Decisions

Growing Suspicions

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you're starting off 2017 right :) Please enjoy this chapter and leave a comment to let me know what you think of it. Thank you to everyone's continued support, and I hope to meet your expectations for this story in the upcoming year. See you soon!

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Despite their increased efforts to protect the King, to everyone looking from the outside, it seemed he grew sicker and sicker. It grew to the point where the court ministers were getting worried, and some began to discuss about appointing a new Crown Prince, since the King had failed to produce any surviving male heirs up until now. He only had a daughter who managed to survive infancy.

Sometimes King Hye Jong would come to court despite the dark eye circles, and in the middle of the session would be racked with shivers. The ministers tried to voice their opinions, but the King would have none of it, sometimes even threatening their livelihood.

So would stand in court and be forced to listen to all of these greedy and power-hungry ministers, trying to suggest the announcement of a new Crown Prince, one that would increase their existing power. A few suggestions were offered here and there, but it seemed like the favorite contender was the 8th prince. Wook was a familiar face in the palace court, and even though he protested to the ministers who were pushing for him to become Crown Prince, So would see a glimmer of a smile once in awhile, and he knew that Wook was pleased. It seemed he was planning something with these ministers.

Soo would hear all about the court politics when So came back to their quarters at night. She usually didn't ask about those types of things, but lately with certain events going on in the palace, she found it pertinent to ask. She was a princess now, and although she had no prior knowledge of politics, it wasn't too late to learn. Who knew when it would come in handy? So was surprised when she asked about it at first, but was happy to teach her something new. He would give her scenarios and she would give him solutions. Sometimes he nodded, approving her answers. Other times he would tweak her answer, or offer a better one, and then explain why.

He would also give her Confucian texts to look over, or major political works to expand her knowledge. Whenever she didn't understand anything, he was there to explain it to her. Pretty soon, Soo became quite comfortable with politics, and from time to time engaged in political debates with So. This only served to make him more proud of her, and he never failed to let her know he thought so.

"Soo ya, you could rival the ministers in court."

"Do you really think so?"

"Of course I do! I taught you everything I know, and not to mention, you have the King's favor. You would be unstoppable."

"One day, there will be Queens who rule instead of Kings and women who serve in the government instead of just men. It may not seem that way now, but just wait and see!"

"Is that how it is in the world you came from?"

"Of course it is. I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true."

So gave her a smile.

"I hope to see this world one day."

Soo hoped he would too. She didn't know if she would ever return to the future, or how So could follow her back, but as her days increased in Goryeo, she realized she no longer had the urge to return. As long as she was with So, there was nothing else she needed.

It was a cloudy morning when Soo headed out to meet the King. When she arrived, she heard voices coming from inside the throne room, and could not help but overhear the ministers' morning meeting.