Chapter three:The crown prince grandfather (Edited)
AT KIM CHANG-MOO'S RESIDENCE
"Uncle, are you even listening to what I'm saying? Let me repeat for better understanding... Yoona my dearest sister wants to return to the palace today with an appropriate title... Emphasis is on today", he stretched out the word to retain the importance of his visit.
Kim chang-moo is the younger brother of Kim chang-min ,Kim Yoona's father and the estranged eldest son of the Kim clan.
He listened with rapt attention or so Jae hyuk thought but remained motionless like one deprived with the basic skill of understanding.
He huffed at the idea of her return despite her tragic deportation from the palace. He had been happy when she became a female physician as female physician is still a courtmaid.
In their era, courtmaids are unallowed to marry and deemed the emperor's women. The beautiful ones are one step lucky as they might be noticed by the emperor or even the dowager who might send a courtmaid to her son's bedchamber.
He had full confidence in her beauty and supported her discreetly, yet she not only fell in loggerheads with the dowager empress but also got herself dismissed disgracefully.
There are two factions of politics in the palace; the West faction and the south faction. The West faction was seen as the majority and self-acclaimed pillars of the nation.
With them holding the rein of power, the south faction became suppressed for far too long to the extent to point where empresses and concubines came from their party alone.
For the record, one the last two former emperor had an empress from the south faction because the lady was a childhood sweetheart and savior. The west faction couldn't do anything against thing.
With the empress was from the south side, they used the opportunity to make their daughters consorts and concubines.
He looked pitifully at his nephew, the poor boy thinks sending his sister with a title is child's play because of the emperor's favour. Everything depends on the emperor, unfortunately, he's unconscious at the moment.
The palace is a picturesque description of roses with thorns. The strongest motto is survival of the fittest. For you to survive talk more of bloom, you will have to bet your life and your loved ones life.
Uncle Kim knows this fully well which explains his reluctance to make a fire that can burn them. Letting the fate of his clan rest on the shoulders of a young girl is not exactly how he plans to live out his life.
Prudence is the uppermost in his mind and he dares not falter unless there is a huge compensation on the table.
Jae-hyuk spent almost one hour convincing his uncle to make an arrangement yet he remained adamant with the claim of washing his hands off their case due to his sister's mess.
The demon in him pushed him to blackmail him with his past deeds as he flashed a wicked grin at him.
Yoona who had been waiting for his brother's return panicked on his delay. Hurriedly, she boarded her palanquin as she made a quick visit to take matters into her own hands, only to eavesdrop on their conversation. Feeling the strange silence, her instincts kicked in to stop her brother before he blurts out something he might regret later.
"Uncle!", she called out from the door, "May I come in?". She heard a grunt and took it as an approval.
Entering the room, she signaled her brother to leave but he refused to get the sign.
" Older brother, please allow me to talk with uncle for a while". She spoke out to her stubborn bull of a brother.
Disappointment was what he felt as he tried protesting but her reassuring gaze settled him in , evaporating whatever resentment he felt for his greedy uncle. His sister is one woman who can get anything she sets her heart on .
He left immediately.
Without much delay, she threw out her bone to the dog.
"I shall make you the crown prince's grandfather if you play your part well"
"Heck! you got me... I shall send a message to the palace right now, but I have a final question to clear my doubts", he clapped his hand shut as he stood up to face her directly.
Yoona nodded indicating that he should proceed.
"How are you sure if you have a son he would be made the crown prince?".
"Because , l am the only allowed to bear the emperor's son", she replied confidently as she watched him indolently.
"Why do you think so?", he queried not fully convinced.
"I just know so". She replied again not trying to watch his overly expressed face. Jae-hyuk nearly choked on the air as he eavesdropped on their conversation. His sister is being savage, unfortunately greed won't allow the man see through her.
"Nicely done", he praised her silently.
Uncle Kim felt she was bluffing but decided to watch from the sidelines.
"Don't worry Uncle, the emperor begged me to bear his son as an atonement for the sin he committed against me years back". She feels he needs more information to act now. She has to return that day.
Fully convinced now, he wrote the letter in her presence and called someone to send it to the palace.
With the finalisation of everything, she left with her brother to plan their next course of action. Her only wish is to wake the emperor from his slumber but the dowager won't let her near him.
"It will be a long journey". Jae-hyuk suddenly said. Silently, she agreed because battles shall be fought and the way to realizing her dreams is way too long.