Lady Songhwa was seated before the Queen Dowager in her quarters. Queen Yoon was not present.
"Now, tell me Lady Songhwa, why are you anguished."
The Queen Dowager asked as two Court ladies brought in the tea things small round tables. They placed one table before each Lady
"Your Majesty, I feel so ill-used and so wronged. Queen Yoon has done nothing but malign and abuse me at every opportunity. The Queen has pained and injured me in more ways than I can recount.'
Lady Songhwa lamented behind her silken handkerchief.
"So this is your adversity."
The Queen Dowager remarked softly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Queen Dowager signed.
Lady Songhwa continues explicate her torment further. As she pretended to be overwhelmed with destress.
"I do not believe I can withstand her abuse anymore. I am so sorry we caused such a ruckus."
Lady Songhwa bowed her head humbly and waited for a suitable response.
No such response came.
She immediately became vexed.
"What does Her Majesty suggest? Should we tell the King?"
"Let's cover it up."
The Queen Dowager said finally.
"It was a response Lady Songhwa did not anticipate.
"But, Your Majesty......"
"The King has a lot more State matters that requires his full attention," the Queen Dowager added. "What good would it serve in making the King aware of such a petty issue between his Queen and Concubine?"
"But, Your Majesty," Lady Songhwa managed as her irritation grew.
"Let it be. And if possible avoid all confrontation with Queen Yoon. You have already punished her servants so let it be."
Lady Songhwa bit her lower lip to keep from screaming abuse at the Queen Dowager.
"I am sure Queen Yoon has repented her mistreatment of you," the Queen Dowager said with a delicate assurance.
Lady Songhwa smiled to hide her bitter disappointment as her heart plotted retaliation.
Court Officials, Ministers, Councilmen, Bureaucrats were all assembled in the Throne room.
A pamphlet filled with salacious gossip about the King had been distributed in the middle of night throughout the city.
And one of the said pamphlet has been brought to the attention of the King.
King Yeongan stood before the golden throne, Eunuch Jo stood to his right while his Royal Secretary Kim Moon-gun stood to his left.
With his back facing the assembly, King Yeongan read from the pamphlet.
"The King remains a polarizing figure with his flawed policies. Closing his ears to the suffering of his people and a mere puppet in the hand of his favorite Concubine."
"There are uprising and plots to depose the King because there have been rumours that he poisoned his father, the late King. But foolish Yeongan ignores it all.
"While extravagantly spending the country's entire's budget on frivolous pursuits such as building projects which had left the economy devastated."
King Yeongan turned slowly to face the assembly.
"Is this what Joeson thinks of me?"
He asks his subjects.
"This is just tittle-tattle, Your Majesty. The perpetrators must be found and punished for treason," the Minister of Personnel said.
"If we punish the culprits for spreading such salacious gossip, the people will believe it all to be true," Kim Hun, Chief of the Capital Bureau quickly chimed in.
"I agree with Kim Hun. Such an action will only stir up the people," the Minister of Defense added.
"Your Majesty, please be cautious in making a wise decision," Councilman Park entreated the King.
"Please make a wise decision, Your Majesty."
The entire assembly implored the King together.
"Your Majesty."
King Yeongan turned and looked at the Left State Councilor as he spoke.
"Please do not be swayed by this canard."
"What would you have me do? Am I expected to do nothing while my person is maligned," King Yeongan asked his subjects.
"Your Majesty, the Capital Bureau will look into the matter and a suitable solution would be decided upon."
Left State Councilor said as he looked at the King then at Kim Hun.
Eunuch Bi-Chan ran all the way to the Royal Secretariat as fast as his legs could carry him.
Kim Moon-gun was busy transcribing government documents when his Eunuch arrived quite out of breath.
"What's the matter?" Moon-gun asked as he looked up.
"The King has summoned you to accompany him," Eunuch Bi-Chan said as he tried to catch his breath.
"Accompany His Majesty where?"
"The King is going to the archery range."
Kim Moon-gun stopped transcribing and ran out of the Royal Secretariat.
At the archery range Moon-gun stood beside the King's Eunuch. They both watched as he took aim with his bow and arrow.
He stopped by lowering the bow and arrow. After a moment of intense concentration, the raised the bow, took aim and released the arrow.
The King missed his target.
He picked up an arrow and took aim again and released the arrow.
He missed the target again.
His Court ladies, Eunuch, Royal Secretary and Palace guards watched on quietly.
"Why is the King here?"
Moon-gun asked Eunuch Jo.
"I do not know," Eunuch Jo answered. "But His Majesty has received a message from Ming and it's content has enraged him."
"What does the message from Ming say?"
"Ming doesn't approve of His Majesty as King and they want Prince Danjong to be made Crown Prince," Eunuch Jo said.
They both watched King Yeongan picked up an arrow yet again, took aim and then released it.
This time the arrow pierced the target.
The King turned and looked at Moon-gun.
It was as if he wanted to verify if his Royal Secretary was watching him and then to find out his thoughts on his accomplishment.
"Royal Secretary Kim, I would like a word with you."
Moon-gun moved closer to King Yeongan.
"A message came from Ming."
"Yes, I have been told."
"Do you approve of me as your king?"
The handsomeness of the King was so devastating, Moon-gun suddenly realized. He was not surprised Queen Yoon and Lady Songhwa were fluttering themselves over him.
"Yes I do, Your Majesty."
But Moon-gun hardened his heart because he felt it would be foolishness on his part to let his heart get carried away by the King's handsomeness.
"Do you think Prince Danjong should be made Crown Prince?"
"Does His Majesty think otherwise?"
King Yeongan remained thoughtful about the question.
Without waiting for an answer Moon-gun asked again: "Is the King troubled?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, His Majesty has missed the target a few times."
"I am preoccupied with many things," King Yeongan admitted.
"My government is divided into contentious political factions. The Northerners and Ming want Prince Danjong to be made Crown Prince. But the liberal Easterners are against the very idea."
"May I make a suggestion, Your Majesty."
Their eyes were locked together.
"I am willing to hear it. So speak."
"Let others decide who the Crown Prince should be "
"What do you mean?"
The King was intrigued.
"Let the Northerners and liberal Easterners fight among themselves to decide who becomes the Crown Prince. If you go against Ming, they will retaliate against your nation. And if you take sides with the liberal Easterners then the Northerners will fight to have you deposed."
King Yeongan thought deeply about what his Royal Secretary had said. In a sense he was supposed to use the leg work of others to further his own cause.
"In the end Ming, the Northerners or the liberal Easterners would all be forgotten but your legacy will be remembered."
Looking into the eyes of his Royal Secretary, King Yeongan said: "Never do yourself what others can do for you."
Both King and Royal Secretary smiled while looking into each other's eyes.
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuwX2hDBvH
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yvk09qhTo
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTmamow7o9
