Moon's Whisper, Heart's Echo

12.The Meeting

Ji-soo nearly dropped the account books when the Crown Princess burst through the door.

"She did WHAT?"

Nandi and Ji-soo exchanged a look, as the young woman continued.

"What a curse of a woman! How dare she! My Min-joon-ah?!? She rejected my Min-joon-ah?!?" The Crown Princess's voice carried through the courtyard with perfect pitch, each word a precise strike despite her outrage.

"Your Highness, perhaps we should-" One of her attendants began.

"Should what?" The princess turned, her movements fluid despite her anger. "Should pretend I didn't hear about this insult? This... this complete..." She drew herself up, every inch the royal she was. "Ji-soo, tell me again exactly what happened."

Ji-soo shot Nandi a look that clearly said: I told you she'd react like this.

Nandi's responding glance could have frozen water: Then why did you open your mouth?

Ji-soo straightened, pointedly ignoring both Nandi's expression and the teacup she'd been absently refilling for the third time. "The Lady Yi refused to even acknowledge him, Your Highness. After specifically requesting their presence."

"The audacity," the princess's eyes flashed. She set her fan down with deliberate care, as if restraining herself from throwing it. "To summon a child only to reject him? I've seen warring ministers show more courtesy to their enemies' dogs."

"It's okay truly... it's okay." Nandi traced the rim of her teacup, not quite meeting the princess's eyes. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have... I placed him in that danger...she says she didn't summon us. So that..."

"If you finish that sentence, I'll have you investigated for treason." The princess's tone was light, but her eyes were almost serious. "No one makes my Min-joon-ah cry. No one." She settled beside Nandi with practiced grace. "That woman-" She gestured precisely toward the Eastern District. "I should have their entire household investigated," she declared. "The Yi family thinks themselves above reproach? Let's see how they fare when I have the Office of Special Advisors review their tax records." She paused, a dangerous smile playing at her lips. "Or perhaps their silk import licenses need... examination."

She took a breath for a moment, before starting to continue-

"That absolute-"

Her tirade cut off mid-sentence as small footsteps approached. The transformation was immediate - like watching ink bloom in water.

"Min-joon-ah!" Her voice turned honey-sweet. "Come here, my precious scholar! What's this I hear about your progress with the classics?"

Ji-soo caught Nandi's eye again, this time with a softer expression that seemed to say: "See? This is why I told her."

The boy hesitated in the doorway, clearly uncertain about interrupting what had sounded like an adult discussion. His practice brush was still in his hand, a smudge of ink on one cheek.

"I..." He glanced at his mother.

"Your aunt asked you a question," Nandi encouraged softly.

The princess was already reaching into her sleeve, producing wrapped packages with practiced grace. "Ah! Here we are. Now, what does my favorite student think of these?" She revealed scrolls of practice paper, each bearing the royal seal.

"Are those..." Min-joon's eyes widened.

"From the royal library itself." The princess winked, her earlier anger completely forgotten in the joy of spoiling her favorite child.