Even If Flowers Bloom on a Broken Branch - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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86.
Hong Ran could not calm her excitement. A rare, brilliant sparkle danced in her gentle, usually calm eyes.
“Is it true?”
Perhaps because the court speech had become a bit familiar to her tongue, her manner was no longer awkward.
Hong Ran looked at Court Lady Han, her obsidian-pebble eyes shining.
“The Grand Prince has returned safely? Unhurt and without any trouble?”
“Yes, Suk-ui.”
Even when an inherently gentle person became excited, jumping slightly on the spot was the most they could manage. Hong Ran placed both hands over her chest, her face flushing crimson.
“What a true relief. What wonderful news. The Grand Princess Consort can finally put her mind at ease.”
Hong Ran closed her eyes tightly and thanked the heavens.
This was precisely why she had felt so deeply apologetic when Lee Yeon visited her last time.
Although she had absolutely no hand in the Grand Prince being sent far away, seeing Lee Yeon had weighed heavily on her heart.
“I heard she fetched Pure Ritual Water every single day to pray, so I hope she won’t have to wear her palms thin anymore.”
A smile touched Court Lady Han’s lips at the sight of her genuinely relieved expression.
It had already been several years since she began living in the palace. She had met truly many noble ladies during that time, but it was her first time seeing someone so pure and innocent.
‘At first, I viewed her with prejudice as well.’
Because she was a woman the King had brought in from outside the palace, she had wondered what kind of person she could be. She had even looked at her askance, wondering how she had swayed her skirt to capture the heart of none other than the King himself.
Yet Hong Ran made that very skepticism feel shameful.
From her first day arriving here to this moment after receiving the official rank of Suk-ui from the King’s favor, she remained exactly the same as that innocent, naive figure without the slightest change.
“Therefore, they say a banquet will be held tonight to encourage the Grand Prince.”
Hong Ran slowly opened her eyes. Her pitch-black gaze trembled ever so slightly.
“Tonight, immediately?”
“Yes.”
Hong Ran nodded slowly.
Even this morning, she had been kneeling in front of Geonhwijeon until she stood up at Sangseon’s dissuasion.
‘You will harm your royal health at this rate. You know that you cannot bend the will of His Majesty.’
No matter what happens, the King will accomplish what he intends; her heart had faltered at those following words, forcing her to leave the spot.
‘But.’
Hong Ran murmured to herself.
‘The one who did bend His Majesty’s will is right by his side, isn’t she?’
There was someone who forced the King to personally deny the Royal Decree that refused to recognize Lee Yeon as the Grand Prince’s wife. There was someone who rescued his wife from a trap when she was on the verge of becoming a concubine, ensuring she was recognized as his one and only wife.
And the banquet to be held tonight was a stage precisely for that person. Hong Ran instinctively felt that something would erupt at that gathering.
Hong Ran looked at Court Lady Han.
“Then must I also prepare to attend that banquet?”
Court Lady Han’s eyes widened into circles. It was an expression as if she had heard something completely obvious.
“You are a royal concubine who has clearly and legally received an official rank. As the King’s woman, it is only proper that you attend that place.”
Court Lady Han spoke, her large eyes blinking.
“Furthermore, it is a situation where the Queen may be absent, so if you empty your seat as well, His Majesty’s face will be entirely ruined.”
Hong Ran bit her lip softly.
She had thought the moment to step forward would come soon, but now that it was time to reveal herself before many people, her heart pounded. Besides, that wasn’t all.
‘The Queen will come.’
Hong Ran still trembled whenever she thought of the Queen. It was because the memory of that time when the Queen made Lee Yeon kneel under the harsh sunlight was compounded by the countless stories she had heard about the fates of the palace attendants who were punished by the Queen.
And,
‘That woman humiliated me, and she rejoiced at my downfall.’
Lee Yeon had said so.
When those belonging to the Seo Clan met their deaths one after another, she had rejoiced more than anyone, and when even Lee Yeon stood on the brink of death, she had personally visited her to sneer with a smile of satisfaction.
‘So I will gather courage.’
Humiliation might be difficult, but rejoicing at a downfall is something anyone can do.
As Hong Ran nodded with resolve, Court Lady Han brought in the palace maids as if she had been waiting for that permission.
“Then, Suk-ui.”
Court Lady Han smiled brightly. Her gentle impression grew a layer softer, yet Hong Ran somehow found it a little frightening.
“Time is short, so pray excuse us.”
It was Hong Ran’s first banquet in the palace. The palace attendants of Unchaeheon could not help but be completely keyed up.
Their goal was only one.
‘So that our mistress will not lose her spirit.’
Since there were three women participating, just aiming for the middle would be a success.
Meanwhile, Lee Yeon also received the news of the banquet.
At the word that someone had come from the palace, Lee Yeon stood up with an expression that said what was bound to come had arrived. She had thought it was time for the King to order Hong Ran’s family registration.
Yet the news he brought was not what she expected.
“The Grand Prince has returned?”
It was the joyful news she had long awaited without ceasing,
“But they are holding a banquet this very day?”
And it was an unwelcome, coercive invitation.
The soldier who said he came by the King’s command nodded his head.
“The Grand Prince is currently resting in the palace. It seems you may return home together after finishing the banquet tonight.”
“…….”
Lee Yeon bit her lip tightly. A sigh or something else felt as though it might leak out.
‘To think he would use such a move.’
It wasn’t a hostage since he wasn’t harming him. However, she truly disliked this method of making it impossible for her not to attend the banquet.
‘Since he laid out the board so that I cannot refuse.’
As it was a place where her husband would be rewarded after completing his mission, she could have attended happily. Furthermore, if she received an order to attend by a Royal Decree, there was no way she could reject it. Yet it was displeasing to hastily hold a banquet and force her to come out on the very day he returned to the Capital City.
“…….”
The people of the Seo Family looked at Lee Yeon with worry. The fact that she was pregnant was still something only the people of this house knew.
‘But I must go. And I must clearly sort it out and bring it to a close.’
This situation.
Smoothing her expression, Lee Yeon nodded to the soldier.
“I understand.”
It was an expression that showed she had firmly resolved something.
And at the same time, voices were flowing within Daehee Palace as well.
“A person was sent to the Seo Family Residence?”
“Yes.”
Eun-oh bit her lip hard.
‘I can see it vividly, that expression of Lee Yeon dying of happiness.’
Since it was a place to reward the Grand Prince’s merits upon his return from a long journey, it was not strange for his wife to attend. But thinking of the two of them sticking close together just like last time already made her stomach turn.
“And…….”
“What else is there.”
Court Lady Shin took a small breath and calmly continued her words.
“They say there are movements of preparation in Yeongsongjae as well.”
Eun-oh’s face froze solid.
“……That.”
It meant Hong Ran was preparing to come out to the banquet. Since she had received the rank of Suk-ui, she possessed the qualification to step into that place as the King’s woman, but Eun-oh had still not acknowledged her.
“To think she plans to reveal herself before everyone without even coming to greet me.”
The behavior of acting as if to display her lowborn origin before all people was entirely grating. And at the same time, fear suddenly struck her.
‘What if His Majesty slights me even in that place?’
To be honest, she was afraid. Eun-oh had lived with nothing to fear, but lately, her heart withered day by day as if she were walking on thin ice.
‘The fact that he has said nothing to me all this time is also part of it.’
If words like holding her accountable for her father’s crimes to make her a deposed commoner, punish her, or send her to the Cold Palace came out, she would rather push back, but the silence without a single word made her anxious.
It must be neglect or observation, and it was difficult to tell whether it was right for her to move in this situation.
‘However.’
It was the first banquet to be held since her own banquet. If so, while it was a place to praise the Grand Prince, it was also a place to announce to everyone that Hong Ran had become a royal concubine.
‘If the Queen’s seat is vacant in such a banquet.’
People might misinterpret it as Hong Ran attending as the Queen’s proxy. That was something she could never tolerate.
“Court Lady Shin.”
Eun-oh slowly opened her lips.
“Prepare the Ceremonial Robe. —And.”
Eun-oh spoke shortly.
“Prepare ‘that’ as well.”
The eyes of Court Lady Shin and Eun-oh met. It was a meaningful gaze.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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