The One In Her Heart

"I made this for Young Master today," Jay Yi said, jolting Ga-ram from her reverie. Jay Yi upheld an elaborately drawn poster of a female child's anatomy with detailed notes on them. Myung Jin was still working covertly on the mysterious disease plaguing the impoverished female children in some villages outside the gates of Hanyang. There had been two more such cases within the last month.

Min Jay Yi spent her mornings painting daily in the east-facing portico attached to a small chamber she had used as her office since they had moved into the beautiful house. She was happiest during this time. She kept herself busy, giving Hangul lessons, studying books she had transported from her Father's library, painting and helping Master Myung Jin in cases that needed an investigator's eyes. 

Min Jay Yi spent most of her evenings sitting on the steps of the opulent villa the ever-generous Crown Prince had gifted her in Hanyang's wealthiest neighbourhood, looking at its ornate gate. The cherry blooms of the swaying tree in the expansive courtyard had come and gone, but her wait continued. 

In the earlier days when they moved in, a few of the neighbours had brimmed with curiosity, greeting them with enthusiasm and questions that Lady Min deftly dodged. Soon, concern replaced curiosity as Lady Min's unmarried ( gasp! ) status came to light, which then soured into consternation when impoverished children started coming for Hangul lessons. 

Consequently, 'Master Min' had to mollify them by spinning a narrative about how his 'sister' had 'a peculiar condition' that precluded her from marriage, so she found solace and joy in teaching children. 

The neighbours, impressed by the obviously wealthy young scholar, had gushed about how 'identical' brother and sister looked. "Are you, by any chance, twins?" 

"My sister is younger by two years," Jay Yi had lied with a straight face, Ga-ram recalled with a giggle.

However, no matter how handsome or wealthy they thought 'Master Min' was, the neighbours were not that easily dissuaded. Teaching underprivileged children to read threatened the very foundation of the strict Confucian social order, did it not? They asked. It could potentially arouse the ire of the King if the word were to reach his ears, they cautioned as any good neighbour should. The underlying threat had been unmistakable. 'Master Min's' only reply had been a serene smile. 

Master Kim Myung Jin helped carry their neighbours' cautionary advice with the aid of his Father, the esteemed State Chief Minister Kim An Jik, to the Crown Prince, who was then at the helm of affairs for Joseon. 

Soon after, Crown Prince granted the young Min family the coveted ' Heesa ' {a grant from the King for a school} . All the nosy neighbours received a letter of gratitude from the Crown Prince for their neighbourly understanding and cooperation in such a noble endeavour that advanced Sejong the Great's initiatives, complete with his royal seal, an honour practically unheard of. Evidently, the Min family's formidable connections had secured such remarkable attention from His Majesty himself in such a spectacular fashion. The message was clear: this new young family of 'siblings' were not to be messed with. 

"Take this with you. I will come and join you later." Jay handed the scroll to Ga-ram.

Min Jay Yi had wanted to follow the King's Procession on foot, which lasted three days leading to the shrines. Ga-ram and Myung Jin had dissuaded her with incredible difficulty. So far, Min Jay Yi had kept her sojourns as 'Master Min' limited to the visit to Manyeodong and the Inn. Getting caught without proper papers in the King's coronation Procession might put her in jeopardy again and even put Hwan in an awkward position. However, Ga- ram knew her Aashi would try to see the returning Procession, which was scheduled to return to the Palace by afternoon if she could. 

Ga-ram tucked the scroll, setting out for Manyeodang. 

Initially, Ga-ram had viewed Jay Yi's unwavering devotion to the Crown Prince as a mark of loyalty to their sovereign, not unlike what she felt for Jay Yi, although she had noticed Jay Yi's sunny personality would take on an exuberance that was evident only in the presence of the Crown Prince.

Only, Ga-ram had been foolish and slow to understand the real reason behind it. 

Her thoughts drifted back to the magical night they had spent atop the hill in Gaeseong.

Ga-ram had rushed to the hilltop that night once she learned her Lady Min Jay Yi was not returning to the camp. The Left Minister had arranged for her transport, and a limping Myung Jin, sporting a massive bump on his forehead, had followed her, whining all the way.

The guards brought braziers and small tables, setting food and jugs on them. Ga Ram had run to embrace Jay Yi.

" Aashi , why did you not return? I was so worried." Belatedly she realised Hwan was standing right next to her. She bowed, "Your Highness, are you all right?"

Hwan nodded affectionately. 

"You need to wait for injured people!" Kim Myung Jin complained loudly to anyone who could hear.

"Young Master! Why did you come? Are you all right?" Jay Yi exclaimed. Hwan quickly moved to give his friend support. 

"Thank you, Your Highness," Myung Jin panted as he sat on a small boulder by the fire, stretching his leg in front of him.

"How do you feel now?" Hwan asked.

"I have been better, Your Highness."

"You should be resting," Hwan said reproachfully.

Myung Jin waived his concern away. "Looks like Mother trained me well to walk around injured," he grinned. "I could hardly let Jung Ga Ram come here all by herself, and she would not stay put, thinking of all sorts of awful things that might have happened to you two! And look at you, having the time of your life in the moonlight while we died worrying! Arrghh!!" Myung Jin groused, forgetting he was speaking to the Crown Prince. 

"You always complain! You need not have come!" Ga-ram said in her most annoyed voice, though deep inside, she was thrilled Master Myung Jin came after her. 

She should not think such thoughts for her Master! Ga ram had smacked herself in the head.

Oblivious to Hwan's dismay, Ga Ram planted herself next to Jay Yi as the guards left. "No one told me anything about your whereabouts. I had to beg to get an audience from Left Minister to find out what happened." Ga-ram was hurt. 

Jay Yi looked at her with contrition. "Things happened too quickly. I should have thought about this and sent you word. Forgive me," her Aashi squeezed her hand affectionately.

Hwan and Myung Jin had watched the women as they held each other's hands, their bond transcending any class barriers that Joseon had put between them. 

Realisation dawned on Ga-ram why her Mistress had come here so late at night. "Did you bring Your Highness here to show him the sunrise?" she clasped her hands excitedly. 

Hwan gaped at her. "You know about this place too?'

"Yes! We came here to celebrate whenever Aashi solved a case," Ga-ram replied happily.

Dumbfounded, Hwan gawked at ' Aashi' . "At night?" 

"Sunrise can only follow a night, Your Highness!" Jay Yi teased him, thoroughly enjoying his indignation. "Moreover, we could hardly come here during day time to drink!" Jay Yi's mouth curved in a wry smile. 

Hwan blinked in disbelief. 

Myung Jin guffawed. "Your shenanigans leave most men to shame! I like it!' 

"If you were here in the morning watching the sunrise, did no one ever catch you when you went home in your men's clothes?" Hwan asked, chewing on the logistics of such remarkably unladylike escapades. 

"We changed," Jay Yi informed.

Hwan looked around the open space and raised his eyebrow at her, the question hanging in the air, unspoken.

"No one in Gaeseong ever comes here," Jay Yi's voice took on a very patient tone. "A small hut reportedly haunted by a Jurchen refugee is located at the bottom of this hill on the other side," Jay Yi supplied helpfully. 

" Haunted ?" The Crown Prince looked like he had swallowed a whole apple and was about to choke on it. He shook his head in incredulity. "I am glad I did not know you back then, Min Jay Yi; just thinking about it is reducing my years in this life." 

However, it was clear the Crown Prince only pretended to be upset. A slight, indulgent smile of wonder played on his lips as he looked at Jay Yi. Ga-ram had been trying to figure out how to treat the Crown Prince. She was intimidated by his presence but, at the same time, missed their friend, the awkward 'Scholar Park'.

"Jung Ga ram, when four of us are in a private space like this, I would like you to consider me as Scholar Park," the astute Crown Prince had read her discomfort and dilemma. 

The opulent food spread from the Royal kitchen had sent Ga-ram into a tizzy, as she gushed her gratitude for at least an hour after they finished the meal, much to Hwan and Jay Yi's amusement. The Crown Prince had generously poured wine for each of them, moving to refill Jay Yi's cup as soon as she emptied it, earning him a lot of happy giggles from her. Their eyes had misted when Lady Min Jay Yi produced a set of quills belonging to her Father to gift to the Crown Prince.

The mood had turned sombre as Ga-ram, satiated by the scrumptious royal meal, exulted company, a bit tipsy from all the delicious wine, and her innately curious nature had wondered aloud, a little foolishly, why on earth they had sent the secret letter to Governor Min.

"Jay Yi, did Shim Young know you were the detective instead of your brother?" The Crown Prince asked.

"He might have suspected Your Highness, but we never discussed it. The only people who knew were my Father and brother." Jay Yi replied. 

"Even if he knew, it is possible the topic never came up with the monk." Myung Jin's tone was contemplative. "They must have believed it was your brother. Did your brother usually come late from work Lady Min?"

"Often, but he would have an audience with Father after breakfast every day. However, I had already read and burned the letter a day earlier." Jay Yi said.

"Does that mean the soldiers searching the house were supposed to discover the letter after - after the poisoning?" Ga-ram was starting to see the picture.

Hwan nodded. "They had planned it so Master Yoon Jae would not survive to see the letter, so my Master would still have it on him --" Hwan paused, swallowing. " Once the soldiers found it, the news about the Ghost letter being true would have spread like wildfire; people would have blamed me for the deaths, while I would have twisted inside trying to figure out how it reached there when I had burned every single one of them."

"Man-Deok told me someone had found one of the letters you might have missed burning and sent it." Man Deok, much to his shame and remorse, had learned all the dirty games Queen played when he had gone with Bok Soon to bury the monk, along with Won-Bo's hand in murdering Crown Prince Ui-Hyeon. "You were the only one who knew you had written and not sent the letter. It was to break you further and make you believe it was the work of a ghost." Myung Jin finished.

The Crown Prince had looked away. "They almost succeeded in making me believe it." 

Jay Yi swiftly moved closer to the Crown Prince and placed her hand on his. Hwan looked at her, "If you had not come..." Hwan's voice caught in his throat.

"But I did, Your Highness." Jay Yi said quietly, tenderly.

Myung Jin stood up and tested his legs to see if they were still serviceable. He stretched and limped closer to the fire.

"Your Highness, one more thing caught my attention," Myung Jin said pensively. 

The three pairs of eyes turned to him.

"Man Deok mentioned that the opium petals only worked on a pre-existing belief in the mind." Myung Jin's voice was grave.

"What do you mean?" Hwan asked, the clogs of his mind churning, his gaze fixed on Myung Jin's face.

"Before I answer that, Your Highness, please permit me to ask Lady Min something."

Hwan nodded.

"Lady Min, when did Shim Young give you the bracelet?" Myung Jin asked.

"About seven or eight days before the incident," Jay replied, puzzled.

"Your Highness, Lady Min, did you notice," Myung Jin said, "the monk only played around with the ideas already carried in some shape or form by the Shaman and the Grand Prince?" It was a statement rather than a question. "We already know that the opium petals had the properties to mess up memories without hypnosis. Hypnosis was used to plant extreme ideas, like making Grand Prince forget about poisoning his brother or making the Shaman believe she was possessed by the soul of Song. However, with enough exposure to the petals, the memories could be manipulated without hypnosis, twisted to make the person believe in a new reality," Myung Jin extended his hands to the fire to warm them.

The Crown Prince stared at him briefly, his eyes widening as if a puzzle had fallen into place. "Shim Young's hair was not white when he poisoned Jay Yi's family, but it turned white when he killed himself," Hwan reflected softly.

Lady Jay Yi had a horrified expression on her face, "No! It cannot be true."

Perplexed and worried, Ga ram had run to Jay Yi. "What is it? What do you all mean?"

Jay Yi had looked at Ga-ram's hands enclosing her cold ones as she vehemently shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "That kid was my brother. It cannot be." She jumped up and ran to the other side of the fire. Hwan went after her. Myung Jin motioned for Ga- ram to stay back.

"Jay Yi, remember you told me how that hypothesis was important when solving a case?" Hwan had implored gently but firmly.

"He considered me his sister, Your Highness," Jay Yi's brimming tears spilt over. 

"Is it too hard to believe that he saw you as a woman he loved and was resentful of not having a chance at a life with you?" Hwan contemplated Jay Yi in the tense silence that followed. 

Ga ram had been shocked into spluttering. "You mean that - that bastard was in love with Aashi, and the monk manipulated those thoughts to believe she loved him too and made him poison Aashi's family?"

Myung Jin shook his head. "Not quite. Lady Min was Shim Young's original and perhaps his only target. Shim Young must have already been angry at Lady Min's marriage. It was clear she did not love him. Moreover, the class difference made it impossible for them to have a life together. After fanning Shim Young's hatred for Lady Min, the monk must have made him believe she would be the primary target of his vengeance."

"Which means," Hwan continued Myung Jin's thought, "Shim Young never realised Jay Yi was only a means to get to my Master. The monk or the Head shaman must have provided him with the bracelets and manipulated him through the petals to kill them after ensuring the letter had reached." 

"Then how do you explain the letter of confession he wrote right after the murder? He believed I was in love with him even before I escaped," Jay Yi had countered angrily.

"Lady Min, the monk continuously poisoned his brain through those petals. Shim Young was already brainwashed to believe he had been wronged by you. People do not want to think they are capable of such crimes if they did not intend to commit them in the first place. Though his memories taking on a new reality was not his fault, poisoning you was his conscious choice. In his mind, your family was just a casualty. Blaming you was the most obvious chance at escape for him. The monk later solidified it through hypnosis to make him write his last will to implicate you and then kill Shim Young through suicide, just like he did with the Shaman."

Unable to take it any more, Jay Yi walked away from them, followed by Crown Prince. 

Ga ram stayed with Myung Jin, unhappily watching them from a distance.

Then, at some point, she had fallen asleep, exhausted.

She had woken up to a bewildering sight: The Crown Prince and Lady Min Jay Yi were stationed on a flat stone by a boulder the Crown Prince reclined against. Half lying, half seated, her Aashi was wrapped in a blanket, enveloped in an embrace by the Crown Prince, her head resting in the hollow of his shoulder, sound asleep. 

Aghast, Ga-ram had stumbled in her haste to go to Lady Jay Yi when she got jerked backwards by her hanbok.

"What are you doing?" Myung Jin had whispered agitatedly.

Ga ram wrung her hands, "Don't you see? Aashi is sleeping so inappropriately that I can't let her! What must His Highness think of her! She could be punished for this!" Ga ram whispered back tearfully.

"Do you think His Highness minds?" Myung Jin had whispered back chiddingly. "Look at them again."

Ga ra had looked. She gasped as she realised that the Crown Prince was sleeping with his face resting on Jay Yi's head. The soft full moonlight washed over them, creating a dark silhouette against the rocky surface, their faces a canvas of shadows and light, illuminated by the fire.

Her shocked eyes widened as she looked back at Myung Jin.

As if aware of their conversation, Hwan gathered Jay Yi closer, possessively, his other hand encircling her to make her more comfortable. Jay Yi, whose petite form was almost invisible under the large, bunched-up blanket, expelled a deep breath, snuggling in deeper into the Crown Prince's tall frame, his long legs stretched out, crossed at ankles. 

"He is why she has decided never to marry and live alone, my dear student!" Myung Jin had whispered.