. This was none other than Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon.
Skilled in politics, good at calculating interests, and the true power behind the Inbong clan, she possessed the ethereal appearance of a fairy and simply looking at her made one’s heart feel cleansed. This was White Princess Ha Wol.
Then there was the young immortal. Azure Princess Jin Cheong Lang who secluded herself in the corners of the Azure Dragon Palace, practiced Taoist arts, observed the world, and saw through anyone’s heart with just a glance.
From the perspective of Po Hwa Ryeong who grew up simply gathering herbs on the slopes of the White Immortal Mountain, each one of them was a terrifying opponent, but what could she do? This was the situation she found herself in…!
The Heavenly Dragon Hall wasn’t a place one could come and go from as they pleased. Entering may have been easy, but leaving was not.
If you can’t avoid it, you might as well enjoy it.
With a heart that was half mad, she decided to laugh in the face of the world.
That’s right. She was now the one who commands and controls that Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong, beneath her.
She was the mistress of the Heavenly Dragon Hall.
“A few officials of the Inbong clan have visited the Black Tortoise Palace. It seems some of the Black Tortoise Palace maids have taken food supplies.”
“…….”
It appeared that the young maids of the Black Tortoise Palace had been cooking and eating the leftover supplies from meal preparations, and this had become public knowledge.
Though she usually didn’t bother herself with the maids using leftover food, it was considered a grave offense by the military law’s harsh standards.
In short… it was nitpicking.
Though it wasn’t directly the Black Princess’s fault, her inability to manage her subordinates could be seen as a major flaw.
As expected from the scheming White Princess, she had officially begun her “tarnishing” efforts.
And this was only the beginning.
Stealing a bit of leftover food wouldn’t be considered a serious crime. It was just a subtle warning, a way to quietly inform the Black Princess.
Before the situation escalated, it was a message to quickly let go of Seol Tae Pyeong, the figure she was hiding behind her skirt.
The Black Princess gritted her teeth as she thought.
I won’t even blink an eye!!!!!!!!
“The Vermilion Princess has suggested discussing the Five Classics and military law at the upcoming Scholars Learning Platform event. It seems it will be hard to refuse…”
It was a scholarly event held periodically on the Scholars Learning platform of the main palace.
It was a place where scholars gathered together to show off their knowledge of the classics, and the Vermilion Princess had proposed a discussion on the effectiveness of military law.
In short, it was a challenge to a debate. A fair and straightforward duel of words which was typical of the Vermilion Princess.
“……..”
“Black Princess…”
A formal proposal like this was hard to decline without a legitimate reason.
It would be a great insult to the one who had gone through the trouble of arranging the event.
As for the Black Princess, though she regularly studied and read the classics, she could never match the academic skills and eloquence of the Vermilion Princess.
It had been said many times. The Black Princess was simply an innocent girl who had once roamed the White Immortal Mountain to gather herbs.
“So, she wants to take me on!!!!”
But with fiery determination in her eyes, the Black Princess stayed up all night reading the Five Classics and memorizing every last detail.
The Black Princess rarely forgot anything once she laid eyes on it. All she needed to do was organize her thoughts on military law and the classics and polish her rhetoric with the help of Headmaid An Rim.
As she looked into the mirror and raised her voice, the Black Princess once again shouted in her heart.
I won’t!!!! Even!!!! Blink an eye!!!!!!!!
The next day, a minister from the Inbong clan who held real power in the Ministry of Revenue officially filed a complaint regarding financial waste at the Black Tortoise Palace.
The Black Princess, along with Headmaid An Rim, stayed up all night reviewing documents and sent a letter proving there was no such waste.
The day after that, the Vermilion Princess sent a letter challenging her to a contest of archery.
For nearly a week, the Black Princess practiced tirelessly, and although she couldn’t defeat the Vermilion Princess, she performed well enough not to be shamed.
The following day, the White Princess raised concerns about the work performance of the Black Tortoise Palace maids…
The day after that, the Vermilion Princess proposed a discussion about tea…
And the day after that…
And the day after that…
“……”
Late at night, after overseeing construction work at Hwalseong District, Seol Tae Pyeong arrived at the Black Tortoise Palace only to be struck speechless.
The Black Princess was Leaning against the tea room’s wooden pillar. Her skin was pale as a sheet and she looked to be completely exhausted.
“I’m burnt out, Tae Pyeong-ah. I’ve burned through everything I had…”
“Black Princess… I never thought you’d have to endure so much…”
“Yes… Tae Pyeong-ah… you’re someone not just anyone can handle… but!!!!”
The Black Princess suddenly stood up, and her blazing eyes shot sparks like stars.
“Even though the Jeongseon clan and the Inbong clan tried to deal with me somehow, I didn’t budge an inch…! You must understand by now that my stubbornness is no ordinary thing..!”
“Black Princess…!”
Seol Tae Pyeong wiped away tears of gratitude.
He knew well that the Black Princess lived and died by loyalty, but he never expected her to endure this much.
The Black Princess continued her complaints for quite a while after that.
Seol Tae Pyeong knew better than anyone how difficult the Vermilion Princess and the White Princess were to deal with. If those two had decided to target the Black Princess, it wouldn’t have been easy for her to maintain her dignity.
Headmaid An Rim who was listening to this from behind felt it most keenly.
Yet in the midst of it all, her mistress had managed to fend off every attack, proving she was no ordinary person.
It feels like the Black Princess is growing stronger day by day because of their constant challenges.
It is said that people grow in times of crisis.
Whether the Vermilion Princess and the White Princess knew it or not, the Black Princess had gradually grown into a grand presence as the mistress of the Black Tortoise Palace.
If they heard this, they might find it ridiculous, but surely the biggest contributors were none other than the Vermilion Princess and White Princess.
“Anyway…! Since I’ve gritted my teeth and endured this much, it must be time for the two of them to give up too…!”
“Indeed. But still, it’s surprising that the Azure Princess has shown no movement.”
“That’s true… I expected the Azure Princess to be the most proactive… but I’ve heard she’s been staying holed up in the Azure Dragon Palace and rarely comes out.”
The Azure Princess had always possessed an air of mystique to her, as if she had transcended the mundane world and lived in isolation.
The Black Princess had been truly terrified of how the Azure Princess might try to hinder her… but to her surprise, there had been no significant response from her side.
When she last visited the Azure Dragon Palace, the Azure Princess said she had no intention of competing for power, so perhaps she had genuinely given up.
While the prospect of having someone like Seol Tae Pyeong under her control might have been tempting, it seemed the Azure Princess had chosen to concede that much.
The Black Princess let out a sigh of relief. She couldn’t even imagine how much she would have struggled had the Azure Princess become her enemy too.
“Anyway, as long as nothing unexpected happens… there shouldn’t be any major issues!”
With a bright smile, the Black Princess patted her chest confidently. As if to tell Seol Tae Pyeong to trust her completely.
I can do it! I can do it!
With that determination, the Black Princess declared cheerfully.
However, true danger often arrived when one was most complacent.
The next morning. A truly ridiculous rumor was circulating in the inner palace.
The rumor was that the Azure Princess Jin Cheong Lang had succeeded in awakening the power of the Heavenly Dragon.
It had been exactly 27 days since she secluded herself within the inner chambers of the Azure Dragon Palace. In the meantime, she focused solely on cultivating her strength.
No matter what, it was nearly impossible for someone to awaken the Heavenly Dragon’s power without the innate ability and talent given by the heavens. And yet, without anyone’s guidance, she somehow managed to do it alone in just under a month.
Originally, the power of the Heavenly Dragon was something even the Heavenly Maiden, with the full support of the country behind her, could not easily manifest even after years of cultivation.
However, the heightened senses granted by the Emperor of Heaven and her inexplicably fierce willpower made such an impossible miracle possible.
The place of the young immortal, the Azure Dragon Palace.
In a corner of the inner chambers, a girl sat with her head bowed and with her lower face covered with her sleeve. A faint blue aura settled around her eyes.
It was an unprecedented miracle in the history of Cheongdo Palace.
There are limits to how tenacious a person can be.
What on earth drove this girl to such relentless determination? The maids had no way of knowing.
…In reality, it would have been strange for them to know.
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