Chapter – 21
The Tiger and the Rabbit (4)
A week later, on the day of the Spring Equinox ancestral rite, the Crown Prince still could not attend. The Minister of Rites, who was on the Crown Prince’s side, carefully tried to read the Emperor’s thoughts, but the Emperor would not change his mind.
In the end, the Minister of Rites asked his sister to seek help from the Empress.
The minister’s sister, Consort Deok of the Son family, awkwardly repeated her younger brother’s request. Then she quickly took a sip of tea to clear her mouth and said,
“Since he keeps begging me, I must at least present the request to Your Majesty… So please scold this concubine. Please do it loudly enough for the whole palace to hear, so my foolish brother may come to his senses. Should I kneel, Your Majesty?”
Though she was sixty-seven this year, Consort Deok was still beautiful. She smiled sweetly, her charm still alive. When she acted cute toward the Empress, who was almost fifty years younger than her, the Empress quickly waved her hand.
“Your knees are not well. I even sent my masseur to you. Why speak of kneeling? If I make you kneel once and must check on you for ten days after, whose punishment would that be? Stop it, Consort Deok.”
The Empress tried to speak with dignity, but her eyelids trembled slightly. Her eyes would not leave Consort Deok’s knees. It was obvious she was truly worried that Consort Deok might kneel.
Consort Deok smiled brightly.
“Then please place me under a ban from leaving my residence. A woman who dares to make such a rude request must receive proper punishment.”
Ana Rosa bit the inside of her cheek.
She knew what kind of person Consort Deok’s brother was. All his life, he had pushed others forward while securing his own safety. Except for being born the eldest son, he was useless. But all his siblings were talented and respected, each holding high positions. Because of them, he also lived in luxury.
He eventually became the highest-ranking member of the family, and he often demanded things from his sister, who had become a royal consort.
Ana Rosa gave her order.
“Consort Deok is placed under a ban. Without my permission, she is not to leave the palace grounds. Without my permission, no one may enter her residence. The only place she may visit is my palace.”
Consort Deok gave a pitiful smile at those words. Her palace was quite far from the Empress’s palace. To reach it, she had to pass through many gardens and several other palaces.
The Empress had chosen a method that blocked Consort Deok’s useless visitors while fully protecting her freedom.
The ban she gave now was completely different from the one placed on the Crown Prince. Consort Deok could go anywhere, but no one could enter her residence without the Empress’s permission.
“…If there is someone you wish to meet, send word through Court Lady Min. I will invite them in my name.”
“Your Majesty…”
Consort Deok looked at the young Empress with gentle eyes and said softly,
“I am deeply grateful.”
Every time Consort Deok looked at the Empress, there was something she wanted to say. But she always held it back. It was not because she was suppressed by the Empress’s authority, nor because she feared her position.
After spending a pleasant half day together, Consort Deok left the Empress’s palace and let out a small sigh.
Ah, I could not say it again today.
Shaking her head, she did not return to her own residence but instead headed to the palace of Noble Consort Yeon.
It was something she should not do while under a ban. But no one was foolish enough to think the rule would truly be enforced strictly.
“I am truly worried.”
At Consort Deok’s words, Noble Consort Yeon narrowed her eyes. That Empress—she truly was capable. Among all the consorts, the Empress was the one who received the most trust and affection.
The consorts loved and respected the Emperor, their husband. But the person they trusted and relied on the most was the Empress. Though young, she was firm and managed everyone in the harem perfectly.
Outsiders might think this was simply the Empress’s duty. But the consorts knew she was carrying an overwhelming amount of responsibility.
‘But Consort Deok? That is unexpected.’
Consort Deok had been born into a good family. However, her mother had been a concubine. The legal wife had taken her away and raised her as her own daughter. Though she became a legitimate daughter by law, her stepmother did not treat her like a true child. She received neither her birth mother’s love nor kindness from her stepmother. She suffered under cold treatment before entering the palace.
She resembled her mother and was beautiful. Her status was high, and she had natural charm. After the former Empress passed away, she received moderate favor from the Emperor.
Then her brother began using her position to gain benefits. If Consort Deok had been alone, she might have ignored him. But she had two children.
It was difficult for her to ignore her family’s demands when they provided background support for her children. So she often found herself caught in the middle.
Then the Emperor took a new Empress. The Empress strictly disciplined and protected all the consorts, including Consort Deok. If they had been younger, they might have felt uncomfortable about it.
But now they were all older. Their children had grown and built families of their own. So they all liked the Empress.
Even Consort Deok, who had spent her whole life being used and was naturally suspicious of people, truly worried about the Empress.
“What worries you so much?”
“Is not Her Majesty too young? Too young… and too beautiful.”
“…”
“Soon, the master of the world will change. What will happen to her then? As for us, some will enter temples, some will remain in the palace… we are old enough to find our own paths. But Her Majesty…”
Consort Deok could not finish her sentence. Noble Consort Yeon clicked her tongue lightly.
The Empress was young, and she was even a foreigner. When the Emperor died, she would have to return to her homeland. But if the current Crown Prince ascended the throne, would she truly return safely? The Emperor seemed to plan to send her away before his death if he sensed it coming. But what if he died suddenly?
“Her Majesty does her utmost to ensure the consorts do not suffer. But I feel she does not look after her own distant future. Are these worries meaningless, born from the hardships of my own life?”
If Noble Consort Yeon said it was unnecessary worry, Consort Deok would feel relieved. But Noble Consort Yeon could not say that.
She had watched the Crown Prince for a long time. After the former Empress died, she made sure he would not lose his position because of his own mistakes.
It was true that the Emperor endured much because of his feelings for the former Empress. But at times, anger and disappointment had driven him to consider dethroning the Crown Prince. Each time, Noble Consort Yeon soothed him and reminded him of his longing for the former Empress, calming the situation.
It was not because she loved the Crown Prince, but because of the former Empress.
This time, however, the Emperor had clearly hardened his heart.
Consort Deok waited for her answer. Noble Consort Yeon tried to avoid her gaze, but when it did not withdraw, she snapped irritably.
“Was only your life difficult? We all had our own pains. Do not place your unnecessary suffering upon someone so noble.”
Scolded, Consort Deok apologized and withdrew.
After sending her away with a stiff face, Noble Consort Yeon pressed her aching temples with her fingers. As time passed, the Emperor’s heart would grow firmer. When that time came, no one would be able to change his mind.
Noble Consort Yeon always found the Empress admirable and pitiful. Everyone in the harem likely thought the same. A twelve-year-old foreign child had been appointed Empress. They had watched her grit her teeth, learn the language, and learn how to perform the Empress’s duties. She wanted to stand on the Empress’s side.
But.
She owed a debt to the former Empress.
When Noble Consort Yeon had tried to give up everything, the former Empress had reached out and saved her, though they had once been political enemies. How difficult it is to show kindness that brings no benefit—especially to someone who feels like an enemy.
Yet the former Empress had done it. Even a person of great virtue would struggle to do such a thing. If left alone, Noble Consort Yeon would have died. But the former Empress saved her—because it was the duty of the Empress.
Perhaps the former Empress had hated her. Perhaps she would have felt relieved if she had died. Even so, she gritted her teeth and saved her.
That is what duty is. Something you must do, even if you do not wish to.
She owed the former Empress a life debt. She had to repay it.
After staying up all night, Noble Consort Yeon went to the shrine. She looked at the memorial tablet of the former Empress and let out a quiet sigh.
“This is my last act of gratitude, Your Majesty.”
I have protected the Crown Prince as much as I could. I, too, have lived my whole life as a consort of this nation. If he harms the country one more time, I will turn away. I will hear your resentment in the afterlife.
Noble Consort Yeon left the shrine. It was the place she always came whenever she cleaned up the Crown Prince’s troubles.
It would also be the last time she came.
