Till the evening Yoon Shik was unable to hit the target. All his aims were wasted. There were cuts on his left hand from which he was holding the bow. "Let's stop," said Sunwo, seeing the blood in Yoon Shik's hands.
"No, I need to hit at least one target. The sun has not set," Yoon stated.
"Your should stop now. A wounded hand will only hinder your practice more. Moreover tomorrow is the day when you have to clean the clothes. The wound will hurt more if you won't stop now," asserted Sunwo. Do Yeong agreed with Sunwo and took the bow from Yoon Shik.
"Let's go to the infirmary," said Yeong. "It is bleeding too much," he said looking at Yoon's hand. They left the ground. In the infirmary, the physician told dressed Yoon Shik's wound and told him not to use that hand much. Yoon Shik nodded. "Put it over the wound after an hour immediately," Physician Gyeom Won told him, handing him green ointment which was in a paste form in a tiny bottle.
Yoon Shik thanked him and came out of the infirmary. "Physician Gyeom told me not to put the pressure on the hand but that way I will not be able to learn archery," Yoon Shik expressed his concern.
"You can learn it after it will be healed," Sunwo opined and then took out a clean silk handkerchief from his packet. "Wipe off your sweat. You did a lot of hard work today," he stated. Yoon Shik smiled and thanked him for the help.
"Where is Yeong?" Yoon Shik asked as he wiped off his face.
"His father has come here. So, he was summoned by him," Sunwo asserted in a serious tone. They both stepped down the stairs when Yoon asked Sunwo about Yeong's father.
"Is his father very strict?" Yoon questioned him.
"Yes. But he adores Yeong a lot. He wants to secure a royal court position for Do Yeong for his future . To tell you the truth, his father is the most powerful minster in Joseon after Prime minister, so he wants Do Yeong to maintain that legacy," stated Sunwo.
They crossed the corridor when Sunwo further spoke, "He will get married soon. I think after he will leave this academy he will marry the King's daughter. This will strengthen the court more. He is very upset about this."
"He should tell his father that he did not want that," Yoon Shik suggested.
"Yoon Shik, it is not that easy. Do you think his father will listen to him? Yeong has tried a lot to talk with him but it was in vein," declared Sunwo.
"But this way he will only lead an unhappy life," Yoon Shik opined. Sunwo halted at his place. "That is why being a noble's child is tough. We cannot do anything on our own," Sunwo pronounced and sighed.
"Even my birth father never wanted me to study. I am thankful to my mother who took us here. So, I can understand what turmoil he is going through," said Yoon and recalled those sad times. Sunwo patted his shoulder.
"Do not recall past. It will hurt only. Do Yeong will find a way out," Sunwo said and opened his fan. "It is so hot," he said and stated fanning himself.
"Can we not help him?" Yoon asked.
"How will we helpful for him?" Sunwo asked.
"We can talk with the King's daughter and tell her that Yeong does not want to marry her and she should step back from this marriage," Yoon Shik proclaimed.
Sunwo kept looking at him for a while and then started laughing. "You are joking, right?" Sunwo asked while holding his stomach.
Yoon Shik flinched his brows. "No, I am serious. Why would I joke? I mean we can do that. She will understand," Yoon Shik declared. Sunwo chuckled and then laughed again. After a while, controlling his laughs he spoke, "She is the nation's princess. Do you think she can be available to meet us? Moreover, she lives in the Palace where even a leaf enters with the permission of the King and you are saying we should talk about this with her!"
Sunwo again laughed when Yoon said, "It is impossible for me to go there but not for you both. Your fathers are in royal court so you can meet the Princess easily," opined Yoon.
"We cannot. Well, Yeong is going to meet her this month so then he can talk about this with her. But if he will refuse for this marriage then his father will get angry at him which can have serious repercussions," asserted Sunwo. "Now, let's get back to dormitory. I am hungry and tired," he added. Yoon nodded and they left for their dormitory.
~~~~~~~~~
Dae Jung was coming home after completing the work on the fields when he saw Hani walking on the street with a sad look. "She must be missing Yoon Shik," murmured Dae Jung and ran to her.
"Hani," he called her name who stopped after hearing her name. She turned back and found Dae Jung there. "Ahh, why did you call me?" Hani asked. Dae Jung stopped before her.
"Are you missing your brother?" Dae Jung inquired her.
"Yes. It has been almost 3 days when I did not see Orabani. I wish I could be a man then I could have entered Sungkyunkwan to meet Orabani," Hani said and sighed heavily.
"What are you saying? You, a man? Never. You can still meet him. Do not feel so low," Dae Jung stated.
"How can I meet Orabani?" Hani questioned him.
"This month he will get a leave. That day you can meet him," asserted Dae Jung.
"It is so late. I have another idea. I think I should go there into a disguise of a man. I can do that, right?" Hani muttered and smirked.
"You will be caught and punished. Do not even think about this," stated Dae Jung.
"Dae Jung- ah, let's go there tomorrow. No one will recognize me if you will be with me. I just want to see Orabani," said Hani and joined her hands, pleading before him.
"What if we will be caught? I mean I am guy that's fine but what about you. Your face looks like a girl and there are many other things," Dae Jung opined.
"I will do something for my face. Just agree with this, please. We won't be caught. Let's do that and go to Sungkyunkwan tomorrow," pronounced Hani with a smile. Dae Jung nodded and the two left for their respective homes.