“I’ve reached the most critical decision since I entered Cheongdo Palace.”
Whenever something like this happens, there’s a friend I consult.
It was Wang Han, who worked as a secretary for the Ministry of Justice.
However, since I was now the Vice General, simply going in and out of the main palace was too troublesome, so I had to summon Wang Han to the Hwalseong District… but knowing the gravity of the situation, he came right away.
“The Central Councilor sent a letter directly, telling me to decide my future on my own…”
When I spoke in a heavy tone like this, a tense silence filled the room.
In the meeting room of the Hwalseong District, there was Wang Han who had rushed here from the Ministry of Justice early in the morning, and Yeon Ri who served as my headmaid.
Normally, important figures like Ha Si Hwa, Bi Cheon, or Cheong Jin Myeong would be involved in discussions, but today’s agenda was something only the three of us needed to talk about.
“…You mean they want you to personally choose one of the crown princess consorts from the four palaces? Tae Pyeong-ah… this is…”
“The person who gave the order probably doesn’t even understand what this means.”
“Y-Yeah, probably…”
Yeon Ri and Wang Han.
These two, who had been with me since my days in White Immortal Palace, knew exactly how intertwined the crown princess consorts of the Four Palaces were.
“No… Yeon Ri-ah… the situation has come to this…. and you’ve been silent all this time, even though you’ve been serving as my headmaid for quite some time now…?”
“Th-That’s… there were circumstances, you could say…”
When Wang Han looked at her in disbelief, Yeon Ri awkwardly avoided his gaze.
From Yeon Ri’s perspective, there were probably many things she wanted to say but none of them were easy to explain.
“Y-Yeah… carrying out an order that came from above and choosing someone to serve under by yourself are two completely different things. I don’t know how the crown princess consorts will take this…”
“I agree with Yeon Ri. Tae Pyeong-ah… but if the Central Councilor went so far as to send a letter, you must decide by the end of today…”
Would I throw myself under the Vermilion Princess to accelerate the development project in Hwalseong District with the support of the Jeongseon clan?
Would I side with the White Princess to strengthen ties with the Inbong clan and extend my influence over the palace?
Or would I assist the Azure Princess who would become the Heavenly Maiden and help her with her duties?
“I… I feel most comfortable with the Black Princess…”
“The Black Princess has already been pushed aside… Tae Pyeong-ah… you know that as well as anyone…”
The Black Princess wasn’t from a prestigious clan, nor did she have any extraordinary powers, so she wasn’t even in the running.
No matter how much the Black Princess tried to stay out of political schemes, had no political ambitions, and treated him strictly as a friend…. it was meaningless if there was no legitimate reason to serve under her.
“Depending on what stance you take here, the outcome of this battle to seize the Vice General will be decided. You… you’re the one who will determine the winner, Tae Pyeong-ah…”
There wasn’t much time left from the start.
He had to make a clear decision by the end of the day so that everything could be formally settled through a letter in time for the council meeting the next day.
There was no way they’d allow him to run away now saying he wouldn’t do it. Refusing an imperial decree was never an option in the first place.
“Sh-Should I… just lie down and pretend I’m sick…?”
“Would it really benefit a general of the country to show weakness while battling illness?”
“And besides… this isn’t something you can keep running away from forever.”
Wang Han spoke with a determined expression on his face.
“If it’s something that must be decided eventually, it’s better to reach a conclusion all at once. Being indecisive will only make things worse.”
“Yes, Tae Pyeong-ah. In this battle to seize the Vice General… you have no choice but to choose the winner yourself.”
Caught between Wang Han and Yeon Ri, I lowered my head and went into deep thought. I felt as if a blade was pressed against my throat.
Sweat began to rise from my lower back, and it felt as though time was moving slowly.
The Vermilion Princess, the White Princess, the Azure Princess.
Where should I go?
Faced with so many circumstances, how was I supposed to weigh them all?
I sank deeper and deeper into my thoughts.
***
The next day, the council meeting was held.
The meeting held in front of the Emperor himself was a place where all the famous officials gathered and sat together.
Of course, the crown princess consorts of the four palaces did not attend these meetings held in the main palace.
Unless they were key witnesses in important matters or had a significant influence on decision-making, they all remained waiting in the inner palace.
…This is so uncomfortable…!
Even at the tea gathering that was being held in the Black Tortoise Palace for the first time in a while, the crown princess consorts stayed silent.
The Black Princess could no longer endure the suffocating atmosphere.
Perhaps once the tea gathering ended and everyone returned to their respective palaces, the results of the morning’s meeting would be reported.
The matter of assigning the position to the new Vice General.
It was one of the key issues brought up in today’s meeting, and finally, the decision would be made today.
Which side did Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong chose to support?
Given the tangled web of political conditions, no matter what choice he made, it wouldn’t come as a surprise.
The expectation that the decision would soon be finalized had actually dissolved the tension among the crown princess consorts.
Now that they believed nothing they did would affect the outcome, the conflicts between them seemed to vanish.
It was as if they all just wanted the tea gathering to end quickly, so they could return to their palaces and receive the report on the meeting’s agenda.
“Since it seems we have no further conversation to share today, shall we bring this gathering to a close?”
In the end, the Black Princess had no choice but to speak first, as she was the host of the gathering.
There was nothing more she could do with the crown princess consorts whose minds were clearly elsewhere.
And so the consorts of each palace returned to their respective places.
As soon as the Vermilion Princess who was accompanied by her maids entered the inner chamber of the Vermilion Bird Palace, the headmaid approached her and handed her a letter.
It was a summary of the agenda from the morning meeting.
The same thing happened with the White Princess who had returned to the White Tiger Palace, and with the Black Princess who had just finished wrapping up the tea gathering at the Black Tortoise Palace.
Likewise, the Azure Princess who was seated on the porch of the Azure Dragon Palace also received the letter.
——————————–
Regarding the assignment of duties for the new Vice General, Seol Tae Pyeong
One of the eight generals who support the Cheongdo Empire in their respective positions under the command of General Seong Sa Wook.
The agenda concerning the assignment of duties to Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong has now been concluded.
There were many places that wanted to assign him, but considering he was already handling numerous responsibilities, it wasn’t possible to entrust him with everything.
By His Majesty’s prior decree, and most importantly, at the request of the Vice General himself, his duties will be carried out at the Heavenly Dragon Hall inside the inner palace.
The Emperor instructed Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong to ensure there was no lack in assisting the Heavenly Maiden and to always work towards maintaining the peace and well-being of the Heavenly Dragon’s will.
Imperial Council Meeting.
Session 628, Agenda Item 8.
Under Councilor Jeong Woon Hyeol
——————————–
“…….”
When the Azure Princess set the document down on the terrace, Headmaid Hui Yin quietly retrieved it.
“So Vice General will be entering the Heavenly Dragon Hall. Congratulations, Your Highness.”
“Yes. It seems that’s how it turned out. But rather than a matter of celebration, it’s something I must prepare for with more effort. It’s no simple task to command a general of the country under one’s wing.”
Did the Azure Princess finally mature?
Headmaid Hui Yin had expected her to leap with joy but was surprised at her calm response.
Well, one can’t live like a child forever.
Though she had yet to hold her coming-of-age ceremony and couldn’t officially be called an adult… living amidst the high officials in the imperial palace would inevitably make her more composed.
Moreover, before concerning herself with the Vice General, she seemed to be contemplating how to proceed in her role as the Heavenly Maiden.
Perhaps she was now beginning to see the bigger picture and becoming someone who understood how to wield her own influence.
Watching the Azure Princess grow, Headmaid Hui Yin shed silent tears in her heart. A master’s growth was always a great joy for a maid.
“It seems the Vice General will come to pay his respects soon. I’m too exhausted from attending the tea gathering, so I’ll rest in my quarters for a short nap. Make sure to keep things quiet and don’t let anyone in.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Oh, and bring me the documents again. It’s not right to toss them aside just because I’ve checked one agenda, especially when there are many other important agendas.”
“Ah… I understand.”
“Yes… a lot has been decided. I can truly feel the weight on my shoulders now…”
Is this really the same Azure Princess? My heart is swelling with pride …
With tears brimming in her eyes, Headmaid Hui Yin handed over the documents and opened the door for the Azure Princess who was heading inside to rest.
Watching her now fully grown mistress, she felt a surge of pride in her decision to remain loyal.
Click
After entering the dimly lit inner chamber, the Azure Princess slid the door closed and quickly scanned her surroundings.
Normally, there would be maids inside to look after the Azure Princess’s safety, but perhaps because she had given advance notice, the room was empty today.
Just to be safe, she closed all the wooden shutters, then quietly slid the door open again to check the corridor.
In the distance, she could see three or four junior maids standing guard, but they were far enough away not to be a concern.
“Hooo….”
She closed the inner door once more, calmly dusted off her clothes, and let out a deep sigh.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
She then flung herself onto the bed and started kicking the innocent blanket with her short bare feet.
She hugged the silk pillow as if it would burst, rolled around on the spacious bed, jumped up and down on the vanity, and whirled around the inner chamber, bursting with joyous excitement.
“Euhehehe… Hehehehehehe… hmph!”
Worried that someone outside might hear, she quickly swallowed her laughter.
But in trying to laugh quietly, even she found her muffled giggles sounded sinister. This was not how the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace should behave.
In reality, ever since Headmaid Hui Yin had handed her the documents, a shout of joy had been on the verge of escaping from her lips, but she barely managed to keep it in.
The fact that she had solemnly discussed the future political landscape of the Cheongdo Empire was, in itself, a remarkable display of restraint.
“Meditating and training in the Heavenly Dragon’s power for weeks was worth it… hard work truly pays off…! Could this be a gift from the Emperor of Heaven for me …?!”
She opened the precious-looking document once more to read it over.
– By His Majesty’s prior decree, and most importantly, at the request of the Vice General himself, his duties will be carried out at the Heavenly Dragon Hall inside the inner palace.
Most importantly, at the request of the Vice General himself… his duties… inside the Heavenly Dragon Hall…
The Vice General himself requested it…
He requested it.
He… requested it!
The Vice General himself… directly requested it!!!
He could have received support from the Vermilion Princess and gotten the power of the Jeongseon clan; he could have solidified his alliance with the White Princess and the Inbong clan. He could have chosen any path.
But instead… instead…!
“He specifically chose! He specifically chose the Heavenly Dragon Hall!”
With a smile of triumph on her face, the Azure Princess hugged the documents tightly; her breath was coming in quick gasps.
Despite having the option to go elsewhere, Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong had deliberately chosen to stay by her side.
She remembered the deep fear she had felt, worried that the Vice General might be influenced by the other princess consorts and leave the Heavenly Dragon Hall. How unfair that would have been.
He supported her so steadfastly, so why had she ever doubted him?
“Euhehehehe… I won… I’ve won!!”
When she thought to herself, even she found her own laughter too frivolous that it was something she should never let anyone outside the Azure Dragon Palace witness.
The Azure Princess quickly rose from her bed and jumped out to grab the scriptures and etiquette book that were in a corner of her room.
As she rifled through them, she found texts discussing the duties of subordinates, as well as the legal codes organizing the ranks within the palace.
These books also outlined the responsibilities of those who served in support roles and the obligations of masters toward them.
Now, Seol Tae Pyeong was officially under her command, and she had gained some authority over how to manage him.
What tasks to assign him, what orders to give…
She could personally make those decisions!
Was this what it felt like to be the emperor, with the whole world at her feet?
Perhaps this was the feeling of the Heavenly Emperor who grasped the world in his hands.
“Ah, I should probably make sure he comes to greet me every morning… That much at least seems proper according to the etiquette books… And maybe we could have a meal together every day…?”
“Hmm… Since the Vice General also has to manage the Hwalseong District, it might be hard for him to be with me all the time… But at least we should be able to see each other daily…”
“At the grand events in the Heavenly Dragon Hall, he’ll escort me, right…? It seems like that’s what other assistant officials do…”
The Azure Princess swung her legs in the air as she imagined her life in the Heavenly Dragon Hall. It felt as if flowers were blooming all around her.
In her short life, nothing had been as joyful as this.
“Wh-When will he come to greet me…? Now that he’s officially my aide… he’ll come see me again, right…? Oh, sh-should I wear the jade butterfly hairpin? Maybe something too flashy wouldn’t be appropriate… Hmm… I should take another look through my jewelry box…”
There wasn’t a single light, yet it felt as if a brilliant glow was radiating from within the inner chambers of the Azure Dragon Palace.
***
“Leaving home~, riding the train~, off to the training camp…”
“Bowing deeply to my parents as I step out the door…”
“Though there’s something bittersweet~ left in my heart~, every blade of grass~, every friend’s face~… everything feels new~…”
“And now, once more!! It’s the beginning!!! The life of youth…”
As I finished preparing to pay my respects to the Azure Princess, I sang a song full of sorrow.
Of course, Wang Han who had no idea what the song was spoke with a sad expression.
“Tae Pyeong-ah … it’s not like you’re going to die…”
“…….”
“Still, I think you made the right choice by selecting the Heavenly Dragon Hall, where Maid Seol can be by your side to help. It’s better than messing with the Inbong clan or the Jeongseon clan and dealing with future problems. Things are balanced right now… so if you had to choose someone, it was a wise decision.”
Wang Han patted my shoulder gently and offered sincere comfort.
“Anyway, things have turned out this way, so stay strong…”
“Yeah… Han-ah, you too. Do your best with your matters in the Ministry of Justice.”
With that… I finished my preparations and walked out with heavy steps. Then I looked up at the sky over the Hwalseong District.
From now on… I had to go pay my respects to the Azure Princess.
The sun that was high in the sky was blindingly bright.
Completely oblivious to my feelings.
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