Chapter 45
The Reason I Finally Understood
“You’ve arrived.”
When Danseol entered the relief station, all the physicians, including Seorang, stood up and bowed politely. Danseol quietly nodded and took an empty seat.
“Since everyone’s gathered, let’s begin.”
Once he confirmed that every doctor, including Danseol, was present, Chief Physician Joodan began to speak.
“We finally have our first fully recovered patient.”
“That’s wonderful news!”
“Truly a relief! I didn’t expect recovery to come so soon.”
The physicians sighed in relief. The epidemic had been spreading so fast and wreaking so much havoc that anxiety had gripped everyone—but now that someone had recovered, a heavy weight lifted from their chests.
“The soldiers are young, so their recovery must be faster.”
“That’s part of it, yes.”
Joodan paused, then looked toward the end of the table—where Danseol sat.
“But above all, it’s thanks to Lady Dan’s accurate diagnosis and proper countermeasures.”
The physicians nodded in agreement.
“Indeed. Thanks to her insight, we saved a great deal of time and effort identifying the cause.”
“And she didn’t stop there—she rolled up her sleeves and worked alongside us. We’re truly grateful.”
“Even His Majesty deserves praise for entrusting us with someone so capable.”
Gyeom had not only approved Danseol’s recommendations but had also personally arranged for her to join the medical relief team.
“How could someone who achieved such merit be excluded from the work that needs her most?”
When the Emperor announced that a royal concubine would officially join a medical unit staffed solely by the Imperial Medical Bureau, some protested—but none could overrule him. Backed by Danseol’s findings, no one could argue against her involvement.
“I merely offered a little help. You flatter me too much.”
Danseol felt uneasy; their praise seemed far too exaggerated for what little she had done.
“A little help? You’ve been indispensable!”
“Exactly! You shouldn’t belittle your own contribution.”
The doctors raised their voices with enthusiasm. Ironically, the very people who had once opposed her inclusion now welcomed her with open arms.
“If it weren’t for you, we might have worked ourselves to death.”
“Indeed. Treating the wounded in war is hard enough, but when a contagious plague spreads, even palace attendants flee in fear.”
“You took on what everyone else avoided, Lady Dan. We’re all deeply grateful.”
Though Danseol thought she hadn’t done much, the others saw her differently. With staff already stretched thin, treating patients from dawn till night was an ordeal. The arrival of someone skilled in both medicine and pharmacology—someone who also found the epidemic’s cause—was nothing short of a godsend.
“You’re kind to say so. I’m the one who’s grateful.”
“We’ll do our utmost to assist you, Lady Dan. If you need anything, say the word.”
“You work too hard. I’ll prepare a tonic to restore your strength—please drink it before bed.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, let’s discuss today’s treatment plans and area assignments.”
Only after a lengthy round of compliments toward Danseol could Joodan finally begin the meeting.
“Excuse me, Lady Dan.”
As the meeting ended and the physicians departed for their duties, Joodan called out to her.
“May I have a moment?”
“Ah, yes.”
Danseol stopped by the entrance. Soon, only she and Joodan remained inside the tent.
“Is there something you wish to say?”
She glanced toward the exit. Ever since Seorang had told her that Joodan was one of the Empress’s men, Danseol had found it hard to face him comfortably. Yet, as the head of the relief effort, he was not someone she could simply avoid.
“I owe you a great debt, my lady.”
Joodan suddenly knelt before her.
“What are you—please, stand up!”
Danseol was startled. The chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau kneeling to a low-ranking concubine—it was unthinkable.
Her unease around Joodan hadn’t only been because of his allegiance to the Empress.
“From his perspective, it must look like I stole his credit.”
As head of the relief corps, Joodan should have been the one to uncover the cause of the disease. Instead, it was Danseol who did. To his superiors, it made him look incompetent; to his subordinates, laughable.
Yet here he was, kneeling and thanking her.
“I heard you asked His Majesty not to hold anyone accountable for this incident.”
“That wasn’t directed at anyone in particular.”
Danseol had pleaded with Gyeom not to punish the physicians for their delayed response. She simply wanted to help the dying, not cause more suffering in the process.
“Then there’s no need to thank me, Chief Physician.”
Her calm, clear dismissal made Joodan pause. A faint, bitter smile curved his lips.
“I understand. Still, I owe you gratitude.”
It wasn’t just because she had protected him from blame.
Through Danseol, Joodan had rediscovered something he had long lost—his original purpose and passion for medicine.
“I will become the greatest physician and save as many lives as I can.”
That had once been his vow.
But as Chief Physician, what had he become? The Empress’s puppet, serving power instead of compassion—saving no one, but condemning many.
Danseol, though she had no such duty, threw herself into saving the soldiers. Even after identifying the disease’s source, she came every day to tend the patients with unwavering sincerity.
Her light was blinding. He couldn’t even raise his eyes to meet it.
“You helped me reclaim what I’d lost, Lady Dan.”
He had resolved to live not as an executioner in the Empress’s shadow, but as a true healer once more.
Danseol had stripped him bare, forced him to confront his shame—but he was grateful for it.
“They say the greatest person is the one who can see their own flaws.”
Danseol reached out her hand and helped him to his feet.
“To reflect on your mistakes and seek to correct them—that makes you deserving of that title, Chief Physician.”
“No, I… I’m not…”
Joodan’s eyes reddened. He tried to speak again, but at that moment, Seorang burst into the tent.
“My lady! Something terrible has happened!”
“What is it?”
“It’s the soldier we last saw yesterday—he…!”
“Chief Physician, forgive me, but I must go.”
At the urgent tone, Danseol quickly turned to leave.
“But I…”
“I’ll consider what you wanted to say already said—for both our sakes.”
With a faint, knowing smile, she followed Seorang out.
Joodan gave a hollow laugh as he watched her go.
“Ah… Now I understand why His Majesty cherishes her so deeply.”
She had just stopped him from confessing that the Empress had ordered him to harm her. She didn’t want to hear it—not because she feared it, but because she didn’t want to make things harder for either of them.
Only a truly kind heart could do such a thing.
And Joodan realized: no matter how hard she tried, the Empress I-hwa would never surpass Danseol.
“We’ve already passed the relief camp—where exactly are you taking me?”
At Danseol’s question, Seorang finally stopped walking.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Instead of answering, he began inspecting her—checking her arms and shoulders anxiously. Danseol blinked in surprise.
“You hadn’t come out for so long, so I made up an excuse to get inside. Did it help?”
So the story about the sick soldier was just a pretext to bring her away.
“Even so, please don’t do that again. You really startled me.”
“Understood.”
Though scolded, Seorang couldn’t hide his smile—relief and joy flickering in his eyes at her safety. Danseol tilted her head curiously.
“I’ve always wondered something.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Why do you always help me, Physician Tae?”
She had wondered for a long time—why Tae Seorang, a man with no obligation to her, went out of his way to protect and assist her.
He met her gaze calmly.
“Because, Lady Dan… your goal is the same as mine.”
Danseol’s eyes widened slightly—wondering if she’d heard him right.
