"Concubine Chung, have you been imitating the walk of the ladies from the early Qin Dynasty?" "I did not expect The Concubine Park to recognise this style of walk, I always thought that you had limited education due to your family background..." "I hear from your sister that you practise this way of walking specifically to preform for your absent husband; The Qin Dynasty ladies would walk this way rather gracefully, like willows swaying in the breeze, whereas you yourself will leave a sense of disappointment if you show that to him without getting in a bit more practise." Concubine Park remarked as we ladies made our way to one of the hundreds of dining halls in the palace. "I didn't expect your tastes to elevate so quickly after serving His Highness for only over a year or two, Your Highness." "Poor imitation can be just as tasteless as assumptions, don't you think? How is that lovely daughter of yours, by the way?" "Are you openly mocking me, My Lady? For birthing a mere daughter after all of the scandal that i was involved in just to conceive her?" "It doesn't matter what we do, as long as our husband's approve of it, isn't that right Seo Yeon?" "You are just a dog skin plaster...." "As ling as it works, it is still useful, but when using a rotten once, be careful of infections and unpleasant smells…"
"Now things have changed, since i was always the one that used to help you out." "Are you blaming me, Yeon?" "I am not." "Do you blame me for not telling you about it?" "Telling me about what?" "About how close I have become with The Third Prince in your absence? It was all very last minute and…and my brother-in-law was the one who warned me not to tell you about it and i didn't want to dampen his spirits after his accident. I truly was in no position to disobey him…" "Mistress Nam...." "I also thought that my being in favour would help you and your family also." "Sister, I am not upset in the least about your new blessings in the least, in fact i am happy for you. But you should have let me know about your recovered voice, it really took me by surprise when i heard you singing last night." "You must understand that there are orders that we must obey, however unwilling, just like the bulrushes that perish in autumn time. i shall only make something of myself in the palace when I have gained somebody's favour…" "I understand that everyone acts contrary to their feelings sometimes, especially in a place like this, so you do not have to explain yourself anymore." "...ladies, our lunch is getting cold, so let us make our way now."
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"I cannot help but to notice the dark circles under your eyes Madame Chung, is everything alright with you? You look as though you have not slept for a long time...." "I thank you for your concern Concubine Park, and it is indeed true; I haven't been able to sleep since Seo Yeon's accident, but…" "But?" "But I also seem to be inflicted with morning sickness and I can barely keep any food down as of late." "If your appetite is spoiled sister, then maybe you should try harder to eat less instead of making the kitchens deliver food to you like flowing water." "Unfortunately, that is the reality of having more than one child sister, they like to snack in between their meals." "I do not seem to understand…" "Congratulations on your pregnancy Madame Jung! Now I know why you have put this lunch together for us. Your body is worth gold right now, so let us get on with our lunch so that Madame Chung can get her nutrients in for the day. You must also consume a lot of abalone ginseng wing stomach every day if possible." "Thank you Concubine Park; and i shall not hold my sister's snide comments against her. The bitterness of being pregnant is not something that everyone can experience unfortunately." "Are you forgetting that i also gave birth just a few weeks ago? Pregnant women like to act like they've got the grand prize and show if off to anyone, just like little girls who have yet to see the world yet." "The Master Chung doesn't have many descendants apart from his adopted children, so this is wonderful news Madame Chung. No wonder your husband has been sneaking off to spend more time with you when he could." "Seo Yeon! You are making me blush!" "And what about your sister over here? Even if she does come from a much humbler family, didn't she gain favour for some time after her marriage…."
"I seem to be no better than the widowed Mistress Nam over here, who has had the shortest-lived marriage with the shortest-lived title. She certainly is an old-crow that jumped to the highest branch indeed, but what do you expect of someone who used to be a mere maid in her husband's household? I guess some women do have their own set of skills…" "Skills that are rather similar to yours, Concubine Chung? Since you both got pregnant out of wedlock at the same time? Why don't you learn to humble yourself, especially after the trouble that you landed your own husband in? i still haven't received an apology from you about the incident that occurred in your marital home and at your request."
"You…" "Isn't it true that many memorandums have already come in for your brother, Concubine Chung because of his unwavering loyalty to General Choi? I hear that is putting your husband in a very awkward position with The Third Prince. There are even rumours that your husband and brother are going to collude together to…" Mistress Nam! who the hell do you think you are to spew such dangerous nonsense in the palace!" "…so maybe you shouldn't speak ill of others when you are guilty of the same crimes, despite your rank. The Mistress Nam has now come into favour of The Third Prince, which means that she is in everyone's favour. Jealousy is a rather distasteful emotion that is displayed by the weaker person, you would think that you yourself have never experienced such joy before." "Seo Yeon speaks the truth; Mistress Nam is modest and mild-mannered, and if she is the best person to soothe my husband's heart, then so be it." "The tenderness in a woman is always the medicine for a man's sorrow, isn't that right, sister-in-law?" "I…." "…if there were anyone else to gain my husband's interests, I would have helped you out due to the harem's poor condition, Mistress Nam. The concubines Kim and Choi are supposedly dead, another concubine in the harem has just suffered from a miscarriage and the others just do not interest him at all." "As long as you do no take it s a personal affront, Concubine Park that another woman outside of the harem can assuage your husband's guilt." "Everything that i do is for my husband, who always greatly rewards me in return. And there should always be someone to serve our husbands under Confucius laws. If only everyone can be as harmonious as Seo Yeon and Mistress Nam, how much more pleasant things should be." "There are a lot of chrysanthemums in the field, so how can you tell which one is the better one?" "The better flower lies in the eye of the beholder, Concubine Chung."
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"The Shu Brocade that The Master Chug awarded you before he left is simply exquisite My Lady, you will definitely look charmingly elegant when you wear it upon his return. All that is precious should belong to you…" "But according to everyone in my husband's friend's harem, I am still far to humble to wear this after birthing a daughter that nobody in the family cares about." "But My lady, he still gifts you expensive and luxurious things...." "I might as well gift it all to The Mistress Nam for all this is worth, it looks like she is quite desperate to replace Seo Yeon's favour in the palace. She is far too sharp and domineering to be let anywhere near The Royal Family anyways, but The Mistress Nam seems to be more sensible once she gains a new sense of perspective and guidance. Surely having her as a spy for my husband will gain me favour..." "But My Lady, you are already taking so many medicines every-time after you consummate your marriage and you are still rather young. You have ample years to conceive another baby and all of these other concubines will try to sabotage your position and your pregnancy just like you are doing to your own sister…."
"...Congratulations on your recent service Madame Chung! But i must deliver the physicians biddings to you before i go on about my own chores as usual…" "Very well, since it is in the family rules, i should continue to drink this as not to upset my in-laws…" "Madame Chung, we also have some soup prepared for the children by The Master Chung who has just left the residence." "I shall thank him for his gesture as soon as he returns home," "My Lady, there are ugly rumours that The Emperor wishes to catch The Master Chung, your half-brother, General Choi and even The Third Prince in one swoop and that the monarchy wishes to reprimand these man fr their arrogant conduct against The Royal Family..." "my husband will make the right decision to keep his family alive rather than collude with the monarchy's enemies. Even if he dies make any mistakes, he will always repent for his actions and not fall into vices such as bribery. His home is one of the few richest in the kingdom and he will never do anything to harm anyone of us."