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Eunuch Kim quietly followed the King. He watches his lonely back as they head to their destination. It's been a few weeks since the passing of the Queen. 

For the first few days, the entire palace was in the mourning of the Queen. Gradually, as days go past, everyone slowly gets back to their daily life. After the sudden leave of the Queen, Eunuch Kim had expected the King to lock himself in his quarters for a few days. However, in contrast to what he thought, the King continued his days as per normal. Every day, he attends to all the court meetings obediently and pay a visit to any minister when necessary. He promoted the use of coinage and had allowed the middle class and the children of concubines to advance to higher governmental positions. He literally drowned himself among the court affairs, paying little care to himself.

Eunuch Kim glanced at his master as they began walking pass a lake. Quietly, he sighed. While his master had indeed gained the respect of many, the King being like this scares him out even more. He felt even more pain seeing his master behaving like this. He had rather he cried his heart out for once. But he never did...

From afar, Little Choi saw them. She stopped walking, her attendants quickly follow suit. She quietly watches the King and his attendants walk along the pavement by the side of the lake. She studied the King's grim expression. 

"Your Highness, aren't you going to greet the King?" Little Choi's head attendant stood next to her and asked politely.

Little Choi shook her head. She knows clearly that after the passing of the Queen, others are expecting her-- a concubine-- to make a move. However, she is not going to do so. After all, her being the consort is in name only. She and the King absolutely had no feelings for each other. Both of them are very clear of that.

"Let's go." She said, with no intention to explain her thoughts to anyone else, and turned around.

The King and his attendants continued walking. Along the way, the palace attendants greeted them. They walked up a small flight of stairs and entered the grand hall. 

"Your Majesty is here!" The eunuch stationed outside announced his presence and the doors opened widely for the King to walk in. The ministers in the grand hall immediately scattered and returned to their position. They stood up straight and bowed as the King walked past them to reach the throne. The King stood before the throne and turned to look at his crowd. In unison, the ministers greeted him loudly. 

"At ease." He said and get comfortable on his throne. 

A few of the ministers from the Noron faction glanced at each other before one of them bravely came forward. "Your Majesty, it's been a few weeks since the late Queen had passed away. The Noron faction believed that we should settle this matter in court, after all, Minister Min once led us all and so, we need to be able to explain to his family."

The King scanned his crowd for a few seconds. He knew that they are indirectly asking him about Minkyung. "Today, I am indeed going to discuss Lady Jang." He turned to instruct Eunuch Kim. "Bring her here." 

"I understand all of your concerns." He returned his gaze back to the ministers from the Noron faction, who had all stood at the right side of the hall. "We indeed need to have a closure to this matter."

Elsewhere, upon the order of the King, a eunuch was immediately sent out of the grand hall and rushed his way to Minkyung's quarters.