My Ultimate Ambition

She looked through the window as she observed the starless night. The brother's meeting had gone on longer than she anticipated, leaving her with an option to sleep away her night before Daejong really finished up the meeting.

When he saw her peaceful slumber when his brother was gone, he silently laid beside her, enjoying the intimacy of their closeness while taking care not to wake her up.

They went shopping the next morning as it was on their to-do list, and she surprised him. She had a clear sense of style for sure. Walking down the aisles of every store,she was instantly drawn to anything that was soft, fuzzy and bright. From jackets and coats, to shoes and accessories. Their gift carriage was filled with all the items that met these three golden standards.

She tied a colorful scarf which grabbed her attention round his neck, a gesture of love. "Husband?" She called out softly.

"Hmm?"

"I want your life from now henceforth, to be as colorful as every item we've picked today. You need this sunshine in your life," she pecked his cheeks and proceeded to pick something each for all their entourage.

"You all need a bit of these georgeous thing!" She winked at them playfully.

What an empress, they thought, though not in a bad way as they were truly astonished and blessed to have someone like her in the world. Her humility humbled them, especially as she never discriminated against them in terms of status.

The couple's romance has been a whirlwind, and they're feeling particularly zealous this day. Swaying from one section to another, he popped out a question.

"Want to visit a fun place?" Daejong said from behind, his hands enveloping her waist in a back hug.

"Yes love! I'm game!"

And they found themselves at the entrance of an ancient tomb. They held their breath as they stepped through the stone archway into the main room of the tomb. At it's centre stood a crumbling pedestal on which the one-of-a-kind gemstone sat. Stepping closer, they lifted their torch high while Yoona grabbed the artifact. The instant her fingers touched the glistening stone, the tomb began to shake and rocks and stones began tumbling down.

"Daejong!!!"

Yoona screamed as they all raced to the entrance, the guards all raised their hands to shield the majesties who would definitely be the death of them all.

"Is this really a fun place or a death trap?!" She wasn't smiling at all as she struggled away from his protective grip.

Daejong, who found himself as surprised as her sharpened her eyes as he saw the guards train their hands on the sword hilt.

"Someone tampered with this place" he defended. "I think it's dangerous, let's leave!"

Yoona found her eyes wander to Jae Joon who nodded an approval. "Be alert!" He heard him command notwithstanding he just broke protocol, but no one cared less, they all feel threatened.

Eyes trained to watch out for any assailant, they were both escorted to the carriage Yoona insisted on bringing with her. The thrill and fun of the whole adventure seemed to wither with the dangers as they all hoped to make it home successfully.

At the inn, the carriage remained guarded as Jae Joon took his men to observe the premises. Since the remaining arrows could only remain in the shadow as Yoona couldn't afford exposing herself, he trusted them to guard their master well.

"All clear!" They heard him say.

"We should head back to the palace," Yoona sat down as her maid served her a calming tea inside the inn.

"Yes, we should!" He readily agreed.

"My only regret is my aborted mission of visiting the local streets. I wanted to see for myself how my people survives and lives. Not paper work presented by my ministers but witness it first-hand."

Yoona put down her cup as she rose to bring him to a seat.

"You're a good emperor. In fact, you're the best emperor Shu ever had and I'm not saying it because you're my husband! "

He smiled gleefully at her support and nodded in understanding.

She continued. "You're stronger than all previous emperors, you have loyal servants ready to lay their lives at your feet, your mother's powerful clan supports you, you have the strongest royal guards and soldiers, you also have the people's support, and you have me who would hold your hands in moments like this to offer the needed comfort!" Only he didn't know his little submissive kitten was actually a feisty big cat fighting secret battles and paving his way smoothly.

"I'll be a better emperor because of you and the people who believe in me.

He embraced her once more and saw his shadow lurking in the dark place.

"Wifey, could you check on our meal? I want to be served by my wife as a normal husband."

Her face lit up as she bashfully kissed him briefly. "Getting too comfortable in this new role, are you not?"

She curtsied the way married women do before their husbands and smiled brightly. "Yes husband, this wife is bringing your meal shortly!"

The shadow exposed himself fully as he knelt before the emperor on her exit from the room.

"What is it?" He asked as he sat on the elevated seat of the inn room.

"Ever since her majesty's ascension into her throne, there has been so many presences and auras in the palace,"

"What do you mean?" Daejong sat up for clarification as something pinged in his mind, someone that elicited fear in him.

"It seems there are many groups of people with new faces in the palace and they are way too elusive for my liking."

Daejong harrumphed at his speculation but took note of the matter. He had also felt many eyes other than his men had been watching him, especially in the market the previous day, but he felt he was overreacting. Hearing it from his shadow kind of makes sense.

"Coming in!" The flavour hit them before they even heard her voice. Blending back into the darkness, Daejong sat upright in anticipation of the sizzling meal.

"That was fast wifey"

Yoona set the table with the help of the servants who allowed them some privacy as they scurried away.

Like a dedicated homewife, she sat across him, her hands on the ladie as she dished out the meal. Handing over his silver chopsticks, she broke open a big fish, deboned and added to his rice.

"Tasty, I presume?" He heard her say as he spooned the savory meal into his mouth.

"Hmm!" Was his only sound allowed from a mouthful of food.

He took turns too, picking out fishes and peeling shrimps decked on her plate too.

"Eat too, dear wife."

The meal went on silently except interval talks egging each other to eat more like a harmonious couple they were.

The meal finally ended. Servants cleared the dishes away and served some desserts.

"Yoona?" Daejong suddenly called .

"Yes, your majesty." She replied.

"Some foreign envoys would be coming in celebration of our marriage. Would you be able to handle it for me?"

She smiled and held his hands closer to her heart. "I will do it."

"Previous empresses, my mother inclusive has been unable to handle these task in the past. If you can pull it off, your first battle will be won."

Yoona smiled as he narrated how others messed up. She also knew he was paving way for her so her position would be well solidified, hence, she vowed to do extremely well.

"Rest assured, I will make us proud!"

...

At a certain house, a man laid on his bed coughing vigorously. The strong smell of concoctions permeated through the door and into the nostrils of anyone who came close.

A doctor came in to take his pulse and was almost disgusted by the large drool slipping out of his mouth but for the status of the man, especially his father's, he dared not act rashly.

"Minister Choi, I think his illness has gotten worse."

Minsiter Choi harrumphed at the doctor's diagnosis and felt a bit of pity for his wasted son who was rather not a child. Since his birth, he had always been sick till his last terrible illness turned him into a moron.

Wealth and status couldn't cure him hence it was announced to the world the son was dead. Only few trusted people knew of the boy's true terrible state and the shame it brought the poor minister.

"Keep treating him, he's still my first son after all."

He drew himself to him but felt the boy shrink back into his shell.

"Well, what? You're not happy to see your father?" The son drew further back like his father smelt disgustingly.

"You!" He grabbed his jaw as he clenched them. "You really don't want to see me? Fine! Have it your way!"

He stomped out but gave instructions for him to be taken care of. Only that he didn't observe his son's clenched knuckles threatening to burst open.