False rumours has as dire consequences as fake news.
One may deem saying a few words as harmless, yet these exact few words can be a deadly weapon. It takes only a second to create them, yet took forever to erase them. As one passes the message to the next, no one knew where the message originate from. And this, became the most powerful killing tool.
These rumours often begin with "You know..." before it became the new talk in town. At any time of the day in the market, as long as people crowd around, their starting sentence would be "You know, rumours says that...".
Listen closely and the gossip of the day will surface. This is what is happening in Joseon now.
Dressed in his blue outfit with a neat appearance, a random yangban walked past a group of people, who crowded around a man. Curious, he stepped closer and listen. String of words formed in his ears as he finally make out that they are talking about the royalties.
Standing closer, he listens.
"Do you know why Queen Inhyeon was being deposed?" The storyteller asked his crowd, who shook their head in response. All of them have been curious about the sudden deposition of Queen Inhyeon, yet there has been no news until now.
"I know why," He declared loudly before lowering his voice. He signals his crowd to listen attentively. "Apparently, Queen Inhyeon had an affair with a eunuch and the King found out."
"No way. Queen Inhyeon aren't like this. We all know her, she is kind and helpful. There's no way she would do this to the King." Someone responded. The random yangban nodded in agreement as more people began to draw into this conversation.
"Indeed, she is kind," The storyteller said. "Even towards that eunuch." He scanned his crowd. "Guess why Minister Min committed suicide while in exile? It's because he is ashamed of his daughter!"
The crowd started to whisper among themselves.
"But we all know that Minister Min was killed." Another person shouted.
"Right, you really believed in that?" The storyteller laughed. "Those are what the supporters of Queen Inhyeon said, to save themselves some face."
"How do you know all these?"
"I heard it from someone who lives in the palace."
**********
Little Choi sat down on her Korean futon.
"Han sang-gung." She called out awkwardly, still not used to the fact that with her status, she can order people around.
Han sang-gung quickly walked towards Little Choi at the sound of her name. Little Choi looked up. "Have you found out what happened to Minister Min's body?"
Han sang-gung nodded. "I have sent someone to look into it. They said that the Prime Minister had ordered not to give Minister Min a proper burial since he is the father of a deposed Queen."
Little Choi furrowed her brows. How can Prime Minister Heo do this to Joy? He forbid Joy from seeing her late father and now he denies Minister Min a proper burial. How much worst can he get?
"And, there has been some rumours about Queen Inhyeon spreading around Joseon." Han sang-gung added.
"What rumours?"
"They are all spreading that Her Majesty had an affair with a eunuch and that Minister Min committed suicide because of this."
"No, Minister Min had been killed. He did not commit suicide." Little Choi said firmly. Just days ago, Little Choi and the King secretly had Minister Min's body brought back to the palace. It's obvious that he had been slashed and stabbed fatally.
YOU ARE READING
1681
Historical FictionSixteen-Eighty-One. After a moment, she finally found her voice. But her words came out more like a whisper. "Who...who did you just say I am?" "Min Inhyeon, daughter of Lord Min YuJung." "And what year is it now?" "1681, Agassi." She turned and sto...