NLP 4

NLP

Posted by bunny.bunny, Released on August 2, 2026

**Chapter 4: How Can One Share a Blanket with a Wild Beast?**

After sending away Chorong and the personal court ladies, Hwayeon’s nanny attended to her bath alone, weeping.

The wet, sheer silk underskirt could not hide her bruised body.

Senior Court Lady Jeong peeked inside briefly and then disappeared. She, too, must have been at a loss for words.

“Your Majesty… are you truly alright?”

“The wedding wine was strange.”

“Even after the Chief Court Lady sampled it before presenting it?”

“I drank one cup, and His Majesty drank three. He didn’t eat any side dishes either. Then he suddenly became strange.”

“What could have been put in the wedding wine? Who on earth…?”

The Queen covered her nanny’s mouth.

“Shh. No one must know. If the Queen Dowager’s palace finds out, all the court ladies of the Queen’s residence will suffer greatly. They’ll be dragged to the inner prison, tortured, and half of them will lose their lives.”

“If you just cover this up, who knows what that villain might do next?”

“His Majesty will have ordered a secret investigation.”

“But what if it reaches the Queen Dowager’s palace?”

“Chief Court Lady Hong will take action. The old court ladies on night duty might not know, but the Chief Court Lady must have noticed. We must wait for his investigation.”

After her bath, she examined her body in a bronze mirror. Fortunately, her face was unharmed, but bluish bruises were visible on her neck and wrists. These were areas difficult to conceal even with clothing.

“Tell them I have caught a chill and have the Royal Pharmacy bring *Samultang* (a four-ingredient herbal decoction).”

“If we inform the Royal Pharmacy, a female physician will come.”

Then she would have to receive a pulse diagnosis, and she could not show her bruised arm to the female physician.

“Say that I am asleep. Just in case, send Chorong to the Royal Pharmacy, and you must not leave my side.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The nanny brought and presented a pink silk sleeping robe.

After putting on a silk outer robe over the translucent sleeping robe, Hwayeon lay down on the newly brought bed.

The King had been difficult and fearsome, yet always a tender husband who cherished her. But after last night’s events, she now loathed even the scent of him.

She wished last night had been nothing but a nightmare.

She would never let the King into her bedchamber again. How could one share a blanket with a savage beast?

—

After the morning council, Taegang summoned Senior Court Lady Yun, who had returned from the Queen’s residence.

“The Queen?”

“She bathed in the inner chamber and then took to her bed, ill.”

He asked anxiously,

“Is her chill severe?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. She showed symptoms of a cold, so she sent a court lady to the Royal Pharmacy.”

“Who attended to her bath in the inner chamber?”

“She said it would be bothersome and asked to have only her nanny stay.”

Thinking of the Queen, who must be covered in bruises, worry, self-reproach, and anger surged within him.

The humiliation and wounds he had inflicted upon her would never fade.

“Bring me cold water. No, bring ice water.”

After downing a bowl of ice water, Taegang commanded,

“Send *Shipjeondaebotang* (a potent herbal tonic) and… colorful dumplings to the Queen’s residence.”

The Queen was not a picky person, but she did have a small appetite. Perhaps it was because her grandmother and mother were both excellent cooks.

When he had asked the thirteen-year-old Crown Princess what she had found most delicious among the palace foods she had tried, she had glanced around at the court ladies and whispered in his ear,

“Colorful dumplings.”

So, whenever he thought of the Crown Princess and mentioned wanting them, the kitchen court ladies would use all their skill to prepare them.

Remembering Hwayeon carefully lifting the beautifully made colorful dumplings with her silver spoon, afraid they might burst, and eating them with relish, Taegang smiled.

She had blossomed like a flower with each passing day. His father, the late King, had adored her, saying she was as beautiful as a peony.

How he had longed for the day of their wedding.

He had held Hwayeon’s hand, trembling with shyness and fear on their first night, and vowed,

“I will cherish and protect you for life.”

His vow had now become the sweet-talking enticement of a cruel debaucher.

Looking at his own large hands that had so brutally seized Hwayeon, he clenched his fist and struck the desk. His hand bruised, but he felt no pain.

—

Taegang received a detailed report on the wedding wine from the supervising court lady.

“You mean it was the *Gyedangju* brewed at Hyusimdang?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Just before it was presented to Your Majesty, the Chief Court Lady tore the paper sealing the bottle, sampled it, and then Senior Court Lady Jeong served it.”

“Those who drank only one cup of the *Gyedangju* are all fine, but I, who drank more than three cups, was intoxicated by the drug.”

It seemed to be an aphrodisiac that only took effect after a certain amount was consumed.

The supervising court lady, the head matron, and even the personal court ladies of the Queen’s residence were still unaware of last night’s rampage.

“Senior Court Lady Pyo… why would she do such a thing?”

He considered questioning the Chief Court Lady but decided to meet Senior Court Lady Pyo directly.

She had entered the palace at fifteen, serving the late King and his father as a kitchen court lady. When the Queen Dowager was pregnant with him, she had discovered poison in her meal and saved his life.

In recognition of her service, the late King had granted her Hyusimdang, allowing her to live in the palace for life.

Furthermore, when Taegang, then Crown Prince, had fallen dangerously ill with a fever and the royal physicians had given up hope, she had saved him with her medicinal liquor.

Even now, she served as a strategist for the Queen Dowager, and Taegang occasionally summoned her to taste her newly brewed medicinal liquors.

There must be a reason Senior Court Lady Pyo had done such a thing. He had to meet her and find out.

—

As soon as the council meeting ended, Taegang headed to Hyusimdang. Senior Court Lady Pyo was standing in the yard, as if she had been waiting for him.

“It’s been a long time, Senior Court Lady Pyo.”

“I have been waiting, Your Majesty.”

“Your *Gyedangju* was quite potent.”

“This old servant’s skills have waned with age.”

Unable to contain himself, Taegang grabbed her thin, branch-like shoulders and burst out,

“I nearly killed the Queen!”

“She is alive. And she is safer now than before.”

“Safer? What could possibly be safer?”

“Your Majesty, you must learn to hide your deep affection for Her Majesty the Queen.”

Only then did the King release Senior Court Lady Pyo’s shoulders.

She examined his bruised hand, then guided him to an old pavilion in the yard.

Hyusimdang was located on a slope, offering a fine view, and surrounded by large rocks, making it difficult for spies or assassins to approach.

“Do you know when Her Majesty the Queen is in the most danger?”

“Surely when she gives birth to the heir. I heard my mother also suffered from postpartum complications after giving birth to me.”

“There is a time even more dangerous than that.”

“When is that?”

“When the King’s favor is concentrated solely on the Queen. The world does not allow such a Queen to live.”

“Who would dare harm the Queen?”

“If the harmony between Your Majesty and Her Majesty were to break, who do you think would be most pleased?”

The only force that could harm the Queen would be the Queen Dowager’s relatives, backed by her power.

“Surely… not from the Queen Dowager’s palace?”

“Jo Yeong-geun has sent his confidant to Ganghwa.”

The Queen’s eldest brother, Park Gyu-seong, was the deputy magistrate of Ganghwa.

“And?”

“Soon, a bribery scandal involving the Ganghwa deputy magistrate will erupt.”

“My brother-in-law is not the type to take bribes.”

“Precisely why he has fallen out of favor with the Queen Dowager’s palace. He was supposed to take a moderate amount of bribes, participate in their corruption, and become part of their faction, but he refused.”

“To those corrupt men, my upright brother-in-law must be a thorn in their side.”

Taegang gritted his teeth and asked,

“I cannot have Park Gyu-seong arrested by the Royal Guard. You know how my father-in-law passed away, don’t you?”

The Queen’s father had collapsed from overwork in the mourning hall during the late King’s national mourning. He was moved home but ultimately passed away.

“Because he died that way, the relatives cannot allow Her Majesty’s family to prosper.”

“I’ll handle it by having my brother-in-law transferred.”

But Senior Court Lady Pyo firmly stated,

“Exile him to Jeju Island and place him under house arrest.”

“I cannot do that. Her father is already gone. I cannot leave the Queen even more alone.”

“To protect Her Majesty, you must exile both of her brothers to Jeju Island. The more you cherish her, the more danger her brothers will be in. As the Queen Dowager’s palace desires, take a concubine selected through the court.”

“Be silent. If you play such tricks once more, I will have your head displayed in the marketplace.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

He rose and headed for the main hall.

On the way, an eunuch from the Queen Dowager’s palace rushed over to convey her summons.

“Tell her that I am swamped with state affairs today, and I will pay my respects during tomorrow’s audience.”

He could not let his mother see the nail marks on his neck. He would have to postpone even tomorrow’s visit.

—

Jo Su-geun entered the Queen Dowager’s palace.

Compared to his elder brother Jo Yeong-geun, who had passed the highest civil service exam at a young age and brought glory to their family, Jo Su-geun’s official career had begun late.

He loved wine and women and neglected his studies, barely passing the civil service exam at the age of thirty-two. After that, thanks to his sister who became Queen, he rose rapidly, becoming the Minister of Taxation at thirty-nine, in charge of the nation’s finances.

However, rumors were rife that he was greedy and took bribes behind the scenes, causing the Queen Dowager concern.

“I hear bribe chests are piling up in your villa, brother?”

Jo Su-geun waved his hands and shook his head.

“It’s a slander. How could I, your humble servant, take such bribes?”

“Wealth is overflowing, so you must never engage in any wrongdoing. His Majesty’s temperament will not let such things pass. I’ve already heard that a secret order has been issued to find a candidate to replace you as Minister of Taxation. It seems they have Public Works Minister Hwang Seon-bok in mind.”

Hwang Seon-bok was the father-in-law of the Queen’s eldest brother, Park Gyu-seong, and a clean and upright official whom the late King had also valued.

Jo Su-geun asked nervously,

“Then… does His Majesty intend to place the Parks at the forefront of the court?”

“Park Gyu-seong is still young, so he cannot be made a minister yet, but if he is called into the Royal Secretariat or the Inspectorate, wouldn’t that make things difficult for us?”

“My elder brother anticipated this and has already made some moves in Ganghwa.”

“Moves?”

“After all, Ganghwa Deputy Magistrate Park Gyu-seong cannot be left as he is.”

“It must be thorough.”

“My elder brother has never made a mistake in such matters.”

An eunuch who had returned from the main hall reported,

“Your Majesty the Queen Dowager, His Majesty said he is currently swamped with state affairs and would come during the evening audience.”

“After consummating with the Queen, his mother is already put in the backseat.”

As the Queen Dowager smiled wryly, Jo Su-geun rubbed his hands together and fidgeted nervously.

“Your Majesty, I am searching all of Hanyang and Gyeonggi Province for a woman of unparalleled beauty.”

“She must be a beauty who can steal His Majesty’s heart. The lower her family’s standing, the better.”

“I have sent word to Min Hyeong-du, a *ginsa* in Gwacheon, who is said to have a daughter of exceptional beauty.”