In This Life

The Questionable Sanity of Lady Yin Jidam

Song Ji

"Please let me by this once, my lord!" Song Ji cried as she suffocated the man's leg with her arms.

Out of all the people in this colossal palace, she had to run into the Chief of Guards, which was by far the most unwanted guest she needed to be acquainted with. Even worst, she'd injured his head and screamed at him after he'd tried to fix the disaster of her own clumsiness. Oh, Song Ji, you are trifling with death at this moment.

"I might be forced to put you away if you don't get off of me, eunuch," He growled under his breath. The nobleman glared down at her with his piercing, dark eyes. He was indeed handsome to the point where Song Ji felt as if she saw him somewhere. Maybe in posters or artworks of some sort because a face like his has to be seen by everyone.

The Chief had a slim face, with cheekbones that must have looked incredible when he smiled, and almond-shaped eyes the color of fresh ink. From where she sat, she could smell his soap and cleanliness, which made her think about her absence of hygiene in the past couple of weeks. All he could see from Song Ji's face was probably the dirt and sweat that had filled up every crevice on her face.

She must have been revolting to look at.

With a gentle shake of his legs, Song Ji shrugged her arms away.

"Before anything else, that is not how you confront the Chief of Guards if he were to put you away," He straightened his hanbok, "And why would he accuse you of any crime? You didn't do anything?"

Why was he speaking in the third person?

Song Ji confuse.

She stumbled back up to her feet, "So... is he letting me go?"

"He is-- I mean I is, no I am. I am letting you go."

Song Ji melted into a puddle of relief which was quickly interrupted when the room's doors burst open. Out of anything in this world, she just hoped it wasn't another angry mistress from the prince. Instead, it was a eunuch, the one named Byung-Ho. From his expression, Song Ji realized this eunuch was constantly panicking or angry, and in some rare moments like right now, he was a little bit of both.

He held his hands to his forehand and whined," Oh, Lady Jidam is persistent, your--

"Lord," The Chief interrupted, "I prefer if you called me, my lord."

What was he going to call him in the first place, she wondered.

Byung-ho's worries were replaced by surprise as he stared into the eyes of the Chief. For a brief second, it seemed like they were having a silent conversation which included glances momentarily in Song Ji's direction. What could they possibly be talking about?

"My... lord," The word came out like glue in his mouth, "Your mother--

"I shall leave now," the Chief announced.

Byung-ho and Song Ji bowed as he exited the quarters, and as he left, she thought of how rather odd he seemed. Though in his eyes, she must have also been insane, clinging to his legs like a leech.

"Whatever you have discussed in this room with the... lord shall not be mentioned anywhere else, agree?" Byung-ho hissed.

Song Ji nodded. It was a close call with the Chief of Guards, yet now that they were alone, she knew she had to tell Byung-ho about her true identity. Mi-Na said he'd owe her mother a debt, but could Song Ji really trust this man she'd only met today? If he was truly friends with her mother, would he keep his words to a dead woman?

"I'd order you to go get the prince," He squeaked, "How did you come back unconscious?"

"I..."