BEHIND THE PALACE WALLS

"Your Majesty." The Highest Three Ministers of the Office of Special advisors (Hongmoongwan) said as the King walked in.

They stood up and kowtowed to the King who made his way to his seat at the up front of the table.

The King often had daily appointments with them and he discussed with them some matters of the state and philosophy.

"Sit down." The King said and the Ministers sat down.

"What is it that bothers your Majesty so much?" One of the Ministers asked.

"The King holding a scroll threw it into the table at them.

"What is this, your Majesty?" The Deputy Chief Scholar asked.

"I should be the one asking that question, why don't you tell me what it is that is written in this scroll that I just received from the Ministry of Rites." King Gwangyang asked.

The Deputy Chief Scholar Minister Lee Hyung Bin took hold of the scroll and opened it.

Judging from the look on Minister Lee's face, all the other ministers knew that whatever was in the scroll was certainly not the very best News that the King wanted to hear or see.

"The old Seer." Minister Lee said.

It didn't take long enough for other ministers to know exactly what their fellow had hinted on.

"Forgive us Your Majesty, we certainly didn't mean to keep this from you and we are truly guilty." The Ministers said in unison.

"Since when, every other ministry and every other official even some elements that are part of this government of mine were aware, why is it that it was me who was last?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Your Majesty, our duty is to ensure that all information that is released before reaching those your ears is authentic.

This, all erupted as a rumour in the Province of Hanseong and spread about most parts of the land a while later.

We needed to first and foremost confirm that the Seer was in deed imprisoned and also if those were his words.

"Not so far but soon enough, a person from the Han family will be Queen of this our heavenly kingdom?" King Gwangyang exploded out of fury.

"Calm down site." Minister Lee said.

"The Grand Prince is unmarried yet he isn't even so close in succeeding the throne anytime soon." Minister Yang said.

"The Crown Princess being unable to give birth Sire, many believe that this might force the Crown Prince to look for another wife, a concubine.

If all is at its worst, it's possible that this is a warning from the heavens saying that the Crown Prince might end up marrying from the Han family.

This is what most people at the moment who are very wise keep thinking your Majesty." Minister Lee said.

"Arresting that seer was the worst decision and the very last that had to be made and because of that the Royal Clan is being put in a tough decision." King Gwangyang said.

"It was the best way of controlling the News from spreading." Minister Yang replied.

"No, it is thanks to that that the News will even spread faster like a wild fire and let alone it is making the Royal Clan seem rather scared.

It has been about two centuries since and slightly more since this country last had a Han Queen, there won't be a Queen regnant so it's probably a consort.

It is exposing the boundaries drawn on this political marriage especially one in which the heirs of the Crown are involved." King Gwangyang said.

"Your Majesty, in your Kind opinion, what should we do to the seer?" Minister Lee said.

"We cannot suppress this news,not even by force just to paint out our guilt to the world so there is only one last efficient stratagem that we shall resort to." King Gwangyang replied.

"What is it Your Majesty?" Minister Yang said.

"The News can only suppress itself so send out secret envoys throughout the land and have these new seer's words reach the people in rumours.

NOT SO FAR FROM NOW A QUEEN SHALL COME FROM THE HOUSE OF JANG .

And in the rigorous selection system for the Crown Prince's concubine all possible candidates from the Clan of Han must be eliminated and we must endeavour that the Crown Prince comes no where close to meeting one.

All his footsteps shall have to be watched day and night and even if there happens to be a Han do a thorough background check up and use it in every possible way you can to stop this marriage.

Make sure that everything works out in this way and in return, the confidence of the Hans will have greatly dissipated." King Gwangyang said.

"What about the Seer, what are we to do to him, we can not kill him nor can we keep him locked up even if he is being charged with falsification of visions.

He has disciples all over the land so we can not touch him when they are all watching, touching them would also mean imprinting on ourselves the fact that his words were true." Minister Lee said.

"Send him to a temple in the isolated mountains and there the gods shall keep him company because I heard in his very old age he is soon to die anyway.

It shall be seen as a favour from the King and the heavens have rewarded us with the new prophecy, it's better for him to stay silent until his final breath so that our words might be heard as well." King Gwangyang said.

"Your Majesty is indeed sage." Minister Yang said.

"Whatever it is, there can't be a Han Queen, I fear and I know it very well that that alone could engineer dire consequences and cause insurgency, revolt and chaos in the land." King Gwangyang confidently said.

"It shall be done as you wish Sire." All the Ministers said in unison but the King noticed that one of the Ministers was silent.

"Why the quietness, every one here has shared a thought, all of them except for this young man?" The King asked.

"Oh, that is Minister Suk Hwan, he is new to the office." Minister Yang said.

"Let him tell us what he is possibly thinking of at the moment about our plan." King Gwangyang demanded.

"If your Majesty wishes and I serve thee alone." Minister Suk Hwan replied.

"Your plan is brilliant and indeed you are foresighted but the problem is that it has but one flaw." The Minister said.

"Go ahead and tell me what it is." The King said.

"I don't mean to offend you but this is to deal with the Crown Prince and his choice of a concubine since we know that at the moment he can take in as many as he wants after all all women are to his service and pleasure." The Minister said.

"Then continue." King Gwangyang kindly asked.

"Eliminating all Hans from the system will be an indicator to some of the people especially the Hans themselves that the Royal Clan is in deed in fear yet in more than one way can we foil all those thoughts." The Minister replied.

"Which ways are those, I shall appreciate if you enlighten me?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Two marriages should be at hand right now, The marriages of the Crown Prince and at the same time the Grand Prince.

The Crown Prince's decision of a concubine should be final and that of the Grand Prince a temporary move in our own defence your Majesty.

We shall have the ugly and the less beautiful Han candidates put in place at the line of the Crown Prince and then we shall have the most beautiful and charming ones from other noble clans brought forth.

In the meantime, we can betrothe the Grand Prince to a beautiful and charming member of the Han family and since he is unexpectedly far from succeeding the throne, that betrothal will serve a very efficient tool.

The Crown Prince in a final decision to grace his own concubine will choose the most beautiful and from an influential family in the kingdom.

Even if the Hans dared to complain that the Hans were rejected from the posts of concubinage and only the ugly ones were chosen under the excuse of moral character, there will be the but that the Grand Prince is betrothed to a member of the Han family as well.

We can keep clean and there won't be reason for the Hans to revolt since there won't be an effective claim of segregation in this Royal matrimonial alliance system.

When the time comes and the dust has settled, we can conjure up an excuse to break off the engagement and it shall be too late for the Hans to say anything." Minister Suk Hwan said.

"That is a brilliant idea, how old are you?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Twenty seven years old." The Minister replied.

"You are but an intelligent young man and your talent has impressed me, very well then, we shall do exactly what you have said, it is reasonably the best way out." King Gwangyang said.

"Very well then Your Majesty, I am for your service and yours alone." The Minister Suk Hwan said as he bowed his head to the King and smiled.

"Then we'd all better effect this as fast as possible, this meeting is dismissed." King Gwangyang said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The ministers said as all the four of them stood up.

The Ministers kowtowed to the King and then he walked out to meet Mr. Oh standing outside.

"Have you seen Soohyun?" King Gwangyang asked.

"No your Majesty." Mr. Oh whispered in reply.

"If you meet him I am going to ask of you one thing and make sure you tell him I want the dog swept clean." King Gwangyang said.

"Which one?" Mr. Oh asked.

"The newest of the three gems of the Special advisors." King Gwangyang replied.

"Very well your Majesty." Mr. Oh replied as they continued and walked out to the King's main palace.

"So smart, how did you conjure up such a brilliant idea to the King?" Minister Yang asked.

Minister Suk Hwan kept quiet as he smiled at himself.

"I just took a keener thought on it, the plan was initially the King's, all that I did was improve it a little, don't flatter me." Minister Suk Hwan replied.

"Alright then." Minister Lee said.

"You heard the King so we'd better start off what he asked of us, we are all his servants after all and protecting him and the throne is our primary concern." Mr. Lee added as they all stood up to leave as well.

Shin Ji walked into Seunghyeonjeong's room only to be dragged inside by his master.

"Young Master." Shin Ji said.

"Ssshhh." Seunghyeonjeong muttered.

Shin Ji complied until he was actually sat down beside his master.

"I met someone." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Who?" Shin Ji asked curiously.

"Someone that I think I really love so much." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"You are in love?" Shin Ji yelled out of surprise.

"Ssshhh, someone might hear you." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"May be it is all a mistake." Shin Ji said.

"I haven't confirmed it but I believe that I am having a series of feelings that even I am unable to comprehend towards the Grand Prince." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"Give up." Shin Ji said.

"Give up?" Seunghyeonjeong asked.

"Yes." Shin Ji confirmed.

"Why do you say so?" Seunghyeonjeong asked.

"Your father can not allow you to marry a politician, let along the King's son, you are also a Han so technically there will be much opposition from the Royal Clan.

There are very many boys and girls from wealthy families and from the nobility and the Grand Prince would choose you, has he seen you?" Shin Ji asked.

"No, not really, he doesn't know me." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"He doesn't know your face at all so don't hope too high, it is normal for people to love the famous and prestigious people but when you keep growing up you end up falling for someone else instead that you see and they see you.

Someone with whom your life is going to be smooth and free, out of the limelight and the attention of others and your love has know rules." Shin Ji said.

"I'll take your word for it and maybe you are right, why would the Grand Prince or any other Prince fall for me?" Seunghyeonjeong said.

"How about the Crown Prince whom you met at the textile store yesterday?" Shin Ji said.

"At least we both know it that he was really flirting with you, we are smart enough to figure that out." Shin Ji added.

"It was a one time thing and I am very sure he must have forgotten me, I heard news from the palace that his wife had a stillbirth so with all that there is possibly no way he would think of me.

Even though, I could consider that he was simply interested in knowing me more for being Kind, he is older than me by quite a number of years, we can not be a couple." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"You are turning sixteen a couple of weeks from now, people might even come and begin asking for your hand in marriage or the vice versa." Shin Ji said.

"Marriage is out of the question, I am not ready for a committed and serious relationship, I am too young for that." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"That doesn't mean that you can not be betrothed." Shin Ji said.

"Even though, besides I am confident and certain that mother and father won't allow that to happen so easily." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"I hope that at least you find your joy." Shin Ji said.

The Crown Prince was standing at the balcony of his palace when he received a message from his own personal Eunuch.

"Is he here?" Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"Yes he is." The Eunuch replied.

"Let him come." Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Alright your Highness." The Eunuch said as he withdrew from the Crown Prince's presence and then a while later returned with one of the Imperial guards.

"You went with me to the textile store yesterday?" The Grand Prince asked.

"Yes your Highness." The guard replied.

"You remember the young man that we happened to meet there?" The Crown Prince asked again.

"Yes your Highness." The guard replied.

"Then find me everything there is to know about him and his family and in due course inform me about it." The Crown Prince said.

"Yes your Highness." The guard replied.

"You may go." The Crown Prince said.

"Yes your Highness." the guard replied and he was escorted away by the Eunuch leaving the Crown Prince looking at the city rooftops.

"Wherever it is that you are, I will find you." The Crown Prince said to himself when someone happened to turn up behind him.

"Brother?" the Grand Prince said.

"Have you made up your mind?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked his brother.

"You have been there for me, rather than abandon you, I'd choose to stand with you and be against father because if ever you become King, it will be entirely you and not him." Prince Gyeongseongmun replied.

The Crown Prince then turned around and faced his brother while smiling, he was so delighted to have heard what his brother had told him.

"You of all people have made my mood today." Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Brother, I remember I once promised you when we were very young, nothing in this world would possibly ever come between the both of us, not even father himself." Prince Gyeongseongmun replied.

"Thank you, in all in all I am very glad that my brother remembers the promise that he made to me." The Crown Prince said.

"And I am still going to keep it." Prince Gyeongseongmun said as he came closer to his brother.

"You have my support." He added happily.