The Pheonix and The Dragon

9.County Mistress

Chaerin entered her youngest daughter's courtyard. Seeing the servants measured and orderly, she nodded in satisfaction.

Ever since her daughter turned eight, she lived in a courtyard alone. Most of the servants were managed by her daughter alone. She would occasionally come to inspect but did not interfere much.

"Mother?" Lisa had just finished bathing, and was sitting by the window with her servant girls drying her hair. When she saw Chaerin enter, she stood up to welcome her mother.

"So late, and you just bathed?" Chaerin took over the cotton cloth in Minnie's hand and continued to dry Lisa's hair. "It is cold at night—careful not to get a headache."

"I think it is too hot." Lisa cheerfully sat and allowed Chaerin to lecture her and dry her hair.

"No matter how hot it is, it is night." Chaerin changed for a softer cloth to avoid damaging the hair. "Tomorrow, your father will take you into the palace to see the empress dowager and the emperor. I cannot accompany you to face the Holy One, so I have to tell you some things."

Sana and the other personal servants retreated with soft footsteps to leave mother and daughter in the room.

"After this event, the emperor will take the chance to grasp the primary power in court. Originally, I was worried that your aunt and the emperor will be in conflict, but it appears I have over-thought. If Empress Dowager Jieun had wanted to be at odds with the emperor, then even if the notice could have been formally announced, the contents would not have been so beneficial to the emperor.

The notice stated that the forefathers had visited the dream of the emperor, saying that something major was happening in Seoul, but did not specify it would be a movement of the earth. If the earth did not move, then having a "major event" happen around Seoul would not be difficult, so the emperor would not be forced into dire straits.

If Empress Dowager Jieun had any intentions of taking power, she could have used this matter to turn the emperor into a puppet emperor. But Empress Dowager Jieun had not done this, but did all she could to elevate the emperor, wanting to raise him to become a true wise ruler.

"After the emperor takes power in court, there will be many people in court who want to fawn and gain his favor." Chaerin caressed her daughter's hair. After confirming it was dry, she put down the cloth. "The emperor's birth mother is from the Jung Clan. The Jung Family was greatly impacted by the movement of the earth this time. Many of their antiques were destroyed, and even their precious books were damaged by the heavy rain on the second day." When she said this, Chaerin's gaze held a complicated amusement. "After this matter, the Jung Family will bow their heads to the emperor. The third branch's members are still preparing to enter court as officials. If they do not bow their heads to the emperor, how can they achieve an elevated position in the future?"

Lisa was puzzled. Wasn't the reason the aristocratic families were so confident facing the imperial family because they controlled many things that the poor could not learn? Wasn't the court filled with aristocratic family members that helped each other? Why did her mother's description not sound as glorious as she had imagined?

"The present aristocratic families are not the ones of several centuries ago." Chaerin sighed and did not explain this to her daughter. She said, "I am telling you this not to gossip about the Jung Family, but so that you understand the present situation, and are aware."

Lisa blinked her big eyes at Chaerin.

Chaerin saw her daughter like this and laughed helplessly. "Never mind, you are young; you do not have to worry about such things."

The Jung Family had two daughters not yet of age to marry but of similar age to the emperor. She feared that the Jung Family would have thoughts of marrying with the imperial family.