Chapter sixty-three: Mission half accomplished

The half-dead half-conscious guerrilla warrior laid still on the sandy beach isolated . The fishermen rose up early to check up on their fish trap and nets. Walking towards the shallow part of the sea, they remained engrossed in their banter and discussion till a surprised scream by the sullen one who refused to join in their conversation brought something to their notice.

A man laid dead by the seaside or so they thought. Threading carefully, they surrounded the corpse to ascertain the cause of death but was shocked to find a very faint pulse , barely noticeable if not for deep palpation.

Carefully but ignorantly, one of the men strapped him to his back and made a run towards the house . They laid him down safely on the wooden table used for evening gatherings and sometimes meal while one of them went to fetch the only doctor there.

The doctor responded fast due to the urgency of the message and took the man's pulse to confirm that he's not really a cadaver. Pulling his ripped top off ,he gasped at the large gash at the man's stomach oozing with pus and little blood. He became puzzled as why the man still lives with such a condition. Considering the big rain yesterday, the sea should be extremely freezing . With such a large wound, he should have died of loss of blood or even shock. Why is he still alive? he queried himself.

It can't be, right? He has heard about it but has never experienced it. He's talking about those whose will defied the order of angel of death. During his years as apprentice, his master mentioned an incident of a man that lost his limbs to a ferocious beast and even lost lots of blood before being found but still lived, defying all medical explanation and leaving the masters puzzled. He brought out his tools and started treating the man whose will to live overcame the threshold of death and kept him alive. He must have been grieved by something considering his clenched hands that refused to open no matter how many times he tried to pry it open. Looking at the nature of the wound, he wasn't shipwrecked by the storm ,he must have been involved in a fight before he floated adrift with the hope of drowning by the perpetrators. What really happened to this man?

Those that came out due to the commotion were dumbstruck to find the gory state of this strange.

Yoona's father saw it and couldn't hold back himself, the stench from the wounds due to festering made him puke causing his wife to be a little bit appalled.

"My lord, this should be nothing... We have seen worst". She reprimanded.

He ignored her and went inside the house making her a little bit sad. Turning to her daughter who watched on without disgust or contempt , she shooed her away to start her daily chores which brought deaf ears. Sighing, she went into her room murmuring bitterly that her husband and daughter has chosen to ignore her that morning.

"Aigoo! like father like daughter". she lamented.

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The prime minister leisurely strode into the empress palace. On his way while coming, he couldn't help but notice the beautiful architectural designs of the buildings. He has begun to see himself as the father of the future empress, whatsoever that may come, the endpoint is that his daughter will soon be living in the palace making him a regular visitor.

The lotus flower pavilion where crown princesses lives looked so magnificently beautiful giving him good vibes as something his daughter deserves and will get soon.Due to the announcement of the consort selection in just a month's time, workers has immediately been assigned to repair, repaint, decorate and furnish the building. It's been very long since a crown princess resided there pending that the current empress is the last crown princess.

He took a detour and arrived inside the palace startling the workers a bit. The palace maids that recognized him quickly bowed and greeted him with deep respect. Only the blind and deaf are unaware that the next most likely crown princess is his daughter. They know that he's a high-ranking official and rumor has it that the lady is the fairest of the land with embodiment of virtues. A true paragon of beauty. Who else will spread such rumor if not the one that stands to benefit the most.

The prime minister saw that the palace maid has already accepted him as the father of the master of the lotus palace and gloated. One of them goaded him into making some rearrangement sneakingly according to the preference of the lady.

"My lord what color of paint should be used?"

"My lord, what is the best painting that should adorn this wall?"

"My lord , what flower should adorn this vase?"

"My lord, where should this furniture be placed?"

The ladies kept on asking questions and jotting it down, everything was written down right to the tiniest detail. Palace maids are cunning, they know the best way to survive and who to serve to survive . They are hoping that when the lady finally wins her debut and graces the palace as it's master, she will find out that everything has been done according to her taste and preferences then reward them with serving her as her ladies-in-waiting. It's quite obvious that she's the next empress, court maids advances with their mistress. The more ranked the lady is, the more ranked the servants will be ,so they are more than willing to even be her dog.

Satisfied with the arrangement and future support of his daughter, he promised the ladies to put in good words on their behalf which got endless pronouncement of unwavering support. With one last look, he left for his main mission.

Several display of rare merchandise graced the eyes of the empress, rare beauty concoction made with the most expensive herbs, the purest white Jade from mount Chung, the hair ornament made exquisitely and exclusively for her and so many other gifts . Her smiles grew wider bringing satisfaction to the prime minister's face. No one knows that the empress loves gifts alot, maybe it's because nobody gives her anything because of her affluence but each time he presents something to her, there is a kind of joy her face elicits making you want to give her more. Her happiness is priceless.

"Your Majesty, Seo-yun picked everything herself when she heard it's for you, her only regret is that she can't present it personally". He purposely said that while hinting at something, his daughter is a caring daughter that personally shopped for a woman she has never met but has already accepted as a mother-in-law.

"Wow, seeing this gifts, I can't help but want to bring her to stay with me , forever, by my side. She's a very thoughtful and lovely child". She beamed with happiness and eagerness to see this child that brought beautiful things necessary for her beauty and youth.

"Your Majesty, I'm sure that you and Seo-yun will get along well. She has been raised just to serve at your Majesty side, I'm just afraid that your Majesty's wish might not come through". He sighed in resignation, well he feigned it while secretly observing her reactions.

The empress carefully placed down the last hair crown she picked and faced the man, listening with rapt attention." Why is that? Won't you submit her form during the consort selection?". She asked clearly confused.

He shook his head acting hurt." Your Majesty, did you forget that the child will not be picked because of what this foolish father did?" . He placed his right hand on his chest, squeezing it lightly as if he's trying to placate a throbbing pain in the heart.

"I will head the selection with the other ladies of the palace... well the old hag and her cronies from the previous emperor, if Seo-yun does well, she will be among the first three. And you already know, regardless of who my son picks , the three women are already his women. He picks his main wife while the rest becomes his concubine".

"Your Majesty, that's exactly what I'm saying. That child cannot and should not be a concubine. She has been trained to walk in the way of an empress. Anything less is a taboo. Why don't you head the whole process?". The empress looked shocked before composing herself. There has been a precedence where the mother makes the final selection but that tradition has become obsolete. If she's to revive the tradition, there must be a tangible reason with irrefutable evidence.

"Then show me one reason to head it myself to avoid damaging my son's reputation and obviously avoid playing favoritism towards your daughter". She finally said hoping that she's not making a mistake. She already likes the prime minister's daughter even before meeting her and would like her to be in the palace but knowing her son's character, he will not choose the girl because she's her father's daughter no matter how well she does.

I will, your Majesty. I will bring a reason to make sure he never escapes from me." Your grace is immeasurable, your Majesty. Just take good care of her when she finally becomes your daughter-in-law". He beamed and the empress chuckled with the assurance to treat her best.

Mission half accomplished, he left.