Chapter : 04 — The Girl to Enter the King’s Bedchamber
The day before the consummation ceremony.
“His Majesty has surely heard that the daughter of Minister of Personnel 권문열 is exceptionally virtuous and renowned for her remarkable beauty.”
The Chief Eunuch carefully offered his words while watching 현’s expression.
The daughter of the Minister of Personnel, who had been the subject of conversation among the ministers in the main hall.
It was troublesome.
Unlike when a palace woman was taken in as a concubine, there were proper procedures to follow when bringing a high-born woman from a noble family into the palace.
It was not something that could simply end with the issuing of a rank certificate, so 현 once again had to rack his brains over the matter.
“Leave.”
현 waved his hand as though even the Chief Eunuch’s voice was an annoyance.
And there was someone whose headache was even worse than 현’s.
“The audacity!”
The hand of the Queen, which had struck the low dining table, trembled violently.
Although she did not know much about matters outside the palace, even the Queen knew about the daughter of Minister 권문열.
Rumors were widespread throughout Hanyang that no woman would even dare open her mouth in the presence of 권문열’s daughter.
Her beauty was exceptional, her bearing was graceful, and she was the precious jewel of a highly respected family.
“I heard an order was given to the Royal Wedding Bureau to choose a date?”
“Yes, yes, Your Majesty the Queen.”
Court Lady Park carefully answered the Queen, who was trembling with rage.
“I will absolutely not let this matter pass.”
At the Queen’s icy glare, Court Lady Park lowered her head, shrinking back.
“We must have an heir before the Minister’s daughter enters the palace.”
“Please do not worry. If tomorrow’s consummation succeeds, would that not open another path for us?”
At the words of the Senior Court Lady in charge of the Queen’s inner chambers, the Queen recalled the appearance of the palace maid she had seen earlier.
Once again, she was a woman of an utterly ordinary appearance.
They had said that His Majesty was not particularly interested in beauty, but the Queen could not help thinking that, in the end, he was still a man.
Moreover, she wondered whether he would even refuse to consummate his marriage with a concubine who had entered the palace through the proper procedures.
It was at that moment, as the Queen covered her forehead with one hand and sank into deep thought, that the girl who was to enter the King’s bedchamber the following day was brought into the Queen’s chamber.
“What is your name?”
“I am 홍금, Your Majesty.”
“I have high hopes for you. You must serve His Majesty well.”
“I-I shall keep that in mind.”
홍금 answered in a trembling voice, nervous, and lowered her head.
She was not particularly beautiful, but she was a neat and upright-looking girl with proper manners.
After 홍금 left, the Queen cast a worried look toward Court Lady Park.
“Do you think that girl can catch His Majesty’s eye?”
For the first time, the Queen revealed the anxiety she had kept hidden until now.
The Queen, who had remained composed despite the King’s refusal to consummate his marriage until now, was suddenly facing an urgent crisis.
“Shall I look for another girl?”
Sensing what the Senior Court Lady was suggesting, the Queen found it difficult to answer immediately.
Any palace maid whom she selected would ultimately become her ally. Regardless of whether she received the King’s favor, the Queen did not want to be surpassed in beauty by such a girl.
“Prepare the aphrodisiac.”
“What?”
The Senior Court Lady’s eyes widened, but when no further explanation came, she lowered her head.
“I-I understand, Your Majesty.”
The aphrodisiac was the method the Queen had used most often when attempting to consummate her marriage with 현. It was supposed to arouse sexual desire when consumed, but it had never worked on her.
The Queen hoped that the medicine would at least work on 현, and decided to put it into the wine that would be served with tonight’s royal feast.
홍금, a palace maid assigned to the royal kitchen, returned to her room and breathed a deep sigh of relief, running a hand over her chest.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Did the Senior Court Lady say something to you?”
연화 asked worriedly as she watched 홍금 trembling like a leaf.
“Th-that’s… Actually…”
연화 widened her eyes and looked at 홍금, silently urging her to continue.
“They said I’m to enter His Majesty’s bedchamber tomorrow.”
홍금 confessed the truth to 연화, the only friend she had ever been able to confide in.
“What?”
Seeing 연화 become even more startled than herself, 홍금’s eyes shook even more.
Though she had known 연화 for more than ten years, ever since they were young palace maids, 연화’s beauty never failed to amaze her.
The one who should be going to His Majesty’s bedchamber should be 연화, not herself.
“What should I do?”
At 홍금’s worried question, concern deepened in 연화’s eyes as well.
Stories about palace maids who had come out of His Majesty’s bedchamber alone had been openly circulating for quite some time.
A palace maid who was summoned to the King’s bedchamber and entered with her heart swelling with anticipation, only to fail, often could not recover from the shock for a long time.
Even so, the selected palace maids always carried the special hope that they alone would receive His Majesty’s favor.
But 홍금 was different.
Rather than the wealth and glory that might come from receiving the King’s favor, she was frightened by the sight of palace maids who had returned lovesick.
For nearly a month, she had already watched a maid from another quarters cry every night while calling out for His Majesty.
Knowing 홍금’s feelings, 연화 cautiously made a suggestion.
“What if you ask them not to send you? You could tell the Senior Court Lady…”
“Earlier, she asked when my last monthly period was and when the one before that had been. Then she set the consummation for tomorrow.”
홍금’s expression darkened further.
연화 knew enough about how conception worked to realize that it would be difficult for 홍금 to avoid it, since her menstrual cycle was similar to her own.
연화 gently rubbed 홍금’s back and waist, offering her what little comfort she could.
That night, 홍금 tossed and turned, tormented by nightmares. By morning, she had begun bleeding heavily.
“Your Ladyship! Your Ladyship!”
연화 immediately informed Court Lady Lee of the royal kitchen and summoned a palace physician.
“What happened? Why has this girl suddenly become like this?”
“Her period appears to have been brought on early due to severe anxiety.”
After checking her pulse and examining her symptoms, the female royal physician informed them of her condition.
The court lady of the royal kitchen, who already knew that 홍금 was supposed to consummate with the King that day, turned pale.
She hurriedly informed the court lady in charge of the King’s bedchamber.
“What? Receiving His Majesty’s favor is itself the greatest of honors, yet she is suffering from such severe anxiety…”
The court lady in charge of the bedchamber gave a hollow laugh, unable to hide her irritation.
At any other time, perhaps it would not have mattered. But right now, every eye in the Queen’s quarters was focused on that very night.
Everything had already been prepared for the King’s consummation. This was like a bolt from the blue.
“This is troublesome. What are we supposed to do about the girl who is meant to enter the bedchamber tonight?”
The court lady in charge of the bedchamber clutched her forehead, utterly bewildered.
She even groaned aloud in distress, causing Court Lady Lee, who had been anxiously watching her, to become even more worried.
Then, suddenly, Court Lady Lee’s eyes lit up.
She had remembered the palace maid who used to laugh together with 홍금 because, unbelievably, even their monthly periods occurred on the same day.
“Your Ladyship… I know a girl whose monthly period came on the same day as 홍금’s.”
At Court Lady Lee’s words, the court lady in charge of the bedchamber’s eyes immediately widened.
“Who is it…? No.”
For a moment, her face brightened, but it soon hardened again.
Having to present another girl to the Queen every time someone was needed to sleep with the King was no easy task.
And even if they went to such lengths to bring a girl into the bedchamber, having the consummation postponed to another day would hardly be a good solution either.
“Is it perhaps because of Her Majesty the Queen?”
Court Lady Lee had immediately understood her concern.
The court lady in charge of the bedchamber gave her a serious look once more. But Court Lady Lee instead smiled gently and began reassuring her.
“What are you worried about? Until now, no girl has ever received His Majesty’s favor. Would this girl really be any different?”
Court Lady Lee coaxed her.
But the court lady in charge of the bedchamber was not someone who could be persuaded so easily.
“But what if, by some chance, she does receive His Majesty’s favor?”
“She is an orphan with no connections whatsoever. There is nothing to worry about.”
“I should see the girl first.”
The court lady in charge of the bedchamber immediately went looking for 연화.
“연화!”
Court Lady Lee, who recognized 연화 first, called out to her as she was tending the fire in the furnace.
연화 immediately stood up and bowed when she saw Court Lady Lee.
“Your Ladyship. Did you call for me?”
Standing behind Court Lady Lee, the court lady in charge of the bedchamber stared at 연화 from a distance, her eyes widening to the point that they nearly bulged from her face at the sight of her beauty.
It was almost strange that she had never known such a beautiful girl existed.
“Is this the girl?”
As she looked 연화 up and down, the court lady in charge of the bedchamber’s face turned pale.
If she presented this girl to the Queen, there was absolutely no way she would be allowed to go to the King’s bedchamber.
And yet, a strange feeling stirred within the court lady’s heart.
The highest-ranking woman of the Inner Court was the Queen, but she was the court lady responsible for His Majesty’s bedchamber.
Before the Queen’s command, she found herself thinking first of His Majesty’s pleasure.
“That will do.”
The court lady in charge of the bedchamber approached Court Lady Lee and looked at 연화.
As she came closer, 연화’s shoulders tensed.
“You will come with me.”
“What?”
연화’s eyes trembled violently.
She could roughly guess what the woman meant, and immediately prostrated herself on the spot.
“Your Ladyship, please! No. I cannot go.”
“Good heavens! Why are you acting like this?”
Court Lady Lee was flustered by 연화’s behavior and scolded her in a quiet voice.
“You said your name was 연화, correct?”
Unlike Court Lady Lee’s voice, the court lady in charge of the bedchamber calmly repeated her name.
연화 slowly raised her face and nodded.
“Do you not want to save your friend?”
At those unexpected words, 연화’s eyes widened.
“She is a girl who became ill rather than dare to serve His Majesty. She must be punished for the crime of insulting His Majesty.”
At the court lady’s words, 연화 shook her head.
It was an outrageous accusation.
“But 홍금…”
“This is a palace where even crimes that do not exist can be created. You would not want your friend to be expelled from this palace, would you?”
At the calm words, tears fell from 연화’s lowered eyes.
She had already given up, but she could not help feeling sorrowful.
The court lady in charge of the bedchamber turned away firmly and said,
“If you do not follow me now, I will go straight to the Office of Inspectorate.”
Leaving those final words behind, the court lady turned and walked away without looking back.
Wiping away her tears, 연화 hurried after her as though a fire had broken out at her feet.
