SEUNGNYANG'S RETURN AND THE PRINCES' OBSESSIONS

Seunghyeonjeong and Shin Ji stood outside the Han Manor and there below the stairs from the doorstep they waited as they watched carriages passing by and forth.

Seunghyeonjeong looked side to side anxiously that it was very clear he was anticipating the presence of some one not so far from then.

As the time went by, he grew more and more impatient until eventually, an unexpected carriage stopped in front of him and his face lit up immediately.

The Coachman got a footstool which he placed beside the carriage and out of it, Seungnyang, his second older brother stepped out.

"Brother." Seunghyeonjeong said delightedly as he embraced him.

Seunghyeonjeong had grown closer to Seungnyang more than he was to Seungjae given that they had a small age difference between each other.

They shared some toys in childhood and also read the same books until Seungnyang discovered his own hidden passion to serve in the army.

"You have grown thinner and thinner than I remember you, you have lost so much weight." Seunghyeonjeong said as he pulled apart from his brother.

"Life in a barracks is not that easy to live especially for someone as delicate as yourself.

On the contrary, you have barely gained weight and yet you basically spent the whole time home." Seungnyang replied.

"Let's go inside and talk a little bit more." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"I am sure you are excited to listen to all the stories that I am about to tell you." Seungnyang said.

"Of course." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"You are turning sixteen soon brother, I am very much surprised by how you still act childishly." Seungnyang said.

"I fear that it might be one of those last times that I may have to act childishly, stranger things happen with me everyday." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"There is nothing strange about being bored." Seungnyang said.

"It's not being bored." Seunghyeonjeong defended himself.

"Young Master." The people in the household said as the two brothers walked straight to Seungnyang's quarters.

The doors were opened and the two of them walked inside.

"This room looks cleaner and better than I actually remember leaving it." Seungnyang said.

"Young Master is caring and so considerate, he personally arranged this room for you and cleaned it without even my help.

He chose the material of your beddings and had some parts refurnished so that he would surprise you first on your return." Shin Ji said.

"Oh, I never knew that my brother was this loving and caring of me." Seungnyang said.

"It's nothing, I just missed you so much and I am actually happy that you made it back safely." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"It's nothing much too but at least allow me to say thank you, you have in deed added more life and style to the room, I should really be thankful the very least for that.

Enjoying the comfort of my room." Seungnyang said.

"Shin Ji, have some tea prepared for the both of us, in the meantime I am going to stay here and catch up with Seungnyang on his adventures." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Yes young Master." Shin Ji replied and turned around leaving the two in the bedroom alone.

"Let us sit down, you must be exhausted from the journey." Seunghyeonjeong said as he led Seungnyang to the table not far away that was stationed in front of a window with a wonderful view of the manor's Central garden.

The two gracefully sat down on opposite sides of the table.

"So tell me, how did your training go in the barracks?" Seunghyeonjeong asked.

"It was quite hectic and I must say that at least compared to all the others I am far better, my skills and techniques..." Seungnyang said as he was interrupted.

"Are mixed?" Seunghyeonjeong completed.

"Yes." Seungnyang replied.

"I sort of knew that, it is quite obvious given that you spent your early years mastering a series of fighting techniques even from the surrounding Kingdoms." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Pretty much but for some reason the Commander in charge most of the times hates me, there was this one time he chose people to spur with us.

They were all seniors and rumoured to be part of the elite border armies, apparently their skills were not that part and it was difficult for most of my friends and fellow colleagues to keep up.

At the time, I chose my candidate and when I showcased some of my skills, out of the two thousand Juniors I was the best and the only one who truimphed over my opponent." Seungnyang said.

"You must have really put on quite a show, I know you really love the spotlight brother and even on that you must have been delighted being the star disciple." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"But my Commander is not really happy about it given that I use my own techniques." Seungnyang said.

"I understand it very well." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"The city here was rather boring without you and mother is making preparations for Seungjae to get married sooner or later.

They say that he is apparently ready to get married right now." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"How about you, have you fallen in love already." Seungnyang suddenly asked.

"Seunghyeonjeong was surprised but then his heart skipped a bit when he remembered that handsome and charming face of the Grand Prince.

The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun whose features were heavenly, forged not of merely frail flesh but divine love.

He was dignified and he had made Seunghyeonjeong's heart beat fast, something the young boy had never expected to go through at that time.

He certainly didn't notice that he was blushing in front of his brother.

"You are in love." Seungnyang said.

"No." Seunghyeonjeong quickly denied.

"I am not really a fool brother, your expression sells you off and if you in deed weren't in love why would your face be seriously flushing the colour red?" Seungnyang said.

"It's hot, remember it is early Summer." Seunghyeonjeong defended himself.

"Come on brother, we have grown and spent sixteen years technically together, how could I not know when you are lying.

Confide your secret in me and I promise that I will not tell anyone, even father." Seungnyang pleaded.

"Alright." Seunghyeonjeong gave in.

"So who's the lucky one you have fallen with? Seungnyang asked.

"It is just admiration and nothing more and I am not certain that there could be a more intimate relationship between the both of us." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Just tell me the name of that person." Seungnyang said.

"I think I have feelings for the Grand Prince." Seunghyeonjeong said.

Seungnyang was surprised that he suddenly went quiet before he asked another question.

"Has he even ever noticed your presence or noticed you or saved you, anything close that could make the two of you close enough?" Seungnyang asked.

"Not really, we have only coincidentally met up twice, first time I was taking medicine to father the last time he was leaving the capital.

We even spurred with one another and he was the one who had first saved me from falling off the horse. I think he might have figured out who I was because the second time, he chased me and Shin Ji around the city." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Isn't it fateful that the both of you meet under horrible circumstances and that you are either fighting or running away from one another.

Clearly, that relationship of intimacy between the both of you won't work out well like you want it to work out, it might end up with many casualties.

Besides, you also know it very well that the King can not really allow a pure blood Han of Royal descent to marry into the Royal Family, have you not heard of that prophecy that a Han will become the Queen of this Kingdom?" Seungnyang asked.

"Apparently the gossip travelled faster than I had expected." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Many people even fear a Han marrying into the Royal family at this stage and there happens to be another communication that the Queen will be from the house of Jang, the first statement was a mishearing." Seungnyang said.

"The Royalists would go to any great lengths to suppress the news and manipulate it into what they want the world to know, they fear it might motivate the Hans to rebel." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"But seriously, may be the Grand Prince is just a temporary crush and when you find someone who is more handsome you might just forget him like you have never seen him before." Seungnyang said.

"I certainly hope so." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"I know it for a fact." Seungnyang said.

"What about you, aren't you interested in finding someone?" Seunghyeonjeong asked his brother.

"For the time being I do not think so, I want to first succeed at being the best General and perhaps Commander of the armed forces this country has ev r had.

May be when that dream is fulfilled, I will consider finding a consort though I wish they are as charming and as smart as you are brother." Seungnyang said.

"Don't worry, you will find the right person when the time comes." Seunghyeonjeong said.

Shin Ji walked in with the tea a couple of minutes after.

"Young masters, your tea is here." Shin Ji said as he placed the tea down on the table and bowed his head as he withdrew afterwards.

"Thank you Shin Ji." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"You can wait here beside me." Seunghyeonjeong added.

"Yes young Master." Shin Ji said as he moved right beside the two brothers.

"Any information on Minister Han?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked Sangil.

"Yes your Highness." Sangil replied as he bowed his head with his sword at hand.

"Tell me." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Apparently, two days from now, Minister Han has invited a number of people both the noblemen and the commons to a feast in his Manor during the Lantern festival.

It also happens to be the birthday of his youngest son and he really doesn't mind the number of visitors which is why people admire him for his hospitality.

I am sure he would even be more delighted if a member of the Imperial royal family arrived after all your mother I heard received her invitation." Sangil replied.

"That is very pleasant news and indeed music that is very nice to my ears, don't you think?" The Crown Prince said as he looked at Sangil in the eyes.

"Yes your Highness, in deed it really is good news." Sangil replied.

"For such a wonderful feast then I must dress to my very best to please the masses and offer my respect." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Yes your Majesty." Sangil replied.

"Tell me, what about my father's men?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"My men haven't seen any strange people nor have they encountered any of them certainly." Sangil replied.

"I think that your father even has no idea what is going on as I heard that his health is not really the very best and it is worsening with every day that goes by." Sangil added.

"My father is a very smart man and there is also that possibility if his health is as you say it is nevertheless, you and your men should not really let your guard down." The Crown Prince said.

"Yes your Highness." Sangil said.

"Then make sure that you keep your eyes wide open and please quickly inform me on anything else that happens.

I am sure that very soon after the Lantern festival, a decision on the Royal concubine will be reached, I hope you are also about to conclude the task that I gave you." The Crown Prince said.

"Yes Your Highness." Sangil said.

"Very well then, I expect positive results." The Crown Prince said.

"I'll make sure that you get them your Highness." Sangil said.

"You may leave." The Crown Prince said as he waved off Sangil who took his leave.

The Crown Prince remained there seated and then out of his clothes, he pulled out the blue sachet and tightened his grip around it.

He remembered that wonderful and bright day at the market, the sweetest smile he had ever seen on Seunghyeonjeong's face.

All along with that soft angelic tone in his voice and that dignity and charm that the young man had worn from the very first time he had seen it.

The promise to make it up to him, all those wonderful memories added a wide smile to the Crown Prince's face.

He could almost feel the presence of Seunghyeonjeong right there with him.

"Han Seunghyeonjeong." The Crown Prince said as he looked even closely at the sachet.

"Even if it means lying to my brother or taking a life, walking through thorns and fire, I will make you mine.

Mine and mine alone because in this life or any other I am the only man that you can ever love and who can ever love you the most." The Crown Prince added.

"This I promise." He said so determined.

After that, he smiled.

The Grand Prince in his own room back at the Gaesungseong palace sat down looking at the halved Jade pendant.

The pendant with the Phoenix designs was a very unique model and he knew that even among nobles, at least, it had to be very rare.

He studied all the curves, the spaces, depressions and marks that all came together in the most beautiful form.

"Where are you?" The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked himself.

He could remember how tightly he had held the mystery stranger Seunghyeonjeong tightly into his hands.

How he looked into those sparkling dark eyes and how they were chest to chest and their faces only a few inches apart.

That was one of the most beautiful embraces he had received in all his life that he couldn't help but feel a mixture of both sadness and joy.

"I'll find you, I know it, someday, I will find you and when I do, I will never let you go." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said to himself.

Afterwards, he tightened his grip around the halved Jade pendant.

Suddenly, an idea came to his mind.

"The Royal records." The Grand Prince said as he stood up.

"I just need to know which Minister was being apprehended by father seven years ago." The Grand Prince thought.

"If I could then I might have a clue which family to look from." The Grand Prince concluded.

At once, without wasting any time at all, the Grand Prince walked out of his Chambers and he was headed for the Palace library where the records of all those who entered and left the palace were kept.

When the Grand Prince got inside, he knew exactly where he was supposed to look and after going through some shelves he landed onto one.

From there, he got out the book of records of that year and that month that confirmed the entries and the exits that were made into the palace.

Opening page by page, a very interesting statement caught his eye.

"THE APPREHENSION OF MINISTER JANG." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun read.

"The Boy from seven years ago, he is the son of Minister Jang." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun was suddenly shocked that he could not believe his eyes.