"Ohh, so exciting I didn't know the Emperor could lose his temper like this." Bogsu suddenly said from the entrance of the courtroom, Han Jisung hearing her voice loosened his grip on Chen Jihyun throwing him causally to the ground as Chen Jihyun realized fits of cough trying to catch his breath.
"Why did you stop? don't mind me i'm just an onlooker." Bogsu added taking her seat on the chairs that were arranged beside each pillars in the court room reserved for special occasions.
Han Jisung decided to ignore her because he was getting used to her usual behaviour.
"Eunuch Chen, you seemed to have grown a lot of wings lately, firstly, you dare tell an outsider something that was shared within the court, and then you question me so boldly why you were dragged in here. Such guts! " Han Jisung snickered.
"A lot of guts I tell you." Bogsu commented enjoying the show as she leaned on the tea table before her eagerly to see what happens next.
"Apart from being an Eunuch, I am also your brother. I don't see why I should be treated like this it is unacceptable." Chen Jihyun yelled angrily holding unto his throat that had been choked earlier.
"Yeah very unacceptable." Bogsu said turning her head to look at Han Jisung expecting his comeback.
The ministers looked on worriedly thinking they should not be there as it was the Emperor's family issue, but Bogsu interference and reaction made them expectant to see what will happen next.
"If not for the pity I had for you, you would be no where now." Han Jisung angrily said storming off the court room after gaining a little bit of rationality that family matters should be kept hidden from the court.
"You really should go apologize Chen Chen you did wrong this time around,who knows he might get angry and just replace you and that would be bad for us all." Bogsu stated trying to provoke Chen Jihyun.
Chen Jihyun glared heavily at Bogsu feeling like driving a dagger into her chest, how dare she provoke him, not wanting to react after enraging Han Jisung, Chen Jihyun also left angrily.
"So we are all alone now, what do you suggest we do." Bogsu said turning to the ministers that looked at her weirdly at her front as they longer faced the Throne but the tea table she leaned on.
With the fear of her being the lady in red the ministers looked for excuses to disperse, trying to avoid any interaction with her for the fair of provoking her.
''Ahhh, guess i'm all alone again." Bogsu exclaimed looking at the now empty court room that was exquisite in nature.
"hehehehe, good thing I brought my wine with me." Bogsu chuckled and took out a tiny bottle from her clothes and opened the lid happily to drink the content.
"I thought my Father forbade you from drinking in palace grounds." Han Jiwoo said with a tinge of pride.
He stood at the doorway, rushing here hearing the commotion that happened, hoping to look for a way to help his father and make him look good in his eyes but unfortunately he was too late.
"Who is going to report to his Majesty, me or you?" Bogsu replied raising an eyebrow at Han Jiwoo as if asking him to dare.
Han Jiwoo secretly balled his fists at the challenge because he knew that the consequence would be too great for him to bare.
"You know, you are a quite handsome boy if you're not so stupid." Bogsu said bluntly.
"I'm not stupid, it's you and your family that are delinquents." Han jiwoo yelled angrily, he couldn't take any more insults from this girl, Lady in red or not she has to leave.
"I wouldn't go there if I were you, I would remember last time you got me pissed off." Bogsu said reminding him of the battle that ensued between them last time.
Recollecting his failure in the battle Han Jiwoo entire face flushed red and he turned around leaving Bogsu alone once again.
"Aww, and he didn't even stay for some tea." Bogsu pouted sadly before sighing then standing up she adjusted her robes and left the court room to the awe of the servants that hid in the corner surprised at her fearlessness, well she wasn't called the Lady in red for nothing.
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Chen Jihyun hurried down the stairs of the palace entrance hurriedly.
Han Jisung was his brother alright but not his biological brother, before the late Emperor and Empress had a child was taking too long and the country were impatient for a heir, as they were afraid that another country would take that as a weakness and attack the Chi nation.
So under the persuasion of his people, the Late Emperor announced to the people that the Empress his wife had conceived, he hid her away for nine months before taking a new born baby which was Chen Jihyun as his son.
When in actual fact Chen Jihyun was just the child of a maid in the palace that conceived at that time and since she didn't have enough money to take care of her child she decided to offer him to the Emperor and Empress instead.
That was how Chen Jihyun became the crowned prince, he enjoyed a blissful life with hopes the throne was for him until Han Jisung came along.
The Emperor and Empress didn't maltreat Chen Jihyun at all but treated him nicely, but blood is always thicker than water at the end the throne was given to Han Jisung and that was when the cold war between brothers started.
Actually it was a one sided war as it was only Chen Jihyun that fought it alone, Han Jisung has always turned a blind eye to his schemes apart from today.
This fact made him realize there was a sort of connection between Han Jisung and Bogsu, from hiring her out the blue to protecting her today something is definitely fishy.
Am back..... Went to write an important exam.
Important detail going to be revealed next if y'all spoil me with power stones.
Chen Jihyun originally planned on going to Song Minhyun chambers from the palace but changed his mind, because he knew it might arouse suspicion, it was better to send a message through a pigeon instead.
While Chen Jihyun was fuming in anger, Han Jisung sat on his bed with his head in his hands.
What happened in the court today hasn't happened in years after the war where he had gone berserk, what was wrong with him he wondered.
"Your Majesty, may I come in?" A steward voice sounded from outside the chamber.
Han Jisung raised his head to see a familiar silhouette standing outside the door, "Come in." Han Jisung responded recognizing the silhouette to be his steward's own.
"Your Majesty, report came from the town, a lady wearing red was spotted in the town square riding a white tiger, the villagers are really frightened by it, they plead on his Majesty to offer a sacrifice to the gods to appease them so the lady won't come back, they referred to her as a grim reaper." The steward reported with his head bowed throughout.
Han Jisung felt his head ache even more, he had accepted the lady because of her talents and yet she keeps causing him one trouble after the other.
This was worse than when she was just the lady in red, Han Jisung opened his mouth to say something but closed them back, he didn't know why, the girl reminded of something he couldn't place his finger on and whenever he thinks of setting up a punishment for her there is a tug in his heart that prevents him from doing so.
"Your Majesty, If I may speak." The steward asked calmly, while Han Jisung waved his hands giving him the permission to do so.
"Why don't his Majesty remove Bogsu from her title and ambush her unexpectedly to eliminate her as you have always wanted." The steward said as he clasped his hands together bowing.
Han Jisung on hearing the word eliminate his gaze great colder than it has ever been, the steward felt the room temperature drop as a glare shot directly at him.
Han Jisung didn't know what was wrong with him, why did he have the urge to protect that brat of all people.
"You may leave." Han Jisung ordered not replying to his suggestion nor paying him any heed as he was afraid he would lose control of himself again.
The steward left the chamber, gently closing the door behind him as he nodded at the guards that were at the entrance before heading out.
The steward covered his face discreetly moving through the peach blossom trees that stood tall in the side walks of the stony part.
After making sure no one was paying attention he diverted his direction to Chen Jihyun chambers.
The steward hurriedly knocked on Chen Jihyun door with the fear that if anyone see him they may report to the Emperor and he might be killed for disloyalty.
Chen Jihyun opened the door and dragged the steward into the chamber immediately causing him to stumble, "what was his reaction?" Chen Jihyun asked impatiently.
The steward adjusted himself, slightly dissatisfied with the sudden pull.
"You may be right Eunuch Chen, they might have a special relationship, the Emperor refused to consent to my idea." The steward finally said.
"I knew it." Chen Jihyun muttered and in turn pulled out a small sack from underneath a tea table beside his bed, their was sound of metal clashing each other indicating that the sack contained coins inside them.
Chen Jihyun handed over the coins to the steward who in turn nodded and left his chambers.
This was how it has been in for years, the steward by the Emperor side, was a spy that worked with him, he also helped in the distraction of the Emperor when the murder of the Empress happened 20 years ago.
Chen Jihyun paced the room in panic as he pondered on the news, what sort of relationship did Bogsu have with the Emperor and how could he inform Song Minhyun about it.
Chen Jihyun knew Han Jisung very well and was sure by now guards would be appointed to watch his every move.
Even if he managed to send a letter, they may hit the bird down to find the contents and it would produce a bad result if the Emperor knew about he and Song Minhyun.
At last, Chen Jihyun decided to use a coded language to send the message, he really hoped that Song Minhyun was not that dumb to decipher it.
___________________
"Mother, Bogsu has got to go." Han Jiwoo muttered angrily, he had gone to Song Minhyun chambers to pour his heart out to his mother as she may be only one to help him out with his quest.
"So why are you telling me all this, if not for your incompetence she would have been long gone, I can't still believe you lost to a fight with a woman and you are lucky am not pursuing the matter all else it is another story you would be saying now." Song Minhyun said irritatedly looking at Han jiwoo before standing up her chair to enter into her inner chambers closing the door tight, not bothering to spare Han Jiwoo a single glance.
Han jiwoo clenched his fists tightly with his fingers piercing deep into the cut that was previously on his hands, reopening the wound again making blood drip onto the sparkling brown floor.
His mother was always like this, no matter how hard he tried, Han jiwoo has never been able to meet up to her expectations and he had tried everything he could and yet still not a single ounce of motherly love was showed to him expect in front of his father.
Then Bogsu came and he lost to her in that fight, which made his mother anger towards him increase further as he made her lose face.
"Bogsu." Han Jiwoo said through gritted teeth and a murderous glint in his eyes, he would surely collect the debt she owed him and equally return back all the insults, just she wait and see.
I just think Han Jiwoo is deceiving himself.
Beside why do you think Song Minhyun hate her son so much.
I didn't tell the secret, didn't see any power stone so am gonna keep it to my self for now (π π).