The next morning, Sungmin wakes up in his own residence, the feelings and emotions from the previous night's event still lingering inside him. He understands the King's dilemma in protecting the Park and the Kim clans. They were and have been the backbones of Joseon, helping to build its economy from its previous recess, and holding the majority of its political power. State Councillor Park is also the Queen's father and the Crown Prince's grandfather. If he was to be convicted of a crime, what consequences would it have on the people's trust in the government and the Royal Family? What consequences would it have on the King himself, the Queen and the Crown Prince?

Sungmin turns over on his own mattress, his heart feeling heavier than ever before. On other hand, it is justice for the Jun family, for Kyuhyun, and everyone else that has been dragged into this mess since fifteen years ago. It is also about the merit and dignity of the officials at the Royal Court themselves. There could not be Councillors and Ministers that could be capable of committing such a crime, manipulating the King, plotting a conspiracy and framing others for a crime they did not do. Sungmin had thought that the King would at least consider this and take some action to address the issue. But he was wrong. Just like a dry twig can easily break in a strong wind, something in him had also broken the moment that the King said such words. And he knows that some part of him that has always believed in the King for his sense of fairness and equality.

Sungmin tosses and turns a few more times on his mattress before he hears a few soft whispers and chatter outside of his room. Realizing that it must be late in the morning already, Sungmin quickly gets dressed and comes out of his room. As he had expected, on the patio in front of his main yard, Ryeowook sits lazily on one of the steps. But to Sungmin's surprise, next to him, Jongwoon sits quietly looking down on his feet, his face as red as a ripe tomato.

"Jongwoon hyung, be honest with me, how are your injuries? Does it still hurt?", Sungmin hears Ryeowook ask as gently as he can remember Ryeowook's voice to be.

At this point, Jongwoon is about to stand up but is immediately pulled back to his seat by Ryeowook: "Hyung, you don't have to stand up to talk to me. You can sit here.". Weird, Sungmin thinks to himself, Jongwoon is well-trained in martial arts, one pull from Ryeowook could not possibly keep him down.

"Um, ah, mama", Jongwoon stutters, his face getting even redder with each word, "I am fine, mama".

"Really?", Ryeowook starts touching the poor servant's arm up and down as if investigating his injuries, "I heard that the Yangjae bandits are really dangerous. It must have been really difficult dealing with them."

"Um...no... I..."

Seeing how awkward the situation is getting and how red Jongwoon's face has become, Sungmin wonders what would happen if he lets them continue with this conversation. But he decides to help Jongwoon out of this situation. He pretends to clear his throat and quickly steps out to the patio. 

Ryeowook and Jongwoon's faces when Sungmin steps out into the patio are interestingly beyond description. Ryeowook, as always, is not afraid of anything and keeps a straight face as if he is playing a game of poker. Jongwoon, however, looks like he is about to dig a hole in the ground and bury himself in it. He quickly stands up to greet Sungmin, but in the moment no word seems to be in his mind, so he only stands on the patio with his head bowed, stumbling on his own words.

Sungmin could only look at Jongwoon for another second before he felt the weight of a young man jumping towards him and wrapping him in the tightest hug he has ever had.

"Hyung!", Ryeowook's excited voice is almost deafening beside Sungmin's ears, "I miss you so so so so much!!". Then, as if remembering about Sungmin's injuries months ago, Ryeowook loosens his hug and examines Sungmin's whole body instead: "Hyung, how are your wounds? Do they still hurt?"

"Ya, this kid. Let me breathe. How can I answer so many questions at once?", Sungmin lightly shakes his head and taps Ryeowook's forehead. Signaling for Jongwoon to leave, Sungmin sits down with Ryeowook on the steps in front of the patio and takes a deep breath. To his disappointment, the air in the Palace somehow does not feel as fresh as the air that he has gotten used to in Bukhansan.

"Hyung, I was really really worried about you", Ryeowook's voice is soft beside his ears again.

Sungmin looks at his young friend and gives him a soft smile: "I'm fine, Ryeowookie. I have missed you, too."

Ryeowook's eyes immediately light up at Sungmin's words: "Really, hyung?"

"Of course", Sungmin nods and smiles at him.

"Hyung, I heard what happened last night. Jang Sugui and Park Bin have been taken to the Royal Prison for interrogation. The bandits have also confessed to being Park Bin's henchmen. Is it true that they really did this to you?"

Sungmin only nods at Ryeowook's question.

"I still cannot believe it. I only thought that they are just really annoying people. I had never thought that they could be capable of such crime."

"Ryeowook ah", Sungmin speaks gently, "you have to be more careful in the Palace. To rise up the ranks and protect their status quo, anyone could be capable of such acts."

Ryeowook looks surprised for a moment. Sungmin lets the information sit with Ryeowook for a while, but hears Ryeowook speak again: "But hyung could never be capable of such crime, right?"

"Ryeowook, I told you, you can't truly know what a person is capable of. Even me." 

Sungmin gives Ryeowook a serious look. Even though he had never wanted to expose him this ugly truth and take away his innocence, he has to prepare Ryeowook for life in this Palace. If only Ryeowook was not a concubine in the Palace, Sungmin thinks to himself. If only Ryeowook could keep his innocence forever.

"But, hyung", Ryeowook returns his serious look with a gentle smile, "I believe that whatever you do, you will never bring harm to me."

Sungmin gives Ryeowook a light tap on the forehead. 

"This child, I can never teach you anything."

But as Sungmin thinks about what Ryeowook, he gives him another smile. It is true. Sungmin would never do anything to harm him.

"So, hyung", Sungmin hears Ryeowook speak up again, "Where were you for the past two months? Were you in the bandits' lair for two months?", Ryeowook's voice gets more concerned and anxious towards the end.

Sungmin only gives a soft smile: "No, Ryeowookie, I was saved by a gentleman the day I was attacked by the bandits". For some reason, Ryeowook swears he could see his hyung's eyes light up at the mention of the gentleman.

Sungmin continues: "He saved me and brought me to a commune far in the mountains, where there was a really talented doctor. He tended to my wounds and got rid of the poison in my system. Then, when I was well enough, the gentleman went back to Yangjae and helped the local authorities arrest the bandits.". Sungmin leaves out his own role in the bandits' arrest. It would raise too much suspicion on his part. Plus, there are some things that are better left unknown. In this case, for Ryeowook to know the whole truth would only bring more trouble to him, so it is best to leave that part out for Ryeowook's own sake.

Ryeowook listens to his every word with his absolute attention, as if listening to one of his most exciting hot gossips. Only when Sungmin is done speaking, does Ryeowook clap his own hands and cheer with utmost excitement: "Hyung, that was such an awesome story! It is like you were in an action play!"

"Yah! Kim Ryeowook! It is not a story!"

But Ryeowook does not seem to listen to him, he continues to cheer on: "Wow, hyung, that gentleman is really impressive. You are also impressive."

Sungmin could only shake his head at his young friend. Of course he is impressive, but if anyone can hear their conversation, they would think he was an entertainer, and not a man who had just been back from the dead. Sungmin decides not to continue his story any longer and moves on to ask Ryeowook about life in the Palace in the last two months. As he expected, Ryeowook immediately goes on to tell Sungmin about all the things that have happened in the two months that he was missing. Some extravagant parties, some royal ceremonies, some drama within the Palace. Just the usual. 

For the next two weeks, beside Ryeowook who keeps the habit of visiting him everyday, no one else, including the King, steps foot in Geoncheonggung. Sungmin is not surprised by this. Before he went missing in Yangjae forest, he was already not the most popular person in the Palace. After he came back to the Palace, Jang Sugui and Park Bin were immediately arrested. The rest of the concubines in the Palace, if not intimidated by him, do not want anything to do with him in fear of getting caught up in his affairs. Plus, right after he came back, other rumours got around that he got into an argument with the King, and now not even the King comes to his residence to visit him. So, even though many low-ranking concubines want to get on his good side, after hearing that he is no longer favoured be the King, they no longer bother to do so.

But Sungmin does not mind this new isolation. He has been used to not being the most popular kid at school. Now that he is in the Palace, not attracting people is not attracting drama and trouble, which is a good thing for him while having to carry out tasks for his mission. The only thing that he is currently worried about is the Jun family's case not being reopened. With the King not visiting him as often as before, Sungmin has to take matters into his own hand.

So for the next two weeks, Sungmin decides to visit Gangnyeongjeon, the King's own palace, whenever he hears that the King is in. But every time, he would always get turned around by the Head Eunuch, with excuses like 'His Highness is busy at the moment' or 'His Highness is already tired from a long at the Court'. Sungmin can take the hint that the King does not want to see him and discuss the subject any longer, but he simply could not give up. So, today, when he gets turned around another time by the Head Eunuch, he decides to take the last resort.

To the Head Eunuch and everyone else's surprise, Sungmin kneels down outside Gangnyeongjeon and bows his head toward the door of the King's chamber. Behind him, Jongwoon has also kneeled down with him.

"Jeonha", he speaks daringly while bowing on the ground, "please consider reopening Jun Kihong's case. Please, jeonha."

"Lee Soui mama", the Head Eunuch's voice seems calmer than before. Perhaps this act is so often done by concubines that he has gotten used to it by now. "Please go back to your residence. Staying kneeling here is not gonna achieve anything. Besides, it is almost winter now, it will get darker and colder soon."

But Sungmin's voice is more determined and serious than ever: "Eunuch Kim, please report to His Highness that I will not leave this place until he reopens Jun Kihong's case. It is not only for the sake of people who have passed, but also for the sake of the Royal Court. If people ever find out that there were any inconsistencies with Jun Kihong's case, what would they think of the Royal Court and the Royal Family? If we reopen an investigation and find nothing wrong with the previous conviction, then at least people will have their peace and complete trust in the government."

Eunuch Kim seems surprised for a moment at Sungmin's rationalization. All the years that he has served the King, he has seen a lot of people kneeling here and begging for things that they want, but not once did he hear a plea that did not benefit the person who is pleading himself. Not once did he hear such a sensible and rational request. And so, for a moment, he seems to be at a loss for words.

"Lee Soui mama..."

"Please, Eunuch Kim. Please, just go and tell His Highness."

With Sungmin's determination, Eunuch Kim could not say or do anything else other than go back into the King's chamber and reports to the King. But one hour has passed. Two hours. Three hours. And there is still no sign of the King.

As another hour passed, Sungmin starts to get dizzy. His knees have also begun to feel numb, but he refuses to give up at the moment. If even he cannot fight for the Jun family, he does not know who else will.

It was not until the fifth hour has gone by when Sungmin could see a figure in a dragon-patterned robe slowly approaching him. Gathering all of the strength he has left inside, he bows on the ground again and slowly repeats his plea: "Jeonha, please consider reopening Jun Kihong's case. Please, jeonha."

But the King passes right by him without even glancing or looking back at him. Eunuch Kim and the rest of the eunuchs and court ladies follow in his steps one by one, some could not help their curiosity and turn around to steal a look at Sungmin. As they have passed a certain distance, Sungmin could hear them whisper to each other pitiful or mocking words towards him. But Sungmin could not care less about what they think about him. He keeps looking at the King's figure, which quickly disappears into a corner in only a few seconds. 

"Mama", after another moment, Sungmin hears Jongwoon's soft voice behind him, "Perhaps we should go back to Geoncheonggung."

"No, I will stay here", Sungmin speaks in his most determined voice.

Jongwoon does not say anything else. He simply continues to stay with his master, all afternoon, into the dark and cold night of the Palace.