The Pheonix and The Dragon

3.The Riddle of the Empress Dowager

When the carriage came through the palace gates, a guard came forward for an inspection. But Lisa did not get off the carriage and rode all the way in.

The wheels rumbled as they rolled along the stone slabs. Lisa lifted a corner of the window covering and only saw the guards beside the carriage and the tall red walls.

Putting down the curtain, she touched her arm and tried to make her expression seem more at ease.

The Yi Dynasty's imperial palace was not small. On the way, even through the curtains, Lisa could hear the footsteps of the imperial guards passing by and the clanging of their weapons and armour colliding.

This atmosphere caused her to sense the rigidity of the imperial palace and have a deeper understanding of power.

The carriage moved through the palace for about half an hour. She seemed to hear the sound of clapping ahead and the carriage stopped.

The two matrons who were welcoming Lisa into the palace had not expected they would encounter the imperial procession. They should move aside, but there was only a long alley here without any place to move. They could only stop at the side to show their respect to the emperor.

While the emperor did not hold real power, no matter what, the other was the emperor. Even though they were matrons close to the empress dowager, in front of the emperor, they were just palace attendants.

The matron standing close to the carriage walked to the carriage window and whispered, "Miss Kim, the imperial procession is coming."

Lisa heard this and knew that the matron was reminding her to welcome the procession. So she lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage holding the matron's hand.

"Seungri, what is happening ahead?" Jungkook detected the imperial procession slowing down. He coughed lowly and then reached out to brush aside the curtain obscuring his view. He saw a young girl, dressed in a watery indigo dress with a crescent cape, slowly descend from a county mistress regulation carriage. Because of the distance and the other's bowed head, he only saw the other's black hair.

As his carriage came close, he couldn't help but take another look at this young girl. The black hair hanging by her cheek contrasted against the whiteness of her skin. Even the plain silver hairpins in her hair appeared exceptionally pretty.

Seeing this young girl's daintiness, Jungkook suppressed the itchiness in his throat. He covered his mouth with a handkerchief and pushed down the urge to cough.

He felt if he coughed out loud, he might give the young girl a fright.

As the imperial procession passed the carriage, he couldn't help but look at the young girl standing with a bowed head. The cold wind blew up the corners of her robe and her cape. He couldn't help but say, "The early spring is cold. Miss, you do not have to be so polite. Go back into the carriage."

After he said this, he saw the young girl move slightly. He saw her white and small chin, her moist lips and her lightly pink cheeks.

She looked like a healthy girl. This was good.

A small smile appeared on Jungkook's face. He slowly put down the curtain.

Hearing the sound of the imperial procession leaving, Lisa lifted her head and looked in that direction.

The matrons helped her back into the carriage. As the curtain was let down, she finally had the time to think what kind of person the new emperor was. A child not yet thirteen understood to be concerned for others. She just didn't know if this was true compassion or a performance for other people.