FIB Ch 6 part 1

PR by neji

“Mistress, will you be going today?”

Heon’s position and rank still remained the same, but something must have gone on behind closed doors inside the Palace because their plans to return to the bamboo grove had become postponed. This morning, MoonWon finished her breakfast alone as always and prepared to go out.

“We won’t have time tomorrow, so I will have to be diligent and go today.”

“We weren’t told exactly when we’d be leaving anyway. If we are to go and check all the things on the inventory list you wrote down, it’ll take us all day.”

“That’s why we should have an early start.”

Having changed into something that was easier to move around in, MoonWon adjusted her clothes. There was no need to look nice, but she was still Heon’s wife, so she needed to pay some attention to her attire.

Once she was done, MoonWon stepped outside. Yusun was waiting and bowed.

“Mistress, will you be okay going alone? Shouldn’t I go with you?”

MoonWon only planned on taking Yeori and a few servants who could carry everything back with them. When Yusun had heard this, her complexion grew dark.

On that rainy day, she was sure that Heon and MoonWon’s relationship had progressed.

Before the sun rose in the morning, Heon exited her room. Although he said that nothing had happened, the glow in MoonWon’s face didn’t go away. Now that they were at the peak of their relationship, if something happened to MoonWon while she was out alone, Yusun was afraid of how Heon would react. Yusun’s eyes grew dark.

“I’m going to tell them to deliver the heavy things back here. Who else could receive them if not you, Yusun? You should stay here. And I won’t be taking any unfamiliar roads, so I’ll be fine.”

MoonWon smiled when she saw Yusun’s worried face. She would only be out for half the day. And since this was the first thing she had prepared on her own, it was only proper for her to take care of it as the mistress of the household.

“I’ll be back soon. Yeori, let’s go.”

As MoonWon led the way, Yeori quickly followed. With a determination to return as soon as possible, MoonWon stepped over the threshold of the door. However, she was greeted with a surprise. When she saw the man get out of the carriage, her wide eyes blinked.

“H-Husband?”

Seeing that MoonWon was on her way out, Heon’s eyes narrowed.

MoonWon wasn’t sure why Heon was back now. She was under the impression that he was going to be at the Palace for much longer. Either way, MoonWon had to go to the city today no matter what. 

“I wanted to go to the city before we went back home. It won’t take me long, so I’ll be back soon.”

Before he could ask her where she was going, MoonWon spoke up. Heon became lost in thought.

A few moments later, Heon gave Junghwan an order. Junghwan and Yeori’s eyes widened as they turned to look at MoonWon.

After that, they didn’t know what happened.

MoonWon, who had only planned to quietly go to the city to buy a few things, now found Heon walking by her side.

MoonWon glanced to her side and tried to calm her shaky breaths.

Yeori, who was supposed to come with her, was now standing by Yusun’s side. When Heon said that he’d go with her, everyone backed off.

Although she tried to recover her senses, the blush remained on her cheeks and she couldn’t bear to look at his face.

“Haven’t we arrived?”

“Huh? Ah!”

MoonWon was broken out of her thoughts and quickly regained her senses. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking about Heon. She grasped her skirts and entered the store. Heon followed in after her.

The store was filled with vividly colored silks and rolls of white cotton cloth. Various fabrics caught her eye. MoonWon approached the bowing storekeeper.

“Do you have any cotton from Yeon?”

The storekeeper tilted his head in confusion.

While the cotton from the cold nation of Yeon was of good quality and inexpensive, it was not in season just yet. If one wanted to purchase the cotton, they’d have to wait a while longer. The storekeeper looked confused as to why MoonWon was trying to purchase it now.

“Mistress, I wonder if it is not too early to be making something with that cotton.”

“I am aware of that. However, I also know that this is the time when many fabric merchants purchase cotton. Don’t you think it’s best to buy the cotton now in order to obtain the ones with the best quality?”

The storekeeper’s eyes flinched at her piercing words. When Heon saw this reaction, he turned his eyes over to MoonWon. Just a moment ago, she was at a loss for words as she tried to calm her flushed face. Now, she was calmly negotiating with the shopkeeper over some cotton.

“I am not asking you to sell us the cotton for the same price you bought it. But can’t you still give it to us for a bit cheaper than the price you’d sell it for in a few months? And it’s not like I’m going to buy it in small quantities, don’t you think?”

“I understand, but…”

MoonWon turned around and looked at Heon. Heon looked at her in confusion as she opened her mouth to speak. 

“Husband, I think this place will be a bit difficult. Let’s go somewhere else.”

“Aigoo! My lady! Why are you being like that? When have I ever told you that I wouldn’t sell to you?”

The shopkeeper blocked MoonWon in a cold sweat as she turned to leave the shop. He moved his hands around as he listed the prices. MoonWon added her thoughts here and there.

This was a responsibility that was usually given to the servants. Heon had never taken an interest in matters like this, but seeing MoonWon’s eyes sparkle as she discussed the prices with the shopkeeper was strange and anomalous. He felt as if he were seeing a new side of her that he hadn’t seen before.

It was as if she were full of life, and it continued to draw him in.

“Then I will buy the cotton and ten rolls of the cotton fabric for this price.”

The shopkeeper denied her offer and tried to raise the price, but when he took one glance at MoonWon, he realized he’d lost and nodded his head. Her behavior and her clothing made her seem like a noble, but she was very knowledgeable about the market price and was good at negotiating.

The shopkeeper stopped when he noticed the new premium silk that had just come in today.

“Ah! My lady, do you need any silk? I’ll give it to you for a good price, so why don’t you buy some as well?”

MoonWon and Heon’s eyes followed the shopkeeper’s hand and gazed at the silk. Just as the shopkeeper said, the roll of violet silk was of good quality, and the color was brilliant. Heon thought it would look good on MoonWon and was just about to tell the shopkeeper they’d buy it when MoonWon interrupted.

“We don’t need silk.”

“If you make some clothes with it, you’ll look even lovelier when you wear it.”

“Thank you for the kind words, but it’s still too early to make my clothes. Just send my purchases over to the address I gave you. We’re finished here. Let’s go, Husband.”

After finishing her purchase, MoonWon turned to Heon. Heon glanced at the silk before he followed MoonWon out.

“Thanks to your presence, I was able to negotiate a lot more smoothly.”

“What did I do?”

“When a woman is alone, they tend to use shallow tricks before moving to negotiate. Even though it fills me with anger, there is no other choice but to endure it.”

MoonWon carefully spoke as she looked around at the other stalls in the marketplace. The most important thing to get was the cotton. Now that that was finished, she only needed a few trivial things here and there.

“Even though they were speaking with me, they kept glancing back at you. Thankfully, we managed to purchase them at a good price.”

“Why do you need cotton?”

MoonWon’s eyes widened. Not only had he accompanied her to the marketplace, but Heon was now initiating conversation and asking her about her work. The Heon who always felt so far away suddenly felt very close today.

Had her useless efforts finally reached him? MoonWon’s lips stretched into a smile as she answered him.

“I don’t want to tell you just yet.”

Heon’s eyes narrowed when he heard that it wasn’t that she couldn’t tell him but that she didn’t want to. However, MoonWon continued on as if she expected this response from him.

“I’m still planning it, so I want to be careful with what I say. I’m not planning on making any trouble, so please just wait a little longer.”

“……”

“Are you finished with everything at the Palace?”

“Mm.”

Should he tell her that everything was finished? He still had a hard time answering her.

Whether it was Lee Moon or Consort Yu, both parties were trying to pull him to their side now that he had acquired some power. It looked like this was going to be his life for the near future. Heon didn’t like that thought at all.

“This might be selfish of me, but I’d like to return to the bamboo grove as soon as possible.”

Heon stopped in his tracks when he heard the unexpected words coming out of MoonWon’s mouth.

“Isn’t this place better than the bamboo grove where you have nothing to do?”

“I know I left everything under the servants’ care, but I’d like to see the trees I’ve planted. Even if I pull out the weeds every single day, they continue to pop back up. And now that I’ve bought the cotton, there’s something I’d like to do. Maybe it’s because I’ve called that place home for the past few months, but I find our home in the bamboo grove to be a lot more comfortable.”

MoonWon was too busy looking at the stalls to notice the way Heon was looking at her. Heon knew that she wasn’t living that comfortably at the bamboo grove. Even Consort Yu had wanted to escape that prison.

And yet, MoonWon called that place home. No one had ever said something like that, even as a lie.

Heon even kept trivial things from MoonWon even though there was no reason to hide them. However, he found himself becoming needlessly twisted up when it came to her. But when he heard that she wanted to return to the bamboo grove, it touched something deep inside him.

He also didn’t like seeing MoonWon walk one step behind him. He nonchalantly grabbed her hand and pulled, and MoonWon was dragged to his side.

“H-Husband!”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No, you did nothing wrong, but…”

She couldn’t tell him that his approaching hand made her catch her breath. Her face was flushed as her heart raced like it would explode, but she didn’t want to let go of his hand. Instead of pushing him away, she tightened her grip.

Other than the times she was negotiating with various shopkeepers, Heon didn’t let go of her hand. He didn’t even realize how much time had passed.

“Ah!”

As the day turned into the afternoon, the marketplace was starting to get crowded with people. MoonWon, who had been walking with Heon, suddenly narrowed her eyes. She didn’t want to let it show, but she was starting to stagger as she bumped into a group of men. Seeing this, Heon grabbed her shoulder and pulled her closer to him.

MoonWon felt that her heart would explode before she collapsed from the crowd of people. As she slowly left Heon’s embrace, her legs gave out from under her.

“Aah!”

Before she tumbled to the ground, Heon grabbed her arm. Thanks to him, MoonWon didn’t slip. She had been trying to put some distance between them, but it had the opposite effect.

“Be careful.”

She wasn’t sure if it was because of her racing heart or the blood rushing to her feverish face. She quickly lowered her head, but the redness in her face didn’t go away. Although many people passed by them, the only one MoonWon could see was Heon.

“Husband, that is… Ah!”

MoonWon had turned her flustered gaze at Heon when something caught her eye. Drawn to something else, MoonWon left Heon’s presence and quickly made her way to it.

When he saw that MoonWon had disappeared, Heon let out a silent sigh. Now that her warmth had left his side, it felt strangely empty. This was the first time he’d felt something like this. He never expected he would ever feel like this because of a woman.

“My lady, please take a look.”

MoonWon’s eyes were drawn to the various hair ties and ornaments strewn out at the stall. When Heon finally approached her, she gave him an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry. I saw some hair ties and… I just thought it would look pretty on my little sister.”

“What about you?”

“Excuse me?”

MoonWon blinked and tilted her head.

“I’m fine with what I have now.”

Heon glanced at her when she answered without hesitation.

Even if she used empty words and asked him to buy her something, he would’ve bought it. However, whether it was silk or jewelry, MoonWon rejected them all. Even though he could’ve called a jeweler and had him make something for her.

One hair ornament caught his eye. It wasn’t too flashy, but it wasn’t small either. It was in the shape of a pink flower.

He thought it would suit the outfit MoonWon was wearing right now.

“Let’s go now, Husband.”

Finished looking, MoonWon turned around when Heon suddenly grabbed her hand. The shopkeeper looked up at Heon and waited. Heon directed him to the hair tie and ornament she had been looking at.

“How much is it?”

“What? Husband, you don’t have to do this! I was just looking.”

Flustered, MoonWon tried to stop him, but Heon merely paid the shopkeeper and took the ornament MoonWon had been looking at. He looked at MoonWon for a moment before placing the ornament in her hair. Because it was the first time he was doing something like this, his hands were clumsy as they slipped, but when the ornament was nicely placed in her hair, Heon held out his hand to MoonWon.

“Let’s go now.”

The calm honesty of his consideration almost made MoonWon burst into tears. MoonWon barely endured it as she held her breath. In this situation, it would be more proper to smile than to cry.

MoonWon took his outstretched hand and smiled.

* * *

Whether it was due to MoonWon’s question or whether it was actually planned all along, Heon began to make preparations to return to the bamboo grove.

The day before their departure, MoonWon received Heon’s permission to go and see SoYoon and YongUn.

“Are you leaving now?”

Possibly because he had received the reinstatement he had wanted, YongUn’s complexion looked a lot better. For some reason, MoonWon couldn’t help but feel nervous, but she quietly swallowed it down.

If Heon had actually helped him become reinstated, she wouldn’t have felt this nervous. MoonWon quickly shook her head.

No, if that were the case, then she might have been even more worried about her father.

“Please don’t overdo it, Father. Over two years have passed since you’ve last held this position.”

“MoonWon.”

“Yes, Father.”

“It’s only the beginning.”

“Father.”

“We will not be so easily struck down this time.”

YongUn’s aura was incredibly frightening. Was it because of the joy of having his power returned to him? Or was he scheming something else? MoonWon didn’t dare ask him.

“MoonWon, you still have the things you took with you when you got married, right?”

MoonWon nodded her head. All she took with her was the bow and arrows that YongUn had given her as well as the jewelry box her mother had left her.

When MoonWon answered him, YongUn took out a pouch from his breast pocket.

“I wasn’t in my right mind back then, so I forgot to give this to you. This is the key to your mother’s jewelry box.”

“What? But you already gave me the key.”

“That’s what I gave your mother when we got married. There is a real key and a fake key. The one you have is the fake key.”

MoonWon opened the pouch and peered inside. The key had a different shape than the one she had. When she picked up the pouch, YongUn’s hand closed around hers.

His hands were now wrinkled with age. MoonWon lowered her eyes.

“Don’t overwork yourself, Father.”

When MoonWon repeated her request, YongUn nodded. MoonWon had already handed SoYoon the hair tie that they’d bought at the marketplace, so she exited the room as she bid him farewell.

“Huu.”

“Are you finished with everything, Mistress?”

MoonWon went outside and let out a deep sigh. Even though she knew this was a good thing, why did her heart feel so heavy? Thoughts repeatedly filled and emptied out of her head, but she did her best to tamp down the worry.

MoonWon just hoped that YongUn could handle this properly. Nothing more.

“Let’s go.”

She needed to hurry because the sun was going to set soon. If she returned too late, Heon would worry. MoonWon walked past the door and began to make her way down the road. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks.

“Ah?”

There was no way Heon could be here right now, but she saw him. When he had caught her eye, Heon gestured to the carriage with his eyes. MoonWon looked at Heon and then at the carriage repeatedly before lowering her eyes. Although he didn’t show her much affection or whisper sweet words to her, Heon was approaching her in his own way.

She felt as if she were being consoled after the suffocating feeling she had experienced with YongUn.

“Let’s go.”

“Please… hold my hand.”

Heon had turned around and was just about to get into the carriage when MoonWon held out her hand. Wasn’t it okay for her to ask him for favors like these now? Because of the way he used to reject her in the past, MoonWon felt a little nervous, but she forced it to settle down.

Heon glanced at her outstretched hand and drew closer to her. MoonWon’s spirit faltered at Heon’s reaction, and she began to withdraw her hand. However, at that moment, his hand grabbed hers.

“Ah!”

Although his manner of speech and expression were so cold, his hand was very warm. He didn’t ask her what was wrong, but the warm hand enclosing hers seemed to be consoling her. Even though he could have ignored her and told her that she was acting like a child, Heon silently accepted it.

Could she take this as a sign that things were better now than before? Even though she told herself that this was enough, she couldn’t help but want more. Her mouth was dry and her heart was racing, but she wanted to draw closer to him just a little more.

MoonWon tightened her grip around his hand and followed him into the carriage.

* * *

JaeHoon arrived at the YeonHwaRu, the palace where the Emperor and Consort Yu dwelled, and let out a sigh.

The Emperor never called him to the YeonHwaRu, but JaeHoon had received a royal order to meet him here. He knew why, but now that he was here, he couldn’t stop trembling.

“Your Highness Crown Prince.”

“Announce my arrival.”

As soon as JaeHoon gave his order, the eunuch cried out his arrival. When they received an order to let him in, JaeHoon walked up the stairs. The first thing he saw was the Emperor sitting at the seat of honor and Consort Yu attending to him.

“Did you call for me, Your Majesty?”

JaeHoon kept his head lowered because he didn’t want to see the sight of them together like this. Consort Yu poured liquor into the Emperor’s cup, and the Emperor didn’t even look up at JaeHoon as he asked a question.

“Were you responsible for the disaster regarding the aid for relief?”

Both JaeHoon and the Consort froze at the Emperor’s words. JaeHoon’s eyes traveled from the Emperor to Consort Yu.

If only it wasn’t for Consort Yu, he wouldn’t have had to let go of MoonWon’s hand. And if it wasn’t for Consort Yu’s son, Heon, he wouldn’t have longed for MoonWon like this after their separation.

JaeHoon wouldn’t gain anything from showing the Consort or the Emperor that he understood the meaning behind the Emperor’s words.

“I do not know what you are speaking of.”

“Do not play games with me.”

Consort Yu lowered her head. Both JaeHoon’s and her mouth ran dry. When the Emperor had suddenly asked her to go to the YeonHwaRu, she knew something was off.

Even though he seemed ignorantly blind and deaf to what was going on, the Emperor was the type of person who enjoyed watching people play within the palm of his hands. 

“Even though the bamboo grove that belongs to the Chief Commander’s family is inside the borders of SeoMoon, it can also be considered to be on the border of the nation of Ju. As you well know, the emperor of Ju almost died in the bamboo grove, and it was the Chief Commander who saved his life. Because of this, that hot-blooded young emperor is waging wars with other countries with the exception of SeoMoon.”

“Father Emperor.”

“Do not mess with the Chief Commander. It is enough that I am the only one who is indebted to him.”

“Your Majesty!”

“The same goes for you, too, Consort.”

The Consort, who had tried to cut him off, swallowed her breath. The Emperor was someone who would always smile at her and do as she asked, but he was now looking at her with a stiff face.

When the Emperor was like this, he wasn’t to be trifled with.

“I brought you here because you were precious to me, but I know that by doing so, I became the instigator of the collapse of the Chief Commander’s family. The fact that he still managed to grow up so well in a household like that is a blessing not only to me but to you and the nation of SeoMoon.”

“……”

“Therefore, we mustn’t give the Chief Commander any reason to leave for the nation of Ju. I’m sure the emperor of Ju will try to persuade the Chief Commander to come over to his side, but that will not happen while I am still alive.”

JaeHoon bit his lip. The Emperor was someone who was cold to everyone, including JaeHoon. However, he seemed to be more indulgent with the Chief Commander. 

But the Emperor didn’t know Heon’s true identity. Heon would not be an asset to SeoMoon. He’d only bring it harm.

However, unlike JaeHoon’s inner thoughts, the Emperor continued to praise the Chief Commander.

“If the Chief Commander desired power, I would have given it to him. If he desired sexual satisfaction, I would have provided him with all the women he could want. However, to the Chief Commander, that would not be of help.”

“Is that why you took MoonWon away from me? Did you marry MoonWon to him in order to cover the debt you owe him?”

When Consort Yu heard JaeHoon’s words, she quietly clicked her tongue. JaeHoon needed to better manage his emotions. The Emperor hated seeing his son be swept away by his feelings.

Although her plans had been skewed the moment the Emperor had made MoonWon her son’s wife, she was not so clumsy as to show her true feelings in front of him.

“Your Highness Crown Prince, it would be best if you calm down.”

JaeHoon’s hostility turned from the Emperor to Consort Yu. In the end, his behavior was no different from a boy throwing a tantrum because he couldn’t have his way. Compared to Heon, JaeHoon was nothing.

Even though he was in the Emperor’s presence, JaeHoon continued to push the boundaries like this.

“Your Majesty, I think it will be best if you continue this conversation with the Crown Prince at another time.”

“That girl, the daughter of the attendant… Has she ever wanted to become the Crown Princess?”

JaeHoon’s face grew pale at the Emperor’s question. Lowering the empty cup, the Emperor narrowed his eyes at JaeHoon.

“I’m asking you whether that girl you long for so much has ever wanted you or the position as Crown Princess.”

“……”

“If she does not want to be here, she will never last in a place like this. She was wise, but she never wanted the position. How can a child like that endure such a poisonous place like this?”

“I could have protected her!”

“Did you protect her?”

JaeHoon was at a loss for words. Gazing sharply at JaeHoon’s reaction, the Emperor leaned back in his seat. Having read the tension in the room, Consort Yu lowered her head.

“Did I force you to let go of that child’s hand?”

JaeHoon collapsed to the floor as he glared at the Emperor. The Emperor looked back at JaeHoon before turning his eyes to the Consort.

“Your Majesty.”

“Do not merely let the words I said to the Crown Prince go in one ear and out the other. I’ll say this again. If the Chief Commander did not stand strong and protect the place I took you from, the map of SeoMoon may have changed.”

“Your Majesty, I…”

“I have a consort I treasure and a son I must instruct with a level head, but before all that, I am the Emperor of SeoMoon. As the Emperor, SeoMoon comes first. I would like you and the Crown Prince to remember that.”

Consort Yu clasped her trembling hands and held her breath. Although he was her lover of many years, whenever he was like this, she was filled with dread.

“I will cover up the matter regarding the embezzlement. Do not disturb the Chief Commander anymore. If you leave him alone, you will return to your senses. I will consider his enemies to be enemies of SeoMoon.”

“……”

“You may both take your leave. I would like to be alone now.”

Consort Yu got up from her seat. The Consort and JaeHoon bowed as they exited the room. Left alone, the Emperor raised his empty cup, and a eunuch hurried over and filled it with liquor. 

Even in front of the Emperor, Heon didn’t avoid his gaze. Instead, he looked straight on and gave him his opinion. He was a strong leader and incredibly talented. Therefore, Heon was definitely a useful pawn at his disposal.

‘If only that rascal had half of his characteristics…’

If JaeHoon had been half as talented as Heon, the Emperor would have gladly given the Ju daughter to him.

Heon hid his sharp teeth, so the Emperor used him as he pleased, but he understood that he was just that much more dangerous. While he was skilled enough to rein Heon in at times, the Emperor knew that JaeHoon did not have the skills to control him.

For now, he’d have to keep Heon by his side. However, the Emperor was also very uncomfortable around Heon.

‘Before he bares his teeth, I better pave the road.’

If he could quickly bring JaeHoon up to par, then he wouldn’t have any need for such a savage beast anymore. But he had to hurry. The Emperor swallowed his apprehension with another swig of liquor.