My first step was to recruit the noble lady whom had just suffered a major shock to her system when she saw her longest lasting maid die in front of her very eyes in a neighbourhood full of people that kept their eyes and mouths shut, lest they dare to get involved in the affairs of probably the most unpredictable Princess who adjust suffered from a miscarriage, a marriage scandal and public humiliation that still had not subsided, and I had a suspicion that my husband's disappearance was aggravating her even more. She could not vent her anger out at my husband for agreeing to the marriage that she endlessly pushed for even against her own groom's will. And I was never again going to let anyone vent their anger against my husband as if he was some work of weakling, because he wasn't. This wasn't hard to achieve since she seemed to have regained her senses as soon as The Princess was out of sight and she saw how big my belly was. It did take a lot of courage for even ordinary folk to go against The Royal Family, but this Princess really didn't care to even cover her crimes against the people that practically funded her lifestyle through suffocating taxes that were making the poor poorer and the rich richer.
"My Lady Nam! What are you…my goodness, it is still cold outside! Why are you here without any servants and in the absence of your husband! Have you taken leave of your senses! Here, come inside and warm yourself up please! I shall serve you some food also and…goodness gracious me, you do not look well at all. When was the last time you slept even?" "My Lady, forgive me, but do you have any plans to attend The Buddhist Temple today for the spring festivities?" "The event today? Well I did, but I may not be able to make it after all…" "My Lady, as you say; I am alone here and I have nobody to accompany me, so I insist that you come along with me today. I will also be joined by MoonBok and his wife later on, so I shall take full responsibility for your absence from your work." "My work? Do you managed to overhear…?" "Please forgive me, but I was on my way to see you anyways with an invitation to join me today. I just didn't know that you were expecting different company today, so please forgive me for my lack of decorum…" "No!please, how can I possibly hold you accountable for an unexpected guest…" "So, will you agree to be my companion tonight?" "I…do not see why not….I am also sure that you have some work to take care of…" "I absolutely do have some work to take care of, if you were to assist me from a distance of course. Like I said, I shall take all responsibility as usual, because I can and I always do, after I take a small nap if you do not mind." "Of course not! I shall direct you to a guest chamber and even send for an outfit for you from one of your shops on your behalf…" "Thank you very much, I am sure you are aware that Seo Geom's children always repay their debts to matter what…"
My eyes were falling heavy with sleep but I did not wish to have this be the last thing on my mind. I was in a home of nobility that was far more sophisticated than my own was, and it reminded me of the time where I had my husband home constantly as he was arranging our home for us since I had no interests in these meaningless luxury items that I always thought could feed a couple of families instead. "Take over here for me wifely am exhausted now." "I'd rather let you carry on since you show such…passion for interior decoration…" "Are you mocking me wife?" "Innocent little me? And why would mock such a…" "What line are you going with this time? Are you going to compliment my looks as usual? Or my wit when you are in a good mood? Or is it my…." "Chiselled physique that you believe can sort out my fertility issues?" "Wife!" "What? It isn't like I am complaining, but…" "Stop it! You rarely give me a break with your honeyed words…." "And yet you married me for the very same reason, didn't you?" "Ok enough already! Damned woman doesn't know when to give me a break after all of the hard work that I do for her…" he went on grumbling in a rare sulking mood until I shut him up with a kiss or two with the same force that he always used on me which seemed to amuse him a little, although was having a hard time trying to deny it. I had to give it to him, he was putting up a really good fight, not even the sight of me half undressed and lying on top of him could melt his impulsive anger and moodiness, not until I started massaging his shoulders after his so-called 'day of hard work' that we both knew I had no say in due to his endless work obsessions in the palace. "How is it husband? Shall I put in more effort?" "You damned spoiled brat, you know exactly what you are doing to me, don't you?" He grumbled as he lay face down in his pillow, still unwilling to look at me. "Excuse me? What did you just say?" "I said…that at least you know how to put your hands to work when you aren't contradicting me all of the time…"
My hands to work…yes, I knew exactly how to put my hands to work, and I will do it for us husband as I cannot take on all of this burden alone, not now. You keep your word to come home soon to us and I shall ensure that you have nothing but a paradise waiting for you when you got home to the few people who loved and cherished you as you should have been for you entire life…
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The day was as gloomy as can be predicted for the festivities that were going to begin; the winds were blowing hard and the children were not as loud as they normally were in the spring time. Every manned woman were wearing their winter coverings so it was easier to blend in than usual, and get to our destination faster than anticipated. I was really pulling a risky move here and I had nobody to rely on for protection since I had had only pulled in MoonBok and his family as witnesses and nothing more since they really could not afford to be caught up in scandal anymore. They were going to also permanently retire in my brother's village after today so they were only here by pure luck and I tried to keep that in mind as my companion began to set up our own fire for the Buddhist rites…
"…You are asking to die today, aren't you! How lawless and fearless are you feeling today you lowly bitch! How dare you…" "Greetings to The Princess! Forgive me for not being able to formally lower myself to greet you, due to my current condition…" "Seo Yeon? What on earth are you doing here? I thought that you were…" "I have been travelling in my days without my husband, but I wanted to drop by for the festivities of today before I settled down in my home ready to welcome my husband home. But what seems to be the matter, Princess? Why are you so angry at my companion over here? Has she done something wrong?" "You…I….she…your so-called companion over here knows that the palace strictly prohibits the use of incense, offerings and paper-burning! And yet she dares to do this right in the centre of the palace grounds? How can she possibly explain her way out of this!"
"Why can't she explain her way out of this? Princess, aren't you conveniently forgetting your visit to her household this morning? Did you forget the result of your visit?" The shocked look on every's faces gave me enough time to think of how to expand on the smatter enough to get everyone's attention, including those members of The Royal Family who were human enough to mingle amongst the people that they served.
"…conflicting with the just and meritorious ritual to curse us! You are truly too daring!" "May your anger dissipate Princess, we are not cursing anyone at all." "What else are you doing if not cursing? We have proof and evidence right in front of our very eyes, and I wish not to impose such harsh punishments on today of all days, but I must set an example to the people as a Princess, so…"
"Princess, did you forget that you specifically dropped by my companion's home this morning especially to drop off these items? You carried out a sacrifice yourself in her home, why else would there be so much bloodshed in her back courtyard this morning? And as for these offerings, they are simply what you left behind at her home this morning. Why don't you at least take a closer look as to what it is you are pushing us for before carrying such a harsh sentence upon noble woman? Especially one who is heavily pregnant at that?" "What is going on here? What mess are you causing now Princess? Why don't you think twice before you…Seo Yeon? What are you doing here?" "Good evening My Lady, i was just attending the festivities when you daughter seemed to have accused me of preforming witchcraft in front of the entire festival." "Witchcraft? You? A heavily pregnant woman as your husband fights for our country and risks his life? No, there must be some sort of mistake here, let us examine the proof properly before we fully investigate this situation…" "I can handle myself, mother! Please stop interrupting me when I am just simply trying to cary out my duties and nobly will let me do it in peace!" "Is that so, daughter? Then what is this? You were almost going to take away the lives of 2 women so openly for mere 6 syllable mantra's? Have you taken leave of your senses? You are already in a world trouble with The Emperor as is your brother, and you are to pull a stunt like this? Seriously?"
"Just in case The Princess in unaware, the 6 syllable mantra circle signifies completeness matched with a patterns with the word 10,000 to signify birthdays and eternal completeness. We collected this from the very temple that you yourself frequent, My Lady and you are perfectly welcome to check if you do not believe us. We have carried out everything respectfully and we have chosen this chant in particular to dissipate karma and achieve relief for the entire kingdom. My companion here was the one who personally inscribed such a chant, so what reason do you have to destroy our efforts in wishing peace upon our nation? Even as a Princess?" "I…mother…she is still clashing with the rituals so you cannot let her off so easily!" "Have you lost your mind child!can't you clearly see for yourself what is going on? Can not a singly day pass without you embarrassing me with your never-ending tricks? Moreover, wasn't it your servant who rushed us before the festival even had the time to begin? You have just ceased an entire ceremony over a rushed mistake like this? No wonder you are in the plight that you are in now!" "Mother! Not in front of everyone, please!" "It is clear to me that your servants are the cause of your decline, so they should be punished for your mistakes, what do you think daughter? Maybe I should take out their tongues for curing such an embarrassment today! Or she can kneel all night long to atone for her sins and let the heavy rain wash away all of her filth!" "My Lady, look! Something just fell out of that servant's pocket! What is that red powder though? Ic Ould be dangerous…" "My Lady! Your Highness! Isn't that…cinnabar?"