Eps 18 : Declaration of War

A few month after Royal Marriage...

The arrows that Yi Baek shot repeatedly missed, making Yi Baek's face, which had been wrinkled since the beginning of his training, look even more wrinkled. Apparently, Yi Baek's mood wasn't very good from the start, which was clearly read by Baek Shi-Min, who accompanied him to practice.

Another harsh snort is heard from Yi Baek as the officer shouts that his arrow missed. Immediately, Yi Baek slammed his bow on the table with a gasp. Emotions were so strong over the young king.

"Your Majesty, you are in such a bad mood." "Is something bothering you?" Shi-Min inquired, his gaze fixed on Yi Baek's face.

Yi Baek didn't answer right away. Instead, the man took a deep breath and exhaled it. Over and over again, Yi Baek did that to reduce the emotions that were rumbling in his chest.

"Palace officials made absurd excuses about this long drought. They blamed the drought that occurred in several places on the heavens because I never had an heir to the throne," Yi Baek explained.

"Does this mean they are pressing you to spend the night with the queen, Your Majesty?"

"They do demand the presence of an heir to the throne. But, according to my observations throughout the meeting, it seems they don't want the queen to conceive and bear an heir. They also contributed to cornering the queen by drawing the unfounded conclusion that the queen was barren.

Baek Shi-Min was taken aback when he heard the official's statement about the queen, who had been determined to be barren. In fact, the marriage age of King Yeongan and Queen Jung is still so young. Only one season had passed, but they had dared to conclude such a cruel thing about the young queen.

"Your Majesty, they really go too far in making conclusions! Don't you think they have ulterior motives behind their insistence? You know, the Royal Queen Dowager could be behind all this.

"Of course," Yi Baek replied with a sigh. "I'm sure they have intentions with these pressures and accusations. Obviously, the fox lady was behind the scenes. She won't stop until the queen's seat is regained."

"Then why don't you immediately order the astronomy hall and the star castle to look for a good day for you and the queen, Your Majesty? Wouldn't you be able to at least quell the pressure and accusations from the officials?" asked Shi-Min, giving a slight solution.

Yi Baek chuckled at Park Shi-Min's solution. Yi Baek turned his head and put on an expression as if the solution were impossibleexpression as if the solution were impossible. However, Yi Baek doesn't want to let his guard down until he finds out his new queen's goal—for Jung Yeon-Hee to occupy the queen's throne with the help of Queen Dowager Park. Yi Baek was definitely no longer a crown prince who could be fooled just like that.

"No! I don't want to do it," he said with a smirk.

Not wanting to discuss the conversation any further, Yi Baek grabbed his bow again and tried to focus on the target board. It's a little difficult to focus on the scoreboard if his head is spinning with the memory of his wedding night with Jung Yeon-Hee.

Yi Baek remembers well how hard he tried to suppress his passion that he couldn't control. The man even had to be willing to soak in cold water in the middle of the night to extinguish the embers in his body.

From that night on, Yi Baek knew that Yeon-Hee was very dangerous for him. Queen Jung's skin and scent could shatter her senses. And Yi Baek didn't want to get lost in the game he had started.

...

Jung Yeon-Hee glanced at the paper that Royal Queen Dowager Shin had handed out in today's morning greeting. From where he was currently sitting, Yeon-Hee could clearly read what was written on the paper. The paper contains the names of girls who do not know what the purpose is.

"This is the list of girls who will enter the palace as the king's new concubine," said Royal Queen Dowager Shin, as if he could read the confusion that Yeon-Hee's beads had emitted.

"Your Highness, aren't you going too far? What do you mean by giving the queen a list of girls who will enter the palace as concubines?"

Queen Dowager Park, who was in Royal Dowager Shin's room during the morning greeting, looked furious. As a woman who has experienced life and lived in the palace, Queen Dowager Park knows very well the intentions of Royal Queen Dowager Shin's actions. The old woman clearly wanted to strengthen her power by choosing and confirming the future mother of the royal heir. This is clearly an act of insult against Queen Jung, who has only been in reign for a few months.

"The number of concubines of the king is more than enough if you want to get an heir to the throne. One season just passed after the queen entered the palace. How could you be this rude to a new queen?" reprimanded Queen Dowager Park while keeping her voice from rising even though her chest rumbled with emotion.

"What's the use of the old concubines if none of them are able to entice the king, Queen Dowager? In addition, it seems that the queen also failed to attract the attention of the king. As an elder, this is certainly very worrying for the survival of this kingdom," said Royal Queen Dowager Shin in calm tone.

"I understand your concern, Royal Queen Dowager. However, this act is too presumptuous when a queen has already entered the palace and is trying to carry out her duties to the best of her ability."

Queen Jung kept the expression on her face unchanged. Rather than participating in the debate between the two Queen Mothers, Queen Jung chose to remain silent and not defend herself. Jung Yeon-Hee listened to every word that came out of each Queen Mother and promised to remember it in her heart.

Realizing that the debate will never stop and that Yeon-Hee's ears are getting hotter from hearing the baseless accusations made by the Supreme Empress Dowager Shin, Yeon-Hee feels she has to speak up. While tightly gripping the daran chima she was wearing, Yeon-Hee tried to calm the anger that was wrapping her heart.

"Thank you for the attention you both give. I understand the concern that is engulfing the Royal Queen Dowager's heart. In addition, I am also grateful for the support given to Queen Dowager. Therefore, I accept and will wisely decide on the new concubine who will serve Your Majesty," explained Yeon-Hee with a smile.

Queen Dowager Park gave Yeon-Hee a disapproving look. King Yeongan's stepmother's brows rose high, surprised to find her daughter-in-law taking the danger bait that Royal Queen Dowager Shin had given her for granted.

"Queen! This is not the time for you to need to raise a new concubine. In addition, the number of concubines that the king has is more than enough," explained Queen Dowager Park, hoping Queen Jung would understand the danger signal he conveyed.

"I understand all that, Queen Dowager. I hope the two of you no longer need to worry about the heir to the throne and the future of this kingdom. I will do my job to the best of my ability and make the best decision regarding this," said Queen Jung, trying to quell the flames of debate between the two queen mothers.

...

After fulfilling her morning greetings, Queen Jung immediately started her activities as a Joseon Queen in the palace. When he was about to head to the cosmetics and jewelry section of the palace, his steps were stopped when he accidentally passed Injeongjeon, one of the main areas of the palace where the palace hall is located.

Her eyes stared fixedly at the magnificent building as well as the vast courtyard. Queen Jung recognized this place as the most sacred place in all of Joseon. Where every policy and the future of the country are decidedhe vast courtyard. Queen Jung recognized this place as the most sacred place in all of Joseon. where every policy and the future of the country are decided. The queen's bead looked darker and colder than usual.

Court Lady Jo, who followed, seemed surprised by Queen Jung's behavior. Court Lady Jo grimaced every now and then as she looked at the scroll she had brought from the Royal Queen Dowager Shin's residence. Really, Court Lady Jo doesn't understand Queen Jung's actions.

"Your Majesty, do you feel uncomfortable? Shouldn't the inspection of the cosmetic and jewelry departments just be cancelled?"

"The palace is the coldest and most terrifying place this world has ever seen," muttered Yeon-Hee, ignoring Court Lady Jo's question.

"Your Majesty, what list of candidates did the Royal Queen Dowager give you that makes you feel uncomfortable?" If so, why don't you just refuse? Why did you take the list for granted?"

It took Queen Jung a few seconds before finally turning to Court Lady Jo.

"You can only survive one day in the palace if you don't want to cross the river. To be safe, you have to cross even though the river current is so strong. You will understand what I mean, Court Lady Jo," said Queen Jung, who then continued on her way.

Not having time to think further about Queen Jung's words, Court Lady Jo and the other ladies-in-waiting followed the queen. Without anyone knowing, a flutter of determination lit up in the recesses of Queen Jung's heart. This is the first step in wading through the war in the inner palace.