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****My Precious readers, please meet one of the most important supporting characters - Wung ****
Oblivious to the internal battles between the court officials in the palace, the guards at Taehyung’s manor were competing for grilled meat.
Taehyung wanted to motivate his lethargic guards during the colder days. He organized competitions like who could jump higher than the wall would be rewarded with grilled meat.
Everyone wanted to eat the delicious grilled meat from Southern Busan, especially Wung.
Dami’s arms were tired from supporting Wung’s weight and she used her last strength to push Wung into the air… Wung flew over the wall… and landed in front of the emperor.
Wung thought if he died and the god asked him how he died, he would say he jumped too high and landed in the wrong spot.
After the commotion, the emperor looked sternly at the people who knelt in front of him. Earlier Emperor Seokjin was scared to death, he thought an assassin flew over the wall.
“What was everyone doing?” the emperor asked.
“Imperial father, forgive me,” Taehyung said. “Recently the days have been colder. I wanted everyone at the manor to be active. I didn’t expect to trouble imperial father. I deserve to die.”
The emperor glanced at the ropes and chugguk balls on the ground and he knew Taehyung wasn’t lying. But he couldn’t calm his anger until he glanced at Seorin who was kneeling too.
“Everyone stand,” the emperor said. He turned around to look at his imperial physicians. “Hurry and examine Fifth prince’s wife!”
Taehyung and Seorin were surprised to see the emperor but they were frightened after they heard the emperor’s order. They looked at each other and realized Lee Jonghyeok was the culprit.
The emperor brought six imperial physicians to Taehyung’s manor. Outsiders would have thought Seorin had a contagious illness if they didn’t suspect she was pregnant.
Taehyung gave Seorin a don’t-worry-I’m-here look and she gave him a your-father-is-troublesome look.
While the six imperial physicians examined Seorin thoroughly, Emperor Seokjin assessed everyone at Taehyung’s manor. Afterward, he smelt a delicious grilled meat scent and it made him hungry. He didn’t have an appetite for many days but the grilled meat also looked appealing.
Taehyung noticed his father’s eyes focused on the grilled meat so he brought a bowl of grilled meat to his father. “Imperial father, this grilled meat is delicious.”
Jimin inserted a silver needle into the grilled meat and assured the emperor they were safe to eat.
The emperor slowly ate the grilled meat.
The emperor chewed the grilled meat but he didn’t say if it tasted delicious or awful.
Taehyung and Jimin didn’t know what the emperor was thinking.
“Congratulations your majesty,” the head imperial physician said.
The emperor swallowed the grilled meat and didn’t look like he heard the good news.
“Taehyung, follow me,” the emperor said.
Taehyung followed the emperor into the calligraphy room. The emperor looked at the three portraits on the wall, they were all portraits of Seorin. Then the emperor looked at Taehyung who looked shy to let the emperor find out how much Taehyung loved Seorin.
“Why did you try to deceive me?” the emperor asked.
Taehyung knelt in front of his father. “Imperial father, I wouldn’t dare to deceive you.”
“Don’t dare?” the emperor asked. “You’ve already dared and you can still say you don’t dare! Can you say that you don’t know your wife is pregnant more than three months?”
Taehyung silently lowered his head.
“Why did you deceive me?” the emperor asked.
“Because I want to protect your grandchild,” Taehyung said.
“What are you implying?” the emperor asked.
“Imperial father, I only want to live a peaceful life but while I’m alive I need to be cautious,” Taehyung said.
The emperor understood Taehyung’s words. He didn’t know who saw Taehyung as an eyesore until he remembered the commotion at the palace and suspected who those people were.
“Who do you need to be cautious of?” the emperor asked.
“Imperial father, I don’t know who,” Taehyung said.
“You dare say you don’t know!” the emperor said.
“Imperial father, don’t be angry,” Taehyung said. “I truly don’t know. I was scared since the harvest festival incident. The person behind it still hasn’t been caught.”
The emperor was still troubled about who dared to send those extra assassins into the palace. If he was in Taehyung’s position then he would be worried about others finding out about Seorin’s pregnancy too.
“You can stand and talk,” the emperor said.
“Thank you so much, imperial father,” Taehyung said.
“Taehyung, what are you hiding from me?” the emperor asked.
“Imperial father, I wouldn’t dare,” Taehyung said.
The emperor didn’t believe Taehyung. But he knew if he forced Taehyung to tell him what Taehyung was hiding, Taehyung would give him a reasonable explanation. He wasn’t certain if Taehyung was satisfied to be a carefree prince.
“Taehyung, did you know earlier many court officials recommended you to be the crown prince?” the emperor asked.
The emperor assessed the strange look in Taehyung’s eyes. “So, tell me if you want to be the crown prince.”
Taehyung knew his father’s smile on his handsome face meant if he gave the wrong answer then he would lose his life.
The emperor’s question was a hidden dagger.
Taehyung didn’t know how long the cold wind in his heart stirred.
“Imperial father, I promise my heart will not change,” Taehyung said.
“That’s good,” the emperor said and left the calligraphy room.
The emperor walked past the kitchen and the past haunted him and make him felled overwhelmingly guilty.
“Hyung, I learned how to grill meat in Southern Busan…” Prince Sang-Bum said.
That one memory ruined his happiness to hear his Fifth daughter-in-law was pregnant.
The emperor’s imperial guards and imperial physicians escorted the emperor back to the palace.
Taehyung’s manor returned to its lively atmosphere.
“You vile woman!” Wung cursed. “Dami, you purposely threw me over the wall! If I had landed on the emperor then I would have been cut into pieces! If you see me as an eyesore, you can tell me but don’t harm me like this. Say something. Don’t think I’ll spare you if you don’t say anything.”
Wung chased Dami around the courtyard.
“Those two people are going to make me laugh to death,” Seorin said. She rubbed her stomach and pulled Taehyung’s sleeve. “Taehyung, what’s wrong? What did the emperor say to you in the calligraphy room?”
Taehyung held Seorin’s hand. “Nothing. Your father-in-law asked me to behave.”
“Did the emperor find out about something?” Seorin asked.
Taehyung shook his head. “Perhaps someone said something to imperial father.”
Suddenly Taehyung’s guard entered the courtyard.
“What happened in the palace?” Taehyung asked.
The guard reported to Taehyung about the court officials’ conflict over who should be the crown prince and left the courtyard.
Seorin shivered, she thought Lee Jonghyeok would only spread the secret about her pregnancy.
“Why would Lee Jonghyeok want to cause trouble in the palace?” Seorin asked
“It appears I’ll need to visit him,” Taehyung said coldly.
Seorin knew Taehyung wasn’t upset about Lee Jonghyeok, he was upset about the emperor’s reaction. Taehyung was also the emperor’s son but the emperor’s warning showed that the emperor never wanted to give Taehyung the opportunity to inherit the kingdom.
Taehyung patted Seorin’s hand. “Seorin, it’s alright. I’m used to it. You can’t expose your deadly temper.”
He kissed her forehead and traveled to Lee Jonghyeok's manor.
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Later at Lee Jonghyeok’s manor, Taehyung and Lee Jonghyeok sat opposite each other in Lee Jonghyeok’s calligraphy room.
“Fifth prince, you must have heard what happened in the palace today,” Lee Jonghyeok said.
“Elder Lee, what are you alluding to?” Taehyung asked.
Lee Jonghyeok looked at Taehyung’s cup of tea on the table. “The tea is prepared and ready for you to drink.”
Taehyung understood Lee Jonghyeok’s motive. “In this period if I drink tea then I won’t be able to sleep.”
Lee Jonghyeok drank his tea and thought Taehyung was more cunning by the day.
“Elder Lee, you’re not young anymore,” Taehyung said. “It’s not good for Elder Lee to drink too much tea.”
Lee Jonghyeok’s back stiffened, he knew Taehyung was warning him. “Fifth prince, what did the emperor say to you at your manor?”
Taehyung laughed coldly. “Imperial father said a few words… Elder Lee wouldn’t be pleased if you heard what imperial father said.”
Lee Jonghyeok grimaced.
Taehyung changed into a more comfortable sitting position. “Elder Lee, it’s useless for your heart to waste energy.”
Lee Jonghyeok couldn’t see through Taehyung’s thoughts. “Fifth prince, do you have any grievances? But until the end, no one knows who the winner is and who the loser is. All the emperors in the past snatched the throne from their brothers.”
Lee Jonghyeok was a fool to have underestimated Taehyung as someone who could easily be manipulated. After the harvest festival incident, Taehyung’s manor was unaffected and Lee Jonghyeok realized Taehyung was more cunning and stronger than he thought. Also, Lee Jonghyeok didn’t believe the news about the empress killing herself. He knew Taehyung was involved to avenge his daughter’s death.
Lee Jonghyeok’s spies in the palace confirmed his suspicions about the empress’ death. Then he heard the news about Seorin being ill, he wasn’t fooled because he knew Seorin was a healthy woman so he sent his daughters-in-law to Taehyung’s manor to see if Seorin was pregnant. He was happy to hear his daughter-in-laws confirmed Seorin’s pregnancy.
After Lee Jonghyeok heard rumors about Hoseok’s supporters wanting to recommend Hoseok to be the crown prince, he knew it was the right opportunity for him to see the emperor in the palace. Everything had happened according to Lee Jonghyeok’s plan until Taehyung visited him and warned him not to interfere anymore because the emperor had no intentions to let Taehyung become the crown prince.
Lee Jonghyeok didn’t lose hope because no emperors were given the throne, the throne was always conquered. But Taehyung’s indifference to the throne made him feel frustrated and powerless.
“Fifth prince, are you weary of me?” Lee Jonghyeok asked.
Taehyung smiled coldly.
“Fifth prince, you don’t have to be wary of me,” Lee Jonghyeok said. “I promise I only want to help raise you to the highest position. All I want in return is that you promise to protect everyone in the Lee Household. The fifth prince, you know if the Third prince becomes crown prince then no one in this Household will survive.”
“No one can predict imperial father’s heart,” Taehyung said.
“It doesn’t matter if the emperor’s heart only sees one option,” Lee Jonghyeok said. “Fifth prince, earlier I told you it’s precedent that emperors have always snatched the throne.”
“Elder Lee, how do you plan to snatch the throne?” Taehyung asked.
Lee Jonghyeok knew Taehyung was forcing him to reveal his plan. Of course, snatching the throne involved a strong army force. It was true Lee Jonghyeok had a secret army force but he wouldn’t dare use his army force unless someone related to him like his adoptive grandson secured the crown prince position.
Lee Jonghyeok dipped a finger in the cup of tea and wrote his plan on the table.
“Fifth prince, what do you think?” Lee Jonghyeok asked.
Taehyung nodded his head. “It’s good.”
“Fifth prince, what do you plan to do?” Lee Jonghyeok asked.
“Me?” Taehyung asked. “Elder Lee, I think I still prefer to be a carefree prince.”
Lee Jonghyeok was too angry to speak.
Taehyung looked innocently at Lee Jonghyeok. “Elder Lee, your decision to use a chess piece at this time isn’t wrong. It’s a pity you used the wrong chess piece.”
“You!!” Lee Jonghyeok said.
“Elder Lee, don’t be angry,” Taehyung said. “Besides, Elder Lee is used to my way of speaking. It isn’t easy to drink tea here. I’ll leave first.”
After Taehyung left, Lee Jonghyeok’s son Lee Jongsuk appeared from behind a screen.
“Father, Taehyung is despicable!” Lee Jongsuk said. “Father, you lowered yourself in front of him but he didn’t take the bait. I don’t believe he has no desire to be emperor.”
Lee Jonghyeok grinded his teeth. “He only doesn’t like being controlled. My son, wait and see. I’m certain he’ll make a move.”
“Father, what should we do now?” Lee Jongsuk asked.
“Wait,” Lee Jonghyeok said.
“Wait?” Lee Jongsuk asked.
“Wait for him to eliminate Hoseok,” Lee Jonghyeok said. “After the throne is his then we’ll make our move.”
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A/N ~~
Surprise!! Everyone!! The new chapter is here for you all to enjoy... please enjoy it lavishly ^_^ And how did you all feel about the matter of Wung's character portrayal? Let me know if you like it or not... By the way, did anyone able to guess who could do the portrayal of this character at all?? ^_^
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