Chapter – 25
How to Trap a Heart
This was the situation:
1. Princess Amang, who must enter the archive.
2. The eunuchs of the archive blocking the princess.
3. The court ladies who have come to capture Amang.
4. Geumjin and Grand Tutor Geum passing by.
5. Consort Hwajeong, who is enjoying this spectacle.
Which would you solve first?
_’A psychological test situation has presented itself.’_
Amang inwardly observed this chaotic scene.
If you asked what the most entertaining event in the imperial palace was currently, one would only have to look up at the Imperial Palace Archive.
It was a spectacle that naturally brought to mind such a saying.
Fortunately, thanks to Consort Hwajeong neatly managing the traffic, she had prevented Amang from being transported back to Yeoneung Palace.
_’Hmm.’_
Alright, let’s sort this out again.
Cruelly, the only people permitted to access the Imperial Palace Archive were the Emperor and the Grand Tutor.
_’Why the Grand Tutor?’_
What a strange law indeed.
There’s a saying, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do,’ so she decided to accept it.
Amang had two options.
First, beg the Emperor for permission to access the Imperial Palace Archive.
_’Would that work?’_
The Emperor’s response flashed vividly in her mind.
_’Why should I do that for you? Amang, do you have two lives, by any chance?’_
It would be fortunate if he didn’t just put a sword to her neck.
_’As if I’m afraid to die!’_
Then, the second method was…
Amang glanced subtly at Grand Tutor Geum in front of her.
Though old and frail, his eyes were as bright and lively as Geumjin’s. The saying that the spirit stays young even as the body ages fit him perfectly.
“Excuse me.”
“Please ask, Your Highness.”
“Do you know how to open the archive?”
As Amang pointed to the archive, Grand Tutor Geum’s gaze followed her finger.
“His Majesty did grant such authority to this lowly subject.”
His respectful demeanor created a psychological distance instead. Moreover, that speech, lowering himself while observing formalities, made her feel like the bad one for no reason.
Amang fell silent for a moment, thinking quickly.
“Would you open it if I accompanied you?”
“O-Of course!”
“If Grand Tutor permits it, certainly!”
The two eunuchs, their discipline tightened, subtly checked Grand Tutor Geum’s expression.
Hmm.
Good.
Now, if she could just persuade Grand Tutor Geum well, her chances of getting inside increased significantly.
Amang really wanted to confirm.
The portrait of Consort Hwaneong, who had received the Emperor’s favor.
_’It’s much better to mimic the exterior than the interior.’_
For gaining favor in the short term, that was best.
While one’s interior reveals itself over a long time, the exterior is a different matter.
Furthermore, the concubines often met the Emperor at night, didn’t they?
In the darkness, even small silhouettes tend to blur.
_’It doesn’t necessarily have to be exactly the same, in other words.’_
A degree that roughly reminded one of Consort Hwaneong was sufficient.
He was a man who went on about his deceased wife being like a butterfly, so it was a method that could work quite well.
_’It’s crude, but…’_
Still, she was Amang’s birth mother, for heaven’s sake.
“Can you help me?”
“Of course. If it’s Your Highness’s command, anything.”
“Really?”
Success!
Grand Tutor Geum was more cooperative than expected. It’s typical to feel uneasy when things go too smoothly. Amang tried hard to shake off the uneasiness creeping up on her.
_’Think about that later!’_
Why Grand Tutor Geum was being so cooperative, what that person wanted—those were matters she could figure out gradually.
_’He wouldn’t use this to find fault later, would he?’_
With his level of position, it was entirely possible.
Well, but he’s the imperial tutor—surely he wouldn’t treat a princess that way?
Hmm, one never knows.
In this country, starting with the Emperor, that’s how things are.
“Then open the door quickly…!”
“Ah, I seem to have forgotten to mention that.”
“Pardon?”
“I no longer have that authority.”
What?
“What do you mean? Aren’t you the Grand Tutor?”
“Of course I am. However, if this old subject continues to manage the archive, if something were to happen to me, there would be no one to replace me, would there?”
So, he had verbosely skirted around saying, ‘I don’t have the authority.’
He clearly said he would help just a moment ago!
_’You liar!’_
She knew it.
No wonder he agreed so readily.
“Who has that authority now?”
“Guess.”
He really likes tests.
Grand Tutor Geum must be leading a very boring life in his old age.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be seeking dopamine like this.
While his own grandson is living an un-fun, un-childlike life.
“Why, why are you looking at me?”
“It must be with the next Grand Tutor. That authority is only passed down through the generations of Grand Tutors.”
“Am I the next Grand Tutor?”
“Is that wrong?”
Geumjin rolled his eyes busily, looking alternately at Grand Tutor Geum and Amang.
His face was as red as a beetroot, looking like it might burst any moment.
Is his skin sensitive? Why does his face keep turning red?
_’Could it be he’s…’_
Amang shook her head, stopping that unpleasant thought.
She must finally be going crazy, having all sorts of thoughts!
“Haha!”
Grand Tutor Geum, who had been quiet, burst into laughter.
_’I didn’t know he could laugh like that.’_
He always just curled the corners of his mouth sinisterly, so she thought he was far from laughter.
This was somewhat unexpected.
“As expected of Your Highness! You’ve grasped my intention precisely!”
“Huh? Grandfather?”
“I have already transferred all that authority to Geumjin.”
This was actually better.
Geumjin would be easier to handle than Grand Tutor Geum.
Amang felt relieved.
“Geumjin! Help me!”
“Me? But I…”
“Let’s go quickly!”
Amang reached her hand out toward Geumjin.
Geumjin, whose pupils were still shaking, fidgeted uneasily.
It was the greatest ordeal of his ten-year life.
“That won’t do.”
It was Consort Hwajeong.
“Even if the Grand Tutor has transferred his authority, Geumjin is just a child who hasn’t even reached adulthood.”
Consort Hwajeong, who had been merely watching the spectacle, slowly approached Amang.
“Even if he were dispatched to the court, he would be in the status of a trainee, not an official minister appointed by His Majesty.”
“As expected of Her Highness Consort Hwajeong.”
“Therefore, Amang, the only person who can open that place right now is His Majesty.”
How could this be?
Amang was dumbfounded by the unbelievable fact.
_’Do I have to act cute in front of that dreadful Emperor again?’_
Of course, if Amang tried to act cute, the Emperor would likely say, ‘Don’t do such disgusting things.’
“There is a way, however.”
“What is it?”
“Geumjin is still young and cannot be formally appointed until he comes of age. However, if he becomes a companion-tutor, that’s another matter. As Your Highness’s companion-tutor, he would qualify and could then receive the authority to open the archive in an acting capacity.”
So that was the scheme after all.
Obvious, so obvious!
Who did they think would fall for it?
“There was such a method. A child needs a friend, after all.”
Consort Hwajeong.
What is this, did you give birth to Amang or something?
“This humble one thinks so too! When Your Highness suddenly disappeared, I was so shocked!”
Nan.
Go ahead and spread it all over the neighborhood.
“I may be weak, but I am confident in the duty of assisting Your Highness!”
Geumjin.
It’s not such a serious matter, calm down.
_’Ha. Unbelievable.’_
At this point, it seemed like the whole country was recommending Geumjin as a companion-tutor.
Amang herself also wanted to take Geumjin as her companion-tutor.
_’It wouldn’t be bad to have ties with the Geum family.’_
She needed to think about backing for when she came of age in the future.
Of course, her head might be chopped off before that.
_’But I still need to lay the groundwork from now.’_
At the point of her possession, Amang was at the very beginning of the novel.
There would surely be choices like in a game, and an ominous premonition told her.
This is the starting point!
However, the problem was whether the Emperor’s permission would be granted.
_’He avoided answering when I asked last time.’_
Could she really persuade the Emperor?
Amang gazed intently at Geumjin.
That clever little kid.
_’It would be fun to tease him if I made him my companion-tutor.’_
Life in this imperial palace wouldn’t be completely boring then.
Fine, let’s give it a try. If persuasion doesn’t work, I’ll just throw a tantrum or something.
Amang clenched her fists tightly.
“Alright! I’ll give it a try!”
Grand Tutor Geum, who ultimately obtained permission for the companion-tutor arrangement, left with a satisfied smile. Ah, of course, Geumjin went with him.
“That’s good, Amang.”
Does it really look that way?
Consort Hwajeong nodded lightly and left.
It felt like a place swept by a typhoon.
Amang let out the breath she had been holding.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“Was your outing to the imperial palace enjoyable?”
“Ah.”
No wonder she felt a chilling aura from behind.
Nan approached Amang with a benevolent smile. That expression, that’s 100% anger.
“Seize her!”
“Eek!”
“Once we return to Yeoneung Palace, you must drink the medicinal decoction and lie down all day!”
“I can walk, though?”
“No. You’ll run away again, won’t you?”
“Ah, I won’t this time. Promise!”
“If you lose Her Highness, there will be no food for you all today!”
Thanks to this, Amang was carried back with her two feet dangling in the air.
Hmm, this is quite comfortable too?
She was tired from climbing over windows and running around here and there.
_’But I accomplished what I needed to, so I can just sleep soundly.’_
Come to think of it, her body felt a bit languid too.
“It’s fortunate you met Her Highness Consort Hwajeong.”
Nan said something quite meaningful.
Nan’s complexion darkened slightly as she mentioned Consort Hwajeong.
Did something happen between Consort Hwajeong, who used to live in Yeoneung Palace, and Nan?
_’I don’t know. What does it matter?’_
Right now, Amang had more than one or two things to worry about.
It’s not like a game, why are there so many quests?
The main quest, “Operation: Win Favor from Consort So!” was pushed aside due to the suddenly appearing sub-quest.
[New Sub-Quest! Make Geumjin your companion-tutor.]
Ha.
She felt like giving up everything and just playing to her heart’s content.
But such thoughts were brief. Upon arriving at Yeoneung Palace, Amang drank a very bitter medicinal decoction and put a tanghulu in her mouth. Savoring the sweetness spreading on her tongue, she fell fast asleep.
The sleep she had that day was so deep, it was the most refreshing feeling she had felt in almost a year.
