21 That Sly Fox
The next day...
A woman walked quietly towards the canopy bed, with its curtain covering the woman laying behind it.
"What brings you here?" Said the woman from behind the curtain.
"I am here to report to you, mistress." Responds the other woman, kneeling in front of the canopy bed.
"I've been waiting. Talk." She commanded.
"This subject has... failed to replace the mandus* that the second princess has prepared." The woman hesitated to say.
*mandu= dumpling
"What?! What did you say?!"' The woman from behind shouted, as she push the curtains aside revealing her.
"I apologize, first imperial princess! But the empress's subject was too on guards. It was hard to sneak in to the imperial beuok*." The subject reasoned out.
*beuok- korean kitchen
The first imperial princess sighed as her forehead creased. "Soorin, where is the location again?"
Princess Shinrae asked. A hint of dismay was evident in her voice.
"The second imperial princess will be heading to the barracks, where the crown prince is training." Soorin replied, as she is still kneeling.
"I see. Tell the head lady when you go retire from this room, to prepare my bath. We will head to the barracks and meet with brother Taejoo. I have a matter to discuss to him. It would be better if I meet him before he meet Ye Beom." Shinrae spoke in a serious manner.
"I understand, your highness." Soorin said.
Moment right before the first imperial princess leave the Hanji palace, the palace where she resides.
"Hurry, Hwayoung!" Shouted the lady.
"Y-y-yes head lady Cheonyu!" Stuttered the young lady Hwayoung.
"Hurry up! Hwayoung." Head lady Cheonyu nagged as she is running out of patience.
"Y-yes!" Hwayoung replied.
"Cheonyu, don't be too hard on her."' The first princess interrupted.
"Yes, your highness." Head lady bowed as an apology.
Princess Shinrae, whom is standing in front of her, simply nodded towards her with an unchanged and expressionless look on her faces, and after that, she-- the first imperial princess held her head up, and walked her way gracefully and proudly, as she lead her company to the barracks where the crown prince Eunhyun is at.
Laughters... Laughters...
' What's going on here- Ye Beom? She's on her way already, I see. She seem so... happy. ' Shinrae's face soften, as she stared at the lively second imperial princess laughing while carrying a basket.
'A little teasing won't hurt her feelings, right?' Shinrae smiled sheepishly.
"My, my... Greetings to my younger sister, whom has lost her memories... apparently." First princess Shinrae gibed as she crossed her arms across her chest then raising an eyebrow.
'Now then... I am curious how you will respond to this.' She thought to herself, waiting for Ye Beom's response.
Ye Beom faked a smile as soon as her the line in between of her brows disappeared and replied. "Greeting to you too. sister. It has been awhile since we last met at our grandmother's pavilion, isn't it?"
"Yes, indeed. It has been for a while." Princess Shinrae responded, then she bit her lips as she forced a smile. Princess Shinrae's eyes wandered to the basket that Ye Beom is carrying as she examines her. "Where are you heading to?" She asked, as she fix her gaze on the basket with suspicion.
"Oh..." Princess Ye Beom felt uncomfortable with the staring of the first imperial princess's at the basket she's carrying. So then, she held the basket up before she continue. " ...I'm planning on bringing older brother a lunch. We have not been able to get in touch with each other lately."
"I see. Then if you would not mind, can I join the two of you?" First princess Shirae asked.
"Eh?... Eh??!! Why so suddenly??!!" Ye Beom exclaimed with her eyes wide.
Princess Shinrae wandered as her mouth gaped and her eyes widened as well. "C-can't I?"
"Huh? Ah! Ahhh...no, no. It's not like that! Of course I wouldn't mind. I just thought it was so sudden." Princess Ye Beom replied then followed by a nervous laugh.
"I'm glad then." A faint smile crept up from the first princess lips as she whispered to herself.
"Yes? Are you saying something, sister?" Ye Beom asked.
"Yes, I said I was glad..." Shinrae faltered, then smiled at princess Ye Beom brightly. "....and thank you for letting me join you. Shall we get going then?"
'It's odd how pleasant I feel hanging around her. It was too pleasant that I almost have forgotten my true motive of coming here.' Shirae sighed as she trail from behind the second imperial princess.
'It was such a wonderful day indeed. The three of us were just sitting on the clean plain cloth that Ye Beom has prepared. I was just waiting for the right time to speak about this matter...'
"I, Gukseon* Pyeon Jae of the Wang-ui Gun-in Hwarang* under the power of the grand empress dowager Myeonhee, arrest her highness the second imperial princess, princess Ye Beom for a treason, in an attempt of poisoning the his highness, the crown prince Eunhyun, and the grand empress dowager. The punishment is yet to be decided by his majesty, the great emperor and the imperial court. As the empress requested, the second princess shall be held at the cold palace." Declared the man.
*Gukseon means grand master.
'But I think I am too late now to speak of this matter, am I? She is really a sly fox. That woman.' Her eyebrows furrowed as she clenched onto her hanbok.
'Ye Beom...'
