The Hated Male Concubine

They wondered if a warm spring like the current season finally came to Jeongan Palace, which was often called the most splendid cold palace in the world. Therefore, the girls’ hearts began to be filled with determination to work harder and serve their master better as Seoseo said. 

“What are you doing here, not working?”

Ahjin, who had been listening to their conversation with a proud smile, played innocent and entered the kitchen. Seoseo turned back, smiling wide when she found Ahjin and then approached her. 

“Ahjin Unnie! What brings you here? Is there anything His Highness needs?”

Ahjin, who managed to hold back her laughter as she looked at the eyes that excessively sparkled at the words ‘anything His Highness needs,’ said, pretending not to know.

“No, that’s not it. His Highness is now on his way to give morning greetings to the Empress. I’m here to tell you to prepare his medicine so that he can take it as soon as he returns.”

“Aha! Yes, of course! We will prepare the medicine that is not too hot or cold, so it can be taken immediately!”

When Seoseo, who stood at the forefront said that, the other court ladies agreed, “don’t, worry, Unnie!” Somehow they seemed to be over-motivated, but it was never a bad change for the girls to do anything for their master.

It was a morning that eventually put a smile on Ahjin’s face as she turned and left the kitchen.

***

“I said you don’t need to force yourself to give the morning greetings…”

The Empress looked at the concubines who came to give their morning greetings and fixed her gaze on Yeonbin. Hwawoon, who wore a subtly purple-colored robe with a wide dark waistband, still had a pale complexion, but perhaps because of the clothes, he seemed more active than the other concubines. While sitting, Hwawoon lowered his back to the Empress and said,

“It’s fine, Your Majesty. I’m really fine now thanks to your concern. Thank you for coming to Jeongan Palace and taking care of me.”

“That’s what I was supposed to do, so don’t mind it. Rather, I’ve been indifferent to you all this whole time.”

The Empress said that because just like what the Emperor did, she didn’t even bat an eye when she heard Yeonbin was sick in the past. Hwawoon said, “you’re not, Your Majesty,” and then turned his head slightly. He bowed to Sukbi, who was looking at another place, and said, 

“I was able to sleep deeply thanks to the scent Her Highness Sukbi sent me. Thank you.” 

“Her Highness Sukbi? She sent you a scent?”

It was Jeongbin, who was sitting next to Hwawoon and glancing at him, who responded to his words first. As everyone’s eyes turned to her, Jeongbin, who was almost getting up from her seat, hurriedly closed her mouth and curled up, but she couldn’t stop looking at Sukbi and Yeonbin alternately with a confused gaze.

I can’t believe you sent a scent to Yeonbin behind my back when you suspected I was worried about Yeonbin! 

Of course, Sukbi didn’t tell Jeongbin that she wouldn’t do anything, but Jeongbin had a subtle sense of betrayal, so her lips kept sticking out. 

“That’s nothing special. You don’t need to be that thankful.”

Seeing Sukbi answer Yeonbin with a very calm expression, when they used to be ready to kill each other whenever they met, Jeongbin sulked even more. She quickly turned her head and glared at Jooah behind her.

If only that girl didn’t stop me, I would have gone to Jeongan Palace and kindly comforted Yeonbin.

Jeongbin thought she should never listen to Jooah anymore.

***

“Listen.”

The emperor just finished the morning assembly and stopped his steps before he climbed up the palanquin. He spoke with a grave voice. Eunuch Oh immediately bowed, ready to hear out, and Yihan continued.

“If we run across Yeonbin on our way back…”

Today, the emperor once again ordered them to take the path that wasn’t the shortest. The palanquin bearers obediently followed the order because they couldn’t ask, even though they were curious about the reason the emperor kept giving such an order. However, Eunuch Oh, the only one who easily knew the reason, hid his expression and listened to the emperor.

“If by any chance I make a mistake and say ‘stop,’ never stop where Yeonbin is and keep going.”

That was a very stupid order. Yihan knew it as well. Of course, Yihan thought that he would never give such a stupid order to stop in front of Yeonbin ever again. However, because there were many occasions of things related to Yeonbin recently that he did out of control, Yihan thought it wasn’t bad to prepare a defensive measure.

“Do you understand? Even if I suddenly say stop like the last time, don’t stop and head straight to Anjeong Palace. Keep that in mind.”

“Understand, Your Majesty. We will follow your order.”

If you’re that worried, you just need to avoid the path that Yeonbin takes from the start.

Still, Eunuch Oh was always a loyal person to the emperor, so he didn’t bring up the thing that the emperor pretended to not know.

***

“Yeonbin!”

Jeongbin stopped Yeonbin’s steps from going back after finishing the morning greetings. When Yeonbin turned his head, he saw Jeongbin who was walking in a hurry as though she was running. He waited for her to approach him, but then he said,

“Take your time. You’ll be in trouble if you fall down.”

Hearing Yeonbin’s voice that was so soft and imbued with worry, Jeongbin, Songhyun, forgot what she wanted to say and closed her mouth for a moment. When she was young, she often chased her brother with quick steps, and when she fell and burst into tears, her brother hugged and calmed her down with a soft voice. That voice of her brother once again overlapped against Yeonbin’s voice.

Songhyun’s brother was a good person who never treated Songhyun and his family servants rashly—like a person who was born affectionate. She couldn’t understand why Yeonbin, whom she once thought was obviously born vicious, felt like her brother.

“Yes, I’ll do that…”

However, even if she couldn’t understand it, people’s emotions were like waterways, so once they opened up and flowed in a certain direction, it was hard to block or reverse them.

“Is there anything you want to say to me?”

“Ah, that… erm, actually… actually I wanted to visit you too…!”

Jeongbin firmly ignored Jooah’s gaze from behind and brought up what she wanted to say to Yeonbin throughout the morning greetings.

There was no need for her to make an excuse. Considering what kind of relationship the two had been in before, it was only natural that Songhyun did not visit him. However, strangely, Songhyun struggled to make excuses for not visiting him.

“I wanted to visit you… and send tea that is good for the body… but…”

Therefore, she talked, but when she started talking, she didn’t have a suitable reason why she planned to visit but not do it. She couldn’t say, ‘I couldn’t go because I was wary if you’d pick on me and harass me again.’ In the end, Jooah, who couldn’t see her master anymore, took a step forward. She bowed to Yeonbin and said,

“I’ll tell you instead, Your Highness Yeonbin. My master was very worried and wanted to visit you when she heard about your condition. However, she worried that if she visited you suddenly, it would only annoy and make you uncomfortable, so she couldn’t visit you.”

“That’s right! That’s why I couldn’t go! I thought I’d make you uncomfortable even if I only sent the tea…”

Songhyun, who hurriedly responded to Jooah’s words, secretly raised her eyes and looked at Yeonbin’s reaction. In Songhyun’s eyes, Yeonbin, who had a surprised face for a while and then curved the tail of his eyes gently, smiling lightly, was vividly seen. Soon Yeonbin, Yeon Hwawoon, said.

“Is that so? It’s fine. I’ve accepted your heart, Jeongbin. Thank you for worrying about me.”

It was a sweet and kind voice as if to soothe a cute little sister. Songhyun, who eventually couldn’t hold back, opened her mouth in a small voice.

“Then next time… Can I go to Jeongan Palace…?”

She heard the silent shock from Jooah on her side, but for Songhyun, the only important thing was Yeonbin’s reaction. Hwawoon, who looked at Songhyun with a surprised expression for a moment, soon answered, still smiling.

“I’d be happier to see Jeongbin in Jeongan Palace.”

After hearing the answer, a bright smile finally bloomed on Songhyun’s face. She felt like she didn’t care about Jooah’s nagging she would hear later.