FOR BETTER OR WORSE
Minister Han was escorted and finally brought back at the entrance of his Manor.
"Father." Seunghyeonjeong said as he bowed his head.
Minister Han walked in proudly back into his house hold as his son followed him.
They walked first through the courtyard and then into the study where once inside, they closed the doors and sat down at a table.
"Welcome back Father." Seunghyeonjeong said.
"I must say that you did a very wonderful job and you are starting to blossom in the limelight." Minister Han said.
"It is like you said, the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong was behind all of this." I said.
"I knew it, he was the only person who knew that there was evidence that could have me released from the prison." Minister Han said.
"Even the King knew about it." I said.
"How did you know that?" Minister Han asked.
"I was summoned to Jeonyuhwa Hall in the palace yesterday and the King knew it very well that he was the last resort and the only possible way to get you out." I said.
"Marrying into the Royal Clan is something that is not so easy, as it is the reputation of Royal brides must be maintained and if he let me rot in prison then it would create a stain on the Grand Prince's reputation in the near future." Minister Han said.
"The King has greater plans for the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun and for the time being he wants to make sure that there is still a balance of power for both Princes." I said.
"Why is that?" Minister Han asked his son.
"With a power balance, both of them could suppress one another and either way each of the Princes would own a group of people to support them." Seunghyeonjeong replied.
"The King is wise." Minister Han said.
"He has limited time left and the reason why he wanted me to marry the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun was because he trusted that it would win the Grand Prince support from the rebellious Hans." Seunghyeonjeong said.
"That is a risky position, it puts you in a tough place which additionally risks so much of the things that you are fighting for and trying to protect." Minister Han said.
"I am going to be targeted by a number of Royalists but the King knows that I am smart enough and he knows best what I want." Seunghyeonjeong said.
Minister Han looked surprised.
"What is it that you want?" Minister Han asked.
"The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun is everything to me and I love him father, the only way in the world that I can possibly protect him from all his foes is if I have power." Seunghyeonjeong said.
"Politics is a very risky game and you know best that it isn't easy if you do not have people to protect you.
You are going up against men who possess absolute powers, do you really think that you can stand firm against everything they are going to hurl at you?" Minister Han asked.
"Marrying the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun isn't just for the benefit of it father, it is the only way that I can protect the Family and the Han Clan.
For ages we have been terrorized by those Ultra Royalists and the only possible way that there is for me to face them is going head on up against them." Seunghyeonjeong replied.
"I agreed to the proposal because I thought it was a way to protect you from the Crown Prince." Minister Han said feeling a little bit regretful.
"I also agreed to this proposal because it is the only way that we can return power to the people, something that we have fought for for so long and the purpose for my existence." Seunghyeonjeong replied.
"My dear, the best you can do is to remain politically quiet." Minister Han said.
"I will do so that is as long none of the people I care about and those in the country get hurt." Seunghyeonjeong said.
"Your Majesty." Mr. Oh said as he poured King Gwangyang a cup of tea.
"Can you believe this?" King Gwangyang asked.
"Believe what your Majesty?" Mr. Oh asked.
"I failed as a father and it is because of that that I raised my successor into a cold and heartless monster." King Gwangyang replied.
"I don't agree with you your Majesty." Mr. Oh and.
The King turned around and then looked at him.
"Why is that?" King Gwangyang asked.
"You are the King of this country, you couldn't choose Geosan over any other man, the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong on the other hand is immature, he just let his greed have the best of him." Mr. Oh replied.
"Perhaps you are right but I know it deep down that my time is limited." King Gwangyang said.
"Don't say such things Your Majesty." Mr. Oh said.
"Just the other day, I was told by the Imperial doctor that I am suffering from a terminal disease and it was you who asked him to keep it a secret from others." King Gwangyang said.
"Your Majesty, I didn't mean to hide it, in the end, I don't want this, your biggest dream being torn apart by others." Mr. Oh replied.
"Even as my servant you have been loyal, more than a brother and a friend that it hurts me to leave you with a burden of the next King of this country." King Gwangyang said.
"Serving you is the highest calling and greatest honour your Majesty, I vowed to protect your interests and take care of you, and it was my promise to remain loyal and by your side even at your hour of death." Mr. Oh said.
"I want you to promise me that even when I am dead, it rests with you alone, everything that I have worked for I can only hope that you shall remain in the palace and finish what I started." King Gwangyang said.
"Yes your Majesty." Mr. Oh said.
"In due time, I wish to have a word with Soohyun." King Gwangyang said.
"I'll call for him your Majesty." Mr. Oh replied.
"Your Majesty." Someone called at the door.
"Come in." King Gwangyang ordered.
One of the palace guards walked in and then he bowed to the King.
"What is the matter?" King Gwangyang asked.
"His Highness The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun is here to see you." The guard replied.
"Let him in." King Gwangyang permitted and after the guard exited his son walked in immediately and then he got onto his knees.
"Father." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"What is it now?" King Gwangyang asked.
"I do not wish to get married to Han Seunghyeonjeong." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
King Gwangyang stood up immediately.
"What nonsense are you saying right now?" King Gwangyang asked his son.
"I mean it father, he and me share no special connection at all." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun replied.
"You are free to marry any other person you are in love with and I won't prohibit you but by my decree they'll all have to be your concubines.
Han Seunghyeonjeong is the only one whom I have decided is fit enough to be your legal wife." King Gwangyang said.
"Who are you to decide for me my love life." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked.
"I am doing this for your own good, to protect you." King Gwangyang replied.
"From whom father?" The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked.
"I am doing this to secure your future something that you don't understand and you won't understand for now." King Gwangyang said.
"I did not ask for your protection Father." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"Yet nevertheless you needed it." King Gwangyang said.
"I want to break off this betrothal." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"It is too late now and it is already a Royal decree, the end of this betrothal is the death of one of you, either out of unfaithfulness of your partner or any other cause." King Gwangyang replied..
"Even if we get married, he won't still be happy." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"I didn't ask you to make him happy and that rests with you alone, on the other hand, he is the one that is going to give you everything that you ever needed that I couldn't.
He is also the one who is going to help you reach greater heights than I could have taken you to." King Gwangyang replied.
"Nevertheless Father, have you even considered his happiness?" The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked.
"If you knew what his happiness was, you would have as well known that it was being able to by your side even if without your love but as for him, loving you is enough." King Gwangyang replied.
The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun was quite moved by the words of his father.
"But I do not love him." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"It has never been about love on my side, it was about what is best for the country, you are more excellent than your brother when it comes to combat and war while on the other hand he is smarter than you when it comes to what he thinks and plans.
When your brother becomes King there are people that will be against him protecting you and to be the King of this country he must abandon even a brotherly relationship for the welfare of the monarchy.
As you protect your brother from his enemies, I can be at ease knowing that someone is also by your side to protect you." King Gwangyang said.
"Father." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"That is enough, you can marry a hundred, a thousand more but all of them shall only be your concubines, I have decided that Han Seunghyeonjeong is to be your one and only Legal wife and my decision is final." King Gwangyang said.
After hearing that his father was not about to change his mind, the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun turned around and then he walked out of the room.
"Forgive him your Majesty, for he knows not what he is doing." Mr. Oh said.
"It is only a matter of time and soon he'll come to understand, that very way he'd cease to resent me for everything that I have done." King Gwangyang said.
"I'll call for Soohyun." Mr. Oh said.
"And I want you to make sure that you pick out the very best guards in the capital to secretly watch and guard Minister Han and his son Han Seunghyeonjeong." King Gwangyang said.
"Yes your Majesty." Mr. Oh said as he bowed his head and then withdrew from the King's presence at once.
"Your Royal Highness." One of the guards of the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"What is your name?" The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked.
"I am Gae Byung Ki." The guard replied.
"Come with me inside." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said and the guard followed him into his quarters.
"What shall I do for you your Highness?" Gae Byung Ki asked.
"For how long have you served me?" The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun asked.
"Ever since you were sixteen years old." Byung Ki replied.
"It has been about three years and you certainly should know me well in all that time that you have guarded me." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"Yes your Highness." Byung Ki replied.
"You are now nolonger a mere guard but my newest execution." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"I am at His Highness' services alone." Byung Ki replied.
"Henceforth from now on, you shall be my private guard and you shall be in charge of my security and that of my household.
No one shall come in the name of my father and be above you and I am going to make sure that your family is catered for and they live a good life." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"Thank you your Highness." Byung Ki replied.
"In exchange for all that I demand your absolute loyalty, not to my father, not to my brother, not to my wives but to me." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"I pledge my allegiance to only you your Highness." Byung Ki replied.
"Very well then." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"What do you want to have me do right now your Highness?" Byung Ki asked.
"First and foremost, I want to have a meeting with Han Seunghyeonjeong, the youngest son of Minister Han." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"I'll arrange it right away your Highness." Byung Ki replied.
"I want us to meet tomorrow and outside the palace so I want you to choose a place that is both convenient and doesn't attract much attention here in the capital." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun said.
"Yes your Highness." Byung Ki replied.
"You may leave." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun waved Byung Ki off and he withdrew from the quarters.
"I must convince him to let go of this marriage." The Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun thought.
Jang Heungseon was wrecking havoc in his room and he was tossing things around and out of order.
"Calm down young Master." His servant Eun Mi said.
"Who is that wench Seunghyeonjeong?" Heungseon asked.
"He is the third and youngest son of Minister Han." Eun Mi replied.
"What right has he to take away my man?" Heungseon asked.
"He is pathetic." Eun Mi said.
"Is he the fairest of all of us in the Land, certainly not, even I am as beautiful and as graceful, Even the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun of all people fell for me at last after so long.
Everything would have finally become perfect between the both of us if it weren't for that conniving wench." Heungseon said.
"Young Master is fairer, young Master is more delicate, young Master is Wiser and Smart, yet he on the other hand is nothing compared to you." Eun Mi said.
"You are right." Heungseon said.
"We must break off this betrothal." Heungseon added.
"How, the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun can not say no, to at least honour his father's request." Eun Mi said.
"There is a way that we can break it off and it must wind out with that wench's unfaithfulness, once he has been branded, he'll have to be punished and once that is done, Victory will be ours." Heungseon said with a ghastly smile.
"Yes Young Master." Eun Mi said.
"There is nothing that I won't do to get what I want especially when it comes to the Grand Prince." Heungseon said.
"What about the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong?" Eun Mi asked.
"He would not benefit from this if Han Seunghyeonjeong is misbranded as someone unfaithful, he won't possibly be able to make him a concubine once again." Eun Mi said.
"What do you think, there is only one way the Crown Prince Gyeongjeong is willing to sever that relationship and since a man can have more than people partner as a wife the last resort would be wiping the Grand Prince Gyeongseongmun off the face of the Earth.
That alone is something that I can never let happen." Heungseon replied.
"Yes young Master." Eun Mi said.
"We need to get rid of that wench before the Crown Prince can react." Heungseon added.