THE LAST RESORT

Minister Han walked through the doors of his manor a very calm man, one would clearly tell that nothing had happened at all as he wore a warm smile.

Jeonshik accompanied him as they walked through the courtyard and they were greeted by a couple of servants in the household.

Minister Han returned a warm salutation to each one of them until at last he entered his study and Mr. Song followed him in there.

"Your Excellency." Mr. Song said as he stepped inside and bowed his head.

"Welcome back." Mr. Song added.

"It is alright, I just need to have a word with Seunghyeonjeong, tell him I have summoned him to my study." Minister Han said.

"Alright your Excellency." Mr. Song said as he withdrew from the place leaving both Jeonshik and Minister Han alone.

"I want you to get me some of my best private soldiers and have them stand on guard around the manor, let them keep an eye on all those who enter and get out of it.

I need to be informed where all the people in this household go to and I need to guarantee the Safety of every member in it." Minister Han ordered.

"Yes your Excellency." Jeonshik replied as he withdrew out of the study immediately.

Minister Han was left there thinking about something until a while later, Seunghyeonjeong walked into the study with Shin Ji.

"Father." He said as he bowed his head.

"I heard you called for me." Seunghyeonjeong added.

"Yes, have a seat and I wish that Shin Ji could leave us for now at least to have a word in private." Minister Han said.

"Alright father." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"I'll take my leave your Excellency." Shin Ji said as he bowed his head and then walked out leaving the two to some privacy.

"What is it father, is there anything that is bothering you?" Seunghyeonjeong asked as he held his father's left hand.

"So much is and I need to hear from you and I trust that you shall be very truthful to me." Minister Han said.

"Of course father, how could I even possibly lie to you, if there is anything that I know, I shall abide by my oath." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Then tell me, have you come across the Crown Prince before the Lantern festival?" Minister Han asked.

Seunghyeonjeong looked right into his father's eyes, at first hesitant but eventually he spilled the beans in the most calm way.

"Yes father." He replied.

Minister Han looked shaken but consoled himself inwardly as he tried to put on a brave face in front of his son.

Seunghyeonjeong could clearly see that there was something so wrong about the express that his father was wearing.

"About how many times and exactly where?" Minister Han asked.

"Three times, first was at the textile store not far from here when Shin Ji bumped into him by mistake.

It was that same day that the Crown Princess was giving birth.

The second time was at the market centre and then the third was here during the Lantern festival, only then." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"I thought you met quite oftenly." Minister Han said.

"No, I spent most of my time here in the Manor and I barely moved out." Seunghyeonjeong said.

Minister Han sighed.

"But father, if I may ask, why are you particularly asking me this question because as far as I really know you father, you never ask without a reason and if there really is it must be serious." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"I just need one more final answer from you before I can actually tell you everything." Minister Han said.

"Alright." Seunghyeonjeong said as he nodded his head out of acceptance.

"Ever since you met him, have you felt strange or has anything happened to your feelings, I need to know if you possibly love him." Minister Han said.

"Hahahaha." Seunghyeonjeong laughed.

"Father, you must be mistaken, he is older than me and surely, he is muscular, manly, handsome and may be even attractive to a number of people but as for me, I have no liking towards him." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

Minister Han deeply sighed.

"That is a relief and I certainly do hope that things remain like that." Minister Han said.

"Why do you say so Father?" Seunghyeonjeong asked.

"I had an appointment and I met up with the Crown Prince at the Sunshine Teahouse, while there he told me that he was fond of you and he asked me for your hand in marriage, to be his concubine." Minister Han replied.

"No father, don't let it be so." Seunghyeonjeong said as his face suddenly turned gloomy.

It didn't really look like Seunghyeonjeong and the same boy that he knew sixteen years ago, there was something that was so different about him today.

He looked more than worried at that.

"Why do you dislike the Crown Prince given that his proposal was quite a considerable one?" Minister Han asked.

"I don't dislike him, it is just that I have feelings for someone else father." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"What is it, do you perhaps love someone else?" Minister Han quickly suspected.

He studied the facial expression of his son who put his head down.

"It is good enough if you love someone else we can as well quickly get you engaged in order to prevent the Crown Prince from Marrying you.

This time, I could use your engagement as an excuse and even the Crown Prince won't possibly break it publicly even if he wanted." Minister Han said happily.

"It's not that easy father and besides I am not certain if you might approve of this person as well." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Anyone other than the Crown Prince is a good enough candidate to marry you, as long as you are very certain that you love them." Minister Han said.

"You are only saying that father but I can not guarantee you shall like that person." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"As long as you do not marry the Crown Prince, that is well enough an excuse and it might take time for me but eventually I'll come around given that you will be saved from this Royal concubinage marriage.

I do not care even if it is the poorest man in the kingdom, I own quite a fortune that even a hundred Grand children of mine could live off." Minister Han said.

Seunghyeonjeong eventually tired of his father's promises he was uncertain to keep mentioned the name of the man he had grown to love.

"Father, I am in love with the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun." He said loud and clear enough that Minister Han became dumbfounded at once as he tried to process what his son had mentioned.

"What?" He said surprised as Seunghyeonjeong turned his head in the opposite direction.

"Can you accept that alliance now?" Seunghyeonjeong asked.

"No." Minister Han immediately replied.

"Do you have any idea what that alliance could drag you into?" Minister Han added.

"Think about it father, getting engaged to the Grand Prince is the best and last option that we have father." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"How?" Minister Han asked.

"Your Majesty, His Excellency Minister Suk Hwan from the Hongmoongwan is here to see you." Mr. Oh announced.

"Let him in." King Gwangyang said as Mr. Oh walked outside into the hallway where Minister Suk Hwan was.

"You may go in." Mr. Oh said as he bowed his head with the door open and he pointed inside the King's study.

Minister Suk Hwan walked in and Mr. Oh shut the doors as he waited outside with a couple of maid servants.

"Your Majesty." Minister Suk Hwan said as he bowed his head.

"Minister Suk Hwan?" The King said.

"Yes your Majesty." The Minister replied.

"Since you are here to talk to me then I suppose that it must be something that is very urgent one way or another.

If probably not then perhaps there is some advice I would need you to give to me about my son the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong." King Gwangyang said.

"If I may your Majesty, I am at your service." Minister Suk Hwan said as he bowed his head.

"Have a seat." King Gwangyang said as the two of them finally lowered themselves into the chairs.

"Tell me then, which of the two could you be here to do?" King Gwangyang asked.

"I am here for both your Majesty and perhaps to also indulge the Grand Prince as he is very much a key factor in my advice." Minister Suk Hwan said.

"Proceed." The King said.

"Among the eligible candidates that were brought fourth for the Crown Prince's concubinage was a fair and young man that is now the talk of the city." Minister Suk Hwan said.

"Han Seunghyeonjeong, the third son of Minister Han." King Gwangyang said.

"Yes, it seems you are already well informed about that your Majesty." Minister Suk Hwan said.

"It is pretty much very old news to my ears." King Gwangyang said.

"Not entirely as rumours are now spreading at lightning speed that the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong is involved in a scandal with the Han son here in this palace.

Not many have heard but of course as the court and the Ministers of this country we are all well aware how troublesome such news and information could bring." Minister Suk Hwan said.

"You are in deed a visionary man and since you have proposed that then you must have a stratagem on how we can possibly overcome this." King Gwangyang said.

"Yes your Majesty." Minister Suk Hwan said.

"What is it?" King Gwangyang asked.

"It is quite easy your Majesty, you have the power and you are the King of this country, as long as you are still alive, the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong is not at any one time above you.

You can use this opportunity to fix an engagement between the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun and Ministers Han's son Seunghyeonjeong." Minister Suk Hwan said.

"That is a hopeless move, how certain are you it is the best, are you not aware how much I despise the Hans, having one marry into the Royal Clan is unacceptable." King Gwangyang said as he furiously struck the table.

"Listen your Majesty, who talked anything about marrying into the Royal Clan?" Minister Suk Hwan asked.

"What do you mean, you said having my second son engaged to Minister Han's son.

"An engagement and a marriage are two different things, with an engagement, it is quite easy to break it and not a marriage.

Suppose your son the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun was engaged to the young Minister Han's son, even if the engagement is broken it would be customarily unacceptable for the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong to marry an ex fiance of his brother.

Even if he were to become a King, there would be no possible way to do so or attempt breaking off an engagement.

Once he finds a royal concubine, it will be to our own good and on top of that if Minister Han's son were to marry the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun, there would be no need for the Hans to revolt.

As long as the Hans still have someone in the Royal Clan, rather than continuing to expand the rift between both families, in time if ever there was a King descent from the Han ancestry as well, it would try foster a better relationship between both clans." Minister Suk Hwan said.

"Have you not considered how supportive the Hans will become in their desire to usurp the throne, what would be left of this magnificent heavenly Kingdom of ours?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Your Majesty, we are bound to use the Hans as a shield one way or another, if it so happens that the Crown Prince's heir and successor is descent of the Han blood, what then would happen to the Kingdom Sire,

The Hans are all used to demanding more than they can be given, enslaved for about three hundred years so we can only imagine how sympathetic a Han King would be.

Sooner or later, the Hans will depend on the King and they'll conquer the court until at last the inevitable would be to restore theirs as a Royal dynasty." Minister Suk Hwan said.

King Gwangyang started to violently cough as he held his mouth and veiled it with a piece of cloth.

"I can not accept this alliance, not now, not ever." King Gwangyang said.

"Think about it Sire, time is not on our side however,if we can certainly not act immediately, everything from the long prevailing peace this Kingdom has seen will greatly evolve into insurgency.

After all it is either the Hans stand against you or you give them a reason to support the Grand Prince." Minister Suk Hwan said.

"Leave." King Gwangyang ordered Minister Suk Hwan who stood up and he pointed towards the door.

"Your Majesty." Minister Suk Hwan said as he bowed his head and then walked out of the room.

King Gwangyang after seeing that the Minister had vanished out of sight, he looked at the white cloth that was in his possession stained by blood.

Mr. Oh the head Eunuch walked in immediately after the Minister left.

"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.

"Are you alright?" He added to ask.

"I am fine but I need to have an audience with Han Seunghyeonjeong immediately, have him summoned to my palace at once." King Gwangyang said.

"Yes your Majesty." Mr. Oh said as he bowed his head and then walked out.

The King who was weaker with every day supported himself on his table as he strained his eyesight to look farther ahead.

At the moment, even his eyes were slowly starting to go blind and all that he was starting to see was something blurry.

Minister Suk Hwan who had exited the King's hall was eventually joined by Minister Lee and Minister Yang.

"What is it that his Majesty decided?" Minister Lee asked.

"He refused." Minister Suk Hwan replied with a smile.

"Then why do you look happy if that isn't exactly what you had said would happen?" Minister Yang asked.

"It is pretty simple you see, time isn't on the King's side so eventually, he is going to give in to our request without fail.

He has no other choice if he wants to prevent that marriage." Minister Suk Hwan replied as he led the way out of the palace and the other ministers followed.

"Report your Majesty." Soohyun said as he bowed his head in front of the King.

"What is it?" King Gwangyang asked.

"There are awkward movements and transitions in the army, the Crown Prince's men as well are on the move and I believe if there is something they are planning then perhaps it is to frame Minister Han." Soohyun said.

The King stood up and then be started to Pace around the room as he moved back and forth while Soohyun knelt while awaiting for orders.

"You tell me, is it a good idea of the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun actually got married to the youngest son of Minister Han Han Seunghyeonjeong?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Your Majesty, forgive me but I am not that knowledgeable when it comes to politics, I know nothing but fighting techniques however if you are to tell me, in my opinion it would be good enough." Soohyun replied.

"Good enough?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Yes." Soohyun replied.

"Why is that?" King Gwangyang asked.

"One time you told me that you needed the Grand Prince to live out of his brother's shadow and your Majesty, it is quite clear though that Minister Han is smart.

There are rumours that his son the young boy Seunghyeonjeong is very smart, if the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun married the son of Minister Han who is massively supported by a number of Hans, it would give him the chance to step up in his own limelight.

With someone who is intelligent as a consort and someone who owns the largest private army in the Kingdom and the most powerful, all these might end up in the hands of the Grand Prince." Soohyun said.

"That is a very impressive idea." King Gwangyang commended as he walked and stopped in front of Soohyun.

"You know me well and of all men and folks in the Kingdom you being my eyes and ears I trust you the most Soohyun.

You I trust can fulfill everyone of my best interests and are selfless so you will certainly support my choice at all costs." King Gwangyang said.

"Yes your Majesty." Soohyun said.

"Collect the rights that I gave all those ministers and have them all given to the Prime Minister and entrusted in his care." King Gwangyang said.

"Your Majesty, what about Minister Han?" Soohyun asked.

"Let my son act with him accordingly." King Gwangyang said.

"I thought you needed to protect him your Majesty." Soohyun said.

"He is but a pone in this game, the real King that I must protect in the game is his son Seunghyeonjeong, he needs to have more reason to go against the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong and abide with the Grand Prince.

Making him the Crown Prince's enemy is the very first step we'll take to ensure that he is close enough to be the Grand Prince's most powerful and most trusted confidant." King Gwangyang replied.

"Yes your Majesty." Soohyun said as he stood up and left.

"Minister Han is planning something your Highness." Sangil said.

"He could be, and even if he was, he couldn't see this coming his way." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"What shall I do your Highness?" Sangil asked.

"Don't hurt him physically because I need him alive, he needs to be in good condition, just cripple some of his biggest businesses." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"Yes your Highness." Sangil said.

"And make sure you act as fast as possible and in secrecy because I do not really want to have any one else knowing about this." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Yes, your Highness." Sangil said as he bowed his head.

He withdrew from the Crown Prince's presence and left him staring at the rest of the city from the balcony of his palace.

"You will be mine, Seunghyeonjeong, this I promise." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong bitterly said as he smiled in a distance at the peering rooftops that rose from the capital.