Chapter 49
Although Lily fainted, unable to contain her fluttering heart, the wedding itself had concluded safely.
Just before returning to her regular duties, Dongbaek headed to the imperial palace. Prince Bian had personally summoned her.
It worked out well since she needed to visit the palace anyway to express gratitude to the Emperor. Even though the Prince had called, the Emperor took priority. Dongbaek headed straight to the Emperor without delay.
The Emperor caressed Dongbaek’s face, remarking that she looked radiant since getting married. Dongbaek responded with a gentle smile, saying it was all thanks to the Emperor’s grace. Zhang Rang watched the friendly interaction between the Emperor and Dongbaek with a meaningful smile.
Having spent enough time there, Dongbaek rose from her seat, making an excuse about needing to meet the Prince.
“Come to think of it, it has been quite a while since you’ve seen Bian. He must be waiting. Go on ahead.”
The Emperor sent Dongbaek off with a beaming smile. Observing the Emperor’s demeanor, Zhang Rang carefully broached the subject.
“You seem pleased, Your Majesty.”
“Ah yes, somehow meeting Dongbaek always lifts my spirits. Such a lovely child. Zhang Rang, how did you come to adopt such a child?”
“…It just happened this way. I can only describe it as a blessing from heaven.”
Zhang Rang considered telling the truth but opted to be vague instead. It was a strategy that worked well with the Emperor. The Emperor laughed heartily, slapping his thigh.
“Indeed. A blessing from heaven… A blessing bestowed upon you, Zhang Rang, and upon me.”
Satisfaction spread across the Emperor’s benevolent face. He praised Dongbaek as a national treasure.
Zhang Rang couldn’t understand why the Emperor was so fond of Dongbaek. To attribute it merely to the Emperor’s taste for Dongbaek’s fair looks seemed insufficient—his affection exceeded normal bounds.
The reason for the Emperor’s fondness was actually quite simple, almost laughably so to Zhang Rang’s incomprehension. Every action, every word from Dongbaek perfectly aligned with the Emperor’s preferences. Dongbaek had calculated it all.
Obedient, clever, and extraordinarily capable.
What Dongbaek had learned from her adoptive father was the art of flattery and manipulation as smooth as a tongue in one’s mouth. She was more skilled than the young eunuchs, and possessed beauty and youth that the older eunuchs lacked.
Her apparent absolute loyalty—as if she would fetch the moon or die at the Emperor’s command—moved his heart. Meanwhile, her unwavering composure, accompanied by gentle smiles, made the Emperor anxious, and her occasional coy charm ignited his interest.
Dongbaek had carefully crafted this image to capture the Emperor’s heart.
In truth, she hadn’t initially planned to go this far. When she first met the Emperor, she had only thought to make herself agreeable to him.
But as time passed, the method to properly enchant the Emperor became clear as day, like having a strategy guide before her eyes. When she knew exactly how to achieve the good ending, there was no need to risk her life by making contrary choices.
Thanks to that, wasn’t she living a peaceful palace life? Dongbaek headed to the Prince’s palace with light steps.
As the Emperor said, considerable time had passed since she’d last met Prince Bian. He must have grown quite a bit, being a child in his growth years.
‘I wish I could grow faster too. The stronger I get, the better.’
The memory of being easily subdued by Xiahou Dun years ago still haunted her occasionally. But knowing that anxiety wouldn’t make her grow like a bamboo shoot, Dongbaek tried to set aside her impatience, though it wasn’t easy.
‘I should eat well. People grow according to how much they eat.’
Lost in such thoughts, she found herself at the Prince’s palace. Dongbaek nodded familiarly to the court ladies who recognized her as she walked with practiced steps.
“Your Highness, Commander So Dongbaek is here.”
“Let him enter.”
Dongbaek smiled at the Prince’s clear, childlike voice. She formally presented herself with proper court etiquette.
However, there was no response permitting her to rise even after a long while. Though puzzled, she couldn’t simply raise her head without permission. Dongbaek quickly realized the Prince was being stubborn with her.
Dongbaek remained in that position, back bent, standing firmly without wavering.
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An hour passed without permission to rise. By this point, it was becoming a battle of wills. Whether for Prince Bian or Dongbaek.
Whatever had upset him, she might as well play along until his mood passed. A smile crept across Dongbaek’s lowered face.
Two hours passed.
Her back was stiff and painful with protest. But it was still bearable. Though her patience was wearing thin, she still had plenty in reserve.
But what about Prince Bian, who had just turned five? For a young child, this was well past the limit of patience. The Prince, who had been pretending to read and drink tea, finally had no choice but to surrender first.
“Why are you so stubborn? You’re making me angry!”
Slamming shut the book he had been half-heartedly skimming, the prince banged his tiny, immature hands on the table, his frustration plain for all to see.
Dongbaek couldn’t help but smile at the sight. The tantrum was oddly endearing, and she fully understood his frustration. There was no way she could be upset with him.
“Enough, enough! You can lift your head now. I give up!”
Only then did Dongbaek raise her head. Her relaxed face, showing no signs of fatigue, appeared triumphant to the point of irritating the Prince. Though Dongbaek hadn’t intended it, if that’s how it appeared to the young Prince’s eyes, then that’s what it was.
Unable to easily calm his anger, the Prince continued to shout at Dongbaek.
“Are you happy that you won against me? You fawn over Father like that, and now you’re acting so arrogant with me?”
The childish tantrum, expressed in the lofty speech of royalty, was comical in its own way.
But Bian was serious. Sweat had formed on the child’s smooth forehead, where his hair was neatly swept back. His face flushed red as he shrieked until his voice cracked.
“Did you leave me just to become that mere Commander? If you had stayed, wouldn’t I have made you Grand General or one of the Three Excellencies!”
Dongbaek’s lips twitched at the continuing tantrum. The Prince’s pouting was childish, but it was also age-appropriate.
Finally, Dongbaek couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Seeing Dongbaek laugh out loud made Prince Bian blush even more in confusion.
“Wh-what’s so funny! Am I funny? Why are you laughing!”
Once laughter escaped her throat, it wasn’t easy to suppress. It took Dongbaek quite a while to calm down.
“I laughed because Your Highness is so cute. What am I to do when you’re this adorable?”
“I’m not cute! Don’t call me cute!”
“Is that so?”
Dongbaek asked teasingly, still wearing a smile. Though the Prince was certainly young enough to be doted on, his whole body screamed rejection at being treated like a child, which was both endearing and pitiful.
Prince Bian opened and closed his mouth. Whether his words were caught in his throat or he needed time to compose himself after getting excited wasn’t clear, but his closed mouth wouldn’t easily open. His small, soft white hands clutched at his clothes.
Dongbaek waited patiently. She knew well that patience was the most important thing when dealing with people, especially children.
After long consideration, the Prince seemed to have organized his thoughts and opened his mouth. But just then, an interruption arrived.
“Empress Dowager Dong and Prince Xie have arrived.”
Despite not having the Prince’s permission, the visitors strode into the room.
Dongbaek quickly bowed. She had barely straightened her back before having to bow again. In a world where rank was everything, she knew well the lot of a subject and had no time for complaints.
Empress Dowager Dong. As the current Emperor Ling’s mother, she shared control of the inner palace with Empress He. After Prince Xie’s mother, Consort Wang, was poisoned to death by Empress He’s schemes, she took care of Prince Xie and kept Empress He in check. Along with Prince Xie, she was Empress He’s biggest thorn in her side.
“Grandmother brought Xie to see you, Bian, since brothers don’t get to meet often. But I could hear the Prince’s shouting from far away. I was quite shocked—it’s rare for such a quiet and well-behaved Prince to raise his voice.”
“I-it was nothing, Grandmother…”
Where had his earlier spirit gone? Prince Bian stammered out his excuse in a shrinking voice.
“Is that so?”
Empress Dowager Dong’s brief response was cold. It was clear she didn’t favor Bian at all. Of course, there were reasons for that.
His mother was too strong-willed. If Empress He had tempered even half of her fierce nature, Bian wouldn’t be so intimidated by others. Dongbaek felt sorry for Prince Bian, who was so cowed by his grandmother’s frigid response.
Prince Xie, whom Empress Dowager Dong held, was still an infant who hadn’t even reached his first birthday. Dongbaek inwardly clicked her tongue at the notion of arranging meetings between brothers when one was too young to even comprehend such things.
Moreover, Empress Dowager Dong wasn’t one to visit Bian frequently. Despite Dongbaek serving Prince Bian for almost a year, this was her first time encountering the Empress Dowager.
But Dongbaek had no time for such thoughts, as Empress Dowager Dong’s attention turned to her.
“And who are you to disturb the prince’s peace? A mere child, daring to meet the prince alone. How does Empress He manage this palace?”
It felt less like she was actually questioning Dongbaek and more like she was taking the opportunity to criticize Empress He.
‘Ah, the spite of the elderly.’
Momentarily forgetting that her own father was the king of such attitudes, Dongbaek privately disparaged the Empress Dowager.
Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Dong launched into what amounted to a full speech, delivering her scolding with majestic bearing. How long would this go on? Dongbaek forced down her discomfort and maintained an awkward smile.
Only after a period as long as twice the time Prince Bian had kept Dongbaek bowing did the Empress Dowager seem satisfied. She left with an air of satisfaction.
Bian, who was already typically timid, sat there even more depressed after the Empress Dowager’s surprise visit.
When Dongbaek first met him, Prince Bian barely left his own palace. He would tremble in fear of meeting others even on his way to the library. Though she thought the socially anxious, people-avoiding Prince had improved considerably over the past year, people don’t change so easily.
Dongbaek silently approached the Prince and patted his shoulder. At her warm, ticklish touch, Bian’s eyes welled up with tears.
“I—I feel like I could endure anything Grandmother says as long as you’re here with me, Dongbaek. Will you stay by my side until I ascend the throne? Once I ascend to the throne, I’ll grant you everything. Please, just stay with me until then.”
The prince’s pleading voice sounded desperate. The Empress Dowager’s appearance must have really squeezed his heart, as his earlier anger had completely vanished.
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Thank you for reading! ♡
