My Ultimate Ambition

It was finally the day of her home procession as an empress. Royal guards, 02 batch, her arrows though invincible aside Jae Joon her right hand man, grand dowager's men all led her to her home. Rows of servants walked beside her 8 bearer red palanquin made for only one woman in Shu.

She was dressed in white, with a glamorous hairpin dangling glamorously on her head. Right before her arrival, guards already stationed uniformly in a military formation parted way as she was helped down her palanquin by her servants. This was an honor she took with much pride. Approaching the gate, it appeared rightly so, that the welcome party arranged by her brother had already been waiting for her.

Her maids stood around her with the guards surrounding them all, leaving only her pathway as the master she was. She could see her mother all bright and colorful as a smile sat warmly on her face. Her brother stood well behaved and the servants all stood solemnly as she approached with her entourage.

She could see their faces lit up with excitement as they all kowtowed but she found herself racing to lift her mother off the ground.

"Mother, it's daughter. No need for formalities!"

Lady Kim felt her tears uncontrollable as she saw the glorious merry band her child came back with. It hasn't been long she left for the palace, uncertain of what the future held, yet, there she was with highly trained military men. In fact, their house was too small to contain them all.

"Your majesty!" she held Yoona's hands as Jae hyuk noiselessly sniffed his dropping nose, bringing to attention humans still needed her approval to rise.

"Please rise." She waved her hands as her mother hugged her.

"Please come in" she invited the rest of her entourage.

All the guards took a defensive position as the empress was led in, each guarding against an imaginary intruder. It would remain so till the empress was back to the palace or they would lose their heads.

Time passed slowly as she reminiscenced with her family. It was hard to say if it was one or two days since she left the palace but everything felt so divine.

Royal chefs were sent from the palace, hence, her meal was always a feast with the testing maids sniffing out poison and checking if the meal had an exquisite taste befitting an empress' palette embellished by the consumption of a fine wine.

Jae Hyuk was in charge of the entertainment. He felt a bit bad having nothing to contribute other than it so he made sure it was memorable. Truthfully, he was happy and relieved the emperor loved his younger sister and that he was grateful for, he hoped for the sake of her and their clan, the love would remain steadfast as it was a well-known and acceptable fact, he's entitled to more than one woman.

Lady Kim , from the abyss of who knows where brought with her a drawing card of their childhood. The children sat around her with Jae Hyuk adding to each sentence ,"Your majesty this, your majesty that!" much to the chagrin of Yoona who begged to be addressed with her name. It was her last moment of being her mother's child and brother's little sister as they were aware of being punished for disrespect and contempt against the crown if done in future.

"Orabeoni?"she screamed after her endurance was consistently being tested.

"Yes, Maama!" be attentively turned to her only to be met with glaring eyes.

"Say Maama again and you would never see me again!" Her threat sounded real enough to shut him up.

"May your grace be bountiful, maa..."and he saw her dim and roll her eyes wickedly at him.

"Ay! Yoona! how could you threaten your elder brother with such?" They all bursted into laughter at his sudden change in tone and address. The threat did work.

As her mother handed her drawing after drawing, she began to relive the moments of her childhood. Her childhood home sat upon the top of a snowy hill, towering trees covered in ice framing the long winding road. She could taste the frigid cold melting in her mouth and the snow melting away as she stared at a drawing of her and her mother in a warm embrace.

"Oh my goodness!" Hyuk cooed. "It's no wonder you insisted on being wed in winter, it has always been your favorite season."

Glistening tears poured out from the corner of her eyes as she wiped them elegantly.

"It's because it brought us more closer. Hot tea over a large chimney, a large boar roasting over a campfire, story telling of faries and monsters, dance and music all brought us closer. As a child, it was the only moment I get to see my whole family in one sitting, so how can it not be my favourite?"

The air seemed heavy as each and everyone one of them fell into deja Vu. Especially mother Kim who felt nostalgic as she got reminded of her lovely husband.

"It's okay! Music!" Jae hyuk broke the solemnity of the moment, he wouldn't have the women cry over nothing as they always do.

Jae Joon took the first step in dancing as the Gisangs and musicians he brought started performing from outside. Yoona dropped her cup, dragged her mother with her outside to meet them and joined in the dance. Everyone who witnessed this scene felt a large knot untying from their heart. The future empress not only displayed elegance but humility, and it was worth giving up their life for. They also felt Shu didn't deserve such good empress as it was always shrouded in evil blanket and mystery.

The low-class ladies were also proud as she proved status wasn't enough barrier to their aspirations in life. She made history by becoming the first middle-class woman in the history of succession to snag the empress title. Lower class women had always stopped at the level 2 of consort-ship as no emperor dared promote them to level one talk more of an empress. For the competition, they weren't even allowed to participate as contestants. This was a win and proud moment not only for her, but for all lower class women.

Moments later, she retired to her bedchamber after a long beautiful baths and scrubs.

First thing the next day, she left incognito with her mother, brother and few guards. There was a case Daejong has been unable to crack. No one else was doing it, so she decided to step up to the plate.

For the past years, villains, criminals and greedy aristocrats had taken over the city, causing mayhem and chaos on the streets people plied as corruption skyrocketed too so she took the problem into her own hands to share in his burden. Hopefully, she helps him and also show the ministers, she wasn't a mere woman who got her flowery crown because of the mere grace of the emperor. She would prove to them she has merited it and will remain the best choice for the crown.

Fiery arrows already set into action before her arrival into town; investigating and probing suspects and witnesses. A small play backstage met them with her arrows who knelt before.

"Master!" they chorused.

The suspecting and questioning gaze in her mother's eyes made her smile as she introduced them.

"Mother, these are my personal shadows who has been protecting me all these while and who will protect you from now onwards!"

"Greetings madame!" they chorused and slightly bowed.

Jae hyuk couldn't utter a single word as he was in awe of his sister's prowess. He had knew there was more to her but the discovery of this power made him speechless.

"Here's my older brother too. Henceforth, you guys will all work together to keep me safe."

Men looked at themselves in understanding, not much words said but they kind of, understood in respect who the real boss was.

A young teenage boy was brought before her as the men led her and her mother to a seat. Jae Joon took his place beside her as the men fell in place too. Jae hyuk watched in wonderment, a new sense of fear, respect and gratitude filled him up.

After recounting what he saw and heard nonchalantly and rudely as he was forced to be there, her mother told her not to act rashly as it might as well be a trap, but the nugget of truth in the boy's snide comment felt like a slap in her face. Lavish life has kept the emperor in the palace, far away from the struggles and tribulations of his people. Truth be told, he was right, for she had little idea of what went on in the streets of the capital she lived in. Therefore, she wouldn't blame the aggrieved boy on his acidic comments of how the monarch cared less for their people and only cared for themselves.

"Beok, I like you!" she suddenly said surprising the boy.

"Will you work for me?"

He looked at her like she was mad or something and remained motionless.

"I would like to make you my secret inspector. I would provide you with fund, you provide me with more friends and informations. You and other street children would be taken round the whole capital and streets as you write down what you see and the best solutions to the ones you don't like, in exchange, I provide you with food, accommodation and whatever else you might need."

He was visibly shaken at the mention of food and other necessities and he did stammer as he began to see the auntie in a different light.

"Who are you and with what power will you effect changes with? I understand you're an aristocrat but unless you're the emperor you don't have enough power to rein in the excesses of other aristocrats!"

Yoona waved him closer and in conspirational whisper said, "I'm very close with the new empress and the emperor dotes on her alot!" She drew closer to him, "The emperor listens to the empress whereas the empress listens to me!"

He felt a little convinced as it was rumored the new empress was kind as she was not really a pure aristocrats.

"I can read and write a little but my friends are illiterates. How do we do it?" he chipped in a major concern.

"If you're willing, my men will educate you and your friends."

It was finally sealed as Yoona went a bit sightseeing with her family.

"Master, why would you entrust such big task on a boy. We should have been ordered to do it."

Yoona smiled at the oldest assassin posing as her guard.

"Sometimes, the world is best seen through a child's eyes as his thoughts are unfiltered and pure!"

They silently agreed as she had a strong reason. At 22, she proved wisdom does not only come with age. Seemingly wise beyond her age, she was able to capture the true admiration of all. Speaking not only of the hearts her people but of the heart of the entire nation, she proved her name would be one to be remembered.

The first snowball always carried a certain chill, and as she stepped out of the morning air, she realized winter had officially arrived. Breathing in the frosty air, she embraced the frigid chill on her blushing cheeks, allowing her favorite season engulf her entire being and senses. Her spirit was high with the wintry wonder.

That same morning, a royal decree came in from the palace announcing Daejong's intention of picking his bride himself on the wedding day. Every accessories and clothing she would need was sent too.

"It's finally time!" she smiled, her hands caressing the new crown sent with other gifts.

But while she feels fortunate for the opportunity life has granted her, she knew she would miss her home. Hence strolling out to soak up the last air of freedom, she couldn't help but marvel at scenery playing out before her eyes. Already feeling homesick before she truly left, she returned to her room to arrange herself for the big event.