The invites to join various high-society soirees abounded for the gisaeng of the Yangtze River Bank. They were not lacking before, but with Soo-Ah's performances and the king's interest, curiosity was instilled in the gossiping minds of nobles. The matrons could no longer satisfy the demand.
Only two days passed since the king's visit when the news came, he would visit again. The note was regal, sealed with purple wax and dangling the royal emblem, stamped in gold. But the note was vapid, stating his majesty would return to spend a full day in Soo-Ah's company.
In truth the king was so keen to return and so frustrated it took him a couple of days to be able to do so again. His advisors, the ones who had joined his trusted servant and preached together like a choir, had to say a lot about it but their pleas reached deaf ears.
