Yoon Shik laid down on the ground, slightly far from the stream as he was tired after washing loads of clothes. The gentle breeze was blowing and he had closed his eyes. "My hands," he murmured. "I am not feeling them" he whimpered in pain- a tiny pain which had spread over his both hands.
When he dozed off to sleep, he did not realize. An hour later, his sleep broke and he looked up at the sky. He lifted his hands slightly up. He saw they were plain white and his skin was tore up from various places. "Will I able to write? This is the worst ever punishment I have ever received in my life," mumbled Yoon Shik.
"You should have thought about this before hitting the fellow disciple here." Yoon Shik heard someone saying this. He looked at his left- right but did not see anyone. He got up and sat on the ground when he saw the person came to his left. Seuk Han Min was standing beside him and lightly fanning himself.
"Head Chief," saying this Yoon Shik stood up and gave him formal greetings. Yoon's eyes were lowered when Seuk Han Min spoke, "always look straight and never lower your eyes."
Yoon Shik lifted his eyes when Seuk Han Min turned to him, closing the fan. "So, you finally made it?" Seuk Min asked Yoon Shik.
"Yes, I washed the clothes, head chief," Yoon Shik replied.
Seuk Min gave a faint smile upon hearing Yoon Shik's response. "I am asking about passing the exam. Forgot me? I have never thought that a ten year old Sangmin kid would be able to enter here," Seuk Min asserted.
Yoon Shik blinked his eyes a few times. "Head Chief, have I met you earlier? What I mean is I think I have seen you earlier but I am not able to recall," Yoon Shik replied.
"You served me the drink that day, remember? In Baek Chun's restaurant. That day you even asked us that can you give this civil services exam and I along with my three other friends answered the question," stated Seuk Min.
Forthwith, Yoon Shik recalled and a wide smile carved on his lips. He was delighted to see the man whom he always wanted to thank wholeheartedly. "Head Chief, I am grateful for that day. You not only answered my queries that day but also saved my sister from going to Kisaeng house. I always wanted to thank you," stated Yoon Shik, smiling.
"How is your sister? I hope after that day no such incident occur to you," Seuk Min asked Yoon Shik.
"Yes, head chief. My sister is doing well," Yoon Shik answered. "You even helped me that day when I was asked by exam organizers where did that answer sheet come from. Thank you for that too." Yoon Shik expressed his gratitude.
"I helped you because you amused me that day. When a ten years old kid asked the question about giving the civil services exam, I thought it was because you are curious as a child but nine years later when I read your name as one of the candidates, I was surprised that you indeed came to give the exam," declared Seuk Min and again opened the fan.
"Thank you. Even if I want to repay the generosity that you showed me that day, that would become small. I do not have words to express the feeling I am getting right at this instant," Yoon Shik asserted.
"You don't need to repay. I did duties as an invigilator that day," Seuk Min told him. He then put his hand inside the robe and took out a tiny white porcelain bottle. Forwarding it towards Yoon Shik he told Yoon to apply that over the hands especially on the wound.
Yoon Shik was hesitant to take it but when Seuk Min in a fierce tone told him to take that, Yoon grabbed that. "Thank you, Head Chief," Yoon Shik said, bowing his head.
"You may leave," Seuk Min ordered Yoon while fanning himself. Yoon lifted his head up and turned to go when Seuk Min called his name. Yoon Shik turned back to look at him. "Yoon Shik, I am proud of you. You are a brainy man. Do not ever let yourself get stuck in any trouble when you know you have many enemies, " Seuk Min advised him with a tiny smile on his lips. Yoon Shik passed him a smile too. "You may leave," stated Seuk Min and went the direction opposite to Yoon Shik.
Yoon Shik on the other hand went back to the academy.
~~~~~~~~~
Park Sunwo was laughing along with the three Kisaengs in a room when the door fell open. "Yeong-ae," Park Sunwo whispered and saw he was angry.
"Two hours aren't over yet," Sunwo stated as he put the porcelain cup on the table there.
"Master, is this young handsome man your friend? Shall I serve him tea as well?" one of the Kisaengs asked Sunwo who refused. "What happened?" Sunwo asked Yeong again as he stood up.
"Let's go back," Yeong stated. Sunwo hummed and stepped forward to leave when one of the Kisaengs asked him when he would return next time.
"Soon," Sunwo replied her and walked out with Sunwo. As they came out of the room, Sunwo asked Yeong why he came earlier than the told time.
"Because there is something I want you to help me with," stated Yeong.
"Hmm. Say," Sunwo told Yeong.
"Do you know my father come here? Lady Su and he-" Yeong stopped speaking as his voice almost choked.
"What?" Sunwo exclaimed as he understood. "No, I do not know about this. Your father came to Lady Su?" Sunwo asked him.
"Yes. I just saw them. I thought my father loves my mother only but today I found he never loved her. He is coming here for more than ten years," Yeong stated with a sad voice. The two were now at the pavilion of the Kisaeng house which was quite isolated.
"Yeong-ae, no man is innocent in entire Joseon except a few. This Kisaeng house is mostly occupied by noble class men and they all are here to fulfill their desires," stated Sunwo and put his hand over Yeong's shoulder.
"Can he not control his desires? My mother loved him till her last breath. When she was on deathbed, her last words were for father only. Did father forget all about that? I did not say anything when he married the widow of his elder brother because I was helpless that time. But today… today the thing I saw is making me feel disgusting," Yeong said as he hit at the pillar beside him.
"Yeong, calm down. I have found something about your brother," stated Sunwo.
"What?" Yeong asked.
"Your brother is going to have the position of second in line minister of personnel… a red robe he will get soon. Many ministers are supporting him," Sunwo stated. "Apart from that he will make sure that your appointment for the court will cancel at any cost along with three others. Ministry of Personnel has raised the point on early bestowment of Titles. Do you know what does it imply?" Sunwo asked Yeong.
"Bureaucrats and court ministers do not want Yoon Shik to get a department because they are scared even the Ministry of Rites can open opportunities for him. Sung Tae and my position will be secured because of our fathers but-"
"-but for Yoon Shik there will be no one. They do not want a Sangmin to rise and they have started way earlier than we thought," Sunwo pronounced, completing the words of Yeong.
"Yes. But the bestowing of awards was done by his majesty. I do not think it will be easy to go against the King's orders," opined Yeong.
"But not impossible. Court ministers, bureaucrats have an important role in the Kingdom's administration. The king will agree with them," stated Sunwo.
"Let's not tell this to Yoon. We should now return back. Soon evening will fall and Sungkyunkwan is quite far," asserted Yeong.
"Let's go in the carriage," stated Sunwo. Yeong agreed with him and the two left Kisaeng's house.