The empress sat in an absolute silence as she watched the lips of one whom she had come to trust wholeheartedly move continuously.
The well carved lips moved but she couldn't figure out exactly the words being said. In daze, she fell in a complete different world as she reminisced on her past and current life.
Finally, she stirred from her stupor, the lights in her eyes dimming considerably, "You are leaving me too?", she asked in a brokenhearted manner making Myung OK almost swallow back all she said and claim it's a joke.
"Your Majesty, I'm really sorry but I have to leave. Palace life isn't meant for me", she left the low seat and crumbled on the ground for a farewell bow, then gathered up herself to leave. All the while, the empress sat glued on her armchair, no show of emotions and no movement of any sort.
Myung OK left quickly with no intention to bid any more goodbyes. She never knew saying goodbye would be so sad and weary.Though, she was wretched, not only from the fact the empress will miss her but because of the uncertainty of her future. All this years, she had one ambition; to be an emperor's woman and use his power to trample upon her mortal enemies. But what to do, when one of her foes is the almighty emperor whom she can never trample upon, unless she has more power than him.
Is it even possible, being powerful than the ruler of a big nation?
As she walked dispirited towards the path leading to her exit, a palanquin with a moderately large entourage passed her by. One of the palace maids who seemed to know the master of it exclaimed in awe and wonder.
"Who is that?", she marched towards the lady to satisfy her curiosity. She wondered who dared arrive the palace with such extravagant entourage.
"You haven't heard?", the lady shrieked before lowering her voice to a whisper. "It's the newest consort and I heard she's already being made a level two Eui."
Myung OK smiled reproachfully and went on her way. What do she care anyway?
She gave her identity card to the gate guards and heard one of them mention the lady of the Choi clan is lucky to be a royal consort.
"What do you know?", one of the guards gloated to his counterpart. "She's the former prime minister's daughter and one time candidate for the crown princess position. I heard she suddenly left Midway during the selection on her own volition, if not...", he looked suspiciously at Myung OK who had her back on them as she watched the last trail of procession disappear at the distance. "...she would have been the empress".
Myung OK's heart almost bursted out of anger. Her lower lips got trapped under her teeth as she grounded them painfully. The reason why she first came to the palace reinforced in her heart with a stronger redemption.
'Yes, I vowed to crush Choi sang-min under my feet and make his offsprings bow before me!'.
In a convinced remembrance of her real ambition, she took back her Identity card and ran back to the palace. Her ambition got stronger.
The war has just begun.
The empress never budged from her seat even as Myung OK left. She sat in the same position with a forced smile as she watched her friend kowtow before her.
"Seo-yun, royal mother just made the request to appoint you royal consort yesterday, never knew you will arrive today already", she said with a smile, her words filled with sarcasm. But being a sharp and intelligent woman, Seo-yun still smiled bashfully and answered sweetly eventhough she knew she was being mocked for her impatience.
"Your Majesty, even I could have waited till your appointment arrives but my father has just been made the minister of defense so I had to enter the palace with him today".
The empress foregone the decorum as she poured her tea. Suddenly, Seo-yun spoke out again.
"Your Majesty, what type of man is the emperor?". Eun-hye whose hands was on the verge of pouring tea froze but resumed it's movement. An action which didn't go unnoticed by Seo-yun.
"You haven't seen him yet. When you see him, then you can find out", she answered softly, no trace of anger or even jealousy.
"I have seen him, Your Majesty. Last six days, I was almost killed by bandits but his Majesty stopped by, thrashed those crude men then escorted me and my servants to the temple", she gushed fantastically like a child describing the best birthday gift she received from a parent.
"Really?", was the short reply. "Then, you should already know what type of man he is, why ask me?".
Seo-yun felt a little bit sad by the empress reply but she didn't dare show her dissatisfaction. "I just wanted to know if he's just that type of man or he took special interest in me", she tried to retaliate but failed woefully as the empress drank her fragrant tea nonchalantly, not even sparing a glance.
"Only time will tell", she said again.
"But I wonder why you would travel without guards prompting the emperor to help you out in the first place", Eun-hye said contemplatively, but Seo-yun made no reply. She had nothing to say anyway as she couldn't say her father ordered all their guards to an unknown mission that day.
Soon, there was an announcement of the empress's physician arrival, breaking the calm monotony of silence and easing the heavy awkwardness.
She made to totter towards the door but restrained herself as Seo-yun was there.
"It's been a long journey, I suggest you rest in the Yangwei pavilion as your new residence is still under construction.
The light in her eyes sparkled with such brightness Seo-yun wondered who it was that could make her glow. The crown on her head seemed to shine with such sheen the moon will be shamed. She got up slowly, bowed in a customary fashion then turned to see who could make the empress transform into a different person.
Their eyes met and she felt the threat from her before she lowered her head to bow slightly before her. Though lowered, she could still see all her beautiful contours and outline. For the first time in her life, she felt intimidated. Who was she?
Myung OK passed Seo-yun after bowing but still felt her gaze on her. She felt she's being checked out and hoped her message was well passed.
"Why did you come back?", the empress's excited shrill of a voice broke into her arrays of thoughts.
"To be with you", she wanted to say but changed her mind.
"I decided not to abandon my duties, your Majesty". The words barely left her mouth when she felt something fly into her arms, crushing and squeezing her in a hug.
"Whatever your reason is, I'm glad you are back, Myung OK". Mist formed in her eyes as she patted the woman who looked strong but is the most fragile being she has ever met.
"Thanks for accepting me back", she whispered hoarsely at her ears as they were still in a hug.
At the Yangwei pavilion, Seo-yun couldn't shake off the feeling of threat she felt earlier.
"What the hell!", she cried out silently. "She's just a lowly courtmaid and not worth mentioning".
Maybe it's her confidence on her status or the conviction that the latter is a mere courtmaid, she regained herself but vowed to request the dowager empress send the flirtatious looking girl away from the emperor's eyes. The girl's beauty could ruin a nation she thought.
The empress ordered not to have any celebration for the new consort until the emperor demands so. She has nothing against Seo-yun but she's well aware the emperor is still skeptical about the appointment.
He might not be in love with her, but he discusses every matter related to his harem with her and he requested so.
Seo-yun who waited one week for the appointment and the wedding ceremony lost her patience. She ran to the dowager to complain but she pacified her and assured it will happen soon as the emperor was still busy with state issues.
One week later, after persuasion and begging her father to step up for her, the wedding ceremony took place.
That night, the emperor who had no intention of stepping out received an invitation from the grand dowager empress.
She pleaded that he should visit her and share some newly imported tea with her.
What people didn't know was that the old woman was playing politics. She believes that Choi Seo-yun shouldn't be allowed to conceive a child so as to check her father's power. She never liked the girl.
In addition with Choi sang-min being a minister of defense, adding a crown prince will unsettle the power balance the emperor has been trying to achieve.
"Court lady Bong, I think you should really find me a courtmaid I can groom as my own". She smiled ruefully at the lady, suddenly, she laughed out.
"Find me the court lady the emperor ransacked the palace for... or do you really think it was a mere thief as he said?". She smiled brightly and proudly at her idea, the slightly wrinkled face seemed to be elastic as it expanded beautifully .
"Let's find the emperor's woman for him".
She laughed out loud and clear, her rich vibrato voice filled with happiness.