It was midnight.
The sky above Joseon was bleak, dark and grey.
It was occasionally marked with thunder and lightning as heavy rains saturated the earth.
Crown Prince Yeongan sat quietly in his father's chamber.
Outside the rains thumped heavily upon the roof of the Palace.
The Crown Prince turned his head to look at the magnolious red robe with gold emblem of the dragon that was hanged up.
The Royal raiment seemed like it was waiting patiently for it's rightful owner to wear it again.
The King's chamber was gloomy and yet peaceful at the same time. Though there were lighted lanterns the entire chamber was cast in partial darkness.
Behind a diaphanous screen, King Hwan lay still upon a silken bedding with a matching silken blanket covering him up to the chest.
The Crown Prince returned his focus to the King.
"Father.... Father....Father."
Crown Prince Yeongan whispered repeatedly but there was no response.
"My son.... Joseon will soon have a new King," King Hwan announced in a frail voice from behind the diaphanous screen.
In choked desolation, Crown Prince Yeongan focused on his father as he laboured violently for breath.
"Crown Prince."
King Hwan called.
"Yes, Father," Yeongan responded.
"You will inherit this golden throne because you will not the Crown Prince for much longer."
With each laboured breath of King Hwan Yeongan felt wretched, heart broken and deep woe.
"Yeongan, come closer.
The Crown Prince got up lifted up the diaphanous screen to be closer to his father.
He watched in agony as King Hwan struggled with all his might to sit up.
"I am about to die, therefore be strong and prove yourself a man."
"Yes, Father."
Now King Hwan used the last of his strength to hug his son and whispered to him.
"You must keep your obligation to the God of heaven and observe all his commandments. I wish for you an obedient heart rule Joseon, to discern between good and bad. And for you to be a just and fair King."
After saying these words King Hwan expired in the arms of the Crown Prince.
Outside the rains poured down misery and the late King's Eunch stood up on the roof of the Palace.
Holding up the red royal raiment of the late King, Eunch proclaimed: "Your Majesty please return to us! Please, Your Majesty return to us!"
Below on the ground, court officials bowed low and prostrated themselves, facing the Royal quarters of the late King proclaiming in union.
"Please, Your Majesty return to us! Please, Your Majesty return to us!"
Yeongan laid his father back onto his pillow as tears of heartache spilled down his cheeks.
"I have heard your words, Father. I will do as you have spoken. I will protect the throne. Rest well."
The Crown Prince stood up before bowing and prostrating himself with his head down to pay his respects to his father.
Yeongan was 23 years old when he became King of Joseon, and he reigned for 40 years.
He sat upon the golden throne and gradually his kingship became firmly established.
In the first year of his reign, the Chief Royal Secretary, Cha Sung-Je was summoned and brought before the new King.
King Yeongan sat upon his magnificent golden throne with his court officials assembled before him, while looking very resplendent in his red robe with emblems of the dragon.
Cha Sung-Je prostrated and bowed before the King, then said: "So His Majesty has summoned me at last."
"Do you know why you were summoned?" King Yeongan began.
"No, Your Majesty," the Chief Secretary gloated proudly.
"It seems you are determined to do what is bad in the eyes of your King."
"May His Majesty the King be praised. What is it I have done to earn the King's displeasure?"
His gloat quickly changed to apprehension and fear.
"I regret having kept you as the Chief Royal Secretary after the death of my father for you have not carried out my words."
Immediately Cha Sung-Je protested.
"But I have carried out the word of my King....."
King Yeongan's handsome face grew hot with vexation.
"Stop!"
The assembled court officials exchanged angst glances among themselves.
"I sent you on a mission to devote everyone involved in the rebellion at Gyeonggi to destruction. You were to exterminate all of them. But what did I hear? You sold them as slaves to merchants from Qing!"
The Royal Secretary quickly defended his actions.
"The money, Your Majesty was donated to the Royal Treasury."
"Because you rejected the words of your King, he has also rejected you from being the Chief Royal Secretary."
Cha Sung-Je raised his head and quickly bowed it before the golden throne again.
"I have sinned, Your Majesty. I have overstepped the order of the King and have acted presumptuously. Please pardon my error and return me to post," the Chief Secretary begged the King.
King Yeongan stood up from his golden throne with deep annoyance and regret.
"I will not return you to your former post for you have rejected my order and therefore your King has rejected you."
In that very moment the doors of the throne room were thrown open and palace guards came rushing in.
As they collected the Chief Royal Secretary and dragged him from before the golden throne, he screamed at the top of his lungs.
"My King, please pardon my mistake and show mercy to your favorite person. Please show your loving kindness on my behalf."
King Yeongan turned his back as Cha Sung-Je was dragged out of the throne room.
Later King Yeongan returned to the Royal chambers and sat behind his desk. After a long moment of silence, he went into mourning for Cha Sung-Je. And regretted that he had made him the Chief Royal Secretary.
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