"Who are you?".
Yoona repeated her question with alacrity while glossing her eyes all over the stranger's appearance.
Jet-black hair were fit neatly into a stunning chignon. Deep-set eyes, rich in brown are capped by a long straight eye brows with light shade of brown.
The nose looked small but round giving off a feeling of armenian plum. Light pink lips shaped as a Cupid's heart looked lush with a succulent appearance. A set of dimples graced the high cheek bones.
In fact , he looked like a male demigod.
The average height stranger folded his hand akimbo and indolently asked her .
"Who do you think?"
Yoona almost went berserk with his lax attitude but restrained herself and asked nicely.
"Who are you?".
With a teasing smile, he replied.
"Your savior".
Yoona re-observed this stranger's features and had a feeling of uncertainty. He looks like a man alright, being draped in a masculine looking white tunic and a pair of loose black pants , but there is a tinge of feminity therein. Maybe it's because of the face or is it the voice?
The stranger straightened his arm and turned the interrogator. "What were you trying to do, running blindly with venom towards the prime minister?" He came to visit the prime minister's daughter but was captivated by the beautiful girl standing inconspicuously behind a tree watching the house intently.
At first, he thought she was admiring the house until he saw her shaking while looking dangerously at the house. Following her gaze, he saw it was the prime minister that warranted such a gaze and moved to stop her before she put herself in trouble.
He placed his hands on her shoulder which was left hanging due to Yoona's fast reaction in shrugging away. He brought down his hanged hands and smiled, ignoring her cold attitude.
"I don't know what your grievance is , but that man is not someone to be trifled with".
Yoona finally relaxed a little at the sincerity of his words especially after finding out that he is harmless.
"But is that why you took advantage of me?". Yoona is now feeling goosebumps over being in a stranger's arm for a minute.
"What is there to take advantage of? We are both women". She dropped the bombshell and smiled before heading to the front gate.
A cold hands grabbed her hand sending a cold tingling sensation down her body. "Are you really a female?" Yoona asked with absurdity.
"Do you doubt me?".
"She really is a woman, miss".
A voice broke the awkwardness of the moment and brought to attention a very young man who looked rough and masculine holding unto his sword.
They both looked at him , one with relief. The other with interest.
The young man drew closer and scrutinized the girl . "You did a perfect job in disguise but you forgot to change your brows. Men don't have thin brows".
The girl looked at him recognizing a kindred spirit. She smiled at both of them, bowed and left .
"What is your name?" Yoona asked.
No response. Just smiles.
________________
History has been broken.
For the first time since the creation of sungkyunkwan , two opposing sides arose from there.
Their principle has always been an unanimous decision making and petition writing. But something that has never happened has occurred.
Two petitions came from them, contradicting each other. One suggested a change in precedence of consort selection while the other opposed the motion.
The officials were dumbfounded by this new development
Although the prime minister expected some oppositions, he never expected this outcome. By so doing, the earlier petition has been cancelled by the latter one making it null and void.
The indication of this new development is that sungkyunkwan scholars has been ruled out in intervening since they are unable speak as one.
The emperor looked at his son's emotionless face and smiled. (Seja, is that you? Did you play his own game against him?). Now it's time for him to act too. His son has done all the work, the only thing remaining is his imperial decree.
The whole hall went dead-quiet the moment he cleared his throat.
Ahem.
"Aigoo! an unprecedented matter has presented itself before us".
He looked sideways acting like he is saddened by the turn of event and asked their historian to read out the rule guiding such precedence.
The historian stepped out and bowed respectfully before taking out his scroll.
"The law states that in a state of diversified opinion, the sungkyunkwan claim becomes null and void and cannot be upheld".
The officials broke into a suppressed whisper taking care not to loud out their agreement or disagreement
The prime minister looked up at the throne platform to see a smirk on the crown prince's face. With his hands balled into a fist, he made an inaudible mutterings which brought a broad smile to the crown prince's face.
Prime minister, how do you like that face-slapping? Is it good or do you want more?
This is just the beginning.
__________________
Few hours after the court meeting ended, the empress is seen fidgeting with her hands. She doesn't understand how a well thought plan ended up useless.
The investigation report from her spies on the people that submitted the petition proved fruitless. Someone powerful seems to be behind it , but who is it?
Not being able to take it anymore, she sprang from her seat unsettling the maids.
"Make preparations! We are going to the emperor's palace". The bracelet on her hand broke into two due to the applied force.
"Yes , your Majesty". The maids answered in unison taking care not to upset her further.
The empress is in a very foul mood and woe betide the unlucky person that will set her off. At this moment, they remembered the innocent child face who always has a rosy cheeks.
Princess Min-seo ah! Please where are you?.
During their dark time, she always came to their aid with one word or one smile. They can't begin to count the number of times her presence alone brought relief to them curing them of indigestion of ten years .
Ah! Goddess Min-seo, your children pray to thee. Appear.
With the preparations ready, the empress stormed out to the emperor's palace threatening fire and brimstone.
The emperor stood outside waiting for her. He knew she will come.
"Hwanghu ". He called out.
"Hwangje ". She replied before curtsying.