Chapter 5
Just as another hectic morning at the Royal Infirmary was coming to an end, an unexpected visitor appeared.
“Who is the medical maid Shinbi?”
A neatly dressed eunuch had arrived. He was no low-ranking palace servant. His attire was refined, and he even had attendants with him. He clearly held a high position.
The other medical maids seemed to think the same. Their glances all turned toward Shinbi.
“I—I am here…?”
Shinbi stepped forward, wringing the ramie cloth in her hands.
“I am the Sangseon of the Main Hall.”
She nearly collapsed on the spot. A Sangseon was a senior eunuch of the second rank—someone who attended closely to the king and carried royal orders. Even the highest ministers could not treat such a man lightly.
“You were the one who presented medicine to the Crown Prince yesterday?”
“Y-yes…”
“That was the first time His Highness willingly took his medicine.”
The eunuch spoke solemnly.
“Until now, he would only wet his lips when His Majesty forced him.”
It seemed the Crown Prince had stubbornly refused medicine ever since the accident.
No wonder Lady Baek of the Eastern Palace had looked ready to cry with joy when Shinbi showed her the empty bowl yesterday.
“His Majesty was very pleased.”
The eunuch continued.
“He praised you greatly, saying you were more dependable than the palace attendants who were meant to serve him.”
He nodded slightly, and a young eunuch behind him presented a silk-wrapped bundle.
“This is a gift bestowed by His Majesty.”
Before she even realized it, Shinbi had dropped flat to the floor in a deep bow.
“…His Majesty hopes you will continue to be more useful than the inner attendants.”
The praise carried a warning between the lines.
“You must never disappoint His Majesty.”
With that, the eunuch turned and walked away with heavy, deliberate steps.
From that moment on, getting the Crown Prince to drink his medicine became a matter of survival. Shinbi wondered why the better she did her work, the heavier her responsibilities became.
“I wonder what the king gave you?”
Manduk, who couldn’t read between the lines at all, poked her side cheerfully.
“Hurry and open it!”
The other medical maids joined in, urging her on.
Unable to resist the pressure, Shinbi untied the silk cloth. Inside was a paulownia wood box. When she opened it, a brush lay within.
“Huh? That’s it? It’s not even something pretty and expensive like jewelry or a perfume pouch.”
The maids sounded disappointed.
“That’s worth far more than those things.”
Manduk narrowed her eyes and gently touched the tip of the brush.
“…It’s clearly a top-grade item meant only for presentation before the king.”
“What’s so special about a brush? You can scribble with anything!”
The other maids pouted.
“Writing is the foundation of the state, and His Majesty gave that tool to someone of low birth.”
Manduk snapped sharply.
“Are you really too stupid to understand how meaningful that is?”
She had a talent for making enemies with every word.
As expected, the other maids glared at her.
“Right, right. You’re the only genius here.”
“Of course. I’m exceptional.”
Manduk shrugged. The others looked close to bursting with anger.
While they argued, Shinbi was distracted by a small note tucked alongside the brush.
The handwriting was heavy and dignified.
‘I look forward to seeing what it truly means to practice medicine that soothes the hearts of others.’
Even reading the king’s words felt overwhelming.
A bad feeling settled in her stomach. She had spoken impulsively in front of the king just to get through the moment. Now it seemed she would be held responsible for those words.
Just then, the sound of the water clock rang out in the distance. It was already time to bring medicine to the Crown Prince again.
“I’m heading out.”
She spoke to the arguing maids, but no one listened. They were too busy scolding Manduk together.
“Enough. Be quiet.”
Court Lady Jahi finally intervened.
“Manduk, finish Shinbi’s tasks in her place.”
“Yes, understood.”
Manduk looked relieved to escape the argument.
“Then I’ll be off!”
If the Crown Prince used tardiness as an excuse to complain today, yesterday’s effort would be wasted.
Shinbi ran off, the straw hat dangling from her wrist.
“…It’s not even raining. Why are you bringing that?”
Jahi’s confused voice followed her, but Shinbi ignored it.
***
She reached the Eastern Palace in one breath.
“The royal physician slightly changed the prescription and brewed it himself before leaving.”
Lady Baek hurriedly handed over the medicine tray.
“He tried to serve it to His Highness, but as usual, he refused.”
“He must have felt the effects yesterday…”
Shinbi felt uneasy, anticipating another battle.
“Do you think you can calm His Highness again today?”
Lady Baek looked anxious.
“His Majesty is watching closely, blaming the inner attendants for failing to serve the Crown Prince properly. If things return to how they were…”
She swallowed nervously.
“I will do my best.”
Despite the pressure, Shinbi promised.
She wasn’t the only one in a tight spot. She, too, had received the king’s expectations—and warning—disguised as a reward.
There was no escape now.
“Your Highness, the medical maid requests an audience.”
The eunuch announced. There was no response.
“Just go in.”
As soon as Shinbi stepped forward, the door closed behind her. As always, no one dared enter with her.
That was fine. Shinbi placed the straw hat on her head. If palace maids were present, they’d surely scold her for improper behavior.
“…You again.”
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes when he saw her.
He lay weakly on the golden bedding. His topknot had loosened, stray hairs falling free. His white robe was partially untied, exposing his chest.
“You don’t even feel embarrassed, showing yourself when I look like this.”
“I’ve seen worse.”
Shinbi replied calmly.
“If you knew how many strange patients come through the Royal Infirmary, you’d faint.”
“Of course. There’s a reason medical maids are chosen from among the lowborn.”
He scoffed.
“Always close to dirty blood and disease… even mingling freely with men.”
“Are you trying to say medical maids are indecent women?”
Shinbi pointed out the prejudice without hesitation.
Medical maids studied endlessly and cared for patients even when families abandoned them—yet instead of gratitude, society branded them as immoral.
People despised medical maids for touching the sick and for being women who interacted with men.
In truth, medical maids were often forced into banquets like court entertainers. Even when kings tried to forbid it, tradition overpowered law.
“Well…”
Shinbi laughed softly at the discrimination.
“But when someone falls ill, they beg that ‘indecent woman’ to save them. You probably don’t know how desperately they plead.”
She saw it as pure hypocrisy.
“…You are truly interesting.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed red.
“But this indecent woman can’t bear to see the heir of the nation begging, so she offers the medicine first.”
Shinbi joked lightly.
“Please take it graciously.”
Dragging the conversation further wouldn’t help his health. She firmly held out the bowl.
“…There is one thing I must tell you.”
The Crown Prince said quietly, still staring at the medicine.
“I find you irritating.”
“Irritating?”
“I’ve tried several times to drive you away by harassing you, but it never worked.”
“You were harassing me?”
Shinbi kept reacting without meaning to.
“I poured medicine on you. I shoved you…”
He gestured to his disheveled appearance.
“I even made a sight no woman should see.”
“That’s all?”
Shinbi barely held back a laugh.
“If you wanted to torment someone beneath you, you could’ve been much crueler…”
Her mind wandered to the hardships she’d endured as a government slave.
“Don’t interrupt.”
He waved his left hand—the only one he could move.
“…But I do not think of you as an indecent woman.”
His voice fell quietly.
