Capítulo 116: Chapter hundred and sixteen: Foxes

GONGJU PALACE(Princess's palace name)

Her eyes were fixed on the calm and adorable face of the sleeping child, her hands held unto hers firmly but not too tightly to avoid waking the little one. For the umpteenth time, she checked for bruises, scars or even tiniest of injury but none was found.

In a long while, she exhaled in relief and gratefulness. The child seemed to frown in her sleep which rattled her maternal instincts to protect. She will fight forces of the universe that dares hurt her child, even if they take the shape of a dream, she would appear there and conquer them.

The repercussion of staying too long on the same position seemed to tell on her, her weary waist seemed to stiffen while her spines ached so badly. She stretched up but the mighty weight of the phoenix crown seemed to weigh her down.

"Court lady Cha?". The said courtmaid ran out to kneel before her mistress, an attentive smile but concerned look on her face.

"Please, remove the crown".

Court lady Cha signaled with her eyes to other court ladies as they hurriedly strode to obey their mistress. Like uniformed working ants, the task was done so swiftly to the relief of the empress.

Once her burden left her, she felt more free. With grateful heart, she turned towards her best friend who stood uncomplaining in one corner.

"Myung OK, I owe you my life. Thanks for bringing my baby safely to my arms".

Myung OK smiled but rejected the compliment with the excuse she did nothing at all. The emperor who had sat on an armchair calming watching the maternal display suddenly whimpered.

"Hwanghu, I also went to save Nari. Don't I get to hear a compliment?".

Empress rolled her eyes at him and feigned anger. "If your palace was well protected and secured, would she had gone missing? If you had surrounded her palace with more guards, would she have been kidnapped?... Besides, if you don't save your own daughter, who will?".

The emperor felt he's suddenly gotten stupid for asking compliment from the empress. His big mouth is the victim.

"Hwanghu, forget I said anything. In fact, I accept all my faults and has no one to blame", but he saw Myung OK laughing at him and mouthed 'what?'.

"Forgive my intrusion your Majesty, but the empress is merely teasing you ". He looked back at the empress to find her holding back a laugh, her supposedly stone cold face seemed cracked as ray of warm smiles radiated from her face.

"OK, you got me. Thank you your royal Majesty for saving our nation's princess"

They all burst into laughter at his happy face which portrayed the happiness of a child. The sleeping child stirred at the noise which warranted the empress's admonishing gaze. All became quiet.

"Her royal Majesty, the empress dowager has arrived!".

The usual and customary announcement came from the door making all get their acts together. With the speed of light, empress phoenix crown somehow found itself on it's original position. The emperor got his dignity back as his majestic aura seemed to leak, his face so serious, same way that of a monarch looks. Myung OK didn't do much, she just straightened her back and bowed before the door waiting for the tigress arrival.

Like the appearance of an ancient queen whose embodiments comprised of only elegance, dignified aura and noble air, she arrived to a house full of people.

They said she went to the temple to pray for the granddaughter but her demeanor spoke of nothing of such, the only thing it spoke of was a regaled queen who looked unperturbed by anything.

She waltzed pass everyone as she went straight to the child. In a matter of few seconds and with one look, she was able to ascertain she was unharmed at least physically. She relieved a deep sigh and turned towards the crowd whose backs were almost breaking due to bowing down, except the emperor though.

"I knew Buddha would never allow my supplications to go to waste". She smiled cheerfully at the emperor and empress then nodded for the rest to rise.

"My son, I was told you went to get her yourself?"

"Myung OK was with me", he replied curtly.

She feigned not to have heard, "Remember you do not own yourself, you belong to the whole nation and should always be protected. I am happy things went well this time but what if things had gone south?".

He smiled mockingly at his mom. "Are you implying I should have let my child die because I'm the most precious being on earth?"

"That's not what I meant, my son. I'm simply saying your subordinates are there for a reason".

In a helpless anger and irritation, he asked her a question. "Did you see the letter?". She nodded.

"Did you read it's contents?", she nodded again. He smiled.

"I'm glad you have the ability to understand, and like I mentioned earlier, Physician Kim went with me".

"Really?", she said. "Then let's reward her with gifts. I'm sure she has a long list of desires for putting her precious life in danger", she said mockingly.

Myung OK fell down in supplication and begged to reject the offer as she was just being patriotic.

"Is it that the material rewards won't be gratifying enough as you want something bigger? Something you can only have in your dreams?"

"Your Majesty, I have no such dreams as am satisfied with what I have now", was Myung OK's quick defense.

"Really? Then swear all this wasn't done to seduce a man!", dowager accused mercilessly.

"Royal mother!".

Empress who had quietly watched the drama screamed out. She wouldn't have anyone insult her best friend's kind and compassionate heart, not even her favorite mother-in-law.

She stared angrily at all the attendants, a gaze they perfectly understood as they all filed out from the hall-like of a room.

"Royal mother, I asked Myung OK to go with him . No, I begged pitifully that she should bring back my child to me. I knew of the dangers as she was just a mere woman, yet I asked her to go. She knew it would be a dangerous mission but she went willingly for my child and my sake. So mother, if you can't be nice to her, at least speak nice words because she deserves it".

Dowager empress was yet to recover from the shock of being hushed down by the quiet and ever respectful empress when she heard the long sermon. As someone who has lived many years in the palace, she recovered quickly and smiled apologetically.

"Forgive me, Hwanghu. I am still shocked from the fact that I could have lost my only grandchild and my only son".

She turned to Myung OK with a lucid expression but her mind screamed 'Bitch! how did you turn them against me?'

"Physician Kim, forgive this old woman for spewing nonsense. I was just worried I would die without seeing my grandson". She walked closer to her and with a fake inquisitive expression she decided to drive an arrow inside her heart.

"You are said to be the best physician right, could you help to prepare the empress's womb for the coming of my grandson? The princess is of age now".

Myung OK smiled cheerfully at her and eagerly agreed to try her best much to her disappointment. Dowager tried to irk her more but didn't know her plans had been seen through by Myung OK.

"Can you also pick the best date to conceive a son? I would also consult the office of astronomy to pick their date too". Myung OK agreed readily silencing the oldie for the second time.

As her plan to stir out some emotions out of her failed, her face became sullen. Emperor's face was uglier as he just witnessed his beloved eagerly agreeing to pick out a date for him and another woman with an unperturbed face. Empress too was silent as she found herself in an awkward situation. How would she tell the dowager she's too weak to carry another child?

Grand empress dowager whom everyone seemed to forget due to her long seclusion and isolation suddenly popped in.

"What did I miss?", she asked in her ever sonorous and playful voice.

The solemn atmosphere seemed to break up as they said their customary greetings except the dowager who watched her like a prey.

"Here is too hot", she continued, "like a place that just witnessed a war. No wonder that Choi girl turned back without stepping in".

Dowager who swore to never talk to her had to talk finally. "Living so many years in the palace hasn't taught you to never to address a royal family member without their titles?"

"Who have I not addressed properly?" she mimicked her tone.

"Who are you calling Choi girl?"

"Oh, don't you know the Choi girl living in the Gongdang palace? The one who hasn't even consummated her marriage"

"Grand dowager! respect your old age", dowager screamed with bulging veins in her neck but got a fake confused expression from her.

"Stop carrying rumors and address her properly. She's a level two consort!"

"A concubine without a son with level two Suk'eui? no wonder I didn't know who she was".

"My child is sleeping, I suggest grandmother and the dowager empress go somewhere else and beef", the authoritative voice was so powerful they dared not disobey.

Grand dowager pouted her face and rushed towards him ."She always bully me". He patted her back gently then whispered so she could hear alone. "At least pretend you truly came to see the princess"... Oops!

Her old back stiffened a bit but she withdrew to the child's bed.

"Thank God", she said. Gently, she patted her back slowly to induce a deeper sleep. "So beautiful!", she whispered softly.

"It's time this child gets a little brother or sister", she said happily as she turned to gaze at him but discovered something else. Something so big.

Daejong who people said had no interest in women apart from the empress, was looking at a woman not the empress, and with the gaze of a man looking at his lover. What's happening?

Immediately, he turned to respond but the old woman was no longer interested in the conversation. She asked herself, are they about to welcome a new mistress, one appointed by Daejong himself?

She claimed weakness and immediately turned to leave but not without giving an interesting look at the fair pretty girl who seemed to hold the key to her future.

Afterwards, dowager left to attend to some matters. Empress whose face seemed to be losing color laid beside her daughter and begged all to leave.

Daejong and Myung OK left but not at the same time.

Once outside, Daejong told her to rest as they had used up their strength in running and would see her soon.