THE KING'S MEETING AND THE PRINCE'S DOING

"Minister Jang?" The Grand Prince still questioned himself as he walked out of the records room.

A part of him was very hesitant to admit the truth but there was still another part hoping he was not wrong in his judgement.

"Your Highness." Someone called his name that he turned around to see who the person was.

It was one of the palace maids.

"What is it." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked.

"Pardon me your Highness, may I ask what you were doing inside there?" The maid said.

"Nothing, why do you care to ask though?" The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked.

"It is just my duty your Highness, I was simply asked to watch the place while the guards are away." The maid replied.

"The guards, away?" The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked uncertain of he had heard very well.

"Yes your Highness." The maid replied that the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun became a little bit suspicious.

"Why would the guards be away, has anything happened here in the palace?" The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked.

"Isn't your Highness aware, today the King just asked most of the Ministers into court immediately, he called that most of the Royal guards of the palace to converge at the main square in front of Gaesonghui hall." The maid replied.

"A meeting, with all the Ministers?" The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked.

"Not all, just most of them." The maid said.

"They were mainly low ranking officials and only a few are from the High court and the State council." The maid replied.

The Grand Prince looked at the maid keenly.

"For a maid you seem to be acquainted with too much." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.

"Aren't I in place of the person that takes care of the palace records your Highness, it is also very important that I on behalf of my master know those ministers who come in and go out of the palace." The maid replied.

"Alright then I'll take my leave." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said as he continued leaving behind the maid who bowing her head turned to watch him disappear.

The Ministers who were gathered were starting to murmur amongst themselves, these were men who rarely tended to court matters and visited the State palace of the King.

Some had even never set foot inside the throne room and they were wondering what matter it was that had forced the King to summon them all.

"Your Majesty, the King has arrived." One of the palace guards of the main hall announced and the entire house flew into order immediately.

The King gracefully walked with his head high and his gaze rising up to the throne where he was headed to seat.

The King Gwangyang looked confident and healthy, he looked stern and full of an unchallenged August as his eyes raged with absolute power the authority rested in his hands alone.

The King ascended the stairs and then while facing his ministers, they offered their respect.

"Your Majesty." They said as they bowed down their heads in honour to his name.

The King in pomp took his seat and rested his hands on both his knees to support himself.

"I know, that all of you, my faithful servants are gathered here today and are probably wondering what the main reason that I called you here for is." King Gwangyang said.

"Yes your Majesty." The house replied in unison.

"I call you here today knowing that even with you the majority here are but simple officials who have nothing much to call their own and yet I have placed amongst you some of the highest officials and this country's great men.

The issue that I present at hand today is that very soon, my time as King of this country might come to an end." The King said.

"Your Majesty." The Ministers started to plead and some were shocked when the King spoke up loudly.

He looked healthy in every way that many wondered if he was just trying to be prepared even for the worst.

"I do not mean to scare you at all, nor do I really mean it but I am doing what's best in my position as King to prepare for the worst.

My ancestors, King Sejeonghwa, King Songyong and even Queen Yheonjae were people of respect and nevertheless even after they reigned long enough to keep the country stable.

Even then, their deaths marked a key factor in tearing the people apart and brooding a civil war which I do not wish for in this our heavenly kingdom." King Gwangyang said.

The majority had kept their attention as the King Gwangyang continued.

"As we are all very aware that in my eighteen years as the King of this country, I have loved and I have cherished it's people wholeheartedly.

We the people of this heavenly realm, you I consider children of my own and those I call my dearest brothers that are close to my heart, I have given up so much for your good in the hopes that you would return the favor." King Gwangyang said.

"Speak your Majesty, we your humble servant a are listening." The ministers said in unison as they bowed their heads.

"Bring in the rights." The King Gwangyang said.

The ministers looked around as a couple of palace maids walked into the the wide golden hall holding platters all of which were full of red scrolls.

The maids stopped in front of each of the Ministers on either side of the hall.

"Take the rights and carefully listen to these words that I am going to say." The King Gwangyang said and without hesitation the ministers took hold of those scrolls.

"Excuse us." The King ordered the servants to walk out and he remained alone with the ministers in the hall as the doors were closed.

"In the possession of each one of you is a very special right that is entitled to all you members in this house, it bares three key features all of which I say are your names, my name and the King's Royal seal.

There are thirty six of you and those are thirty six scrolls and these are the rights you are to defend with your life and then keep secret from anyone outside even your families.

These rights allow you to intervene for me when I am gone and it's time for my successor to take the throne.

I shall collect them all from you one by one and each of them must be returned intact and unsealed so should there be any thing that points at even one of you opening their scrolls, your family will be executed along with you.

If someone tampers with your right, turn to me immediately and turn them in to face the law. Only when the time is right and the fates have decided you must strike.

All of you that are gathered here shall stand in one voice and let those who oppose you even if amongst yourselves become the enemies of both the state and the heavens.

Should even a son or a daughter take a look at it, if they can not forget it and you love this land, don't feel guilty to banish them far away or take away their lives." King Gwangyang said.

"Yes your Majesty." The Ministers said.

"Should word of this reach out without my prior knowledge, whoever the message is traced back to be it an individual or a household, he and his entire house will be wiped off the face of this Earth." King Gwangyang said.

"Yes your Majesty." The Ministers said.

"Here ends the parliamentary session." King Gwangyang said.

"You are all dismissed." King Gwangyang said as he got up from his Throne and then walked down the aisle leaving the ministers bowing their heads.

Concluding his exit, the ministers only followed afterwards quietly and nearly dumber than they had walked in.

The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun stood at a distance as he watched his father walk out of the throne room.

A while later, he caught sight of the other officials the majority dressed in blue and a few in red.

"Why would father call them on such a short notice?" The Grand Prince asked himself but then let it slide.

The Crown Prince was seated in his own private study when Sangil walked in.

"Your Highness." Sangil said.

"You finished what I asked of you?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"Yes your Highness, immediately after everything that happened yesterday, I had the Goldsmith conclude the Jade pendant.

We can rest assured that the Grand Prince won't be aware that this one was forged by ourselves." Sangil replied.

"I knew you wouldn't fail me, hand me the Jade pendant." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

Without hesitation, Sangil pushed his hand into his clothes and then he pulled out another silk fabric which he unveiled to reveal a halved Jade pendant.

"Marvellous." The Crown Prince said as Sangil came closer and then offered the Jade pendant to his master who smiled while looking at it.

"I must say, even I could certainly believe that it is real." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"I had the Goldsmith make it out of relatively old Jade stone from the palace and he made sure that all the calculations I had given him were a perfect match." Sangil said.

"Did you just let go of him?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"Yes your Highness, he is from the province of Haeji so no one would dare suspect him if the truth ever went out." Sangil said.

"Does he have any idea that I sent you?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"Not at all, I said I was making the half for the woman that I love." Sangil replied.

"You made a wrong choice, he should be wiped off the face of the earth." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong suddenly said.

"Your Highness, may I really ask why is that?" Sangil asked.

"Famous Smiths like him nearly know those designs very well especially the family emblem, leave him alive for a little while and keep an eye on him, later on, we'll kill him." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"Yes your Highness." Sangil replied.

"It is about time that I received someone." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"I'll leave you your Highness then." Sangil said.

"No, stay here right beside me, it would be for the very best if you were both acquainted with one another." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Your Highness." The Eunuch said as he walked in.

"What is it?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"Someone is here to see you, they haven't mentioned their name but at least they are saying that they are on an appointment with you." The Eunuch replied.

"Let them in." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Alright your Highness." The Eunuch said as he bowed his head and then walked out of the study.

A while later, the doors of the study were opened and in walked someone who was dressed in a blue and white hanbok, He had very long and pitch black hair and his skin was flawless.

He was very charming nearly as charming as Seunghyeonjeong but he had a broader head and a flat chin.

His eyes were dark and any one would have fallen for the beautiful young man at first sight.

"Your Highness." The boy nearly as old as Seunghyeonjeong spoke up in a very tender and soft voice as he bowed his head.

"Heungseon." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said," Please come and have a seat."

"Thank you your Highness." Heungseon said as he continued and sat down opposite the Prince.

"How long has it been?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"A very long time, to be exact approximately eight years." Heungseon replied.

"And yet you have grown to be charming and even better with every day that has passed by. I hear you are now far intelligent and are among the top best students at the Royal Academy." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"You flatter me your Highness, though I am curious as to why you called for me all of a sudden." Jang Heungseon said.

"Let me ask you before we can go any further." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"You may ask, I am more than ready to give you my answer." Heungseon said.

"Do you still love my brother?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked out of the blue.

Heungseon seemed to be taken aback as quietness prevailed for a while before he would even reply.

"You know your brother, you know how important he is to me, I tried everything that I could so that he could notice me and the feelings that I had for him, it was only worse because he never even turned an ear to me.

He never saw me." Heungseon replied.

"Yet your feelings have remained constant all these years, you are the most faithful person he should have by his side." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Even you say that, I still can't help but wonder why I am this way because he will never notice it himself." Heungseon.

"He can even barely remember you at least for that I am so sure." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Let's forget about it, it does not matter because I swore that in this life or any other life, your brother the Grand Prince is the only man for me." Heungseon said.

"What if I told you that there is a way that I could make you end up with my brother and it'd involve him even looking for you himself?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

Heungseon looked surprised as he stared at the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong in disbelief.

"Is there really a way your Highness?" Heungseon asked.

"Of course, do you really not know me? I know your intentions are good and your feelings towards my brother are true as well.

You are a very smart and diligent person who could as well protect my brother against all harm and on top of that I look at you as my own brother as well." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Your Highness is in deed too kind." Heungseon said.

"I'd only offer the solution if you can accept it, I won't force you but are you willing to cooperate with me?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"Is that a question, you know me too well your Highness, I'd do whatever I could to stay by your brother's side forever." Heungseon replied.

"Very well then, I want you to take a hold of this pendant here." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said as he handed over the Jade pendant to the young man.

"A halved phoenix pendant, I don't mean to offend you your Highness but allow me to ask this out of curiosity, how is a Jade pendant going to help me come closer to your brother?" Heungseon asked.

"Nearly eight years ago, my brother met with a boy who was dressed as a peasant in the stately palace and as they sparred with one another, the boy's pendant got broken and was split into half." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"It was unexpected that at that moment, my brother not noticing fell in love with that boy and they have had recent encounters and the boy apparently had his face veiled all that time.

I am tired of seeing my brother's sadness and I know he is desperate to meet the mysterious boy that is why I am turning to you and giving you this." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong added.

"I see your Highness." Heungseon said.

"I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity that you are giving me." Heungseon added.

"It's nothing and I know that my brother tomorrow will be traveling here to see me so I want you and him to meet at the entrance of the palace.

At first your face will be veiled but you have to make sure that this pendant that I have given you is outstanding.

He'll follow you or at that moment hold you and when he does, just make sure that you reveal your face to him." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"You are in deed very wise your Highness but nevertheless I have a better plan of my own." Heungseon said.

"Is mine not good enough?" The Crown Prince asked.

"What if we don't necessarily meet out of the palace, I fear I might implicate you and your enemies might say that you match made me and your brother.

It should be in a less expected place, the only thing that I ask is for you to place your trust in me your Highness." Heungseon said.

"Fine, do it your way and I trust you are smart enough, you certainly won't fail at this and I know it very well this is the best job for you." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Your Highness is too confident in me, I won't let you down." Heungseon said.

"I trust that you certainly won't." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said as he smiled at the young man.

"I suppose that I should be taking my leave." Heungseon said.

"You just remember that your father was apprehended seven to eight years ago and you fought with a young boy, that's how your pendant got broken." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Yes your Highness." Heungseon replied as he stood up and bowed to the Crown Prince with a smile on his face.

Afterwards, he covered his head and then walked out of the study leaving Sangil and the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong together.

"Have you seen his face very well?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked Sangil.

"Yes your Highness." Sangil replied.

"Keep your eyes open and monitor his every move and inform me,be careful though, he is a conniving and very smart young man, we need to make sure that he isn't working for my father before we can totally go ahead with our plan." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Yes your Highness." Sangil replied as his master smiled deviously.