Trapped

chapter 38

Kyungsoo bowed before the small shrine in the sitting room, and arranged a tray of offerings Min Hyun was holding for him; a bowl of water, a cup of tea, and a small plate of rice cakes. He lit candles and burned some incense sticks. The soft fragrant of cedar wood cloyed the air as he thrust the incense sticks into a canister of uncooked rice.

He closed his eyes to focus his mind. His brows furrowed. He was unable to concentrate, and the heaviness in his heart wouldn't leave him. Both of his head and his heart were betraying him.

Kyungsoo was confused, frustrated, annoyed. And sad. Hundreds, thousands of contrasting thoughts were racing and whirring around in his head.

What should he do?

Clasping his hands earnestly together, He prayed for his heart to be at peace. May the king will enjoy a long healthy life, and the kingdom will continue for thousand of years, and the nation might enjoy peace.

He ended his prayer before he became greedy to ask for more. He should only be grateful, Kyungsoo reminded himself, should not ask heaven to help him evade what he was powerless to deny. It wouldn't end well.

Kyungsoo placed his cupped hands over his stomach and bowed lowly to the shrine, mentally asking for forgiveness to heaven, and the divine spirits of heaven and earth. He felt that stabbing pain again. He took a shallow breath and waited for the feeling to settle down.

Min Hyun bowed not so deeply to pay his respects to the shrine, removed the tray, and came back for his master.

Leaving the sitting room, Kyungsoo walked sedately toward the right wing. He entered the corridor leading to the back of the residence, and paused to slide open the door toward the garden. He signalled that Min Hyun should remain inside. "Min Hyun, could you please go to Yongmin-ssi and ask for some fennel seeds and dandelion roots for me?" He asked.

Had been serving a master who was fond of medicinal plants and flowers, Min Hyun had learned what those herbs were for. "Recently you always appear worried and cautious. Your mood grew pensive. I don't need Master Yongmin to tell that it is not your stomach that is in pain," Min Hyun commented with the curtness of a butcher.

"You are talking nonsense, and It's not even noon yet," Kyungsoo half turned his shoulder and gently chided Min Hyun.

"Then you better start listening to my nonsense."

Kyungsoo chuckled without replying. "Go now," he urged Min Hyun to leave with a small wave of his hand, "I will be enjoying the garden as I wait for you."

"I'm sure you will, if by enjoying the garden you mean digging holes into the dirty soil and covering yourself with filth."

Kyungsoo walked among the plants with Min Hyun stubbornly was following behind. He glanced at Min Hyun and managed a smile. "Do not worry about me, I will find my own amusement." He made an appreciative hum to convince Min Hyun. "The weather is perfect for a stroll in the garden."

Min Hyun nodded efficiently. "Then I'll be going now. I'll let you know if Master Yongmin also has some potent herbs to cure heartache, because I don't see you doing something about that."

Kyungsoo felt a surge of affection toward Min Hyun. The books he read to Min Hyun may have softened the way he spoke, but they could never change the way he looked at things. Min Hyun had always been blunt and straightforward, the realest person Kyungsoo would ever meet. How grateful Kyungsoo was to have his company.

"Stop talking rubbish," Kyungsoo softly said.

***