THE ROYAL DECREE

The Ministers walked out of the court all surprised by the King's decision.

"How is this possible?" They argued amongst themselves.

"I have no idea as well, this is beyond my understanding." They replied.

Minister Suk Hwan walked out silenced and smiling inwardly as the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong trotted out in a fury and the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun was disappointed.

There were men outside Gaesonghui hall that were waiting for the Vice Premier's word.

"Your Excellency." They said as they bowed their heads.

"Have all the news publishing houses spread this news out immediately across the King, His Majesty the King of this our heavenly kingdom of Geosan has decreed,

His son the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong is going to get married to the second son of Minister Kang called Kang Yeonsu and the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun is going to marry the Third son of Minister Han, Han Seunghyeonjeong." The Vice Premier said.

The men noted it down and afterwards bowed their heads and set out for the publishing houses in the Kingdom.

Messengers were dispatched from Gaesungseong palace and they marched in a procession with a Royal Edict towards the Han Manor.

As they walked through the streets, most of the people began to exchange words amongst themselves as they wondered what in the world was going on.

The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong came outside his father's quarters where he was halted.

"Let me through." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Forgive me your Highness but we were given orders by his Majesty the King not to let anyone in." One of the guards said.

"Let me in." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said as he tried to force his way through with his own guards but about thirty more came from nearby and they aimed their swords at the Crown Prince's men.

The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong then ceased and he looked at the doors of the King's quarters when Mr. Oh walked out at that very moment.

"Please leave your Highness." Mr. Oh said.

"Father." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong continued to cry.

"Please leave, your father does not really wish to see you right now." Mr. Oh said.

"Father." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong remained and persisted to call out to his father.

The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun remained at a distance from one of the pavilions and watched as his brother knelt down in front of the King's room.

"Father." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong continued to shout as the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun in a distance started to shed tears while looking at his brother.

After a while, the doors of the King's Chambers were flung open and at once the King Gwangyang stepped into view.

"Your Majesty." Everyone present even the guards knelt down the moment they caught sight of the King who descended down the stairs and stood in front of his son.

"Father." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Don't you dare to call me your Father." The King Gwangyang shouted at his son even the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun heard where he was standing.

Queen Sunseong who was coming with some of her maidservants stopped in a distance when she watched her husband and son from a distance.

After receiving the News she stood up and walked all the way from the East Palace just so that she could see for herself what was happening.

She was married to the King but they were not very close hence she never really knew her husband's mind most times or his motives.

What he thought and every plan that he devised.

"I am your King." King Gwangyang added.

"Your Majesty." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"I am disheartened and I am broken, I am so disappointed in my eldest son and I am so frustrated and disgusted in him.

I am not the father of a murderer who can not learn from his past mistakes.

I am not the father of a selfish man who chooses to apprehend his subjects innocently for the sake of getting what he wants.

I can not tolerate an heir who puts his personal pleasure ahead of the welfare of his country." King Gwangyang said.

The Queen Sunseong saw that the situation in between the two of them was becoming more and more tense every second that she Drew closer.

"Father." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"I said don't call me your father, I have already made up my mind, if you punished people to get what you want the most then I am taking away what you want the most and giving it to someone who is selfless." King Gwangyang said.

"Father, you are punishing three innocent people altogether." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"I said don't call me your father." King Gwangyang said.

"Your Majesty." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"I won't change my bidding because you are simply asking me to do so, my word is final." King Gwangyang said.

"No Father." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

King Gwangyang flew into a fit of rage and then he caught hold of one of the guards' swords and then he brought it in rage upon the Crown Prince.

"Your Majesty." Queen Sunseong said putting herself in front of her husband that he halted.

Everyone was surprised seeing how near the blade was to the neck of the Crown Prince and even the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun was frozen.

The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong couldn't believe that his own father had nearly severed his head off his body.

"I have told you and I have made myself clear about this, if you can not bear with this, then you'd better go and kill yourself.

I wouldn't want to stain my hands with the blood of a filthy son like you." King Gwangyang said.

He turned to Queen Sunseong who was kneeling in front of her husband.

"Mother." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong cried.

"Go and teach this ungrateful son of yours, before I can accept him as my son again, you must first speak some sense into him. For now I am counting only one son, the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun." King Gwangyang said as he turned and then walked back into his quarters as the doors were closed behind him.

The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun was enraged by how his father had treated his father that he smacked the balcony really hard.

Minister Han was seated in his cell when he overheard the guards inside gossiping about what had happened in the palace earlier in the day.

"The King announced that?" One of them said.

"Yes, apparently many say the two Princes were disappointed by their father's choice but the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong was additionally more furious." The other guards replied.

"There were rumours that he was seeing the third son of Minister Han and little did he know that he was the one the King had planned to ask his brother to marry." The other guard replied.

"It's devastating, two brothers one betrothed and the other in love with the same person, there is bound to be a rift between the both of them sooner or later." The guard said.

"I couldn't agree more." The other replied.

Minister Han who was in his cell couldn't help but smile.

"Eventually your Royal Highness, you have lost this war now." He thought to himself as he looked at the light that shone into his cell.

"In a matter of time I shall be out of here, I am even additionally certain that by this time, The Royal Messenger has arrived at the doorstep of my Manor." Minister Han said to himself.

He started to beat away the straw that was hanging on his prison attire as he smiled at himself.

The Procession came to halt in front of the Han Manor where Mr. Song was waiting.

The Royal Messenger along with a few guards ascended the stairs towards the doorstep and Mr. Song bowed to him.

"You're most welcome." He said.

"We bring word from His Majesty the King." The messenger said.

"We were expecting your audience." Mr. Song replied.

"This way." He added as he led them through the courtyard until they eventually came to stop in the main one.

"Members of the Han household, gather to receive his Majesty's message." The King's Messenger announced.

At once, everyone appeared into view including all the servants of the Manor.

Mrs. Han came up front and Next to her was her third son Han Seunghyeonjeong who was elegantly dressed and undying and heavenly beauty graced his face.

He had put on himself very expensive jewels and he was dressed like a bride before the wedding day.

They all stopped and the two heads standing out bowed their heads.

"We convey our most sincere greetings to his Majesty and the Royal House of Hyeonju Lee." Seunghyeonjeong and His mother said in unison.

"His Majesty also conveys his greetings and I am here on his behalf." The Messenger said as he bowed his head as well.

"Deliver his message, we his humble servants are listening." Mrs. Han said.

"Yes I will." The messenger said as he took hold of a golden scroll and then opened it with everyone in the household watching.

"Listen all you people to these wise words of the King of this country.

With Heaven's blessings raining down upon us all, I have found this auspicious delight wonderful to share and this news the most wonderful for the entire Kingdom.

As His Majesty I have found that the third son of Minister Han Han Seunghyeonjeong is from a noble lineage and family background, he is graced and is eminent, his charm and beauty in the Kingdom are unequalled and his intelligence compared to all boys and girls, men and women is above par.

He is of noble conduct and brave hearted, grateful for the plate that he eats off and thankful of the benevolence that I bestow upon him that I couldn't find any other person better for my son than he is to serve both as a wonderful companion for life and a male Princess for this Kingdom.

With the same Heaven's blessing and my Grace I decree that I have named him chosen wife and consort of the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun by Law and let the whole Kingdom know that this very day I have accepted him and named him my son in law.

This is the King's word and the King's word is law." The Messenger read.

Most of the Royal Household was surprised but Han Seunghyeonjeong was rather happy he had reached to the point that he wanted.

"Receive His Majesty's order." The Messenger said.

Seunghyeonjeong moved closer while bowing his head and took it in his hands.

"His Majesty has deigned us with his unmatched benevolence." Mrs. Han and her son said in Unison.

"Congratulations." The Royal Messenger said as he bowed and then turned around to take his leave.

As the Royal Messenger stepped out of the Han household, many of the people who had gathered outside had heard what he had read and they murmured amongst themselves.

"Is it true, I suppose it is." They said.

"Minister Han is very lucky, now his son gets to marry into the Royal Family, how fortunate." They whispered.

The Messenger ignoring the public attention with the Imperial guards who had travelled with him just set out in the direction of Gaesungseong palace.

"This is unacceptable." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong shouted as he started to throw a tantrum while tossing things all over the place.

His Study had already turned upside down and even that did not seem to calm down his anger as it only escalated with every second.

"This is unbelievable." He said and then he shouted that his voice resounded around the whole of Cheoncheugung palace.

"Mama." The Crown Princess' maid said.

"Leave him be, if he is in a bad mood, leave him and then the anger will eventually dissipate." The Crown Princess Incheon said.

The Crown Prince after a long while calmed down as he sat behind his table trying to think everything through.

"Did Minister Han know about this?" He thought when he remembered how smiley and happy the man had seemed to be in prison earlier that day.

Just the thought of it made him angry.

"He didn't seem reluctant to refuse my father's decision and he already looked open to it, he must have known about it." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong thought.

"Your Highness." Sangil said as he walked in to a messed up study and saw the Crown Prince seated at his table and lost in thought.

"Sangil, did Minister Han know about this?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"I think so your Highness, who knows, he might have been the mind that convinced his Majesty to take such a big step." Sangil replied.

"Why do you think so?" The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong asked.

"Think about it your Highness, does your father keep watch on all your relationships?" Sangil asked.

"No, you told me you never saw any of his men following yours." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"If he knew and he had wished to decline your alliance with Han Seunghyeonjeong, his Majesty would have openly called you and not make a fool of you leaving you to expect something else when I here he had no say in your consort and only gave the final say after it had been decided." Sangil said.

"You are right, it isn't my father to think about having my younger brother married." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"We both know how Minister Han is smart and it was rumoured by some of the palace attendants that the King left the palace sometime before his arrest to see him.

I had men follow up and they said that Minister Han and the King however did not meet up so they must have contacted each other some way." Sangil said.

"Who thought that old man would surpass my understanding of things, it is evident that he is the biggest blockade to this plot." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"What should we do your Highness?" Sangil asked.

"I never thought that Old Han could be very cunning and now that he has proven a threat he has to be dealt with." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"How do you wish I should act your Highness?" Sangil asked.

"You are loyal however even I haven't accepted any defeat yet as there is still time.

The King might have decreed that the two of them should get married but then if they haven't been engaged yet we can stop them from getting married." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"What should we do your Highness?" Sangil asked.

"We can not stain Seunghyeonjeong's name if I want to make him my Imperial consort,the best we can do is turn to my dear brother.

If the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun for any reason that is very big and unacceptable is forced to break ties with his fiancee, to maintain the family glory Seunghyeonjeong will have to be promised to me." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong replied.

"And what about Minister Han, I am certain that very soon he shall be released from prison?" Sangil asked.

"You know what we do to weeds that Interfere with the growth of fine yields, as long as that man is alive, I will not get what I want.

You can't touch him in prison as people will blame the Imperial guards for being so irresponsible, the best possible way to deal with him is when he is out.

Then and only then can you give your men the order to kill him and silence him for good." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said.

"Yes your Highness." Sangil replied.

"He shall soon realise that to fight me was the worst mistake that he chose to do when we could have been the very best allies." The Crown Prince Gyeongjeong said as he ghastly smiled.

Seunghyeonjeong arrived at the Central prison where he was treated with utmost respect.

The News of him being the Grand Prince's fiancee had spread about the Capital like a wild fire and he was already attracting so much attention from the masses in his charming nature.

"Greetings." Commander Tae Baek who also apprehended his father said as he bowed his head.

"I am certain you know what it is that has brought me here in person and I come with proof to clear my father if all the false charges that have been pressed against him." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"Please come in this way." Commander Tae Baek said as he led Seunghyeonjeong to the waiting room where both of them sat down at a table.

Seunghyeonjeong placed the books he had carried with himself as well as the Royal Charter that the King had given his father to trade throughout the Kingdom.

"Here is everything that you need to know, validated and stamped and the Charter with the King's seal.

According to what I have red, this proof alone is efficient to free my father and also apprehend those who pressed the false charges against him." Seunghyeonjeong said.

Commander Tae Baek looked at the things on the table and smiled before he pushed them back to him.

"There is no need for these things, now that you are publicly declared the Grand Prince's fiancee no one would dare touch you.

I am but a simple servant of the government and I work on orders from the Imperial court, I am no where near your social ladder and I expertise in fighting and crime.

Yet if the King has a reason to praise you then I don't need to check because I trust him you are a very sincere young man.

I'll put everything aside and your father shall be returned to you at once without even a single bruise or wound on his body." Commander Tae Baek said.

"Well said Commander, I am glad that you understand." Seunghyeonjeong said as Shin Ji took possession of the things that his young Master had come with.

"It won't make sense for me to drag my own father home so I'd appreciate it if you safely delivered him.

I hope we never come to bad terms like we happened to do so before Commander." Seunghyeonjeong said as he bowed his head and then walked out.