She was sitting in her Chambers, thinking of how fast time has gone. If her time was almost over? how her only child has grown up, her little prince . She looked at a big portrait of her husband which was placed on the wall by her right. ' life is so cruel, it gets very lonely everyday without you by my side, I wish you were here with me.' she smiled as she thought of her late husband. Her attention went towards the door which busted open. She quickly stood up when she saw her son coming in, her face was full of excitement as she went to embrace him, but resisted because of the stern look on his face.
" Jong ho, are you alright?, Should I call the royal physician again?" She said worriedly.
" No mother."
"Then what's wrong with you?"
" Why did you tell min joo that i must take a consort?, When you know she means everything to me."
" It's almost a year now....you've been married for almost a year, yet there was nothing like a miscarriage, there's still no sign of pregnancy at all. Therefore you would have to take a concubine or a consort, am giving you four months to think it through or else....."
" Or else what mother?, have you ever imagined yourself in min joo's state?,If you were in her shoes would you like it if dad did the same to you?
" Lee Jong ho!!" She shouted.
" Min joo had always sacrificed everything for me, her time, her sleep.... everything, she has never complained once, but what about you?, You keep looking at dad's picture all day and pray to Buddha. It's time for me to make my own decisions, so that I won't regret it in life."
" Jong ho, have I ever made a decision that affected you?, Am your mother and I would always like what's best for you."
" So you'll say" he turned to leave but remembered there's one more thing he forgot to say. " And one more thing mother" he said turning back " please stop tormenting min joo." He turned and left her Chambers.
She sat on her chair quietly, thinking of how to unravel the situation, for he had never raised his voice at her.
Meanwhile Kim min joo was perambulating the emperor's chamber, she was thinking of how good her acting skills was, she couldn't stop laughing at the thought of that.
' I wonder what they're talking about right now!'
She heard the door opening and quickly lowered her head on the bed sobbing.
" It's okay min joo" he said as he held her tightly. " Am not taking a consort neither will mother torment you ever again"
' finally the seed of treachery and deciet had been sown, all that's left is to wait for it to blossom.' she thought and gave a faint smile.
** Trader Soo byung hu resident**
Ji woon and dojin were each holding some pile of books which was stacked one after the other, heading to the store, which is at the extreme end of the resident.
" Hey dojin wait for me, you know I can't keep up with you, my books are heavier than yours. I feel like am out of breath suddenly." He stopped to take a rest, kept the books on the ground and sat down on it.
" Stand up let's go" dojin said as he turned around and saw him sitting.
" Oh my....my back hurts" he stretched and looked towards dojin. " Will you keep on standing there?, This is the last round we're already done."
He kept the books aside and sat down on the floor.
Ji woon smiled, looked around and saw no one coming.
He cleared his throat then began, " dojin, it's been two days now since that incident with lady Han yul, do you think she's....." He turned around again surveying their surrounding, making sure no one is there. " Don't you think she's...., You know dea...." Dojin quickly placed his palms on ji woon's mouth preventing him from talking.
" If you say that dead word again, am really going to spank you" he slightly pushed ji woon, picked the books and stood up to Leave.
" But I.... I didn't even say the dead word!!" He also stood up and packed the books he sat on.
" Your tongue will lay you in trouble, if you don't start thinking before you speak" dojin said as he started walking.
" Wait for me" he said as he tried to keep up with dojin.
" I won't, you know the way to the store."
Ji woon's attention went towards the gate, which was opened by two guards posted there. A carriage drove in and packed infront of him. A young man came out of it, he was tall, handsome and agile. Ignoring the fact dojin was scolding him.
" Young master is back" ji woon shouted happily.
" it won't work, cause am still not waiting for you." Dojin replied.
" Long time no see, it's been almost a month I guess?"
Hearing that familiar voice once more, dojin quickly kept the books on the floor and went to embrace ik-jun.
" Young master, it's really you!." Dojin said excitedly." How was your journey?
" It was fantastic, although am a little bit tired" he said as he stretched. " Are you two fighting again?"
" Oh no...no"
" Not at all." They said in harmony
" The house seems quiet, are they all inside?" Ik-jun inquired.
" Yes, the atmosphere isn't pleasant since lady....." He was pinched by dojin before he could finish the sentence.
" Since What?"
" I meant to say, since you were gone."
" Why don't you take your bath and eat first" dojin suggested, " they are currently with a visitor.
" Ok then I'll just go to Han yul and yoona"
" Nooo" ji woon and dojin both echoed.
Dojin continued " I mean they both went out.....to the market.
" O....Kay, then I'll head on to my Chambers." He said
Heading to his Chambers, wondering why they acted strangely.
When he noticed the young master had gone far , dojin slightly hit hi woon on the back.
" Ouch, that hurts"
" Thanks to your mouth, you almost ruined everything."
" You said almost, yet I didn't. Let's go tell lady chaewon after we keep this books in the store" he said as they took the books and made their way to the store.