Yoongi once again meets the calm maid.
Yoongi remembered the day Seorin was injured and he asked the 'calm' maid to clean and bandage Seorin's chest wound. That day the 'calm' maid collapsed in front of him after helping Seorin, saying that blood made her queasy. He had lived for more than twenty years but he didn't like being close to women. But the 'calm' maid out of nowhere suddenly asked him to retrieve a kite that was stuck in the tree.
"Physician Min, can you help me retrieve that kite?" the maid asked.
Yoongi thought why he needed to help the 'calm' maid, he didn't have enough free time to help. But as like he didn't cooperate with his thoughts, he blinked and the kite was in his hands. After that, he left the kite in the hands of the group of maids.
"Yunji Unnie, I didn't think you would dare to talk to Physician Min," the first maid said.
"Yunji Unnie, you even dared to ask Physician Min to retrieve the kite," the second maid said. "Unnie, did you know that each time I see Physician Min, I want to run away?"
"Yunji Unnie, Physician Min is no different from a demon," the third maid said. "I shiver each time I see him. It's alright if he doesn't say anything but it's scary to death if he speaks."
"That's right," the fourth maid said. "What's scarier is why he helped Yunji Unnie retrieve the kite."
"Physician Min's strange behavior is scarier than his usual scary self," the fifth maid said. "In the past, he never glanced at a maid so it's strange he would help Yunji unnie."
While the group of maids was gossiping, Yoongi stood nearby to eavesdrop. He finally found out the 'calm' maid's name was Yunji. He waited half an hour to hear what Yunji said about him.
"Perhaps today Physician Min ingested the wrong medicine," Yunji said.
Yoongi took a step back and fell to the ground. What wrong medicine? He stood, returned to his chamber, and thought deeply about Yunji's words. He finally agreed he must have ingested the wrong medicine otherwise he wouldn't do something strange like help her retrieve a kite.
A few days later, Yoongi's old personal maid returned to her country home to take care of her sick mother.
Taehyung visited Yoongi's chamber and asked him who he wanted to be his new personal maid. He didn't know what demon possessed him but he pointed at Yunji who was passing by his chamber.
"I choose her," Yoongi said.
"I was only passing by," Yunji said.
"Yoongi hyung, did you point to the wrong maid?" Taehyung asked.
"She has steady hands," Yoongi said. "She'll be able to help me with medicinal things."
As a result of Yoongi's words, Yunji's belongings were moved to the chamber closest to Yoongi's chamber. He was used to having his courtyard to himself, it was a strange feeling to live close to another person.
Yoongi later put the bottles of remedies down on a table and he watched Yunji familiarising herself with the medicine in the drawers.
At that moment Taehyung and Seorin walked into Yoongi's chamber.
Taehyung smiled cheekily after seeing Yunji try to learn things from his hyung.
Yoongi glared at Taehyung. Then Yoongi heard Seorin's demoness laugh, who stand behind Taehyung.
"Oppa, did you buy new clothes?" Seorin asked.
Yoongi looked at his new brown clothes and nodded his head.
"Oppa, you're too young to suit-wearing brown," Seorin said while smiling. "Your porcelain-like white skin suits wearing blue clothes like the color of royal blue."
"Rinnie, you're absolutely right," Taehyung said.
"My husband, I'm always right," Seorin said.
Yoongi's head spun at the sounds of the beautiful compatible pair mocking him in front of his new maid. Now Yoongi only wondered how soon Gentleman Han could make him ten new blue clothes.
"That's right," Taehyung said. "It's my carelessness to forget. Rinnie, let's go outside for a stroll as we already visited hyung to show that you are recovering quite well."
"Let's go," Seorin said.
The sudden arrival and departure of the beautiful compatible pair were enough to leave Yoongi dumfounded.
"You can leave," Yoongi said to Yunji after the couple leave his room.
Yunji obediently carried the bottle of herbs and walked outside.
"Yoongi hyung, you have good vision," Taehyung, who suddenly appeared from nowhere again praised. "What's her name?"
"Yunji!" Yoongi said in a frustrated tone.
"Hyung, you certainly remember her name clearly," Taehyung provoked.
Yoongi was also confused why he remembered Yunji's name.
Taehyung and Seorin looked at each other then they laughed loudly.
"Why did you come here to look for me?" Yoongi said.
"Tomorrow the crown prince is leaving the imperial city," Taehyung said.
Yoongi's body stiffened. After Taehyung and Seorin left, Yoongi opened a drawer, pulled out a sword, and sunlight reflected off the sword in all directions.
It was the sword the empress used to bribe the Great Min Household to support the crown prince. It was the most deadly sword in the world. Yoongi wanted to use the sword to kill the empress in the palace.
Yunji returned to Yoongi's chamber and she stood still after she saw Yoongi's deadly aura while holding the sword.
Yoongi put away the sword because he thought it would scare the maid.
"Physician Min, do you want to go kill someone?" Yunji asked calmly.
Yoongi nodded his head.
Yunji put down a bottle on a table. "This is the bottle of poison I brewed as Physician Min instructed. Physician Min, do you want me to cover the sword with this poison?"
Yoongi was speechless, he didn't know why Yunji wasn't scared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the end of autumn.
"You, * child!" the empress cursed and sobbed.
"Eomma, this time I'm leaving the imperial city forever," Namjoon said. "Eomma, take good care of your health."
"No!" the empress said. "You'll come back. Wait until your imperial father calms down and sees Hoseok's false heart and you'll be called back."
The empress didn't want to accept all her years of scheming would fail. She only had one son, how could she accept being separated from her son?
"Eomma, status, power, and money will turn to smoke," Namjoon said. "Your heart doesn't need to waste energy about smoke."
Namjoon knelt in front of his mother, hit his forehead on the floor, and left his mother's chamber.
Namjoon's words prompted the empress to remember many years ago a monk she met told her the same fortune that everything will turn to smoke and it was better to let go of the envies to free the heart.
Emperor Seokjin had refused to see Namjoon since that day he stabbed himself. He didn't know if his father would be willing to see him before he left the palace.
Namjoon stood in front of his father's chamber and looked at the fallen flower petals. He knew his father was too angry to see him but he was amused at his childish father.
Jimin was frightened of how Namjoon could smile in Namjoon's situation. "Crown prince."
Namjoon turned around and he saw Park Jimin who served his father for more than fifteen years. Jimin was a little boy at the age of ten and later became his father's advisor. He knew Jimin was someone who was capable otherwise Jimin wouldn't be the closest person to his father.
Jimin was even more frightened after Namjoon bowed to him. "Crown prince, what are you doing? Your servant doesn't dare to receive."
"You have a fast mouth," Namjoon said.
Jimin thought Namjoon was possessed by a demon. "Crown prince, the emperor doesn't want to see you. It's better if crown prince visits another day that isn't cold like today."
"I don't know if I can see my imperial father when he isn't angry anymore," Namjoon said.
Earlier Jimin informed the emperor that Namjoon wanted to see him and thought it was pitiful to see how disappointed the emperor was in Namjoon. He thought perhaps after the emperor calms down and couldn't tolerate Hoseok anymore then the emperor would summon Namjoon to return to the palace.
Namjoon knew Jimin was more like a fox who would survive many more years in the palace. He bowed to Jimin to force Jimin to do him a favor and pass on his warning to his father.
Jimin bowed his head lower than Namjoon's bowed head.
"Advisor Park, if my imperial father doesn't want to see me then I'll trouble you to pass my warning to my imperial father," Namjoon said. "I trust you'll pass on my warning to my imperial father."
"Your servant will listen to crown prince's words carefully," Jimin said.
"Warn my imperial father to be careful of Fifth brother," Namjoon said.
"Crown prince, what does that mean?" Jimin asked.
"Fifth brother was involved in the incident on the day of my marriage," Namjoon said.
"Your servant understands," Jimin said.
Namjoon knelt in front of his father's chamber, hit his forehead on the ground, and left the palace.
Jimin entered the emperor's chamber and he didn't know what the emperor was thinking while staring out the window. He thought out of the princes, Taehyung was the most similar to the emperor but he didn't know why the emperor treated Taehyung coldly.
"Your majesty, the crown prince has left the palace," Jimin said.
The emperor turned around and glared at Jimin. "He is no longer the crown prince."
Jimin knew the emperor wasn't angry at him but was angry to be reminded of why Namjoon wasn't the crown prince anymore.
"What did he say?" the emperor asked.
"The crown prince wants your majesty to take care of your majesty's health," Jimin said. "The crown prince also warned you to be careful of Third prince."
Jimin knew if there was a day Namjoon returned to the palace then he would be executed for deceiving the emperor. But he was willing to risk his life for Taehyung to succeed.
"Be careful of the Third Prince? Really?" the emperor asked with a frown. "Why did the crown prince say that to you?"
"The crown prince didn't say why," Jimin said.
"I understand," the emperor said.
Outside the palace gates, many imperial guards escorted Namjoon outside the imperial city because the empress was concerned about Namjoon's safety.
Namjoon thought his mother's concern for his safety was wasted.
The horse carriage traveled for a long time then suddenly it stopped.
Namjoon closed his eyes and he could feel there was bad news outside the horse carriage.
"Crown prince, the Fifth Prince is in front of the horse carriage," an imperial guard said.
Namjoon opened the curtains and he saw Taehyung sitting on a horse with the sunlight glaring behind Taehyung.
"Namjoon hyung ," Taehyung said.
"Tae, why are you here?" Namjoon asked.
"We're close brothers like earth and moon," Taehyung said. "Of course, I'm here to escort you outside the imperial city."
"Tae, you're wasting your energy," Namjoon said.
"I heard you're going to a remote town that's extremely cold," Taehyung said. "Did you bring enough warm clothes?"
"I brought enough," Namjoon said.
Taehyung frowned. "Your Fifth sister asked me to say farewell to you on her behalf."
Namjoon hated thinking of Seorin as Taehyung's wife but he smiled politely. "Tae, other people are envious you're married to Fifth sister."
"Hyung, for many years I still can't see through your true heart," Taehyung said.
"Tae, aren't you also someone that's hard for other people to see your true heart?" Namjoon asked.
Taehyung's back turned cold at the sight of Namjoon's disturbing dimpled smile. "Your Fifth brother is a simpleton."
"The day is late," Namjoon said. "Fifth brother should return home."
"Hyung, take care of your health," Taehyung said. "We'll see each other again."
"We won't see each other again," Namjoon said.
Taehyung was startled at the calm conviction in Namjoon's tone. He didn't know what Namjoon's intentions were.
Taehyung watched Namjoon's horse carriage leave for a while then Yoongi appeared next to him.
"There are twenty-eight imperial guards," Taehyung said. "Hyung, can you cope?"
Yoongi nodded his head.
"Alright then go smooth as the wind," Taehyung said.
Inside the horse carriage, Namjoon closed his eyes and ignored the bumpy ground. What Seorin said to Sang-Hee at the Park Manor echoed in his ears, "Sang-Hee, I'm truly sorry. I didn't think I'll cause you to become like this. But don't worry, after she dies, I'll take good care of you."
Namjoon realized Seorin wasn't as beautiful and good as he thought. She was involved in his disastrous wedding day and Taehyung was the person behind everything. Luckily he found out before he left the palace. He left his father a final warning for his father to see Taehyung's true black heart and the palace would no longer be peaceful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To leave the imperial city it was impossible to avoid mountain terrains.
"Stop the pleasantries," Namjoon shouted and get off the carriage. "Prepare to sacrifice your lives."
Namjoon's sharp sword tasted fresh blood. Sunlight shone on the bloody ground. More imperial guards appeared because they thought Namjoon's life was in danger, but they were immediately killed under Namjoon's sword and their dead bodies collapsed on the ground. The last face they saw was Namjoon's disturbing smile.
Namjoon searched forty dead bodies for someone similar to his build and looks to exchange clothes with him. Then he flung the forty dead bodies down the mountain.
Namjoon escaped on a horse and heard silence in all directions. He was happy he no longer had to be Kim Namjoon and truly free.
Namjoon rode for a while but a person with a cold demon-like face who wore black clothes obstructed his path.
"It's you," Namjoon said.
Namjoon recognized Yoongi who had a cold demon-like face and was also Taehyung's servant but he didn't know why Yoongi followed him.
"Thank you," Yoongi said and raised his sword.
Later at Taehyung's manor, Yoongi recounted what happened to Namjoon and Namjoon's imperial guards.
"You said thank you to him, hyung?" Taehyung asked.
"Of course, I should thank him for dealing with the imperial guards," Yoongi said.
"I didn't think he would kill everyone to escape," Taehyung said. "What are his true intentions?"
"Perhaps he wants to start a new life," Yoongi said.
"A new life?" Taehyung asked. "If that isn't true then it's hard to explain his actions. I didn't expect Namjoon hyung was someone like this. I thought he asked imperial father to take away his position to wait for a good opportunity to strike... where are you hiding him?"
"In the Porcelain Crafting Store," Yoongi said.
Inside Taehyung and Seorin's chamber, Seorin's chest wound had healed. It wasn't a surprise considering for half a month she was forced to ingest nutritious food and herbal remedies to improve her health while pregnant and recovering from her injury. But she still takes rest and tries to unfurl the mystery that who really wants to hurt their child.
Meanwhile, Yoongi followed Taehyung to the palace.
Yoongi disappeared after Taehyung entered the emperor's chamber.
The emperor sat on the highest chair and he wore a somber expression. While Consort Jung and Third prince sat happily beside the emperor and the empress was in her chamber as her heart was missing because of the absence of the crown prince.
"Taehyung, I heard Seorin has been unwell," Consort Jung said. "Is she feeling better today?"
Taehyung hid Seorin's chest injury for two months. He explained to his imperial family that Seorin had a chest infection and he had invited many physicians to clear her chest infection but she was still ill.
Since the harvest festival incident, Consort Jung and the Third prince's spies couldn't enter Taehyung's manor to confirm what exactly happened to her.
"Compared to a few days ago Seorin's body is recovering," Taehyung said. "But to be safe Seorin needs to rest for a few more days. Seorin asks for imperial father and mother's forgiveness."
The emperor frowned. Even Taehyung's wife had a weak body then the Kingdom of Hanyang would have to wait longer for the emperor to have the first grandson.
"Seorin can visit your imperial father and me later," Consort Jung said. "Seorin's health is more important. But I haven't seen her for two months... perhaps Taehyung's physicians..." She turned to look concerned at the emperor. "Why don't I send my imperial physician to examine Seorin?"
Consort Jung wouldn't feel at ease until she could confirm if Seorin was ill or pregnant. If Taehyung declined her offer then she would know Seorin was pregnant.
"Mother that is kind of you," Taehyung said.
The emperor was frustrated to hear Consort Jung looking down on Taehyung. Although Taehyung didn't compete with his other sons or request anything from him, Taehyung was still his son. He couldn't believe Taehyung didn't even request for him to send an imperial physician to examine Seorin who was ill for more than two months.
The emperor frowned while assessing his three sons that were in his chamber. One son was too cruel, another son was an enigma and the youngest son still didn't know how to speak clearly.
Jimin rushed into the emperor's chamber and he could see the emperor Seokjin's thoughts.
"What happened?" the emperor asked.
"Your majesty, earlier Third prince's second wife's messenger informed that she fainted," Jimin said.
The emperor glared at Jimin who dared to smile while reporting bad news to him.
"The imperial physician who examined Third prince's second wife said that she is pregnant," Jimin said.
"Truly?" the emperor asked suspiciously.
Jimin glanced at Consort Jung and he wondered if Consort Jung would dare to learn from the empress and Princess Ji Hoon's bad example.
"Emperor, please grant my request to let our second daughter-in-law Su Ryeon enter the palace for your imperial physician to examine her," Consort Jung said. "I'm worried she'll miscarry."
The emperor nodded his head and he thought perhaps he was going to have his first grandson soon.
Consort Jung and Third prince exchanged a secret smile at each other.
Consort Jung and Third prince knew Su Ryeon was pregnant for a while and purposely sent a messenger to the palace to announce the news to the emperor. As they expected the emperor didn't need to see Su Ryeon but sent imperial physicians to confirm Su Ryeon's pregnancy.
The imperial physicians returned to the palace and reported to the emperor that Su Ryeon was pregnant.
"Congratulations imperial father," Taehyung said. "Congratulations mother, congratulations Third brother!"
"I hope to hear good news from Fifth brother too," Hoseok said.
"It's up to the hands of God," Taehyung said.
After hearing this Consort Jung felt exhilarated. She knew the crown prince position was within her son's grasp because there was no one worthy to compete with her son.
The emperor wasn't impressed by Consort Jung's arrogance.
"Jimin, ask someone to send valuable gifts to Seorin and Su Ryeon," the emperor said.
Consort Jung was satisfied emperor was rewarding Su Ryeon but she was unhappy that the emperor also rewarded Seorin.
Taehyung understood his father's dissatisfaction toward Consort Jung and Hoseok and Taehyung thought his little tigress was the one who benefited from the tension between them.
After the Park Manor was burned, the emperor compensated Seorin with many gifts because the emperor wanted to let other people know Seorin wasn't mistreated marrying into the imperial family.
Taehyung sighed inwardly, his father was either suspicious of him or used him to provoke other people.
"Taehyung, Hoseok has many wives for the imperial family to thrive," the emperor said. "Perhaps I should select a second wife and concubines for you."
Consort Jung raged after she heard the emperor's words implied the emperor was considering Taehyung to become crown prince.
Taehyung only wanted to protect Seorin and their child. If his father forced him to marry other women then it would cause chaos in his and Seorin's home. He knew if he declined his father's offer then his father would know Seorin was pregnant... but he was a little happy his father wanted him to have children because it meant his father wasn't the one who poisoned Seorin.
Suddenly an imperial guard charged into the emperor's chamber.
"Your majesty, the crown prince's body was found at the bottom of a mountain," the imperial guard said.
The emperor felt like lightning struck him. "What did you say?"
"Your majesty, I don't dare to identify the crown prince's body," the imperial said.
"Don't dare?" the emperor asked. "How can you not dare to identify someone who's alive and healthy?"
"Your majesty... the crown prince's body isn't whole... but his body was discovered next to the broken body at the bottom of the mountain," the imperial guard said.
The imperial guard gave the emperor the pendant the emperor gave Namjoon long ago.
The emperor's heart ached to pieces. He remembered memories of his beloved Namjoon since Namjoon was a boy to an adult. He didn't want to believe his precious Namjoon died a painful death and his body wasn't whole.
"Who?" the emperor asked. "Who killed my only crown prince?"
The emperor thought he was temporarily separated from Namjoon, he never expected they would be separated by death.
"Give back my crown prince!" the emperor ordered. "I want my crown prince back here and whole!"
Everyone was startled to see the emperor shed tears in front of them.
Consort Jung and the Third prince's backs were cold and sweaty after the emperor glared accusingly at them. They knew they had a motive to kill Namjoon but they couldn't prove their innocence.
Jimin didn't have an opportunity to speak to Taehyung since Taehyung entered the palace so Jimin wondered if Consort Jung's people did kill Namjoon.
Taehyung was startled to realize how deeply his father loved Namjoon. Taehyung wondered how his father would react if his father found out Namjoon was the one who faked Namjoon's death.
"Everyone leave!" the emperor ordered.
Before everyone left the emperor's chamber, Jimin exchanged a secret look with Taehyung so Taehyung waited nearby the chamber for Jimin.
After a while, Jimin secretly met Taehyung.
"How is my imperial father?" Taehyung asked.
"His majesty is grieving and an imperial physician sedated his majesty," Jimin said.
"I'll need to trouble you to take care of my father's health," Taehyung said and bowed.
"Your servant doesn't dare to decline," Jimin said.
Jimin secretly passed a small folded paper to Taehyung.
"Then I'll be leaving first," Taehyung said.
Inside the horse carriage, Taehyung opened the folded paper, "I don't know why the Second prince knows about the incident that happens on the day of his marriage. Second prince asked me to warn the emperor to be careful of the Fifth prince. So Second prince can't return to the palace."
The atmosphere in Consort Jung's chamber was tense.
"Hoseok, did you perhaps kill Namjoon?" Consort Jung asked.
Hoseok shook his head. "I am not a person like you who has a terrible bloodlust and if I wanted to kill him then I wouldn't kill him in this critical period."
"Then who is the killer?" Consort Jung asked. "Before his unexpected death, everything was within our control. Did you see how your father wanted to swallow us whole?"
"I can see Appa doesn't want me to be crown prince," Hoseok said. "Eomma, did you hear what Appa said... my only crown prince. Second brother is dead! I want to see apart from me who else Appa dare to choose as the crown prince."
"That's right," Consort Jung said. "Even if we did kill him, no one can do anything to us. Your imperial father lost one son, he wouldn't want to lose another son. We only need to be patient and wait for your imperial father to calm down. But I don't know what the killer's motive is."
"Perhaps his enemy," Hoseok said.
"That's too simple to be true," Consort Jung said. "Hurry and send an imperial physician to examine Seorin. If she's pregnant then it'll cause more trouble for us."
"Eomma, I understand," Hoseok said.
"Hoseok, what do you think about your Fifth brother?" Consort Jung asked.
"In the past, I thought he was a complicated person," Hoseok said. "But looking at the past now I think he is a simpleton. Perhaps he truly wants to be a carefree prince."
Consort Jung shook her head. "I think there is a possibility your Fifth brother wants to oppose us."
"Eomma, what are you saying?" Hoseok asked.
"He knows I'm involved with the Blue lotus poison incense sticks," Consort Jung said. "I think he retaliated by killing Namjoon to warn us. Hoseok, think about how many calamities happened after he returned to the imperial city from Southern Busan... the harvest festival, news of Sang-Hee's fake pregnancy was spread to us through his servant... perhaps he intended to borrow our dagger to kill others... also how Sang-Hee mysteriously fell into the well is suspicious."
"Is Fifth brother that dangerous?" Hoseok asked.
Consort Jung silently contemplated deeply.
"If he wants to fight for the throne then he needs to be a capable person," Hoseok said. "Besides we're already cautious of him and know who is connected to him. He is someone who has no strong allies and has no power in the imperial court."
"But we can't rely on our assumptions," Consort Jung said. "We need to continue to spy on his activities."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N ~~~~~~
My Precious Readers, I know it is quite a long chapter, so please enjoy it. And please be patient, the chapters with the answers to your questions and many other interesting events are going to come slowly in the upcoming episodes... Then see you all in the next chapter...
