THE COURT IN SESSION

The guards stood their ground and watched the manor, in a distance without their idea, another group of people dressed in all black attires approached the manor.

In a distance, the guards at the front gate looked out as the assassins immediately indulged them into a fight.

The sound of swords clashing was enough to awaken the attention of every other person inside the manor.

All the guards converged in what was the manor's courtyard and Seunghyeonjeong woke up immediately and his eyes stared across his room to the katana that was far on his left.

He got out of bed and then grabbed it, with only a night gown on he headed straight out of his room towards his father's study.

He was certain that if someone really wanted something from the Han Manor at such a crucial time then it must have been some evidence that his father had to prove his innocence.

He slid the doors open immediately and there he caught sight of one of the assassins inside and checking through his father's documents, ripping things apart and dropping them all over.

"Stop there." Seunghyeonjeong said as he tightly held onto his katana and launched himself to the assassin.

The assassin upon hearing him while unsheathing his sword turned around with his own and then guarded himself as his gaze met the young man's.

"There is nothing here, quit wasting your time." Seunghyeonjeong said seriously but the man only kept quiet and then kicked him out of the way.

Seunghyeonjeong looked at the assassin and then smiled.

"I am one step ahead." Seunghyeonjeong said as the assassin walked out.

Seunghyeonjeong whistled and then in the courtyard a number of guards walked in and they surrounded the study's exterior as they aimed their swords at the solo assassin.

They launched themselves towards the assassin but the assassin climbed fast onto the roof.

Nevertheless, a number of guards still pursued him there and then started to fight him.

The assassin kept on walking backwards as they came closer and closer in fury.

The assassin looked down at the other side of the fence, the Han soldiers had converged there and they were all aiming their swords at him.

The assassin then whistled and a number of more assassins emerged from the nearby alleys as they rounded up the Han Manor's guards.

With such a diversion, the assassin had an opportunity to redeem himself as he jumped down from the manor's fence and along with his fellows they ran away.

A couple of Han guards were about to pursue them but Seunghyeonjeong and Seungjae halted them at once.

"What is it, let them go after them and find out who they are?" Mrs. Han said.

"No, it could be another diversion or it could be a trap when they are so many." Seunghyeonjeong said.

The assassins after reaching at a distance stopped all of a sudden and Sangil who was disguised with them removed his veil.

"Did you find what we were after?" His fellow asked.

"No, they were prepared and they might have known that we might act, not even a single document was there in the study, as it appears, the youngest son might have an idea where the documents we are after are." Sangil said.

"The Crown Prince will be angry if we go back to him empty-handed." Another assassin said.

"It doesn't really matter, he'd understand that Mr. Han's son is just so smart." Sangil said.

The assassins then veiled their faces once again and then they scattered in all different directions.

"It is just as I had thought they would, they broke into our home tonight." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Have they no shame at all?" Seungjae said.

"Not really but whoever it is they re determined to make sure that our father does not make it out of this." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"That is for a fact and I am very worried about your father." Mrs. Han said.

"Don't worry about it mother, I already devised a plan and tomorrow we shall certainly have the upper hand.

Because I personally made sure that everything is prepared and the tables will only work out in our favour." Seunghyeonjeong said.

I certainly hope so my dear." Mrs. Han said.

"What shall we do in the meantime?" Seungjae asked.

"Aren't we supposed to stay alert, what if they return this time again?" He added.

"They won't." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Why is that?" Mrs. Han asked.

"Because it is certainly clear that they don't know where the documents are." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"Where are they?" Seungjae asked.

"The one powerful person that can protect father." Seunghyeonjeong replied as he smiled at both his family members.

"What?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said as he smacked the table in front of him with his hand.

"Forgive me your Highness." Sangil said as he bowed his head.

"I should have known for a fact that Seunghyeonjeong would have thought about it already, I suppose I underestimated him a little." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"I was surprised as well, defence was increased and it seems the guards were keen enough and we're expecting us your Highness." Sangil said.

"They knew for a fact that we were bound to attack and they might double it now that we made a move and time isn't on our side." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"What shall we do your Highness, how are we going to get those documents?" Sangil asked.

"I won't lie to you, I don't know, for the time being, there is not even a single person that they can trust, we can still know that they possess them.

If I am not mistaken, Seunghyeonjeong is the one with the documents at hand and I can't simply send you up against him.

He will be alert at all times and that means that we need to pull out and look for another strategy." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Your Highness." Sangil said.

"I also found out whom your father met with earlier in the day." Sangil said.

"By the way, who was it?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"There were three people that were spotted leaving the direction of Jeonyuhwa Hall." Sangil replied.

"Tell me, did you find out who they were?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"The first was Minister Jang's second son Jang Heungseon and the other two were Han Seunghyeonjeong and his servant." Sangil replied.

"What?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked with a smile.

"Your Father, His Majesty the King called for a court session tomorrow in the morning to make an announcement on who is going to be your concubine and the Grand Prince's fiancee." Sangil replied.

The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong was excited and he smiled at him.

"What is it your Highness?" Sangil asked.

"I am sure that Seunghyeonjeong passed the vigorous screening to name him my concubine and definitely Heungseon found a way to convince father into letting him marry Gyeongseongmun." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"What are we going to do about Minister Han then your Highness?" Sangil asked.

The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong laughed out loud.

"What is it your Highness." Sangil asked.

"He is now useless, as soon as father decrees it, who is he to refuse it, even I can't now let alone a simple Minister Han.

The old man is now out of the race and it seems as though fate desired that I and Seunghyeonjeong are going to become an inseparable couple." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Congratulations your Highness." Sangil said with a smile as he bowed his head.

"No need, it seems that tomorrow very early in the morning, the Crown Prince is going to pay his future father in law a visit." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Your Highness, you are in deed blessed by the heavens." Sangil said.

"I told you, I always get what I want." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied with a ghastly smile on his face that spelled out only trouble.

Early the next day, the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong put on some of his most expensive and beautiful official clothes, he gladly wore his black hat and then he smiled at himself in the mirror as his servants tended to him.

"Your Highness." One of his maids said as she bowed her head after walking in on him while finalising his dressing.

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

"Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess requests to have an audience with you." The maid replied.

"Let her in." The Crown Prince said excited and so happy that he wasn't in the mood to argue with others or boss them around as he usually did.

"Your Highness." The Crown Princess Incheon said as she walked inside and then bowed her head.

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

"You seem so happy that I am now curious, where could you be going very early in the meaning when the court session is at 9:00am?" The Crown Princess Incheon asked.

"I have some important business to attend to elsewhere before I can go to the palace.

You needn't worry about my journey mercies, just you rest assured that today is going to be one of my happiest days and I won't get into any form of trouble." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said as he walked around and then continued out of the room.

The Crown Princess remained there as she watched while her husband vanished out of sight and left her distraught.

"I am so sorry your Highness." One of the Crown Princess' maidservants Ga Eul said.

"I don't really care what it is but I am happy at least he will love someone who can give him the gift and joy of his life that I could not." The Crown Princess replied as she too walked out of the room.

The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong in a short while when accompanied by his own Imperial guards arrived at the Central prison.

"Your Highness." Tae Baek the Commander at the entrance welcomed him as he bowed his head.

"Good morning." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"What brings you here your Highness?" Commander Tae Baek asked.

"I am here to see a prisoner." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"Which one your Highness If I may ask?" Commander Tae Baek asked.

"The Inspector General, Minister Han." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"This way your Highness." Commander Tae Baek replied as he led the Crown Prince inside to the meeting room.

Seunghyeonjeong was back at the manor wearing some of his most expensive and most beautiful ornaments.

He adorned his hair with a number of jewels a d a pearl hairpin.

He dressed in a hanbok that was bright yellow, red, green and blue and his lips were covered in Cherry lip stick.

"What is the occasion young Master?" Shin Ji asked as he helped Seunghyeonjeong dress up and put on some final touches on his make over.

"Today, we receive the King's Royal Messenger from the palace, it calls for a celebration." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"Why is that?" Shin Ji asked.

"The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun will soon be mine and the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong's hand will be restricted from touching me.

Afterwards, father is bound to come back to me and the household will be Happ again." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"How sure are you, what if the King hasn't made up his mind young Master?" Shin Ji asked.

"Don't you worry at all, everything is going to workout according to our plan alone, this is going to be a big blow for the Crown Prince." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"Congratulations then young Master." Shin Ji said.

"Don't congratulate me yet, this is only the beginning of good things that I am about to achieve, and besides, the King decided so only because he had no choice and I am the best option available." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

Minister Han was led by a number of guards into the meeting room where he walked in to find the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong seated and smiling at him.

"Your Excellency." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said as he stood up and bowed his head to Minister Han.

"Your Highness." Minister Han replied much as he was in chains he managed to show his sincerity by bowing his head.

"No need, please have a seat." The Crown Prince said Ashe pointed to the chair that was opposite his own where Minister Han sat after the Prince had settled.

"It is really kind of you your Highness to finally pay me a visit in the prison when I am undergoing trial on such an auspicious day." Minister Han said.

"It was I should do, I told you the other day that I consider you to be a father to me and I respect you so much." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Thank you for caring so much, I must however congratulate you on your future concubine." Minister Han said with a smile.

"You know?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked a little bit surprised.

"Why wouldn't I, word in the capital travels around so fast, it hasn't been even twenty four hours and it already reached most of the commons.

I suppose eventually the King's declaration is going to move a number of people." Minister Han replied.

"It certainly will, I hadn't thought that father would finally agree with me on this one thing yet he had always been against me in pretty much everything that I did when growing up." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"He is a father, eventually he would want what is best for his son and that is safety and the best of joy." Minister Han said.

"It is as they say, blood is in deed thicker than water." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Yes." Minister Han confirmed.

"Whatever the King says, I will wholeheartedly support and agree with him because he even at this age knows exactly what is best for the entire Kingdom." Minister Han added.

"That is without a doubt." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"I have been graced by your visit and I am humbled by it as well, I think that I better get back into my cell.

As it is, eventually at this point in time, you should be heading to the palace your Highness, I don't want you to miss out even a single bit on your good news." Minister Han said.

"That reminds me by the way." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said as he stood up from his seat.

"I hope that your innocence is proved soon enough and you are let out of this bondage." The Crown Prince said.

"I will, I also wish you journey mercies." Minister Han said as he bowed his head with a smile.

"Very well then, I'll take my leave." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said as he headed out of the room and left Minister Han smiling at himself in there.

"It is unbelievable but at last, I have won." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong thought as he walked out of the Central prison towards his carriage that was to lead him to Gaesungseong palace.

All the major ministers and the officials of the court had gathered in the courtyard of Gaesungseong palace as they awaited the order of the King to enter into the throne room (Gaesonghui hall.)

The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun approaching from the opposite direction came to meet face to face with his brother the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong who was coming from the opposite direction.

All of them smiled at each other before they turned and walked side by side as they led the way into the palace.

After a while, the other ministers followed them inside Gaesonghui hall.

It had been decorated and it was hanging with golden banners.

The two Princes stood at the forefront as the other ministers took sides depending on the factions to which they belonged, those uppermost officials wearing red lined up at the front on either side and the lesser one wearing blue at the back of the hall.

a number of Royal guards were inside as well as some maid servants, the secretary who was to record whatever was going to be said in the session was also ready with a scroll, a quill and ink.

"His Royal Majesty, the King has arrived." One of the guards at the doors announced and the Head Eunuch opened the door and stood on the right side.

King Gwangyang then marched down the aisle as he headed for the throne, he was dressed in red and golden clothes and his head was mounted by a black crown with two golden dragons and Ruby fit in the centre.

It was with regalty and pride that he walked up the stairs before he eventually stopped and faced his congregation and then sat down on the golden throne.

"Your Majesty." Those gathered in the Hall said in unison as they bowed their heads to offer their respects to their Sovereign.

"You must all be wondering the reason as to why I have summoned you all here and I'll get straight to the point." King Gwangyang said.

The Officials looked at each other and so did the two Princes each waiting to bear what their father was going to say with their own expectations.

"Bring in my decree." King Gwangyang ordered and at once, the Head Eunuch Mr. Oh marched into the Hall holding with him a golden scroll dubbed with two dragons and a symbol of the sun.

When he reached beside the King, he knelt on both his knees and then offered it with his head bent down and the King took it into his possession without any hesitation.

The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong then smiled unable to control his joy.

"As the King of this country, I have decided that in a sound mind without any duress, it is time for my youngest son the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun to get married as well and my son The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong to have a second consort, the first concubine with whom they he shall bear children.

I hereby decree that I have decided both as a Sovereign and as a father, no one is better for my son the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong a concubine than the second son of Minister Kang, Kang Yeonsu and for my son the Grand Prince, the third son of Minister Han, Han Seunghyeonjeong.

This is my word and my word is law." King Gwangyang said.

Immediately, the two Princes first reacted by looking at each other in dismay and then looking back at their father.

Most of the ministers who supported the Royal Clan and disliked Minister Han looked at the King.

"His Majesty has spoken." The Western faction said with the others in unison as they bowed their heads and Minister Suk Hwan smiled as he bowed his head.

The King with the rest of the house confused and surprised looked a

strong and staunch in his decision, unwavered and final, it was with absolute pride and confidence that he had spoken.