My Ultimate Ambition

Chilly wind grew stronger making the duo part reluctantly, Myung OK with apprehension on the outcome of her discovered secret, Daejong brewing with satisfaction

After the walk, his heart had never felt so full, his thoughts were on her, his achievement with Seo-yun and his complete peace of mind.

Myung OK returned to a confused princess who wondered why her father ran out on her, does her father not want her anymore, does he fancy some other kids, has she become a bad child ? Myriads of questions occupied the young mind and tortured it.

As for the court lady, she only smiled knowingly and didn't comment on anything.

"My princess, why is your face sullen, are you unwell?" Myung OK asked dumbly.

The baby sulked pitifully, her face conveying her grievance. "Royal father doesn't want me any more, he doesn't like me!" she complained, her round and adorable face tearstained. Myung OK knelt before her, wiped off the tears and pulled her into a hug.

"My princess, your father loves and adores you. Remember, you are the apple of his eyes and will remain so, OK?"

Her dark face lightened up, a very big smile overspread on her face making her adorable. She extracted herself from her embrace and asked, "Really?" her dark orb seemed to be shinning with excitement. Myung OK reaffirmed her conviction and gave her a light peck on her cheeks.

Taking her to the bed, she went inside her kitchen to prepare a steaming pot of soup for them.

At the emperor's palace, prince Song who had been away for a very long time sat lazily on an armchair waiting patiently for the emperor. On sighting his brother, he stood up as customs demands to show reverence.

"Your Majesty, it's been a long time!"

There was delight in his voice as he tried not to revert back to his playfulness. In the old good days, he would playfully punch him, ruffle his hairs and tease him miserably, but a lot had changed, especially after that incident.

"You've been in the capital for quite a long time yet you didn't pay me a visit," Daejong accused him , his face clouded with a bit of sadness which made it haggard.

"I'm so sorry Your Majesty, I just had some personal issues to deal with aside your secret command," Prince Song defended readily, his body language betraying an old habit.

"Women?"

He chuckled softly, shook his head and answered. "Woman, yes but women, definitely not!"

Daejong didn't press further in questioning him, it was almost twilight and lots of things needed to be taken care of. Mourning period was over too and preparations for new empress arrival had almost begun. His problem was Myung OK's political stability and how many people would be in support of her ascension.

While ensuring his surrounding was free from spies, he invited his elder brother inside his most inner chamber and sanctuary. Only few people are aware of it's existence.

The inner chamber was locked with a strange mechanism which can only be unlocked with Daejong's carved staff that came with the big shelf. Aside him and his eunuchs, only the carpenter knows the exact size of wood perfect for it.

Prince Song who had been Daejong's watchdog placed the information which had acc.u.mulated into a big book. Every detailed info had the west faction's movements. In confirmation of Daejong's suspicion, they really were pushing Seo-yun to the crown.

He asterisked every important details and wrote some remarks beneath.

Prince Song finally broke the silence and asked the most important question bugging him.

"Who exactly is this woman?"

Daejong paused for a moment, smiled so widely Song almost believed himself to be seeing things.

A short reply but one Song would never forget came forth. "She's the most worthy woman, even I, am not worthy of her."

Song fell into daze of that fair face he had encountered, one whose whereabout is still hidden from him.

"I understand. Even I, have such person," he beamed sheepishly. Daejong looked at his elder brother and felt something had changed about him, but what that is , is still a mystery.

That same night, Myung OK received a visitor one whom she least expected.

"Hiroshi ajusshi, you returned faster than I estimated," she said truthfully while opening her doors for him and Jae joon.

"My lady, my path has always been a short one but yours made it longer. I rushed up my revenge mission to serve at the side of the most noble woman I have ever encountered."

He placed both hands in reverence form and kowtowed before her. "My lady, thank you for letting me settle my old scores so I can serve freely beside you. I pray you accept my meagre services and accept me as your person."

"You're already my person, and will remain so as long as you remain loyal to me."

He bowed again, then left with jae joon who recommended him as one of the palace guards safeguarding the royal infirmary, while in truth he would be safeguarding Myung OK. Due to his position as assistant commander of palace guards, his position would be under scrutiny, hence he can't be physically present all the time.

That same night, exactly when it was total blackout, Myung OK was invited to the grand dowager's palace for a midnight snacks. She was almost ready for bed when the messenger came. Quickly she wore her palace robe and went at once.

The oil lamp lighted the path to reveal a frost-covered ground, the cold almost conquered her will to go on, but she knew the dowager would never make contact if it's not important.

Her breath billowed in the snow as they walked, her hands were barely warm from the cold but it wasn't freezing yet, luckily they arrived safely to her palace.

The dowager fumed when she saw her freezing state and roared at her servants.

"You dare summon her without a palanquin? you dare let her walk the cold pathways with one oil lamp? How dare you!"

Myung OK smiled at her attitude and tried calming her down but only aggravated the matter.

She turned to the maid and growled. "What were my specific instructions?"

The disrespectful maid fell on her belly and cried out in grievance. "Your Majesty, I received your instruction well but I couldn't bear bringing a mere palace maid with a palanquin as she is lower in rank. She's not only a lowly courtmaid but a middle class!" she kept on crying in protest, tears of repentance far away from her eyes.

"What did you say? you dare call Daejong's woman a mere woman, a lowly courtmaid? Where are the guards! come, come take this disrespectful wench and cut off her limbs and tongues!"

Every single person in the room froze.

Daejong's woman? The emperor had a beloved? No wonder the dowager would take care not to offend her, but why is she still a mere court physician? Don't tell them....

They all let their thoughts trail away as they couldn't dare think further.

The guards made to carry out the instructions gingerly but a cool, relaxed voice stopped their movement.

"Your Majesty, please let her go, don't punish her on my behalf!"

Everyone, including the dowager was astonished.

"Why? she disrespected you and disregarded my command," she said.

Myung OK looked at the court lady with an interesting gaze, smiling reassuringly at her she turned to the dowager.

"To err is human, to forgive is divine," she said.

A new found respect was formed for her as the dowager waved them off. They bowed to her out of respect and admiration before leaving. She brought her to a seat and personally served her tea. In her eyes, she couldn't help admiring the woman she is and the human she represents. Truly, Daejong picked well, he really picked a deserving empress.

The true empress.

"Miss Kim, what do you think about meeting the core south members tomorrow? We already think you will make a fine empress," she said as she added some honey cakes to her plate.

"Tomorrow, you say? Why not?" she beamed happily.

Half her mission accomplished.