“His Majesty is about to pass by here!”
At someone’s shout, concubines swarmed onto the western path of the imperial harem.
The grand thoroughfare fluttered with the hem of radiant silk robes imbued with late-spring warmth, filled with the fragrant scent of cosmetic powder and perfumed oils. The concubines, adorned with fresh hairpins and made up like blooming flowers, awaited the Emperor.
Amidst that dazzling crowd, there was a man who seemed entirely out of place.
“Passing through. Excuse me.”
His name was Song Won-kyung. Age, 28. He was a striking beauty, tall and broad-shouldered enough that anyone would believe he was a military general, but surprisingly, he was a dignified concubine of the Emperor.
At the very front of the vibrant crowd lined along the grand path, Song Won-kyung’s head protruded conspicuously among the neatly lined concubines.
Glancing at Song Won-kyung for taking the front spot, the concubines made no effort to hide their displeasure.
That man again?!
To think a man like that is a concubine, too.
Unable to watch any longer, Beauty Sa glared at Song Won-kyung and threw a sharp remark.
“Concubine Song, are you wearing such a tacky outfit again today?”
“Haha! But this outfit cost a fortune.”
Song Won-kyung held his sleeves and spun around as if showing off.
The thin peach-colored fabric wrapped tautly around his massive frame, looking as though it might burst at any moment. The ornaments dangling atop it sparkled pitifully under the sunlight.
“Look at this. Isn’t it truly lovely? My father sent it to me this time.”
“If you mean your father, he is the Vice Minister of the Secretariat…”
“Yes. He sent it so I would lack nothing in serving His Majesty. Here, this bracelet, too.”
Song Won-kyung showed off his ornaments with dainty hand movements that ill suited his tall, well-built physique. Every single piece was an expensive item, but what truly irked Beauty Sa was something else.
“Concubine Song, your face…”
“Hahaha! It suits me well, doesn’t it?”
Whether the peach-colored fabric clashed with his complexion or not, Song Won-kyung’s face looked even darker. It was almost as if his skin were draining all the color away. On top of that, the cosmetic powder and rouge slathered over his face made it even more unpleasant to look at.
Just as Beauty Sa was debating whether to point that out as well—
“His Imperial Majesty arrives!”
“Oops, it seems His Majesty is coming.”
At the eunuch’s shout, the concubines bowed their heads in unison. Song Won-kyung softly bent his waist at the very front row.
The Emperor’s palanquin was entering the grand path west of the imperial harem.
Seated atop the massive palanquin draped with golden curtains was Seomun Cheon, the Emperor of the Gyeong Empire. Glancing at Seomun Cheon, the concubines lost their minds.
Ah, Your Majesty…
You are as beautiful as ever today!
His face, visible even beyond the ceremonial bead-curtained crown, was flawless like a refined blade. Though he had a cold impression, it could not hide his beauty, making the concubines sigh with yearning.
If only I could be held in those arms just once!
That was the wish of most concubines, but Seomun Cheon had no intention of fulfilling it.
Nothing special today either.
His cool gaze swept over the concubines’ faces without emotion. His dark eyes seemed filled with deep thought, yet at times they flashed sharply like tiger’s eye gemstones.
Visiting the imperial harem was a monthly ritual he had to perform, but…
Seomun Cheon tapped the armrest, clearly displeased. Looking at the concubines gathered in droves along the roadside, a sigh escaped him naturally.
“Head Eunuch. It seems there are even more concubines than last time.”
“That is because there is no Empress, and since Your Majesty does not sleep with anyone, all sorts of prestigious families keep sending people in.”
What a mouth on him for speaking the truth. Seomun Cheon glared resentfully at the Head Eunuch and rested his chin on his hand.
Tiring.
Just looking at the densely packed crowd brought on a wave of fatigue.
And understandably so, for he was the Emperor appearing after a whole month. Because of that, all the concubines had rushed out in droves in hopes of catching the Emperor’s eye and receiving his favor.
At this rate, if I come after a year, even those confined to the Cold Palace will burst out.
However, no matter how exquisitely the concubines dressed, Seomun Cheon felt no spark. Wrapping themselves in silk was all the same…
Huh?
Surrounded by the flower-like, glamorous concubines, a dark figure of a man was squeezed in.
Draped in ill-fitting light pink silk, the man was smiling as if pleading for attention. Seomun Cheon knew very well who that man was.
“Is that not the son of the Vice Minister of the Secretariat?”
“Yes. It is Concubine Song.”
The Vice Minister of the Secretariat belonged to a family that was practically an enemy to the imperial house. Tsking, Seomun Cheon observed Song Won-kyung. Despite the heavy powder, his neat, thick eyebrows and slender face made him look handsome at a glance.
“What a pity. Entering the harem with a face like that…”
Just then, Song Won-kyung subtly raised his head and began throwing winks at Seomun Cheon!
Ugh!
In an instant, Seomun Cheon caught his breath and clutched his chest.
Even though Seomun Cheon’s face should not have been visible behind the curtain, Song Won-kyung did not stop and zealously blinked his eyes. Faced with such an aggressive courtship display, Seomun Cheon quietly bit his lip.
“…Every time I see him, I find him thoroughly eye-searing.”
Though he had never truly fallen for anyone, Seomun Cheon leaned toward women.
That preference had never changed throughout his life. A woman with a cool gaze who looked delicate and filled with sorrow—that was Seomun Cheon’s taste.
In other words, even if a man with that kind of appearance came along, he would hesitate over whether to take him in or not. Yet Song Won-kyung was ardently courting him in the posture of a wooden mannequin wrapped in silk…!
“…I take back calling it a pity.”
“H-His taste is quite extraordinary for a man.”
Even the Head Eunuch, who had seen countless people in his lifetime, was breaking out in a cold sweat. Song Won-kyung’s attire was just that destructive.
To think he was acting coy as if he were a flower himself among those beautiful concubines!
“That man lives a pitiful life as well. To be born a man only to become a man’s concubine. He won’t be able to embrace a woman for the rest of his life.”
“What can be done? The marriages of children born into powerful families depend on the will of the clan.”
Furthermore, the husband-to-be was a man who wouldn’t even dream of male affections. This was the most fatal miscalculation for Song Won-kyung, a male concubine.
Of course, that was Song Won-kyung’s circumstance and not something the Emperor, Seomun Cheon, needed to care about.
“Head Eunuch. I am tired. Let us hurry.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s slow-moving palanquin began to make a swift exit down the path.
When the palanquin had moved so far away that it looked like a mere yellow dot, the concubines raised their heads and voiced their regret.
Beauty Sa also stamped her feet in frustration.
“I thought I could catch His Majesty’s eye today of all days. Concubine Song is… Concubine Song?”
Looking back, Song Won-kyung was gone. At the very front row, there was only an empty spot precisely the size of where Song Won-kyung had been standing.
Just as Beauty Sa was looking around, Song Won-kyung had already returned to his quarters.
Rather, the moment the Emperor left the grand path, he had run away without looking back.
His stride was bold and energetic, entirely different from the subtle, short steps he had taken while waiting for Seomun Cheon. At a glance, it almost looked mixed with the footwork of a martial artist.
“Guys. I’m back.”
Announcing his return, Song Won-kyung hurried into his quarters whether his maidservants came out or not.
After stepping inside, he soaked a pre-prepared piece of unbleached cotton in water and vigorously scrubbed his face.
Once the makeup powder was washed away, his face was slightly tanned in a manly way, calm and neat. When he stopped pulling frivolous coy smiles, his clear, deep black eyes were vividly revealed.
Phew. Now I can finally breathe.
His voice was also a pleasant, natural low tone, completely unlike the delicate, artificial voice he had been putting on. Tossing the cotton cloth carelessly into the basin, Song Won-kyung lay flat on the bed.
With this, I’ll be out of the Emperor’s sight for a while.
His work for this month was done. Song Won-kyung let out a refreshed sigh, then ripped off the layers of fabric wrapped around his body.
“What kind of clothing fabric is weaker than a cicada’s wing?”
To think he had to spend good money to buy stuff like this.
As he recklessly tore away the cloth, a sense of injustice surged within him.
Originally, he wouldn’t even have had to wear such fabric. Song Won-kyung had wanted to join the army.
If only that Emperor guy hadn’t kept our family in check…
What Seomun Cheon hadn’t expected was that Song Won-kyung wasn’t particularly fond of his husband either.
Sigh. How did my life end up like this?
Song Won-kyung let out a deep sigh.
There was a bit of a story behind why he became a concubine and had to act coy in a way that defied his very nature.
The ‘Merchant House of Song’ was a family that carried quite a reputation within the Gyeong Empire.
Having built its foundation on salt and rice, the Merchant House of Song had been quite wealthy for generations. At some point, its descendants began entering public office, pulling and pushing each other along, making their path smooth sailing itself.
The problem began two generations ago—specifically, when Song Won-kyung’s grandfather caused a massive incident.
“We have no money? Father, surely you misspoke?”
However, Song Won-mun, Song Won-kyung’s father and the culprit who dropped this bolt out of the blue, merely let out heavy sighs.
“To tell you the truth, on our way transporting rice this time, it was confiscated by the government office.”
“No, why on earth would the government office confiscate it? It’s not like we’ve been in business for just a year or two, so why so suddenly?”
“They are likely keeping an eye on the Imperial Court’s stance… So, Won-kyung.”
Song Won-mun looked back and forth between the ground and his son, sighed, and quietly brought up the main topic.
“How would you feel about becoming His Majesty’s concubine?”
“…Pardon?”
What kind of ridiculous nonsense was this out of nowhere?
