Chapter 5 …

The Incident

After Ungeum left, Wollyeong was seized by an inexplicable sense of unease. She had fallen deep into thought when suddenly something wrapped around her wrist. Almost instinctively, she flipped her hand and grabbed the other person, locking their movement before they could react.

It was Gyeongchang who had grabbed her wrist.

For a moment, their eyes met like sparks colliding, and the air in the room froze. A flicker of suspicion passed through Gyeongchang’s dark eyes.

Wollyeong’s wrist tried reflexively to break free from his grip. It was the automatic reaction of a killer—her instincts responding before her mind could catch up. But unlike in the days when she had been Bongryeong, she no longer possessed the strength to respond perfectly. She took a deep breath and forced a smile.

How am I supposed to explain this?

Gyeongchang’s gaze was sharp. According to the rumors he had heard, Shim Wollyeong was supposed to be timid and cautious. The woman before him was nothing like that.

“Have you ever learned martial arts?”

Gyeongchang asked in a low voice.

Wollyeong paused briefly before answering.

“I only practiced a little by reading a booklet my mother left behind. But… I am far too lacking. Right now, simply breathing is already exhausting for me.”

Cough, cough.

Wollyeong did not bother hiding her small coughs. Like a shy young lady, she turned her head slightly.

Gyeongchang listened quietly and recalled something from memory. Shim Wollyeong’s birth mother had been Jeong Ram.

The Jeong family…

It was said that unusual people often came from that family. Perhaps Jeong Ram had been one of them as well. But was Shim Wollyeong truly this frail simply because she had been born weak? Or was there some other, deeper reason?

Wollyeong felt Gyeongchang’s gaze fixed on her. Her killer’s instincts had almost made her search for the source of the threat the moment she sensed it, but those same instincts quickly forced her to lower her eyes toward the floor.

Cold sweat ran down her back.

Fortunately, Wollyeong’s body had been severely weakened by poison. Although her instincts had tried to block the incoming threat, she had no strength to release killing intent or counterattack like she once could. Ironically, her current frailty might help her escape suspicion.

First I need to get past this situation. I can’t let him suspect me any further.

Gyeongchang’s hand was still gripping her wrist.

Just then, Ungeum entered the room with a group of servants.

Gyeongchang’s sudden visit threw the entire residence into an uproar. Shim Onseo, the father of Wollyeong and Ungeum, hurried back home with his attendants, and the household soon became crowded with people. With both Shim Onseo’s and Gyeongchang’s entourages present, the mansion felt as though it might burst.

Since the emperor had issued the imperial marriage decree, this was the first time both families had gathered like this. Gyeongchang had been away on official duties for some time, so even the true meaning behind the emperor’s order remained unclear.

Yet today, he had personally come to visit his sick fiancée.

Although Shim Onseo had pulled some strings behind the scenes to make it happen, the mere fact that Gyeongchang had come caused a great stir in the Shim household.

However, Cheonyeongeo Pavilion was not a suitable place to host a banquet. So Myeongseol and Shim Onseo hesitated awkwardly, exchanging troubled looks.

Soon, everyone’s gaze naturally turned toward Shim Wollyeong, as if she were the one who had caused some great mistake.

Wollyeong inwardly sneered, feeling disgust toward her father in this world, Shim Onseo. He was the very model of an irresponsible man. Still, she could not simply ignore the many eyes staring at her.

She turned toward Gyeongchang with a gentle smile.

“Cheonyeongeo is too shabby to properly host Your Highness. If it is not too troublesome, perhaps it would be better to move to another place.”

Shim Onseo was the typical bookish scholar. He had spent his entire life buried in books, coughing politely while pretending to be morally upright. The decline of the Shim family’s influence was largely his fault—he was useless both politically and economically.

Yet today, he was full of pride.

The Loyal Prince, said to be able to knock birds from the sky with a single word, has come to my home!

His shoulders stiff with pride, he spoke in a dignified tone befitting an elder.

“Your Highness has come personally to visit my daughter. I am deeply grateful. However, this pavilion is not suitable for receiving guests. Please forgive the inconvenience.”

Gyeongchang seemed to hesitate for a moment.

Ungeum had actually wanted the banquet to be held at Cheonyeongeo Pavilion. If something happened, she could easily shift the blame onto Wollyeong. But when her father firmly insisted on guiding the guests to the main hall, she felt displeased.

When Gyeongchang’s gaze lingered on Wollyeong, Ungeum’s insides twisted with jealousy.

Forcing a smile, she said sweetly,

“Your Highness, please do not worry. I will escort my sister. She needs to change her clothes first, so if Your Highness goes ahead, we will follow shortly.”

Shim Ungeum’s beauty and elegant demeanor made her look radiant, while the thin and sickly Wollyeong appeared even more pitiful beside her.

“Then I shall trouble you.”

After giving Ungeum a calm nod, Gyeongchang turned to Wollyeong and spoke with a faint smile.

“I will be waiting.”

Ungeum’s expression stiffened when she saw this. Though So Myeongseol kept smiling, she felt her blood run cold inside.

Only the oblivious Shim Onseo walked ahead, unable to hide the grin spreading across his face.

Once Shim Onseo and Gyeongchang left, So Myeongseol suppressed the hatred and disgust rising in her heart and smiled warmly.

“Wollyeong, make sure you dress nicely before coming out. I was so worried when you suddenly fell ill. I’m glad to see you looking better. I’ll go entertain His Highness first. Your sister Ungeum will help you.”

She still didn’t know what had gone wrong with the poison she had mixed last time, but another chance would come.

Even though the emperor had decreed the marriage, the Six Rites of traditional marriage customs could not simply be skipped. As long as there was time, anything could still happen.

She only needed to prepare carefully.

“Thank you for your concern. You must be busy, so please go ahead. I will come with Ungeum.”

Wollyeong coughed lightly, looking extremely weak as she spoke.

So Myeongseol secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Wollyeong had not suspected the cause of her illness.

Smiling once more, she left the room.

After everyone else departed, Ungeum turned to Wollyeong.

“Sister, hurry and change your clothes. We must go soon. We cannot keep His Highness waiting too long.”

Watching Ungeum’s urgency, Wollyeong began to understand.

Today would probably be a Hongmen Banquet—a feast arranged with hidden schemes.

Ah… how entertaining. What a lively night this will be.

Shim Onseo enthusiastically urged everyone to drink, while So Myeongseol supported him, brightening the atmosphere. Wollyeong simply sat quietly with a pale face, observing everything.

Shim Ungeum’s eyes contained a hint of excitement and anticipation, but Gyeongchang remained cold and composed.

After several rounds of drinks, Shim Onseo finally asked Gyeongchang when he would come to perform Najil, the formal ceremony confirming the marriage.

“The imperial decree has already been issued, so shouldn’t this marriage proceed quickly? Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”

Gyeongchang slowly rotated the cup in his hand and glanced once at Wollyeong.

She wore a faint smile and lowered her head slightly, appearing as though she would obediently follow her parents’ wishes.

She really is quite good at acting, he thought.

Seeing this, So Myeongseol quickly interrupted.

“My lord, you’ve had too much to drink. There is no need to rush. Wollyeong has only just reached marriageable age, and as parents we cannot help but feel reluctant to send her away so soon. Besides, she has only just recovered from a serious illness. Taking care of her health should be the priority.”

Shim Onseo wasn’t entirely pleased with this. After all, the marriage would only be firmly secured once the bride was married off.

Still, he nodded reluctantly.

“She can recover while we hold a modest engagement ceremony. We can simply delay the wedding date.”

To him, such matters were trivial.

Ungeum deliberately smiled and rose from her seat, shifting the conversation once again. Reaching for the wine bottle, she smiled brightly at Gyeongchang.

“I will pour a drink for Your Highness on my sister’s behalf. Thank you for coming to visit her today.”

Holding the beautiful wine bottle in her jade-like hands, Ungeum looked stunning.

As everyone was momentarily captivated by her grace, she lifted the bottle with her right hand and covered the lid with her left. While no one was looking, she subtly twisted the cap.

An amber-colored liquid flowed into the cup, releasing a gentle fragrance of wine.

When she poured wine for Shim Onseo next, she twisted the cap again, restoring it to its original position.

Wollyeong happened to notice the small movements.

She had been casually watching Ungeum pour wine when she saw the bottle cap turn slightly each time.

Coincidence…?

Her killer instincts sharpened immediately. The situation was becoming more and more interesting.

She gazed curiously at the wine cup placed before Gyeongchang.

What kind of “good ingredient” did they put in there?

She leaned closer and carefully smelled it, but detected nothing unusual. It must be something colorless and odorless.

Seeing Wollyeong staring at his cup with shining eyes, Gyeongchang felt that, at least in this moment, she seemed unusually lively.

Wollyeong could not help but admire how perfectly the mother and daughter worked together. One poured the wine, while the other distracted Gyeongchang with conversation.

They truly seemed willing to risk everything for this marriage.

But would such a method really work? Gyeongchang did not seem like someone who could be fooled so easily.

Or perhaps…

No. That poisoned cup is meant for me.

If the Loyal Prince drank the poison, they would surely place the blame on her.

But Wollyeong had no intention of playing along with their scheme.

Gyeongchang drank the wine without suspicion.

Seizing the opportunity, Wollyeong stood up.

“My health is not very good, so I will take my leave. I ask for Your Highness’s understanding.”

But when Shim Ungeum saw her trying to leave, she had no intention of allowing it.

Quickly extending her hand, she offered the wine bottle and said:

“Sister, please pour a drink for His Highness yourself.”