Two hours later, the morning meetings had almost ended when the prime minister dropped a bombshell. He was leaving court and politics on his own accord to focus on his own family. The hall was thrown into a mad frenzy as it was hard to believe. A man that loved holding the reins of power is relinquishing his authorities and privileges willingly. For what? to live a quiet life.
The south faction rejoiced. Finally, they can also enjoy the sweet taste of power. The west faction nearly cried out in despair, their backbone is abandoning them.
The emperor who had been caught unexpected by his resignation narrowed his eyes at him. Eventhough, the emperor is far away from him, the prime minister saw the narrowed gaze on him but pretended not to have noticed anything.
"I don't understand it", he shook his head as his son's stoic expression gave him an idea. He summoned his chief secretary to take from the prime minister the seal of authority until the next prime minister is appointed.
The seal with the shape of an elephant looked awesome as it laid in it's box. Finally, he's escaping from the threshold of the evil minister that has used him for many clandestine activities. In the hands of the secretary it breathed a sigh of relief until it saw the evil glint on the eyes of the crown prince. (My lord, oh my master, don't look at me that way. I will confess. This evil man has been using me to commit evil deeds. I tried to escape but you know am helpless, I can neither run nor fly. My greatest master, next time attach wings to my body and I promise to point out all my accomplices. All those evil documents bearing my mark should die too).
The crown prince removed his eyes from the object and focused his attention on the prime minister's face. (Yes master, kill him with your gaze. I'm an innocent object used against it's will).
The prime minister who used all the old tricks he had picked up to suppress his anger felt an ominous feeling and looked up to see the prince's icy gaze piercing his body.
'Smile', the crown prince mouthed when he saw his expressionless face. Stubbornly, he refused, his thoughts running back to remind him of the humiliation he passed through in his hands.
One week ago, he had summoned his courage to negotiate with him. Standing idly, he was made to wait outside his study room for one hour. When he was allowed inside, the prince disregarded the normal decorum and jumped straight to the point.
"Treason or my conditions?", he said carelessly.
"Your highness, your conditions", he replied indignantly.
"What can you give to satisfy me?".
He clenched his fist tight, released it and pasted a painful smile on his face. "I will relinquish all my assets ", he said thoughtfully . A careless laughter rang in his ears as he saw the prince clutching his stomach.
"Just that?".
He exhaled deeply, then smiled. "It seems your highness has something he wants from me".
"Yes!", he exploded. "There is something I want so badly, I want it more than I want to be the next emperor. I want it so badly I could barely sleep if I don't".
"I never knew the crown prince is greedy to a fault", he smiled, then knelt down before him, banging his head on the ground with a clenched fist.
"I seek forgiveness for all the misunderstandings your highness has of me. In addition to my apologies, I relinquish all my rights to armour trade and my house in the capital".
The prince harrumphed, "Your house? well since you are eager to give that up, I will use it for a pigsty . I have this strange desire to raise pigs".
The man looked at the crown prince's disposition and found himself brittle inside his robe. "Your highness, I hope it's not..."
"Yes , it is . I need your power"
So it was exactly as he thought. He knew that he gave him a leash over his neck but didn't know the young man's hatred ran this deep.
"Yes, my lord!". His guts knotted painfully and his teeth clenched at this position he found himself. But there is a popular saying, 'When there is life, there is hope!'. He will always make a comeback as long as he's alive and his daughter is with him.
They locked themselves in a gaze combat.
'Just you wait young man, I will make you pay for this disgrace when I'm back'.
'Yes old snake, I know this is temporary. But when you are back, there will be many changes that you can't keep up with,and in addition, my Yoona will be by my side then'.
"For disrespecting me , Mr Choi...oops, never knew the title will suit you so well, I need 7 kowtows for going against me all this while". A smug look appeared at the corner of his mouth.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!BANG!BANG!BANG!
Blood trickled out from the smash. A vengeful spirit embedded in the very core of his actions.
"Satisfied?".
"Very!".
...
The emperor endorsed his resignation letter with a seal and dismissed the court.
At the entrance door, the prime minister stood receiving felicitations and good wishes from his party members, they felt like they have lost the very soul of their faction.
"My lord, why would you suddenly leave us? What are we to do?".
Like a righteous minister he's been trying to portray, he gave a curt and righteous reply. "We have so many talents left to be discovered, I feel like I should let someone else lead this party too and lead it to the pinnacle of success, I've stayed here too long".
"Is that so?". A cold voice cut in through their conversation. Without even turning, the owner is known.
"Your highness", the ministers bowed , squeaking in their boots. This young man is not someone to be trifled with, especially not now one of their members has fallen. After the salutations, they scurried away like rats abandoning the minister to his fate.
"Is there something else you need, my lord?". He asked with the fearless air of someone who had lost everything.
"Yes, Mr Choi! Hide that ugly daughter of yours. Chicken pox is quite devastating both physically and emotionally, hide her warty skins from the rest of the world to avoid spoiling my people's eyesight", he mocked.
The face of the prime minister remained unchanged despite the throbbing pain in his chest. "Yes my lord, I will hide my ugly daughter away"(Then bring her back later and watch her take her throne besides you). He nearly punched the wall behind the prince into a hole.
"Better. Off you go now. I came out especially to see you off. As my elder". A hint of mockery in his voice.
"You are too kind for seeing this lowly servant off", he bowed then took his leave.
"As long as you remember you are lowly", the crown prince spat out then turned to return to his chambers.
His wedding will be in four days time and his bingu is leaving for her family house in accordance with the custom tomorrow. He is expected to go with his family members to bring her from her home on the wedding day. But as they are royalties, his entourage and his minions will do. If only his brother was here.
So many things to do, so many things to prepare for yet so little a time left for him.