Joseon 1615,

It was a cool and nice autumn morning. Every student in Hanyang was to begin their study year today. In front of Seowangmyeong, groups of students gathered around. Most were first-year students. Some were waiting for their orientation guides, some were asking around for directions to classes, which teachers were easy, which students were reliable for homework and exams. All bunch of stuff.

Seowangmyeong was one of the most prestigious private boarding schools in Hanyang. It was founded by Lee Youngwoon, with the help of his wife, Yoon Minyoung, as a preparatory school for noblemen. Hence, the school was mostly inhabited by young masters, whose parents could afford the fees, and only who are permitted to take the gwageo, the civil service state examinations to admit new cohorts of civil servants into the Joseon government. However, with few exceptions, Seowangmyeong still accepted students from lower classes if they could pass the exam to acquire one of Lee Youngwoon's most generous scholarships, which would cover both the student's tuition fees and living expenses in Hanyang.

Most of the students' goals in schools were to fulfill their parents' wishes that they would pass the state examinations to become one of the public servants in the Choi's government. Only students from high ranking families were permitted by law to take the gwageo¹. The gwageo was divided into two sections: the civil section and the military section, with the military section being more open to commoners from lower classes.

But concerns about gwageo and the like were more concerns for last-year students, who were about to graduate from school and take the state examinations. For first-year students in Seowangmyeong, life was circling more around how to make friends in a completely new environment, how to get perfect grades in the next poetry class, how to score a perfect kick in Taekwondo class, the fishcake stalls on the streets, the soju houses down at the corner, the gisaengs at the gisaeng houses, and so on. This was with the exception of only one person in Seowangmyeong. The son of its very owner. Lee Youngwoon's son.

It was past midday on the first day of school in Seowangmyeong. Every student had come back to class after their short lunch break. The next class of the day was a wrestling class. Everyone had been chatting before class, exchanging concerns and stories of how they had heard the teacher in this class was the meanest and most charismatic person people had ever met.

The teacher had been babbling about the rules and principles of this class, occasionally sprinkling them with expressions of how awesome he himself was, and how any of the students would be lucky to even reach one-tenth of his skill level. He had failed to notice a small figure sneaking into the class, lightly blending into the crowd of the students that were gathered around the teacher.

A group of about five students had, on the other hand, noticed him. One look at the group was enough to conclude the status of their parents in Hanyang. They were all wearing the nicest and softest-looking silk ever made in Hanyang, those that would not be sold in a commoners' market. Two of them were now whispering into each other's ears about the boy's presence, giggling. They then pulled the other three closer to them to announce into their ears the little discovery they had just come across:

- Hey, Kyuhyun - one of the boys was obviously called Kyuhyun - Look over there. There, the pretty boy over there. He's the principal's son. But I heard he was forbidden by his father to take wrestling and martial arts classes.

The boy called Kyuhyun turned his gaze towards the small boy that his friend had pointed out. The boy had delicate features, although his eyes showed a clear determination that Kyuhyun thought he could admire. An image of a strong and caring five-year-old boy immediately conjured in his mind. But he immediately disregarded it, for the whole memory was too painful for him to remember. Turning again to his friend, he questioned indifferently:

- So?

But his friends did not have the chance to answer, for the teacher had noticed their whispering and called out to them from across the class:

- Hey! Hey, nice clothes! Yes, you! Is there anything you want to share with the class?

The boy that was speaking into Kyuhyun's ears looked intimidated for one second, but looked up immediately at the teacher again:

- No, Kim seonsaengnim. But I have a question. - Getting a questioning look from the teachers he continued. - What are you to do if someone had snuck into your class without enrolling in the class?

He slightly smirked and signalled the smaller boy to Kim teacher. Kyuhyun subtly threw him a disapproving look. The smaller boy was now the centre of everyone's attention. He stooped his head down to look at the floor, as if doing that would hide him from every stare that was directed towards him.

The teacher recognised who the boy was. But he first turned to the boy that had been disrespectful and challenging in his first class:

- I would definitely not be noisy in class when I was clearly not allowed to, and not talk back to the teacher when questioned about it!

Kim teacher looked at him sternly, destroying any insubordinate thoughts that the boy had left in his mind. He only bowed his head low to the floor, not daring to utter another word.

The smaller boy turned to look up at the group of boys, challengingly and triumphantly. But the teacher's authoritative voice filled the room before his victory could go any further:

- Everyone memorise my rules and run five laps while I go out.

He then made a move towards to door to get out of the training hall, signalling for the smaller boy to follow him. The boy followed him, not noticing a gaze still glued on him.

When the pair of teacher and student was at a safe distance from the hall to not be heard or noticed by anyone else.

- Sungmin, what are you doing here? - The teacher asked with a serious concern.

- I am attending your wonderful class, Kim seonsaengnim. I want to learn how to wrestle. - The boy gave him a small, but bright smile.

The teacher looked at the boy for a short minute.

- Does your father know you're here?

- Of course, seonsaengnim. How else would I be here?

Kim teacher looked at him more firmly, raising one eyebrow. The boy knew he could not fool anyone with this face, especially with someone as wise as his teacher. He softly admitted:

- No. He doesn't know. - He looked down, his head lower to the ground.

The teacher sighed.

- Then you can't be here, can you, Sungmin? I cannot let anyone who is not enrolled in the class be there, let alone someone who does not have their parents' approval. The parent who happens to be my boss!

The boy nodded to indicate that he understood what the other was saying. He muttered a soft "Sorry, seonsaengnim" before he bowed to the teacher and turned around to leave the place. As if just coming across something in his head, he called out again:

- And don't even try to sneak into Han seonsangnim's Chinese martial arts class, now, will you!

The boy replied "Yes, seonsaengnim" as if it was his habit, then disappeared into another wing of the school. The teacher could only sigh after him before he himself disappeared into his training hall again.

****************

Joseon 1619,

It has been six months since Sungmin entered the Palace. The Palace had shed its own autumn skin, filled with colourful leaves and morning breezes, to have on a darker and gloomier look. The warmth of the spring has not yet to come, leaving the Palace in the cold and fog that was only supposed to last until January,

Sungmin carefully sneaks out of the window to his bedroom. It is midnight, which means the time for him to continue his tasks. He is currently dressed in a servant's clothes, in case he is questioned for the reason of his wandering around at night. It would draw considerable attention towards him if he was a member of the royal family. So, he had secretly grabbed from the servants' quarter when he pretended to make the trip there to scold one of the servants for making his soup too spicy. His face is covered with black ink from the pen in his chamber, to make himself look dirty and uncared for, unlike a member of the royal family.

In the dark, he carefully strolls towards other gungs in the Royal Palace. He is to collect information about all the buildings in the Palace, even places not existing on official maps in the library.

He has memorised the locations of the throne hall, the King's library, the King's residence, the Queen's residence and the rest of the concubines' chambers. So far, nothing strange has surfaced. The place is exactly as described on the official map. Another cold wind passed through him, sending chills all over his body. He has been walking around for more than two hours, ducking behind big trees and corner walls every time he hears a footstep or sees a torchlight from afar. He finally decides to go back to his gung, the rest of his exploration left to the next evening.

He is about to climb into the window to his chamber when he sees it. A little yellow dot, suggesting a torch being lit from afar. But the place where the torch is lit raises millions of questions inside his head. According to the official map, within a radius of twenty ris² of his gung to the east is empty land. Surrounding it is the walls that separate the Palace from the outside city. So why would there be anyone out there to light a torch? Sungmin wonders. His questions bring up the curiosity that has been dormant in him. And before he knows it, his legs are already leading him towards the mysterious place.

Sungmin has been walking for almost half an hour towards the place where he had seen the torchlight. His feet have started to sore, but he is still surrounded by the dark. There is no sign of any human being or any building around him. Then, suddenly, he hears a voice, loud and firm in the dark, interrogating him:

- Who is it?

Two dark figures start to appear before his eyes. He can make out a small gate, very much like the gate to his gung, but without any lights on the walls or inside the yard. He can hear one footstep getting closer to him.  He can now guess that the two figures were guarding the place. But the reason why there had been no lights around or inside the place remains a mystery to him. 

Upon hearing another footstep toward him, Sungmin immediately turns around and makes a run for his gung. The footsteps sound uncertain for a second, then immediately follow in his tracks. Sungmin tries to run with all his might, like his life depends on it. His life, indeed, does depend on it. He does not know what would happen to him, to his father and all his friends, if he were to get caught at this moment. Besides, his mission in the Palace has only just started. It cannot end as early and in vain like this.

When he sees his gung visible before his eyes, Sungmin is so relieved that he speeds up on his already sore feet and legs. He quickly gets into the window at the back of the residence, shutting it close behind him. The footsteps that had been following are getting closer and closer, then stop when they are somewhere near his window. The footsteps stop for a long moment. Then, Sungmin can hear them starting up again, but this time, away from his window. Letting out a sigh of relief, Sungmin walks over to his bed and pulls out his pyjamas buried underneath the blanket. He quickly takes off his ragged servant clothes and puts on the white silky pyjamas. When he is sure he would not be discovered by the man with the footsteps or be caught wearing a servant's clothes, he slowly pulls out a large piece of paper, folded in four, from underneath his mattress. It seems like a good enough hiding place to him. Unfolding the piece of paper, Sungmin walks over to his reading table. The piece of paper is the map of the entire Palace that he has spent the last six months walking around and sketching. His fingers trace where Geoncheonggung is on the map. Then, he slides his fingers to the large empty space to the right of his gung on the map. The space that is supposed to be the walls that protect the Palace. With a black pen, he makes a question mark on the space on the paper. Folding the piece of paper again and puts it underneath his pyjamas, he climbs into the blanket.

Outside, a rooster somewhere starts to make its early morning sound.

A new day is about to begin, but Sungmin cannot wait until it is night again.

*********************

Joseon 1615,

One week had passed since Kyuhyun saw the small boy that had snuck into his wrestling class on the first day. Half of him regretted letting his friends tell on the boy the way that they did. But, then, he reassured himself, that there was nothing he could do. They would have done the same thing with or without him interfering. Besides, it was not his place to do any interference. The boy was nothing to him, as he was to the boy. What he had to focus on right now was study, so that he could excel in the exams and do what had sworn to do since he was a five-year-old boy.

The first week at school, as people said, was always the most difficult week. The worries of catching up with friends and the syllabus. The misplaced feelings, surrounded by no one you know. The pressures of the gwageo exams. Everything had blended into each other, wearing even the most strong-willed person down. 

Kyuhyun had almost forgotten about the smaller boy and the incident at the beginning of the week, until one evening, he saw him again.

Kyuhyun was taking a walk around the campus when he walked past the Chinese martial arts training hall that belonged to Hankyung seonsaengnim. It was past dusk. Most students were already in their rooms in the halls of residence, studying or sleeping, although some had gone home for the weekend. The campus was dark and quiet, in contrast with its usual crowds and bustle. The training hall, too, was dark. But from afar, Kyuhyun could see a small yellow light coming from inside the hall. Coming closer to the light, Kyuhyun could see a small figure throwing kicks and punches around in the air. Occasionally, the figure let out involuntary 'Ah's that people usually made when practising martial arts. But the boy would immediately quiet himself, as if conscious of his surroundings, and afraid that someone might find him out.

Getting closer to the door, Kyuhyun could now see his face. The determined face that he had seen in the wrestling hall just five days ago. His lips were pressed tightly together in concentration. His eyes focused on the wall, sometimes the floor, when he was throwing around kicks and punches. His face, now that Kyuhyun had a chance to take a closer look, was actually very nice to look at. His round face, His big brown eyes, his slightly chubby cheeks, his curly lips. Everything blended so well together, making a face that was so easy and pleasant to look at. Kyuhyun realised that he now understood what his friends had meant when they called the small boy 'pretty boy' the other day. He imagined anyone could have a crush on the face that he was seeing now, and what his friends had done was not out of hate for the boy. It was out of love. Coupled with slight jealousy. Like if a little boy had a crush on a little girl, he would pull at her hair, and tell her ghost stories to scare her. But it was not because the little boy hated the girl. It was because he wanted attention.

The kicks and punches had momentarily stopped. It took Kyuhyun a moment to notice that there was no longer any 'Ah' or any sounds of arms and legs in the air. He stopped his chain of thought to look up. The small boy was now looking at him, his eyes interrogating, but at the same time, pleading with him. They stood there, eyes locked on each other for a long while until Kyuhyun realised what the other was probably thinking about.

- I won't tell anyone you're here.

The other boy still kept his eyes on him. After another while, he began to speak:

- You're friends with the jackass that threw me out of the training hall. - He said, and Kyuhyun realised that it was not a question. Just a statement.

- Yes. They can be jerks sometimes. - Kyuhyun answered, not sure why he had to explain their actions.

- Then you're friends with the wrong people. - The boy continued. He started to pack his stuff. Kyuhyun saw that, placed next to the small lantern that the boy was using for light was a small notebook and a pen lying neatly on an open page. The page was filled with a number of martial arts positions, which, Kyuhyun realised, were from Hankyung seonsaengnim's lessons two days ago, although not in the right order like taught in the class, and not exactly in complete lessons. Looking at the other boy again, Kyuhyun realised that this notebook was probably what he had gathered from the classes that he snuck in. A strange feeling rose inside him. He looked at the smaller boy for another while, then as the boy walked past him, Kyuhyun threw a slow punch at him. The boy immediately ducked the punch, one hand grabbing Kyuhyun.

- What are you doing? Are you crazy? - The boy asked in surprise, his eyes widened.

Kyuhyun only slightly smiled back.

- Good move.

Then he threw the other a kick. The boy let go of Kyuhyun's hand and took one step back to avoid it.

- But your kick was slightly wrong. - Kyuhyun said as he kept still his leg in the air. - Your feet on the ground should be placed like this. - he pointed to his feet that were positioned outwards his body. - Hankyung seonsaengnim said that it would keep your body steady in the air.

Then, Kyuhyun held out his hands to the smaller boy.

- Try it.

The other stood still for a while.

- Come on. - Kyuhyun said again.

The boy slowly raised his leg to Kyuhyun's hands. With firm hands, Kyuhyun grabbed it. Then, he looked down to the boy's feet on the floow. It was still pointing towards him. Slowly moving towards where the other was standing, Kyuhyun used his feet to move the other's feet to point to another direction. When it was in the correct position, he stopped and looked up to the other boy again.

- Like that. Okay?

The boy only slightly nodded. Kyuhyun let go of his leg that was in the air.

- Try it again.

The boy threw another kick. But this time, he moved his feet on the floor as well to turn them outwards. He found that he could keep his leg in the air more steady and for a longer time. Satisfied with the result, he let out a smile. And Kyuhyun felt that strange feeling rising up inside him again.

When Kyuhyun felt himself back in reality again, he saw that the other boy was already kneeling on the floor, his notebook in his lap. He was drawing the position that Kyuhyun had shown him in the notebook. Then, he stood up, and threw Kyuhyun another kick.

And the hall was filled with punches and kicks again.

********************

Notes:

1. gwageo: state examinations during Joseon period.

2. ri: unit of distance in Joseon, 1 ri = 1/4 mile

3. Korean traditional houses have something called a guest entertainment wing, sarangchae in Korean.