The Sunhan Palace naturally could not be compared to the Wolmu Palace, and was even more luxurious and splendid than the 6th Prince’s Seonghwan Palace.

Since the birth mother of the 7th Prince had a higher rank than that of the 6th Prince, it was perhaps natural, but seeing the sophisticated building, I couldn’t help but feel a pang in my heart as I recalled my disciple’s Wolmu Palace with its rustic appearance.

My disciple told me I could decorate the Wolmu Palace as I wished. I wonder if it would be against the law to use my own money to remove some of that impoverished air.

As I was walking along thinking of this and that, how unpredictable human affairs are. As luck would have it, the Royal Consort was sitting on a chair in front of the main hall of Sunhan Palace, taking in the air.

‘Why on earth is she outside in this winter?’

The Royal Consort saw me and immediately frowned as she asked.

“Who are you that the Taegam let in?”

Hiding my uncomfortable feelings, I greeted her politely.

“Greetings to Royal Consort. I am Yo Yohwa, the foreign teacher of the 13th Prince.”

The Royal Consort repeated once, “13th Prince?” and then soon muttered meaningfully.

“Yo Yohwa. Ah. Yes, you.”

It was as if she was thinking, ‘Ah yes, so you’re the very one my son dislikes.’

What could I say to that? Unable to do this or that, I just stood there with a fake smile.

As I did so, the Royal Consort spoke again.

“The Lady Yo who entered Uhye Hall was Yo, wasn’t she? I suppose she’s your sister.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Why are you asking when you already know?

“Have you come to see your sister?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I came because I was worried about my immature and inexperienced sister. I humbly request Your Highness to be generous and help my sister adjust well.”

I gave the Royal Consort my most killer smile, but she seemed unimpressed and just gestured for me to go in.

I bowed deeply and quickly moved to her left side.

Sunhan Palace had the Crown Prince’s quarters to the right of the main hall, and the other concubines’ quarters to the left.

There was a high wall between them, so that without passing through the main hall, there was no way for the 7th Prince’s quarters and Lin Hwa’s quarters to interact at all.

Would this structure be able to protect Lin Hwa? I hope the 7th Prince doesn’t send his anger towards Lin Hwa as well…

Well. Even if the 7th Prince doesn’t, the Royal Consort might. I hope the Royal Consort has a bit more capacity than the 7th Prince.

Walking along the corridor, another courtyard appeared, surrounded by a ㄷ-shaped building.

Taegams and court ladies were busily going back and forth between several buildings.

As I was wondering which of them to call, one Taegam approached me, bowed, and asked.

“Excuse me, sir. Who might you be?”

Before I could answer, Mi, who had entered the palace as Lin Hwa’s personal court lady, called out “Young Master!” and approached.

The Taegam immediately realized who I was and went off to do his original work.

Instead, this time Mi came to where the Taegam had been standing, and as soon as she saw me, she started to tear up. What on earth had happened for her to cry just upon seeing me?

“Have you been well?”

Pretending not to notice, I asked, and Mi cried even more.

“Young Master…”

My heart sank.

“I guess you haven’t been doing well.”

Mi quickly looked around and then quickly denied it.

“No, that’s not it. I’m doing fine. Please come in quickly.”

Then she pointed inside and, running ahead to the central building with small steps, she called out.

“Young Lady! The Young Master is here!”

Mi opened the tightly closed door due to winter. As I entered, I saw Lin Hwa sitting in front of a small brazier.

Lin Hwa saw me, put down her book, and slowly stood up.

I was shocked as soon as I saw Lin Hwa. In just a few days, her cheeks had become hollow.

“What on earth has happened?”

Surprised, I approached Lin Hwa and cupped her hollow cheeks with both hands.

“Where did all your cheek fat go?”

Lin Hwa started to say “The Royal Consort” but then gave Mi a look. Receiving the signal, Mi tightly closed the door and then thoroughly checked all the windows as well.

Wow. She’s become quite cautious? Has the Royal Consort already gotten to her?

Once all the doors were closed, Lin Hwa sat back down on the bench and finally continued speaking.

“The Royal Consort won’t even accept my greetings.”

“What?”

“I haven’t even been able to exchange a single word with her.”

I sat down next to Lin Hwa.

Lin Hwa took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears.

“Seolbin received her own quarters from the start, so she doesn’t need to try to impress anyone.”

Seolbin must be the Princess from Taewol. She starts as a consort from the beginning. That’s quite exceptional.

“Dan Miyin was allowed to stay in Noble Consort’s quarters, but Noble Consort’s character has been evident since Bonghoo. She’s so gentle that there’s no problem.”

That’s right. Noble Consort is truly gentle in nature.

“There’s also Lady Hyeon under Noble Consort, but even though she speaks harshly, she’s not the type to pick fights first, so they just coexist coolly and that’s fine too. But Royal Consort… she completely ignores me.”

“Could it be a misunderstanding?”

I said this while being certain it wasn’t a misunderstanding, but I tried to speak positively for now. It’s not like I can say ‘Oh no. Royal Consort really hates you. You’re screwed now’ here, right?

Lin Hwa, thinking I didn’t believe her, shouted angrily.

“Do you think I’d misunderstand something like this? I’m telling you, she treats me like I don’t exist!”

“Oh dear.”

“You think that’s all? Royal Consort’s Taegam subtly reduces the items meant for me when distributing goods from the Internal Affairs Department.”

“Oh my.”

“His Majesty doesn’t visit me either. I… I thought His Majesty would come to me right away.”

“Oh goodness.”

Lin Hwa started to cry more and more.

“That’s not all. There are three new concubines, but Seolbin and Dan Miyin only play with each other. They don’t include me.”

“Why is that?”

“On the first day of entering the palace, I was with the other senior concubines. But those two had nowhere to go, so they were together by themselves. After spending the night like that, they became close and now they’re always stuck together.”

My, my. This is quite a spectacle on multiple levels.

“Oh dear.”

As I was clicking my tongue, Lin Hwa grabbed my hand and asked.

“Yo Yohwa. Please help me. What should I do? Even if I try to do well, I need to at least see His Majesty’s face or have Royal Consort not ignore me, right?”

It would be nice if I could offer help like a good elder sister, but unfortunately, I couldn’t think of any particular solution either.

“I don’t know either. I can’t summon His Majesty, nor can I tell the other concubines to play with you.”

Of course, it’s a bit sad that Royal Consort is ignoring Lin Hwa, probably because of the 7th Prince. But it’s not like I did anything wrong to make the 7th Prince angry, is it?

If the 7th Prince was angry because of something I did wrong, I could go and apologize. But the 7th Prince is angry because he couldn’t take the horse from the 13th Prince. There’s nothing I can do about it.

Lin Hwa asked in a gloomy voice.

“How are our parents doing?”

“They’re worried about you.”

“Tell them I’m doing well. They’ll worry.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to tell them honestly?”

“No. Tell our parents I’m doing well. And try to find a way to help me, okay?”

The current situation must be quite distressing, as Lin Hwa surprisingly didn’t even bring up the 13th Prince and the fabric issue. It seems her worry about the Royal Consort has overshadowed her anger towards the 13th Prince.

More importantly, what to do…

On my way back to Wolmu Palace after parting with Lin Hwa, I too was filled with worry.

It wasn’t a matter of sisterly affection built before the regression.

If Lin Hwa just became a neglected concubine, it wouldn’t harm our family. But if the Royal Consort steps in to torment Lin Hwa, it could harm our family.

If the Royal Consort just stops at giving Lin Hwa fewer items from the Internal Affairs Department, that would be better, but if she frames Lin Hwa and Lin Hwa can’t defend herself, it would directly impact our family.

‘When did my disciple take down the Royal Consort and the 7th Prince?’

Based on before the regression, it was about two years later when my disciple started to really show his teeth.

Right now, many of the princes and princesses are only engaged and unable to marry because of the 3rd Prince.

In this situation, the 1st Prince’s wife, who is currently abroad, returns with a healthy boy in a year, and from then on, a covert struggle for the throne begins.

Currently, it’s believed that the 1st Prince can’t inherit the throne because of his caliber, but the boy he brings back is very clever and bright.

Then the 2nd Prince’s wife finally conceives, and she gives birth to twin boys. Moreover, they’re both so handsome and cute that the Emperor adores them.

With three intelligent and healthy boys suddenly appearing for the 1st and 2nd Princes, it became like several huge obstacles appearing for those aiming for the throne.

Then the families of the Empress and concubines start pleading to the Emperor that it’s pitiful for the other princes and princesses to only be engaged and unable to marry, and the Emperor finally gives permission for them to marry starting from the 4th Princess, skipping the 3rd Prince.

And with that, the full-fledged war for the throne begins.

And it was about 3 or 4 years from now that my disciple took down the 7th Prince.

‘It’s too late. Who knows what will happen in three or four years. In three or four years, the Royal Consort might harm our family while tormenting Lin Hwa.’

Although my disciple is gathering his close aides faster than before the regression, it doesn’t seem like the speed of taking down the 7th Prince will be faster.

The 7th Prince falls due to a reckless move, but that reckless move can’t come out at this time.

‘What to do…’

By the same logic, it’s difficult for me to step in and take down the 7th Prince now. Even if I know how the 13th Prince took down the 7th Prince, I can’t use it now.

And I’m just a low-ranking foreign teacher, too insignificant to threaten or persuade the Royal Consort or the 7th Prince.

But how long had I been walking lost in thought? Just as I was about to turn onto the road to Wolmu Palace, I saw the Emperor’s close aide, Taegam Song, standing at the entrance.

“Isn’t that Public Official Song?”

Even though I thought the Emperor wouldn’t have any reason to call for me today, I couldn’t pretend not to see him and called out. Taegam Song brightened up and said.

“You’ve come, Master Yo. I was waiting for you. His Majesty ordered me to bring you.”

As soon as I heard that welcoming voice, the spot where I was hit with the inkstone throbbed. Reflexively controlling my expression that was about to crumple, I asked, pretending to be oblivious.

“Me? Why?”

Before, I kept meeting the Emperor because of the 9th Princess and Sun An’s issue, but now there’s nothing going on, right?

It won’t be because of Lin Hwa either. Lin Hwa said she hasn’t even seen the Emperor’s face. Besides, a child who’s suffering from the Royal Consort’s neglect wouldn’t cause trouble so soon.

As my expression kept trying to harden with fear, Taegam Song softly laughed and patted my arm.

“It’s alright. Today, he’s not calling you for something he’s angry about.”

Even when he didn’t call me for something he was angry about, he once talked about marrying Lin Hwa to the 13th Prince and making me his close aide, so that’s a problem…

Anyway, since I can’t refuse when the Emperor calls, I changed my direction to follow Taegam Song.

‘Maybe I can subtly bring up Lin Hwa’s situation to the Emperor.’

As I entered the Emperor’s study, Taegam Song said he would bring tea and left alone. The Emperor was sitting alone in front of his desk as usual.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

I bowed deeply and stood politely in front of the Emperor, waiting for him to tell me why he had called me.

But unexpectedly, the Emperor came out from behind his desk, walked towards me with steady steps, and held out something.

“Take this.”

Puzzled, I received it and saw it was a hair ornament with several strands of small jewel beads attached.

“What is this?”

When I asked in confusion, the Emperor answered nonchalantly.

“It’s one of the gifts sent to me when Taewol sent Seolbin. It’s a magnolia-shaped ornament. As soon as I saw it, I thought of you. Indeed, it suits you well.”

Why… why did he think of me when he saw a hair ornament?