The Secret Night at Unyeon Palace (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11
Her hands trembled from tension as she closed the window.
She sat awkwardly across from him, clenching her fists and biting her lips.
A brief, chilly silence passed between them.
Though he was surely furious over yesterday’s incident, he said nothing—just stared intently at her.
“Yesterday, I spoke too harshly. I’m sorry.”
“……Yes? Yes?”
She thought she’d misheard.
She never imagined an apology would come from his lips.
As she hesitated, eyes darting about, wondering how to respond, she noticed his head tilt slightly to one side.
“From whom did you hear that story?”
“What story are you referring to?”
“The one about me going mad over women. Or—perhaps Second Junior Lord Kim Hee Gyeom told you that?”
“No, no! Master would never say such a thing—I swear.”
“Then who?”
“I overheard people talking. I knew it was just a rumor, yet I carelessly repeated it. I truly apologize.”
Though his words had angered her, she admitted her own recklessness in blurting it out then and there.
Just as she was about to apologize again, he leaned in abruptly—so close that Eun Seol gasped and clamped her mouth shut.
“It’s not entirely wrong. It *is* true that I lose my senses over women—though the issue is that it’s especially intense with just one person.”
Though his tone sounded mocking, a trace of amusement lingered in his voice.
Completely bewildered—just when she thought she was beginning to understand him—he remained impossible to read, and she dropped her gaze.
Since arriving at Woon Yeon Palace, the Grand Prince she’d seen differed markedly from the rumors.
Far from being a lecher, he was surprisingly neat and composed; contrary to gossip about his debauchery, he didn’t seem particularly fond of alcohol.
She even began to suspect that perhaps *all* the rumors swirling around him might be false.
Still, he claimed he went especially mad over *one* particular woman.
Who could it be?
Curiosity burned inside her—but she couldn’t bring herself to ask aloud.
Lowering her head, she silently swallowed a sigh.
Suddenly, his fingertips grasped her chin, lifting it so she couldn’t avoid his gaze.
Then, quirking the corner of his lips, he gave a soft, amused smile.
“Aren’t you curious what might happen when a man driven mad by women meets the one woman who drives *him* mad?”
She couldn’t breathe.
His face was far too close—heat climbed her neck, flushing her cheeks as if scalded by fire.
A strange light shimmered in his eyes.
“What exactly were you imagining to make your face flush so deeply?”
“I—I’m not imagining anything. Please let go.”
“If it’s not that, then…”
His lips slowly neared hers—just as they were about to touch, someone called from outside.
“My Lord. It’s Seo Yeom.”
At Seo Yeom’s timely interruption, his leaning body straightened.
Still holding her gaze, he spoke outward:
“What is it?”
“I’ve finished preparing for the palace visit.”
“I’ll be there shortly. Go ahead without me.”
Now that she thought about it, something had felt off—he wasn’t wearing his usual robe, but a violet *danryeong* formal attire.
He must’ve stopped by mid-preparations for an early palace entry—which meant he *was* angry with her, after all.
Still, she exhaled the breath she’d been holding, relieved things hadn’t escalated further.
“We’ll continue the rest of our conversation after I return from the palace—so please get ready.”
“Ready for what, exactly?”
“It’s been quite some time since our wedding, yet we haven’t even consummated it. What would people say about me then?”
Rising from his seat, he adjusted his clothing and quietly added:
“Our true wedding night will be *tonight*.”
Her heart suddenly started pounding wildly.
He was telling her he’d come here tonight.
She looked up at him—his gaze remained steady, unwavering.
“I’ll spend tonight here, sleeping beside you, my Lady. So please wait for me.”
“…….”
“Why no reply?”
“……Yes. I’ll prepare.”
“Then I’ll be off.”
* * *
It had been a long time since he’d last visited the Queen Dowager’s Palace alone.
Ever since settling in his ducal residence, he rarely entered the palace unless something urgent arose.
After all, frequent visits to the palace would only invite unwelcome gossip—and more importantly, he did it for his mother, the Queen Dowager.
Having succeeded the late Queen So-eun as Queen Consort, his mother genuinely loved and cherished his elder half-brother, the Crown Prince—their enduring closeness made that clear.
Though he, too, had never lacked her affection, she had never openly expressed it.
It had always been that way—since childhood.
To spare her the misunderstandings *he* might bring, he’d deliberately kept his distance and withdrawn.
He’d known what kind of place the palace was ever since learning to speak:
A place where the slightest slip invited swift, merciless attacks.
If his mother showed him open favor, he could easily imagine the consequences:
Rumors would fly—that she was scheming to depose the Crown Prince and place her own son, the Grand Prince, on the throne.
So *he* chose to step back first.
What he’d done for her sake might well have felt, to her, like painful neglect.
Woon set down his teacup and glanced at the honeyed confection beside it.
Seeing this, the Queen Dowager’s face softened into a smile.
“Ever since you were little, you’ve refused anything sweet—but one day, you started eating *yakgwa*. I found it quite curious. Did someone make it especially delicious for you?”
“What’s so special about *yakgwa*? I just happened to try it once—and liked it.”
“Court Lady Choi prepared some for you. Take them with you when you leave.”
“My household makes them, too—why go to such trouble for me?”
“Who doesn’t know that? I simply wanted to.”
Her gentle tone carried a faint note of wistfulness.
Clearly hurt by her son’s emotional distance, the Queen Dowager gave him a gentle, reproachful glance.
“What did you summon me for?”
“Must there always be a reason to visit *here*?”
“If I came here often, what good would it do Your Royal Highness the Queen Dowager?”
“Honestly—whose indifference did you inherit? How is your new wife?”
“Yes, she’s doing well.”
“Well then—now that you’re married, are you happy?”
A light smile curved the Queen Dowager’s lips.
Knowing full well what she meant, Woon hesitated before answering quietly:
“Yes. I am happy.”
“Good… That’s enough, then. If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
“Back then—I owe you my thanks. Because of Your Royal Highness, I was able to keep her by my side.”
“What did I do?”
Minister of War Yoon Tae Soo was certainly not the type to willingly relinquish the title of Royal Noble Consort for his daughter.
Though rumors painted Woon as a womanizer—and thus an undesirable son-in-law—he wouldn’t want to forfeit such a prestigious marital alliance either.
Woon desired Eun Seol, specifically. If Yoon Tae Soo sent one of his two daughters, logic dictated it should be the elder, Eun Seol.
Yet every time Woon visited Yoon Tae Soo, only the younger daughter, Eun Joo, appeared—never Eun Seol.
Suspicious, he discreetly sought the Queen Dowager’s help.
When she formally requested that Eun Seol be matched with the Grand Prince, Yoon Tae Soo readily agreed.
In hindsight, he had little reason to refuse—after all but abandoning her, sending Eun Seol to the Grand Prince was no loss.
Whether Yoon Eun Seol suffered or became unhappy in marriage mattered little to *him*.
“Was she your first love?”
Caught off guard, Woon could only stare mutely at the Queen Dowager.
“I’m asking—was your affection for her so deep that no one else would do?”
“Of course not. Your Royal Highness knows the rumors about me.”
“Do you think I don’t know my own son’s nature? I may not know *why* the rumors of womanizing started—but I know they aren’t true.”
Setting down her teacup, the Queen Dowager sighed softly, her voice low and gentle.
“She’s been through much pain. Cherish her. Love her deeply.”
“How did you know?”
“She’s to be my daughter-in-law—surely I’m allowed to learn that much?”
“Your Royal Highness!”
“No need to look so serious. My wish is no different from yours—that she finds happiness. Because you love her, I grew curious; because you desire her, I wanted to protect her.”
Watching his expression, the Queen Dowager then reached into a drawer and handed him something.
Opening the red silk pouch, he looked at her, puzzled.
“It’s a ring the Late King gave you. He cherished you more than anyone—always mourning how you quietly lived in His Majesty’s shadow, worrying through whole nights for you. Even when you stubbornly refused to marry, the Late King told me to let you be—he wished you to marry only for love.”
“So my marriage to Eun Seol was also—”
“Yes. I’ll never forget the look in your eyes that day. My child’s first request to his mother—I wanted to fulfill it, no matter what.”
“……Your Royal Highness.”
“The Late King asked me to give this to you once you married. I wish he could’ve seen your wedding… I’m truly glad Eun Seol can receive this now.”
Emotion surged in his chest; Woon clenched his fists tightly.
Since growing up, he’d lived alone, detached—wanting nothing, thus complaining of nothing.
But Yoon Eun Seol was different.
From the very first moment he saw her, he’d wanted her by his side—as his own.
Using alcohol as a pretext, each visit to Yoon Tae Soo for a shared drinking session had been grueling.
But seeing Eun Seol was only possible that way—so he endured, drinking unwillingly with Yoon Tae Soo.
Had he known how wretchedly she lived, he would’ve brought her home sooner.
Yoon Eun Seol was the *one* person he truly coveted.
“Woon-ah. Never become the kind of man who wounds a woman’s heart. Cherish her, hold her precious—live that way always. Since she was so hard-won, never hurt her. Make her smile—often—because of you.”
“I’ll remember.”
“I never realized my son was such a romantic—how needless my worries were.”
“…….”
“To see you remain unmarried at your age—of course I worried! I even wondered… whether there was some physical issue—or perhaps your preference leaned another way—”
“Your Royal Highness!”
Unable to bear more, he cut her off sharply.
Flustered, the Queen Dowager quickly averted her gaze and downed the cooled tea in one gulp.
Leaving the Queen Dowager’s Palace, he turned away from his original path toward the King—and instead hurried out of the palace grounds.
He missed her.
Yoon Eun Seol—he longed desperately to see her.
Just as the Queen Dowager said, she was hard-won—and yet he’d inflicted so much pain, shown her only his worst self.
He wanted to cherish her, to love her.
She was the only woman to whom he wished to give his everything.
Yet he’d treated her cruelly.
Jealousy and anger flared at the thought of another man in her heart—
Though it wasn’t her fault, nor grounds for anger—he’d been petty and cowardly.
No longer did he wish to hide his feelings.
The faster he walked, the deeper his longing grew.
A woman he’d go mad if he didn’t see *right now*—Woon spurred his horse urgently toward Woon Yeon Palace, desperate to meet her.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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