Chapter 19
Dangerous Deception
Leaving Chiwoljeon, Ihwa walked toward Geonwoljeon without a single word. The court ladies trailing behind her did not even dare to breathe loudly.
“One wrong move, and we’ll be dead!”
Though no one spoke, every attendant shared the same thought. That was how terrifying Iwah’s mood was—like walking across a frozen lake where the ice could crack at any moment.
Suddenly, a lightning bolt had struck: a new favored concubine had appeared out of nowhere, and worse, that concubine was said to be carrying the imperial heir. No woman, let alone the Empress herself, could feel pleased about that.
It was both a humiliation as a woman and a disgrace as Empress. Above all, Ihwa had yearned desperately to bear the Emperor’s child. It was the only way to secure her position and the only way to avoid being cast aside by Gyeom.
“I will not walk the same path as my aunt. Never….”
Her paternal aunt, the former Empress, had died young and lonely, sick and childless. Though she had ascended to the highest position a woman could hold, her life was one of the most miserable Ihwa had ever seen.
“Unlike me, you should marry a man who truly loves you and grow old by his side.”
At the time, Ihwa had been too young to understand the weight of those words. Raised as the cherished daughter of a prestigious family, she had arrogantly believed there was no one in the world who would not love her.
She had thought that the man she desired would surely return her love.
So when she first saw Gyeom in the palace and her heart had leapt, she was certain he must have felt the same. She believed she would not end up like her aunt, scorned and ignored by the Emperor in favor of a mere court maid.
But in truth, Ihwa had ended up walking the exact same path. The false token that had made her Gyeom’s woman had never brought her his interest or love.
Only now did she finally understand the meaning—and the pain—hidden in her aunt’s words.
“Your Majesty, will you retire directly to your chambers?”
“Yes. I am tired.”
At Gyeonji’s worried question, Ihwa nodded weakly.
“I will remain at Her Majesty’s side. The rest of you may withdraw.”
At her command, the maids quietly dispersed.
Once the watching eyes were gone, Ihwa let out a low sigh, her tense shoulders sinking. She finally felt like she could breathe again.
‘So even as Empress, there’s no escaping the fate of being abandoned by one’s husband.’
‘I wonder… if I were to catch His Majesty’s eye, would I too be granted favor?’
Though no one said it aloud, it felt as if the court ladies whispered such things behind her back. To sit before them, pretending composure while her heart bled, was a far more degrading experience than she had ever imagined.
Ihwa had just closed her eyes, letting Gyeonji quietly adjust her adornments, when—
“Your Majesty, the medicine has arrived.”
A young maid entered with a tray, accompanied by the physician. At once, Iwah’s eyes flashed open. That pale, youthful face reminded her all too much of that woman, Danseol, and her mood soured instantly.
“Please take it before it cools, Your Majesty.”
Kneeling, the maid offered the bowl. Ihwa’s lips twisted into a chilling sneer.
“Do you even know what this medicine is for?”
The maid’s shoulders trembled. She hesitated, eyes filled with fear.
“I will ask you again. Do you know what this medicine does?”
“This medicine… preserves warmth in the body so that a child may take root more easily, Your Majesty.”
“And knowing that, you dare to present this to me?”
It was Ihwa herself who had ordered the medicine, but her fury found an outlet in the trembling girl.
“N-no, that is not what I—ahhh!”
Snatching the bowl, Ihwa flung the steaming liquid directly into the girl’s face.
“My face! Aaaaagh!”
The maid collapsed, screaming, as blisters spread rapidly across her pale skin. Watching the once-white face burn and bubble gave Ihwa a perverse sense of relief.
“Your Majesty… it was my fault, forgive me!”
“Did you think you could insult me and escape unscathed? Drag her out at once!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At Gyeonji’s signal, two eunuchs rushed in, seizing the shrieking girl.
“Please! Spare me! Have mercy!”
Her cries echoed as she was dragged away, the physician swept along with her.
“Your Majesty, are you hurt? Did the hot medicine touch your hand?”
“It is nothing. Only a slight burn on my fingers.”
“I will fetch ointment immediately!”
Seeing the Empress’s fingers flushed red, Gyeonji nearly panicked. She hurried to bring cool water and salve, gently tending the injury.
“Why are you crying, Gyeonji?”
“Because it grieves me, Your Majesty… to see the most noble lady in the realm suffer such indignities.”
The world might scorn Ihwa as cruel and envious, but to Gyeonji she was still the kind, gentle young lady she had sworn to serve.
“You are the only one in this palace who truly cares for me.”
“I would walk into fire itself for Your Majesty. Even then, I could never repay the grace you have shown me.”
Before meeting Ihwa, Gyeonji had lived in misery, beaten by her father and begging in the streets. Death by hunger or violence had been her only fate.
But then, Ihwa had extended a hand.
“Come with me. Let us live like human beings.”
The first person ever to treat her as more than refuse had been Ihwa. From then on, Gyeonji’s loyalty was absolute.
“Your words give me strength. I too will not let this pass quietly.”
“Only command me, and it shall be done.”
“Find out everything you can about that woman, Danseol—her origins, her family, every detail. Leave nothing hidden.”
Even the smallest flaw would be enough to drag that arrogant girl down.
“And if possible… it may not be so bad to see her dead.”
Ihwa intended to strike Danseol down before Gyeom’s very eyes, to show him the agony of losing someone beloved.
Meanwhile, Danseol’s life had changed completely since becoming a concubine.
“Your breakfast, my lady.”
Though few, she now had maids to serve her. She could eat warm, plentiful meals every day.
In her homeland of Seolhwaguk, such things had been ordinary. But here in Hwangseong, she had risen at dawn, starved, and labored ceaselessly, eating only cold leftovers scavenged from others.
“…Meat? At breakfast?”
Danseol blinked at the dish. Though her treatment had improved, meat had never been served so lavishly, especially in the morning.
“His Majesty has ordered that meat be served to you three times a day.”
“…I see.”
Taking a bite, Danseol nearly closed her eyes. It had been so long; the rich taste was almost intoxicating.
“What is he thinking?”
As she slowly emptied her bowl, her mind turned to Gyeom. She had not seen him since that night, yet he had done much for her.
First, he had restored Chiwoljeon, a decrepit hall, and gifted it to her as residence. Once cleaned and decorated, the once-haunted place had become bright and welcoming. Its size was overwhelming for just one woman.
Then, only two days ago, he had sent bolts of silk, jewelry, and treasures enough to dazzle. And now, this—meat at every meal.
It went beyond simple favoritism. Even a favored consort must still bow to palace law. To so openly lavish such things upon a former maid, while the Empress lived, was to break that law.
“If only I knew what lies beneath this…”
The uncertainty gnawed at her. Worse, she was living daily under the lie of a pregnancy. Each step felt like crossing thin ice.
“The physician, Master Tae, has arrived.”
“Let him enter.”
No sooner had she finished breakfast than Tae Seorang entered with calm dignity.
“Have you been well, my lady?”
“Thanks to you, I am unharmed.”
“I am glad. Now, may I examine both you and the child?”
At his words, the servants discreetly withdrew.
“How did you do it?”
“Do what, my lady?”
Danseol glanced around nervously, lowering her voice.
“The pregnancy.”
A sly smile curved Seorang’s lips. From his robe, he drew a small dried sprig.
“…The Heart-Grass?”
“As expected, you recognize it.”
Her brows furrowed.
“You used Heart-Grass to falsify my pulse?”
One of its side effects was to make a person’s pulse erratic. By manipulating her wrist, Seorang had feigned the subtle rhythm of a child’s pulse within.
“It was necessary, to make you a concubine.”
“But how will you answer for this later? When the truth comes out?”
“If you keep silent, none shall know.”
“If the Grand Empress Dowager learns of this, neither of us will survive!”
The Grand Empress Dowager longed desperately for an heir. She had even forced noblewomen to attempt strange rituals to secure it. To deceive her was a crime of immense peril.
“Then perhaps even now we should—”
“The Grand Empress Dowager approaches!”
The loud cry from outside cut Danseol off. Her face drained of color as the announcement thundered through the halls.
The Grand Empress Dowager was coming.
✨ End of Chapter 19
