FIB Ch 16 part 2

PR by neji

“Park Yoon, receive the imperial edict!”

As soon as the doors opened, an imperial soldier grabbed Yoon before anyone could react to his presence.

“Park Yoon has offended His Imperial Highness with violent language. His Highness will personally interrogate you for your crimes, so obediently come back with us as a criminal!”

“Husband!”

Yoon’s startled wife came outside, but Yoon remained calm as he was taken away. After the sickly Emperor had collapsed, JaeHoon had become the master of SeoMoon.

‘Is it finally time to make a move?’

Although the air was incredibly tense, Yoon sneered as the soldiers oppressed him.

As a pretext of reclaiming the glory that once belonged to the throne, JaeHoon was collecting all the wealth and military power of scholars and warriors alike. However, because Yoon was a soldier who worked closely with Heon, it would be impossible to escape JaeHoon’s wrath.

A Crown Prince who had not even ascended the throne was acting as the emperor. The more he thought about it, the more laughable it was.

“Send someone to the Chief Commander. He’ll know what’s going on if you send him a brief message.”

Yoon’s wife nodded at his request.

JaeHoon was taking the men under Heon as hostages. Although Yoon didn’t know what he was trying to accomplish by isolating Heon in this way, ultimately, the one who could fix this was not JaeHoon. It was Heon.

As long as it was Heon, Yoon would follow his command with a smile on his face. If he was told to wait, Heon would move. And Yoon would follow his lead.

* * *

Once all those who were close to Heon had been captured, JaeHoon called Heon to the Palace. Everyone around Heon warned him not to go, but MoonWon silently helped him prepare for his trip.

Because MoonWon supported him by his side, he felt like he could still endure.

“Please enter, Chief Commander.”

The doors opened, and Heon entered the Emperor’s study and bowed. JaeHoon had not had a coronation, but he was acting as if he was the emperor. He was not wearing the golden imperial robes, but everyone treated JaeHoon as if he were.

“You’ve come?”

JaeHoon raised his hand, and his attendants quickly removed the pile of documents from the table. The doors opened and a group of eunuchs entered with a table full of liquor and snacks. They placed it down between Heon and JaeHoon.

“Come closer, Chief Commander.”

Heon straightened up and sat down across from JaeHoon. JaeHoon filled his cup as well as Heon’s before drinking his liquor in gulp.

Heon gazed at his full cup of liquor. The expression on his face did not change. As if offended by this fact, JaeHoon’s lips curled into a sneer.

“What is it? Are you worried I poisoned it?”

“What right do I have to drink liquor in front of you, Your Highness?”

“You’re the same as ever, rejecting me like this.”

Despite JaeHoon’s taunt, Heon did not move a muscle.

Because he was the trustworthy Chief Commander.

Because he was the son of Consort Yu.

Because he was MoonWon’s husband.

JaeHoon was insanely angry with Heon and hated him to death.

“In the past, we did not have such a bad relationship.”

“This servant still believes that is the case, Your Highness.”

“If it wasn’t for MoonWon, we may still be enjoying such a friendship.”

JaeHoon filled his empty cup and drank it down once again.

Despite the strong liquor, he did not seem intoxicated.

Even though he had done his best to run this far to the point of exhaustion, no one acknowledged him. Even though he was living in such pain, why was Heon the one who obtained everything without much effort? 

This was truly a wrong that must be undone.

“You will now know why I want MoonWon as much as I do. SeoMoon’s imperial family needs her.”

“Don’t you mean you are the one who needs her, Your Highness? Not the imperial family.”

This was the best Heon could do in a situation where all of his closest men had been incarcerated. Even though Heon knew this, he did not bow down to JaeHoon and beg him to spare all of their lives. He even behaved haughtily and demanded answers from JaeHoon.

“I will give you one last chance.”

“What chance are you speaking of?”

“The last chance for you to save the lives of all those who follow you.”

“……”

“There’s no reason why you cannot do the same thing your father did. If you just make this sacrifice for the greater good, you may find that our relationship will return to the way it was before. No, maybe even better.”

As he thought about the bamboo grove, about his father, and about MoonWon, Heon’s patience finally reached its limit.

What kind of greater good was he talking about?

The country that killed his father was now asking him to make a sacrifice. In return for letting go of MoonWon, JaeHoon was offering his trust and power. If that was the bargaining chip in JaeHoon’s hand, it was worthless to Heon.

Heon suppressed the boiling rage within him and held back the urge to kick the table and stand up.

“What will Your Highness do if I reject your offer?”

“I’ve declared war on Ju, so I will send you to lead the frontlines of battle.”

They had no chance of winning against Ju. Doyoon had stabilized his power internally and had gained combat experience during his occupations of the small and large nations around him. SeoMoon would only have had a few months to prepare, and they would not stand a chance against Ju now.

On paper, Heon would be deployed into battle. In actuality, JaeHoon was sending Heon to his death.

No matter what Heon decided to do, he would die.

“Your Highness’s wish is to create a strong SeoMoon, and this servant’s wish is to lead a peaceful life. The only one who can fulfill both of our wishes is MoonWon.”

He didn’t need a mountain of treasures or the power to move nations.

He only needed someone to be by his side and take his hand whenever he needed help.

“Please let go of my men. We will head for Ju.”

Crash.

JaeHoon threw the liquor bottle against the wall, and the sharp clang resonated in the air.

JaeHoon panted with rage as his body trembled, but Heon merely stood up before bowing to JaeHoon.

“If you cannot win the war against Ju, then there is no need for you to return.”

JaeHoon basically told Heon to die. His snicker turned into a booming cackle. Heon turned his back on the sound of JaeHoon’s laughter and exited the study.

JaeHoon was acting as if he’d become the emperor. He was going to kill Heon and take MoonWon. If Heon wanted to stop JaeHoon from fulfilling his wish… If he wanted to protect his first and final wish…

Heon’s steps were heavy as he returned home.

* * *

After Heon had left for the capital, MoonWon began to go through all the household expenditures with the help of Yusun. As she looked through the lists one by one, the amount of work that needed to be done grew even more overwhelming.

“Prepare to move?”

The usually calm Yusun spoke in a shaky voice.

MoonWon gave her an apologetic smile.

“I’m sure nothing will happen right away, but it doesn’t seem like things are going to get any better. I think we should be prepared just in case. We should pack some food and daily necessities for now. Although the winter is almost over, it’s still cold outside, so don’t you think we should prepare for that as well?”

After she had purchased the cheap cotton at Yeon, she paid the villagers of nearby towns to sew some new clothes.

While it could be seen as trivial work, the village farmers were grateful for the extra pay during the fallow period of the year, and the bamboo grove was able to have some extra help. It benefitted the both of them.

It had been an especially cold winter, but thanks to the plethora of warm clothes, she had been able to share them with the servants, and the winter passed without any trouble.

“I truly hope I’m wrong. I hope it just passes by like the wind.”

When she heard MoonWon’s murmur, Yusun lowered her eyes. Unless one was a fool, one could not ignore the tense air of the bamboo grove.

If the war was not won, the clan could be wiped out. Although no one dared to say the words aloud, they were all uneasy.

“Ah.”

As she looked through the document, MoonWon grimaced and gripped her forehead. Yusun approached her.

“Maybe we should stop here for now.”

“I’m feeling a bit dizzy, that’s all.”

“Yeori told me that you had a difficult time getting up this morning as well. Let me call for a doctor and have him make you a tonic.”

She knew she needed to stay vigilant, but she couldn’t help but start to relax. However, the more she relaxed, the slower her body seemed to move. Even though Heon wasn’t around to protect her, she slept more often these days. Whenever she fell asleep, her eyes would not open until the following sunrise. She would ask Yeori to wake her up, but even when Yeori shook her shoulders, her eyes would not open.

Although she continued to tell herself that she shouldn’t be acting like this, her body continued to feel heavier and heavier.

“It’s probably because I’ve been worried for the past few days. Let’s just let it pass quietly.”

The bamboo grove was already turned upside-down due to the situation with Heon. She didn’t want to add to the chaos.

Until Heon’s return, the best thing she could do was to hold down the fort at the bamboo grove.

“But…”

“Mistress, the Master has arrived.”

The exhaustion immediately left her face. The frown went away, and MoonWon grasped her skirts and raced out the door.

When MoonWon saw Heon, she held back her tears.

She tamped down her overflowing emotions and tried to greet Heon in a calm voice.

However, possibly due to her exhausted body, she could not control her emotions. She wanted to happily welcome Heon home, but the words would not leave her mouth.

“Come closer.”

Before Heon could finish speaking, MoonWon flew into his arms.

Heon’s stiff face finally seemed to relax. He had been feeling apprehensive ever since he had left the capital, but he tried to hide it.

He wanted to show MoonWon only the good things. Just like how he felt peaceful when she was by his side, he wanted her to feel peace with him as well.

“Welcome back.”

After MoonWon composed herself, she whispered a greeting.

MoonWon buried her face against his clothes, and he could feel that they had grown damp, but the only one she ever showed any weakness to was him.

“I think I’ll be deployed for battle.”

“Ah…”

MoonWon lifted her face out of his embrace. Her eyes reddened. Even though Heon did not say anything else, she knew what he meant. This was all because she had not ended things cleanly with JaeHoon. However, instead of saying this thought aloud, she buried them deep in her heart.

Her self-blame would not make anything better.

“I’ll help you prepare.”

She tried to regain control of her emotions, but the tears continued to flow out. She didn’t know why she was acting like this these days.

“I didn’t want to cry…”

Her tears wouldn’t help anyone in this situation. MoonWon buried her face back into Heon’s embrace to hide her tears, and Heon’s hand began to stroke her back.

This wasn’t his or MoonWon’s fault.

It just meant that things hadn’t gone their way.

“Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried. But the tears keep coming out.”

She had only wanted to live her life with Heon. But fulfilling that small wish was such a difficult task for them.

“I’ll calm down soon.”

Although she could not take on all of Heon’s burdens, she didn’t want to become one of them. Instead of apologizing, MoonWon tightened her arms around Heon.

As Heon’s body began to warm her own, she felt some of the anxiety slip away.

Right now, her task was not to worry about what was to come. Instead, she needed to soothe Heon, who had just returned from a difficult journey.

“Welcome home.”

* * *

Heon received MoonWon’s assistance and plunged his body into the warm waters of the bath. The day’s exhaustion seemed to melt away.

When he buried himself inside MoonWon’s soft body, he left himself at the mercy of her warmth. Their gentle intercourse gradually turned rough, and another round of fierce lovemaking had finally come to an end. Heon pulled MoonWon into his arms.

He placed his chin on top of her black hair and let out a satisfied sigh.

“Husband.”

“Mm?”

“If you were not a soldier, what do you think you would have been?”

Heon began to ponder MoonWon’s question and became lost in thought. He had never thought of such a thing before.

“I’m not sure. What about you?”

He liked to read, but he didn’t think anything would have come of it.

“Actually, I’m not sure either.”

MoonWon lowered her eyes. Despite having asked the question, she didn’t know the answer herself. She slowly stroked Heon’s arm that was wound around her hips.

He had never wanted anything, yet his life was still gruesome and fierce.

“But I’d like our child to do what they want.”

“Our child?”

“Of course, there isn’t one right now. But sometimes, the thought comes to me.”

“Mm.”

If it was his and MoonWon’s child, he’d do whatever he could to support them.

They’d have a child, and they’d become a family.

Although it sounded exciting, he couldn’t truly believe it.

“I’d like it if we only have one child.”

When she heard Heon’s statement, MoonWon lifted her head off of Heon’s chest.

Although Heon was sorry for the child that was to come, in Heon’s life, MoonWon was the only one.

MoonWon might be disappointed, but if a child would become a burden to her, Heon didn’t want one.

“Others say that it is best to have many sons to secure the strength of the clan. Why would you only want one?”

“I heard that it’s difficult to raise a child. Even if I were to help, in the end, you’ll be the one who does a lot of the work.”

Heon’s voice grew gruff towards the end.

In a society where the woman was in charge of infant care, how many men would say something like this?

However, it would be hard on MoonWon, so Heon only wanted one. MoonWon’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Stop making me cry like this.”

Heon carefully wiped away the tears from MoonWon’s eyes. He felt that MoonWon must have had a difficult time while he was away. She cried so often lately.

He had hoped that things would pass uneventfully this time. He wanted her to relax now and laugh more.

“I…”

Heon whispered a confession, and MoonWon’s eyes widened.

Heon finally opened his heart and revealed his decision to MoonWon for the first time.

Her trembling heart finally calmed, and her damp eyes softened.

Heon had only one wish, but that did not mean he had forgotten MoonWon’s.

“I will do as you say, Husband.”

“It will be very difficult for you.”

“If I need to do it in order to be with you, I will always be able to endure it.”

As if she were telling him that he had not made the wrong choice, MoonWon vowed to follow his decision.

His lovely, precious wife.

Heon buried himself into her embrace and let out a satisfied sigh.

* * *

When the date of his deployment had been announced, the bamboo grove became lively as they prepared.

There were more days when she couldn’t see Heon than days she could, but MoonWon did not feel nervous. Because she was busy with managing the bamboo grove and helping Heon prepare, she didn’t have time to think.

However, her exhaustion did not seem to go away.

In the end, she had not been able to win over Yusun, and she quietly called for a doctor for a diagnosis.

“R-Really?”

She felt like she was in a dream. Maybe she truly was dreaming. When she asked again in disbelief, the doctor smiled.

“The fetus is not yet secure in the womb, so you must be careful at this time. I offer you my congratulations, Mistress.”

“Congratulations, Mistress!”

“I was too reckless, Mistress. I should have called for the doctor sooner!”

Despite Yeori and Yusun’s exclamations, MoonWon was still at a loss for words. Her head remained blank. She awkwardly brought her hand to her stomach.

She had wanted a child. But she never expected it to happen so suddenly.

Her and Heon’s child.

She thought it would be happy news, but now that it was here, she wasn’t sure how to react. 

“I thought you were feeling tired these days, but who knew it could be due to such happy news? The Master will be so happy. Again, I offer you my deepest congratulations, Mistress!”

When she heard that Heon would be happy to hear the news, tears began to fill MoonWon’s eyes. Was this all because she was with child?

Even though she rarely cried despite the hardest of times, the tears seemed to come out at the drop of a hat these days.

“Once I tell the Master, I will prepare a tonic for you, Mistress. Your body will feel heavy, so please rest and be careful.”

When she heard that the doctor would tell Heon, MoonWon returned to her senses.

She knew Heon would be glad to hear the news of their child.

However, now was not the time. He was about to be deployed for battle, and if he heard that MoonWon was with child, the news would be an even greater burden he had to carry.

How nice would it have been if he didn’t have to go to Ju for battle right now?

“I will make one request. Don’t tell the Master.”

“Mistress!”

“Yeori and Yusun, you will also have to keep quiet.”

“But how can we hide such a happy occasion from the Master?”

“Wouldn’t this merely be a burden to someone who is about to be deployed?”

Last night, Heon had revealed his plans to MoonWon.

She could not let herself, let alone her child, become a burden to him.

“I won’t hide it forever. I just want it to stay quiet until he is actually deployed.”

She was so sorry for the child in her womb, but she could not feel happy just yet.

He told her he wanted a child, but that if they had one now, it would be too hard on her. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him. She was indescribably grateful for this precious child, but she didn’t want to add onto Heon’s burdens.

“In return, I will be careful. So please keep this a secret for the time being.”

Heon wanted a quiet and peaceful life. And that was what MoonWon wanted as well.

Just as MoonWon worried for Heon, Heon was worried about her.

‘Child, I’m sorry.’

She could clearly see Heon’s excited face when she told him the news, but MoonWon did her best to suppress the urge.

* * *

“Master, they said that this is the response to what you sent out last time.”

Heon watched as Junghwan placed the box down. He waved his hand, asking Junghwan to leave him alone. After Junghwan was gone, Heon opened the lid.

The broken sword that Heon had sent out had returned in one piece.

“Is he telling me not to jump to conclusions?”

Even if he ended up going over to Ju, he would not hold a sword ever again.

By testing Doyoon’s wish to keep him as a general of Ju, Heon also declared his decision. Even though it would make Doyoon uncomfortable, Doyoon’s response was very like him.

A sword could be broken, but it could also be fixed.

Doyoon could be trying to sway Heon’s final decision. Or he could be making fun of it.

“Huu.”

Heon finally let out the breath he had been holding in.

As soon as Heon had given JaeHoon his answer, he had let go of Heon’s captured men. Without taking into account the amount of preparation that would be needed, he decided on the deployment date.

Last night, when MoonWon heard his decision, she was neither surprised nor trying to make him change his mind.

Although the decision could bring them great suffering and pain, she said she’d stay with him and reassured him.

This decision could be a poison or make their lives harder from now on. 

However…

“Master, someone from the Palace has arrived.”

If a person who was a danger to the both of them was going to become the emperor…

If the person who would always serve to be a burden to their lives was still alive underneath the same sky…

To Heon, his country or power meant nothing.

The woman who would always stay by his side was his world.

* * *

Heon’s eyes burned with rage as he glared at the government official who had come with an imperial order.

Did he hear this correctly? He grew suspicious of his ears, but the official continued to read the document in a steady voice.

“We will escort the lady back to the Palace.”

“Who will take her out of this bamboo grove?”

Everyone, including the government official, began to tremble in fear. When he saw that MoonWon was struggling by his side, his murderous aura lessened somewhat, but Heon’s eyes showed that he was a hair’s breadth away from slitting the official’s throat.

I will keep MoonWon as well as the rest of the bamboo grove at the Palace.

It was under the guise that the women and children would be under the protection of the Imperial Palace while he was out at war.

Basically, it meant that Heon would not be able to properly focus on the war while he was away.

He had to send MoonWon to JaeHoon.

It could not happen. It must not happen.

“Even though the bamboo grove is close to the border with Ju, the battle has not started. There is no need for my clan or my wife to be under the protection of His Highness. She will be sufficiently protected here, so go back.”

Heon did his best to remain cordial, but JaeHoon ignored it.

“Chief Commander, my family is also at the Palace.”

“……”

“Please save us.”

The official murmured as he lowered his head.

JaeHoon’s selfish indecisiveness had disappeared, and his true intentions and cunning nature had finally come out. Wasn’t keeping someone’s family hostage the best way to force their obedience?

“The order continues and says that if the lady does not come, it will be taken as treason.”

Heon suppressed the rage that threatened to boil over. No other country would use a general’s family to force him to go to war. Did he not consider the backlash that would come from such a despicable action?

However, JaeHoon was obsessed with having Heon’s wife.

“Never…”

“Please give us some time.”

MoonWon grabbed Heon’s arm. Heon’s body trembled with rage, but MoonWon was trembling in fear.

However, her eyes were calm.

“Husband, let’s talk first.”

“……”

He would not be satisfied with merely slitting their throats and sending them back to JaeHoon. However, MoonWon’s voice seemed to momentarily soothe his anger.

MoonWon saw the true emotion behind Heon’s rage once before.

Back underneath the pouring rain, when he had begged her not to leave him and she had told him to die, she had seen the same terrified look in his eyes.

“Husband, wait.”

She’d rather die than go to JaeHoon. However, she did not want their wish to become a burden to them moving forward.

“Huu.”

Letting out a tired sigh, Heon calmed down. MoonWon did her best to smile.

Heon glanced back at the bowing official and turned around. MoonWon shook her head at Junghwan, who was behind Heon, and followed after him.

“There will never be a reason for you to go to the Palace.”

As soon as they entered the room, Heon began to reassure MoonWon. MoonWon gazed at him and did her best to stay calm.

Although she was scared and didn’t want to do this, the one who would make the final decision was her.

“I need to go.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. That will never happen.”

“Then are we going to collapse here without even having tried? We haven’t gained anything yet.”

They had only wanted to live each passing day taking care of each other.

She had a feeling that it wouldn’t be long before this dream came true. If it was for the sake of their future, she could do anything.

MoonWon approached Heon and grabbed his hand. Although only a few months had passed since she’d grabbed his hand again, she had never once felt like she was having a difficult time.

“Yeori and Yusun will go with me, so I’m not worried. Hong-yeom will protect me, and there will be other ladies there, so it’ll be fine.”

Although she couldn’t tell him, she now had a child she needed to protect.

She would protect herself as well as their child. JaeHoon would get absolutely nothing from her.

This man, this child, and this life all belonged to her.

“I don’t care whether you win or lose the war with Ju.”

She didn’t care about SeoMoon’s future or her homeland. Heon was her world, and the only world that she could trust was the one where they were together.

“Just worry about yourself and return in one piece.”

When Heon did not respond, MoonWon wrapped her arms around his waist.

As if to memorize everything about him, MoonWon closed her eyes and basked in his warmth and drew in a deep breath to take in his smell. She had already endured his absence for three years. She could do it again for a few months.

“You must come back to get me.”

She did her best not to say ‘us’.

Although it was cold and difficult now, the warm spring would come soon.

“So please let me go for now.”

MoonWon had personally seen how conspiracies could bring about the collapse of a clan.

She could not merely watch as the clan Heon had worked so hard to protect was ruined.

“How can I…”

“I’ll be back soon.”

“…send you away.”

Heon hissed out in a heavy voice, and MoonWon lowered her eyes.

MoonWon left his arms and enclosed his cheek with her hand. Heon placed his hand on top of hers.

“Even if you don’t send me away, I’ll go.”

She would have to let go of Heon’s hand temporarily so that he could move without worrying about her or their child.

She gave him her brightest smile and gazed at him.

Seeing her like this, Heon could not go against her decision.

MoonWon climbed into the carriage that had been prepared by the Palace. Heon’s eyes never left her until the carriage disappeared into the distance.

And then Heon headed for Ju.