Chung-ha in Joseon

Chapter 3

2 Weeks Later

Chung-ha was confounded, Tae-min stopped visiting...he listened. Chung-ha was never listened to, nor paid attention to either. She thought Tae-min was going to be the stubborn type, for someone not to be would mean they were raised strictly, given an order it should be done, no question asked. Chung-ha hasn't even realized how long it has been since she saw him, her mind was always kept busy and preoccupied with work. But today was Chung-ha's free day,  no scholars requested any time with her surprisingly. She decided to use this time to make her a small meal, just for herself.

Chung-ha went out back to the shed, that's where the kitchen was, it was separate from the original place the kisaeng stayed in. The day before, she marinated some sliced beef and was now going to cook it. For sides, she was going to have rice, guk (watery soup), and namul (cooked seasoned spinach.
She started to heat one of her pots to cook the bulgogi (marinated beef). She flipped it when the beef was halfway done. Once fully done she put everything into separate bowls. Then she began to eat.

First, put some rice in her little small bowl that she was holding, then beef on top of the rice. She then ate it both together, savoring the spicy flavor of the beef. Afterward, she took a small gulp of the warm soup, and finally eats a tad bit of spinach. And repeat.

She did this until everything was fully gone, sadly she wished there was more beef but she couldn't afford all she wanted. But at least she was full she thought.

~~~

Chung-ha was to go down to the market to see what she could buy with the money she has. She thought she might also see Tae-min again, hoping to speak with him, hoping to say "I didn't mean what I said, you can come back all you want". Even if Chung-ha always had visitors, there was always this pit of loneliness inside of her. As if something was missing.

Tae-min somehow fulfilled that pit, maybe because it was a true friend. It's funny how someone could make you feel so on top of the world in just a day or two.

Chung-ha walked and walked, eyes moving fast and searchingly as if she was speed reading pages of a book. But there was no one, literally no one other than a few lower classes walking around. "Hey, why is nobody out?"

The commoner stopped with her child holding her right hand, "it is the King's Wedding day, they are all preparing for it, The King is to come down this same trail, though be careful of the noblewomen when they're out."

"Why"
"They will try their hardest to be noticed by the Concubine's son, even if it means shoving people below them." Then she walked away, still holding her child's hand.
~~~

"Do I have to? It's his wedding day, not mine, The ceremony inside the palace is fine, but I forbid having to leave the palace." Taemin said as he paced back in forth in his quarters,

"You can't stay in your quarters cause you're mad at a girl your majesty," Bo-Seon said slowed, clearly annoyed. "I'm not mad at her, I am of myself. I made a mistake"
Bo-Seon cursed under his breath "Your majesty, If you did see her, you will be covered up anyway, she wouldn't be able to see you and your frown...I promise"

Tae-min just looked at him and said nothing, his worries were solved.

And so the ceremony started. Everyone getting dressed in the correct hanboks depending on their roles. The wincing of the women who have to wear those heavy headpieces. The sound of the beads hitting together in front of the king (soon to be husband), the beads being used to show how powerful he is, that no one would bother looking him in the face.

The female name was Lee Ji-Eun. (you may know her as IU)