Joseon 1619,

- Hyung! Wait for me!

Not needing to turn around, Sungmin knows it was Ryeowook. There is only one person in this Palace that calls him “hyung” without any other titles. Sungmin turns around to give him a slight smile. This kid, always late for morning greetings with the Queen, and always running around restlessly. Following Ryeowook hurriedly, as usual, is his servant from home.

- Mama! Stop running! It’s not appropriate! – He yells after his master. If only Kim Ryeowook would listen.

Sungmin stops entirely to wait for Ryeowook to catch up to him.

- Aiya! Why are you always late?

- Our mama stayed up until 3 in the morning to play cards with the guards!

The servant cries out.

- Quiet!

Ryeowook shuts him up, then immediately turns to Sungmin with the biggest grin.

- I did no such thing, hyung. I was just tired this morning.

- Yeah? Tired from losing all your money to the guards?

- Yah! I didn’t lose, hyung! – Realising Sungmin’s teasing eyes on him, Ryeowook immediately produces another grin and changes the subject – let’s go in, hyung.

Sungmin could only shrug at Ryeowook’s childishness. At the same time, he also feels extremely lucky to have someone like Ryeowook by his side in the Palace. Otherwise, he feels like he could just die from the boredom. Everyday is greeting the Queen, socialising with other concubines, and planning parties and events. If he thought that having to study poetry his whole childhood was the most tedious thing, he was dead wrong. Apparently, there are other things that, for him, can make studying poetry feel like eating a cake. And, that is not to mention the petty competition between the other concubines for the King’s affection and the unnecessary drama that follows. When he was little, Sungmin always wondered how people could compete for such trivial things while thousands of people were starving and suffering. Now that he is here, he can somehow understand. In this polished Palace with red walls that feel like they can touch the sky, they have no contact with the outside world. What little life they have inside these walls is their whole world, and they would do anything to preserve it.

The Queen has started to come in the room now. Everyone stands up and bows to greet her. The Queen looks stunning as usual, but Sungmin had thought that there is something else in her that makes everybody respect, as well as fear her. That is probably the reason why no matter how petty or melodramatic the concubines get, they would never behave that way in front of the Queen.

- Jang Sugwon, how are you feeling? Being pregnant is no easy trip. You have to take care of yourself and the baby. If everything goes well, Soyong or Soui are entirely within your reach.

(Soyong: senior 3, Soui: senior 2; order: Sugwon lowest: junior 4, to Sowon, Sugyeong, Soyong, Sugui, Soui, Gwiin, Bin and Bi being the highest).

Jang Sugwon immediately bows to show her respect. She responds with the softest tone, but almost anyone can see through her faked smile and sweet voice.

- Thank you, Wangbi mama.

- And, Kim Sowon, try to stay out of trouble. – Her attention is on Ryeowook now.

Ryeowook is caught off guard. But, being the clever slick that he is, Ryeowook swiftly reassures the Queen.

- Yes, Wangbi mama. I’m sorry for making you worried and thank you for your concern.

Sungmin almost could not hide his giggle. If only he was given one Mun every time someone says that to Ryeowook, and every time he promises to behave, he would be rich by now.

The rest of the meeting goes as usual, with planning of future events and parties in the Palace. But Sungmin’s mind has already drifted away to somewhere else before they even get started.

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

- Hyung, can I ask you a question?

Ryeowook suddenly turns to Sungmin. The meeting is finished, and they are walking towards the Royal Garden now. Sungmin turns to look at his innocent dongsaeng.

- What is it, Ryeowook?

- Why are you here?

Sungmin could see some seriousness in Ryeowook’s eyes.

- What do you mean?

- Well, I mean you’re not like everybody else here. You’re not here for money for power. Your family is also one of the most respected families in Joseon, so you don’t need titles. You also… don’t love the King.

Ryeowook has to whisper the last sentence to him. Sungmin only chuckles at his dongsaeng’s curiosity. Before he could answer Ryeowook, the road they are walking on comes to an intersection, and Ryeowook bumps into another person coming from the other road. Both of them falls down to the ground, but they can only hear one voice crying out in the process. That person cries in pain, as if she had just been forced to endure the worst pain in the world. Then, when they think that she is about to be done, she starts with a series of curses.

- Who dares to touch me? Don’t you know I’m pregnant with the King’s child? Are you blind? Can’t you look where you’re going?

- Sorry, Jang Sugwon. We didn’t see you there.

Sungmin says, while helping Ryeowook up.

- Yes, I’m sorry, Jang…

Not letting Ryeowook finish, Jang Sugwon sends a slap to Ryeowook’s face that almost makes him fall to the ground again.

- You’re sorry? You bumped into my child and all you can do is saying you’re sorry? You almost killed me and my baby!

- Jang Sugwon! – Sungmin scolds – It was only an accident! We were both at the end of a road, and we bump ed into each other. It’s nobody’s fault! Even if it was our fault, we said we’re sorry. Besides, Ryeowook is a Sowon, and you are only a Sugwon. You can’t talk to him that way!

- Sowon? It doesn’t mean anything. In this place, what matters is the King and Queen’s affections, and I have that. I’m even carrying the King’s child, which is above anything you can do! You heard from the Queen herself that I would be a Soyong or Soui someday. You might as well treat me that way starting now.

Sungmin glares at her. These kinds of people sicken him. Not only can’t they tell right from wrong, but they also pick on people that are less powerful, while playing nice and sweet in the presence of others.

- I have to teach you a lesson today. – She continues. – Eunich Kim, bring me the whip.

Eunich Kim, who was standing two rows behind Jang Sugwon, raises his head to look at her. Then, he shifts his eyes to Sungmin and Ryeowook in hesitation, as if concerned about the consequences of his actions.

- Why are you standing there? Do it! Do you need me to tell Park Gwiin mama that how terrible a job you’re doing?

Park Gwiin mama again. Sungmin wonders how many times a day that name is called by Jang Sugwon to intimidate other people. This Jang Sugwon is no mediocre girl, Sungmin admits. She was born to a working family, so she did not have any title and status prior to entering the Palace. But she has managed to attract the King’s attention, got a title, produce a child, as well as form alliances with the Queen and Park Gwiin mama, the two most powerful women in the Palace. The Queen was not wrong when she said Jang Sugwon was on a path to become a higher concubine soon.

Eunich Kim comes back in an instant with a long leather whip. Jang Sugwon immediately turns to three other eunichs that were standing behind her.

- Take him.

- Mama…

- Take him!

The three eunichs hesitantly approach Ryeowook, but Sungmin was already standing in between them.

- Don't you dare touch him. - Sungmin says firmly.

The eunuchs turn to look at Jang Sugwon again.

- Do not let anyone stand in your way! - Jang Sugwon repeats. She seems even more determined now than before.

- Lee Sugyeong mama, please stand aside. This is none of your concern. We're only doing our job.

The eunuchs take one step closer. This time, Sungmin no longer uses his words. He throws a kick to the eunuch standing closest to him, making him stumble to the ground. The other two immediately run to him, but both got punches to their faces. Eunech Kim stood still. He does not dare to take one step closer. There is no one else to back him up.

- You... you...

Jang Sugwon stutters, shocked at the scene before her eyes. Three eunuchs are lying defeated on the ground. The other one does not dare to make a move. Just when she is about to yell out another cursing, they hear a series of footsteps, then, an eunuch announcing hurriedly.

- The King and Queen approaching!

- What's all the fuss about?

They hear the Queen's voice inquiring, and, a short moment afterwards, both the King and Queen appear before their eyes, a solemn look on their faces.

Everyone is immediately startled. The eunuchs and court ladies kneel down at the announcement, followed by the Ryeowook, Sungmin and Jang Sugwon.

- Jeonha. Wangbi mama.- They respectfully greet the King and the Queen.

- What is it that I can hear your voices quarrelling from the other side of the Garden?

- Wangbi mama. – Jang Sugwon is quick to respond. – I was just walking in the Garden to see the flowers that are blooming for the season. Mama also said that it would be good for the baby. I was really minding my own business, but when I saw Kim Sowon here, he tried to bump into me. I fell down to the ground, mama. I almost lost the baby! – She cries.

- What? – Ryeowook is stunned by her performance, and if not for his servant’s interference, he would jump on her immediately to teach her a real lesson.

- No, Jang Sugwon mama just misread the situation, jeonha, mama. – His servant pleads for him. – It was only an accident. Neither of us saw each other, and we bumped into each other. We didn’t mean to, jeonha, mama. Please forgive Kim Sowon mama.

- Yah! I didn’t do anything wrong. Why do you have to apologise for me?

- Enough. – The Queen’s voice is firm. – Jang Sugwon, are you okay?

Jang Sugwon continues with her series of fears for her and her child’s physical and emotional health. But Ryeowook is not about to let her keep accusing him. He throws her a glare.

- Okay – It is the first time the King speaks up since he got there. – why don’t you take Jang Sugwon back to her place, Wangbi mama. To make sure she’s okay.

The Queen only slightly nods and says goodbye to him, before signalling for Jang Sugwon to follow her. The King might not have said it, but her more-than-ten-year marriage with him has given her the ability to read his every thought and emotion. For example, what he said just now might not mean much to other people, but she understands that he has heard enough, and does not want to deal with these trivial Palace drama nonsense anymore. She understands that, growing up amidst the drama in the Palace and watching it destroy every concubine one by one, the King is fed up with it. It is one of the things that he hates the most about the Palace. So, when he says that she should take Jang Sugwon back, it means that he is already sick of her drama.

When the Queen and Jang Sugwon are gone, the King signals for everyone to stand up. But, before he leaves, he notices the ruined grass and bushes around Sungmin and Ryeowook, and remembers when he first got there, he had heard someone fighting.

- You fought them? – He asks Ryeowook.

But Sungmin immediately answers.

- It was me, jeonha. I fought the eunuchs that were about to beat Ryeowook. Jang Sugwon told them to. Ryeowook has nothing to do with it.

- You know martial arts? – The King asks curiously.

- Yes, jeonha. – Sungmin answers, although he is surprised that that was what the King is curious about. – I studied at Seowangmyeong.

The King shows an expression of surprise on his face. Naturally, he did not expect his concubines to have studied martial arts, and actually practised it on his eunuchs. Sungmin thought he was going to be punished now, or at least get scolded. But the King only nods his head.

- Then maybe we can have a match someday.

Before Sungmin could reply, he turns to leave in another direction. But, before he is gone, Sungmin could swear that he had seen a smile on the King’s always solemn and stern face.