Even If Flowers Bloom on a Broken Branch - Chapter 90

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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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90.
Upon returning to the Seo Family Residence, Lord Seo immediately made Lee Yeon’s Conception official. With the female physician’s confirmation, everyone rejoiced with light hearts.
“My lady?”
“Ma’am…!”
“Our mistress?”
Chohee covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes pooling with tears. Though she had already known, hearing the definitive confirmation brought a fresh wave of emotion to her face.
“This is wonderful news. Truly joyous news!”
Lady Han, who had emerged late, also burst into tears upon hearing the news. Watching everyone rejoice with one heart, Lord Seo said with a gratified smile,
“According to the female physician, she must be exceptionally careful. Let us all wish for Lee Yeon’s stability with one mind and care for her even more devotedly from now on.”
“Yes, Daegam-manim!”
Lee Yeon was immediately laid upon the Royal Bedding by Chohee and Jain, while Lady Han and Juhwa exchanged a brief greeting before heading out the Main Gate together to procure medicinal herbs and various ingredients good for pregnant women.
Meanwhile, Jinyul, accompanied by Chung and Hong Jin, went to speak with Lord Seo about the recent events.
“So that is how it ended.”
Jinyul was not surprised to hear that Chae Mun had died in prison after his Gungmun. His expression showed he had expected it.
“Then the Queen must be sitting on a bed of nails.”
The downfall had been long foreseen. The only questions were when and how she would be dragged down from that position.
“Has the King given any particular hint? The memorials demanding the deposition of the traitor’s daughter must be overwhelming.”
“They flood in every single day, so much so that the staff delivering the memorials can barely handle the sheer volume. However, given the timing, he surely has a plan.”
“With a beloved concubine now in the picture, there will likely be many complications in deposing the Queen.”
And she was no ordinary Royal Concubine. If she had entered the palace through Gantaek, she would be a Gantaek concubine, and if a palace attendant had received Royal Grace, she would be a Grace-granted court lady.
Yet Hong Ran fit neither category, having become a Royal Concubine by Royal Decree. It was a truly unprecedented affair.
“If Chae Mun were still thriving, Suk-ui Hong might have been branded a dangerous seductress of the realm.”
Lord Seo agreed with Jinyul’s words.
Had Chae Mun remained powerful until now, Hong Ran would certainly never have been safe.
Jinyul continued speaking.
“Also, during this latest Palace Entry, I heard something strange from Sangseon.”
Jinyul paused for a moment and glanced at Chung and Hong Jin. They immediately understood his meaning, stated they would excuse themselves, and left the room.
Lowering his voice, Jinyul said,
“They say a court lady from Daehee Palace frequently visits the herbal apothecaries.”
“An apothecary, you say?”
If she requested the medical officers, they would naturally provide whatever was needed, yet she was deliberately passing through the City Gate to frequent outside apothecaries.
When Lord Seo’s face instantly filled with suspicion, Jinyul continued.
“That court lady claims it is to obtain herbs to nourish her body because she has reached menopause, but it is highly suspicious. Father-in-law, do you happen to know someone named Court Lady Shin?”
Lord Seo fell into thought for a moment before shaking his head.
“I shall discreetly look into this. Since she is the court lady of Her Majesty the Queen and no other, it concerns me all the more.”
“Yes.”
The Queen was now cornered into a virtual dead end.
Her father had died for Treason, she herself stood on the brink of Pyewi, she had not even spent her wedding night, and now a deeply cherished concubine had appeared.
In this situation, Lee Yeon had conceived, and coincidentally, the Queen’s court lady was roaming around to procure drugs used during menopause, which was deeply unsettling.
“They say even a cornered rat will bite a cat. We must watch closely, for there is no telling what she might be plotting.”
Jinyul nodded. Those words were entirely correct.
An ordinary person would be trembling in fear or quietly preparing for the end, but the Queen would never do such a thing.
‘Like a demon dwelling in the water, she would drag someone down into the depths with her rather than ruin herself alone.’
The gazes of Jinyul and Lord Seo deepened.
Meanwhile, when Eun-oh returned to Daehee Palace, the palace attendants bowed hastily with startled faces. Having adorned her since early morning, they had not expected her to return so soon.
Intuiting that something had surely happened, they shrank back.
“H-Have you returned, Your Majesty?”
Eun-oh walked into the palace without offering them a single reply.
Doors opened seamlessly on both sides at each of her footsteps. The attendants did not even dare to meet Eun-oh’s eyes, opening the doors with bated breath, and as Eun-oh stepped into the innermost chamber, she spoke sharply to those standing outside.
“I wish to face no one, so let no one inside.”
Since her sole visitor, Chae Mun, was dead, there was no longer anyone left who sought the Queen. But the attendants did not dare speak of that and quietly withdrew.
No matter if she was a fox whose claws had been pulled, her teeth remained sharp within her own den.
“Court Lady Shin.”
When Eun-oh called out curtly, Court Lady Shin bowed her head politely.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“About the Infertility Drug you procured back then.”
Court Lady Shin’s expression grew tense. Anticipating the blame that she had still failed to administer it, she clenched her hands tightly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
But what Eun-oh said next was completely outside her expectations. No, it was of the same nature, but far more venomous.
“If one drinks the Infertility Drug, can it also rid one of a child already in the womb?”
The moment those words fell, the air in the room froze solid.
Court Lady Shin stiffened, unable to utter a single word. Watching her, Eun-oh slowly parted her lips.
“I know you did not deliver my Letter to His Majesty.”
Eun-oh’s tone had changed. But even more shocking than that was the content of her words.
Court Lady Shin’s face turned stark white. Her spine stiffened rigidly.
Court Lady Shin collapsed onto her knees right then and there. Her entire body trembled violently.
“Y-Your Majesty.”
“You surely did not think you were my only hands and feet. Do you think only one or two people witnessed your conduct that day? Yet you shamelessly lied to my face without a shred of fear.”
“Your Majesty, I have committed a sin worthy of death. Please kill me!”
“Very well.”
Eun-oh hurled a large moon jar beside her onto the floor. Instantly, with a sharp crash, razor-sharp shards sprayed in all directions.
“Gasp…!”
Court Lady Shin swallowed her scream. It was because Eun-oh was glaring down at her with eyes as sharp as daggers.
Her gaze was keener than the countless shards strewn across the floor.
“You asked me to kill you. Therefore, I shall drag you down a path of death.”
Eun-oh glared at Court Lady Shin with murderous eyes.
“Before long, I shall go to Yeongsongjae. At that time, force this drug down that wench’s throat right before my eyes.”
“Your Majesty…!”
Court Lady Shin prostrated herself on the spot. She shook her head in sheer terror.
“I cannot do that. There are too many eyes watching at Yeongsongjae, and above all, it is a place frequented by His Majesty the King. Please give me another chance, Your Majesty!”
“Do not even think of straying.”
Eun-oh slowly sat down in front of Court Lady Shin. She reached out and firmly grabbed Court Lady Shin’s chin.
“From the moment you procured the drug, you had already joined hands with me. Are there not those who know you scoured the apothecaries in the Marketplace? Surely you are not foolish enough to believe your excuse will hold up until the end.”
Court Lady Shin’s face, already stained with agony, turned ghostly pale. Her lips quivered uncontrollably.
Eun-oh yanked the face she was holding upward and smiled brightly.
“So you must do it. Unless, of course, you wish to see every single palace maid of Daehee Palace who shares a bond with you slaughtered to pieces.”
Court Lady Shin’s face was completely stained with pitch-black despair.

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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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