Chapter 4
Heavy rain poured down from dawn. Shinbi boiled medicinal herbs under the eaves.
“Doesn’t it seem strange to blame everything on a simple fall from a horse?”
She had just finished telling Manduk what she heard from Lady Baek of the Eastern Palace.
“If he fell, why would completely unrelated parts be paralyzed?”
Trying to keep the fire from dying in the wind and rain, Shinbi fanned the embers.
“And they said it started with his facial muscles, then his entire upper body.”
“Well… it might not be that strange.”
Manduk replied, fanning her own fire while thinking it over.
“His Highness must have fallen while the horse was at full speed.”
“I suppose so.”
“The impact must have been severe. Temporary paralysis could happen.”
Hearing Manduk’s reasoning, it started to sound plausible.
“So maybe it really was just terrible luck?”
Shinbi muttered.
“Have you heard anything else about the Crown Prince?”
“Well…”
Manduk hesitated.
“I heard there are concubines in the palace who don’t like him very much.”
Shinbi hadn’t expected that answer.
Even she knew the palace was full of concubines—the list of women in the inner court was endlessly long. Despite his refined appearance, the king was known for his vigor.
“They’re said to be afraid of the Crown Prince.”
“Afraid of him?”
Shinbi was confused.
“Because his temper is bad?”
“I don’t know. Anyway… since the court is quiet, it was probably just an accident.”
Manduk stated firmly.
“If His Highness had been poisoned, the entire country would’ve been turned upside down.”
“That’s true. There would’ve been an investigation.”
“Exactly. But it’s quiet. No smell of blood at all.”
Manduk lifted the cloth covering the medicine pot.
“Well, it is interesting.”
Deciding the medicine was ready, she stamped out the fire.
“I wish I could observe His Highness’s condition myself…”
Manduk’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“You watch him closely and tell me everything. Don’t miss a single detail.”
“Why?”
“It could be a rare medical case you only see once in a hundred years.”
“…Most people would be worried about the Crown Prince, not excited, Manduk.”
Shinbi clicked her tongue at her friend’s lack of humanity.
“Plenty of people are worrying for him already.”
Manduk remained completely unmoved.
“We need to find our specialties quickly if we want to become court physicians.”
“…I just became a junior nurse. Why is everyone in such a hurry?”
Shinbi groaned.
“The suffering from my trainee days still feels like a nightmare.”
“There’s nothing clinging to you.”
Manduk replied bluntly.
“I’m going to write a medical text about unusual cases.”
She puffed out her chest proudly.
“I know. You’ve told me about five hundred times.”
Shinbi looked sick of hearing it.
“When my book is finished, I won’t just be a court physician—I’ll go straight to becoming head physician.”
Manduk didn’t hear her. She was lost in her grand ambition.
“Don’t waste time, Shinbi.”
She poked Shinbi’s side.
“If you slack off in the Royal Infirmary, time will fly by.”
“Fine, then I’ll make medicine for chronic nagging.”
Shinbi muttered.
“I’d like to test it on you first.”
“There’s no such disease.”
Manduk denied it seriously, as always.
“If you waste time on nonsense—”
The lecture was cut short.
“Is the Nourishing Yin and Strengthening Spleen Decoction ready?”
The one who stopped Manduk’s nagging was Court Lady Jahi.
“Manduk, you brewed it, so I trust it—but let me check.”
As Jahi examined the medicine, Shinbi sulked and spoke up.
“I helped brew it too.”
“You were just in the way.”
Jahi snorted.
“Fine. Then recite the ingredients.”
Shinbi instantly regretted opening her mouth.
“Angelica root and cnidium…”
“And why are those needed?”
Jahi interrupted immediately.
“They refresh and invigorate the blood.”
“Correct. And what should be added to strengthen the patient’s energy?”
“Poria, polygala, licorice, and atractylodes.”
Shinbi thought quickly.
“And who is this medicine prescribed for?”
“For patients with weakened qi and blood who suffer from dizziness.”
She answered cleanly.
“Then why didn’t you ask Manduk?”
“Because she’d answer before I finished asking.”
Manduk was already itching to speak.
“If you were just a little more diligent, Shinbi, this infirmary would have no worries.”
Jahi clicked her tongue.
“Manduk, take the medicine and follow me.”
She turned smoothly.
“Shinbi, it’s time for you to go to the Eastern Palace, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Shinbi nodded, bracing herself for another battle.
“Doesn’t look like you’re planning to surrender.”
“There’s no such thing as giving up in my life.”
“So it seems.”
With a faint smile, Jahi left with Manduk.
***
By noon, the rain had finally stopped. As always, the Eastern Palace greeted Shinbi warmly.
“His Majesty just came and left.”
Lady Baek beamed.
“His Highness was forced by the king to eat a few spoonfuls of rice porridge.”
Was that really such great news? Lady Baek looked like the most loyal subject in history.
“Now all that’s left is getting him to take the medicine!”
That was the hardest part, but Lady Baek was optimistic.
“I understand. Please trust me.”
Fully prepared, Shinbi spoke firmly.
“…But are you really bringing all that in?”
Lady Baek eyed the octagonal tray suspiciously.
It held the largest medicine pot, a bowl, candied ginger, and a straw rain hat.
“They’re all necessary.”
Shinbi didn’t explain further.
Soon, the doors to the Crown Prince’s chamber opened. The lonely sight of him sitting in heavy silence no longer felt unfamiliar.
“After what happened yesterday, you still dare show your face?”
Hostility surged across his beautiful features.
“Any other palace maid would be too scared and humiliated to return.”
“I’m not a palace maid.”
Shinbi shrugged.
“I’m not scared, and I don’t have pride worth hurting.”
“…What?”
“When I was a government slave in the provinces, I went through worse.”
She quickly held out the large pot of medicine.
“Today, I brewed enough that no matter how much you spill, it won’t run out.”
The Crown Prince was speechless. While he hesitated, Shinbi crawled closer on her knees.
“I heard you ate porridge earlier.”
She offered the steaming medicine.
“It would be perfect if you took this too.”
“…I don’t need it. Take it away.”
He reached out with his left hand to knock it aside—just as expected.
“Wait!”
Shinbi shouted. Startled, he froze. She quickly placed the straw hat on her head.
“Now we’re ready.”
She held the medicine out again.
The Crown Prince neither took the bowl nor knocked it away. His gaze darted between the hat and Shinbi’s proud expression.
“…Ha!”
He burst out laughing without realizing it.
“You laughed, didn’t you?”
Shinbi seized the moment.
“I did not.”
His face flushed red.
“You did. I saw it.”
“I did not!”
“If not, why would I bring a rain hat?”
She grinned.
“I suffered so much washing yesterday’s clothes.”
“If you’d just left when I told you to—!”
A trace of guilt flickered across his face. It seemed he’d regretted humiliating her.
“I will never forget yesterday’s humiliation.”
Shinbi pressed harder.
“The sorrow of seeing medicine I brewed with care spilled on the floor…”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t care because you’ve suffered everything already?”
He quickly found the flaw in her logic.
“Well, seeing Your Highness smile eased my resentment.”
She changed tactics immediately.
“I said I didn’t smile!”
Surprisingly, he took the bait.
“It was so beautiful I nearly went blind.”
Shinbi exaggerated shamelessly.
“You seem to have a bigger problem in your head than your eyes.”
Flattery didn’t work. He looked annoyed.
“Then… go ahead and spill it again today.”
Shinbi pushed further.
“Then tomorrow I might get to see that radiant smile again.”
She even reached for the bowl herself. Startled, the Crown Prince grabbed it to stop her.
“I told you to spill it!”
The roles had completely reversed. Shinbi tried to dump the medicine, while the Crown Prince struggled to stop her.
“What madness is this?!”
Finally fed up, he shoved her away and gulped the medicine down in one go.
“See? Now there’s nothing left to spill.”
He showed her the empty bowl.
“Enough. Get out. Leave now.”
He shifted uncomfortably, clearly wanting distance from this bizarre nurse.
“Well done, Your Highness!”
Shinbi cheered happily.
“Now the pain will ease and your bones will heal faster—”
“Get out.”
“I even brought candied ginger for after—”
“If you leave, that’ll be more than enough.”
Despite her joy, he snapped sharply.
Still, the goal was achieved. Shinbi bowed deeply and left.
Unlike yesterday, the Crown Prince did not turn his head away. He watched her smiling face until it disappeared beyond the sliding door.
Whether that was a good sign or not—only heaven knew.
