I knew that something wasn't right with my husband from the moment that he let me go without saying a single word. We had been doing good so far and I really did think that he had matured for a split second and saw reason to trust me even more now that I had become a mother, but Buddha only knew what that man had in store for me when I returned home. And in the meantime, I could only keep my children's keepsakes with me and inhale their scent for as long as I missed them. My beautiful girl smelled like strawberries from the minute that she emerged from me, whereas my son had a similar pear like smell that my nephews had when they were born as well. I knew that I shouldn't really leave my village now of all times, but I sort of needed an escape for myself away from everybody's prying eyes and high expectations from me all of the time. I knew what was expected from me the moment I decided to show myself after being a hostage of The Nam's for so long, but I needed to just shut down for a few hours and live like a normal woman for myself before I lost my sanity. I needed to regain the reputation that I had lived by that my father had left behind, and I had to do it before The Third Prince connected his mishaps back to my family and took us down in front of everyone that we had worked hard to help. My brother had successfully brought him into the palace to be watched under his father's eyes as well as the court and as far as I knew, he was being confined in his quarters with no space to even set foot outside of his chambers. The fact that his father The Emperor hadn't disposed of this son yet when a hundred Emperors from our past would have done so for less reasons was a real concern, but it wasn't like we could force him to do anything about it. The Third Prince had even gone as far as to betray the very nation that he hoped to serve one day on his father's throne and he still hadn't been severely punished yet…The Emperor was loosing the public's favour and trust in him, which would only indicate that he wouldn't be able to last very long at all. But then who could become the new Crown Prince? There was more than one Prince who was viable to take the throne, but at the same time, I did not want my family to have a say in who become the next Crown Prince. No, I had to restrain myself now and stay away from palace matters, just as I had always wanted…
"…My Lady…what on earth are you…" "Forgive this intrusion on my behalf once again My Lady, but I simply could not stop thinking about how we left things from theist time that we met up. Would it be alright for me to enter your residence?" "Ah yes, I suppose so…" "You are pregnant now? How far along?" "It seems as though I was blessed upon your return to your own family home." "I see. And how are The Royal Family treating you now?" "As well as can be expected I suppose…" "Forgive me Madame, but you do not sound as confident in your speech. And if you are afraid that The Royal Family will harm you once again, then what is your plan? You surely cannot hide in your home forever can you?" "My Lady, I hope that you do not take this the wrong way, but I am just a nobleman's wife with a child on the way, I do not have an iron gut like you do. I have no family powerful enough to back me up if I make a single mistake, rather I shall be the one thrown out instead by moth my marital and family home if I did something to upset The Royal Family. I am not so indestructible to enter and exit out of brothels as I please either." "What on earth do you mean, My Lady?" "You survived your condition that should have given you a shorter lifespan, you survived being a hostage and even managed to turn the tables onto the man who separated yourself from your brother, you should have been beaded for even entering a brothel as a woman even if it was against your will but your dead father's reputation saved you once again. You were even allowed to stay in the palace harem of The Third Prince instead of a mere guests in the main chambers. And throughout all of that time, you have people who would die to keep you safe, but not all women in this nation are as treasured as you and you know it, despite my delicate condition."
"But you are in fact pregnant, and you can make use of that and keep your child safe at the same time." "How so?" "You have been repeatedly harmed, and you need a chance to showcase that in front of the right people who will not bury the issue as they have done in the past." "So what do you suggest?" "I have been hearing about yet another banquet that is being put on today?" "And what a coincidence that you came to me today of all days, My Lady." "The more you hide the more they will come to find you My Lady, not even your title can keep you safe, so what makes you think that your nobility title can? Or that it can protect your child from potential bullying for the rest of its life?" "But I do not have any weapons to fight The Royal Family, do I? I am just an ordinary powerless citizen…" "You maybe, but your marital family do come from power, do they not?" "Well…"
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"…forgive me for giving late Your Majesties; I could not give up this chance to attend the banquet that you have set up for the people despite my ongoing pregnancy. I also have brought a guest with me if you do not mind?" "Oh? And who exactly did you bring without so much as an invitation?""I have brought The Madame Seo with me; the daughter of Seo Geom, the sister of Seo Hwi and the wife of The Lord Nam himself." "You dare to bring a convicted criminal into the palace? How dare you! Servants! Take this made woman aside and…" "..and do what, My Ladies? Will you fearlessly beat a pregnant woman in public like this? Is this how assured you are in your Royal Status that you can now beat the people who help you maintain your family like this?" "You…!" "You must have forgotten about The Royal Hierarchy that is firmly written in Confucius laws and the very reason why we are having this banquet today." "Forgive the interruptions Your Highnesses, but the banquet food has now arrived after long anticipation and we would like one of you to unveil the table yourself so that the guests here can begin to feast." "Very well, I shake do this and after this banquet, I shall expect to see you both after this! How day you both swan your way here and…" the rest of The Emperor's new concubine who had taken over in bullying my companion's senesce was effetely drowned out with a shrivelled scream of surprise from seeing her precious new pet feasting on the food that the chefs here in the palace must have taken more than a week to cook. This new concubine did come from a family of nobility, but most of them were still green to the palace. The only advantage that I have ever had over the rest on the women who entered here for the first time was the fact that my brother used to beg my father to tell us stories of the palace and he told us nothing but the truth despite our young ages, My father never sugarcoated anything with us and that helped prepare myself and my brother to face the world that had separated itself from us since our orphanage and made me stand on guard to any random oncoming threats that would come my way due to my background, history and social status.
"…Your Highnesses! You have used this dog to frighten me from the moment that I announced my pregnancy and now you are seamless enough to do it here in the palace in public like this! Are you all trying to kill me! No, I shall not take this anymore! And neither will my husband! We will no longer be supporting you by giving you more than your share in our businesses anymore! Madame Seo! Please help me! I quickly need to see a physician! I think I am going into early labour now!"
"What is this I hear? What is going on with this precious pet that I have gifted you concubine? Clearly you have no interest in keeping it since you have left it on its own to room free and let all of this food to go waste! Today was supposed to be a day of celebration and you have just ruined me intentions for the people of this kingdom and you have triggered an early labour for a pregnant woman! You simply have no compassion at all and I do not need a harmful witch serving me in the palace! Are you doing this to me to show your might after I did not favour you the other night? Or is it because I did not invite you to my private fireworks show?" "Your Majesty! Please forgive me! I did not mean any disrespect towards you or…" "So why have you been intolerably sullying my subjects? So much so that they publicly withdraw their support from us and bring shame upon me like this? No wonder you lost custody of your own son for making him sick on purpose just to win back my favour! I should have had you abolished right there and then!" "Your Majesty! I have already apologised for that! I have been punished with the absence of my son, isn't that enough!" ""Please forgive me! Just this one last time! I promise that I shall never let you down again!" "Your Majesty? Forgive the interruption, but are we not supposed to be having unflavoured meat today in remembrance of our ancestors? But this meat is very well flavoured, I can sure you of that." "Excuse me? What did you just say?" "Your Majesty! She is lying! How could I have done that! I am not so senseless as to humiliate our ancestors like this! Please believe me!" "Eunuch! Go and bring me the meat selection from the table!" "Your Majesty! I can confirm that the meat has indeed…been corrupted with spiced salt…" "No! It wasn't me! I didn't do this! I didn't do any of this!" "Servants! Beat this woman to death for her cruel crimes against her victims! And make sure you place yourselves outside the birthing hall to make sure that the mother has all of the care that she needs! Her son will placed into the care of other concubines in the meantime…"
"Your Majesty! Disaster has struck within this very palace! The baby that was just born…he was born yellow in colour and weak in health. I fear…that a bad omen has been placed in front of our very faces on this auspicious night where we are meant to remember our ancestors…this is a very inauspicious sign indeed."