The arrival of autumn added to the somber atmosphere in the palace.
It was a windy morning, Namjoon stood outside his chamber in pure white clothes.
Outside Namjoon's chamber, there was fresh blood on a wall. The empress had sent someone to kill one of Namjoon's palace maids who was a spy of the Third prince.
Namjoon could have saved the dead palace maid. He caught her reporting to third prince. She begged him to spare her life while she was being dragged to his courtyard. Why should he save her? She was another ant trapped in a cage who wasn't allowed to see her family and friends outside the palace. The wind blew through his cold body and he smiled, death was an escape for her.
"Joon, why are you standing here?" the empress asked. "It's too windy, you'll be ill."
Namjoon didn't turn around, he continued to stare at the bloodstain on a wall.
"I received news your imperial father is conscious," the empress said. "You should go and visit him. Third prince had been acting like a filial son by his bedside these past few days."
"There's nothing good to see there," Namjoon said.
"You... this boy!" the empress said.
"Eomma, aren't you tired?" Namjoon asked.
"He's your father!" the empress said.
Namjoon turned around and looked sadly at his mother. "Eomma put your hand over your heart and ask yourself if you love Appa."
"What are you implying?" the empress asked.
"How much you love Appa is how much I love him," Namjoon said. "So I don't need to see if he's conscious."
The empress couldn't refute her son's words. She and the emperor were married for more than twenty years but there was no love between them.
"Eomma, don't waste your energy anymore," Namjoon said.
"What are you saying?" the empress asked.
"Eomma, I'm tired," Namjoon said tiredly. "I don't want to battle anymore."
"You're insane!" the empress said.
Namjoon let the wind blow through his tired heart.
"That day did you truly request your imperial father to take away your crown prince position?" the empress asked sternly.
Namjoon nodded his head.
"I'll never let that happen!" the empress shouted. "I've planned this future for you for many years. What do you mean you're not going to battle anymore? You must keep battling even if you don't want to."
Namjoon laughed coldly. "Please, Don't force me, Eomma."
The empress felt helpless. Was it her own son who was standing in front of her? Why did he became completely different from her?
"Eomma, it's windy," Namjoon said. "Go back to your chamber."
Namjoon glanced at the bloodstain on the wall again then he left his courtyard.
The following day news of the emperor was awake and alert spread outside the palace. It was rumored the emperor was deeply moved by the filial Third prince who never left the emperor's bedside while the emperor was ill.
At Taehyung's manor, Seorin felt tired so she napped on the bed.
During the period the emperor was ill, Taehyung was free, and he leisurely spend his free time. But today one of Taehyung's guards knocked on the door. Taehyung opened the door and the guard reported the news about the emperor being awake and alert.
Taehyung closed the door after the guard left and returned to the bed.
Seorin opened her eyes and looked at Taehyung. "The emperor's conscious?"
Taehyung nodded his head. "It's been three days, of course, the emperor needs to be conscious again."
"I'm waiting for the emperor's edict," Seorin said.
Seorin felt lethargic, she didn't want to move her body but she didn't want Princess Ji Hoon to live another peaceful day.
Taehyung held Seorin's hand. "Seorin, I want to hear how you feel about your father."
Seorin frowned. She knew Taehyung was asking her before the emperor's edict if she wanted him to ask the emperor to spare her father's life.
"Although he's my father," Seorin said. "We've lived together for four years but there's no love between us. I think only losing his prime minister position is too soft on him. He's the reason why my eomma was killed. But he's still my father, I don't want him to lose his life."
"I understand," Taehyung said. He hugged Seorin. "Seorin, don't worry. I'll ask imperial father to spare his life. Also, Park Jin Young isn't someone who idly waits for death. Park Jin Young acts as a weak man, but he wouldn't have kept his prime minister position all these years if he wasn't a capable man. That's why I think he'll do everything to save his own life."
"What will he do?" Seorin asked.
Taehyung hugged Seorin tighter and he looked outside the window.
As Taehyung expected, after Park Jin Young heard the emperor was awake Park Jin Young dressed and rushed to the palace to see the emperor.
The emperor was reading reports when Jimin entered the emperor's chamber.
"Your majesty, Prime Minister Park requests to see your majesty," Jimin said.
"I don't want to see him, Jimin." the emperor Kim Seokjin said.
Jimin walked outside the royal chamber and Park Jin Young begged Jimin to persuade the emperor to see him.
Jimin sighed and returned to the emperor's chamber. "Your majesty, Park Jin Young said he has something important to discuss with you."
The emperor laughed coldly. "He still has something important to discuss? Huh? Bring him in here."
The emperor was amused Park Jin Young dared to see him.
Park Jin Young wore ordinary clothes, kneeled in front of the emperor, cried and held up his folded prime minister uniform.
"Your majesty, I'm here to appease some of the injustices your majesty had to endure," Park Jin Young said.
"Appease me?" the emperor asked.
"Yes your majesty," Park Jin Young said. "I'm not suited to be the prime minister. My wife and my youngest daughter have committed a grave offense against your majesty. That's why I came to see your majesty. I'm willing to resign to appease you."
"What you're saying is laughable," the emperor said. "Don't you know what the punishment is for deceiving an emperor? Death for everyone involved."
"Your majesty, I was deceived too," Park Jin Young said. "I didn't know anything about it."
The emperor laughed coldly. Even if the imperial guards reported to him that Park Jin Young wasn't involved in the deception, he was repulsed to see Park Jin Young who was crying and begging in front of him.
"Your majesty, I have another grievance I want to discuss with you," Park Jin Young said.
The emperor thought Park Jin Young didn't understand boundaries.
"Your majesty, I want to divorce Ji Hoon," Park Jin Young said.
"Do you think I'll spare you if you divorce her?" the emperor asked.
"Your majesty, there is something you don't know," Park Jin Young said. "Why I want to divorce Ji Hoon has nothing to do with her offense. She had deceived me for many years and committed adultery with another man."
The emperor looked at Park Jin Young with contempt.
"Your majesty, the truth is Sang-Hee isn't my daughter," Park Jin Young said. "Sang-Hee is Ji Hoon and her lover's daughter. Ji Hoon deceived me for more than eighteen years. I only found out the truth recently. I didn't think Ji Hoon was this despicable. That's why I want to divorce her. Your majesty, please grant my request. If your majesty doesn't believe me, you can send someone to investigate. If you discover I have lied to you then I'm willing to die."
Seokjin mockingly laughed at the sight of Park Jin Young's hypocritical righteousness. He knew Park Jin Young was someone who valued dignity and status. He didn't think there would be a day Park Jin Young would cry and beg. Nor did he expect Ji Hoon would dare to commit adultery and Sang-Hee wasn't Park Jin Young's daughter.
"Your majesty, these past few days I've thought this is my retribution," Park Jin Young said. "That year I abandoned my first wife and daughter and made them suffer... I have no confidence to face the past. Ji Hoon is an unreasonable woman; I've suffered under her control for many years. But I can't swallow her adultery and deceit. Your majesty, I beg you to grant my request to let me divorce her. After divorcing her, I'll return to Daegu and guard my first wife's grave until my death."
Park Jin Young acted pitiful in front of the emperor. He wasn't certain the emperor would spare his life and the emperor's silence made him more anxious.
"Park Jin Young, I've underestimated you," the emperor said. "If what you said is true then you should accept this edict from me and return home. Ji Hoon has mistreated you like this then she doesn't need to live anymore. But she is the empress' sister and it's not good for this news to be spread outside. I'll let you deal with the situation discreetly."
Park Jin Young's body shook at the sight of the emperor's edict. He understood the emperor wanted Ji Hoon to die and keep her adultery a secret. If he couldn't expose her adultery then other people would think that it was his decision to kill Ji Hoon and the emperor was innocent.
"Do you have anything else important to discuss?" the emperor asked.
"Your majesty, I'll listen to your advice," Park Jin Young said.
The emperor laughed. "You're a good man. After you have dealt with the situation, I'll let you return to Daegu to be with your first wife."
Park Jin Young couldn't laugh freely as the emperor, he knew he would die before returning to Daegu.
The emperor watched Park Jin Young leave hopelessly and his ruthless heart cursed Park Jin Young, "Park Jin Young, I did consider sparing your life. But you overestimated your intelligence. Do you dare to oppose my edict?"
"Jimin, summon the crown prince," the emperor said.
"Yes your majesty," Jimin said.
Namjoon who had not eaten for a few days lost a lot of weight and the brightness of his eyes walked weakly into the emperor's chamber.
"Other people dream of entering this chamber," the emperor said. "But you're impressive, you need an invitation before you're willing to enter this chamber."
"Appa, your health is important," Namjoon said. "It's not good for you to upset yourself out of bed."
"Joonie, You're the only one who understands this much," the emperor praised.
"Appa, you taught me everything," Namjoon said.
The emperor suddenly threw a report at Namjoon. "Don't learn to act like the Fifth prince in front of me!"
Namjoon didn't avoid the report and it hit his forehead. "I envy Tae."
The emperor gritted his teeth.
"If I was Taehyung," Namjoon said. "Then imperial father wouldn't be angry. Taehyung didn't visit your bedside but you didn't fault him for not being filial. It doesn't matter if Taehyung isn't sincere or distant, Appa wouldn't care. That's why I envy Taehyung."
"I don't care because he is no one in my eyes," the emperor said.
"Is that so?" Namjoon asked. "Then my imperial father, you should see me like no one too."
"Unfilial child!" the emperor Kim Seokjin shouted.
Namjoon kneeled in front of his father. "Appa, please take away my crown prince position."
Namjoon hit his forehead on the floor.
The emperor felt his Second son whom he trained for many years had suddenly become a stranger.
"Namjoon... this is the third time you have asked me this!" the emperor said.
"Appa, I hope there won't be a fourth time," Namjoon said.
The emperor knocked over the teapot and cup. "Namjoon! You're the crown prince I put a lot of energy to train you for more than twenty years! Yet you're asking me to take away your crown prince position. Are you willing to disappoint me?"
"Appa, I'm sorry," Namjoon said. "But I don't want the throne and rule over the kingdom. Appa, Third brother is the one who wants it. You should grant his wish. He's devoted and decisive, it makes him more suitable to be emperor than me."
"Third prince?" the emperor asked. "Devoted? He's a complete fraud now! Who's Third prince? I know him better than you. He is completely changed because of his mother's influence. He's now someone who has the most ulterior motives."
The emperor struggled to stand. Jimin rushed to the emperor's side but the emperor pushed him away.
"Everyone leave!" the emperor ordered.
"Crown prince, take care of the emperor," Jimin said to Namjoon and left the chamber.
Namjoon dismissed Jimin's advice.
"Although Third brother has ulterior motives," Namjoon said. "But he hasn't committed any serious offenses. But I've shamed you appa beyond acceptable."
"So you lied about Sang-Hee?" the emperor asked.
Namjoon didn't deny his father's accusation.
"I didn't think there would be a day Joon will know how to calmly lie," the emperor said and laughed coldly. "It doesn't matter, you shouldn't even dare to think about me taking away your position! I raised you. I know what you're thinking like I know my own hand. I know your mother forced you to deceive me. Also, Third prince isn't innocent in this deception either. I know clearly who purposely wanted to expose Sang-Hee. Third prince and Consort Jung knew about Sang-Hee's fake pregnancy long ago and they waited until the wedding to expose Sang-Hee. Their black hearts aren't innocent."
The emperor hit the table. He acted sternly with Namjoon and appeared to favor Hoseok. But it wasn't his true heart.
Kim Seokjin hated situations out of his control. He knew Namjoon was soft but Namjoon was also capable because he is the brainiest, which was why he chose to train Namjoon. He thought after him, Namjoon would have enough power to sit on the throne. But Namjoon disappointed him.
The emperor didn't trust Hoseok. Hoseok was someone who thought too highly of their intelligence, always manipulating situations to benefit themselves, and would do anything to gain favor like being stabbed unnecessarily to appear heroic in the eyes of the Kingdom's citizens. And he knew this major gap in his plans only happens because his soul was not cruel and black like his mother, and his mother manipulates him like her puppet.
Namjoon knew Hoseok would never satisfy their father's expectations. "Appa, if you're not satisfied with Third brother, there's still Taehyung."
The emperor's deadly aura was emitted in all directions.
"I will never allow Fifth prince to sit on the throne!" the emperor said.
"Why?" Namjoon asked.
Namjoon was curious why his father treated Taehyung coldly for more than twenty years. He knew Taehyung was intelligent and treated others fairly. If he could see Taehyung's strengths then their father could also see Taehyung's strengths.
"Joon, you only need to worry about being a good crown prince!" the emperor said. "You're my heir, my first child who survived, the kingdom will become yours."
Namjoon felt helpless to escape his cage. Would he ever even take one step out of his cage? He remembered the dead palace maid and a familiar suffocating sensation wrapped around his body.
Namjoon stood. "I don't want it!"
"Namjoon!" the emperor said.
"Appa!" Namjoon said.
"Do you want me to be angry to death?" the emperor asked.
Tears flow out from Namjoon's eyes, he pulled out a dagger, and stabbed his chest. "My Beloved emperor, appa, don't force me!"
Emperor Seokjin grabbed Namjoon's hand in a flash. "Namjoon, what do you want to do?"
Namjoon used his strength to stab the dagger deeper and more tears started to stream from his eyes. "My Imperial Father, I want you to grant my request."
"Summon an imperial physician!" the emperor cried out.
Jimin rushed into the emperor's chamber and realized that day was beautiful. Then he wondered if flowers were blooming in Taehyung's manor.
Jimin hid his thoughts and he acted concern in front of the emperor.
"Your majesty, what happened?" Jimin asked. "Ah! Crown prince are you alright?"
That day news about the emperor taking away the Second prince's crown prince position faster than punishing the Park Manor surprised many people.
Empress almost died to see her son return with blood on his chest. She collapsed on a chair after she read the emperor's edict in her son's hand, her son was no longer the crown prince.
The empress thought her eyes misread the emperor's edict. She had warned her son not to say any nonsense in front of the emperor. Why would the emperor grant their son's insane request?
"* child! because of you, my position is in threat now" the empress cried in agony. "How many people do you want to kill?"
Namjoon found peace amongst the chaos around him. After more than twenty-six years in a cage, the door was opened. He could see sunlight, hear the sounds of birds chirping, smell the scent of blossoms and feel warmth enter his cold body. He had never felt as relaxed and happy as he did that day. He smiled like a fool because finally, he escaped the cage.
At Taehyung's manor, Seorin couldn't believe the news about the crown prince.
"He's no longer the crown prince?" Seorin asked.
Taehyung nodded his head.
"Then who will be the new crown prince?" Seorin asked.
"The emperor is keeping the crown prince position vacant," Taehyung said.
"Do you think it could be you?" Seorin asked.
Taehyung shook his head. "It's alright, everything happened according to the plan. But there's something else..."
"What?" Seorin asked.
"Seorin, imperial father asked Park Jin Young to kill Princess Ji Hoon," Taehyung said.
"Why would the emperor do that?" Seorin asked.
"It's hard to see imperial father's true motives," Taehyung said. "Seorin, do you want to go to the Park Manor and give Princess Ji Hoon a memorable parting gift? We can let her see clearly whose hands she died under."
"Yes," Seorin said. "Of course, we need to go. I want to see her die suffering."