POISON IS POISON

"If all our calculations happen to be right, then I am convinced the queen is a monster. If she can do all of these to the queen dowager of all people who was the one saving her all the times she got into trouble, then what will happen to the likes of people like us?" Suk-bin asks no one in particular.

"Not now that she has even gotten the full right and authority over the northern ministers and all their possessions. She will grow more wings." Lord Shim adds saying sternly.

"But why do you think she did such to the queen dowager? Do you think there was something off somewhere that we don't know about?" Ok-Jung asks in her lowest tone.

"We have to find out about that too, the queen doesn't deserve to be in gyotaejeon." lord Kang exhales sharply. "We need to use the poison case to cast her out of the palace."

"Just as I had suggested." Ok Jung says reminding the old rival that it was all her idea from the very onset.

He clears his throat, looking at her with his side eye. "Since it was all your idea, do you have any plans on how we can get rid of her?" Though, the question seemed plain but it holds a lot of sarcasm.

"Of course." Ok Jung scoffs. "Poison is poison, wether the prince nor the queen dowager, if she used poison on one person, she has to pay."

"What are you trying to do?" Suk-bin places her palms on the small wooden table and lowers her head again. "Frame the queen for the prince's poison?"

"There is no evidence concerning the Queen dowager but we can surely make it up for the prince's case since it is still on ground." Lord Kang adds finally seeing some sense in what Ok Jung is saying.

"So? You mean to cook up some lie and cast the queen out of the palace?!" Suk-bin asks again.

"There is no lie cooking your majesty." Lord Shim corrects. "Didn't she make use of arsenic? Didn't she actually use the poison in the palace?"

"We are not so sure yet, until we put it to his majesty that we want to investigate the poison case thoroughly. But if it happens that we are right, I believe we are punishing the queen plainly for what she did wrong." Ok Jung smirks. "All I am asking us to do is to pretend to investigate the prince's poison case while we actually dig up some evidence that the queen poisoned the queen dowager." She lowers her head, leaving it few paces from the consort's that she can hear her breaths well. "What do you think about it your majesty? Our method of saving you is a way of casting your rival out:"

"What if the queen was never involved with arsenic?" Suk-bin asks.

"Then the maid wouldn't have mentioned it to her friend in such whispering manner, she didn't even know I was there eavesdropping. If it were to be some untrue facts or rumors, I am sure she would have said to a few more people."

"You are right." Lord Kang nods gently and smiles. "I am convinced you are quite intelligent."

"It's quire surprising that you are just noticing it." She whispers beneath her breath, not too sure if he heard or not.

***************

"What did you find? Who did she come to visit in the palace?" Man Ho asks his underling immediately he enters.

Dong Ju walks quietly to his superior and bows reluctantly. "Please forgive me, I lost her."

"You did what?!" Baek Dol and Man Ho ask at the same time.

"I swear she was right in front of me and all of a sudden I just couldn't find her anymore, like she disappeared into the thin air or something."

"How can you loose a woman walking with elegance? Do you claim to say she is smarter than you?!" Man Ho asks raising his brows and voice.

"I'd rather say she knew I was following her, she stopped a few times before disappearing."

"That can only happen if you followed her obviously."

"No." Back Dol shakes his head. "It all happened because she was at alert, she knew someone was definitely tailing her."

"Then I am confused she is a skilled agent then." Man Ho nods and picks up his sword, if she can be at the Palace, then I am she has something to so with someone here. What direction was she heading to?"

"I am not so sure, because she literally just walked in circles until I can'find her anymore."

"See!" Back Sil exclaims loudly. "She walked in circles, she was very sure someone was tailing her."

"Who are you? Why do you like having us puzzled?" Man Hobaks no one in particular.

"My lord, we have to do something very fast before she attacks us again."

"Contact all our men in the palace right now, tell them to send words to me if they find any traces of her. Since we k ow she is a lady, or will be way finding her out the palace too."