Chapter 52
Timid Revenge
“Your Majesty…”
At the touch of his hand across her lips, Danseol finally noticed Gyeom standing before her. But only for a moment—she faltered and trailed off.
He had brought the finger that had brushed her lips to his mouth. The way he licked his finger felt somehow erotic, and Danseol turned her gaze away.
“I’ll tell Taeseorang to bring some medicine — apply it.”
“Yes.”
Danseol answered calmly, but her lips where Gyeom had touched them burned. Every beat of her heart made the cracked place on her lip sting.
“By the way, what business brings you here?”
Danseol forced herself to ignore her own reaction and asked. Her posture almost looked like she was reminding herself that he was nothing to her.
“Didn’t I deliver the message? We leave for Hwangseon today.”
With affairs in Yuldo settled, it was time to return. The season that had been early summer when they arrived had already slipped toward autumn.
The Yuldo matter had become more complicated than expected, keeping him away from the palace longer than intended. He needed to hurry back to catch up on state affairs and finish up the remaining business from Yuldo.
“I was told yesterday.”
“I thought you didn’t know because nothing had been prepared.”
Gyeom glanced around Danseol’s room — she had not yet packed.
“I’ll make ready immediately so the schedule won’t be delayed.”
It wasn’t that she hadn’t had time to prepare; it was the complicated feelings she harbored toward Gyeom. Danseol did not show that outwardly. After staring at her for a long moment, his gaze finally left her.
“I’ll have a carriage prepared for when we leave. Consider it decided.”
“No, that’s fine.”
Her curt refusal caused a crease to form between Gyeom’s brows. The idea of her riding strangely and on horseback again did not sit well with him.
“You need not hurry on the way back as you did coming here.”
“You still have many things to handle; you can’t be delayed returning because of me.”
Danseol stubbornly insisted she would ride as before, not knowing what stirred in his heart. She appeared compliant, yet quietly refused to bend — a trait he found exasperating.
Thinking back, she had rarely accepted his favors as they were offered.
“…Do as you please.”
Gyeom spun on his heel and left Danseol’s room. He didn’t know why a single remark from that woman unsettled him so.
They prepared to leave, leaving only the personnel and troops that would remain in Yuldo. Grand General Cheon Taesu, who’d admitted fault and begged to stay and make amends, had his plea ignored.
“The punishment for the general’s mistakes will be decided at the palace.”
Saying the matter would be handled carefully really meant they intended to bind Cheon Taesu’s arms and legs tightly for a long time so he could not run rampant again. Until his treatment was decided he would not be allowed to attend court and would be confined to his residence.
During a period of enforced contrition, visitors would be barred from his home; many of those living with the Cheon family would leave. Naturally, people under his command would drift away as well.
‘So it comes to this, after all.’
Before mounting her horse, Danseol drank in the exotic landscape one last time. When she had first come here she had been resolute, but she had accomplished nothing. If anything, her heart felt muddled and uneasy.
‘I must learn more when we get back to Hwangseon.’
Who was I-gyeom truly? What had been done to the countries besides Seojin and Yuldo after they brought them into submission? If they used similar methods elsewhere, why had only Sulhwa — the one that surrendered — been trampled so cruelly?
“Your Grace!”
When she turned at the call, the imperial physician Han Judan hurried up to her. He was still wearing a white apron.
“How fortunate. I’m glad I could see you before you leave.”
“Will you not go with us to Hwangseon, Physician Han?”
Danseol asked, and Judan smiled sheepishly.
“I’m staying here. After spending a few months, I saw how dire the medical situation is.”
Because of the long war, doctors had been conscripted to the front; ordinary people suffered without proper care. The soldiers themselves were barely receiving the minimum treatment due to shortages.
So Judan decided to remain and use his knowledge to help them.
“And what of the imperial medical office…?”
“I told His Majesty I would give up my court physician post.”
Danseol’s eyes widened at what seemed an unexpected declaration. Judan laughed lightly at her surprise.
“It’s natural to be surprised. But I want to live truly as a physician now.”
He resolved to live a life of saving lives rather than chasing honor and riches. He could make that decision because of Danseol — she had helped him recover his original passion and zeal.
“You already seem to be living that life,” Danseol said.
When the signal to depart sounded, Danseol took the reins.
“Your Grace.”
Judan called after her as she mounted. He glanced about and lowered his voice.
“When you go to the palace, be careful of Her Majesty the Empress. There are far more of her people in the palace than you might think.”
No doubt, after what had happened in Yuldo, the Empress’s faction would tighten their watch. Danseol had not died here in the harsh lands nor did she leave without merit — she had returned with accomplishments and thus had a solidified position. A previously powerless concubine with support was a completely different rival. So E-hwa’s hostility would intensify. Judan worried whether Danseol could weather that trial.
“If you ever need help, show this to my family. It’s a small thing, but they will help.” He took an agate stone from his breast and presented it. A Chinese character, ‘漢’, marked the stone — his family name.
“You didn’t have to go this far…”
“I’m only repaying a debt. Don’t feel burdened.”
“Thank you.”
When the departure signal sounded again, Danseol accepted the stone from Judan and mounted her horse.
“Take care until we meet again.”
“You too, Physician.”
The word “physician,” rather than the court title, made Judan beam. Danseol bowed slightly and spurred her horse to join the formation.
She rode swiftly until she reached Gyeom’s side. As his official concubine, she should travel in the same party when returning.
“What were you talking about?” he asked.
“Yes?”
“About Han Judan.”
They had been talking far from where Gyeom stood, yet he had been watching them from a distance.
“It was nothing.” Danseol’s answer did not sit well with him; his brow knit slightly.
“Good you left him here.”
Allowing Judan to step down from his court position and remain behind had been the right decision — if he had gone, it might have troubled them.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.” Danseol turned her head; Gyeom gave a nonchalant reply and spurred his horse onward.
The return journey was easier than the trip to Yuldo. Autumn’s cooler weather and the end of the war removed many dangers.
The returning convoy’s mood was bright. Everyone was elated at the thought of returning home alive and seeing beloved family soon.
But not Danseol.
“Be careful of Her Majesty the Empress,” Judan’s words echoed. The closer they got to Hwangseon, the heavier her chest felt. The thought of reentering the palace made her sigh. The palace felt to her like a vast prison.
“Ambush! Everyone, take up arms!”
Danseol was jolted out of her thoughts by a sudden shout — but blades were already flashing from all sides.
“It’s remnants of Yuldo! Kill on sight!”
Those who launched the attack appeared to be followers of the half-brother of the former Yuldo king — insurgents and leftover loyalists. Soldiers leapt from the brush, eyes full of murderous intent.
“Seize that woman! She’s a concubine of the Emperor of Hwangseon!”
Someone pointed at Danseol, and the Yuldo remnants all surged toward her. Unable to face I-gyeom in combat, they aimed to capture the emperor’s cherished concubine to force concessions.
As soldiers rushed in, Danseol spurred her horse hard.
She refused to die pitifully without taking even a single revenge.
“We must capture her!”
The Yuldo remnants pursued relentlessly as she fled.
“Just a bit further and I can shake them off…”
Danseol dug deep and urged her horse onward.
Whiiing!
An arrow fired by one of the Yuldo remnants struck the horse in the rump.
