But God didn't grant Taehyung's wish.
That day Taehyung and Yoongi were out buying medicine while Seorin stayed at the manor watching young maids play in the gardens. She wanted to join them, but gentle fifth prince's wife needed to be dignified. Also, her dresses felt a little tighter than usual. She thinks she gained quite weight.
"Miss, seventh prince is here," a servant announced.
Seorin wondered if Jeongguk came to visit because a while ago she pinched his cheeks in the palace and later said that when he was free, he could visit her and Taehyung.
Jeongguk never left the palace since he was born. After he heard his fifth sister said he could visit her and fifth brother, he was deeply moved.
Consort Jeon thought Jeongguk's request to visit Seorin and Taehyung was a good opportunity for Jeongguk to bond with Seorin. She asked the emperor's permission to let Jeongguk visit Taehyung's manor.
The emperor consented and sent imperial guards with Jeongguk to Taehyung's manor.
The moment Jeongguk saw Seorin, he jumped into her arms and looked around for Taehyung.
"Rin, Rin?" Jeongguk asked.
Seorin carried Jeongguk to the gardens closer to her chamber.
"Your fifth brother is out," Seorin said. She signalled a maid. "Bring buns and sweets for seventh prince."
Jeongguk was a little disappointed Taehyung was out, but he was happy he could able to play with Seorin.
Seorin thought about what she could play with Jeongguk and remembered the chugguk (also known as Cuju, Football, mainly used in Joseon times) Taehyung brought home a while ago. "Seventh brother, let's play chugguk."
In the past Seorin loved to play chugguk in Daegu. She put Jeongguk on the ground and ran to get the chugguk ball from the chamber.
Jeongguk happily played with the chugguk ball. If he kicked too far, his short legs would run little steps after the chugguk ball.
Seorin, the maids, the servants and the imperial guards smiled and watched Jeongguk chased the ball. Jeongguk's expression was serious and he didn't allow anyone to retrieve the chugguk ball for him.
Jeongguk kicked the chugguk further after each kick. But after his strongest kick the chugguk ball flew and landed in the well.
Seorin saw Jeongguk's sad doe eyes and consoled him. "Gukkie, I'll make you a new chugguk ball to play with."
Jeongguk nodded his head. Seorin knew it would take too long to make a chugguk ball from fabrics and decided it was quicker to use paper. She picked up Jeongguk and carried him to Taehyung's calligraphy room.
Inside Taehyung's calligraphy room, Seorin and Jeongguk collected torn paper on the floor and on the table. Then she showed Jeongguk how to flatten the torn paper and scrunched it into small paper balls.
Jeongguk thought it was too easy and quickly made a pile of small paper balls.
Suddenly Seorin glanced at one of the torn paper she picked up... Park Jin Young. She read it carefully and the torn paper slipped out of her hands in her shocked state.
Taehyung returned to the manor and heard Jeongguk came to visit and was inside the calligraphy room with Seorin.
Taehyung entered the calligraphy room and saw Jeongguk was sitting on the floor happily making small paper balls. But Seorin sat on a chair in front of the table and she had the look of despair on her face. He glanced at the torn paper on the table and realised he forgot to burn the last copy of the letters.
Taehyung carried Jeongguk to Yoongi's chamber and asked Yoongi to play with Jeongguk for a while. Then he rushed back to the calligraphy room and sat next to Seorin.
"Taehyung..." Seorin said.
Taehyung hugged Seorin. "Seorin, let me explain."
Seorin pushed Taehyung away. "Why do you need to copy my father and Princess Ji Hoon's calligraphy? Why?"
Taehyung didn't know what to say.
"What did she put in my mother's bowl of soup?" Seorin asked. She looked down at the torn paper on the table that was wet from her tears. "Taehyung, why didn't you tell me?"
Seorin avoided Taehyung's touch. "Taehyung, you knew everything that happened but you didn't tell me anything! Why? Tell me, what did she put in my mother's bowl of soup?"
Taehyung's heart ached to see Seorin cry. "Poison herbs."
Seorin remembered that year her mother's health slowly declined... until her mother died. "Mother..."
Taehyung hugged Seorin, her body was shaking and she sobbed loudly. "Seorin, calm down."
Seorin wrapped her arms around Taehyung's shoulders and sobbed on his neck. "Why did she need to kill my mother? Why? My mother didn't do anything to her. My mother never fought with her. Why did she still want to kill my mother? Taehyung, I want to kill her!"
Taehyung heard Seorin sob until her voice became hoarse. He didn't want her to lose her voice and reluctantly struck her unconscious.
Seorin dreamt that Princess Ji Hoon killed her mother. She was tied to a chair and couldn't save her mother. "Mother... mother..."
Seorin was startled awake. She opened her eyes and saw Taehyung was lying next to her in bed but she didn't know what time it was.
"Seorin, what's wrong?"
"Taehyung, I want to kill her!" Seorin said. "I want them to die suffering!"
"I'll help you avenge your mother's death," Taehyung promised.
Seorin knew Taehyung would keep his promise and she sobbed loudly for her lost mother.
After Seorin tired herself to sleep from sobbing, Taehyung returned to Yoongi's chamber. Taehyung hugged Jeongguk then the imperial guards escorted Jeongguk back to the palace.
"What happened?" Yoongi asked.
"My wife knows," Taehyung said.
"That's good," Yoongi said.
Taehyung frowned. "Why do I feel you're too happy about it?"
"If your wife becomes stronger, it's good for you," Yoongi said.
But Taehyung felt he failed to protect her.
"Your wife is naturally a strong person," Yoongi said. "But you're too protective of her."
Taehyung sighed. "You're right, my wife is a strong person. She's stronger and is more vengeful than I thought."
"Of course a tigress has different blood than an ordinary person," Yoongi said.
Taehyung turned the jade ring around his finger for a while.
Taehyung remembered a lost memory. He remembered a drunkard was about to assault Seorin's mother but Seorin pulled out a knife and scared the drunkard away.
"Your wife knows everything?" Yoongi asked.
"Not yet," Taehyung said. "She's in a turmoil state and can't process too many thoughts. But I think she'll recover too quickly and force me to tell her everything."
Taehyung didn't want to tell Seorin that Princess Ji Hoon not only killed her mother, but Princess Ji Hoon wanted to kill her too.
"I don't know how my wife wants to avenge her mother's death," Taehyung said. "But I know anyone who dares harm her or someone she loves, she would make that person suffer a hundred times more than she suffered."
"You and your wife are even more compatible than I thought," Yoongi said.
The following day, Seorin quietly sat on a chair and thought for the whole day.
Taehyung's biggest fear was hatred consuming Seorin's head.
Taehyung wasn't going to let his biggest fear become real. He knelt in front of Seorin, propped his chin between her closed knees and looked up pitifully at her. "Rinnie, I'm lonely because you neglected me for the whole day."
Seorin looked at Taehyung's pitiful face and her pursed lips relaxed. She knew he was worried about her and wanted to make her laugh. It lessen the cold sensation in her heart.
"Wife, your husband is a gentleman," Taehyung said pitifully. "Why do you neglect me?"
Seorin stroked Taehyung's ears, held his face and kissed his lips.
Taehyung felt Seorin's kiss was filled with gratefulness and light after a dark night.
The maids and servants quickly left the chamber and closed the door.
"Taehyung," Seorin said.
"Um?" Taehyung asked.
"You'll never leave me, right?" Seorin asked.
"Never ever, how could I leave by little tigress" Taehyung said after hugging her.
Taehyung understood her mental condition and carried Seorin to their bed.
"Taehyung, are you hiding anything else from me?" Seorin asked.
Taehyung reluctantly started to explain everything to Seorin.
Seorin's body turned cold after she heard Princess Ji Hoon wanted to kill her too.
"So we didn't consummate our wedding on our wedding night because I was poisoned?" Seorin asked.
"You are more intelligent than I thought," Taehyung teased.
Seorin kicked Taehyung's leg and berated herself for wasting energy by thinking he was a gentleman who truly wanted to wait until she was willing.
Taehyung rubbed his pitiful leg. "Rinnie, now say what plan did you think of?"
Seorin didn't believe Taehyung didn't act out a plan of his own after he knew her mother was killed. "Taehyung, you can tell me what you've done first."
Taehyung confessed about how he had been slowly making Princess Ji Hoon suffer.
"You're too soft on her," Seorin said viciously. "I want her to suffer more."
"My chipmunk, what do you want to do?" Taehyung asked.
"She wants her daughter to be the crown prince's wife," Seorin said. "I don't want her wish to be granted. I want Park Sang-Hee's fake pregnancy exposed on her wedding day and I want all of them to die suffering."
"Rinnie, we shared the same thoughts," Taehyung said. "I've sent Yoongi hyung to spread the news at Aroma of Riches. I forgot to tell you, the owner of Aroma of Riches is Consort Jung and Third brother.'
"Third prince? Jung Hoseok?" Seorin asked.
"Um," Taehyung said. "In the past I wondered how Consort Jung gained many supporters on behalf of Hoseok hyung. Now I know they used their supporters' secrets to blackmail them.'
"Is that why you plan to borrow their dagger?" Seorin asked.
"The crown prince marrying Sang-Hee isn't a serious threat to Hoseok hyung," Taehyung said. "But after third brother knows the truth, he won't resist to damage the crown prince's credibility in front of imperial father. I know Hoseok hyung will wait until the wedding to expose Park Sang-Hee's deceit. Then hyung will think he's the biggest winner after the Park Manor, the empress and the crown prince's reputations are ruined."
"Doesn't it mean we're helping third prince?" Seorin asked.
"It doesn't have to mean we're helping him," Taehyung said.
"Taehyung, do you want to become the emperor?" Seorin asked suddenly.
Seorin thought that Taehyung was most suited to be the emperor compared to his brothers.
Taehyung saw Seorin was truly curious and he whispered something in her ear.
Seorin heard what Taehyung whispered and she smiled.
"You want to take revenge on the empress and I want to take revenge on Princess Ji Hoon," Seorin said. "This way they'll both pay with their blood and lives."
"What about Park Jin Young?" Taehyung asked.
"He's my father," Seorin said. "But his ambition is the reason why my mother was killed. I don't need him to die. It's enough that he loses his position in the imperial court."
Taehyung nodded his head. He couldn't predict what his father would do to Park Jin Young. But if his father wanted to execute Park Jin Young then he would make a little plea to save Park Jin Young's life, because he and Seorin knew in Park Jin Young's eyes being demoted was worse than dying.
"Rinnie, why do you think Park Jin Young suspects Park Sang-Hee isn't his blood daughter?" Taehyung asked. "Why hasn't he done anything to investigate the situation all these years? He's not someone who would spare a person for deceiving him. I've sent someone to investigate Park Sang-Hee's birth, but I haven't received any evidence."
"Perhaps he's either misunderstood or is certain Park Sang-Hee isn't his daughter," Seorin said. "Its possible Princess Ji Hoon convinced him that he has no evidence to confirm his suspicions. But you said that Princess Ji Hoon panicked after she received copies of those two letters. So I think Park Sang-Hee isn't my father's blood daughter."
"Taehyung, I want you to give me one of those letters," Seorin said. "I want to show it my father. I want to see what his reaction is when he knows the daughter he loved since she was born isn't his blood daughter."
"Seorin!" Taehyung cried out. "God!! Please give me back my loveable lively little tigress!"
Seorin smiled at Taehyung. "Tae tae, don't worry. I'm still me, I won't change."
At the Park Manor, Park Jin Young thought that recently nothing had been smooth for him. He was ashamed of his youngest daughter's behaviour before her wedding, it caused him to lose the emperor's favour. Princess Ji Hoon's health was suddenly poor and Gentleman Han asked him to pay for the costs of Park Sang-Hee's dresses and shoes.
Park Jin Young did want to pay Gentleman Han, but the total cost shook him and he asked Gentleman Han to receive the silver coins from Princess Ji Hoon.
"Prime Minister Park, I did ask Princess Ji Hoon," Gentleman Han said. "But she said she was unwell and asked me to come back another day. Honestly, I need the money to pay my merchants and dressmakers."
Park Jin Young tactfully asked Gentleman Han to come back another day then he looked for Princess Ji Hoon in the Park Manor. He didn't know how many silver coins Princess Ji Hoon possessed and he had never asked. But he knew she wasn't a pauper so he couldn't understand why she couldn't pay Gentleman Han.
Park Jin Young found Princess Ji Hoon in her chamber and he asked her about the silver coins owed to Gentleman Han.
"My silver coins has no relation to you," Princess Ji Hoon said coldly.
Park Jin Young thought Princess Ji Hoon's cold arrogance was too much. He suppressed his disdain and retreated toward the calligraphy room.
On the way to the calligraphy room Park Jin Young was surprised to see his oldest daughter arrived at the Park Manor to visit him.
"Seorin?" Park Jin Young asked.
Seorin smiled charmingly at Park Jin Young. "Father, I came to give Sang-Hee a pair of jade bracelets. It'll look beautiful on her wrists."
Park Jin Young was proud of his oldest daughter who was gentle and considerate. "Seorin, you're a good person."
Park Jin Young accepted the jade bracelets and he noticed Seorin hesitated to ask him something. "Seorin, is something wrong?"
Seorin bit her lower lip and spoke in a shaky voice. "Father... I... this... I didn't intend to tell father about this. But forgive me father, I can't hide this from you."
Park Jin Young had never seen Seorin looked so sad and anxious like she did that day. "Seorin, if anything bad happened you can tell me and I promise I'll give you justice."
Seorin's heart laughed coldly. She pulled out a letter and passed it to Park Jin Young. "Father, last night someone delivered this to my husband's manor. After I read it I was shocked and I wanted to ask father about this."
Park Jin Young read the letter and his body stiffened, it was clearly the letter he wrote to Shin Hye... it was his calligraphy and the same paper he used that year.
After Seorin left, Park Jin Young paced the calligraphy room.
A while later, Park Sang-Hee's frown changed into a smile and she wanted to fly. She acted reluctant to receive the pair of jade bracelets from Seorin, but she loved the jade bracelets.
Park Jin Young strode into Park Sang-Hee's chamber while she was admiring the jade bracelets.
Sang-Hee looked up at her father who appeared upset about something. "Appa, what's wrong?"
Park Jin Young sat beside Sang-Hee. A maid was about to pour tea for him but he stopped the maid.
"Pour me a bowl of water," Park Jin Young said.
"Appa, why do you want to drink water?" Sang-Hee asked. "This is a rare tea, the empress gave it to me."
Park Jin Young held Sang-Hee's hand and smiled at her while the maid poured water.
"Sang-Hee, you're an adult now and about to be start your own family," Park Jin Young said.
Suddenly Sang-Hee felt a sharp pain on her finger and retrieved her hand.
"Appa, what happened?" Sang-Hee asked.
Park Jin Young was satisfied a drop of blood fell into the bowl of water. "Nothing. I think this bowl is dirty. I'm going to exchange it for a clean bowl."
Park Jin Young didn't wait for Sang-Hee's reply, he carried the bowl of water outside.
In the courtyard Park Jin Young pricked his finger and a drop of blood fell into the bowl of water. Indeed his blood and Park Sang-Hee's blood didn't merge and he flung the bowl of water onto the ground.
Sang-Hee was startled by the strange sounds of a broken bowl.
Park Jin Young didn't know how he left Sang-Hee's courtyard. His legs felt heavy, his whole body felt cold and his hands were shaky. Princess Ji Hoon deceived him for more than eighteen years!
Park Jin Young remembered that year Park Sang-Hee was born.
"Little sister Hoon, is Sang-Hee my blood daughter?" Park Jin Young asked. "Say it clearly!"
"Oppa, what else do you want?" Princess Ji Hoon asked. "If you don't believe me then I'll die for you to see. How can you suspect I would deceive you about this? Look at Sang-Hee, doesn't she look like you? Look, her blood and your blood merged. What else do you want?"
Park Jin Young's heart was teared to pieces. He was a prime minister of a kingdom but his second wife and her daughter deceived him for more than eighteen years! He was a fool for more than eighteen years! Indeed it was a laughable situation.
A while later Park Jin Young kicked down Princess Ji Hoon's door.
"Everyone leave!" Park Jin Young ordered the frightened maids and servants while he looked coldly at Princess Ji Hoon.
Princess Ji Hoon was married to Park Jin Young for many years. She knew if he was angry and didn't want anyone to hear what he wanted to say to her then it was something shameful... her face whitened, perhaps Park Jin Young received those two letters.
"Everyone hurry and go outside!" Princess Ji Hoon ordered the maids and servants that were stalling inside the chamber.
After the maids and servants left, the atmosphere in the chamber was tensed and silent.
Princess Ji Hoon refused to open her mouth first. She didn't want to confess anything she wasn't forced to.
Park Jin Young was repulsed by Princess Ji Hoon's beautiful face. "Ji Hoon, I haven't mistreated you. Why did you deceive me to this extent?"
"I... I... what did I lie to you about?" Princess Ji Hoon denied.
Park Jin Young heard Princess Ji Hoon's lie and his head ached. "You still want to deceive me? Say it clearly, is Sang-Hee yours and your lover's daughter? No, she isn't a Park! That child doesn't suit to be a Park!"
Princess Ji Hoon felt like there were death stands for her in all direction. Indeed paper couldn't defeat fire and her deceit was exposed.
"You don't need to deceive me anymore!' Park Jin Young said. "I know everything! Earlier I tested that * child's blood and my blood. You can't deceive me anymore. Ji Hoon, I truly want to kill you. Because of you, I left my wife and daughter. But you treated me like a fool. You're scum! Scum!"
Park Jin Young swore and cried for a long time. Indeed he was an unpleasant sight.
Princess Ji Hoon dug her fingernails into her palms and she looked at the angry man in front of her. Suddenly everything ended. The days and years of anxiety finally ended.
Princess Ji Hoon straightened her back and looked coldly at Park Jin Young. "What can you do?"
Princess Ji Hoon realised it no longer mattered that Park Jin Young knew the truth.
"You dare to kill me?' Princess Ji Hoon asked. "Do you dare to tell everyone Sang-Hee isn't your blood daughter? Do you dare to tell everyone she is the daughter of your second wife with another man? Park Jin Young, I know you well. You value pride, reputation and status of a prime minister. You wouldn't cause yourself to lose dignity even if your true heart is ugly. In front of other people you would act dignified. Prime Minister, isn't he someone other people respect? What respect? You wouldn't be prime minister if you didn't marry me! You say that I'm scum. But between the two of us, who is more of a scum?"
Park Jin Young's face paled, he couldn't refute Princess Ji Hoon's words.
Princess Ji Hoon smiled coldly. "Even if Sang-Hee is not your child and isn't a Park or even if you're disgusted, you can only tell everyone she is your daughter! Don't forget, the wedding is in three days. Park Jin Young, that year because of your ambition you abandoned your wife and daughter. Today because you were deceived for more than eighteen years, can you abandon this marriage? Abandon the chance to be the future emperor's grandfather?"
Park Jin Young didn't refute Princess Ji Hoon's words. He silently stared at her cold arrogant face and felt his heart rotted. It was true, he wouldn't kill her or expose Sang-Hee's identity. He was going to swallow his grievances otherwise another person would use it as an opportunity to steal his position.
Park Jin Young felt defeated. "You're right! I desire success and status. This is my retribution. Ji Hoon, from today onward there is no marriage between us. I never want to see you again."
Princess Ji Hoon watched the man she loved for decades leave without looking back at her. She sat and the memories appeared in her head.
Princess Ji Hoon remembered that year she was a young lady. Her younger self saw the handsome youth Park Jin Young for the first time, he rode a horse. Afterward she met him at the former prime minister's manor and decided she wasn't going to marry anyone else but him. She confessed to him but he rejected her because he had a beautiful wife. So she put lust herbs into his wine and act like he slept with her though he manage to escape her grasp. The following morning she was certain he would take responsibility but he rejected her again and apologised to her.
Princess Ji Hoon thought her younger self was laughable. She was a princess and lowered herself to love that kind of man but he rejected her love! From that day she vowed she would do anything to hold onto the man she loved. So she lied to Park Jin Young, "I'm pregnant. Oppa, if you don't marry me then I'll tell everyone about what you did. I'm a princess, I'm not going to accept being a second wife. You have to divorce your wife."
Park Jin Young rejected the young Princess Ji Hoon again. He said he would rather die than divorce his wife and she was forced to accept being a second wife.
After Park Jin Young married Princess Ji Hoon, she thought her fake pregnancy would become a real pregnancy. But he rejected her again, "You're pregnant, there's no hurry."
The newly wedded Princess Ji Hoon anxiously watched a few days past then she thought of a plan and acted out her plan. She remembered everything she done, her heart ached.
Princess Ji Hoon's memories faded and she absently walked around the gardens.
A leaf fell onto the ground. Princess Ji Hoon picked it up, the leaf was brown like her heart. The years of marriage life disappeared in front of her. It ripped off her mask and ended her love. She smiled coldly and muttered to herself. "I still have Sang-Hee! I have a daughter that will be empress! That's enough! I wasn't wrong! Everything happened because those people forced me!"