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Chapter – 44
There’s No Right Answer Anyway
The more the outside differed from the inside, the wider the room for interpretation became.
Like a difficult reading comprehension passage on the national college entrance exam.
This story was no different.
The problem presented by Imperial Physician Kim was not this clear.
If anything, it was more complex—even more complex.
‘Because it was a problem with significant room for interpretation.’
The story the Empress told was simple.
The first wife, who accumulated many virtues and harbored no jealousy, and the second wife, blinded by envy.
Who was Ah-mang?
Was she not the talent who had discerned correct answers from countless Korean reading passages over twelve years?
‘It’s obvious, isn’t it?’
Finding symbols and hidden meanings was an extremely easy problem.
Especially since she also happened to know the fact that Consort Hwanyeong had miscarried.
The problem was…….
‘How do I explain this?’
If she bluntly told the Empress, “Actually, the first wife is you, isn’t it?” the Empress would likely respond with a ‘very well.’
At this point, Ah-mang’s mind was in turmoil.
Why did she tell this story?
‘What is she trying to emphasize?’
Consort Hwanyeong was already gone from this world.
While the Emperor referred to Consort Hwanyeong as a butterfly, he showed no lingering attachment beyond that.
Rather, he seemed reluctant to even bring up the topic.
‘Needless to say, Ran too.’
There was even someone who never once brought up the topic of her biological mother to Ah-mang in the first place.
Once she got back safely, she would ask about every little detail concerning Consort Hwanyeong!
If only she could return safely.
“An unexpected tale indeed. Won’t you explain?”
“The fact that the first wife was pregnant was publicly known, but I thought the second wife, who received the man’s favor, might have been pregnant as well. This is merely a girl’s imagination, so it may not be the correct answer!”
If she had truly mapped the Empress and Consort Hwanyeong onto the first and second wives, then the answer was one.
That scene she saw through the portrait.
The heart-wrenching appearance of the woman wailing in grief after losing her child.
Ah-mang shook her head slightly, struggling to shake off the memory.
Right, this is nothing. I didn’t see it firsthand, and the probability it’s not real is high.
‘My proposed answer is mere conjecture.’
She planned to get it beautifully wrong and scratch the back of her head with an embarrassed face.
She intended to show the image of a ten-year-old with no interest in power or ambition whatsoever.
Then they’d leave her alone!
“Somehow, there’s no way this could be the right ans…”
“It is correct.”
“Pardon?”
Why is this correct?
“As expected of Your Highness!”
“Huh?”
“This humble subject still has a long way to go to match such insight!”
What are you admiring now?
Ah-mang blinked her eyes in bewilderment.
No, seriously, why is this correct?
‘Was it really about Consort Hwanyeong?’
She almost let out a hollow laugh.
Well, you have to hear the whole story from beginning to end to know.
Fine!
“Why is that?”
“Just as Ah-mang thought. The second wife, unbeknownst to herself, was pregnant. A classic case where malice blinded her. Had the second wife been a bit more clever, she would not have drunk the barley tea.”
She dug her own grave, fell into her own trap.
It was a story perfectly fitting that idiom.
The Empress’s gaze, who had been sipping the completely cooled tea, sharpened.
“How is it? Isn’t it laughable? Before she could harm another, she lost something precious herself, didn’t she?”
“…It’s sad.”
“Why so?”
“Both the first wife and the second wife lost their children, didn’t they? In the end, neither could protect anything.”
The scene Ah-mang had seen was vivid in all senses.
Cold air brushed through the Yeonyeong Palace interior where a drizzling rain fell.
The muddy, damp, fishy smell of rain wafted up to her nostrils.
Though the sun was up, it was weather without a single ray of light.
Consort Hwanyeong, collapsed on the floor, suffered.
Clutching her now-empty stomach.
Ah-mang’s head throbbed.
‘Why does it have to be me?’
Her body was merely ten years old, and her mind wasn’t even fully recovered yet.
The deeper she tried to dig into something, the less it went her way.
Just like when she met the Empress, just as she was about to report the dead palace maid in Wonseok Palace to the Emperor.
Wait a minute, something was off.
‘The timing is too good.’
As if she knew Ah-mang would be heading somewhere.
“So you can think of it that way too. Ah-mang, do you believe in justice?”
“…I want to believe it.”
“Sometimes, people believe what they are doing is justice. Just like the second wife who fell for her own scheme.”
“……”
“See, you should have been careful.”
If those words sounded as if they were directed at Ah-mang, was that being overly sensitive?
Ah-mang’s empty teacup was refilled with warm tea.
The red petals inside the cup bloomed fully the moment they touched the water.
“Have you been to Wonseok Palace?”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t it a celebratory occasion after over a decade? It’s about time for another imperial grandchild to be born after Ah-mang.”
The Empress never once raised her voice or threatened Ah-mang and Geumjin.
Yet, the aura emanating from behind her reminded one of a beast of prey.
‘Why are you doing this to me?’
Her legs went numb to the point of bringing tears to her eyes.
Had she ever been this scared in her life?
She felt malice in every single word the Empress uttered.
“Of course I have been.”
“Didn’t you sense anything strange?”
If she said she did, it felt like she’d be killed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Ah-mang.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Act like a child. Swing on the swings, climb trees like you used to.”
Ah-mang gulped.
The Empress, with a rather serious face, caressed her teacup.
“Children with an excessive sense of responsibility are not childlike. They might fall prey to their own schemes, you know?”
Ah, so that’s what it was.
Ah-mang felt the blood drain from her face.
From the start, this story was meant to frighten Ah-mang.
The Empress, Consort Hwanyeong, such analysis was unnecessary.
The second wife who fell for her own scheme, that foolishness—if she had done nothing, she wouldn’t have lost her child.
‘How much does she know?’
Truly befitting a woman who experienced the Emperor since his princely days.
Her skill in seeing through the principles of the world was exceptional.
No, maybe this is natural.
People who have lived long in the imperial palace have sharp instincts, right?
“Cease the act of suspecting the innocent.”
Goosebumps ran down her back to her waist.
Was it because of her childish body that couldn’t hide her expression?
‘Am I originally that kind of person?’
Couldn’t keep a poker face? Surely not.
Ah-mang was more adept than anyone at hiding her emotions.
So, did the Empress see beyond that?
She couldn’t know.
“Drink.”
Strength was infused in the voice laden with intimidation.
Ah-mang carefully grasped the teacup.
The warmth of the freshly filled cup was transmitted wholly.
Don’t get intimidated.
The Empress knows nothing.
And it’s also unknown who caused the palace maid in Wonseok Palace to die.
‘Mustn’t jump to conclusions.’
Because she substituted the first and second wives with the Empress and Consort Hwanyeong, she missed the lesson contained within.
See as far as possible.
Ah-mang drank the tea.
An indescribable warmth traveled down her esophagus.
Ran anxiously fidgeted with her feet.
A stark contrast to Iso, who was leaning back nonchalantly with his eyes closed.
Since Ah-mang’s birth, Ran had constantly been by her side.
To Ran, Ah-mang was more than just the mistress she served.
Ran, with her hands neatly folded, peeked through the gap in the door several times.
“Please stay still for a moment.”
Iso, unable to bear it any longer, intervened.
“Her Highness…!”
“Jayeom Palace isn’t a guillotine platform, she just went to enjoy some tea and snacks, what major incident could there be?”
“You are truly at ease.”
Iso’s indifferent expression showed he didn’t understand Ran’s fuss at all.
He was someone who had served the Emperor since his princely days.
From poisoning attempts to assassins, etc., he had been in mortal danger numerous times.
“Her Highness is a child. She needs someone to protect her.”
“That’s why His Majesty sent this humble subject.”
“You’re no help at all!”
Ran turned her head away haughtily.
Though it was a face she’d been seeing since Consort Hwanyeong was a concubine, she just couldn’t get used to it.
Coming here on imperial orders and sitting idly by so peacefully!
Jayeom Palace was… for Princess Ah-mang…
Recalling an unpleasant memory, Ran shook her head.
“…She is safe as long as this humble one is here.”
“You said that before too.”
“What answer do you want to hear?”
“Nothing at all.”
Ran simply wished desperately for Ah-mang to return safely.
Jayeom Palace was eerily quiet.
Not a sound of speech, not even Ah-mang’s scream could be heard.
Then, two familiar figures came into view.
“Your Highness!”
The moment she emerged from Jayeom Palace, Ah-mang slumped down.
Iso and Ran simultaneously rushed to Ah-mang.
“Wow, I really thought I was going to die.”
“Are you unharmed?”
“Yes. I’m stronger than I look.”
It made a horror experience pale in comparison.
The entire time in Jayeom Palace, her legs were so numb she nearly fainted.
‘That would have caused twice the trouble.’
Spending a night with the Empress?
Might as well have a 1-night, 2-day trip in a graveyard with ghosts.
But she overcame it!
“First, for your stability, we will escort you to Yeonyeong Palace.”
“No. That won’t do.”
“Your Highness!”
Time had been wasted at Jayeom Palace.
She didn’t know what might be happening by now.
They had to move as quickly as possible.
‘But how?’
Moving recklessly might lead to something even more terrible than being detained in Jayeom Palace.
‘The Empress knows I suspect her.’
Honestly, she probably suspected herself too.
A woman in a position to be sensitive about pregnancy and capable of eliminating a low-ranking concubine without a trace.
Who else but the Empress?
“Mister Iso.”
“I am not a mister.”
“Anyway. Can you bring Father here?”
“His Majesty?”
Why are you asking back.
“Yes. I think Father should know about the palace maid who died in Wonseok Palace.”
“If that is Your Highness’s wish.”
He had a reluctant face.
It seemed the death of one palace maid wasn’t a big deal to him.
Well, the guard before her eyes was a man who helped the Emperor slaughter even imperial relatives.
‘It’s to prevent the butterfly effect.’
At first, it was a few mice.
The toxicity of the lacquer tree ultimately harmed one palace maid.
And next…
Ah-mang clenched her fist.
“Let’s go to Wonseok Palace.”
It was time to exterminate the rat bastard.
