What? Is he saying this in his right mind? When I said I might die, is he thinking ‘Great! That’s perfect!’? Is he happier if I die like this because he won’t have to bother doing anything?

I stared at my disciple with my mouth open at his bewildering response. He put on an excessively sad expression and held both my hands tightly as he continued speaking.

“If it’s better for you to die than not marry me, then you should die, Master. But if you were to pass away like that-”

It would be unbearable, right? So you’re telling me not to die?

“This disciple will hold a spiritual wedding ceremony with you, Master.”

Has this bastard gone mad?

“I will remain celibate for life, living while longing for you, Master.”

You rotten bastard!

A smile played at the corners of his eyes. This disciple was completely toying with me. When I glared at him angrily, he let go of my hands and smiled mockingly.

“Master, you value your own life more than anything else in the world. You are not someone who would ever commit suicide for anyone.”

“!”

As my disciple seemed to be enjoying watching my flustered reaction, he leisurely put his hands behind his back, turned around, and said:

“Today it seems you don’t have the composure to teach anyone, Master. You should go back and rest.”

“……”

Hearing those words, tears welled up in my eyes. Because I felt that this bastard truly hated me terribly.

Of course he would. According to him, I had poisoned my disciple multiple times. Even being poisoned once would make a disciple this scared and wary of me. Since he claims to have been poisoned multiple times, those feelings must be even stronger.

But in my memories, I only recall being victimized by my disciple, so it was heartbreaking to see him act like this towards me.

“…Are you crying?”

When my disciple glanced at me and asked in surprise, I quickly turned and ran away, not wanting to show him my sobbing face.

As I ran, I looked back and fortunately my disciple wasn’t chasing after me. It seems that while my crying was unexpected, he wasn’t concerned enough to chase after me in surprise.

I went straight to a secluded spot in the Grand Garden and crouched down under a large tree.

The Grand Garden is the largest garden in the palace, but because it’s so vast, there are many secluded areas where people don’t go.

The path from the Moon Infinity Palace to the Grand Garden is also the same, so hardly anyone passes through here. That’s why I deliberately chose this spot.

How long did I sob there? A few leaves fluttered down from above.

“?”

Startled, I looked up to see the 3rd Prince hiding in the tree with an awkward expression.

“Your Highness? Why are you here again?”

I asked in surprise, and the 3rd Prince explained in an embarrassed voice:

“I come here often. The tree is big so it’s good for hiding. You suddenly appeared and started crying so sadly, I couldn’t make my presence known.”

As I hastily took out a handkerchief and wiped my eyes, the 3rd Prince came down from the tree, almost falling. His landing skills are still clumsy, I see.

Seeing him stagger, my tears suddenly stopped flowing. I quickly reached out my hand, worried he might fall. The 3rd Prince grasped my hand to steady himself and said sheepishly:

“Thank you. It’s easy to climb up but always difficult to come down.”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

As I was still worriedly examining him despite his answer, I felt the 3rd Prince carefully pulling his hand out of mine.

“I apologize!”

I hurriedly let go of his hand and apologized. The 3rd Prince knows I’m a woman. He must be conscious of me as a woman, so I needed to be careful in my actions. Fortunately, the 3rd Prince immediately smiled and replied:

“It’s alright.”

It was a smile that didn’t seem to be conscious of me as a woman at all. He knows I’m a woman, but it doesn’t seem to bother him much. I’m not sure if I should be relieved or disappointed.

…Let’s say I’m relieved. There’s no chance of anything happening between me and the 3rd Prince anyway.

The 3rd Prince carefully examined me and asked:

“Are you alright? Every time I see the Envoy from Yi, you seem to be sad.”

“I just had some issues…”

“Issues?”

“It’s nothing major.”

After I said that, I realized my words didn’t make sense. If it was nothing major, why would I have been sobbing?

But instead of pressing further, the 3rd Prince took out his own handkerchief and held it out to me. He must have noticed my handkerchief was damp.

I quickly held out both hands and carefully accepted his handkerchief.

“I’m honored.”

The 3rd Prince’s handkerchief, the 3rd Prince’s handkerchief! As I hurriedly tucked the handkerchief into my bosom, I screamed internally at my foolish action.

‘Why are you keeping the handkerchief he gave you to wipe your tears! The 3rd Prince will think it’s strange!’

When I looked up anxiously, sure enough. The 3rd Prince was rubbing his cheek with an awkward expression. He must think I’m odd. You stupid Yo Yohwa!

But it would be strange to take out the handkerchief again, so I quickly made an excuse:

“I’ll wash it well when I get home and return it to you. The 3rd Prince’s handkerchief is a precious item, so I don’t think I should use it carelessly here. I’ll use it carefully, wash it well, and then return it to you.”

Oh my mouth, please shut up! I finally managed to close my mouth and clasped my hands together. Fortunately, the 3rd Prince smiled lightly. He didn’t look like he thought I was a foolish and pathetic envoy from Yi.

Maybe he thinks we don’t have enough handkerchiefs at home. I hope that’s what he thinks!

“You’re not crying anymore.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean you. You’re not crying anymore now.”

Because shame took precedence over sadness… I answered truthfully only in my mind while unnecessarily looking over his shoulder.

I wanted to look at the 3rd Prince’s face, but I felt it would be embarrassing to make eye contact. I wanted to act a bit more dignified in front of the 3rd Prince. But I ended up showing him my sobbing face.

‘Huh?’

What’s that red thing over there? Am I seeing things? I thought I glimpsed the reddish hem of my disciple’s clothes in the distance…

When I tried to look more closely, there was no one to be seen anymore. Plus, there were red maple trees everywhere, so I couldn’t tell if what I saw was a fallen leaf or my disciple’s clothes.

“Envoy from Yi?”

As I kept staring in that direction, the 3rd Prince called out to me quizzically. I quickly turned my gaze away.

There’s no way the 13th Prince would have come over there. He’s the type who wouldn’t even blink an eye even if I cried my eyes out right in front of him.

After returning home, I wrote a letter of resignation as I had warned the 13th Prince.

He’s right. I have no intention of dying just because the 13th Prince is marrying Lin Hwa. What’s the point of living like this in the first place? It’s to live out my natural lifespan without dying. Dying is absolutely not an option.

Let’s submit the resignation letter. After submitting it, let’s flee to the hiding place that Master Yu gave me before. I’ll observe the situation from there, and if I hear that the 13th Prince shows no further interest in me, I’ll return home then.

If I can’t work in an official position, I’ll have to live off the family fortune.

Two days later, I carefully packed the resignation letter I had written yesterday and left to dry by the window into an elegant envelope and tucked it securely in my bosom.

As I walked to enter the palace, it was strange. Usually, I hardly know anyone on the way to the Moon Infinity Palace.

But oddly enough, the gazes of the people passing by today were a bit strange. Not everyone, but the looks from those who recognized me were a bit off.

‘What’s going on?’

Though puzzled, I headed to the Moon Infinity Palace. But to my surprise, the usually quiet palace was bustling with activity today.

Many members of the royal family had gathered with their palace attendants, making the once spacious courtyard extremely crowded.

‘What’s happening?’

As I looked around in confusion, the 9th Princess among the gathered royals gave me a slight eye signal. It seemed like she wanted to speak to me privately.

With so many people around, it should be fine, right? I walked over to where the 9th Princess had indicated with her eyes.

After waiting there, the 9th Princess came around by a different path. She had a court lady following her. Feeling relieved, I greeted her, and the 9th Princess spoke in a low voice:

“Envoy from Yi. We have a big problem.”

“What’s the matter, Your Highness? Has something happened to our Prince?”

“There’s a strange rumor going around the palace.”

“A strange rumor?”

“A rumor that the Envoy from Yi is actually a woman, and there are marriage talks going on with the Thirteenth Prince.”

“!”

I froze in shock. Such a rumor has spread? There was no such talk when I entered the palace two days ago. So how could such a rumor have started now?

As I was at a loss for words, the 9th Princess spoke again:

“The Seventh Brother is furious and wants to pick a fight with the Thirteenth. The reason all these princes and princesses have gathered here is because the Seventh Brother is needlessly stirring up trouble. It’s unfortunate for the Thirteenth, but it would be better for the Envoy from Yi to stay out of this for now.”

“Stay out…?”

“You don’t know how determined the Seventh Brother is right now. He’ll try to find fault with whatever is said. Even though he lacks power, the Thirteenth is still a prince so he’ll manage to get out of it somehow, but if things go wrong, the Envoy from Yi might get caught in the crossfire.”

“Your Highness…”

“Slip out through the back garden. Quickly.”

9th Princess… Before, I resented you for spreading that impossible lie about me being pregnant with your child. But at times like this, you’re reliable.

Seeing how you’re trying to help me, it seems you really do like Sun An, whom I recommended as a substitute.

But the 7th Prince’s perception was just as quick as the 9th Princess’s consideration.

“Well, here’s another protagonist.”

As I heard a loud voice from behind and turned around, the 7th Prince was approaching with a triumphant expression, speaking in a booming voice.

Behind him were some royal family members who seemed to have reluctantly followed, and others who appeared to have come voluntarily out of curiosity.

The 3rd Prince was also there in the back with a troubled expression, seemingly having come to see how the situation would unfold.

The 9th Princess clicked her tongue softly. To avoid causing trouble for the 9th Princess, I pretended I hadn’t heard anything and greeted the 7th Prince, asking:

“Greetings to Your Highnesses. But what do you mean? What other protagonist?”

The 7th Prince lifted his chin, approached with a smug expression, and said with a grin:

“It seems you’ve already heard everything from our Ninth Sister. Or haven’t you?”

“I haven’t heard anything, Your Highness. What’s this about?”

“There’s a rumor going around that this Envoy from Yi is actually a woman, and there are marriage talks with the Thirteenth. If it’s true, wouldn’t that be very interesting? I came to find out if it’s really true. Well? Is it true?”

My mind went blank. Damn it. Who on earth spread such a rumor?

The 9th Princess is right. The current situation is more disadvantageous for me.

If I deny it, it would mean I lied to the 7th Prince when my identity as a woman is revealed later, and if I confirm it, that itself would be a problem. Damn it!

It would be a disaster if my identity as a woman was exposed now. Although I wouldn’t become a criminal because of the Emperor’s permission, it was obvious that the Yo family’s position and fortune would end up being taken by distant relatives.

Moreover, even avoiding becoming a criminal was only possible if the Emperor acknowledged that my male disguise was carried out under his orders.

If I marry the 13th Prince as per the Emperor’s instructions, I would become his daughter-in-law, so the Emperor would likely acknowledge it.

But if it’s exposed unexpectedly and dramatically like this, in the worst case, the Emperor might deny any knowledge of it.

‘Damn it. Which rotten bastard is behind this?’

It’s not… my disciple. He would be just as troubled by this situation.

Who else knows about this? My parents? It can’t be them either. Since they’re the ones who disguised me as a man, they’d be implicated in whatever crime I’m accused of.

It’s not Lin Hwa either. Not because of the family headship and fortune. It’s because of her parents and herself.

Since she’s not yet married, if my parents and I get into trouble because of this, she would also be caught up in it.

Then the Emperor? The Empress? The Emperor… it can’t be him. The Emperor was pushing for the marriage between Lin Hwa and the 13th Prince.

‘Could it be… the Empress? Because she doesn’t want Lin Hwa and the 13th Prince to marry?’

My suspicions point to the Empress. But for now, dealing with the current situation was more important than resentment.

“Master Yo. Why are you silent?”