There was another strange thing besides that. If he wasn’t going mad, several strange things had happened recently while making love.
As for Sansan’s hole getting particularly wet, he had let it slide thinking that some male favorites were occasionally like that. What was wrong with it being well-lubricated? Even Sansan’s bodily fluids that wetted his lower parts squelchingly like a woman were all welcome. The problem was that his member had swelled bizarrely inside that tight opening.
Sansan, whose entire sexual experience consisted only of what he’d done with the Emperor, seemed to think that was how it originally was for everyone. Or perhaps he was in too much pain to even notice.
But unless one was a monster, could one’s genitals grow abnormally larger during intercourse? That too was something he had first experienced in bed with Sansan, so there was no way to know what on earth was going on.
‘I should probably have an imperial physician present at the next bedding soon.’
Since there were more than one or two suspicious aspects, the Emperor settled on that thought for now. Then as he looked again at the papers in his hand, his mood became even more complicated than before.
“If you are curious about Young Master Yoon’s heart, though my ability is meager, this humble concubine might be able to help…”
Just then Noble Concubine Shin began to speak. When the Emperor sent a look asking what she meant, she immediately continued.
“How would it be if this humble concubine attended Your Majesty’s bed together with Young Master Yoon? Women’s intuition is exceptional. If this humble concubine observes directly from beside him, I will surely be able to sense where his heart lies.”
The Emperor originally made no distinction between women and men. As long as they were beautiful, he enjoyed all that beauty. He also didn’t mind enjoying together—Noble Concubine Shin, like Concubine Yoon, had occasionally attended the Emperor’s bed together with male favorites at the Emperor’s request.
In that process, bedding with male favorites was an unavoidable part, but doing so guaranteed one’s position in the concubinage. It was far better than not being called at all.
Noble Concubine Shin wanted to take this opportunity to more clearly confirm what kind of feelings the Emperor had for that Yoon fellow. And to see what kind of heart that fellow had too.
“You insolent thing, you’ve completely lost your mind.”
In that instant, she thought “Oh no” inwardly. The Emperor had never minded either giving concubines to male favorites or giving male favorites to concubines, so she had briefly forgotten—what state the Emperor was in right now.
“Your Majesty! This humble concubine spoke wrongly due to too much liquor. I have committed a crime deserving death. Please forgive me.”
Of course, even if it was only his own heart, the Emperor was currently in the midst of his very first love. Noble Concubine Shin blamed herself for her mistake and immediately knelt with both knees on the floor, slamming her forehead hard onto the ground with a thud. Pain rushed in thickly, making her consciousness hazy. The Emperor said nothing. She endured the dizziness and begged him once more.
“Today being Hyohyeon’s death anniversary, I had too much liquor from the daytime. I will never drink excessively again. Your Majesty, please think of Hyohyeon and forgive this inadequate concubine.”
“Eunuch Yoon of Suchanggung Palace, listen. Henceforth, if you see Noble Concubine Shin drinking, send her to the Office of Punishments to be dealt with by flogging, so know this. Your mistress drank herself into madness, so what on earth have those who serve her been doing? Drag them all out and give them fifty lashes each, and reduce half a year’s stipend for the palace servants of Suchanggung Palace. Also, I command that Noble Concubine Shin’s palace allowance be reduced for one year from Bin level to Bi level, so carry this out quickly.”
The Emperor, who spoke sternly like frost, shook his dragon robe roughly and stood up as if he didn’t even want to speak anymore.
“I’m going to Yeongnyeong Palace.”
Thus, Yeongnyeong Palace, where everyone had for once retired early, faced an unexpected emergency late at night.
***
That night, the Emperor went to Sansan and unfailingly received his attendance in bed again from one who had barely woken up.
Sansan, who heard directly from the Emperor in bed about the investiture, was horrified and desperately begged him to withdraw it. Eventually, unable to contain his anger, the Emperor slapped him across the face, and only then did he close his mouth.
Thus Sansan received the fifteenth day of the eighth month, said to be the most auspicious day, as the propitious date and was to be invested in the inner courtyard in front of the main hall of Yeongnyeong Palace.
On the day of the investiture, brilliant sunlight poured down from morning. Though it was a hot day, since it was an official investiture ceremony, he had to wear multiple layers of ceremonial robes and all ten pieces of jewelry according to protocol.
There must be no lack in adornment—the Emperor had directly instructed this, so they should have hurried, yet Yeongchae could only stand there unable to do this or that.
It was because Sansan, sitting before the vanity, was shedding tears in streams. There seemed to be no sign of it stopping anytime soon. The morning wash was all for nothing. Though there was no need to apply makeup like a woman, if he received the investiture with swollen eyes, those rumors would spread wildly again.
“Orabeoni.”
Just then, Sanwol entered the western tea room of Dongbaejeon. Walking in while holding onto Head Court Lady Songhwa’s arm and relying on her for support, Sanwol’s movements seemed difficult due to her belly swollen as large as a southern mountain.
She approached Sansan, who sat only crying, and took out a silk handkerchief she carried in her bosom to gently wipe her older brother’s wet face.
“I told you, if you keep doing this, it only makes it harder for orabeoni.”
“…Sniff.”
Sanwol unconsciously frowned in sympathy. This time she wiped away Sansan’s tears with her thumb.
“You have to accept it. Now that you’re even receiving investiture, like it or not, orabeoni can’t leave this palace until just before death. Are you going to cry like this every day? You have to live. Orabeoni too… and me too.”
The last words were muttered in a very small voice. Sansan, who had been only shedding tears, looked with wet eyes at Sanwol’s belly carrying his nephew. Then he roughly wiped his tears with his palm.
“…Wol-ah. I, I really…”
The moment Sansan was about to say something, Sanwol covered his mouth with her palm. Sanwol also knew that he had been slapped for refusing the investiture. It wasn’t only Sanwol who knew.
They say words without feet travel a thousand li—already there was no one in the palace who didn’t know, and the Emperor’s mood was sufficiently poor. There was no telling where what words might leak out.
“No. Don’t say anything.”
Sanwol spoke firmly. When she did this, it truly meant no. Having been cared for by Sanwol for many years, Sansan had at least that much sense.
“Yeongchae. Quickly assist Head Court Lady Min in helping orabeoni’s adornment.”
Head Court Lady Min was an elderly court lady sent from the Imperial Household Department who had been helping with adornment according to protocol whenever there were ceremonies. She, who had been standing at a distance, slowly moved toward them at Sanwol’s call.
“Then I will hurry, Mama.”
It was the moment Head Court Lady Min bowed to Sanwol. Sanwol, who had been about to withdraw, pressed her lips close to Sansan’s ear as if she had just remembered.
“Maybe he’s burning even more because you keep refusing. Hmm?”
She whispered in a very low voice so only Sansan could hear. But it was too difficult a story for Sansan to understand. Looking at the amber eyes that seemed to understand nothing at all, Sanwol let out a small sigh.
“Orabeoni, what did I tell you to do when you don’t understand?”
“…You told me to just do as I’m told.”
She couldn’t wait for Sansan to understand everything. When urgent, she had taught him to just follow her words. Hearing Sansan’s answer, Sanwol nodded.
“You can do it, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Following Sanwol’s words had never once harmed him. Sansan nodded several times as if making a vow to himself. Finally Sanwol withdrew with Songhwa’s support, and Head Court Lady Min, Yeongchae, and several palace servants who had been waiting surrounded Sansan.
Sansan’s long, luxuriant hair was skillfully put up. Until now, Sansan had always maintained a half-tie as unmarried Ha men did. He had never particularly worn ornaments and had always just tied it with a silk cord. But from today on, it would be different.
Like married men, Sansan had his hair put up high and wore a jade crown. In the center of the jade crown, a large piece of high-purity amber was embedded.
The long golden hairpin that crossed the jade crown was crafted with pearls as bright and clear as Sansan’s skin, and from both ends of the hairpin, gold cords hung down to below Sansan’s chest. It was a ceremonial crown that craftsmen had stayed up several nights to make according to the Emperor’s command.
After the hair adornment was finished, the sleeping robe he was wearing was removed and layer by layer, ceremonial robes began to be put on in order. Over a white long robe, an emerald long robe was layered, and finally a jade-colored long robe was put on.
The waist sash was also emerald-colored with a narrower jade-colored waist sash layered over it. They tightened it so much he could barely breathe, then hung gold cords as decoration. The trousers were likewise jade-colored.
As if finishing up, Head Court Lady Min draped a shoulder scarf gorgeously embroidered with gold thread over Sansan’s shoulders, then checked the overall condition. Smiling as if satisfied, she received from the waiting court ladies a coral necklace and coral earrings, four gold rings and an emerald bracelet, and an emerald anklet, and hung all of them on Sansan’s body.
Only then did she release Sansan. The adornment was finally complete.
Footnote:
Bi (비) – (concubine rank below Bin)
