LAW AND ORDER

Minister Han was seated in his study while reading a couple of books.

Mr. Song was walking out of the residence and he had opened the doors early in the morning when he caught sight of a batallion if soldiers heading their way.

At first, he did not react and watched as the Imperial guards led by a Commander eventually started to station themselves around the Manor.

At once Mr. Song hurriedly walked back into the Manor and then barged into the study of Minister Han.

"Your Excellency." Mr. Song said.

"What is it?" Minister Han asked.

"There are many Imperial guards outside, a batallion is stationed at the doorstep of the manor and they have surrounded it." Mr. Song said.

"What?" Minister Han said.

"Yes your Excellency." Mr. Song replied.

"Lead the way." Minister Han ordered and Mr. Song walked outside as he followed.

Midway into the courtyard, Minister Han was halted when his wife Mrs. Han approached him from their quarters.

"My dear what is it?" Mrs. Han asked.

"Father?" Another sound coming from the opposite direction caught his attention and only to see it was Seunghyeonjeong who was headed in his direction with Shin Ji following him closely from behind.

"Father." Seunghyeonjeong called once again.

"What has happened?" Seunghyeonjeong asked.

"Don't mind me, just go back inside." Minister Han said.

"Your Excellency, there is a Commander with Imperial guards that is calling for you outside the Manor." Another maid servant of the Han household said as she approached them.

"Let's go Mr. Song" Minister Han ordered as they walked away into the Next courtyard.

Mrs. Han followed as well as Seunghyeonjeong and they converged with Seungnyang as they continued to eventually stop at the doorway of the Manor.

Minister Han looked all over the place and the street had been lined with Imperial guards as they held up their Spears and some had their rifles aimed at the entrance of the Manor.

A number of passers by and on Lookers stood and each asking themselves what was going on spectated the situation.

Minister Han smiled until he eventually caught sight of a man who was seated on top of a horse while confidently gazing back at him.

"What is this that you are doing here in front of my Manor, am I a feared criminal and an enemy of the state that you come against me with the sharpest Spears and rifles aimed at my door?" Minister Han said.

"My bad, rifles down." The Commander ordered and all the guards that possessed their rifles put them back down.

"Are you now satisfied?" The Commander of the batallion asked.

"First and foremost what is it that causes you to wreck chaos and havoc at my doorstep?" Minister Han asked.

"Oh Minister, are you even not ashamed, do you feel no remorse even as a Minister and a government official to do such an inhumane and heinous deed?" The Commander asked.

"What is it that you hold against me right now, I am but an upright man who is very smart in his own way and I have no hand in illegal activities." Minister Han said.

"Then you would care to explain yourself in front of the state tribunal as you are now being charged with smuggling goods into the country and you have embezzled quite a number of times and got away with it." The Commander replied.

"You must be out of your mind." Minister Han said as the rest of the people who were gathered started to laugh.

"Surely, you must have lost it to falsely accuse me if a crime such as this one and expect that you can get away from it.

Every one in this country knows it very well that I am just about the most righteous politician and you can not press such false charges even without solid evidence and proof." Minister Han said.

"Then come with me to the Central prison and prove yourself innocent of all these charges that we are pressing against you." The Commander said.

"Must I tell you that we really have evidence to hold you responsible for these crimes." The Commander said.

"Who are you to begin with?" Minister Han asked out of fury.

"Hahahaha." The Commander laughed along with the guards that had come with him that every one started to wonder exactly what was going on.

"Who am I?" The Commander said again as he laughed once more.

"Who am I? I am Commander Tae Baek of the Imperial guards and I am the head of the Central batallion here in the capital prison." The guard replied.

"I am here on Royal Command and to arrest you so you should certainly come with me in peace or you resist and you shall be held accountable for that as well." The Commander said.

"You have no right to apprehend my father, nor can you call yourselves servants of the government if you wrongly apprehend virtuous people and Innocents." Seunghyeonjeong said.

The Commander was a little bit moved by Seunghyeonjeong's words.

"And who are you the young man?" The Commander asked.

"I am Han Seunghyeonjeong." Seunghyeonjeong replied firmly.

"Isn't this a rather funny thing,the son is standing up for his father and I thought that it was supposed to be the other way around." The Commander Tae Baek said.

"Does it have to matter, as long as one is innocent it doesn't really matter who stands up for them." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Do you work for your father or do you spend every day with him, how then can you possibly try and inform me that he is innocent.

Even you have no idea exactly what your father does when he is out of the capital then how can you of all people defend him when even his closest guards aren't acting up?" The Commander Tae Baek said.

"Now you can clearly see this for yourself." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Enough is enough, cease him." The Commander Tae Baek ordered and a couple of Imperial guards hurried over to ascend the stairs to the entrance of the Han Manor.

Before they could get a hold of Minister Han, Jeonshik stepped in front of his master and drew out his sword ahead of them.

The Imperial guards halted and those possessing the rifles pointed them towards Minister Han.

"Dare you come any closer and I won't hesitate to sever your heads away from your bodies." Jeonshik said.

"It seems you are resisting arrest Minister Han." Commander Tae Baek said.

"Pardoning the care that my personal guard gives me but if you are here to apprehend me on Royal orders then where is the arrest warrant?" Minister Han asked.

"You won't stop until you have seen it and I suppose even every one that is gathered here is anticipating to see the very same thing." Commander Tae Baek said.

One of the Imperial guards who was standing beside his horse took hold of a yellow scroll and then he handed it over to the Commander who opened it.

He raised it and then it hung from his hands as he showed it around for every one to see including Minister Han himself.

Mrs. Han who was watching everything was utterly devastated by it that she stammered a little bit but was supported by a maidservant.

"Now do you believe it Minister Han that you are a criminal?" The Commander asked.

"I am however allowed to prove my innocence as well as we both know, all evidence is open for a crime such as this if I wasn't caught red handed at the smuggling scene." Minister Han said.

"You shall freely express yourself and your innocence at the state tribunal, my orders are only to apprehend you and have you locked up in the Central prison." Commander Tae Baek said.

"Fine then, I'll come with you and your soldiers have nothing to do with the rest of my family." Minister Han said.

"You can rest assured of that your Excellency." Commander Tae Baek said.

"You won't get what you want from doing this." Minister Han said.

"We'll see when everything else has been sorted out." Commander Tae Baek said with a smile on his face.

"Let them go." Minister Han ordered Jeonshik who sheathed his sword and stepped back behind his master with the rest of the family.

Minister Han moved ahead while he descended down the stairs from the doorway of his manor as the Imperial guards came closer to him and they bound him with ropes.

While all that was happening, Soohyun who was disguised as a commoner in the crowd watched everything.

Minister Han was led away with the batallion as everyone else watched him being greatly humiliated while he vanished from their sight.

He still held his head high full of so much confidence and he didn't seem threatened by any of that.

Seunghyeonjeong who was having a hard time adjusting to the situation watched as he grew angrier and more furious with what the Commander had done in front of their household that morning.

Soohyun after spectating the scene hurriedly left for the palace and every one who was standing at the entrance of the Manor walked in leaving Seunghyeonjeong outside for a while.

Seunghyeonjeong was about to walk back insides the Manor when someone called out to him.

"Excuse me?" a strange and unfamiliar voice said that he turned around to see who it was.

In front of him was a veiled young man who was wearing a long dark cloak that was hooded.

Seunghyeonjeong took time to study the man's clothes and beneath the cloak was a set of garments that he knew well were worn by servants in the Royal palace.

"Young Master, the King requests to have an immediate Audience with you at the palace right now." The young man said.

"Prove it that you are from the King." Seunghyeonjeong asked the young man.

The young man took out of his clothes a scroll that was fairly old and a token from the King that allowed one to enter the palace at any time even the court when necessary.

Seunghyeonjeong took hold of the scroll and he opened it to read what was inside.

"FOLLOW THIS MAN." he saw the message and in the lower left corner he caught sight of the stamp of the Royal seal in new red ink.

Seunghyeonjeong got a hold of the token and then looked at it, it was real nonetheless.

"Very fine, I'll come with you but I won't come alone." Seunghyeonjeong said as he walked into the Manor and left the man waiting outside.

After a while, Seunghyeonjeong and Shin Ji walked out of the Han Manor with their heads covered as the young man led the way towards the Gaesungseong palace.

Eventually, they arrived at the entrance of the palace and Seunghyeonjeong showed the token from the King that it was not long enough until the guards let him freely March into the palace.

The young man who was leading the way to Jeonyuhwa Hall took the through the courtyard where at first the Grand Prince who was walking out of his quarters caught sight of him.

In a distance, they looked like young women who were headed to his father's private room which made him curious about them.

The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun set foot to pursue them but was suddenly halted when he caught sight of another mysterious person bypassing them.

They were dressed in a pink and white hanbok and from the side of the mysterious person hang a halved Jade pendant that he'd been looking for all that time.

The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun pushed his hand into the clothes and then pulled out the other half of the pendant before he headed off right into the direction of the stranger that exited the Royal palace.

Seunghyeonjeong walked into the Hall with Shin Ji.

"Your Majesty." Seunghyeonjeong said as the two of them bowed their heads to pay their homeage to the King.

"Finally you have arrived." King Gwangyang said.

"I was informed that you wanted an immediate Audience with me your Majesty." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"And we are going to look at a very critical matter which is why I'd prefer it if we discussed this matter in private." King Gwangyang said.

Seunghyeonjeong looked at Shin Ji and automatically, Shin Ji stood up, bowed his head and then walked out of the hall and waited outside leaving Seunghyeonjeong and the King alone.

"Please have a seat." King Gwangyang said and Seunghyeonjeong heeded as he lowered himself down facing the King who was seated at the other end of the table.

The two of them gave each other a very serious gaze before the King broke the fairly long silence.

"I have heard that the Minister of the Office of the Inspector General your father has been apprehended." King Gwangyang said.

"By Royal Order your Majesty." Seunghyeonjeong affirmed.

"I do not mean to pry but at least I am well aware that you know that I had no hand in this." King Gwangyang said.

"If it is someone it should be the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong, yesterday, he met up with my father and asked for my hand in marriage which my father greatly objected.

Certainly, he is paying the price for his refusal since it seems that if the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong can not marry me in peace he is willing to do it by force." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"And yet I call you I am sure you are very much aware of the reason as to why." King Gwangyang said.

"We are both after the same things your Majesty, we both don't want the Crown Prince to marry me and we do not want my father to be arrested." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Why would I care about your father?" King Gwangyang asked.

"How would it seem if the Kingdom's most righteous man was innocently apprehended over false charges, even if he was killed what picture would it paint for those interested in rebelling and moreso the masses that are sure of his good nature." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"What would the Hans think your Majesty?" Seunghyeonjeong added.

"I see, then you must be certain of the best way possible of saving your father and also not marrying the Crown Prince." King Gwangyang said.

"By marrying another powerful man in the country even the Crown Prince can not easily harm." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"That is in deed correct and as a matter of fact I am only asking for an engagement that's all." King Gwangyang said.

"An engagement your Majesty?" Seunghyeonjeong asked.

"In deed, perhaps you expected so much but I shall be very frank with you and it shall be something final from me.

You are but a temporary shield and yes you may be engaged to the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun but you shall not marry him." King Gwangyang said.

"Pardon my insolence your Majesty but all factors considered we both know it is going to take more than an engagement to stop the Crown Prince.

Think about it, as King you have for so long desired to keep two of the most powerful children in the Kingdom in balance.

Your intention of having me engaged to the Grand Prince is to win the support of the Hans and put him out if his brother's spotlight your Majesty.

Additionally if there ever rose need to conquer and be supreme it would be impossible because what better way to keep both hands intact and in equilibrium than bearing the same weight." Seunghyeonjeong said with a smile.

"As the King of this country I can see it very well that you are in deed a very good King and throughout your reign your primary goal was to keep all the arms of the court in balance without absolutism.

I am the Grand Prince's best choice in acquiring the bright future that you wish for him and you know that too your Majesty." Seunghyeonjeong added.

"You speak of division." King Gwangyang said.

"If the Grand Prince had a child with Han blood flowing through his veins, it would be very easy for the Hans to turn their support to him, there is nothing to fear though if with a concubine there is no chance of him inheriting the throne your Majesty.

But then on the other hand if you are to see it, such a union might put an end to centuries of endless resentment and war between the two noble clans." Seunghyeonjeong mentioned.

"What do you think will happen of two blood brothers entangled in the same fate of trying to get married to the same person?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Is that the biggest question your Majesty?" Seunghyeonjeong asked.

"Every question concerning the state is big enough." King Gwangyang said.

"What more do you want now you can tell me clearly as I need to confirm if we are both chasing the same thing after all." King Gwangyang added.

"I want to get married to the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"Hahahaha." King Gwangyang laughed.

"Don't you think you are asking for too much and I am hesitant to give you all that you are asking for?" King Gwangyang asked

"Then I shall only act as you wish your Majesty." Seunghyeonjeong said with a smile.

"Go back to your home and there you shall await my answer." King Gwangyang ordered.

"Yes your Majesty." Seunghyeonjeong said as he stood up and bowed his head.

"A nice day your Majesty." Seunghyeonjeong said as he withdrew from the King's presence at once.

No sooner had Seunghyeonjeong left the room than Mr. Oh rushed in at that very moment.

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

"It seems that boy is really as wise as he is said to be." King Gwangyang said.

"What is it your Majesty?" Mr. Oh asked.

"He is very cunning and perhaps the smartest person that I have ever seen that he is a very big threat to everything I am preparing." King Gwangyang said.

"Why is that your Majesty?" Mr. Oh asked.

"He is a free mind that can swing from one end to another one and that being the case it is more than enough for us to have him, he still needs to be tamed and we must first and foremost learn to control him before he tries to control us." King Gwangyang replied.

"Yes your Majesty." Mr. Oh replied.

He gazed out in a distance and watched, the young boy with his head veiled along with his servant Shin Ji had vanished out of sight.