I was practically walking on the clouds when I ran into my sister who was conversing with a brand new maid that i had never seen before, but she seemed to be a rather easy-going girl who would be perfect for myself instead, so i couldn't help myself but to eavesdrop on their conversations as i slowly made my way to approach her. "…these quarters have become rather dull of late, haven't they? One could catch the lonely sparrows here if they could…" "People reveal their true natures overtime i suppose; now i realise that the people that were once close to us were now simply taking advantage of My Lady's favour, especially when The Lord Nam hardly shows himself here at all." "That is right, My Lady will soon be at a dead-end if she looses her value like this, and only the useful ones can survive in the palace. And even if we become useful, we have to contend with being used by the around us and to use others in return, just like that greedy sister of mine." "That is true, but we must think of a solution now; maybe we can talk to Concubine Park to try and set them up together again?" This is exactly what i was fearful of and what I needed to prevent, and i needed to find a way to split my brother-in-law up from the woman who would take away my financial security away from me until i had at least secured another for myself. But now it seems that my sister was becoming an issue herself that I personally needed to deal with before i lost my place here in the palace.
"Sister? How may i help you?" "I just came by to pay a visit to your Young Mistress…" "Unfortunately, she has taken il during her recovery of the accident, in case you were not aware." "I see, and has Te Lord Nam visited her yet? Or are the rumours true that he has been avoiding her since the unfortunate accident?" "The Lord Nam has just been as busy as you have become recently sister." "Does she blame me for not visiting her enough? I just feel that she might become upset when she sees me since i didn't get hurt at all and...." "Thank you for your concern, but i venture you the next time that you spend the afternoon with Lord Nam, to please check in on his fiancée and the women that you address as sister since you elevated your social status." "I always ask him when i am with him, he has just become busy as of late and it will do you some good to remember that your disrespect towards me is the same as your mistress's, so take your voice down a notch, sister."
"…Sister-in-law, what brings you back to my office? And why are you serving me dinner? You should just let the servants tend to me, I do not mind…" "I told you already, i have n problem doing things to ease your burdens, especially at work." "Within his court, if the Emperor does not have law-abiding officials and worthy councillors, and if there are hostile states, his kingdom will come to ruin. And hence in calamity, one thrives in comfort and in ease, he perishes. Do you know what this is?" "Isn't this Confucius and Mencius?" "So you are educated to an extent, which will be helpful in your new relationship with The Third Prince. Wealth and comfort will corrode one's resolve, it just always will..." "You have spoken a lot recently, here, have some water to soothe your throat." "If Yeon were here, she would converse at length with me." "Seo Yeon is well-read and talented indeed, and her insights into history are always thoughtful." "I heard that she fell ill during autumn, how is she now?" "Her depression seems to come from the heart, and it will become better if you visited her." "The closer to home you get, the more insecure you become." "I heard that she is recovering well i suppose...." "I thought that you were close, how comes you haven't been visiting her recently?" "My son is going through his terrible two stages, so i have been kept quite busy." "Appearances matter the most, so she needs to heal up properly so that i can pay her a visit myself." "What if you just send her to her brother now so that she can be comforted by him?"
"She must harbour resentments towards me, it will not be good for her brother to hear about it, in fact it could fuel her anger even more." "You seem to have considered the angles that i did not, forgive me. One errs and then one corrects, i think. I have heard that before. i often make mistakes in front of you, so i have strived to rectify them. I hope that you appreciate my efforts…" "I do, as long you have some sense about you, unlike Yeon at the moment." "A man is always right, at least that is what i was taught by my betters when I used to serve your family." "Why don't you join me for dinner?" "T thought that you have appointments elsewhere tonight?" "I shall meet them another time, so why don't you just accompany me here? And is that a Shu Brocade dress that you are wearing right now?" "You remember awarding this to me after the brith of my son? It was the only present that i had gotten at the time…" "It looks good on you, i shall even reward you of Yeon's share since she will have no need for it right now." "Thank you, My Lord."
I only left his presence for a total of 5 minutes when my servant pulled me to the side to inform me that my sister had been punished by another concubine to kneel outside of a residence that was close to where i was situated and i had to take my chance since she was always paired to Yeon by the hip. But it doesn't seem that anybody else was informed, which made my chances even better to get rid of her once and for all. But by the time that i returned, I could already hear Yeon's vice prattling on, easing him as usual so that he couldn't forget here for even a single moment. "...i hear that you have selected your own sister-in-law to keep you company tonight instead of visiting your sick fiancé, Lord Nam. How could you do this to me? To us? What about our future together?" "What do expect from me after everything that has happened at The Chung residence? You didn't even need to come here tonight, you should just focus on your rest and go to sleep early Yeonnie…" "Of course, she has only gained favour recently, and you should be more caring towards your sister-in-law. i should just go and not let her wait in vain for your company. Allow me to take my leave..." "Wait! Do not leave yet, not in anger like this?" "I really wonder how long you will make her wait in anticipation like this for you whilst i guard an empty bed, because your promises carry weight, do they not? And a gentlemen should never eat their words when it comes to women, haven't you learned that yet?" "But i do want you here with me…" "Then why don't you prove it to me? Because as long as you have me in your heart, then why would i content with anyone else?" "Yeon?" "It doesn't matter who you stay with, as long as who your heart stays with…"
"...My Lord, i have brought you some water…oh, welcome Seo Yeon, i haven't seen you for a while now..." "I wasn't particularly heard to reach out to, you could have always dropped by my quarters if that was the case." Seo Yeon, why can't you just leave us alone! that is right, i was avoiding you on purpose so that i could breathe for once without your shadow following me around everywhere that i went! Why should i have gone out of my way to care about you when my brother-in-law didn't? Nobody pitied me in your absence for the very first time, so why couldn't you have stayed away for longer so that i could breathe a little more? If everyone starts paying attention to her now again, then who will even look my way or hear what i have to say at all? even thought The Third Prince kept calling me in for a while, which made others assume that i had been called into favour, nobody really knew that al he wanted was to get updates about Yeon's recovery. Who will call for me now when she is all better like this? No, i have had enough now; i was going to have to punish Yeon the same way that i just did to my own sister…
"My Lord, I forgot to give you this satchel that i had made in my spare time, i really hope that you like it..." "Yeon just made me one a few days ago before we went over to The Chung residence, having to many would be unnecessary." "Of course, my needlework cannot compare to hers and…" "Do not be foolish sister, your skills are far superior than my own when it came to Lord Nam's belt and fan tassel, which are both made by your hand. They truly attest to your skills and you shouldn't put yourself down so much, you sound so much like a victim of circumstance instead of the well-off widow that your brother-in-law is funding, which is already a lot better than most noble widows today, do you not agree?" Her words even stunned my brother-in-law into silence, but it still wasn't enough to make him open his mouth to defend me, especially when Yeon sat next to him and wrapped her arms around him, leaving her head resting into his shoulders and him with a blushing face.
"That is just because he doesn't mind my curse handiwork." "It seems good enough to keep in my bedchambers…" "My work is clumsy and inept, but i am glad as long as you like it. The sachet that Yeon made suits your noble temperament, but this looks unsophisticated. Her sewing and embroidery is just improving wih time and if you make a pair with Mandarin ducks, it will show your tender affection towards him and..." "I have been making my own winter clothes, that is why. The household Department has suddenly become too busy to look after me since my accident, so i have had to make them myself for a change..." "ENOUGH!" My brother-in-law seemed to have lost his temper at something, and it made him angry enough to slam the table in front of him and break almost everything on it. It was enough to make me scream in fear whilst Yeon didn't even blink an eyelid. It looked like she was far used to his temperament and continued to rest on his back as he sat panting like a madman.
"That would be thoughtful, but if he goes about wearing this day and night, it will look over-sentimental whilst one with an animal will show his authority in the palace.." "Ah, so i can...." "But i can slo make one and keep it in his bedchamber next to yours." "My Lord? is everything alright…" "Forgive me, i have just received news about General Choi…The Third Prince will not punish him beyond the law, and it looks like he himself is trying to bribe some officials in the court to speak on his behalf if he ever returns here through his servants."
"But My Lord…." "What are you transcribing now, Yeon? You're calligraphy seems to have improved vastly." "Just some new poems that i picked up from The Imperial Library. This night that brings a full moon and blooming flowers, may my beloved and i long abide in this peaceful life. Here, take this and place it above your bed for me, to remember me by." "My goodness, you two are truly so affectionate towards each other. This is a romantic story for the ages…this is such fortune that many others cannot enjoy…" "My Lord, you must make up with your sister-in-law, for she is being sill as dour and vinegar." "You always tease me Yeon, how could i ever be as sour with your blossoming relationship?" "Behave wife, my sister-in-law here is the mildest of women, and if she is sour as vinegar, then it will be fresh vinegar before it turns sour."