Desert • Flower | TaeJin || BOOK 3#

XIX. The rose under the ground

"According to the papers he is a Haengsu, so I don't understand the interpretation you give him." admits Taehyung and the captain gives a jocular smile.

"He was the whore of the emperor and also the council for years. He had a dream life and ran away for no apparent reason one day stealing jewelry, clothes and a horse" explains the man and Taehyung clenches his hands. He doesn't think Jin enjoyed that kind of life. It's very strange. Besides Sleeping with the emperor and the council of state? "Kisaengs are nothing but pretty pets who must obey their master and he failed his."

"I see. How pitiful. He sure was someone beautiful."

"He is, too much so. He has pink hair and full lips. According to rumor, he's the only pink flowering dragon there is in all of Korea. Not to mention, he's one of the few left. The others, sadly, have fallen in battle."

Taehyung orders Seok to sink all the flowers in the garden and make it look like there is nothing. The man sees it as something strange So much empty territory?

"Unfortunately, because of the attacks by them Japanese we have not been able to start a planting here. The soil is fertile, but just with the hustle and bustle, no one could have taken over. Pitiful, isn't it?" the captain nods thoughtfully.

"As I was saying... this is a disobedient and ungrateful kisaeng. Fortunately the emperor's other kisaeng is not the same."

"He had more?"

"Yes. He has one more. A girl named Jimin. Blue-haired and no one is allowed to touch him" Taehyung furrows his eyebrows. If it's the same role and it's the same person Jin mentioned does the emperor have sex with an infant? "Do you have companions here? It was my understanding that you live alone not counting your workers."

"Oh, yes, I have a kisaeng. It just so happens that she was in the village. Sometimes they like to hang around." he excuses, hiding his nervousness. "She should be back by now. I don't think it will be much longer."

"Ummm...."

. . .

Jin is surprised that there is a subway version of the house, practically. He walks over to settle in a spot near the middle. Even if they find the entrance, it's highly unlikely they'll make it to where he is. He turns off the light as he hears footsteps above.

"What did he lie to the emperor about?"

"He was unfaithful to him" Jin purses her lips Are they talking about him? "He was sentenced to serve in the imperial army for it. Not to say he caused many terrible things."

"Like what?"

"He was the royal concubine and even with that he dared to miscarry."

Eunji rubs his head against Jin's cheek. The kisaeng breathes through his mouth, in total, sepulchral silence. Listening to the footsteps and conversation where Taehyung asks and the military man replies.

"He aborted? A man? I thought that couldn't happen."

"He has a flowering dragon. He is as fertile as a good woman. However, he defaulted on it. It's only natural that he deserves punishment. Not to mention he stole and cheated."

"It could have happened naturally."

"It didn't. It was on more than one occasion and because of that, he was known to be unfaithful Why else would he do such a thing if not to hide that he would not be a jade dragon as a result?"

"Yes he was... the last one was..."

Jin covers his face with his hands, sniffling and creating sad purple hyacinths manifesting that suffering not properly exposed; not realized. Just repressed causing more pain inside him.