Empress of the Dynasty

Please Subscribe to read further chapters

Description

Year 1490.

This story follows the young daughter of the Han family (Han Se Ah), a family of high-ranking officials. Her father, a 5th ranking official, is one of the trusted subjects of The Emperor - Kim Hee Jun. 

The law states that, once the oldest daughter of the families from the officials has reached 18, she is to be sent into the palace as imperial wives for The Emperor. The palace, though peaceful and grand, hides many deep and dark secrets that Se Ah is soon to be embroiled in. With hundreds upon hundreds of imperial wives and concubines in the palace and only one Emperor, there is bound to be politics, jealousy and endless schemes.

This journey will show all the turmoil, conflict and betrayal as Se Ah struggles to keep her family and herself alive, as any mistake could easily call for the beheading of the entire clan of the accused. Se Ah is forced to hide her true self in self-defence, whilst learning the ways and hierarchy of the palace.

Having to face enemies, the Empress1 and the Empress Dowager2, she has to learn quickly and think on her feet in order to protect herself, all while trying to gain the favour of the Emperor so that she can climb the ladder of the hierarchy and gain more power. Having more power means she can have more influence in many matters of the harem3, and more importantly, her family will also be richly rewarded. 

Through all the trials and turmoils, she finally becomes the Empress Dowager.

This is the story of Han Se Ah.

Empress1: Wife of the Emperor, also the second most powerful in the harem3, after the empress dowager.

Empress Dowager2: The mother of the Emperor.

Harem3: A separate part of the household reserved for wives, concubines and servants.

Foreword

"Little miss, what did you wish for?" 

"Hyo Eun, if I tell you, my wish won't come true!" Se Ah playfully reprimanded her maid. Hyo Eun had been with her for as long as she could remember. Just a few years older than herself, Hyo Eun had been brought back by her father, who shared that Hyo Eun's family had all been gone after a wildfire burned down their house in the mountains. Since then, the two of them have grown up together and were inseparable. To outsiders, they had a servant-owner relationship. But to them, they were best friends.

Despite the cold autumn breeze, the streets were busy. Vendors selling poultry, vegetables, fruits and other cooked goods. Se Ah and Hyo Eun were on their way home from the temple, where Se Ah always visited every year during her birthday. Se Ah was anxious, for she turned 18 that night. She was the oldest in the family, with one more younger brother, who was only at the tender age of 10. And as with the law of their great dynasty, girls coming from families of important officials were to be sent into the palace to become an imperial wife during the selection of imperial wives. 

Much as she didn't want to be away from her family, she knew that she had no other choice. It was that or her entire family will be shamed and executed. And once the girls were sent into the palace, there was no way out; meaning that she could never see her family again. In addition, she had to learn the etiquettes and formalities before going into the palace, for there was a strict hierarchy to be followed. Failure to adhere to the rules could result in punishment, or worse - execution of the entire family.

Se Ah was never one to follow rules. She loved freedom and living freely. She couldn't even imagine life inside the palace, where she had books upon books of etiquette to learn and follow. 

Deep in thought, she felt a sharp pain on her shoulder and fell, causing Hyo Eun to yell at the passer by who knocked her down.

"Hey watch where you're going! Do you even know who you knocked over?!" Hyo Eun hollered, causing heads to turn. The passer by, a vegetable vendor pushing a cart, turned back in anger. But upon seeing Se Ah, the anger dissipated into horror. Everyone knew who Se Ah was - the oldest daughter of a well-respected high ranking official in the state. Grovelling, the man apologized in hushed whispers, hoping that the little miss would not blame him.

Se Ah sighed, with Hyo Eun helping her up, dusting off dirt from the ground. "That's fine. Just be careful next time." 

"T-thank you little miss!" the man bowed once again before hurrying off.

In a few weeks' time, she was to enter the palace as an imperial wife. She was anxious, afraid and unwilling.

How could she possibly love someone who she'd never even met? Let alone sleep with him and bear his children.

Emperor or not, it was something Se Ah was definitely not looking forward to.

"Little miss, we have to hurry home before it gets dark! The chefs have probably cooked everything with regards to your birthday celebration tonight. Let's go!: Hyo Eun hurried.

Se Ah nodded, wondering if her next life would let her be the decision maker of her own future.

 


It has been so long since I've written something or come onto AFF. And I've been wanting to write a historical story since forever but have never gotten around to do it. Hope that this story will turn out well!

Comments

You must be logged in to comment
No comments yet