“There was also the Queen Mother.”
As Lee Hak-soo entered Daejeon, he looked at Hong Jungjeon who was sitting by the King’s side. Then he started to smirk and was being sarcastic.
He leaned towards the King and the Queen. Lee Hak-soo opened his mouth.
“Your belly is quite a bit bigger, my Queen. You also look good.”
Then the Queen laughed, hiding the King’s blood on her hands .
“It’s all thanks to Councilor Lee.”
“As you say, I don’t know where to place you. You should have a safe delivery.”
“Yes, I should.”
The queen clenched her teeth. She is aware that the King’s life was like a candle in front of the wind. But she didn’t cry.
The king has offered to demote her and have her leave the palace in order to escape from the Councilor Lee and his followers.
Yet, the Queen refused his offer. She didn’t want to let go of the king’s hand.
‘-I. . I shall choose to die. Even if I get killed, I will die with you, Your Majesty.’
Although they got married politically, they were in love. They deeply trusted and treasured each other very much.
Yoojun, the King, was born as the son of a concubine from Mussoorie, and became the only King’s bloodline in Gwangju, which he viewed as an enemy.
So, the concubine’s son, Yoojun, was appointed as the crown prince and sat on the throne as the King of Joseon who succeeded the late King, Seon Hwang.
His poor background always held him back and there weren’t any support forces.
It was Lee Hak Soo who brought Hong Jungjeon into the palace. Under the pretext of Yoojun’s poor birth, the seat of the throne was easily controlled. Since it was a palace where there is no proper adult, Lee Hak Soo was relieved.
“ -Because you are the King of the unchanging bloodline, the great and small gods are not willing to put you on the seat of the Queen Mother.”
Lee Hak Soo once again talked about the King’s lowly birth, and the Junggung Palace was also organized with his own people. However, as time passed by, the clever and wise Hong Jungjeon turned to the poor King’s side instead of Lee Hak Soo and repeatedly confronted Lee and his company on behalf of the King.
Lee Hak Soo confronted the Queen.
“-You pledged to become my person on the condition of saving you and your family. By the way, how thick can your skin be and you dared to turn your back on me?”
The Queen pleaded.
“You are not on the throne but you’re controlling everything. Please leave the poor King alone. I’m going to live in the palace quietly as if I am dead. Please let me keep the lives of him, me, and my child.”
However, Lee Hak Soo did not leave Hong Jungjeon and Yoojun happy.
Although he had the King under his feet and the jade was already in his hands, the situation changed as his first son Hwi Hyeon, the only King’s blood and flesh, appeared in the outside world.
“-You must establish the dignity of the royal family by proclaiming that you are the only heir to the throne, Prince Hwi Hyeon!”
When it was forgotten, the King’s forces raised their heads and prevented Lee Hak Soo’s greed.
It was in the name of correcting the national text and establishing the discipline of the country. It was enough to threaten the position of Lee Hak Soo, who has held the power for a long time.
And behind it was Hong Jungjeon. Just as Hong Jungjeon revitalized the burning fire, she began to gather forces one by one to defeat Lee Hak Soo’s power and restore the dignity of the royal family.
Taking the lead is the only blood relative, crown prince Hwi Hyeon, Hong Jungjeon brought the hearts of the royal members together. That fact was soon heard by Lee Hak Soo.
“-Kill them. I won’t let anyone stand in my way.”
The day when young Hwi Hyeon was appointed as the crown prince, he got poisoned. He started to scream in agony as his body turned blue.
Poisoning the prince was an open treason but no one was arrested.
Seonggyungwan students also protested to reveal the full extent of the poisoning of the young crown prince, but they had to withdraw cleanly in less than half a day at Lee Hak Soo’s order.
Daeso Shinryo, who was raising an appeal, also quietly shut his mouth at the first stroke of Lee Hak-soo’s sword and remained silent before the death of the prince.
All the Royal members also turned their backs on the King, saying that the actions against Lee Hak Soo were reckless.
As usual on the King’s side, only the Queen stood alone. Also, as always, Lee Hak Soo was standing on top of the King.
“ -How, how could you kill him, Councilor Lee! What is the sin that that little child did?!”
“ -The sin of being born as the son of a fading King. If you are going to act against my will again, the seed of another King in your womb will die.”
“-Councilor!”
“-Don’t bother me. I will stop anyone who is against me.”
Jungjeon grinded her teeth again, recalling Lee Hak Soo on that day. While stroking the child in her womb making small footsteps, Jungjeon strengthened her whole body to avoid distractions.
She wasn’t afraid of Lee Hak Soo who she’s facing anymore.
Even the King of this country will eventually fall into the hands of evil, and soon her life will follow the King to the abyss, but the Queen remains resolute. She has to protect this one child in her womb.
“How is Your Majesty’s condition?”
Lee Hak Soo looked up at the royal doctor who was standing next to the King.
“He is showing signs of improvement.”
“That’s fortunate, Your Majesty. You have to live to see this noble baby like the last lineage of Joseon.”
“What kind of a fool are you, Councilor Lee.”
“Tsk tsk. Since there is no heir, what do you do with this, my Queen ?”
“Don’t tell me. What do you mean by the last blood? There’s no hindsight.”
“Your Majesty, you’re still so strong, don’t you think you should make another heir?”
“Hahahahahaha! My Queen, you are really. That joke is too much.”
Lee Haksoo laughed out loud and glanced at the Queen. However, Jung-jeon kept her firm expression with her eyes down.
Right now, she wanted to cut off the head of the beast, but she couldn’t.
Jungjeon suppressed and repressed her rising anger and maintained her calm.
“How much time left until you’re due, my Queen?”
“Why do you ask, Councilor Lee?”
“The childbirth of the Queen is like a national celebration. All the people, the old and young believers, have been praying for the safe delivery of Jungjeon the Queen. How can I not ask that? Make sure to have a safe delivery.”
As soon as four years after giving birth to a child, that child will be dead.
Whether it’s a prince or a princess, they will never live. So, the death of their child will be the starting point to announce the end of the country, and the beginning of a new history.
The day when Lee Haksoo takes over this royal family, and his son ascends the throne, all the people will bow down to him.
It was his ambition to hold and shake Joseon. At Lee Hak Soo’s mean smile, Jungjeon wrapped her arms around her stomach.
Knowing the hidden meaning behind Lee Hak Soo’s scripture, Jungjeon has no choice but to clench her hands and smile, hiding her inner thoughts like a poisonous flower.
“Yes. According to the wish of Councilor Lee, I will definitely give birth, and I will continue the lineage of Joseon.”
“Thank you for coming a long way, My Queen.”
The chief monk bowed his head as he looked at Sansa Temple, which was quite full.
Jungjeon joined her hands together and stepped carefully into the Sansa Temple.
Jungjeon headed to Sansa with a couple of palace officials in order to pray for a safe delivery. Ju Ji Seung, who was waiting for the Queen, was bickering among the Thasa Royals.
“The monk is still there. Why are you going so far away?”
“Haha. They are all old and weak. My Queen, you don’t look well. Let’s go somewhere warm.”
Ju Ji Seung looked down at the Queen’s round belly with
a kind smile.
“Do you have a name in mind, my Queen? It is a precious person.”
“The King has a name for a pretty princess. But I don’t know if this child will be a princess or a prince.”
Jungjeon smiled shyly and put her cold hands tightly together.
Then, Ju Ji Seung looked up at the Queen, the gentle smile is still hanging on his mouth, and shook his head.
“It will be the last hope for this country. She will be a pretty princess, My Queen.”
“Ah!”
Jungjeon couldn’t hide her joy at the words ‘princess’ and touched her stomach. She looked towards Ji Seung, trying to wipe away her tears.
“Monk, is this child really a princess?”
“Yes. A very pretty and intelligent princess is coming.”
“This child. . then this child, can she live?”
“My Queen.”
“This child! I can’t live without it.”
Ji Seung shook his head quietly, holding the Queen’s cold hands starting to tremble as if excited.
“If you are afraid, the princess will feel it too.”
“Monk!”
“Now, don’t ask about anything, but be sure to take it easy.”
Sitting in front of the warm fire, Ji Seung gave tea to Jungjeon and smiled again. As if it wasn’t the time yet, he comforted and cherished the swaying Queen.
“Ahh! Ahh!”
A scream began to shake the mountain temple, where the deep darkness had settled. A light was soon lit up in the chief monk’s room. Then, he ran to the place where the scream could be heard.
The nine people who came with Jungjeon also started to run out to the Queen’s room.
“My Queen! What am I supposed to do? We have a month left before the birth!”
“What am I going to do about the lack of a midwife?”
“Monk!”
Jungjeon started to scream and rolled around the room. Childbirth has begun. Soon, blood began to form on the hem of the Queen’s dress.
“Gosh! Hurry up, quickly!”
Childbirth started in a deep mountain!
It was unreasonable in this place where not a single device for childbirth was not properly equipped.
However, the labor pain has started so there is no choice.
The nine men and female monk who came with Jungjeon took water from the wash basin with a cloth and headed to Jungjeon.
“Oh! Ouch!”
“My Queen, please push harder!
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
The Queen’s scream deepened and the hands of nine people began to move busily. A birth that began without a midwife, without a proper instrument for childbirth.
“Push! My Queen, push!”
“My Queen, I see it! I see it! Give me a little more strength!”
It was then.
Jungjeon, who was screaming in a single word, shook up the mountain temple in which darkness had settled upon the loss of her consciousness.
“Wah, wahhhhhh!”
It was a child’s cry.
Jungjeon, the last bloodline of Joseon.
A princess was born!
“My Queen … Are you awake?”
When the Queen, who had been in a deep sleep as soon as she gave birth, opened her eyes faintly, Ju Jiseung bowed his head toward the Queen. Only then did Jungjeon, who found consciousness, exhaled a harsh breath and groped the floor with her fingers and palms.
“Baby, my baby!”
Like a person possessed by something, Ju Jiseung gave the child he was holding in his arms towards Jungjeon who was looking for the baby. Only then did the Queen burst into tears and hugged the baby in her arms and crumbled.
“My baby!”
“The Princess is here, My Queen.”
Jungjeon was crying and touching her face to the face of the baby who had fallen asleep. She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it was real as she looked down at the baby sleeping in her arms, moving her ten fingers. Court lady Joo Sanggung, who headed to Sansa with Jungjeon, bowed to the floor in tears.
“Congratulations! My Queen. I still couldn’t believe it.”
A princess was born in Sansa mountain temple with nothing. Besides, there was one month left before childbirth. Jungjeon looked up at the chief monk, wiping her tears and looking up at the baby with deep eyes.
“This is a child who I gave birth a month early or so. Besides, in Sansa!”
“It was almost a big deal. It’s a sudden birth, but we didn’t have any problems…”
“The baby is healthy, right? I will quickly bring this good news to the King.”
“Please look over the surroundings, My Queen.”
Looking at Ju Jiseung’s deepened face, Jungjeon bit her lips as she knew what was about to come. Soon, in the small room, only three main monks, Jungjeon and Joo Sanggung the court lady remained. Ju Jiseung, staring blankly at the burning candle, opened his mouth with difficulty.
“Royal Princess.”
“…..!”
“A life came just to die.”
“Monk!”
Again, like hearing the lightning bolt strike at the chief monk’s words, Jungjeon held the child in her arms as if the sky was collapsing. Joo Sanggung also trembled with her mouth open, wondering what kind of repressive fate it was.
“Do I have to lose my child again in the hands of Councilor Lee?”
“I am sorry, My Queen.”’
“What should I do! Please, please tell me the way.”
Jungjeon knelt on both knees and begged for the chief monk’s mercy. Joo Sanggung hurriedly stopped the Queen but hesitated as she wondered if she should. While holding the little princess tightly in her arms, the Queen shed tears. She begged and cried until her tears dry.
“Please save me Monk! Please .. Please, only this child!”
“Isn’t this the will of heaven?”
“Monk, please!”
“On an unplanned day today, and in an unexpected place.”
“What is the birth of the Princess, My Queen?”
As he spit out the meaningful words, Jiseung closed his eyes gently. Jungjeon looked down at the Princess who was still asleep without knowing the world from her arms with a tearful face. Her heart became hot. Again, she didn’t want to face the brutal fate of losing this child. Her heavy tears poured over the sleeping Princess’s face.
“The will of heaven …this.”
This child is about to die. So, she has to save it. At this point, light arose in her eyes that were losing focus.
Ju Jiseung opened his closed eyes and looked at Jungjeon. At that moment, their eyes collided violently.
“Ju Sanggung.”
“Yes, My Queen?”
“From now on, this child.. It is a child that does not exist in the world.”
“My Queen!!!”
Joo Sanggung was astounded by the Queen’s words and clenched her fists.
The Queen, who uttered the words, was also in pain as if her heart was broken. In Sansa mountains where darkness was darker than before, was filled with the mournful cries of wild animals.
“I will kill to save.”
Ju Jiseung stared at the Queen with a strange look, and soon dropped her head and joined together. Her eyes grew deeper and felt unbearably sad. Jungjeon’s heart as she spoke those words seemed torn to pieces.
“How? What will you do?”
“Make the nine people crack down.”
“I haven’t given birth to this child today.”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“I haven’t yet. You must have this child in your stomach. Go to Sagaro right now, my friend Yoohee is there.”
“……”
“Can swear an oath?”
“My Queen?”
“Keeping my secret.”
Joo Sanggung left the room as it was. Ju Jiseung opened his closed eyes and looked up at Jungjeon, who seemed to have a determined face.
“My Queen.”
“I will keep it, monk.”
“…..”
“If we go back, this child will die as you said.”
“This child .. I have to kill it with my own hands.”
Jungjeon repressed the boiling anger and sorrow while embracing the child who had not yet opened her eyes.
****
“My Queen! How! Gongju Village is such a shabby place!”
Less than a day after Ju Sanggung left Sansa, the Queen’s long-time friend Yoohee, set foot on the mountain temple with tearful eyes. As promised, Yoohee secretly went to the Sansa Temple with a lot of herbal ingredients for Jungjeon’s nourishment.
“Yoohee!”
“My Queen, how is your body?”
Because of crying all the way to Sansa mountain, Jungjeon was struck with Yoohee’s swollen eyes and the swollen milk breasts had not subsided. Jungjeon barely endured the tears as she looked at Yoohee.
“I’m sorry. I can’t stand seeing you like this. You would have been out of your mind.”
“No, My Queen. You don’t need to be sorry.”
Yoohee wiped her tears with the back of her hand and lifted her head. Jungjeon’s lips shook while warmly holding Yoohee’s red swollen hands. The face of Jungjeon, who became more agitated, was sad. Yoohee looked down at Jungjeon’s cold hands touching hers, wiping away the warm tears that flowed through her eyes.
Jungjeon looked at Yoohee’s red eyes while struggling to say the words.
“Did you send the child well?”
“Yes, thanks to My Queen’s heartfelt comfort, I had a funeral for my child.
“I spent a lot of time here because of an illness. How was the life and death of an early child told to the family?”
“ She had a weak heart, my Queen.”
Yoohee’s voice trembled sadly.
“Yes, it’s only been a matter of days since you’ve lost your child, but I gave birth to this newborn baby, and it’s not convenient for you.”
“Don’t say that. I am not the princess’ mother. The savior of the country is coming. Congratulations, my Queen.”
Jungjeon’s old friend, Yoohee, also gave birth to a pretty girl before Dalpo. Yoohee was the wife of a court’s chief judge, who has been a close friend with Jungjeon since the days of Saga. She was a smart and polite noble woman who possessed a unique insight into her studies. However, within a day after giving birth, she began to suffer from anxiety, so the baby was sent to her relative’s home. None of the scholars in Hanyang could find the child’s disease’s name, and her delicate life was dying just like that. The child died 2 days after the sickness, according to the maid’s words. In order to comfort her friend who was sorrowed with great sadness, the Queen secretly went down to the province to comfort her friend. The relationship between the two was as close as it could be.
“Yoo….”
“Yes, my Queen.”
Jungjeon called the name of her best friend with difficulty. Yoohee raised her head with a sad face.
“I didn’t want to ask you to do anything … But I only have you.”
The Queen’s voice trembled pitifully. Yoohee held her hands and cried out.
“Tell me.”
“This child.. I have to kill it.”
“What?!”
Yoohee was surprised at the Queen’s trembling voice that she had to kill, and bit her lips. Warm tears poured out of the dark and clear eyes of the Queen.