Chapter 4…..
“Even so, this makes no sense. How could you treat me like this just because I gave birth to a girl and not the heir apparent? If you respect me as your legitimate wife, I beg you to retract this order!”
Lady Sunbin’s insistence was not without reason. Even if Hong-ah grew up, she would only become a mere County Lady (Hyeonju) of the third rank, not a County Princess (Gunju), the legitimate daughter. The difference between legitimate and concubine-born children was undeniable. A girl, not the crown prince’s heir. The difference in gender was also clear.
But even knowing all that, she still felt humiliated. That was what stung the most.
Hong-ah impulsively stretched out her little hand. Her short, tiny arm brushed against the crown prince’s robe.
The crown prince, who had looked troubled, swallowed hard when his eyes met Hong-ah’s. Somehow, absurd as it seemed, he found the answer in his infant daughter’s face.
“Lady Sunbin, what is this child’s name?”
“She… she is called Hong-ah.”
Lady Sunbin hesitated, but finally replied. No sooner had her words fallen than the crown prince spoke firmly.
“Then does Lady Sunbin not know that the one who personally bestowed the name Hong-ah on this child was my royal father himself? And yet you dare call her ‘just a girl’ and treat her with contempt?”
“Your Highness! Contempt? I would never—”
“Enough! The child can hear you—this is too much.”
“She’s barely past her first year. What could she possibly understand—”
“If Lady Sunbin’s heart is truly so unwilling, then you may return to your quarters.”
It was a clear dismissal.
Though unwilling and pride wounded, if she returned to her quarters now, rumors would flare up even worse. Already, as a wife who did not enjoy much favor, she was constantly reprimanded by her in-laws. She could not afford to cause another scandal.
Swallowing her rising anger, Lady Sunbin turned her head away. Despite her simmering fury, the eunuchs quickly brought a chair and placed it beside the crown prince. Hong-ah, still in her mother’s arms, was seated there.
See? Wouldn’t it be so much nicer if you just softened your heart a little?
Hong-ah glanced primly at Lady Sunbin. Lady Sunbin, however, kept shooting venomous glares at Seunghwi whenever she found the chance.
Though she could feel the sharp gazes of Lady Sunbin and the other consorts, no one could find fault once the crown prince had drawn the line.
Despite the earlier commotion, the banquet ended quietly and smoothly. Whether sincere or not, the other consorts and Lady Sunbin offered their congratulations and even gifts.
Afterwards, her mother left with the crown prince, while Hong-ah was handed over to her nanny. Once the hall emptied, Hong-ah, suddenly overcome with fatigue, rested in her nanny’s arms. Though she could already walk a little, she was still weak against exhaustion.
“You must be tired, little one. Rest for a while.”
Her nanny gently patted her back. Having been dressed in finery and busy since early morning, Hong-ah soon fell asleep in her nanny’s embrace before even reaching their quarters.
“…!”
How long had she slept? Faint noises roused her. Through the slightly open window, the outside looked dim.
“…Did you search thoroughly?”
At her nanny’s anxious voice, Hong-ah’s drowsiness vanished at once. What’s going on?
Though her mind was awake, her body was still heavy with sleep. Struggling to her feet, she toddled toward the door. As she drew closer, the voices of her nanny and the palace maids became clearer.
“We searched all the quarters, and even obtained permission to search the other consorts’ residences. The only place left unchecked in the East Palace is Jasundang.”
“Where could she have gone…?”
Who’s missing? A sudden unease welled up inside her.
“There’s no choice but to report this to His Highness. She couldn’t have left the palace grounds, surely?”
“How could Lady Seunghwi be the type to roam about? She was always in her quarters, and she only said she would take an afternoon rest… yet she’s vanished without a trace…”
Huh?
No way… are they talking about my mother?
Goosebumps ran down Hong-ah’s back. Gentle and obedient, her mother Seunghwi had always lived strictly by the rules. There was no way she would have left the palace secretly against protocol.
This was definitely ominous.
“We must inform His Highness immediately. If Lady Seunghwi returns, send word at once.”
“Yes. I pray she is safe…”
Her nanny’s voice carried not only worry, but fear. Hugging her sense of dread, Hong-ah let out a sound.
“Maah!”
“Oh dear, the young lady seems to have woken.”
The nanny opened the door wide. Seeing Hong-ah standing there, she quickly scooped her up, her expression darker than Hong-ah had ever seen.
“Mother?”
“How can you be looking for your mother at a time like this, little one?”
“What shall we do now?”
Behind the nanny, Hong-ah recognized one of the personal maids from Seunghwi’s quarters. The foreboding solidified into certainty.
“Mother! Maah!”
Though no one might understand, Hong-ah cried desperately for her mother. She could not shake the memory of Lady Sunbin’s venomous gaze toward Seunghwi.
“It would be best to inform His Highness at once. Since the young lady has been asking for her mother so often lately, we must quickly discover her whereabouts.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The maid hurried out of Yeonggyeong Hall. The nanny tried her best to soothe Hong-ah, but the unease would not fade.
There were stories in unofficial histories: of a concubine nearly suffocated in a jar during women’s palace strife, only to be saved when the king discovered her; of a maid favored by the king, beaten nearly to death by jealous consorts before being caught.
What if this time, it’s about my mother? If so, the most suspicious person was surely Lady Sunbin. Only the crown prince’s official wife had the power to treat a consort who bore his child with such disdain.
“Ma! Maaaah!”
“There, there, little one. It’s all right, all right.”
Though her nanny desperately tried to calm her, Hong-ah would not stop. Unless she went to Jasundang herself and saw, she would never feel at ease.
“Abbah! Pa!”
As Hong-ah’s cries continued, the nanny looked torn.
Though unsure whether it was proper by palace law, the child was throwing an unusual tantrum, and she too was seized by unease. At last, the nanny decided on Jasundang.
“I’ll take the young lady to Jasundang. You stay here and guard the quarters, and if news of Lady Seunghwi comes, report at once. Nani, you come with me!”
“Yes.”
The nanny handed Hong-ah to Nani, a Yeonggyeong Hall maid, and hurried toward Jasundang.
By now, darkness had completely fallen outside. Quite some time must have passed. Please let nothing have happened… The fear crept over her like the night.
At Jasundang, lights were already lit everywhere, news clearly having spread. The nanny quickened her pace.
“…How can someone who never caused a stir simply vanish like this?”
“Your Highness!”
The nanny rushed ahead, Nani following with Hong-ah. Jostled in her arms, Hong-ah didn’t care about the discomfort—only about what they would find.
“Isn’t this Nanny Sanggung? Why have you brought the child here at this hour?”
“Abbah!”
Hong-ah stretched her arms toward her father. The crown prince abandoned his questioning and took her into his embrace.
“The young lady kept crying for her mother, and I could not bear it, so I brought her here.”
“How uncanny… How could she know to seek her mother at such a time?”
Still holding his daughter, the crown prince ordered the Royal Guards to scour the palace.
Just then, Hong-ah’s gaze caught a detail—the left chamber of Jasundang was unlit. In all this uproar, the silence from that room was suspicious, was it not?
How she hated her infant body in moments like this. If only she were a little older, she could say, Look there first! But for now, all she could do was point.
Her little finger bent awkwardly, clumsy with desperation.
“Baa! Ba! Jjeo! Mother!”
Hong-ah strung together every word she could manage, making the best approximation of: Papa! Over there—Mother might be there!
Whether her meaning carried or not, the crown prince followed her tiny finger with an unreadable look.
The left chamber of Jasundang. The residence of the crown princess—the mistress of the East Palace, and future mother of the nation.
“Royal Guards.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Search Lady Sunbin’s quarters first.”
“…Pardon?”
“Did you not hear me?”
His voice was icy. The guards hesitated for a moment, then bowed their heads.
“As you command.”
It seemed Hong-ah’s suspicion had reached the crown prince as well.
Torches in hand, the guards advanced toward the crown princess’s chambers. Normally, no one could dare intrude upon the prince’s wife’s quarters, but with his permission, there was no obstacle.
“Your Highness the Crown Princess, forgive us, but we must enter.”
All ears strained toward that direction. But no answer came from within.
“My lady?”
The guards waited a moment.
“Our apologies.”
When no reply came, they pushed the door open.
The bed was laid out, the blanket bulging as if someone lay beneath. A guard carefully approached and gingerly lifted the blanket.
At once, he flinched back in shock. Instead of the famously beautiful crown princess, known for her wicked temper, there lay a trembling young maid—dark-skinned, face full of pimples.
“Her Highness is not here!”
At the shout, the crown prince silently handed Hong-ah back to the nanny.
Wordlessly, he strode past his men to the bedside. Without hesitation, he drew the sword from the guard’s belt.
“Your Highness!”
The guards rushed forward in alarm, but froze under the crown prince’s chilling gaze.
“Stand back. Do not come closer.”
His cold voice froze the room. The maid prostrated herself, forehead to the floor. The blade gleamed in the torchlight.
The crown prince advanced unimpeded, until the sharp tip of the sword pressed against the trembling maid’s neck. Anyone watching might have felt pity at her shaking form.
“Where is Lady Sunbin?”
“I—I only followed orders, Your Highness!”
“I asked you. Where has Lady Sunbin gone?”
“I-I-I cannot say, for if I do, I will die!”
“…Is that so?”
The prince pressed the blade deeper, enough that her life could be ended with the slightest push.
“Then shall you die here and now?
