The Last Imoogi

Parting Ways With A Light Heart

Sandara beamed proudly at Kwon Jiyong after finally getting some information from one of the remaining Jurchens. All the while, Kwon Jiyong was alert and watchful, already amazed by her courage but it seems she really had so many surprises up her sleeves. Who would even imagine seeing a lady smile beautifully inside a damp and cold torture cell? Kwon Jiyong shook his head and smiled back at her. Inside the darkness, Sandara's smile brightened up the gloom and horror of the room.

"It's the one from the left," Sandara whispered. "He tricked former Minister Sun by telling him he could find a place in Ming for Sun Hae to stay at and give her a new identity. He's the one who had been meeting with Sun Hae's father."

Kwon Jiyong nodded and immediately called for his men.

"Take them into separate cells and treat their injuries."

"Yes Your Highness!"

Kwon Jiyong led the way out of the prison but when he was nearing the front gates, he noticed Sandara had been stalling. Reaching out to her, he offered her his hand which she immediately grabbed and it all dawned upon him why. Her hands were ice cold and shaking, while she almost staggered when she finally reached his side.

As he watched her recover, Kwon Jiyong had nothing but respect for her. She endured it well and stayed by his side.

Smiling back at her, he took her to wash her hands from the filth of those Jurchen men. As they walked out together, they realized it was already almost sunrise outside.

"Time went by really fast," Sandara murmured, watching the morning start to break.

"Come," Kwon Jiyong clasped her hand in his and took her in front of his residence. Before Sandara could even guess what her husband was thinking, she felt being enveloped into his strong arms and as soon as he kicked the ground to leap up, the cold air brushed against his face that she had to bury her head in his chest. 

"Open your eyes," Kwon Jiyong said as he gently settled her down the rooftop. He sat beside her and pointed in front of them.

"We're just in time for the sunrise."

Sandara felt her heart swell. The scene before her, the man beside her, and the feeling that had always been making her heart thump since she met this man seemed to overwhelm her.

"It's beautiful." Sandara smiled widely until her eyes were almost gone. Kwon Jiyong chuckled at her and tapped the tip of her nose. Does she even know the sunrise couldn't even compare to her beauty? It even paled compared to how bright her smile was.

But Kwon Jiyong was someone who wasn't so vocal about such things so he only turned away and looked ahead.

"You've done a good job." Kwon Jiyong commended her instead. Still, despite the sudden, unexpected progress, Kwon Jiyong couldn't believe they easily captured one of the Jurchens involved in the case.

"I told you I can be of good help." Sandara crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a smug grin.

"Tell me, was there anything else that you saw?"

"Minister Sun wanted his daughter to live a new life. We all know, the moment Sun Hae committed that crime against the King, she was as good as dead. She would have to stay confined in the temple. She'll never be able to marry again because she belonged to the King. She'll never be able to go home anymore. She'd become a prisoner and a woman like her who was ambitious just like her father wasn't able to accept that. I don't know how her father knew this man but it seems the Jurchens were really cunning and sly. That man asked former Minister Sun if Sun Hae studied at the Cherry Blossoms House in one of their conversations. That's where their pact started…" Sandara felt goosebumps all over her skin as she suddenly remembered what Sun Hae told the Jurchen down the riverside. She denied it was her. She told the man she wasn't the one they've been looking for.