Chapter 130
Grand Prince Suyang, who murdered Grand Prince Anpyeong, pinned the crime on Prince Ikhyeon, using the pretext that it was for the sake of the state’s stability. Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in survived, but the opposition from the young officials toward them remained strong.
Kim Jong-seo was determined to punish Grand Prince Suyang, but the more he pushed, the more the young officials tried to shield Suyang. In the midst of this power struggle, Prince Ikhyeon was becoming a scapegoat.
“I’ve told you countless times to stay away from Grand Prince Suyang!”
Even though he knew getting angry at Prince Suchun would do no good, he could not suppress the boiling rage. His fists trembled. Hong-ah squeezed her eyes shut, trying to calm her own anger. It was time for Han-gyeom, who had been quietly waiting, to step forward.
“Ja-ga, please calm yourself. You’ll only harm your health.”
Han-gyeom glanced at the bowl of rice porridge on the floor. He hadn’t even taken a few spoonfuls, yet it had gone cold. Even if he encouraged him to eat, it wouldn’t work.
“This is a serious situation. How can I save a prisoner in the Uigeumbu?”
The Uigeumbu wasn’t a place for minor offenses—it handled treason. Depending on interpretation, the fabricated charges against Prince Ikhyeon could be construed as treason: murdering a legitimate grand prince to seize power.
“Hong-ah!”
Prince Suchun’s voice was desperate, as if his head might explode.
“We should first go to the Uigeumbu.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Han-gyeom supported Hong-ah as she got up. There was no stopping them anyway, and Han-gyeom, who knew this better than anyone, chose not to object and stayed by her side.
Prince Suchun rose with a worried expression. Seeing his face, memories of a peaceful childhood surfaced, deepening his gloom. Suyang must have aimed for this—twisting his emotions, eager to upset him.
“Uncle, enter the palace immediately. It would be proper for me to meet His Majesty, but there’s no time. Please inform him that the princess went to see Prince Ikhyeon at the Uigeumbu. I will report everything in detail in the morning, so ask that no action be taken until then.”
Even if the Uigeumbu officer took him, the final decision rested with the king.
Any revelations Prince Ikhyeon made while betraying them could be fatal if exposed. Therefore, Suyang would not hesitate to eliminate him.
But Hongwi was not foolish. From his behavior a few days ago, he could not be dismissed as an inexperienced young king. Simply delivering this message would suffice for him to understand.
No matter the pressure, he would recall Hong-ah’s words and endure.
“Prepare another carriage. My uncle will be leaving soon.”
In haste, Prince Suchun, wearing Han-gyeom’s carriage, ran toward Gyeongbokgung. Prince Ikhyeon’s greatest fortune in life was having Hong-ah and Prince Suchun as companions.
As soon as he left the palace, Hong-ah and Han-gyeom finished preparing and set out from Hamyang Palace.
Entering the Uigeumbu, the enemy stronghold, alone and unarmed, was extremely dangerous. However, since they had informed Gyeongbokgung, any incident would be noticed.
“Nothing will happen to Ja-ga.”
Moreover, they had a reliable ally by their side. A devoted companion who was both strong and clever.
“Who goes there!”
The Uigeumbu guards were wary of the two figures emerging from the darkness. Once they recognized them in the light, their vigilance intensified.
But mere words of warning could not stop them. Hong-ah and Han-gyeom pushed forward relentlessly, ignoring all resistance. They finally reached the prison cell where they faced those trying to block them.
“Isn’t this Princess Ja-ga and Lord Wansanwi?”
“How did you come to the Uigeumbu at this hour…?”
“We’ve come to visit my uncle. Open the gates.”
Hong-ah’s voice was full of authority and arrogance. Normally, she wouldn’t be like this, but when confronting enemies, she allowed herself to be haughty and wield her power freely.
At this moment, her bloodline was her greatest weapon.
“That’s impossible.”
“You cannot enter without the Uigeumbu officer’s orders.”
“Do you dare contradict me?”
Hong-ah’s eyes pierced theirs sharply. Her gaze was so cold and cutting it could slice through steel.
“Do you think you can block my path?”
The guards flinched at her icy words. They shouldn’t let her in, yet as a princess, she could not be stopped.
Even with the officer’s orders, rank mattered: the princess had precedence.
Though he was her great-uncle, with the king as her father and a young king as her brother, even he could not oppose her.
Moreover, the officer himself was absent, leaving the lower-ranked guards with no choice.
“Just a moment, then.”
“The treasonous prisoner must not be neglected in guarding,” the guard said.
“I said, open the door.”
Ignoring their protest, Hong-ah commanded coldly. Reluctantly, one guard drew a key from his waist. After some struggle, the prison cell door finally opened.
They passed numerous prisoners. Among them may have been Hong Yun-seong, but that was not their concern.
They went deeper and deeper until they found Prince Ikhyeon, slumped in a corner, dazed. An inexplicable surge of emotion hit Hong-ah. She took a deep breath to steady herself.
“…Uncle Ikhyeon.”
“…”
“Uncle!”
At Hong-ah’s cry, Ikhyeon’s unfocused gaze slowly shifted toward the bars. When it finally met hers, he crawled toward her without a word.
“Have you been tortured already?”
According to Prince Suchun, it had not been long since he was dragged here. He didn’t look like he had undergone severe punishment.
Thankfully, Ikhyeon shook his head.
“No.”
“Ha. That’s a relief.”
“Hong-ah, I… I’m sorry.”
Ikhyeon muttered endless apologies as if his mind had gone blank. With his constant headache and repeated apologies, Hong-ah’s anger flared.
“Why did you do something to be sorry for?”
“I’m sorry, I…”
“How many times did I tell you not to trust Grand Prince Suyang? I warned you, I showed mercy too.”
Hong-ah’s voice was sharper than usual.
“You came to the Uigeumbu of your own will.”
“I know. I was wrong, Hong-ah.”
Ikhyeon admitted his fault without resistance. He had no pride left to protect.
“I should have listened to you. You’ve been cleverer and smarter than me since childhood; I should have followed your advice. I actually believed the nonsense that Grand Prince Anpyeong was plotting against His Majesty. I believed it would eventually harm you. I was blinded by my own judgment; who else can I blame?”
Ikhyeon’s lament twisted Hong-ah’s heart further. The crude scheme of using her as bait for her half-brother seemed disgraceful.
“I must bear the punishment for Grand Prince Anpyeong’s death. I’m sorry for showing you this, Hong-ah.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I was involved. I was there.”
“But it was Grand Prince Suyang, not you, who killed Grand Prince Anpyeong, right?”
Though he bore a minor crime of slander, it could not compare to the actual murder.
The more Ikhyeon weakened and tried to take the blame, the easier it became for Suyang to escape punishment.
“I don’t know how to save you. I’m not sure I can get you out on my own.”
“I-I’m fine. It’s because of me that Grand Prince Anpyeong…”
“Steel your heart!”
At Hong-ah’s command, Ikhyeon paused his repeated apologies.
“I will save you no matter what. If you die here accused of murdering Grand Prince Anpyeong, only Grand Prince Suyang benefits.”
Hong-ah’s eyes changed, radiating authority and intimidation, as they had with the guards outside.
“You had many chances. I told you clearly: if I win, you die; if Suyang wins, I die. Yet time and again, you chose Suyang over me.”
“I’m sorry. Truly sorry.”
“Enough with apologies.”
Hong-ah spoke firmly.
“Choose here and now: Grand Prince Suyang or me. This is your final chance.”
“You… are giving me a choice?”
“What can I do? He was the friend my father arranged. And thanks to your help, I managed to stop it this far, so I must repay the debt.”
At her final words, Ikhyeon finally burst into tears. Seeing him cry like a child, Hong-ah instinctively frowned.
“Hong-ah, I am always on your side. I am yours.”
“…That’s enough.”
When his sobs subsided, Ikhyeon answered. Hong-ah nodded slowly and cautiously lowered herself to reach through the bars and take his hand.
