Empress Handbook

Chapter Four | Mummy Issues

Gogi: The announcement of date selection during a traditional Korean wedding.

Hwarot: A traditional Korean clothing worn exclusively by royal women during the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasty for ceremonial occasions.

Cheopji: Female hair accessory placed on the chignon when wearing ceremonial dresses.

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"Mother, the incident has been resolved," Taehyung reports evenly. "Also, I would like to delay my wedding with Yeoreum."

"Why?" Yunhee snaps. Her flimsy look of respect melts into the shadow of a cold smile. "If anything, we should prepone your wedding, Taehyung."

Taehyung shakes his head. "The public does not view the Imperial House in a good light right now, Mother. The wedding can only bring an unpleasant light to the Family and Yeoreum."

"But we should not be unfair to Song Yeoreum. We were the ones who chose her, so we should not postpone the wedding so irresponsibly."

"Mother, preponing the wedding can only harm Yeoreum. The public will view her as a distraction we use for publicity purposes, and I do not want to put her in that position," Taehyung says, meticulously playing his role as a lovestruck idiot.

Yunhee narrows her eyes. "Perhaps you should have chosen a woman with a better family."

"Mother—" Taehyung forces himself to stutter into silence before he can say anything that would inspire suspicion.

The chandelier chases a delicate light to the fiery emotion tucked behind Taehyung's eyes. He clenches his fists to control the sudden flurry of feelings that ambushes his mind. It is always like this. Always fucking like this. But he doesn't have a choice.

Taehyung purses his lips. "You are absolutely right, Mother."

"Exactly." Yunhee smiles. "I only want the best for you, Taehyung. I have sent invitations to all the guests attending the enthralling ceremony. I have made sure that everything is perfect—from the Garye Ceremony carriages to Song Yeoreum's hwarot—everything will be perfect. The carriages and venues will be decorated with pink peonies and white gold to exemplify the resilience of the heavenly union."

"When is the wedding?"

"The wedding will be held in three days. I hope you will enjoy the last bit of your time as a bachelor, my beautiful son."

Taehyung's mind erupts with rage. He cannot understand how his mother can utter the most absurd words in the most reasonable tone. His wedding is in three days, but he only found out three seconds ago.

"But—" Taehyung quickly shuts his mouth, his throat tremors at his sudden movement. He bites his bottom lip to swallow all his anger into his feigned tranquillity. "But Mother, Song Yeoreum is only eighteen years old by international standards. She cannot consent to marriage until early next year. I do not think it is appropriate for her to—"

"The Minister of Birth, Death and Marriage has sent the required legal documents to Song Yeoreum and her father. They have already signed it, happily. Thus, it is lawfully appropriate for her to live in Pearl Palace and make some grandchildren for me with the consent age for sex being sixteen." Yunhee gestures for Assistant Byun to bring forth a glass cup that contains a thick orange liquid. "Have some honey tea. It will help calm your nerves."

Taehyung vigilantly puts it right in front of him to avoid evoking any suspicions.

"Thank you, Mother. I will drink it right away."