NEVER BACKED TO A CORNER

The queen sits and tries to think of a plan, that marriage of Ok Jung and Yeoning mustn't take place. Even though Suk-bin doesn't plan to use the marriage as a card, her followers will still use it against her and her people.

"Your majesty." Lady sung calls. "May I come in?"

"Come in!" The queen orders.

"Yes, your majesty." Lady sung enters.

"Have a seat."

"Yes, your majesty." Lady Sung appreciates and sits. "Your majesty, I think you should retire to bed now. It is getting very late."

"Any news on what I asked you to do? Where did Lord Jang go after he left this place?" The queen asks ignoring Lady Sung's words.

"Your majesty, just as you predicted. He went to see Suk-bin her majesty." Lady Sung whispers.

"That witch! That crazy bastard!" The queen curses loudly with tears in her eyes. "Why? Why does she always have the best things?"

"Your majesty! Please do not utter such words." Lady Sung pleads.

"She has the Favour of all lady investigators, she has the Favour of the king, now lord Jang?" The queen asks in tears. "Tell me, is she better than me in any ways?"

"No your majesty, she dares not compete with you because she doesn't even compare!" Lady Sung whispers trying her hardest to comfort the queen.

"Why is everything so difficult for me ever since she stepped her foot in the palace? Why is it so difficult for me to have my husband's heart?"

"Your majesty, please stop crying." Lady Sung says already sobbing too. "Please do not cry."

"I will never surrender to that woman, never!!!" The queen retorts. "Where is she? I will like to cut out the fight and hatred this night."

"Your majesty, what do you plan to do?" Lady Sung asks.

"Since when do I have to inform you of all I want to do?" The queen asks loudly in rage.

"Please forgive me your majesty." Lady Sung bows and apologizes immediately, realizing that the queen is in her worst mood.

The queen walks out and her attendants follows. Walking with rage, bitterness and frustration to her rival's bed chambers, but fortunately she meets her outside.

"Your majesty." Suk-bin choi calls and bows immediately she sees the queen, so as her attendants too.

"Why are you outside, this late Suk-bin?" The queen asks bluntly wearing a very pissed look.

"Nothing your majesty, I just came out for fresh air." Suk-bin replies with a smile. "What about you your majesty?"

Her rival's smile made her more bitter and annoyed. How dare her smile in her presence? "Since when did a senior report to a junior of the inner court?" The queen asks with anger

"I am sorry your majesty." Suk-bin bows.

"Tomorrow, you will be going to Lord Jang's house to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage officially, isn't it?" The queen asks again and smiles.

"Yes your majesty. Just as I said earlier."

"Really?" The queen scoffs. "Do not bother yourself to go."

"What? Why do you say so your majesty?"

"The queen dowager is the eldest in the inner court, but as you know, she passed all authorities to me." The queen smiles devilishly. "So I should be the one in charge of the marriage process."

"Be in charge of the marriage process?" Suk-bin asks again.

"You heard me." The queen frowns. "I am the mother of this nation, both princes are my son. So I think, I should be the one in charge of their marriage process."

Suk-bin keeps quiet for a while and smiles. "Is that all you want, your majesty?"

"Yes." The queen nods.

"So be it, your majesty. But I am still going to Lord Jang's house tomorrow."

"To do what?!" The queen asks loudly.

"To pay him a visit." Suk-bin exhales deeply. "Have you forgotten he is a close friend to my brother?"

The queen clinches her fists. "You surely always find a way out, like the snake that you really are."

"Do not forget your majesty, I will like to take my son along with me to pay Lord Jang a visit." Suk-bin smiles and whispers in her mind. "I can never be backed into the corner."

The queen moves closer to her rival and whispers. "I will make sure that marriage doesn't take place."

"Do not try anything funny, your majesty." Suk-bin whispers too. "If you want to fight anyone, it should me. Do not touch my son and people."

"I am sure you know lord Jang belongs to the northern faction."

"I am also sure you know lord Jang isn't interested in power struggling."

The queen takes a few paces away from Suk-bin moving back to her original position. "I will do whatever it takes to make sure your son doesn't marry that girl."

"Do you think Lord Jang will allow her marry your son?" Suk-bin asks. "It is very obvious that you want to use her as an instrument to crown your son."

"Shut that trap of yours." The queen shuts her rival with a dirty slap. "How dare you open your eyes wide open and say that rubbish to my face?"

"What is going on here?" The king cuts in.

The queen and Suk-bin bows on sight of the king.

"Your majesty,what brings you here this late hour?" The queen asks.

"What sort of question is that?" The king asks again. "Can't I move around as I wish?"

"Please forgive me your majesty." The queen apologizes.

"I will ask again, what was going on here? What did you slap Suk-bin?" The kings asks facing the queen.

"It is a matter of the inner court your majesty." The queen replies.

"Matter of the inner court?" Suk-bin asks and faces the king. "Your majesty, the queen her majesty says I shouldn't go and see Lord Jang. That she wants to be in charge of the entire marriage process."

"Queen, is that true?"

"Yes." The queen nods. "I only think it is proper for me to do that."

"Yeoning has his eyes on that girl for a very long time, let him have his way with her." The king whispers.