1715

It was a beautiful spring morning when the king of Joseon, the land of the morning calm, took his daily morning walk around the palace. Of course he wasn't by himself. A king was never by himself. Followed by eunuchs, guards and servants he walked around to enjoy the cherry blossoms. He stopped at one of the countless lush blooming trees and looked up into it's pink blossoming crown.

"Looking at those trees, I'm reminded of young love" he said, his expression reminiscent. 

"Yes your majesty" his first eunuch, eunuch Ping, said enthusiastically. "Very much like the young love that is bestowed upon the Crown Prince and Lady Daewon. 

The king smiled and continued to walk as he replied with a deep sigh. "If only the crown prince shared your enthusiasm."

The eunuch didn't reply. It was no secret in the palace, that the Crown Prince wasn't very fond of the arranged marrange, which was to take place before the end of spring.

"I should visit him and remind him of his responsibilities to the country" the king said. Knowing well that the crown prince usually had his own interest in mind. 

"I'm sure your majesty will choose the right words" the eunuch said with a smile and a respective bow.

"If only I shared that belief" the king said with an amused grin. "We both know that too much wind in a ship's sails will only move it further down the sea. It takes a good anchor to fully settle it"

The eunuch bowed once more and preceded the king when they arrived at the crown prince's chambers. Eunuch Ping walked up the flight of stairs and stopped in front of the green wooden door. "His majesty the king!!" he called out and listened in afterwards. But there was no reply. Clearing his throat he repeated himself once more.

"His Majesty the king!!" the eunuch called out, before turning to the guards who swallowed insecurely.

"Where is he?" Ping inquired strictly and opened the doors with a swift motion.

The emperor nodded to himself when entering the prince's empty chambers. "I'm not surprised. if you see him, tell him I'll have dinner together with him today" 

"Yes your majesty..." 

While the king and his first eunuch continued the walk around the palace. Prince Han Gun, had left his chambers to find the palace's first shaman. In his pockets a gift and a request. 

He was greeted by the lower shamans who picked herbs in the temple's garden and soon led to Lady Yang who was working in her office. Lady Yang's mysterious aura exceeded the temple. One usually felt a strange tingling sensation when approaching the building and also the Crown Prince seemed to be at once curiously drawn in by the energies surrounding this area of the palace. 

"Your majesty" an assistant to the main shaman greeted him with a gentle bow.

"Announce me, I need to see Lady Yang" the Crown Prince said quietly.

"No need. She is awaiting you. Please, follow me" the assistant shaman said and led the surprised Crown Prince into the small temple building.

Lady Yang sat by her desk which was covered in sheets of paper. Some had writings of black and some writings of red ink. The prince knew as much as that the writings in red ink were death spells. Lady Yang, a skinny lady in her 60s with pursed lips, large piercing eyes and a beauty mark below each eye welcomed the prince with smile and a slow bow. 

"Lady Yang" he greeted her. "I-" 

"I see his Majesty has come with a request" the shaman said at once and reached out her hand to offer the prince a seat before her desk.

"I-indeed" Although a confident and slightly cocky young man of 23 years of age, the prince Han Gun was extremely unsettled by the shaman's presence. After all it was a lady who could kill someone without weapons. For a moment he re-considered his plans. Yet he eventually sat down in front of her. The shaman only needed to look at him to read his mind.

"I see. The older prince has advised you to come and see me" the Lady Yang said and smiled knowingly. 

"Y-yes indeed!" prince Han Gun confirmed, rubbing his sweaty palms into his ruby red silk robes.

"Nara" Lady Yang said with a smile, to which her assistant appeared at her side at once. "Serve us some plum wine, will you?" 

Lady Yang then closed her eyes and again smiled knowingly. "I see. So you wish to escape the arranged wedding with Lady Daewon."

Opening her eyes again she sent a shiver down prince Han Gun's spine. That lady's stare was otherworldly.

"Don't worry. I will not cast a death spell, unless that is your wish. I'm not evil, your majesty" she said with a subtle smirk. The prince nodded to himself. 

"Is there a way?" he asked insecurely. 

Lady Yang made a swift hand-motion around a candle on her desk. The candle which she used through seeing. "There is a way, but it is risky and his majesty needs plenty of courage for this journey" she explained. 

"Please explain" prince Han Gun said and leaned in curiously. 

"I see in you the wish to not only escape the marriage, your majesty. It seems as if the throne is none of your interest either" Lady Yang said softly.

Prince Han Gun lowered his gaze and nodded slightly. "Please do not let my father know"

Lady Yang didn't reply, instead she placed a wooden box which carried beautiful talisman made from jade pearls and royal blue ribbons onto her desk. "This talisman will send you into the year 2019"

"2019?!" prince Han Gun exclaimed. "You mean this talisman will send me into the future?"

"Indeed" Lady Fei confirmed. "You will remain in the future for seven days. Within those seven days you will be presented with two solutions. And they will be clear to you. In the end, it is up to your majesty, which path to choose. If you choose none of both paths you will return to the palace at this present day and it will be as though nothing has happened"

"I see. And when will my journey begin?" prince Han Gun asked, to which Lady Yang smiled knowingly.

"If you wish, as soon as tonight" she replied. 

The prince placed a red velvet pouch with the royal symbol embroidered to it onto the table in exchange for the talisman.

"Please accept my present as a payment" prince Han Gun said with a smirk, to which Lady Fei bowed. At once the prince jumped to his feet and left the temple with an excited heart and an eager smile. 

Lady Yang retrieved a pearl necklace made from the finest ivory.

"That was easier than expected" a voice said from behind her as the older prince, prince Yul entered the office through another door. He was a tall built young man in his late twenties, whose high cheek bones resembled those of the young prince, but whose air was far more mature and serious.

"Has the older prince doubted my abilities?" Lady Yang inquired.

"By no means. But tell me, which two solutions will he face on his journey?" prince Yul inquired.

"He will either have to betray a friend or ask the friend for the impossible. Whichever way he chooses will be to your benefit." she explained. "But now, I really have to attend to my work. I hope your majesty will understand."

"Of course. Thank you. If your plan works accordingly and I become heir to the crown, you shall be greatly rewarded."

Lady Yang bowed to the serious young man who swiftly left the temple. Smiling knowingly she looked into the flame of the candle which began to flicker on her desk. "It surely will be an interesting time for the young heir..."