Hello hello! Here's the next update :) So sad, but I guess I'm sick now. And I tried so hard too, but I guess it comes with the season, and the workplace I work in. Please let me know what you think of this chapter!

P.S. so happy the cast of Scarlet Heart: Ryeo earned 7 awards!

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Soo took a deep breath before she stepped out from behind the pillar after Won left. She was purposely looking forward and saw Chae Ryung come to her from the corner of her eye.

 

“Your highness!”

She turned her head in the direction of the voice and tried to keep her own steady, plastering a smile on her face.

 

“Oh, Chae Ryung ah, what is the matter?”

“I have something to talk to you about, your highness.”

“Really? Well, let me clean these up first and I will meet you in my room in a few minutes.”

“Yes, your highness.”

 

When Soo had finally arrived at her room and sat down at her desk, she noticed how nervous Chae Ryung seemed. The girl was clasping her hands and unclasping them repeatedly, and then wringing the fabric of her skirt.

 

“Chae Ryung ah, what is it? You seem to be very nervous.”

“It is just…the King is releasing a few Damiwon court ladies, and I am one of them.”

 

She suddenly stepped forward earnestly.

 

“Could you not convince the King to keep me here? I do not know where I would go if I were to be released! I could not possibly go back to the 8^th prince’s residence.”

 

But she could go back to the 9^th prince’s residence, couldn’t she? At least that was what it seemed like from what Soo heard earlier. But, there was an ulterior motive. Why else would the 9^th prince tell Chae Ryung to stay here? She wondered what their previous relationship was. How did those two know each other well enough for Chae Ryung to want to serve the 9^th prince?

 

“I did not realize the King was releasing court ladies. It seems I will not see you very often if you leave.”

“Please, your highness! I have no one else outside of Damiwon except you, Arang, and Eun Bi!”

“I can try to talk to the King. I will let you know what happens,” Soo said carefully.

 

Chae Ryung’s expression immediately brightened and she reached out to hold Soo’s hands.

 

“Thank you so much, your highness!”

“O...oh, of course. It is nothing…”

 

Chae Ryung stepped back to give a bow before she exited the room, and Soo was left alone with her thoughts.

 

This was the first time she heard the King was releasing Damiwon court ladies. Perhaps it was just recently, so she didn’t receive notice of it yet. It was strange though. Usually if it had anything to do with Damiwon, King Hye Jong would ask for her opinion first before acting.

 

Soo stood up, deciding that it was time she see the King. So said he was resting in his quarters, right? He should still be there now. As she exited her room and made her way down the stairs in the foyer of Damiwon, she looked up to see So. He seemed to be in deep thought, but looked up in surprise when she called his name.

“So ya!”

“Oh…Soo ya. I was heading up to see you.”

 

She smiled and reached out to pull his hands to the front from where they were clasped behind his back. He smiled at her action and held her hands warmly.

 

“Did you miss me?” she asked shyly.

“I did.”

“But we just saw each other a few hours ago.”

“You know I always miss you when you’re not with me.”

 

She blushed and he reached up to caress her cheek. Soo then grew curious, remembering his serious expression minutes ago.

 

“But did you have anything to tell me? It seemed like you were in deep thought earlier.”

 

He nodded before dropping the hand from her face, his other one still holding her hand tightly.

 

“Are you busy? Let’s take a walk around Lake Dong Ji.”

“Well, I suppose I can spare a few moments for my husband,” she said nonchalantly before he grinned and led her out of Damiwon towards the lake.

 

They didn’t exchange many words on the way, and even when they had arrived, So still kept silent. Soo thought he was just gathering his thoughts, but after walking in silence for a while and seeing his lips curved in a frown, she realized it was something serious; that he was afraid of how she would react. She stopped walking and pulled him around to face her.

 

“So ya, what is it? It’s been at least 15 minutes and you still haven’t said anything to me.”

“Have you been counting?” He tried to joke half-heartedly.

 

She reached up to touch his cheek.

 

“Tell me, So ya. What is the matter? Is it something bad?”

 

He looked down and frowned before looking up at her again.

 

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“It is about Chae Ryung.”

“What do you mean?” she asked slowly.

“Did she ask you for a favor recently?”

 

How did So know that? Did he overhear their conversation? No, that wasn’t it. He was far away from her room when she had met up with him.

 

“Yes, but how did you know that?”

“I overheard her talking to Won today…”

 

So was also there when she saw Chae Ryung talking to Won? He must have not made himself known when she appeared, but what for?

 

“I was there too. I hid myself behind a pillar and heard their conversation. But why? How do they know each other? And what did she mean when the King said he was releasing some Damiwon court ladies? This is the first time I’ve heard of it! Usually the King tells me these things beforehand…”

“It was my doing. I asked the King not to tell you.”

 

So asked the King not to tell her? But why would he do that?”

 

“But...why? Chae Ryung is my friend…”

 

So walked into Damiwon, finally finding some free time to visit his beloved wife. As he began to round the corner, he saw Won peeking through the door into the bathing pool. So thought about the time and realized it must have been around the time when the King took his bath. But what was Won doing here? Was he spying? So hid himself and continued to observe. He heard Soo’s voice telling Chae Ryung to dispose of the bags, and heard the girl exit the bathing pool before she gasped. She must have seen Won.

 

“Ah, I heard that there is a lot of demand for silver mirrors at Damiwon, so I ordered more mercury for making mirrors. I am sure they have been delivered?”

 

Won was having mercury delivered to Damiwon? Why was he responsible for that? Soo did not say she had been needing mirrors, from what he remembered.

 

“Yes, your highness. I saw them being received.”

“That is good then. Let me know if you need more,” Won said before he left Damiwon.

 

Why was Won ordering supplies for Damiwon? This was usually done by Soo or other Senior Court Ladies. So waited for Chae Ryung to walk away before he stepped out from his hiding spot.

 

Soo gasped after hearing So re-account his story. So that meant that he already suspected Chae Ryung long before she witnessed the girl putting poison into the herbal pouches. But that didn’t explain Won and Chae Ryung’s previous relationship.

 

“So…you already knew it was Chae Ryung and Won when I revealed the poisoning?”

“I had an inkling, but you confirmed my suspicions.”

“But that still doesn’t explain their relationship. Why did she say she wanted to go to him? She told me she had no one else outside of Damiwon if she were to be sent away.”

 

She could see him hesitate before he told her.

 

“I was curious about that too, so I did some snooping. Apparently, the 9^th prince had taken her in as a child when she was begging on the streets. She grew up in his household before she began working at the 8^th prince’s household.”

“But she told me we had been together for a really long time. Said we planted trees together and watched them grow.”

“She must have used your memory loss to her advantage. She hadn’t been working there for that long before you arrived, from what I surmised.”

 

Soo was crushed to hear that. Granted, she never confirmed what Chae Ryung had told her and simply accepted it. At the time, she didn’t want everyone to think she was more suspicious than she already seemed. However, in the light of recent events, she found that it was easier to see Chae Ryung’s true character, no matter how much it hurt her.

 

“So you are saying that Chae Ryung and Won are plotting to dispose of the King? Surely Won doesn’t think he’ll be King, right? There must be someone behind him as well.”

 

So nodded at her question.

 

“You are right. Won is not from a powerful enough family to become King, nor does he have the necessary support. Furthermore, he wouldn’t be smart enough to think about using mercury to poison the King. There is something bigger a brewing.”

“If that is the case, then why is the King sending Chae Ryung away? And why did you ask the King to not tell me?”

“It was my idea to send Chae Ryung away.”

“Your idea?”

 

But why would So do that? Traditionally, if someone was caught committing treason, they wouldn’t just be sent away. Soo knew that much.

 

“I know how much Chae Ryung means to you. Even if she did commit treason, I know it would hurt you if she was punished by the law…so I asked the King to release her, before anything else happens. The best way to do that was to make it seem like the King was releasing a few Damiwon maids under the guise of regulating palace workers.”

 

Soo couldn’t help the tears the came to her eyes. Even though Chae Ryung had willingly participated in a plot to harm his brother, So knew the bond she shared with the girl, and went out of his way to protect her so she wouldn’t be heartbroken. Soo was not naïve; she knew the punishment for being caught poisoning the King was death, or any royal family member for that matter. She herself had gone through that, and was the reason why Court Lady Oh was gone. The only reason why Chae Ryung had remained alive was because they still needed to find leads to the real culprits.

 

So grew worried when she started crying, and reached out to wipe away her tears.

 

“I’m sorry for hiding it from you, Soo ya. I wanted her to be safely out of the palace before I told you, but she was already looking for you to help her stay at Damiwon.”

 

Soo shook her head, putting her arms around So’s waist and pulling him in for a hug. He automatically wrapped his arms around her.

 

“I’m not mad at all. I’m just touched that you would do that for me, despite the crime she committed. I know what the punishment is for poisoning a royal member…I know it too well.”

 

So’s arms tightened around her, enveloping Soo further in his warmth.

 

“I know…I didn’t want you to go through that a second time.”

“Was the King very mad when you asked for that to be done?”

“No, he remembers what happened last time, and agreed it would be best.”

“So I guess I should tell Chae Ryung that the King did not comply with my request? But where will she go if she is released? Will the 9^th prince take her in? Or will she be abandoned?”

“If the 9^th prince abandons her, I will make sure she is taken in by a good family.”

“Thank you, So ya.”

“You’re welcome, Soo ya.”

 

After Soo had composed herself, they finished their round around the lake and So walked her back to Damiwon. That evening as planned, they had a celebratory dinner for Jung’s return. Even with the poisoning incident hanging over their heads, everyone tried to enjoy themselves as much as possible, since it was the first time in a while that everyone was together.

 

Baek Ah didn't forget to bring drinks as he promised and all the brothers ganged up on Eun for drinks, knowing that he could not handle his liquor well. All the ladies of the group tried to hold their significant others back from going too crazy, but were also lenient because it had been a long time since everyone was able to relax like this.

 

Soo also took the time to catch up with her father, asking him about the adventures and stories he had from living in Khitan. In return, he would ask her about her days here at the palace and found out she had been studying politics with the help of So.

 

“Why are you worried about such things, Soo ya? Even I would not want to learn politics if I did not have to.”

 

Soo picked at her plate silently, thinking it over. Why did she decide to learn politics? She told herself that it was just in case, that she wanted to help ease the burden on So if she could help him resolve conflicts, but was that the real reason?

 

“I felt I could help So if I understood what he had to go through each day in court. He always has to listen to complaints for problems, so if I could help, it would ease the burden on him.”

“Are you sure that is the only reason?”

“For now, that should be enough.”

 

He nodded before he reached over to hold her hand reassuringly.

 

“Just be careful of who you reveal your ambitions to. There are many people who would not hesitate to use it against you.”

“Yes, Abeoji. I will keep that in mind,” Soo said with a smile. She then reached for the bottle of wine and poured a cup for her father.

“Here you are, Abeoji. I have not poured a drink for you in a long time. Please accept it from me.”

 

He chuckled and picked up the cup.

 

“If it is from my daughter, then I will gladly accept all that she gives me.”

 

And so the party continued late into the night, with everyone making merry.

It was about a week later after Soo had informed Chae Ryung about her situation. Although the girl was disappointed to hear she could not stay at Damiwon, Soo ensured her that she would be taken into a good and kind family.

"I will write to you often, and invite you to the palace when I can. It will be as if you never left!"
"Yes, your highness..."

Soo feel sorry to see her friend's disheartened expression, but knew this was necessary to save her life. It was only after Soo saw Chae Ryung off at the palace gates that she let out a sigh of relief.

She headed back to Damiwon to prepare for the King's bath, working alone. When she was done, she made her way to the bathing pool where she waited for the King to arrive. When she heard the doors open, Soo bowed.

"Greetings to the King."

She saw a nod from the corner of her eyes and she moved to remove his robes when she heard the thundering of footsteps on the wooden floors from outside. The doors suddenly burst open and she turned around.

When the man who stepped through the doors turned towards her, Soo let out a gasp. It was the 3rd prince! He had been alive this entire time and now he was back with vengeance. Yo looked fierce as he stood in his armor, wielding a sword and taking a look around the room. When he noticed the King, he pointed the sword in his direction.

"Surrender the throne, Paeha, and I may let you live."