My Ultimate Ambition

Blizzard pounded it's towards the palace which woke Myung OK from her sleep, she stood up from her bed and headed to her secret kitchen for a steaming cup of hot tea.

She returned after draining the tea to cuddle under her blanket and binge-read her medicine book.

As she rolled over her bed to bring it out, she stumbled upon another book; her teacher's special cooking book which comprised of all delicacies and different ways of making them to suit individuals tastes.

Leafing through the book, she heard a loud bang which startled her, as she stood to get the door she hid the book under her bed.

At the door was beautiful Nari with last empress' chief courtmaid whose looks betrayed compassion and craved indulgence. She pleadingly asked if they could stay with her as the princess was fussy.

Enthusiastically, Myung OK led them in and made hot cups of tea for them. She went to the extent of reheating her room, changing the princess robe and dolling her up with layers of clothes.

In a small palace where teas are brewed was the dowager empress who shared tea with Seo-yun, the level two consort. They had gone out for a walk to show off Seo-yun and announce she had the dowager's support when snow bloomed.

The snow was so beautiful it enchanted one to play, it started like a dust then boomed to storm. Seeking for shelter, they took to the nearest house which extremely shocked the workers.

They were served the finest tea while the sly ones took the opportunity to impress Seo-yun. It's been three months since the empress seat had become empty and it was long overdue for a new owner. It wasn't a hidden fact that the dowager pushed for the consort's elevation.

Dowager sipped her tea and was impressed with the service and taste of the teas. All good things are always given to sons by their mother and she wasn't an exception. As she tried to order the brewers for some extra tea to be sent to the emperor, Seo-yun said something that made her scheme in her mind.

"Royal mother," she started , a title the dowager likes the most, especially from her. "It's extremely cold, would you like some extra blankets?"

She smiled at this daughter-in-law that looks out for her and got into thinking, if Seo-yun gives birth to her grandson she would die a happy woman.

"Seo-yun, I want you to personally send tea to his Majesty,"

Seo-yun who held her tea dropped it down and looked on confused at her mother-in-law. "But royal mother it's extremely cold, windy and not too visible. Let the maids do it."

Dowager shook her head. "That's exactly why it should be you. It's really cold and the emperor needs to be warm, it's windy and not visible which would make him value you for weathering the storm to keep him warm and happy."

Seo-yun smiled shyly at her, she finally understood what she meant and what a big opportunity it is for her. For one, she would obtain his favor which would bring her closer to him, secondly, she could conceive a crown prince which would solidify her position and earn her everything she ever dreamed of.

She stood up immediately to receive the tea leaves but dowager was not yet through with her lectures.

"Seo-yun, if a king doesn't come to, you go to him," Seo-yun beamed widely with the advice and bowed slightly to thank her.

With maids sauntering after her, they barely made it to his palace in one piece as the winds were less but snow was slicing, luckily for them, the palace was very close to the teahouse.

"Your Majesty, Consort Choi is here to see you," the angelic voice rang out to announce her presence to Daejong. She wasn't too happy with the title but hoped it would soon be replaced with empress Choi.

They opened the door for her and ecstatically, she walked in to find him with the most beautiful wolf jacket and steaming pot of tea before him.

Meekly and resignedly, she bowed her head with her one of her legs pushed back to salute him. He waved her over and invited to sit across the table. He folded his reports scrolls and asked why she came.

"There is no need for that," he replied after her mission was made known to him, shattering her last piece of hope.

His gazes were so brief it could barely be called one. He spared her no more attention as he returned to his scroll.

At this cold treatment, her eyes teared up, her hands shivered under the table as she clutched her beautiful robe to stop the motion.

"Your Majesty, why do you hate me?" she suddenly asked to suppress the emotions threatening to spill.

He gazed over at her, a gaze that lasted at least three decades, brought his scroll down and returned her gaze. How could he tell a lady he hated her because of her father, or because her family was too ambitious and might overthrow him? He couldn't so he told her another truth which still hurt.

"Lady Choi, I just don't want to give you hope or lead you on. I know you want to be my empress but that seat has already been taken."

Seo-yun bit her lower lips to keep from sobbing out. "Who is she, is she better than me, more beautiful, more charismatic, higher ranked than me?"her questions rolled out loose.

He chuckled at her criteria.

"She's just a woman who I won her heart," he paused briefly. "Lady Choi, the sins I committed against my last empress is enough to last me for a lifetime, please give up on me and leave. I will help you leave."

She didn't hold back the tears any longer as they cascaded freely. She only wanted to be his wife, feel his love and his touch, have his gaze on her, but the first gaze of his was to ask her to leave. She had even dreamed of bearing his children and growing old together but what's this?

What sort of cruel fate is this? But wait a minute, the woman didn't win his heart but he won hers? This simply implies Daejong fell in love first. What type of woman could make him fall for her, she asked herself, but the measly court physician didn't occur to her.

She wiped off the tears and stared hard at him. "Your Majesty, I don't care about what happened with the previous empress, I still want the seat."

"I need a woman not an empress," he told her and smiled.

He didn't spare her any more glances as he returned to his work. Speaking of empress, where exactly is that woman? She isn't even aware someone is poaching her man.

Staying with Seo-yun got him angry which made him crave for her.

Seo-yun stood up and announced she was leaving with the hope he would tell her to stay, if he does that then she would find a bit of succor, but it didn't come to pass.

On her departure, Daejong looked up to see the box of fragrant tealeaves and the blankets she brought. An idea occurred to him and he jumped at it.

Thirty minutes later found him at the physician's door with stacks of blanket and box of tealeaves looking all beggarly.