Chapter Seven: The Perfect Queen Mother
The matter about Mo Jieun yesterday immediately spread like a wildfire. It was reported that a group of guards were on their way to change shifts but then right after, they entered and witnessed that the prison was a mess. The guards that are currently on duty were spread everywhere and unconscious. Upon the inspection of everybody, they found some thin needles attached at a vital point that can make a person senseless and suspected Mo Jieun about the matter.
Haneul was least concerned about the issue. It's not like she wanted Jieun to die, she was lucky enough to escape before entering the door of death. Lest the case of Jieun would make an impact towards the upcoming execution, the two faction's representatives requested an audience with the Emperor and Empress.
And currently, at the audience hall, they are waiting for the arrival of the two representatives. She doesn't even have a tip of knowledge why would it also need her presence. She was just informed, that someone requested an audience and Wangchul summoned her when she was spectating Wangmin's archery class. And then again, she was being forced to wear a heavy dress along with the heavy hairstyle.
Because she can't express her boredom, Haneul roamed around her eyes while sitting elegantly. The expensive hall was dominated by the colors of crimson red and golden yellow; from the pillars to the smallest details inside the hall. Haneul carefully rubbed the tip of her seat and tapped it using her long nails that was recently been coated with a pale pink color palette. She mentally gulped when she confirmed that it is real gold... A real throne of gold!
When Wangchul noticed her unusual behavior, he worriedly asked, "Empress, are you feeling well?"
Haneul showed off her business smile and half-heartedly answered, "I am feeling well, Your Majesty, thank you for your concern."
'I'm not okay! How dare they make us wait?! ' That is what she thought.
But little did she know that it was all Wangchul's doing. He purposely summoned Haneul an hour earlier for them to converse while waiting but when he's trying to pick a conversation, Haneul would always immediately cut it to an end. He's taking back the praise when he said that it was a good thing the Empress is changing. It's not a good thing at all!! Before, Haneul would always say things randomly just to have a conversation with Wangchul. But now, the tables have turned.
Later on, the guards announced the arrival of the two representatives, "Lord Kim and Lord Jeon has arrived!"
Both Lords in white-clad bowed before them, "Kim Daehan, representative of Imperial faction greets the Sun and the Moon of the Empire." A man in his thirties greeted. He was standing straight and proud, his eyes resolute and his lips were tightly shut as if out of strictness, it never experienced stretching.
"Jeon Junsoo, representative of Aristocratic faction greets the Sun and the Moon of the Empire." the other fellow followed. His posture was strict yet gentle. He was the opposite of the other one, with his slightly curved thin lips and squinted eyes, his face was like a proud father attending his child's graduation.
When Haneul noticed that Wangchul does not have the intention of talking, she broke the silence, "Thank you, dear lords, for the trouble of coming here." she said with a smile. Haneul thought that this is the reason she was summoned, she was to take place of the busy Adviser.
Everyone in the room including Wangchul widened their eyes as if flustered thus it made her wonder if she did something wrong since it was a rash decision of speaking.
The bewildered representatives shook their head and bowed, "N, not at all your majesty! We should be the one giving our thanks for granting us an audience!" Lord Jeon replied.
"Yes, yes! We thank the Empress with her thoughtfulness! We shall never forget it and continue to be loyal to the Empire!" The once stern and proud face of Lord Kim is now a flushed and flustered one.
When Han Wangchul heard Haneul speak, he was also baffled. She was like a gentle and confident mother talking to her children with the utmost consideration. Had he known that she could speak like this with brimming confidence, he would've long been persuaded her from voicing out her thoughts.
The original Haneul when having a public appearance would just always stick with Wangchul squirming, and meek, not even greeting back but would instead trepidatiously look at every one. Now, the Haneul beside him is confidently meeting everyone in the eye as if it's not new to her.
Wangchul set aside the thoughts of her and focused on the purpose of the audience. Both of them expressed their thoughts and seriously discussed and considered every small matter. The two representatives on the other hand would ask and agree. Seeing the Empress speaking out, the two representatives had taken a liking to her and would agree to her every opinion. Wangchul was rather impressed by how she can cope up with political affairs. Albeit Mo Jieun is missing, the execution tomorrow will not be affected.
"This is nothing but a small matter. Mo Jieun is heavily wounded, whoever knows that in the middle of escaping, she meets her end. Furthermore, everyone is in search of her whereabouts, she can't possibly leave the Empire easily as everyone knows what she looks like. Thus, my dear lords, worry not for she will be caught one-day." Haneul showed off her gentle yet elegant smile to them.
It was a smile that everyone, even a hard rock would waver and melt. Her tone was not cocky nor an uttered empty words. It was reassuring that both of the representatives felt that something heavy in their chest was lifted.
Haneul mentally snickered. 'How was that for a perfect queen mother huh?'
Wangchul proudly looked at Haneul and said, "Very well then, I suppose this audience has come to its end as you now already accomplished your respective tasks."
The two representatives smiled and bowed to the Emperor and the Empress before exiting the Audience Hall.
Haneul, on the other hand, was asked to dine in with Wangchul thus she suggested that they dine in the Chrysanthemum Garden together with the Prince, Wangmin.
Wangchul's eyebrow twitched. It was supposed to be a wife and husband dinner, why is that brat invited? But if he wishes to eat with his Empress, he just agreed; leaving no choice.
Meanwhile, the two representatives reported what occurred during the audience. When they reached the topic about the Empress, they were like a fan talking about their idol. Soon, a new title for Haneul was spread throughout the Empire and immediately reached her ears.
It was the 'Perfect Queen Mother, Empress Myung Haneul'