It was not long before the Imperial Physician quietly stepped inside the bedchamber. Heeije had apparently tried to run in and jump but her hair was puffed up dishevelled.
"Shall I check His Majesty's pulse?"
"What symptoms are there?"
"That's not it…… I want to check whether he is sleeping."
The Imperial Physician was briefly silent before drawing near and taking Hwi's pulse. She examined his pulse for quite a long while, then after closely scrutinising all around his face she withdrew.
"It appears His Majesty is in a light sleep."
"……Is that right. Is there perhaps a precedent of Yongrin being put to sleep by a sacred sword?"
"I have never heard of such a case. However, given that the powers of the Hwang are so pre-eminent, it is not impossible — I shall look into it."
"Would it be harmful to the body?"
"Yes, it is simply that he has dozed off* — please do not be alarmed."
Hearing the reassurance, he was only then able to set his mind at ease. Yunseo dismissed the Imperial Physician and lay down on his side facing him. Looking at Hwi's face sunken in sleep, he moved his hand up to hover over it and then slowly moved it back.
That Hwi, who suffered from insomnia, could sleep — this rational ability was one he had never expected to be his own. He felt as though he could purely welcome the power within himself. Yunseo, feeling satisfaction wash over him in waves, smiled faintly and nestled into Hwi's arms.
"The Empress Consort's birthday banquet is coming up — it would be good for you to look things over and prepare."
"Thank you."
"She is not a difficult person, so please do not worry greatly."
The Empress Consort's birthday was approaching. It was said that the Empress Consort was organizing the banquet herself, though in reality the lower attendants would be handling things — there were only one or two parts she would need to attend to. He also wanted to get along better with her given the awkwardness of their relationship.
Even so, after listening to Hyeonbi and Seongbin's counsel, the fact that we were a group sank in. All the more since he didn't know if alone he would feel isolated, but he was glad that the time spent with these people would be closer.
"Do you all enjoy archery?"
"Among these, I am partial to the sacred sword."
"Then let's have a match sometime. It would be good to have an opponent. I've been finding it too quiet."
"Being able to shoot archery with His Majesty would be an honour."
Thinking of promising Hyeonbi and Hujil made the inside feel warm. At heart he had wanted to talk like this more and more — but it didn't feel right to let them know he thought of them as neighbors.
He wanted to leave this seat and go drink the remaining tea but the wish did not come and he felt foolish. Yunseo looked at this wish and turned to ask.
"Do you have something to say to this person?"
"……Hmm. Has Your Majesty never been to Suwollu?"
At the pointed question, Yunseo — not wanting to give away that he had simply never visited the pavilion where banquets were held — hesitated briefly and answered.
"Not really."
"Then how best to decorate it — you might not know the place."
As for decoration, vases with flowers, and art objects placed in their proper spots — that was what it came to, and furthermore it was protocol for the attendants to carry out anyway, so it was difficult to read this young man's intention. Watching him from the side, waiting for what would come next, he looked as if he was about to say something in a roundabout way and then suddenly extinguished the light in his eyes.
"That being so, the young man would like to offer assistance."
Yunseo turned back and forth between this young man and the painting, his tied string loosened and his paper spread. Inside was a drawing of the interior of some pavilion, and from each window hung dark amber pendants like clusters dangling down — the colour was not only profoundly vivid, but it was a landscape that looked as if it truly existed, tight and luxurious.
Yunseo looked at the drawing with his eyes half-dazed. The meticulous attention to detail, the thoroughness without missing a single small part, the crisp selection of colour, and above all, the atmosphere of the brushwork — the atmosphere that silently pervaded was something no one could imitate, and the brushwork of the palace's grand halls was naturally different too.
"Who painted this?"
"Who would it be but the young man?"
"This young man painted this?"
So startled he lifted his head and raised his voice, the young man nodded slightly while barely meeting his eyes.
It was hard to believe that a young man of no particular standing had completed such a superb work. That an outstanding painter was hiding here — that was indeed a hidden talent, was it not.
"Did you learn painting separately?"
"You could say I learned the cultivation one ought to have."
"Then this is truly outstanding. A picture where one can feel the individual's character — that is not common. Extraordinarily beautiful besides. Do you paint often?"
"……I only occasionally pick up the brush to that degree."
The young man's voice had grown small. It was clear from his cheeks faintly flushing that Yunseo had managed to make him laugh.
"Would you like to make a painting collection? In front of those with discernment, if you are a rising talent, those who wish to possess it would make offers."
"Are you telling the young man to do such a vulgar thing?"
"Vulgar…… what is vulgar about it?"
"Painting is but a pastime hobby for those of inner standing — to make it one's livelihood is something only scribblers should do."
He wanted to refute it but Yunseo swallowed the words piling up on his tongue. If the relationship with this young man didn't worsen, it would be better not to pick a quarrel.
"If this young man is so inclined, would you give this painting to that person?"
"What do you mean?"
"This must be clearly declared as the young man's achievement."
This remark seemed to fire itself up on its own, and the young man averted his gaze to another direction. Yunseo suppressed the laugh that was about to burst out and put a cookie in his mouth. It was not some great request, merely to declare its origin — this young man surely had no reason not to agree to it.
"Understood. I shall do so."
"Then the young man will withdraw."
He rose from his seat and gave a polite bow before turning away. Yunseo returned his gaze to the drawing once more and let out a quiet exclamation of admiration. Using this work as the basis to decorate the pavilion — surely a magnificent scene would be completed. He found himself looking forward to it and a smile curved his lips.
"Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from the Grand Palace."
"A letter?"
Yunseo made a bewildered expression and received the bamboo tube that Jo Sanggung had handed over. Given that it was from the Grand Palace it meant Hwi had sent it — why he would send it through a person rather than delivering it directly was curious.
He pulled out the tightly rolled scroll of fine silk from the bamboo tube. Upon seeing the rough yet neat writing, his lips simply fell open.
「I intend to play today. Come find me at Sŭljeong正* whenever you wish.」
The letter's content was brief. Yunseo traced the last character of Hwi's name written there with his fingertip. For no particular reason his chest felt closely and warmly tight, as if this were a letter he had not expected Hwi to send.
Nevertheless — nadeuli, what on earth. Yunseo placed the letter back in the bamboo tube and stood up briskly.
"Is the Sŭljeong all ready?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I'll go to the Grand Palace."
Leaving the palace, his step felt lighter. The warm sunlight was hiding his figure and a fresh wind filled his cheeks, the red sunset that had swallowed the shadows cast itself heavily atop the eaves of the front hall. Yunseo paused briefly standing there gazing at the imperial palace's dusk scene and then moved his steps again.
He was only going to see Hwi but it was truly exciting to the point of being new. Even so, he was genuinely full of excitement and it was good that he could not fully contain and show his feelings.
"What is so amusing."
Raising his head at the voice that had reached him while he was savouring his laughter inside, Hwi was standing right before his eyes. Yunseo's eyes went wide in surprise and he looked around in all directions. He hadn't arrived at the Grand Palace yet — how had he come out.
"Since you were coming I couldn't wait."
"Did you come out to the outhouse?"
"Yes. You put an impatient man there."
* 김와하다: to sleep very lightly and easily. National Institute of Korean Language, Standard Korean Language Dictionary.
* 술정戌正: eight o'clock in the evening.