Chapter 14
Despite his best efforts to remain focused on the formal petition, which he was drafting against the royal decree; Prince JiangSu found himself repeatedly sidetracked by the troubling thoughts of his wife suffering at the hands of Concubine Su. When he had finally completed his review of the petition; Prince JiangSu sealed the document and made his way out of his residence to hand deliver it to his royal father. Just as he walked past the outer gates of the Jaseondang; Prince JiangSu caught sight of Eun Jung’s maids rushing towards him and knew that something was very wrong. Upon catching her breath, one of the maids relayed Eun Jung's message by saying, “The Grand Princess Consort has asked that your highness come to Concubine Su’s residence to escort her home.”
Without even slightly acknowledging the maid’s message; Prince JiangSu impatiently hurried off towards the direction of Concubine Su’s living quarters. Once he arrived at the front gates, leading to the outer courtyard of Concubine Su’s residence; Prince JiangSu walked right past the guards with a complete disregard for the standard Palace protocol of first waiting for his presence to be announced. As he made his way into the main hall, Prince JiangSu saw Eun Jung sitting at a large table with Prince Dae Hyun by her side and immediately took note of her fatigued expression. Anxious to find out what had happened, Prince JiangSu called out to his brother and asked, “What did your royal mother do to my wife?!”
Before either Prince Dae Hyun or Eun Jung could respond to Prince JiangSu’s inquiry; Concubine Su re-entered the hall and addressed the irate Prince by asking, “What took you so long to get here? I knew that Princess Soo Jin would call upon you for help; but even if you’re here now, what can you do for her? Must I remind you both that I have full authority over her palace training?” Upon seeing the blood stained ropes in Eun Jung’s hands; Prince JiangSu grabbed a hold of them and held them up before asking pointedly, “Are these the tools of your training?” With a visible smirk on her face, Concubine Su replied, “As a matter of fact they are. Your wife’s wide gait is atrocious and those ropes will remind her to keep her steps small.”
Turning her attention to Eun Jung, Concubine Su asked, “Princess Soo Jin, I think that you will not readily forget this lesson, correct?” With a slight nod of her head; Eun Jung grabbed the ropes back from Prince JiangSu and replied calmly, “That’s correct. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this lesson. I’m even going to bring these ropes back home with me to reflect on everything that you’ve done for me today.” Slightly taken aback by Eun Jung’s seemingly submissive response, Concubine Su delivered a final parting statement by saying, “I’m glad that you seem to be learning your place around here. Since I’ve had a pretty eventful morning; please take your leave, so that I can rest.”
Hearing that they had been asked to leave; Eun Jung turned her attention to Prince JiangSu and said, “I don’t think I can walk.” Still unaware of what Eun Jung had been forced to endure; Prince JiangSu focused his gaze on the ropes and asked, “What did Concubine Su do with those?” After a slight hesitation, Eun Jung proceeded to pull up the hemline of her hanbok to reveal her injured ankles. As he took in the sight of the bruises, abrasions and torn skin around Eun Jung’s ankles; Prince JiangSu felt an unfamiliar sensation of a tight knot forming in his chest. Seeing Prince JiangSu’s pained expression, Eun Jung quickly concealed her injuries with her hanbok and said, “I don’t want to stay here anymore.”
Nodding his head to acknowledge Eun Jung's appeal; Prince JiangSu carefully slid one of his arms underneath her thighs, draped her right arm around his shoulders and wrapped his free arm around her to support her back. In one fluid motion, Prince JiangSu picked Eun Jung up in his arms and rested the weight of her body against his chest. Seeing Eun Jung’s fragile disposition, Prince Dae Hyun apologized to Prince JiangSu by saying, “I’m truly sorry for not being able to protect your wife.” Before Prince JiangSu could respond, Eun Jung quickly replied, “Prince Dae Hyun, if you hadn’t shown up in time; I really don’t know what your royal mother would have done to me next. Please don’t be sorry. I promise you that I’ll recover from this.”
Once Eun Jung had finished her declaration, Prince JiangSu proceeded to add, “I know that you tried your best and that in it of itself is more than enough to command my respect.” Not wanting to hinder the royal couple any further, Prince Dae Hyun thanked them both for their reassuring words and reminded Prince JiangSu to have a royal doctor tend to Eun Jung’s injuries as soon as possible. With Eun Jung securely in his arms, Prince JiangSu bid his brother goodbye before proceeding to make his way out of Concubine Su’s residence. When they were well outside the perimeters of Concubine Su’s living quarters, Eun Jung asked Prince JiangSu to put her down so that she could walk. Not wanting Eun Jung to further exacerbate her injury; Prince JiangSu refused by saying, “We’ll be home soon. I can carry you the rest of the way.”
As she squirmed around in his arms; Eun Jung insisted, “Just let me down.” Feeling himself losing his grip on Eun Jung, Prince JiangSu reluctantly placed her down onto the ground and exclaimed loudly, “What are you trying to do now?! You can’t walk home in that condition!” Grabbing Prince JiangSu’s arm to steady herself; Eun Jung leaned in close and asked, “Who said anything about going home?” Seeing the confused expression on Prince JiangSu’s face; Eun Jung proceeded to explain, “I need you to take me to your royal father’s chambers. He should be there at this time, right?” Observing the impish expression on Eun Jung’s face; Prince JiangSu asked, “Why do you want to go there?” To which, Eun Jung quickly replied, “Just take me there and you’ll find out.”
Well aware of the fact that Eun Jung would seek out his royal father with or without his help; Prince JiangSu decided that it would be best to go along with her wishes. Upon arriving at the main gate of the King’s primary residence; Prince JiangSu commissioned his royal father’s closest attendant to pass along his request for a private meeting. When they were finally granted permission to meet with the King; Prince JiangSu helped Eun Jung make her way into the front courtyard and observed her aggravated limp. Concerned, Prince JiangSu halted his steps and asked, “Are your injuries getting worse?” Glancing over at him, Eun Jung replied, “No, but I’m glad that it looks that way.”
Before Prince JiangSu could ask Eun Jung to clarify her statement, she proceeded to walk ahead of him towards his royal father’s private library. Upon seeing her stagger away, Prince JiangSu quickened his pace to catch up and placed his arm around her shoulders to assist her into the private chambers. When they were in the presence of the King; Prince JiangSu and Eun Jung quickly made their formal bows. Once the King had acknowledged their formal bows; he gave his permission for them to stand. Observing that his daughter-in-law needed her husband's assistance in order to stand; the King asked, “Princess Soo Jin, are you unwell?” Looking up at the King, Eun Jung replied tearfully, “Your highness, in all honesty, I find myself quite unwell.”
Seeing Eun Jung's distraught demeanor, the King ordered, “Tell me why you are unwell.” Glancing over towards Prince JiangSu; Eun Jung hesitated before turning back to the King to reply, “I’m unwell because I must make a request for something, which I know will upset you and the Prince.” Curious as to her application, the King asked, “What do you want?” To which, Eun Jung quickly replied, “I’ve come here today to ask that you dissolve the marriage between myself and Prince JiangSu.” Shocked to hear Eun Jung’s request; Prince JiangSu asked incredulously, “What did you just say?!” Equally shocked, the King demanded that Eun Jung clarify herself.
Retaking her formal bowed position; Eun Jung explained, “I can no longer live here. Although, your royal family may view me as a foreign Princess from an inconsequential kingdom; I cannot allow my pride to be taken away from me.” Holding up the blood stained ropes; Eun Jung continued to say, “I don’t know what my royal parents would say if they knew that their daughter was restrained by these course ropes like a common slave.” Bowing deeper onto the ground, Eun Jung pleaded tearfully, “Wise King, please dissolve this marriage so that I can return to my kingdom with my pride still intact.” Alarmed and dumbfounded by what he had just heard; the King turned to Prince JiangSu and asked, “What is your wife talking about?”
Observing Eun Jung’s stellar performance, Prince JiangSu finally understood what it was that she was up to and played along by saying, “Perhaps my wife thinks that Concubine Su’s palace training is too degrading.” As he finished his statement, Prince JiangSu proceeded to slightly lift Eun Jung’s hanbok to reveal her injuries. Seeing his father examine her injuries, Prince JiangSu continued to say, “I'm sure that my wife has never sustained injuries such as these in all her life.” Taking note of the stunned expression on the King’s face, Eun Jung quickly added, “Your highness, if you allow me to return home, I promise you that I will never tell my royal father about this incident. I don’t want the treaty between our two kingdoms to be broken over something like this. If you’ll dissolve this marriage, I’ll return home and tell my royal parents that I ran away and that you and Prince JiangSu were kind enough not to pursue me.”
Having heard more than enough; the King quickly walked over to Eun Jung and helped her up from the ground before calling for his attendants to get her a chair so that she could sit. Once she was properly seated, the King declared, “Princess Soo Jin, I will never agree to the dissolution of your marriage to my son. I know that you’ve endured a great injustice but ask that you trust me when I say that this will never happen again.” Turning to one of his imperial guards; the King demanded that Concubine Su be immediately summoned to his chambers. Observing the furious expression on his royal father’s face; Prince JiangSu knew that Concubine Su would soon lose her full authority over his wife. Taking his place by Eun Jung’s side, Prince JiangSu leaned in close and whispered, “I completely trust that you can take care of yourself.”
thnx 4 da update! 
