Song of the Black Dragon

FIFTEEN

A Palace Guard escorted Sun-ha and Minyoung to the house without a word, and Sun-ha was never more grateful for the emptiness of the palace grounds than at this moment. Oddly, no one was outside to receive her. She stepped into the Ho residence and was met with the sound of shifting fabric and the Lady Ho's praises of their colors. Sun-ha stepped inside her room, expecting an outburst from her mother, and braced herself, only to find that every inch was covered in boxes of jewelry, dresses, make-up, and accessories.

"Oh, Sun-ha, this is all for you, my daughter!" the Lady Ho cried, moving to hug her. Sun-ha stiffened in the embrace. "When I heard you were at the Royal Treasury and then were sent to the Crown Prince's quarters..." the Lady Ho pulled back, her glittering dark eyes searching Sun-ha's face, "I feared the worst. But it was all for this!" the Lady Ho squeezed Sun-ha's arm. "The Crown Prince has gifted you all of these things in honor of your wedding tomorrow night to join the jingol class. I worried heedlessly; the Heavens do look after me!"

Sun-ha's gaze swept through the room, heart pounding in such a daze with relief that she and Han were exonerated for their trespassing.

Hana opened one of the boxes to display a delicate silver ring set. The Lady Ho quickly sat Sun-ha onto a cushion, pulled out a roll of lavender silk, and marveled at its sheen and craftsmanship. She held it up against her daughter's face.

"Chungôn-Mama may not have given her blessing, but her son has done it for us!"

Sun-ha touched the smooth cloth, and the memory of the Seja-Jeoha looking at her with a small smile on his face. In that short time, he used the wedding not only to hide what I had done but also to give me permission to enter royal status! Silloseon's future would be led by such incredible intelligence.

"Ma-ma-nim, look at this!" Hana pulled another package for Sun-ha—a set of gold earrings inset with green emeralds that seemed to catch every angle of light when moved.

The atmosphere was so dazzling that it tinted Sun-ha's mind. It was the first time since Min-ah's death that Sun-ha felt excited about something.

"A guest has arrived at the sarang-chae," Minyoung announced. The Lady Ho and Hana quickly departed.

"Is it Lord Jung?" Sun-ha asked, closing the last of the boxes that contained her possessions. The rest were all neatly stacked along the walls of the room. A sense of foreboding exuded from them, but it was not wholly bad. This is my future, after all.

Minyoung shook her head. "No, Ma-nim. The Minister of Agriculture is here."

"Ye-na's father?" Sun-ha whispered. She could not think of why the second magistrate of agriculture would be here informally. Is he worried about the death of Magistrate Nam? Or Chungjôn mama's poor health? "Did something happen to make him think he might be next?"

"Next for what?" her attendant asked, eyebrow raised.

Sun-ha blinked out of her stupor, not realizing she had thought out loud. Or that she had forgotten to tell Minyoung that she had nearly been killed yesterday by bandits.

"Minyoung." Sun-ha forced an expression of composure. Of authority.

Her attendant waited patiently for a response. I risked Han's life and barely managed to save us. If I am to achieve my goal of finding out the truth, I cannot tell her without putting her in danger.

"It seems quite a lot is going on at once. But one thing at a time. So please, take my things out so they can be taken away tomorrow." Her servant nodded and did as she was told. Sun-ha watched her leave. I won't let what happened to Min-ah happen to Minyoung.

Too preoccupied with her thoughts, Sun-ha had not realized that Minyoung would not move with her. While ladies-in-waiting indeed followed upwards with their mistresses, it stopped once a woman entered the inner palace—the Queen provided an attendant to every woman there.

Minyoung returned and told Sun-ha there was a guest in the anche. Sun-ha quickly stood and walked to the inner guest room where the Lady Ho, Hana, and a eunuch were already present. This was the first ever time the Ho residence had two guests at once—though the past week had made them an extremely popular choice.

The eunuch held a bright red box in his hands, and Sun-ha knew what it was. My ceremonial gown. As royal tradition, it was the same one Lady Jung had worn when she married into the jingol class, though altered to fit the new bride. Had Lady Jung's daughter Yoona lived long enough to be of age, the girl would have been given a different wedding dress to signify she was born as a jingol.

Sun-ha barely heard the eunuch's introductions and instructions, suddenly focused on Min-ah's absence from this moment. How excited would you be to know I am marrying Jung Yoghwa? Would your mind be numb as mine is while your heart beats so wildly you have lost the sound of it?

The women thanked and gave their farewell to the eunuch. By the sound of the voices that followed, it appeared Magistrate Hyun had also left at the same time.

Her mother was too vigilant of her, so Sun-ha could not order Minyoung to find out more about why Ye-na's father had been here. Sun-ha remained indoors for the rest of the night, listening to her mother and Hana talk about the servants who needed to work quicker so everything could be ready for tomorrow's ceremony.

Sun-ha almost expected the dark, watery dragon or a golden grapevine from her dreams to appear and take her away.

🌺🌺🌺

Sun-ha was woken up early and too quickly for her to have acknowledged her dreams at all, and the ceremonial dress was soon fitted. The embroidered silk flattered her natural complexion, the fabric fell like drapery over her shape, and the silver-jade accessories completed her stature.

Sun-ha could not see herself, only felt the admiration of the women in the room. The Lady Ho looked approvingly at her, proud for the first time. The expression calmed Sun-ha as much as it frustrated her, knowing that she found some comfort in the acceptance of the woman who had added so much misery in her life.

Min-ah would want me to keep going no matter what happens. The weight of the dress slowed Sun-ha's pace, forcing her into a rhythm that made her every move calculated. I have to keep going for Min-ah and Chang-seon, whom she thought so highly of. At least find out who killed them if I cannot go back to the way things were.

In the distance, the King watched from his palace view as the courtyard was decorated for the wedding. The afternoon air was cool, complemented by the perfect spring sky. Colored ribbons and garlands were hung along the rooftops, new flower pots were arranged, and the stones washed. The King shook his head at the thought of his brother, Jung Deok-su's, stone son as a groom and then coughed.

"Jeonha, would you prefer to have tea now?" he heard the chief eunuch ask from his side.

The King cleared his throat and shook his head. "The Queen won't attend either?" he asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. She said her conviction was not strong enough and would send the hwarang to attend in her stead."

"Is that so?" He frowned. The King never understood the reason why she held onto them. They went against the principle of traditional masculinity as men who found wanton beauty in being warriors. There was no need for them either—whoever is left, that is—after having lost a battle at the border of Silloseon. He indulged his wife by naming a new hwarang but also allowed the Tribunal to absorb and absolve their duties. The Hwarang are better placed in memory and record books.

The eunuch bowed his head. "Yes, Your Majesty."

He sighed, though it sounded more like a clearing of a throat. "And the Seja-jeoha?" the King wanted to ask, but instead, coughed again.

"The wind is a little harsh, Jeonha. Shall you go in?"

"No, not yet. When the sun sets, I will."

What poor girl would have to endure such a husband? he wondered.