"This is the third one today..."
Wang Ki sighed, putting away the scroll as indicated that he refused to read it more further. His eunuch took the scroll and threw it into basket full of scroll. Those roll papers will be send to the respective department that scattered around the Phoenix, the main administration office for the kingdom.
"How's the deceased's family?" asked the King to General Kim.
"His mother was still in shock. His father knew about what the deceased's job is. But, never in their mind, that young boy will ended up being a spy," General Kim calmly explained the situation to Wang Ki.
"I keep wondering if we got rats among us. I mean, how will they knew about those people that we sent to infiltrate the enemy's compound when this is a confidential matter?" said Wang Ki. General Kim nodded. He pondered a bit before finally opened his mouth.
"Should we conduct an investigation for that?"
Wang Ki paused a bit, thinking about the consequence of their next action.
"We have to set a target, or else there will be a false accusation and more internal conflict. If this is a matter that involved someone closer, who knows a lot of information about our military tactical and those spies that we sent, we have to take a drastic action, however, in discreet," said Wang Ki.
"Dul beonjjae wangja, jeonha mama!"
The announcement of Min Jun's arrival stopped the discussion immediately. Wang Ki gave his guard a permission to open the door for the prince.
Min Jun entered the room with his red and black royal robe. His hair was neatly tie in a bun, with his pale skin and sunken cheek. He smiled a bit and bow politely before taking a seat in front of the the king, next to General Kim.
"Is everything ready?" asked Wang Ki to Min Jun.
"Yes, jeonha mama. The house is good to reside now. The repairman will send the costing documents later," said Min Jun.
"You're moving, daegum jaga?" General Kim asked politely.
"Yes, General Kim. It's about time..." Min Jun politely replied to General Kim.
"He's turning eighteen soon. I insist daegum to stay in Emerald Dragon, but he refused my wing. Now that he became a young man, he refused to be adored by his parents," Wang Ki smiled, looking at Min Jun with his loving eyes.
"You're eighteen? Time surely fly fast!" General Kim grinned wide, looking at Min Jun. His old heart, however, sunk a bit upon seeing the prince's condition.
He was unlike any young man his age. His skinny, almost lifeless body, with pale skin and pale lips, he looked like someone who is ready to leave the world in anytime. General Kim did heard a rumor about Min Jun's health condition. But never for once he expected to see the prince in such a bad shape.
"I believe your daughter has grown up too, General Kim? How old is she now?" Wang Ki's inquiry made General Kim startled a bit.
"Soo Young is nineteen now, jeonha mama..."
"What a blooming flower!" Wang Ki smiled, admiring the fact on how time went by real quick. Seja jeoha was already had his first princess with sejabin, now on his way to have the second one. Even Min Jun is turning into a young man now. All he got under his wing by now was Myung Yu, the little princess.
"She is, indeed. But..." General Kim's head hanging low. He tried to hide his uneasiness but it seems that those emotion still visible within his eyes.
"Is there anything that bothers you, General Kim?" asked Wang Ki. The king patiently waited for General Kim's answer.
"I worried about her future. She is nineteen, but she has no interest in courting. There are a lot who come for her hand. But, she keeps refusing them," General Kim's answer made Wang Ki laughed a bit. He shook his head, while sipping his tea calmly.
"There's nothing to be worried about that, General Kim. Soo Young is a bright lady, she will have a perfect partner soon. Besides, she has to focus on her study. I heard, being a practitioner is hard," said Wang Ki.
"It's true. But, what's the use of having a bright mind and educated when she can't serves as a good daughter in law in someone's house?" General Kim replied. Wang Ki, again, shook his head in disbelief.
"How did you know she can't serves well? She might not be a good daughter in law, but she's will be a good practitioner and that enough can bring a goodwill for your family," Wang Ki looked at General Kim with his proud face. He knew, the man was quite a traditional man. He believed a lady should be a lady; a good wife, a good mother and a good daughter in law. The king didn't blame General Kim for that. Everyone must have the same thought because the girl in a family will bring along the family's dignity after she got married.
"General Kim, time has changed. Now, everyone eagers to have a proper education. Especially in this war era. Everyone wants to contribute for the country; men and women equally important for the kingdom. If we have talented young people, the future of the kingdom will secure. I do believe in that," Wang Ki calmly coaxing the man with his calm voice.
"When it comes to whom she will get married with, let the Heaven decides for her. Right now, let her have the freedom because soon, she won't get it as much as she have now. I let my Myung Yu have hers too! Just like Soo Young, she loves a new knowledge, fascinated about history, geography and astronomy. So, I let her do whatever she wanted, until she had enough of it and perhaps that time, she will think about her future," Wang Ki's words were something that General Kim should have think about.
"Your wise words will always guide the way, jeonha mama..." General Kim bowed a bit but his gesture was full of respect.
"It's alright. We both are parents. We can share the same thought as well..." Wang Ki replied to him generously.
***
"I feel much better after talking to jeonha mama.." said General Kim to Min Jun. After the meeting ended, the older offered Min Jun to usher the prince to the main gate.
"Jeonha is a wise and open minded man. That's why he always apprehended by his people," Min Jun replied with a respectful manner. General Kim watched the young prince taking his time to descend the huge stairs, not helping but feeling pity for him.
"Daegum jaga..."
The prince turned around and look at General Kim. He was standing at the last flight of the stairs with his innocent face. General Kim descended carefully until the end of the stairs and later lifting his head and look up to Min Jun.
"I never had a chance to thank you for saving Soo Young. Not only for that, you did upstand her as well during the interrogation,"General Kim bowed deeply to Min Jun, however, the prince quickly refused the bow. He took the last flight of stairs, making him standing on the same level as General Kim.
"I only did what I should do. No need to thank me for being right," said the prince. "It's not like everyday we can do what we can. Being honest might look easy, but it's more easy to say than done," Min Jun continued. His gaze slowly glanced to one corner at the front gate.
"General Kim..."
"Yes, daegum?" General Kim waited for Min Jun's next word. The prince held a huge sigh as he attentively watch his sight with millions of thought in his head. Then, his head turns to General Kim and a tiny smile formed from his lips.
"How much can you dig about a person?" Min Jun asked. General Kim frowned. He took a while before replying to Min Jun.
"Depends on the person, and what kind of information that you want."
Min Jun glared at General Kim and slowly, he nodded. As his gaze shifting back to the spot, he fisted his palm tight and his gaze slowly changed.
"I want you to dig something about that..."
His slender finger pointed subtly to the spot that he was glancing at before. With his heart that went bleak and dark, he decided to be honest, once and for all.
General Kim turned his head slowly and took a peak to the target. He frowned as his brain tried to process the situation in front of him.
"Is that-"
"Old folk said; keep you friend close, your enemy closer... Sometimes, our enemy is just under the nose..." Min Jun glared back to General Kim. "There's nothing wrong to take a shot in it, right?"
Upon hearing Min Jun's word, General Kim bowed as he promised to the prince. He trusted the young prince's judgement and just like he said...
There's nothing wrong to take a shot in it.