The Hated Male Concubine

“Your Highness, are you okay? Lean on me, please.”

All the court ladies of Jeongan Palace knew well about how much Ahjin was harassed by Yeonbin all this time. Even if there were a lot of court ladies of Jeongan Palace that couldn’t let their body and heart be at ease there, no one had gone through cruel hardship from Yeonbin as much as Ahjin had. If they were asked who was the one that was afraid of Yeonbin the most, then they would choose Ahjin without hesitation.

“Your body is very cold, Your Highness. I shall call for the physician right now.”

“… No need. I just need a little rest.”

“How can you say that? You’re not even getting better already… Are you breathing fine, Your Highness?”

However, that very Ahjin — the one who confessed that she always prayed for dokkaebi to appear and take her master away at any chance — as if she was at a loss for what to do because she felt sorry for her master, was now looked like she was about to cry while supporting Yeonbin with her whole body.

That scene was so unfamiliar and dumbfounding, which made the court ladies of Jeongan Palace forget to stand up. They looked up at them while still kneeling on the ground, and Yeonbin, who was shaking his head to Ahjin soon looked at them. The surprised court ladies gasped and bowed their heads again.

On the day Yeonbin was treated harshly by the emperor, the tears of his subordinates wouldn’t get away because he tortured them, but today, he was insulted in front of themselves, who were lowly people, so there was no way he would to let it go. At times like this, just staying still like a dead being was the only measure they could do. 

Then, the owner of Jeongan Palace said, 

“I’ve made you guys go through hard times.”

The shoulders of them, who were prostrating, flinched noticeably. They couldn’t understand what they just heard. 

Although their master had gathered all of them and promised to never torture them again in the future, no one believed those words straight away. They thought it was only Yeonbin’s eccentric behavior and whim as usual. However, as if he was feeling sorry, Yeonbin talked like that to them, who he always saw as bugs. 

Everyone’s faces turned white after hearing that, but Yeonbin, whose view was already blurry and couldn’t see them properly, barely leaned on Ahjin and continued to talk. 

“Everyone can go back now… and Ahjin, take care of them, so they can rest early today.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will take care of everything, so please go inside now. I will inform the physician right away and prepare medicine to calm your feelings.”

Those who heard that were all shocked and didn’t know what to do, but Ahjin was only busy taking care of Yeonbin as if she couldn’t even care about others. That appearance of her was no doubt an appearance of a right-hand man sincerely serving her master.

After Yeonbin left, those who were left in the garden were looking at each other with a shocked faces. He said he wanted to change. He said he didn’t want to live like in the past. It was a day when their master’s desperate voice, saying that to the emperor, lingered in their ears for a long time.

***

Yihan stayed in Anjeong Palace until late at night. He sent back all the nameplates of concubines and said he wouldn’t even visit the empress, so he had his dinner in Anjeong Palace. 

He kept looking at the appeals and letters as if he were immersed in doing political affairs, but Eunuch Oh, who had served him for a long time, could see that the emperor was hardly focused on what he had in his hands, unlike usual. 

“… I heard the physician visited Jeongan Palace.”

Eunuch Oh’s voice rang low inside the still Anjeong Palace. The emperor didn’t shift his focus from the letter he was looking nor said anything, and Eunuch Oh continued,

“He said Yeonbin’s health was already very damaged after he fell into the water. However, his mind and body kept being unstable, and on top of that, he was very surprised today, which made his health even worse. Therefore, he had to be extra careful and take care of himself for the time being.” 

“Who is curious about that?”

“… Forgive me, Your Majesty. I’ve talked too much.”

Despite Yihan’s scolding, Eunuch Oh didn’t panic and only bowed his back. Yihan dropped the letter he was holding with a very dissatisfied face on the table, then glared at Eunuch Oh, who was avoiding his gaze—playing innocence.

Who is curious about that? Did someone say they want to know about that, which made him speak of that useless news? Why is that bastard bothering me by saying those words that I don’t want to hear? 

The emperor’s eyes clearly showed his dissatisfaction, but the eunuch was still bowing and pretending innocence. Then, after glaring at Eunuch Oh for a few moments, Yihan said,

“After all, he’s only pretending to be sick, no?”

“How dare I tell such a lie to you, Your Majesty? Although there were times when Yeonbin did that in the past, it is said that he’s in a terrible condition today.”

Yihan’s eyes turned sharp after hearing that.