"You are so good at everything," Concubine Seo compliments General Lee as for the first time he has served her a special breakfast.
"Nothing special. It's luxury porridge for soldiers," He smiles at the compliment.
"But it's luxurious enough for me. Thank you," Concubine Seo digs for more porridge in her empty bowl.
"It is just lotus seeds and dates. Lunch will be more attractive."
"More delicious? I badly want lunch right now," Her tummy growls to prove her statement.
"You are a monster, Concubine Seo. I need time to prepare rabbit meat," General Lee softly yells. He has decided not to behave rudely any more.
"Rabbit?" Concubine Seo's eyes get bigger.
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"Awww! Bunnies!," Concubine Seo almost cried at the cuteness of two rabbits that General Lee had bought from a little boy for dinner and lunch.
"These bunnies are our meals," He sniffs.
"No...no... I don't want a meal. I don't eat rabbits, I was born in the year of the rabbit. It's okay to eat bean soup," the concubine hugs the rabbits.
"I was born in the year of the rooster, but chicken is my favourite. If you don't eat, then okay. I will eat. I have spent so much money on them," He remains unbothered.
"I will pay you. Don't take my babies from me," She whines.
"How many babies do you have?" Lee smirks. The question makes Concubine Seo a bit hesitant.
"Last night you were even calling a wine glass as your baby. Lastly, you broke it into pieces. By the way, Am I so scary to you?" Suddenly Jong In asks her to change the topic.
"Why?"
"You said so. Don't say you didn't mean it. People never lie when they are drunk."
"A bit... You are fierce. But that's for good reasons. You have saved me many times from dangers. You have made meals for me every day... And...," She thinks about what to say more.
"And what? Doesn't anything about me haunt you? Speak honestly," He looks into Concubine Seo's eyes. She understands that within a few days she has gotten closer to this male.
"But why do you maintain a secret relationship with Seong Deok? Isn't it like playing with fire?"
"Will you believe me, if I say it's Seong Deok who forces me to maintain this secret relationship?"
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It's been almost one week since Concubine Seo went missing from the palace. Emperor Sinjong has tried his best to find Concubine Seo while covering up her treason. It's still such a mystery to him, why did she leave the palace so suddenly disguised as a court lady? She was missing her home, but the emperor assured her that he would send her to Yongsan after the festival. Why did she suddenly act so childishly and impulsively?
Was Concubine Seo feeling so homesick at that time? What if something bad happens to her when she tries to go to Yongsan alone? Emperor Sinjong is so worried about her and their baby. Maybe she is still not aware of the baby she is carrying. She needs care and rest during this time.
He has kept her missing news hidden in the palace. He didn't miss any assembly or royal activity during this time. The news of Yun Hee's pregnancy was announced to the palace and the general people of Goryeo. But after that, keeping her out of the spotlight was not easy.
According to the palace, Concubine Seo has been isolated in her wing, as she is very tired due to the new signs of morning sickness from the pregnancy. And Concubine Seo is eagerly waiting for Queen Mother Gongwon's arrival. She will receive the first blessings from only the Queen Mother. No royal family members are now allowed to meet and congratulate her on her pregnancy before the Queen Mother.
This is what he could do for her to cover up her act of treason. Everything is turning weird, but this is his best try for Yun Hee.
But today the condition worsens as the Queen Mother has returned to the palace. It seems like Sinjong's plan is going to turn upside down.
Right now he has to make up something, otherwise, he is going to lose Concubine Seo and their unborn baby in accusation of treason.
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"Mother!" Emperor Sinjong hesitated a bit while memorizing the plan he had just made up.
"Anything wrong, son?" The Queen Mother sees that her son is anxious about something.
"Yun Hee is missing..."
"What?!!! How?," Queen Mother almost screams.
"A gang of thieves attacked her palanquin when she was on her way to the Dragon Temple early this morning. She was so exhausted from her morning sickness for a few days. After recovering a bit, she wanted to show respect to the Goddess for blessing her with such a precious gift. But it didn't end well on the way. The gang of thieves was so big and ferocious. The fight between them and the royal guards took a long time. All the thieves were dead, but then they noticed Yun Hee was missing from the palanquin. Her maid was found almost dead in the forest. According to her, Yun Hee was afraid when a robber was about to grab her. She tried her best to save herself. The maid killed the robber, but Yun Hee may have lost the way to return. She is missing from then," He touches every point that he made up in his mind. At first, involving the dragon temple issue seemed a bit dishonest to him, but this is the most made-up thing that the Queen Mother will believe blindly.
"Are you sure this is not related to the notorious rogues, the enemy of her family? Her previous pregnancy also ended badly. Can you understand what's the meaning now? What if the thief already touched her? We can't accept her again in our royal family then," Queen Mother Gongwon's answer was nothing but already expected of him. He was ready to face this question.
"There's no way, but Yun Hee is my concubine. Her position is so much more acceptable to the general people of Goryeo. She is now the main card of the royal family to strengthen the throne of our family. It's Yun Hee who brought rain in drought as a representative of the Dragon Goddess. Abandoning her means the general people of Goryeo will start abandoning us. The Dragon Goddess blessed us with a gift that she is carrying. The baby is the result of the ritual. If the baby is a boy, then it's a Dragon Prince according to the Dragon Temple's Chief Monk. If the Goryeo royal family can't protect the blessing of the Goddess, then there's nothing but waiting for the Curse of the Goddess. I, the Emperor of Goryeo, will protect the Dragon Prince and the Mother of the Dragon Prince, my Concubine Yun Hee."
His voice was something that the Queen Mother had never heard before. Today, he hasn't come to hear her opinion, but he has come to let the Queen Mother know that he is the only one who will rule and take decisions upon his choice, not further waiting for his tricky mother's opinion.
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For the last time Concubine Seo thanks General Lee for everything he has done for her these days.
She is leaving now. While searching for a faithful merchant ship, suddenly a merchant ship owner seems to know merchant Ban Ryu of the Moon family in Sujeong-dong. So, she doesn't want to wait anymore.
Lee Jong In is still hesitant to let her go on this merchant ship. But he doesn't have any right to keep her near him when she wants to go. He has come to see off Concubine Seo up to the port. Both of them bid each other goodbye and afterward, she gets on the ship.
For the first time, Jong In feels he shouldn't let her go. The memory of these few days will always haunt him. He couldn't resist falling for this lady.
He turns back to his way. The sudden crossing with Concubine Seo was like sunshine to him. She has shown him there's something in life other than the sound of swords, the smell of blood, and being blackmailed by someone due to his unfortunate and inevitable past.
Maybe this will be the last time. He will never meet her in his future life.
General Lee turns back to keep the last memory of her departure from his life. He expected the ship to go far away.
But the familiar figure standing on the deck of the ship near the railing was very unexpected to him. Is that not Concubine Seo?
Something is wrong. Something is very wrong with her. She is thinking something while looking at the water while trying to cross the railing.
Trying to cross the railing? Is that not crazy?
Startling him even more, Concubine Seo jumps in the water of the river.
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