My Ultimate Ambition

Beneath the melted snow, a sea of flowers had begun to bloom, their colours as vibrant as the incoming season. As Yoona strolled through the gardens excitedly, allowing her mind to wander as it pleases, she simply focused on the warmth of the sun on her face and the crispiness of the afternoon breeze. Delight rushed through her vein as she bent down to pluck a single lily flower for her little princess, a clear reminder that joy was all around her only if she looked closely.

The first sign of warm weather and flowers in bloom had her scrawling her signature on lacy invitations. After an especially snowy winter, she was ready to embrace spring and all other fun it brought with it! And to her, there was no other better way than to bask in the season than with a sophisticated tea party attended by the harem women and prominent wives of the ministers and business tycoons.

A maid rushed towards her in reminder of her meeting with physician Dong who awaited her presence at his infirmary. Hurriedly she left to be with him. As she arrived, a note was handed down to her and disrupted the intended meeting making Physician Dong to leave as well, but before he left, he hastily examined her pulse to confirm she was really healthy and at no risk of any illness.

She read the note for the second time, the four lines of text swirling in her mind as she tried to decipher the meaning. The letter was sent with a bouquet of lavender, freshly picked from a garden as it's dripping stalk was an evidence of it's freshness. No name was attached as the only clue to whom had sent it was a riddle that had been neatly scrawled on the notecard. 

Hastily, she arranged for some striking peach colored robe newly sent from the royal tailor and had her glamorous but neat make-up. The servants eagerly satisfied all her whims as the emperor's love waxed on stronger each passing day. It was also known he always had a mystery package delivered to their mistress as every single time, gifts and love letters made turns to her.

Joyous laughter bubbled up in her chest as she dashed up the viewing tower located at the farend desolated part of the palace; above her, lanterns guided her way up, lighting the path for her. There was something creepy about the arrangements which tugged on her guts; why the location? Daejong had always told her not to leave without her servants at dusk but the letter said otherwise, why was that? She had a foreboding feeling about it but the beautiful, twinkling lights called unto her; their pull so strong that she had no choice than to follow. 

She arrived at what appeared to be a dead end, no sign of candles or lanterns nor humans. There was another letter lying in wait for her, few scribblings of just password and location. Through the thick vines and roses that crawled up the arbor, she heard a voice on the other side that commanded a password. As she spoke it, the door swung open, revealing a feast of meats and wines.

She noticed him instantly, his black silky hair falling over his eyes as he looked up to smile at her, his warm gazes running over her body as he lifted himself for a sweet hug.

"You didn't have any trouble locating here ?" She nodded as she wrapped around him clingyly, a bit tighter, a bit warmer. Her eyes closed to listen to the rythmic beating of his heart, her own heart in synonymous melody.

To her, true love smelled like fields of lavender, freshly cut lemon, a hard leather bound book and Daejong sitting by her side, gawking and gazing. From beginning to end, the pair had spent their winter months falling in love all over again; they read passage of their favorite novels aloud to one another at bedtimes, fed each other bits of their food during mealtimes, and rolled on the bed till they stuck to each other. Every day of spring as the season arrived, they spent their leisure time at the lavender fields admiring the flowers and writing poetries.

It has already been two seasons since the empress coronation, situational reports were a bit lesser as the harem women lived harmoniously or pretended to. The dowagers too had more time to enjoy their old age as the empress seemed to be capable and had no complaints. The nation seemed prosperous too except a sickening news of a fast arising country on conquest to garner more land. Kigals had United with some other smaller nation to make a bigger country as a military man had already held unto the reins of power. Their delegates already arrived Shu to clamour for a certain land at their border, Daejong expectedly turned them down as the land in question housed majority of his citizens and provided a rare mineral resources important to military; iron ores.

Yoona looked around the arena for the first time as every shade of pink danced around her; the walls were enveloped by magenta buds, salmon-coloured leaves scattered the floor and the blue sky soared overhead.

She saw the world differently than everyone else, not just in it's physical aspect but in her ability to see it through a child's eyes. Her information network grew bigger and more efficient enhancing her ability to watch the whole nation while sitting prettily at the palace.

Daejong waved his palm at her to gain attention, her eyes fluttered to him as a smile upturned her lips into an arc.

"Let's eat something different today and in different scenery, shall we?"

They served each other their meal and began the sacred ritual of eating. In between meals, they conversed a little; a bad table manner they had somehow adopted as tradition.

After their meal, two servants cleared away the dishes and replaced the tables with wines. Yoona who had the power of information already guessed and sensed what the rendezvous was about but waited patiently for the news to be broken.

"I'm going for war." He waited for any kind of reaction from her but got none. He looked all over her face to find it listlessly staring at her goblet of wine.

"Must you go? You have capable men who will wage war on your behalf," she stared squarely at him as he marveled at her composure.

"That land is very important to our nation and would serve as a powerhouse for many centuries. I can't leave the task to anyone else. Yes, it's that important."

After a long pause as each was lost in their own world trying to assimilate the situation, Yoona broke the silence.

"Take me with you?" She couldn't bear to be parted and sending him off alone to an unknown future.

"No dear, I have a bigger task for you." And his next statement shocked the living daylight out of her.

"Rule in my stead as a proxy!"

Her goblet fell off her hands as it clutched her robe. He rushed to wipe off the wine stain from her robe as he dried it too. Taking the opportunity to look into her eyes, he saw her struggle and hesitation.

"Why me?" Was the question ensuing out her mouth. "We have two elders in the palace."

He smiled at her innocence at the face of power and found her cuter. "You're most suitable for the position as it would signify we're one mind and body. I need to demonstrate to the world, you're mine and worthy of every single goodness coming to you."

He squeezed her shoulders in reassuring manner and continued, "I want to prove to the world you're the best example of a virtuous empress unsurpassed by predecessors and successors joined together, therefore, you must do well to gain the heart of my people."

Soon, the news of an impending war tumbled the country into chaos as food price skyrocketed, but what shook them most was the empress ruling in the emperor's stead. The emperor's decision to lead the army gladdened the people and gained respect and admiration for him, but letting a woman who was coronated barely for a year begged a question of her capability. A woman has never ruled before, especially an inexperienced woman.

Daejong spent his last nights with her passionately and finally left for the forefront.

Yoona's first demonstration of power and grace diminished whatever doubts people had for her as she did what no one else had ever done; creating a bill to punish whomever doubled the price of food. Food price drastically returned to normalcy as emergency relief funds were also distributed.

This singular act earned her the support of the dowager empress who openly displayed displeasure on her appointment as she admitted such plan had never occured to her. The ministers nodded in approval of her swift solution to the problem and the people sang her praise in the streets.

Daejong who received letter stating of her feats beamed with pride as his little kitten displayed the prowess of a lioness, a well-deserving achievement he confessed.

Yoona also brought stability to the harem as the woman protected by the palace walls slept a bit too comfortably through the night as Yoona doubled up their security. Speaking of a queen of strategies, then Yoona ranks first.

Unexpectedly, the war which was supposed to last a month, lasted two and lastly turned to three. She was doing quite well but was growing weary as the ministers' strategems grew worse and rampant, they all seemed to benefit from the war while Daejong toiled for them