The Edge Of Forever

27| hidden tumoil

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27

h i d d e n  t u r m o i l : 숨겨진 혼란

BEFORE ENTERING A COURT MEETING, one must always leave their hearts at the door.

If one was to depend on their hearts during the fire of the meetings, they would not make a stand.

Sharpen the mind. Calculate each step. And most importantly, know who was on your side but never trust. It sounded much more simpler than it actually seemed, especially when we would all be caged in the room talking about the matters of the nation. 

It was customary for the court meeting to only be held by the King, male royal family members and the Ministers with male eunuchs in attendance- no females. So when the Great Queens and I were also called into this specific court meeting, it instantly raised eyebrows. 

There was no screening either this time to shield us. 

Eyes swerved to us but then before they could linger on for mre than a milisecod, they flew back down to the floor obediently. 

I could only blame the curiousity so much. It was not everyday the Queens were asked to come to court meeting and then asked to sit a step down from the King without any veil.

My eyes moved to the man who had called this meeting. He was speaking, standing on the first step, his voice bellowing throughout the red and brown walls. 

"Song Dynasty or more or less taken over by the Mongold, their Northern borders are fully gone."  The Prime Minister explained, eyes focused on his words. "Our borders are strong but we can only guarantee than firmness for a while." 

A few ministers exchanged glances between one another, most blown by the wind of fear. 

"Goryeo is too small in comparison to our neighboring countries and if the Mongols were to side with the Jurchens to invade us- we stand no chance." 

The King listened to the young Prime Minister, we all did- but it was his awaited response we all stayed silent for. 

"Are you proposing we increase the force on the borders? Keeping our borders strong should be our priortiy."  His sharp eyes cut across the room to scan the crowd. 

"I agree, your Majesty." Choe Yoo nodded his head once. "But with your Majesty and the source of all the power being down South, there is too much of a gap." 

My eyebrows furrowed as I listened on.

"There are also the Khitans and they are planning to invade." Choe Yoo continued, listing the sharp swords raised against the foundation of our nation. "Four of our envoys were killed yesterday and we cannot allow for them to think they can attack us." 

More looks were exchanged, now ranging from shock to dismay. When a country killed off another country's envoy's it was the upmost level of disrespect and threat they could recieve. The message was clear in their actions; the only option left was shedding blood. 

"With the Khitans we can guarantee they will not aid the Mongols as the latter are after them but they need our land to continue defeating them. It is our top priortiy to fight them off before they come to us and then they will be weak to the Mongols so we let them be finished by the Mongols."