CRS | Chapter 2.1

“……”74901cfb5184436c

Hwi knew that the world is darkest just before dawn. In Seonhwa Palace, he was merely a concubine with the worst room, only allowed two small spaces. Even commoners who caught the Grand King’s eye would get at least ten rooms, but Hwi was given just two. If it weren’t for the daily cleaning, he might have only had one.5635a6bac9d67006

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Living on the d89a282f4b outskirts of the 0344434b15 palace, closest to 463678a9d2 the corpse gate, 7b969e0c6a where opening the fea0820bc7 window revealed bodies, e7482a1f72 Hwi endured. He was the last to b704f8517c sleep and the first to 07c41fc868 rise, waking early to watch 82667643d5 the bodies leave through the f608d6cadd gate before dawn.6cb1c20704790387

At first, the eunuchs shuddered when he opened the door to watch, but now they ignored him, carrying out the bodies without a glance. Yesterday, it was a young maid, the day before, an old eunuch, and today, a young man in silk—likely a noble’s son.c828dbb9c27c1821

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The palace was bddef00a46 always like this. Bodies left daily, b49e1d7856 yet it was 4804ea2d41 so peaceful and f798eafee2 quiet.7b4b2588116f7149

“Hoo…”2b2025b267ed35dc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hwi took a deep drag from his pipe. Once, he wouldn’t have touched it, but after a year, it felt strange not to have it. The dried leaves oddly smelled like the morning breeze, a refreshing scent he liked.19909e8739af3be2

Just then, one of 091c1de31c the eunuchs turned back. Hwi, smoking his pipe, looked 7cb6ea551b down at the old eunuch. Curious why he 835318568e suddenly reacted, Hwi 16cb3679b9 watched as the cdcdc79be7 eunuch pushed the cb70269e69 body deep into 5957f247e2 the gate and 13ba80d3ca approached his window.6f5b66b47a481bd2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why do you watch every day, Mama?”7d40f62b34216399

Hwi showed no expression at being called “Mama.” The eunuch’s face was equally blank, though inside, he thought differently. The man above was beautiful but didn’t belong here. Hwi took another deep drag and spoke.18b52034a35e556b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Does it bother you?”7db4b30f32e4f7f7

“Not at all. I just worry that it’s unpleasant for your precious eyes.”e0c7e8e15b62615c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“There’s nothing beautiful in this abyss.”9f53b6b7637bba63

“……”a3629fd6165455b7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t worry. I’m not watching the bodies.”66642dceb6aed5fa

“Pardon? Then…”985878b5cb7fb911

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The eunuch, forgetting aa81ec1355 his place, dared 8667d798e5 to ask. Hwi, annoyed, tapped his a0c587750b pipe on the window 1a3d678de1 sill. Realizing his mistake, the c828c77c28 eunuch quickly bowed and 337f437103 ran to the gate.e333eeb185cde5ad

Watching the clumsy eunuch disappear, Hwi thought he’d leave through that gate someday. Calculating quietly, he realized only a year remained, thanks to his sister.2cf2de266063cbd7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Heartless sister. Never thinking of your brother, binding him with a curse.”1efece70fcaa5ebc

With a faint smile, e4d25defbc Hwi turned his pipe 5673631ab3 upside down. The burnt petals fell, a8eb2c5aba leaving no trace. One of the few 3634c88b6e marks Seo Hwi left 08b65c8245 in the palace, but 200bf369ac the ashes would soon 650d791652 be cleaned away.94dd9c21d3e95f5c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Mama, did you cough? It’s Eunuch Woo. It’s time to prepare, so I’ll come in.”eef7f40585ca4954

Hearing the announcement, cb2e3cd2fb Hwi stood as 5410768d0f the eunuch entered. The clothes brought 8b617d16aa by the Head f480cdf737 Court Lady were 3f9b924ceb black, resembling mourning 4137d5f45d attire, which Hwi f7f1803222 liked.6845ebbf0636aadc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Without adornments, he 4a3810eb43 simply combed his 2b8d103ff2 oiled hair and e6ffd97cee donned the outfit. The simple attire de1e379557 suited him, and 5cd8e2111d Head Court Lady fe6dc9b1f4 Choi, familiar with c5db7635dc his preference for 5955f44314 simplicity, stepped back 6af16dd8d0 after tying the 13a4b6474d belt over his 9969e711c2 robe.79016ed6298d3135

“Didn’t the Queen mention the lack of an official hat? Shall I prepare one now?”836d2ec6ba910f60

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At her cautious 0f64d79956 suggestion, Hwi glanced 64cb06ce1e out the window, 6071a32536 then shook his 3e5d0071bf head.cc5faa263fadb650

“I have nothing to buy a hat with. I’ll apologize to her myself.”cc716791f40555f7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“……Yes, Mama.”cba07df87564ffc8

Though there was surely a hat, Head Court Lady Choi didn’t argue, knowing Hwi’s stubbornness was unyielding, even to the Queen.bfec98bce71e60f6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

When Concubine Park had a eunuch beat him to break his spirit, he hadn’t flinched. A king who roamed battlefields wouldn’t fear a eunuch’s stick. In the end, they were the ones who fell.824fb342057f2d64

“Mama, it’s time for the morning greeting.”3ca99bd0e9ff8964

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Alright.”4ab6a57f9ceb916c

At Eunuch Woo’s words, Hwi handed him the pipe and stood.4f555f66fd2ff79b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What I want isn’t a morning greeting…”f6c1646c3ba0dbd5

What he wanted was 856a1f4b10 a farewell, not this 1f66895778 cursed morning ritual.4a3954e38fd6bc8a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In Anhyun Palace, where the a1b58f63d3 Grand King resided, gathered the c821fde73a most beautiful people. Rare beauties lived d381dcee1a there, hard to 00371433d8 meet even once 51227e4b17 outside.ce7b1286fb7dd90e

At the highest seat in f8fac705f6 Suryeo Palace sat Queen Han, 1c15f923ca exuding dignity. Below her was 489b7d6da7 Queen Kim, and 24a5afd228 at the lowest 2f290458eb table, four concubines 6a6a32a4eb sat. Hwi sat closest to the f9658c73d7 door among them.e29cece4d59ce7b2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though far from the Queen, Hwi’s presence was immense. As the only man there, his beauty was striking. Concubine Park, sitting opposite, was busy stealing glances at him every morning.d394f5b6b9d39761

“Such a remarkable face, no matter how often I see it.”8ea761de76eac452

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though the Grand King Yoongeon had the most handsome face, beauty wasn’t just about looks. The man before her was a different kind of beauty.d5e139de19b658f2

Unlike the fierce, 9816d445cf cold beauty of 39a512eb85 the Grand King, af523546f4 Hwi was a d82b98b8f1 gentle beauty. His white skin, round eyebrows, 1ffd35481a and long eyes beneath them d92f4e5724 belied his past as a 75a105a2d3 king on the battlefield. His eyes, revealing no 665847044e emotion, and slightly drooping b7fbebbfdd corners gave a languid 9df23e5245 impression.478a77356f08a0b3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But what always amazed Concubine Park were his long eyelashes. A man could be beautiful, but she’d never seen one with such long lashes. She marveled at what kind of parents could produce such beauty. A king with such a face—those women must have enjoyed the view.fd28305e82414715

“If only I could make him my pretty servant boy.”dad6789c186448d6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

If such a boy existed, she’d have done anything to have him. She wasn’t alone in this thought. Everyone pretended otherwise, but she knew their eyes changed when they looked at Hwi.88181275406ed16e

Making him bow during morning greetings, watching his strong body move, had become routine. If the Grand King knew, there’d be trouble, but Concubine Park shamelessly continued.b672969f95a9d1a4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“To think the Queen, blinded by beauty, insists on these greetings every day.”24b73bd24df4b92c

Though a concubine, Hwi could never be part of the inner court. Yet, the eyes on him were all the same. But Hwi, sitting there, remained indifferent, as if he didn’t care about the gazes devouring him.7293a5e783fb1244

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

⟡ ⟡ ⟡4db0958fbb5d67b3

“Ugh, huh, ah…”ed2ae0d7a04640e9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man beneath twisted in pain, struggling with the Grand King’s overwhelming size.1dd76b2f66374699

“Don’t make a sound. There are people outside. Do you want rumors of sodomy?”b87f23df7f87b325

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh…!”e3c09d7b16f6b3c9

Yoongeon, frowning, grabbed c9e8db1a39 the neck of ade35bd6ee the man beneath cb272e7b00 him. The eunuch, helplessly pinned, choked.846d5f1e1144d2c2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Wasn’t it you who seduced me first?”230b63fa995d5e2c

“Ugh… hic!”8041e17766e2f4eb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yoongeon’s expression shifted from lust to coldness, tightening his grip. Realizing it wasn’t passion but something else, the eunuch struggled to escape.fa38e23c65966d44

But once caught, there was no escaping the Grand King. Yoongeon’s grip tightened, his eyes slightly curved with amusement as he gauged how long his prey’s life would last. The eunuch, no, the spy, realized too late his life was in danger.237538b943073fea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Did they think sending a pretty boy would make me lose my mind? So, what did you get in return, hmm?”07221711b2321fd9

“Ugh… hic, ……”d5ce614738caeb55

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man’s eyes rolled back. Seeing he couldn’t be seen, Yoongeon’s eyes curved further.0f7f4309cbd40093

“I wonder when the royal mother will realize this is pointless.”9c17e56e586fc438

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……”ad0a42e13ba994e0

The struggling body went a7b64ae809 limp, eyes wide open 7709cba58f in disbelief. Yoongeon, indifferent, withdrew and shook c50b6a3943 himself off. The thrill was gone.1d8083ec657890af

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If you’re going to send someone, at least know my taste.”3ea5b32cffe8d04d

With a dry laugh, Yoongeon 52f8c43f7c turned away. Chief Eunuch Jeon soon entered f605a89771 with a basin of clean 287c1f65d8 water, erasing the disarray as 3c64091a3b if it never happened.908fb97ab8c6207c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Take that to Doyeon Palace and burn it.”a4eaeb47768386e5

“Your Majesty!”4f7f97873f857af3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Chief Eunuch Jeon jumped at the order to burn the body in front of the Empress Dowager’s palace, but the command remained unchanged.eb4120299adb817b

⟡ ⟡ ⟡f745b4632c0d7ed5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A little later, Yoongeon couldn’t suppress his frustration and stepped outside. It wasn’t common for the Grand King to leave during official duties, but today, he decided to take a walk. Despite saying he’d go alone, Chief Eunuch Jeon, knowing Yoongeon’s mood, followed him.942b72c698c34cd7

“Stay ten steps back.”089012410aca7260

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, Your Majesty.”ffb278efb5709ec3

Though he didn’t heed the command to stay away, Chief Eunuch Jeon was content to remain just out of sight. Once Jeon distanced himself, Yoongeon sighed, rubbing his forehead. Today was filled with headaches, not least because of his formidable royal mother.ecaa32c75ddf73b5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yoongeon, who had been focused on expanding his territory, was now tied down by trade issues. Cheongwolmok, a vast inland region, couldn’t access the sea without passing through Seoro Nation, complicating trade.0db226c465e9c394

Previous Grand Kings paid passage fees to Seoro Nation for trade. Waging war to reclaim the land wasn’t easy, and the resources required were immense. Losing a war meant risking everything, including the Grand King’s life.574dce06dc7821c7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But Yoongeon was different. He had no intention of paying passage fees to a lesser nation like Seoro. Fortunately, thanks to the wise governance of previous kings, the nation’s coffers were well-stocked. So Yoongeon decided to expand his territory, leading to a long war.a5968b3e8be28edf

Since becoming Grand King at nineteen, Yoongeon hadn’t missed a year of war. Or rather, since becoming Crowned Emperor, he hadn’t been able to avoid war, as his mother forced him onto the battlefield. It was only after becoming Grand King that he went to war by choice.863c7d38fdb932f3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At the time, he only wanted to die. But thanks to that harsh experience, he won every war, plundering the defeated nations’ treasuries, making Cheongwolmok even richer. Now, having conquered Seoro Nation and secured the land he desired, Yoongeon could finally breathe.ce8181453fdf6c9d

“That was just last year…”a870f78d74b538ca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After acquiring Seoro Nation, Cheongwolmok 36c349a49e finally gained access to the 74a08144cf sea. He thought he could use 111dc48e40 the ports immediately, but the 68495abc33 locals rebelled, disrupting his plans. Since then, disputes over port 685a73917d usage remained unresolved.009802164a663b83

No wonder he was frustrated. Having spent more time on the battlefield than in the palace, Yoongeon found palace life stifling. Though he shouldn’t think this way as Grand King, he had to get used to being confined, seeing his royal mother’s face daily.cf07f3fddfd9953f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

While walking, trying 83cd1fa88d to clear his f44ba73baf mind, something caught 2a63a66b40 his eye. Curious, he turned to 8315f16d0c see a familiar man.5bba62d1f23beda8

“……?”b237a6cbf70af842

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Who is that? Where have I seen him?3574b8818c793173

Yoongeon squinted at 821afca704 the man sitting 21f1aa100e on the pavilion, bc1fedcaf3 holding a pipe. The more he looked, the 6a9d975db7 more he seemed out of f4adf2a6ab place.ee433dc13c527045

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Not here, but somewhere else…”9eae7080442a64d9

Even sitting, he appeared tall, likely over six feet. His broad shoulders gave him a commanding presence, unlike the men of Cheongwolmok, who were strong but not as imposing. Such shoulders were a gift, yet he sat there lazily. Yoongeon’s eyes narrowed.899dba6f723ebf8c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man seemed to embody Yoongeon’s preferences. His tastes were peculiar; he wasn’t interested in delicate types. He preferred men who could match his strength. Those he’d been with claimed they could hold their own, but none truly matched him. But this man might. And that face—Yoongeon had never seen such beauty. His unresolved frustration stirred again, though the man’s relaxed demeanor was irksome.0753b9828dede4d8

Yoongeon, naturally diligent, despised laziness. He gestured to Chief Eunuch 91fd9f12ca Jeon, who approached quickly.db7e49a5b44e9292

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Who is that man? I don’t recall seeing him here.”bc7b62d1269118ae

“Who… Ah, the one on the pavilion?”e033a02f53a26f8c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes. He seems familiar, yet I can’t place him.”ec1f66365b340a79

“Ah… That is Seo Hwi, the Outer King of Seoro Nation.”823d76ee338f0cc6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What?”54e7b3c1aa0571b8

The Outer King of Seoro?af5b22493aaa4812

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Indeed, the Outer King of Seoro.”fabd9450aa8ef8ba

Ah, that’s why he seemed familiar. Yoongeon felt like hitting his head for forgetting.30b897178596a0e0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The persistent pest who held out for four months.”e3dec8879bff5051

Even then, he thought the man’s appearance suited his taste. But the unpleasantness overshadowed it, making him forget the man was in the palace.f2f2cb0ac09955ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Y-yes, Your Majesty…”02586c4bae646721

Chief Eunuch Jeon trembled at 4a0bf2aaaf the chilling evaluation.9fac75fbc624d3e9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish