DN 46

Chapter 46 A Small Misunderstanding

“W–what do you mean, the same goal as me…?”

Completely dumbfounded, Danseol stammered in disbelief.

Was Physician Tae saying that he joined the Imperial Medical Bureau to kill His Majesty too?

Danseol had never doubted that Taeseorang was one of Gyeom’s people. After all, he always prioritized Gyeom’s orders over those from Chief Physician Ju-dan, and he often carried out Gyeom’s secret instructions without question.

Not only that, he had also helped deceive the Empress and the Grand Empress Dowager by claiming Danseol was pregnant.

To think such a man had actually been plotting to kill Gyeom—how could she not be shocked?

“I’m on your side, my lady. You needn’t hide anything from me.”

Seorang smiled reassuringly, as if to put her at ease.

“I’m not quite sure what you’re talking about, Physician.”

No matter how close they seemed, Danseol couldn’t bring herself to trust him completely. For all she knew, this could be a trap to test her.

“I know that’s why you’re staying by His Majesty’s side.”

Even though Danseol pretended not to understand, Seorang persisted relentlessly.

“You entered the Bureau under the pretext of studying medicine, but that was your real reason, wasn’t it?”

“T–that’s…”

Cold sweat trickled down her spine. She had been careful—so careful—but it seemed he had seen through her already.

“I only joined the Bureau because…”

“To get revenge on Her Majesty the Empress.”

“…What?”

Her eyes went wide at his unexpected words.

“Your goal is to take revenge on Her Majesty, isn’t it?”

“Ah… well…”

“I’m not here to accuse you, my lady. I only want to help you. You can be honest with me.”

Danseol could only nod. To avoid raising further suspicion, it was best to go along with him for now.

“But tell me—why do you, Physician Tae, hold a grudge against the Empress?”

When Danseol first entered the palace, she had nearly been killed by Empress Ihwa. But Seorang had never had any real dealings with her; the Empress’s care had always been handled exclusively by Chief Physician Han Joodan.

Resentment usually required personal contact—so Seorang’s claim puzzled her.

“My family has produced physicians for generations. We were never officials—we lived off our own skill.”

His great-grandfather, grandfather, and father had all been doctors. Though none had served the court, they were content to help people in their province without greed or ambition.

“My grandfather and father truly believed saving lives was their life’s calling.”

“I’m sure they would have been very proud to see you become the first in your family to enter the Imperial Bureau.”

“If they’d still been alive when I joined… perhaps.”

His voice turned heavy and low. Danseol said nothing, sensing that their deaths were somehow tied to the Empress.

“It began when a physician backed by the Cheon family opened a clinic in our town.”

Though it was called ‘sponsorship,’ in truth, that doctor was merely a pawn of the Cheon family—a powerful clan seeking to plant influence throughout Hwangseon Kingdom. They bought people with gold and slowly took over the provinces.

Seorang’s family had suffered as a result.

“The villagers didn’t take kindly to that doctor, who only chased profit under the Cheon family’s protection.”

He sold expensive but ineffective medicine, and he would cruelly turn away patients who couldn’t pay. Naturally, the people sought out the Seorang family’s clinic instead, known for both skill and compassion.

And that’s when the trouble began.

“Rumors started spreading that we were inciting the villagers to drive out the Cheon-backed physician.”

“And so… your family was punished.”

Seorang nodded gravely.

“My grandfather was tortured to death during interrogation. My father survived, but he was left paralyzed.”

“How could something so cruel happen…”

To destroy an innocent family for profit—Danseol felt horror rise within her.

Afterward, their patients vanished. His father, stripped of work and hope, fell ill and eventually died in despair. Seorang grew up in grinding poverty, studying medicine alone, driven only by the desire for revenge.

He had learned enough from his elders to make that possible.

“There was only one reason I joined the Imperial Bureau—to bring down the Empress and avenge my family by destroying the Cheon clan.”

The Cheons were already a dominant political force through their marriage to the royal family. By toppling the Empress, Seorang could topple them.

“When you took those medicinal ingredients from the storeroom, that’s when I realized—you and I share the same goal.”

“Does anyone else know I took them?”

Danseol asked as calmly as she could, though her hands were slick with cold sweat. She’d thought she’d covered her tracks perfectly—but apparently not.

She had no idea how or when she’d been discovered.

“I’m the only one who knows. You can rest easy. If I hadn’t been assigned to organize the storeroom that day, someone else might have noticed.”

In the Bureau, each physician took turns checking the stored herbs and recording the inventory daily.

While doing so, Seorang had noticed Danseol taking some of the materials in secret.

“When we return to the capital, I’ll help you in every way I can.”

“Ah, yes… thank you.”

Danseol smiled awkwardly and bowed.

A misunderstanding, sure—but harmless enough, I suppose.

The truth was that her real target wasn’t the Empress—it was Emperor Gyeom himself. But that was something Seorang could never know.

Thus began their uneasy alliance, built on a small but fateful misunderstanding.

“They say we’ve reclaimed one of the outposts we lost while pursuing the retreating forces of Yuldoguk.”

“Pity we couldn’t push further! Those barbarians should’ve been taught a proper lesson.”

The generals beat their chests in frustration until Gyeom raised his hand for silence.

“How are the troops faring?”

When the tent fell quiet, he addressed the commanders seated in two rows before him.

“Thanks to Your Majesty, morale is high. The wounded and sick are also recovering well.”

Indeed, under Danseol’s care, the soldiers had begun to heal rapidly. Except for the gravely wounded, many were already fit enough for light duties.

The camp buzzed with renewed energy. Seeing comrades return to health did more for morale than even a victory could.

“Lady Dan’s reputation among the men is exceptional.”

Though the soldiers were recovering, Danseol still visited the medical tents every day to help the physicians. At first, the generals had disapproved, but over time, even they grew accustomed to her presence.

Especially those whose men had been treated by her—they became her quiet supporters. They sent her favorite foods and scolded anyone who dared speak rudely to her.

Thus, Danseol had transformed from a meddlesome concubine who’d followed the army to a vital figure in the war effort.

“Well, of course. She’s my woman.”

Hearing of her popularity, Gyeom nodded, visibly pleased. The generals glanced at one another in surprise.

So it’s true—His Majesty truly favors Lady Dan.

At that moment, Gyeom looked every inch a man in love.

“As Lady Dan has sacrificed herself for the nation, so must you all give your utmost in battle.”

“How could we not, Your Majesty? We’ll fight with all our strength, as Lady Dan has shown by her example.”

“Careful now—someone might think she’s your woman instead of mine. Enough about her. Let’s discuss our next campaign.”

Though he was the one who’d brought her up, Gyeom found himself oddly irritated hearing the generals praise her.

Perhaps I should forbid her from going to the medical tents anymore.

The troops were recovering now; there was no need for her to exhaust herself further.

More than that, he didn’t like her being surrounded by men.