If someone offered to buy him a drink, he’d trot right along in excitement.
He had never seen a person so utterly devoid of fear. Seomun Cheon clicked his tongue softly and followed Song Wongyeong out of the inn.
“Still, isn’t it dangerous to venture out at the dead of night?”
Seomun Cheon asked as they entered the street filled with vendor stalls. Song Wongyeong patted his chest and burst into a laugh– a clear, resonant laugh that sounded like a fine instrument.
“It is fine! As for those thugs from last time, my younger brother gave them another beating, I hear.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
“Yes. Do not worry, Hyungjang, and just follow me.”
Song Wongyeong soon guided Seomun Cheon into an alley bustling under red lanterns.
The scent of incense, the shouting of street vendors hawking their wares, the sharp tang of spices piercing the nose, and the presence of crowds washing over them like waves.
Amidst this alley filled with all sorts of noise, Song Wongyeong looked exceedingly free. It was a complete departure from when he was seen in the inner palace.
A fearless man indeed.
Seomun Cheon deliberated for a moment before following Song Wongyeong. With so many people in this street vendor alley, no major trouble should break out. After all, the Chief Eunuch and the secret guards were following stealthily behind his back.
Nothing out of the ordinary will happen.
Thinking thus, Seomun Cheon stepped closer to Song Wongyeong’s side. This foolish concubine who failed to recognize his own husband was joyfully browsing the stalls. He was even holding two steamed buns already, though when he had bought them was a mystery.
“Here, have this.”
“…This?”
Seomun Cheon replied lukewarmly, making no move to accept the steamed bun.
“Is this your first time seeing a steamed bun?”
“How could that be? It is merely… because I have never eaten such things.”
Song Wongyeong shook his head inwardly. Whichever house’s young master he was, he had certainly been raised in noble luxury.
“Despite how it looks, this is the most delicious place around here. It opened two years ago, and because it was so delicious, they’ve already opened a branch.”
At Song Wongyeong’s urge, Seomun Cheon reluctantly accepted the steamed bun. Far in the distance, the Chief Eunuch gnawed on his handkerchief, crying out, ‘How dare he feed His Majesty such food!’, though Seomun Cheon was blissfully unaware.
Is it really alright to eat this? Hesitatingly taking a bite, the intense spices and rich juices burst forth in his mouth.
“…”
“How is it? Delicious, isn’t it?”
“…It is edible.”
Seomun Cheon replied, concealing his inner thoughts.
Wait, wasn’t it three years ago that Noble Person Song entered the palace?
For such a person to know a shop that opened two years ago meant…
Noble Person Song’s secret outings have been going on longer than expected.
At the shortest, two years; at the longest, it meant he had scaled the wall as soon as he entered the palace.
Seomun Cheon glared at Song Wongyeong. He was smiling happily with steamed bun grease smeared around his lips.
How utterly audacious! Planning to sneak out as soon as he entered the palace?
To become the Emperor’s concubine was a supreme honor without equal in one’s lifetime.
And yet, despite receiving such a position, what? Scaling the wall?
Seomun Cheon felt twisted inside. It felt as if he had been rejected without even saying a word, ruining his mood. For him, the Emperor, where in the world would he ever be rejected by anyone?
Unaware of this, Song Wongyeong ran around the street stalls like a dog seeing snow. Unable to watch any longer, Seomun Cheon strode over and offered his handkerchief.
“Wipe it.”
Song Wongyeong’s eyes grew wide.
“Oh, this is…”
“It is what you gave me back then, so there is no need to be grateful.”
“Thank you. Instead of this, I ought to offer something in return… Ah!”
Glancing around, Song Wongyeong gestured in front of a certain stall. As Seomun Cheon walked over slowly, Song Wongyeong picked up a woman’s norigae ornament demonstratively.
“How about a gift like this for your wife?”
“A gift?”
Seomun Cheon asked, flabbergasted. What part of a runaway wife was so pretty that he should even give her a gift?
Seeing that, Song Wongyeong nudged Seomun Cheon’s side repeatedly with his elbow, as if asking how he couldn’t even know that. It was a truly informal and bold act to perform on an Emperor.
“If you place something like this in her hand, won’t her heart soften and she’ll stay quiet for a while?”
Hearing those words, Seomun Cheon asked back, annoyed:
“Speaking like that, it seems you know a great deal about a woman’s mind?”
“Of course. Do you have any idea how many maidens fretted just to catch a glimpse of me?”
Before entering the inner palace as a concubine, how many women had clung to the walls of the Sanggwan Song estate just to see him? Recalling the past, Song Wongyeong let out a sigh.
“Those were truly good times. Really.”
How that appearance must have looked to Seomun Cheon is obvious without needing explanation.
As the two exchanged words in front of the goods, the stall vendor who had been watching slipped in.
“Shall I give you one?”
“No.”
Seomun Cheon flatly refused. Noble Person Song, what was so pretty about a person like that to give them a gift?
“…Not that one, give me the one next to it. One suitable for a man to use.”
When Seomun Cheon pointed to a more plain norigae, Song Wongyeong asked in wonder:
“Are you going to wear it, Hyungjang?”
“…”
Finishing the payment, Seomun Cheon accepted the norigae and fell into the same question as Song Wongyeong.
Indeed, why did I buy this?
Upon returning to the palace, all kinds of rare gems presented to Seomun Cheon were arrayed in abundance; why buy a norigae made of such cheap jade?
Though unable to understand himself, Seomun Cheon tucked the norigae into his breast pocket. He couldn’t throw it away here, so he intended to dispose of it later upon returning to the palace.
Just then, Song Wongyeong hurriedly pulled Seomun Cheon behind the stall’s pillar. Seomun Cheon found his back pressed against the thin wooden pillar all of a sudden. It was an insolent act he had never experienced in his entire life.
“What is the meaning of…”
“Hush!”
Song Wongyeong put his finger to his lips, telling him to be quiet. He was gesturing toward somewhere with his eyes.
Five or six men with severe bruises on their eyes and cheeks were entering the alley. Though their faces were unfamiliar, there was a vague idea of who they might be.
They are the bastards from five days ago.
Recognizing them first, Song Wongyeong was standing like this to protect Seomun Cheon.
Realizing the truth, Seomun Cheon’s anger softened slightly. Unfortunately, however, the physiques of Seomun Cheon and Song Wongyeong were not ones that could be hidden simply by hiding.
“Isn’t that those bastards from last time?”
The thugs recognized Seomun Cheon and Song Wongyeong in an instant. In truth, it was strange not to recognize a man of Seomun Cheon’s tall height wearing a veiled hat.
Song Wongyeong cursed softly under his breath and looked around. Then he grabbed Seomun Cheon’s hand with a yank.
“Wait, what…!”
“This way!”
Song Wongyeong dragged Seomun Cheon into a dark alley.
It was a narrow, pitch-black alley. Running along a path where nothing could be seen, the only thing Seomun Cheon could rely on was Song Wongyeong leading ahead.
In all his life, had there ever been anyone who handled him, the Emperor, so recklessly?
Even the Empress Dowager, who had given birth to Seomun Cheon and had now stepped down, could not go this far.
Was his heart throbbing because he was getting short of breath?
Or was it because of the scorching heat and pulse felt through their clasped hands?
Either way was fine. Seomun Cheon’s emotions were fluttering wildly for the first time since he was born.
Punishing him can be pushed back a little further.
Rather, hiding his identity and meeting him a few more times seemed quite fine as well. Seeing as his concubine appeared much happier outside the palace.
“Wait, running this much should…”
“Step back!”
The two burst out into an open space. Thinking this should be enough, Seomun Cheon was about to speak properly.
Song Wongyeong stepped in front of Seomun Cheon to block him. Just as Seomun Cheon wondered why he was doing this, numerous people holding blades and clubs sprang out from every corner.
At a rough estimate, there were well over fifteen men. Among them, the gang of thugs met earlier poked their faces out.
“We’ve been waiting for you, you bastards. We’ll settle the score from five days ago!”
On all sides, blades gleamed blue beneath the moonlight. They held pitchforks, rakes, scythes, anything with a blade attached. Song Wongyeong lowered his posture so he could attack at any moment, shielding Seomun Cheon behind his back.
Damn it, I let my guard down.
Thinking they would be reflecting on themselves after being beaten up a few days ago, who knew they were actually searching frantically for him?
Since it had come to this, he had to get his guest to safety at least. In truth, wasn’t it Song Wongyeong who had beaten those guys up? As the saying goes, he who tied the knot must untie it; naturally, it was right that he took responsibility as well.
“It is my fault. Hyungjang, please flee.”
Song Wongyeong stumbled before regaining his balance. Already drunk, running around had clearly caused the alcohol to spread through his system faster.
“Is that something to say right now? Telling me to leave a drunk person behind and run away alone?”
“The one who beat those guys up that day was me, and the one who cracked down on them afterward was my family’s person, so it is right that I resolve this.”
“Noble Person Song!”
Song Wongyeong charged headlong toward the thugs. It seemed the man in the veiled hat had called him by a strange title, but being too drunk and focused elsewhere, he failed to process it properly.
“Come at me, you bastards!”
Though he stepped forward gallantly, Song Wongyeong beat up a few of them before quickly stumbling.
The moment he showed an opening, sharp blades and clubs flew in from all directions. Startled, Song Wongyeong tried to dodge, but stepped on a pebble wrong and fell over.
I’m falling…!
Fortunately, however, no such thing happened. A firm arm supported and embraced Song Wongyeong.
It was none other than the man in the veiled hat. Held inside that broad chest, Song Wongyeong blinked his eyes.
Moonlight and the man filled Song Wongyeong’s black eyes to the brim. Being held by another in this manner for the first time made it all the more bewildering.
“Hyungjang?”
“Are you unhurt?”
Good heavens, what a broad and firm chest!
Had a woman been held like this, her cheeks would have turned red beyond doubt. In fact, even Song Wongyeong felt a slight flutter in his heart. To the point where his cheeks, already flushed from the alcohol, grew even redder.
“Pardon me. I will move aside right now…”
Song Wongyeong scrambled to stand up. Drunk, he flailed around, grabbing at whatever his hands could catch. Hanging from those flailing hands, of all things, was the veil fabric attached to the man’s hat.
Sliiiip.
The man’s veiled hat slid off.
