Next-Day in the morning Seorin woke up and didn't see Taehyung. She asked a maid to prepare a water basin for her to wash her face then she changed into a dress.
After Seorin washed and dressed, she slowly walked toward the gardens.
Seorin circled the gardens and returned to her chamber but she didn't see Taehyung.
"Where's the fifth prince?" Seorin asked a maid.
"Mistress, the fifth prince is visiting the manor physician," the maid said.
Seorin nodded her head and she remembered the physician Min Yoongi who wore black clothes and a stiff expression on his face.
Seorin felt that Yoongi had a cold aura. She thought that even someone cold would have a face that at least occasionally changed expressions. But each time she met him, his face stayed the same stiff expression. It made her curious about his real identity and why Taehyung treated him sincerely.
Seorin didn't ask Taehyung about Yoongi. She knew Taehyung had many secrets. But she was happy to be Taehyung's wife who ate and slept well. Suddenly she felt hungry and was about to ask a maid to bring her food from the kitchen but Taehyung entered their chamber with a platter of food.
"Rinnie, why aren't you sleeping?" Taehyung asked and put the bowl of beef congee on a table.
The delicious fragrance brightened Seorin's eyes, which made Taehyung laughed
Taehyung suddenly pulled Seorin to the bed with him. She fell on top of him. She opened her mouth but his mouth swallowed her curse.
Seorin felt Taehyung kiss her long enough to make her forget to breathe. She noticed the bowl of congee on the table and pushed him off her.
"The congee will be cold soon," Seorin said.
Taehyung knew if he continued kissing Seorin, it would be hard for him to stop so he let her push him off her.
Seorin happily ate the bowl of delicious beef congee.
"Did you change the head cook of your manor?" Seorin asked. "Why does the food taste better than usual?"
Seorin finished eating the whole bowl of beef congee. Then she remembered since she arrived at Taehyung's manor, the cooks' food wasn't as delicious as the cooks' food at the Park Manor. It wasn't a surprise because Princess Ji Hoon and Sang-Hee used a lot of money to hire a cook from a famous restaurant in Hanyang. But she was surprised the food Taehyung bought earlier tasted better than the cooks' food at the Park Manor.
Taehyung was happy Seorin liked the food he bought for her. But he knocked her forehead after he heard her say "your manor."
"Rinnie, what is the head cook of your manor?" Taehyung asked. "Do you still see yourself as an outsider?"
Seorin rubbed her sore forehead and glared at Taehyung. But she admitted she wasn't used to thinking of herself as the mistress of Taehyung's manor.
"The cooks in our home didn't make these dishes," Taehyung said. "I bought it at Aroma of Riches on my way."
The mention of 'Aroma of Riches' brightened Seorin's eyes. Before she arrived at the imperial city, she heard of the Restaurant named Aroma of Riches, the best restaurant of Hanyang. After she lived in the Park Manor, she never had the opportunity to eat at Aroma of Riches. She was happy she got to wear clothes from Han's dressmakers and eat food from Aroma of Riches Restaurant.
Taehyung saw the excitement on Seorin's face and he rubbed his chin. "Rinnie, do you want to go there?"
Seorin looked suspiciously at Taehyung. "Can we actually go there?"
"Do you want to see the singers and musicians perform?" Taehyung asked.
"Yes," Seorin said.
"Alright, then we can go," Taehyung said.
On the way to Aroma of Riches Restaurant, Seorin thought about a childhood memory inside the horse carriage. That year a group of singers and musicians visited Daegu to perform. Other children of her age had their mothers take them to see the singers and musicians perform. She wanted to go too but her mother didn't have enough money and her precious pouch was light as a feather. In her sad state, Taehyung stood in front of her and asked, "Do you want to see the singers and musicians perform?"
Seorin couldn't ignore Taehyung after she heard his question and she foolishly nodded her head. Afterward, he actually did take her to see the singers and musicians perform. But they didn't buy tickets at the entrance like other people... they climbed a wall.
That night was cold but Seorin's heart was warm. She sat on the wall and saw the singers and musicians perform on a platform while she ate dried dates. That day she thought life was beautiful... of course, if that thief didn't steal a copper coin from her precious pouch to buy the dried dates then life would have been more beautiful.
"Little sister, I took you to see the singers and musicians perform," that thief said. "But why haven't you thanked me?"
Seorin's childhood memory from that year reminded her to be wary of Taehyung.
"Did you bring enough money?" Seorin asked.
Seorin is worried now that Taehyung was taking her to climb another wall.
Taehyung looked at the Seorin dressed in a man's clothes and wanted to laugh because she couldn't disguise her feminine beauty. He pulled out a paper note worth one thousand silver coins and put it inside her inner robe. "I don't have silver coins. Rinnie, you'll be the host."
Seorin was shocked to see the paper note... how rich is Taehyung?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taehyung took Seorin for a stroll around the imperial city.
The streets were crowded with people, there were many sights to see and food to taste. Seorin thought she could relax after leaving the manor with Taehyung. But two of Taehyung's guards followed them around the imperial city so she was forced to act like a gentleman in her disguise.
Taehyung noticed Seorin's reluctance to move around freely.
"Guards, you don't need to follow us," Taehyung said to his guards. "You can go find a place to drink wine."
Seorin began to worry a little after the guards left. "Is it safe? What if there are assassins?"
Before Seorin left the manor, she hesitated to leave because of the assassination attempt in the palace. But Taehyung reassured her and brought guards with them outside the manor.
Taehyung didn't know what to explain to Seorin to reassure her. What was he supposed to say? My Chipmunk, don't worry two of those assassins were sent by your husband?
After thinking for a while Taehyung chose the most tactful explanation to reassure Seorin. "Rinnie, don't worry there are guards secretly following us."
Half of Seorin believed and half of her suspected Taehyung's explanation. But if there were guards secretly following them then she could continue to play on the streets.
Taehyung and Seorin continued sightseeing until she noticed someone familiar. She held onto his arm to stop him.
"Who does that person look like?" Seorin asked.
Taehyung's eyes followed Seorin's gaze. He saw a familiar woman walk out of a medicine shop and the woman held a bundle.
"Widow Kang?" Taehyung asked.
Seorin was happy Taehyung recognized Widow Kang too and that her eyes weren't mistaken.
Taehyung was happy Seorin was holding his arm. She was pulling him in the direction of Widow Kang.
After Widow Kang bought the medicine, she began walking home with a heavy conscience. Her conscience became heavier the moment she saw who stood in front of her and her face paled.
"Mistress Park," Widow Kang said.
Seorin looked happy to see Widow Kang. But Taehyung didn't understand why Widow Kang looked scared to see Seorin.
"Widow Kang, didn't you say you were traveling south?" Seorin asked. "Why are you in the imperial city?"
Widow Kang pretended to fix her hair to think of a reasonable explanation. "I... I was planning to visit my older cousin in the south. But he said he wanted to be a merchant in the imperial city so I came here with him."
"If you're in the imperial city why didn't you look for me?" Seorin asked.
"I... I can't be that shameless to look for you," Widow Kang said.
"Let's find a place to sit and talk," Taehyung said.
"Uh, no I have somewhere I need to be," Widow Kang declined.
Taehyung glanced at the bulky bundle of medicine Widow Kang was carrying.
"Widow Kang, why did you need to buy a lot of medicine?" Taehyung asked.
Widow Kang sighed sadly. "My older cousin is ill. Mistress, fifth prince, I'll leave first. I need to prepare the medicine for him."
Widow Kang hurriedly left without waiting for Seorin and Taehyung's reply.
Seorin looked at Widow Kang's back and frowned. "Taehyung, do you think that Widow Kang has changed?"
Taehyung was relieved Seorin noticed the change in Widow Kang's personality too.
"Perhaps something has happened," Taehyung said. "I forgot, Yoongi hyung asked me to buy some medicine for him. Rinnie, wait for me here. I'll go inside to buy the medicine and I'll come out soon."
Taehyung walked into the shop and requested to see the shop owner.
"What medicine did the woman who came into your shop earlier buy?" Taehyung asked.
The shop owner told Taehyung what medicine Widow Kang bought and it made Taehyung more uneasy.
Taehyung knew the medicine Widow Kang bought was expensive. Widow Kang was wearing ordinary clothes, he didn't understand how she could afford to buy expensive medicine. Also, the shop owner said that she was a regular customer who had been buying the same medicine for many months. He wondered where Widow Kang would find more than one thousand silver coins to buy the medicine frequently.
Taehyung remembered Widow Kang's panicked expression the moment Widow Kang saw Seorin and his intuition warned him that something was wrong. He decided after he returned to the manor, he would ask some of his guards to wait for nearby the medicine shop and secretly follow Widow Kang.
Taehyung thought if Widow Kang was in trouble, he would help Widow Kang because Widow Kang was important to Seorin. But if Widow Kang was hiding a dangerous secret involving Seorin then he would be prepared to stop Widow Kang from harming Seorin.
Taehyung and Seorin stood in front of Aroma of Riches' three entrances.
The Aroma of Riches was separated into three terraces and each terrace had three floors.
"Why does Aroma of Riches have more than one entrance?" Seorin asked. "Which entrance do we walk through?"
"Which entrance do you want to walk through?' Taehyung asked.
Seorin heard lively songs and the sounds of instruments from the left terrace. "I want to walk through the left entrance."
"Rinnie, it's not suitable for you to walk through the left entrance," Taehyung said.
"Why?" Seorin asked.
Taehyung whispered something in Seorin's ear and she blushed. "That kind of place exists?"
Taehyung nodded his head innocently like he heard that place existed but had never been inside.
"What about the middle entrance?" Seorin asked.
"It's where proper food is served," Taehyung said.
Seorin looked at the right door and she smiled playfully. "Then there must be handsome food behind the right entrance."
Taehyung had a strange feeling.
Indeed Taehyung followed Seorin through the right entrance. He silently asked the god to not let him meet anyone that knew him. If people found out the gentle fifth prince visited those kinds of places, he feared everyone would be shocked enough for their chins to fall.
"I'm here to play with handsome beauties," Seorin said.
A man dressed in black clothes embroidered with flowers greeted Seorin and Taehyung then the man escorted them to the stairs.
Seorin was happy to be surrounded by beauty. The beauties were all young men who had pink lips, white teeth and were friendly.
Taehyung pinched Seorin's arm. "Have you leered enough?"
Seorin glared at Taehyung, pulled out a fan and she waved it in front of her face. "Of course, I haven't."
Seorin looked at her surroundings and she noticed most of the guests walked to the second floor. So she walked to the second floor too.
A man who greeted guests on the second floor thought Seorin was a regular guest by the way Seorin confidently walked to the second floor.
"Master, are you looking for someone familiar?" the man asked.
Seorin thought the handsome man looked about thirty years old who had a soothing voice.
"Someone familiar?" Seorin asked.
The man saw Seorin looked confusedly at Taehyung. He realized they were new guests and assumed Taehyung was the guest who carried a heavy pouch.
Taehyung draped an arm over Seorin's shoulder.
"No need, take us to a free room," Taehyung said.
A guest interrupted them and passed the man a paper note worth fifty silver taels. 'Gentleman Jeong, tonight I want Seo Jisung to serve me.'
Gentleman Jeong accepted the paper note and gave the guest Seo Jisung's plaque.
Seorin saw the guest and Gentleman Jeong's exchange and she understood what someone familiar meant.
Seorin took out one of the ten paper notes worth one hundred silver taels that she exchanged earlier at a pawn shop and gave it to Gentleman Jeong. "I... we... Gentleman Jeong makes arrangements for us."
Taehyung's face became completely red after hearing this and he thought Seorin learned bad habits fast.
Gentleman Jeong accepted Seorin's paper note, gave An Seon and Cha Yoon's plaques to Seorin, and escorted Seorin and Taehyung to a room.
Inside the room was two beds, paintings of handsome men and a marble table. On the table was a vase, a small fragrant pouch, a tea pot and cups.
Seorin stared at a painting of a handsome man for too long, Taehyung pulled the painting off the wall and threw it on the ground.
"What are you doing?" Seorin asked.
"Wife, can't you see your husband is more handsome?" Taehyung asked.
Seorin looked at Taehyung from the top of his head to his feet. "I can't see."
Taehyung regretted taking Seorin outside the manor.
Seorin was amused to see Taehyung was red like a tomato and frustrated to death.
Seorin and Taehyung were drinking tea on a bed when An Seon and Cha Yoon entered the room.
Seorin put her cup of tea on the nearby marble table. She thought the two young men looked eighteen years old. Their long hair was straight and smooth like a thin fabric, a red flower was painted in the middle of their foreheads and their steps were dainty.
Taehyung noticed Seorin's mouth and her eyes widened. He wondered why he didn't discover she was a pervert long ago. Then he wondered why she didn't perve at him in the past. He compared himself to the two young men and thought she must love to perve on handsome weaklings.
An Seon knelt in front of Seorin. "Master, An Seon is here to serve you."
Cha Yoon knelt in front of Taehyung. "Master, Cha Yoon is here to serve you."
Seorin didn't have experience in that kind of situation and felt uncomfortable. But she saw Taehyung give her a 'coming here doesn't suit you' look so she straightened her back.
Seorin used the fan to lift An Seon's chin. "How do you want to serve me?"
Taehyung spat tea out of his mouth.
Cha Yoon quickly pulled out a handkerchief and wanted to wipe the tea off Taehyung's face. But Cha Yoon's body was too close to Taehyung's body and Taehyung politely declined.
"I can do it myself," Taehyung said.
Taehyung glared at An Seon. If An Seon dared to touch Seorin's body, he vowed to toss An Seon out the window.
Luckily An Seon didn't touch Seorin. "Master, however, you want me to serve you."
Goosebumps rose on Seorin's whole body. "Alright."
At that moment a server brought a platter of food and wine jars into the room.
At the sight of food and wine, Seorin ignored the handsome beauties in the room. She was about to pick up a pair of chopsticks but An Seon was faster.
An Seon held a prawn between chopsticks in front of Seorin's mouth. "Master, I'll serve you."
Seorin glanced at Taehyung. Although he was smiling at her, she knew his smile was a threat, 'Do you dare to eat?'
Seorin smiled at Taehyung and opened her mouth.
Taehyung angrily picked up the cup of wine Cha Yoon poured and drank it.
Seorin sniffed the wine fragrance and thought it smelt sweeter than fruits.
"Beauty, pour wine for your master," Seorin said and touched An Seon's smooth hand.
Taehyung's heart wanted to cut off Seorin's hand after they returned to the manor. He drank another cup of wine.
Cha Yoon noticed the cold deadly aura around Taehyung and quickly poured more wine into Taehyung's cup.
An Seon raised a cup of wine to Seorin's lips. "Master, this is the Aroma of Riches' best wine."
Seorin drank the cup of wine and nodded her head. "It's good wine."
"Master, drink slowly," An Seon said.
Taehyung gritted his teeth after he saw An Seon's chest nearly touch Seorin.
An Seon pulled out a handkerchief and was about to wipe wine off Seorin's lips but Taehyung stood and pushed An Seon away from Seorin.
Taehyung hugged Seorin and he smiled at the shocked An Seon and Cha Yoon.
"You're both not needed here," Taehyung said. "You can both leave and remember to close the door."
An Seon and Cha Yoon immediately left the room.
Outside the room, Cha Yoon spoke softly with An Seon. "What did we do wrong?"
"Nothing, we served them well," An Seon said. "The master I was serving liked me."
"But the master I was serving didn't like me," Cha Yoon said. "He didn't even glance at me once. He only looked at the master you were serving."
"Perhaps... they are a pair of lovers," An Seon said. "Or the master you were serving loves the master I was serving."
"I think that's possible," Cha Yoon said.
"Do you think the master I was serving loves the master you were serving?" An Seon asked.
"I'm not certain," Cha Yoon said. "Even if there's no love, love could grow later. The master I was serving asked us to close the door. I think he is felling quite jealous because of us."
"It has no relation to us," Cha Yoon said. "That's between the guests. We need to report to Gentleman Jeong. I've served many guests, but this is the first time I was asked to leave."