Chapter 24: Unknown Truth
The Jayeowon (Royal Medical Center) that Gahwa led her to was much larger than Cheong had expected.
There was a huge gate in the middle of the long stone wall.
The heavy door had a beautifully engraved handle with symbols like clouds, cranes, and turtles—symbols of good fortune.
Since it was working hours, the doors were wide open.
“Wow, this place is bigger than I thought.”
Cheong peeked in through the open gate.
Several large buildings stood proudly inside.
“They expanded it greatly when the number of patients suddenly increased,” Gahwa said quietly as she walked up to Cheong.
“Was it smaller before?”
“Of course. It wasn’t really needed before.”
“There weren’t any patients to treat?”
Gahwa nodded.
“Yes. When fewer people were sick, doctors weren’t treated well either.”
That made sense. People are only valued when they’re needed.
Besides, she’d heard that the citizens of the Dragon Palace (Yonggung) didn’t really get sick thanks to the king’s divine power.
So they had no need to learn or advance in medicine.
“I guess doctors didn’t have much power back then.”
Cheong walked through the open gates.
Gahwa followed behind, still speaking softly.
“They were more like outcasts. After all, medicine is considered a human practice.”
Cheong thought back to how the people of Yonggung treated her—with contempt, just because she was human.
They looked down on her, like she was some dirty insect.
What she felt from them was an overwhelming sense of superiority.
“If Yonggung is like the heavens, and its people are heavenly beings, why do they rely on medicine—something human?”
That had always been strange to her.
If the people here had divine powers like Haewon, why didn’t they use them?
“We aren’t gods or immortals.”
“What?”
Cheong stopped walking, surprised.
Gahwa caught up to her.
“To become an immortal or divine being, one must do great deeds or train for a long time.”
A normal human could only enter the “Book of Immortals” if they built up great virtue—like saving many lives.
Non-human beings like Gahwa could become divine only if they trained under someone like Haewon and reached enlightenment.
“Once they become divine beings, they assist the gods—not doing menial work like us.”
“Oh, then the officials here must be divine beings?”
If divine beings served the gods, then people like Byeoljubu or Haehana must fit that role.
They help the Dragon King, Haewon, rule the sea.
“They used to be.”
Cheong looked at Gahwa after hearing her meaningful words.
“After His Majesty took the throne, all the divine beings left Yonggung.”
Now, there was not a single immortal or god-like being left in the palace.
“Wait… Is it because of the curse?”
She remembered Gahwa once telling her Haewon was cursed—his black hair and red eyes were signs of it, unlike the past Dragon Kings.
“Well, yes. Even if it’s not the curse, following someone who gained power improperly could make all their good deeds vanish.”
In other words, divine beings left to avoid being punished for associating with a “tainted” ruler.
“Then… is His Majesty ruling the entire sea by himself?”
Gahwa nodded.
There were ministers, but they weren’t divine beings. They just did the grunt work.
Haewon had to handle all the important matters himself.
“No wonder he’s sick.”
Curse or not, even a god would collapse from overwork if they did everything alone for hundreds of years.
Plus, wasn’t it said that Haewon barely slept?
Cheong couldn’t believe the royal doctors hadn’t realized this.
“They probably just thought, ‘He’s a god, so he’ll be fine.’”
But even gods can get tired, right?
Knowing this made Cheong feel a bit sorry for Haewon.
She suddenly remembered how lonely he looked in the secret garden.
He must have been so alone and helpless to create a space just for himself.
‘Well, it has nothing to do with me.’
It didn’t matter what kind of life Haewon had. Cheong’s job was just to cure his illness.
The curse and everything else—that was beyond her.
Still, now that she had a lead to treat his chronic condition, she decided to focus on that.
“Gungnyeo (Court lady), shall we go?”
“Go where?”
“To the medicinal herb storage.”
Gahwa led Cheong to the herb storage room.
‘See? She’s really useful.’
Gahwa had said she was just a lowly maid, but she was actually very helpful.
For one, she knew every corner of Yonggung.
That alone was a big help.
With her around, there was no place they couldn’t go.
“This is the storage.”
“Ohh.”
They arrived at a set of large buildings.
Just like the medical center, the herb storage was surprisingly big.
‘With this many, there must be every kind of herb here!’
Just thinking about the herbs inside made Cheong’s heart race with excitement.
As Cheong smiled, she noticed Gahwa looking at her warily.
“Ahem, let’s go in.”
Cheong ignored the look and walked to the herb storage.
But she immediately hit a wall.
“I said no!”
“Even though I’m the royal physician?”
The official blocking her path raised his voice.
“Royal physician or not, without the manager’s permission, you can’t take any herbs.”
Cheong sighed deeply.
Just as she boldly stepped forward, this man got in her way.
And the person in charge had just gone on vacation—starting today.
How convenient.
“I need these herbs for the king’s treatment.”
“No.”
Even using Haewon’s name didn’t work. The man was like a wall.
Just then—
“Working hard, as always.”
“Ah, doctor! Take care!”
The same official bowed politely to a doctor leaving the storage.
‘Wait… is that a bag of herbs?’
The doctor was holding a big pouch full of herbs.
Maybe feeling Cheong’s burning gaze, the doctor quickly walked off.
Once he was gone, Cheong looked back at the man blocking her.
“Um… that doctor got special permission earlier…”
Avoiding her eyes, the man suddenly pushed her out.
“Anyway, you can’t have any herbs. Leave now!”
SLAM!
He slammed the door in her face.
“Sigh…”
Cheong took a deep breath, pushing down her anger, and turned around.
“Gungnyeo, lead the way.”
“To where this time…?”
“To Byeoljubu’s office.”
Gahwa turned pale.
Byeoljubu already hated Cheong. Meeting face-to-face could end badly.
She had to stop her this time.
“Uh, well… I don’t really kn—”
“May I offer some help?”
Someone interrupted before Gahwa could finish.
