Chereads / The Rise of a Scholar / Chapter 36 - The future of Joseon...

Chapter 36 - The future of Joseon...

Yoon Shik was seated on Yeong's bed and was applying the medicine which Head Chief Min had given him earlier. Sung Tae came followed by two servants when his eyes fell on Yoon Shik. He gulped as he saw his pale hands.

"Master, where do we need place these materials?" asked one of the servants from Sung Tae.

"Put over them to the left end of the room," stated Sung Tae. His focus was on Yoon Shik's hands. The servants left the room and closed the doors before leaving. Sung Tae saw how difficult it was for Yoon Shik to apply that medicine. He could not stop himself and went near him.

"Give me the medicine. I will apply," Sung Tae told Yoon Shik who refused.

"Fine. Don't take my help," Sung Tae said when he saw the wound has torn up and it was bleeding. Immediately he grabbed his wrist. "Stop. You will make it worse." Sung Tae warned Yoon Shik.

"Let's go to the infirmary," Sung Tae worriedly said as he pulled Yoon Shik up who jerked off his hand from his wrist. "I will go myself," stated Yoon Shik.

"But I will accompany you as well," Sung Tae told him. Yoon Shik looked at him with suspicious eyes. "Are you planning another prank on me so that I will get punished again?"

Sung Tae did not reply to him. He grabbed Yoon's arm despite he struggled and dragged him to the infirmary. The medical doctor examined Yoon Shik's hand. "What about this medicine?" Yoon Shik asked the doctor, giving the tiny bottle that Head Chief had given him.

"Who gave you this? It is a precious medicine only used in Royal families," asserted the doctor. Sung Tae looked at Yoon Shik.

"Head Chief," replied Yoon Shik.

The doctor nodded and applied it over the hands of Yoon Shik. He then put a clean cloth over his both hands like a bandage and told him not to use his right hand much as it had a wound. Yoon Shik thanked him and stood up from the bed.

"Is there any pill which can reduce the pain?" Sung Tae asked the doctor who gave a nod. He stood up from the chair and went to a shelf. Grabbing a tiny porcelain bottle, he came to them. "Take it two times a day," stated the doctor. Sung Tae grabbed the bottle from him and walked out. Yoon Shik followed him.

As they reached down the stairs, Sung Tae turned to Yoon Shik. "You should have begged the Head Chief that day if you were not at fault. Why did you take such a harsh punishment? You always snap your tongue at me for wrong things but that day when things were really wrong you did not even say a word. I am amused," Sung Tae stressed his words.

Yoon Shik could not believe his ears that Sung Tae was talking nicely to him. "And I am amused today that why are you so generous to me. This punishment was necessary because I will control my anger. There are other ways as well to prove that you are right instead of using violence- I learned it that day," Yoon Shik proclaimed.

"I am not generous. It is just your hands looked really bad to me. Good thing you learned that a disciple of Sungkyunkwan must not use violence." Saying this Sung Tae walked away from there. A smile carved on Yoon Shik's lips and he left for his room.

~~~~~~~~

Lee Eunshi returned from the palace to Sungkyunkwan. He was going to his dormitory when he met the Head Chief, Seuk Han Min, who bowed his head slightly to show his respect towards the Prince of the kingdom.

"What are you doing, Head Chief?" Lee Eunshi complained.

"Greeting the Prince," replied Seuk Han Min as he lifted his head up, straight looking into the eyes of Lee Eunshi.

"I am a disciple here," asserted Lee Eunshi.

"Head Chief, what is Eunho doing here?" Lee Eunshi asked.

Seuk Han Min opened the fan in his hand and moved it gently in front of his face. "Let's not talk about that," replied Seuk Han Min.

"I heard that Crown Prince is planning something. Do you know something about that?" Seuk Min asked Eunshi.

"No, I do not know. Did you find something about the crown prince?" Eunshi asked Seuk Min.

"His majesty and father had a conversation regarding that. Father did not tell me exactly but he said the crown prince is trying to pressure the King to change some rules in the kingdom. You also know about the King's health. Your identity is hidden so, this kingdom does not even know you also exist," muttered Seuk Min with a serious tone.

"It seems you are making me see the future," proclaimed Lee Eunshi.

"Indeed. The future of Joseon… is in your hands. You and I both know the Crown Prince is a womanizer, opium addict and if he comes into real power what will happen to this Kingdom," asserted Seuk Min.

Lee Eunshi was worried upon hearing the words of Seuk Min. But Head Chief was absolutely right. If his elder half brother comes into power, the image of Joseon will change entirely. Because of his father, the king of Joseon, the Crown Prince does not do the things which he wants to. Lee Eunshi was aware of the fact that he must hurry the things so that he could be elected as a potential Crown Prince.

"I should leave," Seuk Min stated, making Lee Eunshi came out of his thoughts. Lee Eunshi bowed his head before Seuk Min and then went towards his dormitory.

~~~~~~~~~

"Where had you gone? I searched you a lot. How could you leave Sungkyunkwan?" Dae Jung asked Hani, who was sitting at the wooden floor of her house at the front.

"I made a mistake by going there. So, I thought to return not to go inside," Hani replied Dae Jung who also sat beside her.

"Then you could have told me that you were going to leave," asserted Dae Jung.

"I wanted to but then you went quite inside so, I thought to return instead of going in. So, did you see orabani there?" Hani asked Dae Jung, looking at him.

"I did not see him. Sungkyunkwan is such a big place. The rules are very strict there," stated Dae Jung.

"I will not make any such plans anymore. Orabani might get into danger because of this," Hani proclaimed.

"Finally you understood what I was trying to tell you," stated Dae Jung. "Where is ahjussi?" he then asked, looking around.

"Abeoji has gone to buy some medicinal herbs. He will come in the evening." Hani gave him the answer. "Do you not have to go for work? You always roam freely," stated Hani.

"Hani, that's because soon I am going to be in Ministry of Food Supply and Distribution. I will join the work there from tomorrow." Dae Jung answered her proudly.

"How come you found the job there? Since when did they start hiring us common people?" Hani questioned him.

"They need some workers from this village. I applied for my name. I was medically checked and was approved by Senior Officer," Dae Jung pronounced.

"Nice. Good for you," Hani replied and patted his shoulder.

"They will give good salary. Do you want something when I will get my first salary?" Dae Jung asked Hani who had an inquisitive expression on her face.

"Why do you want to give me? I won't a accept," Hani replied, peering into his eyes.

"But I want to give and you will not refuse. I want to give to ahjussi as well," stated Dae Jung.

"You sound like you are going to be rich with that money. Then distribute your salary to every villager!" Hani sarcastically told him.

"Aye, it is from first salary. Why are you taunting me?" Dae Jung asked her.

"Then save that money for your future wife. Your family will expand and then you will need money for that. Save it for her," Hani stated. Dae Jung smiled upon hearing that response. Hani then stood up to check the grains which were drying under the sunlight.

"I will. Just want to give my future wife her first present from my side. I will ask for your hand when Yoon Shik will return from Sungkyunkwan," Dae Jung told himself and smiled, looking at Hani who was moving her hands above the grains.