Chapter 52. A New Goal
After waking from the dream, Cheong sat blankly, staring into space.
Her ragged breathing slowly calmed, the cold sweat on her back dried, but her hands continued to tremble.
“So… even the Shim Cheong from the story was abused by her stepfather and died an unjust death, just like me?”
She murmured while retracing the vivid memories of the past.
The reason she had dismissed the memories that came to her as nightmares was because they differed too much from the story in the classical novel The Tale of Shim Cheong.
In the tale, although not her real father, Shim Hakgyu raised her with great love and care. Cheong, out of filial piety, sacrifices herself to the sea to help her father regain his sight.
When Shim Hakgyu learns of her death later, he mourns her loss in despair.
But real life wasn’t so beautiful.
“Ha, it’s disgusting…”
She thought it was enough that she had lived an unfortunate life and died unfairly.
But learning that the real Shim Cheong had lived just as horribly filled her with rage.
Why do evil people live freely and comfortably while innocent ones always die unjustly?
“Wait, then that means somewhere out there on the surface, that Shim Hakgyu or whatever is still alive?”
And likely living in luxury off the price paid for selling Shim Cheong.
Still wearing the same face as Shim Hakgu.
“There’s no way I can let that slide!”
Cheong shouted as she jumped up from the bed.
Although she and the real Shim Cheong looked the same, they were clearly different people—just like Shim Hakgu and Shim Hakgyu were.
But so what?
They had the same face, committed the same evil, and shared a rotten soul.
“Of course I have to go destroy him.”
It was the least she could do to repay the real Shim Cheong for borrowing her body.
She had died wishing, even in her final breath, that someone—anyone—would take revenge for her.
Maybe Cheong had been placed into this world to do exactly that—a divine will for retribution.
Even if it wasn’t divine, she still planned to crush Shim Hakgyu before she left.
“Then I better get back to the surface fast.”
Before all evidence of Shim Hakgyu sacrificing his stepdaughter disappeared.
But there was one big problem—how to completely cure Haewon’s chronic illness…
“Royal Physician, you coughed—may I come in for a moment?”
As Cheong was deep in thought, Gahwa’s voice came from beyond the door.
‘Looks like someone’s visiting.’
Otherwise, Gahwa wouldn’t be using honorifics—they had agreed to speak casually in private.
“Yes, come in.”
Once permission was granted, Gahwa entered the room.
As expected, someone followed her in.
“The officer in charge of herbs at the Royal Medical Bureau has come to see you.”
Stepping aside, Seol Cheol appeared behind her.
“Officer Seol?”
“I apologize for visiting so early without notice, Royal Physician. I had to avoid Master Suui’s eyes.”
Seol Cheol bowed politely with both hands folded.
“It’s alright. If you came in such a hurry, it must be important.”
Likely something to do with the Turtle.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Please have a seat.”
“I’ll bring tea. Feel free to talk openly.”
Quick-witted Gahwa used tea as an excuse to leave the room—probably to stand guard outside.
“Just as expected, Master Suui is planning to frame you.”
Once Gahwa left, Seol Cheol leaned in and lowered his voice.
“What’s he planning this time?”
It was hardly surprising anymore.
“He’s planning to use the rabbit in the underground prison to create medicine.”
“Pfft.”
Cheong burst out laughing unexpectedly, catching Seol Cheol off guard.
“Oh, sorry.”
The idea that his grand scheme involved using a rabbit’s liver to create medicine and frame her was just too absurd.
Was he naïve or just plain dumb?
“That’s not the whole plan, right?”
If it was, it’d be too anticlimactic.
“As you guessed, he plans to present the medicine to His Majesty under your name.”
“And of course, spread vile rumors that I used the rabbit to make the medicine myself, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Ah, so he wants to pin it all on me.”
Master Suui likely wanted to get rid of the rabbit and destroy Haewon’s trust in Cheong in one move.
“Then we can’t just let it happen.”
“Do you have a plan…?”
“I’ll go to the underground prison and get the rabbit myself.”
At Cheong’s bold declaration, Seol Cheol sighed with a worried look.
“You can’t just enter the underground prison freely.”
“They threw me in there when I first arrived in the Dragon Palace, though?”
“That’s because they had no intention of letting you live. Still, you can’t go there unless you’ve committed a capital crime or received His Majesty’s direct permission.”
Suui also planned to use his connections to sneak in while Haewon was away inspecting the West Sea.
“Then I’ll just get His Majesty’s permission.”
“Y-You’ll ask His Majesty directly?”
Cheong smiled confidently at Seol Cheol’s flustered expression.
“Yes. His Majesty is quite good at granting my requests.”
“No.”
With a firm tone, Haewon set down his chopsticks.
To Cheong’s surprise, he flatly rejected her request to visit the underground prison.
“But it’s to help your subjects—”
“No.”
Even Cheong’s sparkling eyes didn’t move him.
“And what, exactly, about this is helping my subjects?”
“Even if they’re criminals, they’re still under Your Majesty’s rule. I’ve been to the prison—it’s in terrible condition.”
“And?”
Haewon tilted his head as he looked at Cheong’s flushed, passionate face.
He had no intention of granting such a ridiculous request—but he was amused.
It was the first time she had spoken so animatedly to him.
Her lark-like voice tickled his ears, and he didn’t hate it.
Unaware, Cheong continued enthusiastically:
“If they’re in there too long, their health will surely deteriorate. All life is precious. And… it’d be troublesome if they collapsed before properly serving their sentence.”
Cheong added shyly, glancing at him for approval.
Her unusually timid attitude made Haewon chuckle faintly.
Taking it as a good sign, Cheong brightened.
“Then… does that mean—”
“No.”
Her face fell at his blunt rejection.
Watching her expression shift so quickly gave Haewon a strange sense of satisfaction.
Still, a no was a no.
“I meant well…”
“No. The underground prison is too dangerous for humans.”
“But I stayed there—it was cozy, actually.”
Cheong puffed her cheeks and pouted.
When she mentioned how she had once been imprisoned there, Haewon cleared his throat awkwardly.
“At the time, I was merely doing my duty as king. Not that I know why I’m even explaining myself… Regardless, the answer is no.”
More importantly, deep within that prison, his twin brother Haeyun was sealed away.
Haewon never wanted Cheong to find out about him.
Not only was Haeyun dangerous, but Haewon also didn’t want to expose that part of himself.
‘If she knew what I’ve done… she could never look at me the same way.’
If those bright, admiring eyes turned to disgust, he wouldn’t be able to bear it.
If Cheong started avoiding him like the other palace workers—treating him like a plague—he might just lose his mind.
That’s why he could never allow her into the underground prison.
