The winter wind was cold.
During the time when the cold seeped into every corner, the palace often felt as though time itself had frozen.
In spring, the palace bloomed with vibrant flowers; in summer, it flourished with lush greenery; and in autumn, the bright colors of falling leaves were breathtaking. Yet, in winter, even the beauty of Cheongdo Palace seemed to pale, leaving behind a stark and desolate feeling.
Just as people need rest, so too did the plants and trees that thrived throughout the seasons.
Winter was the time when all things entered a period of repose, and even the dazzling Cheongdo Palace seemed more simple and more subdued during this season.
If you were dressed warmly in hemp clothing tightly packed with cotton and wrapped in a shawl, you could barely stand the cold that seemed to seep into your bones.
The Azure Princess shook off the steam rising from her lips and looked up at the garden of the Heavenly Dragon Hall. All things were asleep, wrapped in a pure white blanket.
Even in decay, quality remains, or so the saying went.
No matter how dormant the surrounding landscape became, Cheongdo Palace which was known far and wide for its beauty remained exquisite.
The sight of Cheongdo Palace in silent slumber held its own kind of romance. Looking out at the courtyard of Heavenly Dragon Hall, the Azure Princess sniffed softly; her breath was visible in the cold air.
“The weather is terribly cold.”
“It’s fine.”
The Azure Princess, or rather Heavenly Maiden Jin Cheong Lang sat quietly. Her delicate figure was wrapped in a blanket embroidered with intricate floral patterns as she gazed wistfully at the snowflakes drifting down.
Her doll-like appearance surrounded by softly falling snow evoked a feeling of melancholy.
From a distance, the maids of the Heavenly Dragon Hall watched her quietly and started whispering among themselves.
It was an uncertain time for the country. Demonic spirits continued to wreak havoc, and the political dynamics within the inner palace were shifting unpredictably.
For someone so young to bear the responsibility of ruling Heavenly Dragon Hall, it was only natural for her days to be filled with worries and burdens.
Determined to support their young mistress in her lonely position, the maids glanced at the icicles hanging from the eaves before bowing their heads toward the Azure Princess, who sat staring blankly.
The maids realized the weight of responsibility that rested on those small shoulders, AND they steeled their hearts.
As the Azure Princess gazed at the PORCH of Heavenly Dragon Hall, a thought crossed her mind.
Ah…how I wish I could just quit being the Heavenly Princess.
She wanted to leave the inner palace behind.
***
Some time had passed since Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon had left the inner palace.
It had been nothing short of a major upheaval in the balance of power within the inner palace, but the newly appointed Vermilion Princess Seol had exceeded expectations in her role, and the palace quickly regained its stability.
When someone under the protection of the Crown Prince suddenly appeared, it was only natural for the other princess consorts to attempt to keep her in check. Such was the history of Cheongdo Palace; it had never been otherwise.
For this reason, the inner palace was always considered a battlefield for women, where covert schemes and political games ran rampant.
However, even with the arrival of the rising star known as the Vermilion Princess, none of the other consorts raised a single objection against her.
In fact, they appeared to go out of their way to respect her and avoid provoking her. This was an unprecedented occurrence in palace history.
Vermilion Princess Seol Ran entered the Vermilion Bird Palace in early winter when light sleet began to fall.
By the time the snowfall grew heavier and the season could truly be called midwinter, she had become an unapproachable figure in the inner palace.
If the King of Cheongdo was Emperor Woon Sung, then the queen of the inner palace was none other than Vermilion Princess Seol Ran, the new mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
Her influence was so evident that maids joked about it among themselves. They said that Seol Ran’s influence soared to the heavens.
Of course, Seol Ran herself showed no interest in such authority.
From time to time she was caught cooking in the palace kitchen, trying to fix broken water pipes herself, or wiping up spilled tea with her own towel. Her behavior was far removed from any notion of power or privilege, and her nature remained the same.
However, there was one instance where she openly wielded her authority.
“…Ran-noonim. Did you call for me? The tea room in the Vermilion Bird Palace hasn’t changed a bit.”
“Welcome, Tae Pyeong-ah. Come, sit down and listen. I recently paid a visit to the White Princess at the White Tiger Palace to ask about her well-being, and let me tell you, the way she manages that enormous palace so flawlessly and perfectly left a deep impression on me.”
“……”
“Tae Pyeong-ah, you are currently the Vice General, and if you continue on this solid path, wouldn’t the position of Grand General come easily to you? For someone on such a great path, it is important to have a partner who can support you well and handle the petty and complicated matters that inevitably come with being in the shadow of power, don’t you think? Well, the White Princess is not only knowledgeable about political matters, but she’s also beautiful as a fairy, full of grace, and decisive when it matters. I can’t think of anyone more suitable to be the wife of a general who is destined to do great things. What do you think, Tae Pyeong-ah?”
“.…..”
The following week, it was the same when I visited her to check in.
“Ran-noonim, how have you been this week? I have some matters related to the inner palace inspection that require review…”
“Listen, listen, Tae Pyeong-ah. I recently visited the Black Princess at the Black Tortoise Palace, and would you believe it, all the maids under her were so cheerful and looked really happy. Well, it’s no wonder. The Black Princess is a commoner, knows how to take care of her subordinates, has a generous spirit, and is kind on top of that. It must be so comforting and fulfilling to work under her.
“…….”
“Besides, we are basically commoners too, aren’t we? We spent much of our childhood wandering and fighting poverty. She would understand our situation. We’d get along easily and have much in common. Her humble yet determined nature, her ability to embrace anyone with a heart as big as the sea… where could you find someone like that? Don’t you think someone like that would be the perfect partner? Tae Pyeong-ah?”
“……”
The following week, too…
“Well, I thought about it again, and after all, true strength lies in the strength of the heart, doesn’t it? Someone like Vermilion Princess, no, In Ha Yeon, who always maintains her upright stance, who can steadfastly support you and be your pillar…”
“Ha, but then again, could there ever be another like the Azure Princess, who is not only skilled in Taoist arts but also deeply understands the will of the Heavenly Dragon and expresses her feelings to you more sincerely than anyone else? For a man, isn’t it right to keep such a woman by his side without looking elsewhere? And considering that she is currently the Heavenly Maiden, imagine how much that could aid your future…”
“Well, but still, the White Princess is…”
“Ha, but then again, the Black Princess is…”
“Still, In Ha Yeon is…”
“No, the Azure Princess is…”
“…….”
……
….
..
.
Documents detailing the profiles of the mistresses of the Four Great Palaces were piled high on the tea table.
As Seol Ran carefully examined each one, she suddenly turned her gaze toward Seol Tae Pyeong, and her eyes seemed to glimmer like starlight pouring out.
“Tae Pyeong-ah! Share your thoughts with me!”
“……”
“Oh, this… my lips keep curling up. As the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace, I’m supposed to always maintain a dignified smile; that’s what the Headmaid keeps reminding me. But… hehe… oh dear… haha…”
Seol Ran pressed her cheeks tightly with both hands and shook her head in frustration.
“But still… I’ve never faced such a delightful problem before. What am I supposed to do about this smile I can’t seem to control?”
“Ran-noonim… you haven’t forgotten that they all hold the title of crown princess consort, have you?”
“Well, anyway… I closed my eyes and imagined it. No matter who I paired by your side, they all looked like a perfect match. I like this one and that one too much to choose…!”
“…Why are you the one deciding that, noonim?”
“That’s why I’m asking for your opinion!”
“I’ve told you countless times… they are all crown princess consorts and one of them is even the Heavenly Maiden of the entire country. If I dared to entertain such foolish thoughts…”
“Don’t worry about that, Tae Pyeong-ah. What wouldn’t your noonim do for your sake?”
With those words, Seol Ran swept all the documents containing the crown princess consorts’ profiles to one side, placed her hands on her hips in her signature pose, and let out a triumphant laugh.
“Just trust your noonim!”
“…Would it be all right to ask what exactly you’re thinking?”
“I’ve decided to become a villainess. Don’t try to stop me, Tae Pyeong-ah.”
“……”
Seol Tae Pyeong decided it would be best to listen for now.
“A… villainess, you say?”
“Ever since I took the position of Vermilion Princess, I’ve been studying the history of Cheongdo in earnest. Particularly the history of the inner palace.”
“Yes, yes… that’s true.”
“In the long history of the inner palace, the women who survived to the very end and seized power were, without exception, the coldest and most ruthless individuals. Since I’ve entered the palace, I suppose I too must adopt a bit of that mindset.”
“…And then?”
“It seems that one way or another, fortune has been on my side, and my voice has grown stronger within the inner palace! Now, I plan to wield power like a tyrant… drive out those I dislike beyond my sight, scheme in secret, and act as I please!”
Even setting aside the fact that Seol Ran wasn’t the kind of person capable of such things, what possible benefit could come from such actions?
Seol Tae Pyeong wore an expression of disbelief, but Seol Ran simply nodded her head a few times before clearing her throat as if she were serious.
“So, if there’s a crown princess I don’t like, I’ll find a way to drive her out of the inner palace!”
“……”
“Then you can just sweep her up and take her away, Tae Pyeong-ah! Of course, if you two start a relationship right after she loses her title, it’ll cause a huge uproar, but that’s just a matter of timing. It’s nothing that can’t be overcome.”
“So, you’re saying that if I pick someone, you’ll have them removed from the inner palace?”
“That’s right. I’ll show you just how ruthless your noonim can be. For the sake of your marriage, I’ll go to such lengths!”
Seol Tae Pyeong swallowed hard, but suspicion lingered in his heart as he listened to Seol Ran’s words.
While Seol Ran possessed a remarkable and unusual nature, she was not the sort of person who would falsely accuse or manipulate others for no reason.
No matter how much she wanted to help her brother’s marriage, it didn’t seem likely she would resort to such underhanded methods.
“…Can I hear the specifics of this plan? How exactly do you intend to expel the other crown princesses from the palace?”
“Good question, Tae Pyeong-ah. My plan is to put you front and center, to stir up jealousy so intense that the other crown princess consorts no longer want to stay in the palace… all because they’d rather marry you.”
“……”
“Besides, with the current Crown Prince’s temperament, he’s likely to grant them permission to leave the palace, so achieving my goal is just a matter of time.”
As expected, it was exactly what he feared.
“Is that even considered driving them out?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“No, I just thought… something like framing them or catching their weakness.…”
“Oh my! Tae Pyeong-ah! You shouldn’t have such wicked thoughts!”
“……”
Seol Ran flapped the sleeves of her palace robe dramatically as if she was shocked.
In public, Seol Ran carried herself as the noble and dignified mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace better than anyone else, but for some reason, whenever she was with Seol Tae Pyeong, she couldn’t help but behave recklessly.
Even the maids seemed used to this peculiar disparity, to the point where they wouldn’t even enter the tea room on the days Seol Tae Pyeong visited.
It might have been a small act of escapism as if they didn’t want to see their mistress’s unbecoming antics. In reality, it was likely Seol Ran’s own instructions.
“For now, choose carefully. Your noonim is here to back you up.”
“Setting others aside, there’s nothing we can do about In Ha Yeon who has the Jeongseon clan behind her, or Jin Cheong Lang who holds the position of mistress of the Heavenly Dragon Hall… you know this as well as I do, don’t you, noonim?”
The authority of the Heavenly Maiden could not be underestimated.
If anyone understood that fact, it was Seol Ran who had spent many years working as a maid.
Moreover, the Jeongseon clan had become the most influential faction in the main palace, seizing the moment as the Inbong clan faltered.
At this point, with speculation that their head had some connection to the Plague Demonic Spirit, they were a clan that required careful handling.
“That, that’s right…. The more important the position, the greater the person’s influence. No matter how close we are, it would be difficult to do anything about the Azure Princess….”
“Noonim, I’ve told you repeatedly. I’ll take care of finding my partner myself… please focus on securing your own position first….”
“Tae Pyeong-ah, this noonim of yours can endure many things, but I cannot stand the idea of your pool of potential partners being so narrow. I’ll think of a solution right away.”
Seol Ran’s gaze grew more determined, and Seol Tae Pyeong couldn’t help but feel deeply uneasy.
“…Ran-noonim?”
“If the issue lies with the Azure Princess holding the position of Heavenly Maiden… then I’ll come up with a way to resolve it….”
“No-Noonim… please don’t have any strange ideas.”
A sudden chill ran down his spine, and Seol Tae Pyeong shook his head vigorously.
But Seol Ran seemed lost in deep contemplation.
Seol Tae Pyeong found her expression utterly terrifying.
***
“That moment will probably be the perfect opportunity.”
Yeon Ri, who was seated on the porch, swung her legs idly as she spoke.
The setting was the mansion of the Vice General of the Hwalseong District.
By the next week, for the birthday ceremony of Crown Prince Hyeon Won, all the high officials would gather at the base of the White Immortal Mountain to enjoy a grand feast.
At that time, the head of the Jeongseon clan In Seon Rok would also attend, so there would naturally be an opportunity to probe him.
That was the gist of what Yeon Ri had been saying.
“It’s said that Peaceful Moon Stone from the southern region has the ability to discern lies. Of course, it’s famous for being ridiculously expensive.”
“So, you’re saying we use Peaceful Moon Stone at that time?”
“Yes, that’s right, Tae Pyeong-ah. Your quick thinking will be important.”
The Peaceful Moon Stone was no bigger than a fingernail yet worth more than an entire house, and it was known for its mystical properties. If someone holding it spoke a lie, the stone would lose its radiant glow and turn pitch black.
Because it was imbued with such spiritual energy, it was a rare gem that was occasionally found at the top of Cheongsan Mountain. Once it turned black, it could never regain its former brilliance, so it was a consumable item.
Naturally, its price was astronomically high.
“At the Crown Prince’s ceremony, the stone will likely be used and then returned to the imperial treasury.”
The Crown Prince who reached adulthood would hold the stone in his hand and make a declaration before the officials. He would vow to always maintain the dignity of the imperial family and live with the country’s well-being in mind.
Such vague and obvious promises were neither meant to be judged for truth nor falsehood. It was merely a ceremonial tradition performed for show.
“We’ll take that stone, hand it to the Chief Councilor, and ask him a question.”
“Do you… know about the existence of the Plague Demonic Spirit?”
“…Yes.”
If he lied, we would arrest him immediately.
If he told the truth, we would simply return the intact Peaceful Moon Stone to its original place.
It seemed like a straightforward plan, but in reality, it wasn’t so simple.
There were people who didn’t technically lie but spoke in a way that wasn’t entirely truthful either.
If the Plague Demonic Spirit was really the Chief Councilor, it could easily escape such traps with a silver tongue.
And so, we couldn’t maintain an ambiguous stance; we would have to demand clarity. Moreover, we couldn’t afford to give him time to anticipate and prepare.
“Yeon Ri, if we show even the slightest hint that we’re planning something, that cunning old fox will catch on immediately and start guarding against us.”
“Hmm… you’re right. It would be ideal to have an ally who wouldn’t arouse the Chief Councilor’s suspicions….”
Creak.
It was at that moment.
Passing through the main gate of the mansion of the Vice General, there was a figure leading a procession of many vassals.
It was someone who had been in seclusion for weeks, remaining at the Jeongseon clan in self-reflection.
She was always dressed in the dazzling clothes of the Vermilion Bird Palace. Now, dressed in the silk clothes favored by noble ladies, her appearance had a fresh and refined quality.
Yet, her fiery hair that blazed like flames and her radiant eyes were just as captivating as ever.
“Announcing to the Vice General…! May the young lady of the Jeongseon clan have the honor of meeting your esteemed presence?”
At the booming voice of a robust retainer, a young girl draped in a delicate outer shawl stepped into the courtyard with a modest demeanor.
This was the cherished flower of the Jeongseon clan, Lady In Ha Yeon.
The former mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace who had always looked down upon Seol Tae Pyeong with grace and dignity. A woman who ruled above all else in her dazzling robes.
She entered the courtyard with poised steps and an elegant smile and then, without hesitation, got down on one knee and bowed her head.
“Ah…”
Even that single movement made Seol Tae Pyeong flinch and tremble.
The surreal discord of someone who should never kneel suddenly doing so sent a chill down his spine.
But there was nothing wrong here.
She was no longer the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
She had reigned all her life, and that appearance was so natural that he forgot it for a moment.
In Ha Yeon lowered her head gracefully…. her voice was soft and calm as she addressed Seol Tae Pyeong with respect.
“Vice General, have you been well? It has been some time since we last met.”
At those words, realization finally settled in.
She was still the noble lady of the Jeongseon clan. She was still a woman of elegance and grace.
But she was no longer someone who stood above Seol Tae Pyeong.
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