"I bow in respect before The Lord Nam." "I thought that I had called upon the Head Official of your department, where is he?" "Forgive me My Lord, but I am afraid that he has been called elsewhere and so he has sent me to you on his behalf." "I see, very well then, I have called you here to predict some of the recent events that will take place after The Third Prince's demise." "The heavens and the stars all align with this topic of discussion." "Is that so? Then why am I hearing about the head of the department telling The Emperor the exact opposite?" "My Lord, may I be frank with you?" "You may." "Your Lordship may have heard the saying 'positions are defined by their duties'…although I have never heard a saying for newly invented positions that seem to suit specific purposes." "Is that so? And how can I trust you to turn in your office against corruption?" "The Royal Family counts on my department's duties faithfully for many centuries in the past and many centuries in the future hopefully." "And what abut the role of the head of the department?" "He is granted both high authority….and a stipend for his selective prophecies." "You seem to be unafraid of divulging your department's secrets to me. Are you sure about what you are doing right now?" "My Lord, I didn't give up my childhood to train for this line of work just to fall into corruption for the rest of my life. Although I have discovered something to do with your personal inner circle, will you permit me to share with you?" "I am not a big believer in these superstitions, but if you believe it to be important, then I will hear you out." "If I may ask, do any of your associates have a name associated with the word 'wood'?" "Wood? I cannot think of anyone…apart from my sister=in=law's maiden family…" "They would've experienced misfortune recently; this person has an unfavourable constellation that will continue to give way to inauspicious events. They must be cut off from the rest of the world and may infect others with sickness if this does not happen as soon as possible." "I hear that some of the concubines that she fought with last have all mysteriously fallen ill before they are to be sent home to their paternal families. And if she is associated with this bad sign, who knows who will become her next victim? And as for you, would you like to become he head of your department instead?" "Thank you, Lord Nam."
*******************
"My Lady, are you feeling sad about something?" "The Widow Nam; she was my companion at some point and she stuck by me through a really difficult time when I was alone for a while." "My Lady, you have a kind heart and a lot of tolerance for your enemies. But you have high favour now from a man that may would kill to have by your side and he is surpassingly tender towards you." "My Lady, The Lord Nam calls upon you for dinner." "Very well, let him know that I shall join hm shortly, and please bring him the new dishes from the kitchen that I have made for him, but do not let him touch the desserts yet."
"…what is taking you so long wife? Hurry up and serve me food." "You have hands you know, you could have at least poured in some soup for yourself without wanting to be tended to every minute of the day." "And why would I want to do that?" "Because there will be no servants on our honeymoon or even in my father's village." "So what do you want me to do?" "How about you start serving yourself, and then you can serve me for once." "Alright." "Really?" "I have heard about people sexualising food with their women, but if you want to give it a go, then…" "Oh for goodness sake husband! At least be mindful of these servants that are within earshot of us!" "What can I say? I love making you blush."
"Have you seen your sister=in=law recently? What? What is it? Why are you laughing at me?" "Are we both going to sit around and just pretend that you didn't get to The Astrology Department before I did? And with a specific warning as well?" "I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about husband, you must be starved beyond belief to come up with such nonsense." "Is that so, wife?" "Just be quiet and eat your food."
"Will you really not see her again though?" "There is something in her quarters that make me want to stay with her for some reason, but she has no merits to her name, s why would I go out of the way to see her in the cold palace?" "Are you sure about those merits of hers?" "Wife…" "Ok ok, I'll stop teasing her already." "But I suppose your ill=omen trick has its use after all. The people in this place are pure savages and filled with ugly rumours to simply pass the time between them." "I will have no reason to feel aggrieved as long as you understand why I can come across that way. And if what you hear his unbearable, then there is no need to think about it at all." "Ad here I was, thinking that you can just be gentle and patient enough, but you still have a high tolerance level along with your calm composure." "I am all of that and more…simply because I am an innocent bystander to your…" "Wife…" "Just eat my food before it gets cold, will you?" "Don't tell me that you are throwing a tantrum like you used to when you…" "Husband!" "Ok ok, sheesh, I will never get on your bad side again."
"What are those on your table husband?" "The Astrology Department brought me some titles for my sister=in=law before you enact whatever plan you have in mind for her…but…." "But?" "Here, let me show you this and focus on the meaning of the words." "These are all good enough for wives I suppose, is this for me?" "These are for your enemies wife, you're female ones at that." "Is that so? These honorary titles are quite strong for the women that I have come across through; 'Choi' means mountains or pinnacles, which nether of them could overcome. 'Yun' means to govern, but not even the noble ladies that I came into contact with even bothered to expand their mindsets though knowledge at all. And Jeong means 'gentle?' These are some very exaggerated names that you have picked out here, husband…" "What about this one?" "Jung? To be quiet, gentle, modest, virtuous and chaste? Are you sure about this one, husband?" "A title given is a title that one has to live up to for the rest of their lives, isn't that so, wife?" "Husband?" "Jung…is similar to the name 'Jae', don't you think so? A lot of scholars do as well, or so I am told." "Jae'…to have talent and ability? Unlike…." "Exactly my point wife; it really is such a blessing to have someone that can ready my mind with such ease, it really does help me lift my burdens." "Don't you mean exploit?" "I will exploit you all I want and you won't do a thing about it; that is because more than one of our interests align and you know this, why else haven't you left me yet?"
"'It is because I cannot leave you even if I wanted to kill you out of sheer frustration right now…" "And why is that?" "You smug, egotistical, psychopathic man!" "I may be all of these things and more, but you are deeply in love with this 'smug, egotistical, psychopathic man' aren't you?" I couldn't even look him in the eyes as I straddled him once again and I buried my face into his neck as he continued to eat his meal in peace. But at the same time, I noticed that strong smell of his had weaned off a little and he wasn't sweating so much out of nowhere anymore. I figured that my cakes were really woking out for him and I needed to up my game to get him back on track, as being here with him now were some of the best days of our lives if the palace didn't interfere so much in our lives.
"Going back to this now; do not arouse suspicion from everybody else whilst you visit her. The other names are generally known as coupled names and it does not suit her status at all, especially when her mother was just a mere concubine. This will certainly churn up unfavourable gossip against me, if I gave these names to a woman who is in no position to expand my father's bloodline anymore." "Of course, this name has on reflect on her family as well; did you ever help them out? On account of her sister?" "No, she refused to let me help them and with good reason as well." Very well; you have been through enough in this matter and I shall end her with the rest of this burden, but…" "But?" "This shall be my very last time husband, I am warning you; I never planned to have this much bloodshed on my hands through my own journey of revenge and justice, but it stops here." "In saying so; are you telling me that you shall step interfering in palace matters once and for all, wife?" "After this I shall not interfere unless it directly affects my family." "Promise me wife; that you will step down and let me handle all matters from here on out." "I will promise you if you promise me to take a proper break from the palace." "You keep incessantly insisting on this promise of mine; it looks like you are finally able to open up your heart to me? In more ways than one?" "As long as you keep your promise to me…yes. You must keep all of my promises and those of my brother's…then I shall give you overhang that you want from me." "Everything?" "Everything."
"Servants! Call upon The Astrology Department and relay my words; I am disappointed in their choice of names and the servants who chose these names should be flogged 20 times each." "Husband….let us keep one of the good names for her sister's posthumous titles. She was a dedicated and loyal servant after all and she did meet her end because of us to some extent…" "What an excellent idea wife, I shall do just that. And what about your current servant, are you happy with her?" "She does a good job, but it is still too early to tell yet…and what about your servants, husband? Are you planning on….titling any of your favoured male servants…." "Look at me wife straight into my eyes; I will not title any of them if you do not wish for me to, I mean that. The fact that they serve me faithfully should be enough of a treat for them…." "Do you mean that? Honestly?" "I will keep them around for their use as we have agreed, but no male servant of mine is going to be titled and spoiled and so on and so forth when I have you , and you mean much more to me than they ever will." "Do you promise me?" "I promise you with whatever little sincerity I have left in me, wife." "Husband?" "Yes?" "I…trust you, more than I should at this point in time when you give me no answers at all. I…l love you, husband, and I miss you all of the time, even if you are with me."