On one of many occasions of Myung OK's obligatory visits, the empress who hadn't spoken much and seemed contemplative over some matters suddenly sat up , then raised her head proudly.
"Myung OK, I have decided!", she cried in excitement, then beat her chest in a boastful manner. "We're going to the gambling den!".
The smile on her face stretched to reveal a set of perfect white teeth. Myung OK who had tasked herself with brewing her oolong tea halted, then looked over to see the empress grinning from ear to ear.
She recalled the information of an unusual event going on in gambling dens and made connection with the empress sudden and startling decision.
In resignation, she spoke. "Your Majesty, just forget about the investigation. The emperor has given down orders to close down all gambling dens in the capital and punish the preparator severely".
It was one thing to hear such matter discussed lightly, and another to ponder them in her own heart.
"Who said we are going there for an investigation?", she smirked when lowered her voice to a conspirational level.
"We are going to gamble!", she shrieked excitedly but clamped her mouth shut when the excitement got out of hand. She winked at Myung OK.
Myung OK finally understood what she said.
"What?", she shouted, her beautiful curvature of a mouth hung loosely agape. "Your Majesty!", she called out in alarm.
"We can't go to a gambling den, it's dangerous!", she cried out, but obviously the empress had gone far in her excitement as can be seen in her facial expression.
"Is it about losing? Don't worry, I have never lost in my whole life", she said proudly.
In panic, Myung OK screamed out her name. "Your Majesty!".
"Shhh! don't worry, I have lots of money with me", she said as she patted her dressing drawer , making Myung OK to cry further. Your Majesty, can you not place emphasis on the wrong thing?
"We can't, if we get caught, Your Majesty's reputation shall be sullied ". Vehemently, she disagreed and a debate ensued between them.
Finally, the empress won the argument and her counterpart could only compromise.
"Then, your Majesty, we'll go with many guards".
That's the only suggestion she could offer as there is no winning against the stubborn empress.
"No!", she shrieked in disagreement. "No guards, just two of us. We will change our costume", she dragged Myung OK closer.
"You will be my younger brother, I will be the eldest". She excitedly demonstrated how they will look. The elder brother with moustache and the younger with a face so smooth and handsome, but emphasis would be laid on the fragility and vulnerability of the physique. An adorable look.
"Try calling me 'hyung'", she went on with her so-called perfect plan making Myung OK blush crimson. So embarrassing.
Myung OK fell into a bigger dilemma as there is no way of contacting her fiery arrows. Mischievous act of the empress can't be contained unless there is a staunch security.
If they can't move out with the guards, she will have to call on her own.
Unfortunately, due to high security settings of the palace and the location of her courtyard, there is no chance of sending out a message through her courier bird or it will be shot down. She made a mental note to ask for a change of courtyard when they're back.
"OK Your Majesty", she said. "What's the plan?"
"Try calling me 'hyung' first", the empress suggestively persuaded, leaving no escape route for Myung OK.
"Let's do that when we're outside the palace. First and foremost, what's the plan?", she demanded determinedly.
The empress suddenly pushed her closer towards herself, looked around the room for the needed privacy, then dropped her voice to a whisper.
Myung OK's eyes widened in shock as the so-called plan was made known, but nodded in understanding anyway. She only hopes for a chance to send out a message to her men once they are out.
One hour later, the duo dressed in noble's garbs, waltzed out confidently bereft of any trace of mischief to the normal looking palanquin bearing the emblem of a sea swan.
The empress had suddenly ordered her servants to prepare for a secret investigation as had been commanded by the emperor. The servants found the whole situation absurd but didn't refute the command.
Quietly , they are to leave with the identity of a senior courtmaid returning to her family house for a visit, so as to keep the outing secret. Innocently, they prepared according to the command not knowing it's a ruse.
Ten minutes later, they passed through the palace gate and made their way through the streets as commanded. The empress called for a break and rest. She ordered the whole servants to search for a particular seasoned fruit which she had a crave for.
The few guards they brought was also ordered to join the search . They made to protest but Myung OK promised to keep watch and accompany the empress. Eun-hye came out from the palanquin and gave them a reassuring look.
Some time, after they had left, Myung OK and the empress smiled satisfactorily at the outcome. They stood for quite some time to ensure none comes back immediately, then entwined their hands as they ran to the nearest street delightedly and full of mischief.
They put two more streets behind them before walking into a shop that sells male clothing. Eun-hye acted like a human map as she knew every crook and corner of the area, hence they knew their way around.
Black pants with a sash was chosen. A long sleeved shirt and jacket of navy color was also bought. They went into the dressing area at the corner of the shop, changed their robe and tied their hairs into male style. The long hair was parted at the center and cropped in such a way they could pass for males. Their full chest were flattened with a cloth they tied across.
Eun-hye untied the box of makeups she carried like a lunchbox then set to work. Myung OK's makeup was done first, her brows were made thicker with pencil, her lips painted with a nude color in such a way it was masculine, thick and bigger than lady's. A light colored pencil was used to carve out a sideburns which completed the look as it hid her delicate jawline and sideways.
Once her makeup was completed, Eun-hye marvelled at her contrasting change. If her current look walks alongside her female look, the only similarity would be her eyes.
"Oh my gosh!", she shrieked excitedly, "I am the best. I'm so talented", she gushed proudly as she admired the new look.
"Don't forget about your muse", Myung OK interjected happily. She barely recognized her own self from the mirror as she had changed totally.
"Oh yeah! You are great too. You could pass for my younger brother you know... All your feminity is gone and replaced with a fragile masculinity". She walked around her, admiring the work, her feeling of excitement grew bigger.
"Try calling me 'hyung'", she asked again. Myung OK pretended not to hear as she prodded her to make herself up too.
Eun-hye gave up trying to force her because she knew, sooner or later, she will scream out the name.
Satisfied with her handwork, she kicked Myung OK out from the room.
"Wait for me outside, the surprise would be spoilt if you stayed here", she smiled smugly, that very smile sending Myung OK reeling with anticipation. What exactly is she up to?
Myung OK picked up a newsletter she saw lying carelessly on the ground, then busied herself. Half an hour later, a slightly older boy emerged from the room.
The neatly carved moustache on his face made him look arrogant and unruly. When he smiled, his goatee created entirely another feeling. A feeling of a young lord whose character is comic. A sharp contrast to his arrogance vibes.
Myung OK who had waited patiently was shocked at the visage. The only identifying characteristics were her clothes, every other thing changed. There was no trace of an elegant and charismatic empress nor the loveliness and handsomeness of the young master she met at the prime minister's manor, the only thing she could see was a young man who looked unpredictable and dangerous.
She went all out with her makeup.
"Did you wait too long, younger brother?". The smile on his face curved his lips into a cupid shape, when 'he' raised his brows at her obviously but expected shocked expression, the thick lines of his brows stretched handsomely into a semicircle.
"Call me 'hyung'", she said in a male domineering manner and robotically, Myung OK called out immediately.
"Hyung". Her beautiful face blushed red but the makeup hid it well.
"I hope you are not blushing?", Eun-hye teased. "Men don't blush", she said as she dragged her to walk out of the shop for the commencement of their adventure.
In daze, Myung OK allowed herself to be dragged and sheepishly she followed until the clang of metal brought to her attention the need for weapons. Just in case things goes out of hand.
"Hyung", she said. The word came out naturally like she always called it .The reluctance she felt initially totally gone.
"Yes, younger brother", she answered happily. She's liking this new development and would make the best use of it.
"We need to buy dagger, something inconspicuous but necessary". She dragged Eun-hye away from the streets to a more secluded area. "My lady, gambling den is not a game house but a dangerous place. We need some sort of protection, after all we're women notwithstanding this disguise".
Eun-hye saw her serious expression then nodded in understanding. They went to a sword seller and bought three daggers. The smallest one was placed in Eun-hye's boot and was covered with her pants.
"Try walking", Myung OK said but almost collapsed on the ground. Eun-hye walked like one with injured. Practically, she limped.
Myung OK changed the dagger to a smaller one then encouraged her to walk normally. Satisfied with this one, she placed another dagger in her sleeves then asked her to wave her hands but it didn't fall off, neither was it visible. She nodded in satisfaction then gave her a short demonstration of how to swing the dagger.
Eun-hye didn't read much meaning into it as she followed diligently. Her thoughts were that Myung OK might have seen people swinging swords as she had lived in the hinterlands.
She took the third dagger, then paid. She placed them on her boot, same as Eun-hye, then checked her sleeves conspicuously for her needles. She wouldn't like to spill blood. it's better to paralyze people than maim them. But she hoped all this would be for decorative purposes and not used.
Hand-in-hand, they arrived at the entrance, paid the entrance fee and registered under false identity. Same time, they got an ink tag on their wrist, a symbol of passing through 'legally'.
"Younger brother", Eun-hye said nonchalantly, adopting the manner of an arrogant male.
"We are finally here!".