All things that exist in the world should be in their proper place.

Just as the sky is above (上) and the earth is below (下).

There are things that should naturally be in their place, and things that should not be.

For example, like Jwa Woo’s hands placed on the man’s chest right now.

Seeing her hands in an unintended place, Jwa Woo opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“Uh-uh-uh-uh.”

Too shocked to speak, only an indistinguishable scream escaped her lips.

Jwa Woo hurriedly moved her hands back to where they should be and sat up.

At that moment, the pain she had experienced at dawn shot through her spine.

Swallowing the pain, she checked her attire, which fortunately was not disheveled.

Whew, as she let out a sigh of relief, the man lying beside her sat up.

“I apologize for my rudeness while sleeping.”

Jwa Woo readily admitted her mistake and sat with her back to the man.

Although dressed as a man, wasn’t her true nature that of a woman?

Even if circumstances prevented full separation of men and women, this much propriety was necessary.

With proper composure and a pure heart, she continued speaking.

“However, even if you are a ghost, I think you bear some responsibility for entering an unoccupied room first.”

Jwa Woo explained the mistake the other party had made.

Then she waited for the expected response of “I’m sorry.”

But…

“First, I am not the ghost you speak of…”

“You’re not a ghost?”

Then why in someone else’s room…?

As if reading Jwa Woo’s mind, the answer came.

“This is not your room, but my room…”

“What nonsense! I was clearly told this was the eighth guest room. I even saw the sign with ‘八’ (eight) written on it on the way in.”

Jwa Woo shouted, unconsciously turning to face the man.

The man, his face still half-hidden by long hair as before, pointed his index finger at the room entrance.

There hung a sign indicating which room number this was.

Jwa Woo furrowed her brow and looked at the sign, then tilted her head in confusion.

“Huh? Why is it like this?”

In the place where ‘八’ (eight) should have been written, ‘六’ (six) indicating the sixth room was written instead.

“This can’t be right.”

Was she still not fully awake?

Jwa Woo hurriedly ran out of the room.

Earlier at dawn.

The right pillar of the door.

She had clearly seen the ‘八’ (eight) indicating the eighth room there.

Indeed.

Unlike the sign inside the room, the pillar showed ‘八’ meaning the eighth room.

“Look at this. Didn’t I say this was clearly the eighth room…”

Before she could finish speaking, the man came out of the room.

He tilted his head slightly and brushed off the dust clinging to the pillar.

Finally, the ‘㺯’ character hidden by dust was revealed.

What?

Then this place is…

“Yes, this is not your room, but my room – the sixth guest room.”

With those words, the man brushed back the hair covering half his face.

His face, which had been hidden by his hair all along, was fully revealed.

Jwa Woo, who had been unable to take her eyes off the ‘六’ (six), turned her gaze to the man.

At last, great agitation arose in Jwa Woo’s eyes as she looked at the man.

“Oh?”

Like her hands on the man’s chest, there was someone here who shouldn’t be.

The man right in front of her.

The man she thought she would never encounter again, Hong Woo Geon, was standing there.

“Why is the kidnapper here…?”

“You mean the righteous scholar.”

Hong Woo Geon corrected Jwa Woo’s incorrect title.

Ignoring this, Jwa Woo asked,

“I thought I’d never see you again…?”

“You came looking for me.”

This time, Jwa Woo corrected the fact that Hong Woo Geon had misunderstood.

“I didn’t come looking, I was brought here.”

“Brought by whom?”

“That’s…”

She couldn’t bring herself to say “His Majesty the King.”

As Jwa Woo bit her lip, Hong Woo Geon flashed a grin.

For a moment, her heart wavered at that seemingly kind smile.

But Jwa Woo quickly regained her composure and put strength in her eyes.

And she asked,

“What is your true identity?”

At Jwa Woo’s question, Hong Woo Geon pointed to himself.

“Me?”

“Just who are you in league with to be able to come all the way here?”

Where was this place?

Wasn’t it a secret place in the palace?

Even if he was not just a righteous scholar but the righteous scholar’s grandfather, it was not a place one could carelessly set foot in.

Why was this man in such a place?

Jwa Woo stared at Hong Woo Geon with eyes mixed half with curiosity and half with distrust.

After briefly looking around, Hong Woo Geon suddenly brought his face close to Jwa Woo’s ear.

“It’s a secret, but…”

Hong Woo Geon’s whisper continued in Jwa Woo’s ear.

“I’m in league with the King.”

[This is the timeline separator]

If one were to name the second largest house in Hanyang after the palace, it would undoubtedly be the home of Cho Byung Doo, the Minister of Justice.

The mansion of Cho Byung Doo, the Queen Dowager’s brother, was rooted near Apgujeong.

Including the inner quarters, outer quarters, annexes, and servants’ quarters, the mansion with over a hundred rooms was imposingly huge.

From the grand main gate entering the estate, people felt intimidated.

The servants guarding the house were no less imposing.

They would greet guests with stern eyes, as if they were the masters of the house.

Once intimidated and entering the house, one would be intimidated once again by the lavish decorations adorning it.

Precious coral ornaments decorated various parts of the main hall.

Curtains made of rare silk, said to be used only in the Chinese imperial palace, wrapped the windows of the rooms.

Everywhere the eye fell was splendid.

Every place the gaze touched was filled with ornaments displaying the power of this household.

However, all of these combined could not match the intimidation exuded by the master of this mansion, Cho Byung Doo.

His eyes were always cold, as if not human.

His voice, half mixed with the sound of metal, made listeners think of the word ‘death’.

A man was brought before such a person.

It was Lee Jang Hyung.

Guided by servants to Cho Byung Doo’s presence, Lee Jang Hyung let out a deep breath.

Since entering this house, his chest had felt tight throughout.

This tightness could only be resolved by leaving this house.

To do so, he would have to say words that pleased Cho Byung Doo before him.

Lee Jang Hyung swallowed dryly and bowed his head to Cho Byung Doo.

“This lowly one has come at your lordship’s summons. What is the matter?”

Though he tensed his lower abdomen firmly, he could not help his voice from trembling.

He expected a question to fly at him immediately.

But there was no word.

Lee Jang Hyung unconsciously glanced sideways at Cho Byung Doo.

Cho Byung Doo was leisurely turning the pages of a book.

And he remained silent.

This cruel silence was no different from torture for Lee Jang Hyung.

When would this silence break?

As Lee Jang Hyung waited expectantly, Cho Byung Doo’s voice, mixed with the sound of metal, finally reached him.

“I hear you sold your house?”

“What? Ah, yes. I did.”

“I heard it was a house chosen by the Hwa Seob Ja of Myeongye-bang.”

“Was there such a rumor?”

Lee Jang Hyung feigned ignorance.

Cho Byung Doo’s eyes became as sharp as a viper’s.

As if he might bare his venomous fangs at any moment.

Lee Jang Hyung shrank his shoulders.

“I’ll ask again.”

“Please inquire, my lord.”

“Why did you suddenly sell your house?”

“Well, that…”

Lee Jang Hyung recalled the name tag in his bosom.

The name tag with the character ‘命’ (command) engraved on both sides was given by only one person, His Majesty the King.

The bearer of that name tag could have a private audience with the King at any time and receive favor befitting the name tag.

Should he mention the existence of the name tag, exchanged for his son’s passing the civil service examination?

Lee Jang Hyung’s mind was busy.

His Majesty the King had now begun a power struggle with the Pungyang Cho clan, including Cho Byung Doo.

Wouldn’t mentioning it be like throwing ashes on that august first step?

Though not a loyal subject, he had no desire to become a treacherous minister either.

But he had even less desire to die a dog’s death here.

Lee Jang Hyung offered Cho Byung Doo the words he had prepared in advance.

“This lowly one has a worthless son. I thought to somehow help him pass the civil service examination this time, so I played a not-so-playful trick on the walls of Myeongye-bang. But who would have thought? The Hwa Seob Ja of Myeongye-bang suddenly chose my house. When that became known, all sorts of people came looking. Among them were those offering tremendous wealth.”

“So… you sold the house for wealth?”

“With my background, it would be difficult to place my son in a good position even if he passed the exam…”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, that is all.”

Though he left out the story of the name tag, the rest was all true.

Hong Woo Geon had offered an enormous amount of wealth, enough for three generations to live in luxury.

Could one even dream of seeing such wealth in a lifetime of receiving the country’s salary?

Thus, Lee Jang Hyung sold the house without hesitation.

Of course, the name tag playing a big role was a secret.

Cho Byung Doo silently stared at Lee Jang Hyung.

He stared for a long time with eyes as if trying to read the other’s inner thoughts, then suddenly waved his hand.

“You may withdraw now.”

“Pardon?”

Lee Jang Hyung was taken aback by the sudden dismissal.

Ignoring this, Cho Byung Doo turned his gaze back to his book.

“Is anyone outside?”

At Cho Byung Doo’s words, the door opened and servants including the steward entered the room.

They guided Lee Jang Hyung out just as they had brought him in. Like an empty straw doll, Lee Jang Hyung thus withdrew from Cho Byung Doo’s presence.

Some time after Lee Jang Hyung disappeared.

Cho Byung Doo set down the book he had been reading on the desk with a thud.

He looked at the steward sitting opposite him.

“He didn’t mention the name tag until the end.”

“Shall I have him tortured to make him speak?”

“That will do.”

Cho Byung Doo raised his hand to stop the steward.

“It seems His Majesty is plotting something. Has he already forgotten the previous warning…”

Muttering to himself in a low voice, he gave an order to the steward.

“Find the Hwa Seob Ja of Myeongye-bang. Find out where he is and what he’s doing now.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Boom, boom, boom.

The sound of drums was heard.

Jwa Woo and Woo Geon, who had been staring at each other as if in a battle of wills, turned their heads simultaneously.

“What’s that sound?”

The answer came from outside.

“All guest scholars are ordered to tidy their attire and gather at the central square.”

The messenger who delivered the announcement hurried off to the quarters of other guest scholars.

What attire? And where’s the central square?

Jwa Woo, who knew nothing of the situation here, turned to look at Woo Geon.

As if he had been waiting, Hong Woo Geon opened his mouth.

“If you go to your quarters, there will be clothes to wear here. Put those on and come to the square by the pagoda tree forest over there.”

“Will I… be alright?”

Jwa Woo muttered as if talking to herself.

Jwa Woo’s face was full of anxiety about an unknown future.

A meaningful smile formed on Hong Woo Geon’s lips as he watched her.

“Just trust me.”

To the confident Hong Woo Geon, Jwa Woo said one thing.

“You’re the one I’m most worried about.”