Yunseo tilted his head and looked at the floor below. It was clearly a strange sound that came out and even though he understood it, the bottom of the square where the flower basket sat had a gap opened there that drew a sense of unease.

Most of the parts were straight and maintaining a regular interval, but the bottom surface of the square where the flower basket sat exactly had a gap that gave a sense of unease.

"Shall we try moving this?"

Together with Yeondeok lifting the flower basket and moving it aside, Yunseo crouched and ran his fingers along the gap. Just barely trembling confirming it — the moment he ran two hands over it and pressed hard up from below, the thin gap widened and the corner of the square revealed itself.

"What is this?"

Yeondeok lowered his voice in surprise. Yunseo frowned looking at the stairway heading downward.

"Could it be a hidden room?"

"It might be a secret passage."

"A passage?"

"Hey, haven't you heard of such things? There are secret passages in the palace and soldiers move through them to monitor people they say."

Yeondeok's words just felt like a flimsy off-the-cuff remark. Moreover this was not the imperial palace either.

Going down he felt as though he could understand its use, but it was not the time to fill his curiosity now.

"We need to cover it again. Let's put it back."

"Yes."

They returned the flower basket to its place and tidied the appearance. After confirming with Yeondeok that his appearance was alright he went outside and headed toward Taehu's residence.

Manguwon was unlike the imperial palace — the distance between each palace was short and easy to walk. The sunlight was hot but the air was so fresh and cool it was bearable. Yunseo took in the deep green garden scenery with his eyes and walked slowly and arrived at Taehu's residence.

Upon entering inside, Taehu's tea came out with a pleasant aroma greeting Yunseo. Savory and sweet — the smile came reflexively. Yunseo pleasantly asked after Taehu's health.

Since Taehu, the time spending with her had become even more comfortable. Yet even so Taehu herself also did not send herself off early as before — it was surprising. Sometimes she was Hwi's family, but now she could no longer be called an outsider — the fact that she was more comfortable like family rather than neighbours was a curious thing.

"There is something else troubling me lately."

"May the young man inquire what it is?"

"Strictly speaking it is not recently…… as Your Majesty knows, the Empress Consort cannot request other Yongrin."

"Yes, that is so."

"Seonjae's flower consorts cannot use the sacred sword after Seonjae has ascended, and they can only put strength into teaching the noble attendants. It is also only at the palace's law that they can be called valuable."

"That too is a precious strength indeed."

"That's so. But one changed flower spirit who, rather than any established flower spirit, has to let go of more in other circumstances to raise the sacred vessel to the position — if it is said that they must put their hand to it, this can be called 각주구검* then."

He naturally nodded his head after understanding Taehu's view. Of course since they were Seonjae's flower consorts they could not exchange with other Yongrin, but through a private gathering they could truly be of great help. But……

"I am curious about their intentions."

"Of course different people will have different minds too. But those noble attendants who entered with the ambition and resolve to save the country, once they become flower consorts after a favoured Yongsin ascends, it is only natural they will feel as if what they had has been stripped from them."

"Stripped……"

"An established flower spirit who has a sacred sword can only wait for the Emperor's favour, and the moment even that counterpart disappears, the opportunity to spread their ability disappears. Only the Empress Consort who enters after is in a position where they can return back everything — meaning."

A part he had not yet thought about, and Yunseo let out a quiet gasp. Having almost no opportunity to meet Seonjae's flower consorts, the conversation with Taehu was something he had never once thought of.

"In the end, the biggest concern will be the eyes of the great ministers and the world's attention. A noble attendant that the Emperor has taken in, treating other Yongrin means someone will rank it as below or someone else will want to become it — this will become a seed of trouble. How this problem is approached and resolved will be an important task."

"Yes, I will discuss it and find a solution."

"Since His Majesty has shown such sudden progress in his sacred vessel, he will remain in good health for a long time."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Finishing one topic of conversation and drinking a sip of tea, Taehu sent a gaze as if there was something more she wanted to say. Yunseo quickly swallowed what was in his mouth and listened carefully.

"There is a separate matter to mention."

"No news has yet come."

"What news do you mean……"

"It is now time that the Empress Consort should think about the national heir."

At the unexpected turn Yunseo was flustered and set the teacup down with a sound. Then tilting the leaning cup he quickly arranged it to stand upright in his hand and swallowed hard.

"His Majesty still has no heir, and I hope that His Majesty will cherish the Empress Consort and strive to spare no effort in producing a Yongsin heir."

"……Yes, Your Majesty."

Yunseo freshly realised that he was holding a goblet. And that a Yongsin could grow there. The goblet when it first took its place had given him a painful time — he had never once paid attention to it since then and so now it just felt unfamiliar and bewildering.

Taehu looked at Yunseo for a moment staring and then took a final sip of tea and handed the rest of the cup over and stood.

"His Majesty is at an age where it is late, the matter of * 국사國嗣 is urgent and weighty. Of course how can a person govern the birth of one life. But then opportunities must keep coming and the mind must be eased to that degree."

Yunseo slowly blinked and swallowed Taehu's words. That opportunities must come back — that meant speaking of the other flower consorts and Hwi's meeting room. Not being able to produce a Yongsin heir — someone had to. His chest felt as if it sank and Yunseo took a small breath and answered.

"Yes. I will keep it in mind, Your Majesty."

After that the conversation went back to other pleasant topics but he could not concentrate at all. Reading that mood Taehu appropriately wrapped up the story and sent Yunseo out.

Yunseo upon coming out from Taehu could not escape from the words she had shared. To anyone she had given ordinary counsel, but Taehu was still in the wrong — the responsibility of what she did not yet fully grasp was still herself.

Yunseo recalled the memory of when the goblet had formed and tossed and turned on the sleeping couch. That too had already become a long-past thing. And then he was sinking into that fresh strange sensation.

While he was immersed in that feeling fresh and chilly, from not far off a familiar voice was heard.

Before long he had come face to face walking alongside Hyeonbi and Seongbin. They expressed their respects and Yunseo met them with a welcome face.

"Where are you going?"

"The day being good I was going for a walk. If Your Majesty does not mind, shall we go together?"

"This person would be fine even if brought along."

While in the middle of being tangled up in his head he wanted to walk and empty out the inside. Yunseo matched his steps to their pace and asked.

"What story were you having?"

"We were sharing our views on the education of noble attendants."

How to take the education a little more practically and practically, Hyeonbi was bringing out her and Seongbin's opinions one by one. Yunseo who had been listening jumped in here and there and also shared his own thoughts and participated in the discussion.

"Dare they!"

Just then. A fresh sound passed over the wall cutting off the story going back and forth. The three heads turned toward the quiet direction.

"Isn't that this young man's voice?"

Perhaps something had happened — Yunseo hurried his steps in the direction the sound had come from. Passing through the wall and then through a door, kneeling court attendants and before them this young man standing with his hem fluttering could be seen.

"What is the matter?"

This young man's head turned quickly toward Yunseo's direction. But the eyes that had been filled with boiling anger did not subside and rather they stiffened.

"This is what kind of racket. This young man is one who should properly pay respects to the Empress Consort."

Hyeonbi who came close and scolded him sternly made this young man burst into a thin laugh.

"Just in time you have come. What do these people even mean by this — have a listen."

The faces of the court attendants going pale — clearly this young man was not one to cherish people in a good way. If I interfere it might become even more serious — but Hyeonbi stepped forward to speak.

"Even if they uttered some flimsy words, there are many watching eyes……"

"We flower consorts have not received the Emperor's favour, and the favour is something the Empress Consort monopolises alone — we are isolated beings who have been thrown away. Even hearing such words, the young man is supposed to keep still?"

When Yunseo came to understand the truth of the matter, his expression grew cold. The kneeling court attendants were trying to hang their heads and looked apologetic. Hyeonbi and Seongbin were hiding their bell of anger and maintaining expressionless faces but this was not something that could be left.

* 각주구검: 刻舟求劍. A foolish stubbornness of clinging to old thoughts that do not fit reality. National Institute of Korean Language, Standard Korean Language Dictionary.
* 국사國嗣: The Emperor's heir. Or: a child who will succeed the Emperor. National Institute of Korean Language, Standard Korean Language Dictionary.