Eps 4 : Take action as his mother

The autumn morning breeze blows gently, carrying the scent of leaves. Seen in one corner, the two palace women were spending time together in one of the gazebos in the southern garden of the palace. The peaceful and calm atmosphere this morning was used by both of them to pass the time by embroidering together.

A smile appeared on the face of the Royal Queen Dowager Shin Palace as she looked at the embroidery. The senior member of the royal family had just finished embroidering a beautiful peony flower. Anyone who saw the embroidery of the Royal Queen Dowager Shin of the palace would surely recognize her skill in embroidery. The gleam of satisfaction was evident in his two irises, which were still staring at his peony embroidery.

"Aigoo, the Royal Queen Dowager's ability to embroider is unquestionable. You made such beautiful embroidery of peonies. "

Queen Dowager Park's praise made Royal Queen Dowager Shin snap out of her thoughts. The woman lifted her face and returned the compliment from her daughter-in-law with a faint smile.

"You are praising me too much, Queen Dowager. Embroidering is only one of the few things an old woman like me can do," said the Royal Queen Dowager Shin as she placed the needles in the storage box.

Royal Queen Dowager Park smiled at Royal Queen Dowager Shin's reply, who tried to be humble. Her eyes returned to pay attention to the embroidery of the Royal Queen Dowager Shin, which was very neat and detailed.

"Royal Queen Dowager Shin, you are too humble. As the most senior member of the royal family, how could you say such a thing? There are many things you can do, Your Highness," said Queen Dowager Park with a smile.

Queen Dowager Park's words immediately drew laughter from the Royal Queen Dowager Shin. The woman who was wearing a golden brown dangui today looked at her daughter-in-law's face. Her dark irises quickly analyzed the meaning of Empress Dowager Park's words. As a palace lady, the Royal Queen Dowager Shin was not fooled by the subtle satire that her daughter-in-law said.

"What do you think an old woman like me can do in the palace? What makes you say that, Queen Dowager?"

Queen Dowager Park was silent for a moment, hearing the direction of the conversation that sounded so serious. To be honest, Queen Dowager Park didn't mean to offend Royal Queen Dowager Shin. The youngest Queen Dowager was just trying to say what she thought of the Royal Queen Dowager Shin without any sarcasm. With her spontaneous character, Queen Dowager Park realized that she had unknowingly irritated the Royal Queen Dowager Shin.

Queen Dowager Park immediately bowed her head before the Royal Queen Dowager Shin and apologized. "Please forgive my impudence, Your Highness. I didn't mean to offend you. All that underpins what I'm saying is the saying about the red pearl found on the yongjam—golden hairpins—that court ladies wear."

Laughter erupted from the Royal Queen Dowager Shin hearing Queen Dowager Park's explanation. The Royal Queen Dowager Shin did not expect that she would get an apology and an unexpected excuse from her daughter-in-law. Again, her irises stared intently at the daughter-in-law's face with a slightly probing look.

"Why are you apologizing to me, Queen Dowager? There's nothing wrong with what you said," Royal Queen Dowager Shin replied with a slight laugh. Besides, what you say is true. It's been a few months. I've been missing something in this palace," she continued.

"What exactly are you missing, Your Highness? Please tell me, maybe I can help you find the missing thing."

A faint smile appeared on the Royal Queen Dowager Shin's face. The woman let out a long, dramatic sigh. The Royal Queen Dowager Shin then fixed her gaze on the eastern part of the palace. There is a line of sadness accompanied by longing that radiates from his dark beads.

"Don't you miss the bright laughter that comes from the east palace, Queen Dowager?" muttered Royal Queen Dowager Shin in such a sad tone.

Queen Dowager Park fell silent at the murmuring of Royal Queen Dowager Shin . Immediately, the woman realized something that the Royal Queen Dowager Shin was missing. Slowly, her hazel eyes rolled and followed the view of the eastern palace building that was visible from where they were.

"Are you so concerned about the presence of an heir to the throne, Your Majesty?" asked Queen Dowager Park to confirm.

Royal Queen Dowager Shin turned to Queen Dowager Park with a smile and a short nod. "Right. Even though Joseon just got a new sun, it feels like as a senior member, I don't feel relieved yet. Seeing His Majesty, who also doesn't have a queen beside him, of course makes me worried. "

"I feel that His Majesty's current leadership is still not balanced. The balance in a new country is achieved when the sun has the moon, "continued the Royal Queen Dowager Shin , who expressed her wish expressly to Queen Dowager Park.

"I can understand your restless feelings, Your Highness. Since the sudden departure of Crown Princess Souin, until now, His Majesty has not had a successor to Crown Princess Souin. Even if some concubines are still in His Majesty's possession, it would be incomplete without a flower blooming beside the throne of a ruler. "

The Royal Queen Dowager Shin nodded, confirming Queen Dowager Park's words. "It has been almost three years since the queen's throne was left vacant. The time of mourning is over. As an old woman, I can only watch in silence. Don't you think it's time you said something to His Majesty, Queen Dowager?"

The Queen Dowager Park was silent and thought carefully about every word of Royal Queen Dowager Shin. Despite her status as only a stepmother to King Yeongan, deep down, Queen Dowager Park began to get restless with the emptiness of the Queen's position in the palace harem. After all, the vacancy on the Crown Princess's throne could lead to chaos in the rules of the east palace, while the vacancy on the Queen's throne could disrupt the entire country.

This time, Queen Dowager Park felt that what Royal Queen Dowager Shin had said was true. It is time for her, as the mother of King Yeongan, to take the action she can as a mother.

"You are right, Your Highness. I should have reminded His Majesty of this. After all, the Queen's throne could not be left vacant forever. For the sake of balance in the palace as well as the country, there must be a flower that occupies the throne. Don't you agree with me? "

"You are the right person to remind His Majesty of this. Even though I am a senior member, you must know that His Majesty never listens to what I say. This time, as someone who is concerned about the balance within the country, I beg you to take action, Queen Dowager, "said Royal Queen Dowager Shin in a pitiful tone of voice.

The Queen Dowager Park smiled and nodded her head. You don't have to worry. I will remind His Majesty of this, Your Highness. "

The Royal Queen Dowager Shin only smiled meaningfully and nodded her head enthusiastically. Unbeknownst to Queen Dowager Park, her mother-in-law was laughing at her innocence as a court lady. The Royal Queen Dowager Shin easily led Queen Dowager Park to do what she wanted.

"You didn't even notice that I just did something based on what you said. I just used the red pearl from the yongjam I had," The Royal Queen Dowager Shin muttered to himself.

...

King Yeongan and his entourage of servants moved out of the palace hall. King Yeongan had just finished attending the palace council meeting with the ministers. King Yeongan's expression looked so angry after he came out of the palace hall. Apparently, the meeting was enough to put the king in a bad mood because the subject of the discussion of the ministers who returned urged him to get married immediately.

Realizing his bad mood, Eunuch Jang advised King Yeongan to rest for a while at his residence. As someone who had served King Yeongan since he was a child, Eunuch Jang knew very well the expressions on King Yeongan's face based on mood.

King Yeongan stepped in quickly so he could take a short break before resuming his activities as a leader. Just as he stepped into the courtyard of his residence, his sight found someone waiting for him on the veranda.

For a moment, King Yeongan froze on the spot, noticing a figure who had come to visit his residence. For some reason, the man in the red robe was surprised to find the figure in the palace where he lived.

"Your Majesty, I came after hearing the news that you had finished holding a meeting with the palace council," said Queen Dowager Park, while smiling at her stepson.

The corner of King Yeongan's lips twitched at the warm greeting that Queen Dowager Park gave. Really, King Yeongan didn't know what wind had finally brought the woman, who indirectly had the status of his mother, to him unexpectedly.

"Apparently, Your Highness has an interest in rushing to see me," Yeongan said, complete with a cold tone.

The pain returned to Queen Dowager Park's heart when she heard King Yeongan again called her based on her title. Ever since she married the late King Seongjong, never once did Queen Dowager Park hear Yeongan call her mother. Although sad, Queen Dowager Park tries to understand and understand the character of her stepson and chooses to be tolerant.

"If you don't mind, there are a few things I want to talk to you about. Can you take the time to have a discussion with me?"

King Yeongan did not answer the question. The man in the red robe just snorted softly and then cast his gaze on Eunuch Jang, who was right behind him.

"Prepare tea and snacks for the Queen Dowager," he ordered quickly, who then went straight into his residence.