Chapter 2: Lee Woo(2)

 

“However, Your Majesty—looking at the Noble Consort, everyone will notice that while she rides the palanquin, the noblest woman in the empire does not. I’m afraid that they might think she is belittling Your Majesty.”

Hyebi couldn’t argue with the Empress, and so she continued to stare at her. Her beautiful facade had masked an anger that had been boiling beneath for a long time. Not knowing what to do, she could only smile and redden with anger.

“I do appreciate the kind gesture.” Hyebi stared at the beautiful woman in front of her and bowed slightly in response. She did remember to throw an obligatory smile before the Empress continued:

“However: it has come to my attention that Noble Consort Song is aware of basic manners, and her obligation to greet whomever she meets along her way. Whenever she sees me, she will go out of her way to stop and bow; and only after that will she return to her palanquin. She’s a woman of courtesy, but is not familiar with our ways, so I ask everyone here to kindly understand. Besides, that palanquin is a gift from His Majesty himself; I don’t think I can do anything about it.”

The Empress smiled mischievously where Hyebi smiled bitterly. Again and again, she lost to the wits of the noblest woman in all the Empire; but that meant nothing to her. The real problem was how she hated seeing So-hwa beside the Empress. She was angry beyond words because of the things that keep on happening.

That bitch! She hated So-hwa; that girl kept pretending she didn’t know what’s going on around her. The Noble Consort didn’t even know how preposterous she was because of her idiotic behaviour—riding the palanquin while everyone was walking from place to place.

She hated the fact that Lee Woo was putting up with the Noble Consort and her behaviour. That’s your Empress—right there! Then, on the other hand, the Emperor tolerates and accepts the whole situation as though it was just a normal thing. He acts as if a century of palace law and decorum was nothing but a bunch of neatly-written words on a piece of paper.

She looked at Noble Consort with contempt. Her bright smile made Hyebi feel nauseous. She wanted to kick her out right now. Hyebi would bet her whole life that Noble Consort Song wasn’t even aware of how Empress had been supporting her, and had been taking her under her wing even now. 

“The most important thing right now is to accept His Majesty’s sacred heart. It is of the utmost importance that you make His Majesty feel comfortable in any way you can. Always keep that in mind.”

The authority in the Empress’s voice was loud and clear. They all bowed their heads in acceptance; no one dared to take her words lightly. They all knew that—except for Noble Consort Song—no one would ride the palanquin at the next Greeting anymore.

***

Lee Woo quietly sipped her tea. No one in the Empress’s palace tried to open their mouth; and thus, the silence was maintained. After the morning greetings from the concubines, the Empress proceeded to rest and drink some warm refreshments—while the cold air billowed from the window of her room. It had been left open to better serve as decoration for the improvement of the room’s ambience.

Everyone knew that the Empress liked the quietness of the palace; and since this was a wonderful day to rest, she did so. There was only a few hours—if not days—that the Empress was allowed to rest and this was one of them.

 “Court Lady Park, please inform His Majesty that I request his audience.”

Court Lady Park went immediately to the Emperor’s residence as soon as she received her request.

Tears began flowing down from Woo’s eyes as she was enveloped by silence and solitude. Her eyes landed on the barren garden below the palace; she felt grief on account of the lack of flowers on the lonely flowerbeds. 

“It could have definitely been a brightly-coloured garden in the summertime, if it weren’t so barren,” she thought, wiping the consistent flow of tears.

The summer heat would be good for the flowers—helping the plants maintain their vigour and splendour. But what was the use if there was not even a single bud left?

Woo suddenly remembered her family; not being loved in the Imperial Palace, she yearned for some kind of love in many ways. She remembered her father, who was always thorough and tough, yet still loved her deeply; and her brother, always spoiling her, and affectionate towards her. It was a very loving family… It was a very good family… she missed her family.

Her brother must be occupied with his wife right now—he never forgets to take care of her, even when he’s busy with his work.

She remembered when they were kids; she was always compared to being “as beautiful as a flower” and “gentle like the wind.” Although her manners and etiquette kept her in check, she never forgot how to laugh and have fun.

But what happened now?

Court Lady Park knocked on her door. She quickly composed herself before granting her permission to come in.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor has said that he is unable to meet you today—he is busy with some affairs of the state.”

Woo got up from her seat. She strode from the table to the court lady. The lady bowed her head as a sign of respect—as well as embarrassment. A normal noble might strike their servant when they didn’t get what they wanted—but Court Lady Park knew her master well. She wasn’t that petty of a master to hit her, but she still hid in embarrassment when she felt that she hadn’t done her job properly.

“Is that so? If he is busy with work, then I shall humble myself and visit him in person. He wouldn’t turn me away just because he’s busy if I make an appearance, right?”

Well-dressed and well-postured, she left the residence with her chin up.

Court Lady Park sighed along with her subordinates while they accompanied the pitiful Empress on her way to the Emperor’s residence. They all knew—perhaps the Empress did, herself—that the Emperor wouldn’t be too pleased to have an unwanted visitor—unless it was the Noble Consort.

“Tell His Majesty that I’m here,” said the Empress in a chilly tone. 

The court lady from the Emperor’s residence shivered. The Empress’ presence turned her beet-red from anxiety. She was well-aware that the court lady Woo had sent had already been turned down; she hadn’t expected that the Empress would come herself.

It was a common occurrence for the Empress to be denied an audience by her husband—but it was very rare that she would come to retaliate. It was an inconvenience for the court ladies, but they had no choice. She was the noblest lady in the empire, after all.

Left with no choice, the court lady took a deep breath and exclaimed loudly,

“Your Majesty, the Empress is here!”

A deafening silence followed. If there was a shade of red deeper than the beet-red previously on the court lady’s face, it was probably there right then. Lee Woo sighed and closed her eyes for a minute before opening them again.

“Tell him again.”

“Your Majesty, Empress Lee Woo has arrived.”

She gave it her all. She called with a voice louder than before. And with the expectation, there was no answer yet again.

But Lee Woo was never one to lose. She stepped up close to the door. Every closed mouth had opened when she gave her proclamation;

“Your Majesty, I’ll come in now.”

She opened the door by herself. Anyone who lived in the palace knew you couldn’t just open a door without permission—but her gesture was so natural and elegant that everyone was simply mesmerized.

The Empress entered the chamber to the surprise of the court ladies.