The Hated Male Concubine

“We’ll grow up soon… We will become smarter and stronger people and protect you from now on…”

Listening to the determination filled with sincerity from a young court lady, Hwawoon began to ponder. The Emperor said it was okay for him to stay instead of going back, and the girls, who spent every day like in hell, were regaining their laughter again, so it was still okay even though he was wrapped in lies. Those were enough reasons for him to live a bit better while enduring the night of endless guilt struggles.

Hwawoon just nodded, looking alternately at Ahjin and Seoseo with an emotional face. Just as he had walked through his life doing things he could do even when he lost his parents and wandered the hard life as an orphan, he would walk through the life given to him now and in the future.

***

“Seems like you can’t sleep well recently.”

Said the Empress, glancing at Biyoung’s face full of fatigue. She was drinking tea sitting next to Sukbi, Biyoung. Biyoung sighed heavily at the empress’s words and replied.

“How can I sleep when in recent days, His Majesty been looking for Yeonbin every day?”

“The great Hyun Biyoung is jealous?”

Biyoung sent a side glance at the Empress, Jaran, when she heard the teasing. It was not an attitude that a concubine could show to the empress, but it was not a problem because Jaran had generously allowed it to Biyoung long ago. It was possible because Sukbi always acted politely toward the Empress in public. There were probably more things and feelings in the relationship between the two than what they shared with the emperor.

“Your Majesty, would I really not be able to sleep because I’m jealous of Yeonbin?”

“Then…?”

“… It’s because I’m uneasy as I don’t know what Yeonbin is planning…”

In the meantime, Jaran sent a signal as she glanced at Biyoung’s tea that hadn’t been sipped and had turned cold. Seon then carefully came closer and took Biyoung’s cup, saying, “I’ll prepare new tea because your tea has cooled down.” However, Biyoung, who was not interested in the tea from the start, continued to talk to Jaran. 

“Your Majesty… The reason why Yeonbin couldn’t do anything about me even though he thought I was an eyesore was that His Majesty gave a lot of support to me.”

“Mhmm…”

“I’m fine if Yeonbin is really changing because he reflected on the past, but if it’s only a deceit… if he’s hiding his knife for the right moment, making up a facade so that he gets His Majesty’s love…”

Of course, Biyoung believed that their emperor would not be deceived by the whispers of one concubine and let the other concubines be harmed. She also knew that even if Yeonbin achieved the emperor’s favor now, he could not do anything to her by believing in that power.

However, is there any law that says human affairs should go as expected?

They didn’t know how the Emperor would change if he loved someone. This was because it was something they had never experienced before. Even though she was said to be the emperor’s favorite concubine, Biyoung knew well that what she was receiving was not really a great favor, so she didn’t know what the emperor could do for someone if he fell deeply into that person.

Thus, by any chance—even though she thought it would not happen—she could not easily predict how it would affect herself if the Emperor really favored Yeonbin. That was why, after she saw the change of Yeonbin, and when it became clear that the changed behavior was affecting the emperor, it was inevitable that Biyoung’s night was uncomfortable.

“Biyoung.” 

The Empress called Biyoung’s name with a low voice. Biyoung’s gaze, which was looking down at the floor out of anxiety, naturally moved to the Empress. Jaran’s eyes, which were unknown how deep they were, were looking straight at Biyoung. Biyoung was only staring at the Empress as she couldn’t reply to her. The Empress slowly closed her eyes once and continued. 

“What do you think an empress is?” 

“… Pardon?”

“Don’t tell me you think I can’t protect you from Yeonbin?”

There was confidence in the voice of the empress that she would never be swayed by any wind. Biyoung sat there and felt that her heart, which was full of concern all night as she heard the Emperor visited the sick Yeonbin, was calming down.

“If you do your duty and don’t make any mistake out of useless thought, who dares to touch you, His Majesty’s Sukbi?” 

At that moment, Biyoung recalled the image of the Empress she had seen when she first entered the palace. The young empress of that day, who had a dignity that could never be resisted despite having a small build and a gentle expression on her face, had become a giant tree that enveloped the heads of all the concubines.

“You’re right, Your Majesty. I had a rash thought. Thank you, Empress, for enlightening me.”

Biyoung, who unconsciously thought for a moment that she should not stay still and be attacked last morning, calmed down before the words of the empress. She remembered the young empress who said, “Let’s help each other not just as His Majesty’s woman, but as a loyal subject, let’s make an internal court without domestic dissension that never happened before, to care for each other, for the sake of the country.” Hence, Biyoung couldn’t think of another thought. 

***

“Excuse me, Your Highness…”

Ahjin suddenly called Hwawoon with a very careful voice after brushing his hair. Hwawoon was looking at himself in the mirror after finishing dressing up with Ahjin’s help because he thought he would only make others worry if he kept looking sick. He answered, “yeah?” lightly and Ahjin continued to say to Hwawoon while still hesitating.

“Erm… So…”

“What makes you hesitate?”

“That… His Majesty kindly visited you yesterday… so, how about you send some snacks as gratitude to His Majesty…?” 

Listening to Ahjin’s words, Hwawoon let out a short interjection. It was also a problem that Hwawoon had been thinking about since this morning.

The Emperor visited Jeongan Palace twice for Hwawoon when he was only a little sick because of his weak body. In addition, the Empress also visited him. Now, he stayed in Jeongan Palace because the palace doctor told him to not feel the outside air yet, but it was proper for him to express his gratitude once he recovered enough to go out. 

He didn’t worry much about the Empress Palace. He just needed to give his gratitude as what he did in the morning greeting. However, it was different with the Emperor. Hwawoon wasn’t sure if this could be a justification for him to visit the Emperor without his permission. 

Still, he couldn’t disregard the Emperor’s grace, kindly visiting Jeongan Palace, so he was pondering what he should do, and Ahjin gave this idea.

“Since you can’t go out yet, even if you can’t say your gratitude directly, if you deliver snacks with sincerity to His Majesty’s place, wouldn’t he know how you feel, Your Highness?” 

“Can I do that…?” 

“Of course, Your Highness. I’m sure he’ll like it!”

Ahjin nodded her head excitedly as Hwawoon showed signs of agonizing, not immediately refusing the idea. For Ahjin, who had seen the emperor’s anguish, which Hwawoon couldn’t see before, she was sure that the Emperor would be happy with this.

If it had been a few days ago, Hwawoon would have likely cut Ahjin’s proposal at once. Like the last time, Ahjin gave the same idea. ‘What’s the point of souring his mood by shamelessly sending snacks when he doesn’t even want to see me?’ Hwawoon would say that and didn’t even think about it.

However, now Hwawoon was recalling the emperor he saw last night. Although it should not mean much, he came without ignoring him, who was sick. And for him, who was swayed by momentary emotions and spoke incomprehensible words, the Emperor once again calmed his nightmares with words that were most meaningful to Hwawoon.

So, even if it was nothing but a humble snack, Hwawoon wanted to express his gratitude to the Emperor even a little.

“Then, let’s send it once…” 

Soon after, Ahjin’s face brightened at the voice of Hwawoon, who answered very carefully. It is very slow, but it is definitely moving on, so one day His Majesty and His Highness will get close as I wished for. Nowadays, Ahjin, who dreamed of such a day every night, ran to the kitchen as fast as the wind.

***

“As expected, it’s kind of weird, right? I look like I have no pride, right?”

Jeongbin, Songhyun, couldn’t sit down, and walked around like an impatient puppy. Jooah answered her question with a somewhat tired expression. 

“Yes, Your Highness. How could you open your heart for a kind word when you’ve been harassed by Yeonbin so much?” 

“That’s right. I’ve heard a lot of harsh words from him all this time!”

“Yes. It’s not enough to spray muddy water at Jeongan Palace.”

“That’s right. That’s right.”