As the event got over, everyone dispersed. Yoon Shik went towards Dong Hyun and Dae Jung who congratulated him for getting the position in Ministry of Rites. Yoon Shik thanked them and asked about his luggage as he had to leave for Sungkyunkwan.
The Village headman, Dong Hyun told him that they had to go out of the palace as his luggage was in the cart. Yoon Shik nodded and they walked out. As they were walking, Yoon was thinking about the Ministry he was bestowed by the king.
"I will not be able to do anything under that department. But his majesty told me that if I want to, I can get into the other department. But how?" His chains of thoughts were broken when he felt an arm over his shoulder. He turned to see the person and found Park Sunwo.
He was fanning himself. "Thinking about how to change the department?" Sunwo questioned. Dae Jung looked at Yoon Shik upon hearing Sunwo's words.
"How did you find it?" Yoon Shik asked.
"The face you are carrying is telling this. Do not worry, I will help you. Come with me to the Sungkyunkwan," proclaimed Sunwo.
"Thanks but I have somewhere to go. I will come later," stated Yoon Shik.
"Where?" Dae Jung questioned.
"Umm... I cannot tell," said Yoon.
"No worries. Reach there before evening else, be ready for the punishment. Rules are strict there," said Sunwo, pulling his arm from Yoon Shik's shoulder. He then waved at him. "Yoon Shik, see you in the Sungkyunkwan. I hope we will get the same dorms," stated Sunwo before leaving. Yoon Shik smiled and waved at him.
"Yoon Shik, academy life is going to be tough. I heard from Chungin Section (at a higher level than the Sangmin section) that according to the status dorms are distributed. Since you will be the only one who is not from nobility so might get harsh treatment by them. All Yangbans are not good," declared Dong Hyun.
"Chonjang (village headman in Korean), I will overcome that too. The path from here is going to be tough for me," stated Yoon Shik.
"Come to think of it I should have prepared with you. Then at least I could be with you there," said Dae Jung. Yoon Shik smiled and thanked him for thinking so much about him. They came out of the palace. Dong Hyun took Yoon Shik towards the cart. One of his servants gave the cloth bag which had Yoon Shik's clothes and other essentials for him. He thanked him and then turned to Dong Hyun.
"Thank you so much, Chonjang." Dong Hyun patted his shoulder. "I am proud of you Yoon Shik. Do not worry about your family and do well in the academy," Dong Hyun told him.
Yoon Shik bowed slightly, showing respect towards him. He then turned to Dae Jung and said, "Other than students others are not allowed near Sungkyunkwan. I will miss you." Saying this he hugged him lightly. Dae Jung with a smile said, "I want to see you as a big person like those nobles." Yoon Shik smiled and they both pulled away from each other.
"Okay, then we are leaving for the village," said Dong Hyun. Yoo Shik nodded and stayed there till he left his sight. Once they left he took the route towards the forest where his mother's and grandmother's grave was made. The forest was quite far from the palace so he almost was running as he had to later reach Sungkyunkwan before evening. In late noon, he reached there and put some flowers there.
Putting the scroll in front of his mother's grave he said, "Eomma, his majesty bestowed me the Ministry of Rites for the future. I do not how long it will take to give you justice. But I will surely give justice to both of you. Always keep watching me and show me the right path," stated Yoon Shik.
He looked at the sky and found the evening was going to fall soon. "Eomma, Halmeoni, I have to leave. I will come again later," said Yoon Shik with a smile. He picked the royal scroll, put it inside his bag, and then left from there. As he was walking, he heard running footsteps sound. He looked around but found no one but the footsteps sounds were becoming more prominent to him.
"I should leave the forest," muttered Yoon Shik and started running. He came out of the forest and turned to the route of Sungkyunkwan when he was hit by a person. The person was running in his direction so when the person hit him, he fell to the ground. A low scream escaped his mouth as his hand hit on the ground and it got bruised.
The person was in blue robes and had a sword in his hand. A few other men appeared there all in black robes and their faces were covered. Yoon Shik got up from the ground when a fight broke among the black robes guys and blue robe guy. One of the black robe guys came behind Yoon Shik and was going to kill him when the Blue robe guy turned to Yoon, threw a dagger towards him. Yoon thought he was going to kill him but to his surprise, the dagger hit the black robe guy behind him.
He turned back and bent down on his knees to look at the face of that black robe guy. Before he could take off his mask, he felt a pull. The blue robe had grabbed his arm and they both started running. Yoon Shik looked behind and saw four black robes guys are still behind them.
"What is happening?" Yoon Shik asked while running.
"I cannot tell you now. First, we have to hide," the blue robe person answered. Yoon Shik tightly grabbed his hand and took the lead in running as he felt that blue robe guy was not able to run. "I think your foot is injured," said Yoon Shik while running. Yoon Shik took a turn to an abandoned hut in the forest which he had seen a long time ago. "Where are we going," the person questioned.
"This is the best for this situation," replied Yoon and found the shabby hut. They got in and released each other's hands. The person sat on the floor there and looked at his foot. It was bleeding heavily. Yoon Shik quickly took a clean cloth from his cloth bag, bent on his knees, and told the person that he would treat his wound. He found his sister has packed the medicine too for him. He quickly cleaned the wound and then with a clean cloth wrapped it up. "Your skin is so smooth like a girl," Yoon Shik and smiled.
"Here, take this medicine. It will reduce the pain," said Yoon Shik, forwarding a pill towards the person who thanked him and took it. He chewed the pill and then gulped it. Yoon Shik then went out and found there was no one. He then looked at the sky and found he could get late for the academy. He came inside the hut and told the blue-robed person that he had to leave urgently. Before he could stop him, he left from there.
"Strange," murmured the person and pulled off the pin which was holding his hair into a bun. The long hair flung open. "I am lucky he did not found that I am a girl," she said and got up from the ground, holding her sword. She came out of the hut and looked around. "I never found this place in all these years," she wondered.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Do Yeong was with his father in his chamber. "Show good behavior in Sungkyunkwan too. As I mentioned earlier, stay away from that Sangmin kid. The next month when you will get leave from the academy then your marriage will be fixed to his majesty's daughter," stated Park Jangeum.
"Abeoji (father), I do not want to marry," said Do Yeong in an agitated tone.
Park Jangeum looked at him with an angry look. "How many times do I need to tell you that it will strengthen your court position? I do not like to repeat myself," proclaimed Park Jangeum.
A chuckle escaped Do Yeong's mouth. "I am not a son to you, right? A mere puppet of yours through whom you control the court, am I right?" asked Do Yeong. His tone was proving that he did not like his father's way of forcing him in every single thing.
"We are done talking. You may leave for Sungkyunkwan," stated Park Jangeum. Do Yeong gulped his anger down his throat. He bowed before his father and left from there in anger. He walked out of the house where his eunuch, Hwang Shin was waiting for him, holding the luggage of him. They then left for the academy.
"Young master, you should have taken that vehicle. You can get late for the academy at this rate," said Hwang Shin.
"I want to walk till there," declared Do Yeong.
"Did Lord Jang again speak anything to you?" Hwang Shin asked.
"I am a coward who cannot stand for myself," stated Do Yeong with a heavy tone.