More than anyone else, the queen in particular couldn't take it. "What did you just say?" The queen asks whispering.
"You heard right your majesty, I said Minister Jang's daughter."
"Imagine!" The queen dowager exclaims loudly. "How can a mere consort go after such a might family? Do you plan on using her as a tool to crown your son?"
"I might be so mere and petty but my son isn't, he has the king's blood running in his veins, and I do not plan on using her as a tool for anything." Suk Bin looks at the queen. "But someone else plans to do so."
"Are you trying to say I plan to use Ok Jung as a tool to crown my son? who I believe is the rightful heir to the throne." The queen retorts.
"Your majesty, I never said that." Suk Bun smiles. "Big news have been spreading that you asked for Lord Jang's daughter hands in marriage. Perhaps, your girls need to learn to keep their mouth shut on whatever they hear from your chambers and not gossip about it."
The queen clinched her fist in anger. "I did no such thing Suk Bin Choi."
"My son, will you sit and watch this witch accuse your wife in your presence?" The queen dowager asks in annoyance.
"Mom! This is nothing but disrespect to me." The king looks at the women consecutively. "Why do you all insult yourselves even in my presence? No regards for me as the king anymore?"
"We are sorry your majesty." The queen and Suk-bin apologizes.
"My son, I will not stop insulting this woman until you send her and her son out of the palace for the good." The queen dowager persists.
"Mom, your majesty. I have told you not to mention this again. Prince Yeoning is my son, your grandson." The king whispers.
"I will never accept him as my grandson." The queen dowager retorts.
"Rejecting him means rejecting me too." The king says loudly.
"My Son!" The queen dowager calls loudly.
"I will like to be alone." The king whispers. "You all should let me be."
The queen dowager walks out in annoyance, Suk-bin and the queen bows and walks out.
Outside, the queen faces her rival when they are just few paces away from the King's chambers. "It always happen like this when you are around."
"What do you mean your majesty?" Suk-bin asks maintaining eye contact.
"Anytime you are around us, we end up having misunderstandings. You are a bad omen." The queen says and smiles. "Mom doesn't even like you."
"At least the king likes me." Suk-bin fires back and smiles too. "The king's support is okay for me, your majesty."
"I will give you two options, I know you are after my crown and the crown prince title. But, you can't have them both. Pick one which will you prefer? My crown or the crown prince's title?"
"I am not interested in possessing your empty crown your majesty."
"What? Empty crown?" The queen asks with shock and her attendants are shocked with the statement.
"Yes, what do you have to show with your crown? your majesty." Suk-bin bows. "I will like to take my leave now." She walks away and her attendants follow.
"Lady Sung, did she just call my crown empty?" The queen asks burning in rage.
"Yes, your majesty. I think you need to teach her a lesson. She is really getting out of hand."
"That witch." The queen closes her eyes in frustration. "Let's go see mom."
"Yes, your majesty." Lady Sung Says and bows.
************
"Mom, your majesty. I can't take this insult anymore." The queen says weeping.
"Do not cry, as long as i am alive that possessive swine's son will never become crown prince." The queen dowager assures. "She has been controlling my son since the day she met him, he now takes decisions without even consulting me."
"Your majesty, we mustn't allow her have her way with Lord Jang's daughter. We have to do something, we must make sure that girl marries my Gwang Jae."
"Speaking of Lord Jang's daughter, who could have thought that boy could have his eyes on her?" The queen dowager asks.
"I also asked for her hand in marriage, but Lord Jang rejected my proposal immediately. I believe Suk-bin is one step ahead of us." The queen whispers.
"You know we dare not mess with Lord Jang, he is the king's favorite and his wife is the first child of the Ming's emperor. He has strong people by his side."
"I am also aware of that your majesty, that is why his daughter will be the best candidate for my son." The queen exhales deeply. "She will give my son the kind of strength he needs to fight Suk-bin and her son."
"Why don't you let the prince meet her too, probably things can work out if they get to know each other without our intervention." The queen dowager says.
"But prince Yeoning is already in the picture, do you think it is going out well?" The queen asks.
"We have to do all it takes to make sure Lord Jang's daughter picks Gwang Jae over that good for nothing, we have to do everything possible, my queen." The queen dowager says and goes silent for a while. "Even if we have to frame Yeoning for something that will make her hate him, I don't care."
"Do you have a plan mom?" The queen asks again.
"No, not yet. But you know if the worse comes, I am always prepared for everything." The Queen dowager says and smiles. "But first, we have to make sure Ok Jung gets familiar with both of us, I plan on inviting her over tomorrow."
"Familiar with both of us?"
"Yes." The queen dowager nods. "When she gets familiar with us, we can plant whatever seed we want her to yield in her mind."
The queen smiles broadly and nods in agreement