Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 80

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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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Chapter 80. The Sung-gyeong Hall Incident
At that very moment, in Sung-gyeong Hall.
Suk-ui’s private chamber stood in solemn silence, a stark contrast to the chaos beyond its walls.
A dozen or more Naegumwi soldiers moved through her quarters with intimidating purpose, inspecting every corner.
The people gathered inside Suk-ui’s chamber emanated an eerie, suffocating quiet.
“What in heaven’s name is happening?”
Suk-ui, already pallid with illness, trembled visibly with fear.
“Please, someone speak. What is occurring in my own quarters?”
Suk-ui pressed the question again, but the Royal Medical Bureau physicians in attendance offered no answer.
The Royal Physician was present among them.
Observing Suk-ui’s labored breathing and her distressingly pale complexion, the Royal Physician opened his mouth with grave deliberation.
“The matters outside fall under the Naegumwi’s jurisdiction, so I cannot speak to them. The Royal Medical Bureau has only received orders to examine Your Highness’s condition thoroughly.”
“My illness has been chronic for some time now. Yet why have you come in person, Royal Physician?”
“We merely follow the King’s commands. Please forgive us for our inability to provide further explanation.”
“….”
Suk-ui fell silent, bewilderment etched across her features.
The Royal Physician proceeded to take her pulse in silence.
Upon the arm he had gently exposed for examination, patches of reddened skin bore unmistakable marks.
As the Royal Physician recalled the medical records kept by the female physician who had treated Suk-ui, his expression grew increasingly dark.
‘The symptoms are far too similar.’
The Royal Physician had once treated a patient poisoned by arsenic long ago.
Suk-ui’s condition, which he now examined directly, matched that patient’s presentation with startling precision.
It was then.
“Royal Physician. Please step outside for a moment. The Naegumwi Commander wishes to see you.”
It was Yun Sang-gung’s voice, trembling with the same confusion and fear that gripped everyone.
The Royal Physician, who had been feeling Suk-ui’s weakened pulse, departed to the outer chamber.
“Commander Kim.”
The Royal Physician and Kim Che-geon, the Naegumwi Commander, exchanged a subtle bow of respect.
Though both served the King, they rarely crossed paths in their daily duties.
Now they stood face to face.
Kim Che-geon stepped closer and spoke in a hushed voice.
“We discovered a jar containing rice flour in the Nae-so Kitchen.”
“And did you proceed as I instructed?”
“Yes. I dissolved the powder generously in water and submerged a silver spoon.”
“….”
What had been the result?
The Royal Physician should have asked, yet sudden dread seized him, rendering him unable to speak.
With an impassive gaze, Kim Che-geon opened his mouth.
“The silver spoon turned black.”
“Ah….”
A sound escaped from the Royal Physician’s lips.
“Then I must return to my duties. Your Excellency should also complete your examination.”
Kim Che-geon turned to leave.
The Royal Physician’s fingertips trembled faintly as he watched him depart.
A silver spoon darkened by discoloration.
Its meaning was unmistakable.
‘Arsenic.’
A poison that slowly, insidiously intoxicated a person until death claimed them.
Suk-ui Park was not afflicted with illness.
She was dying from arsenic poisoning.
***
As was customary when conducting official duties, Kim Che-geon revealed nothing of his emotions.
He simply conveyed what needed to be said with composure, and quietly performed what needed to be done.
But standing now in the very center of Sung-gyeong Hall.
Kim Che-geon found himself deeply bewildered by this situation.
He had not accompanied the King to Dongguan Wang Temple.
The distance was far too short, and he was occupied executing other orders the King had issued.
Yet upon the King’s return to the palace, he issued an unexpected royal command.
“Search Sung-gyeong Hall thoroughly. If there is anything suspicious, overlook nothing.”
Faced with such an unrelenting command, as though the King had already reached his conclusion, Kim Che-geon asked:
“Your Majesty. What is it that I must find in Sung-gyeong Hall?”
“Poison.”
Even Kim Che-geon, who rarely showed alarm, held his breath at that moment.
“I do not command with absolute certainty. I merely have suspicious circumstances and wish to find evidence. Should no poison be discovered, that would be a welcome outcome.”
The King, who had been regarding Kim Che-geon intently, continued.
“However… should you find poison.”
The King issued a command both resolute and grave.
“Confine the Palace Maids of Sung-gyeong Hall so that not a single one escapes. This means we must not lose the culprit so carelessly as we did before. Do you understand?”
Do not lose the culprit so carelessly as we did before.
Kim Che-geon immediately understood that the King was referring to the death of the maid who had poisoned the royal prince’s rice cake with honey.
“Hah…”
Kim Che-geon, recalling his conversation with the King, lifted his head.
With heavy footsteps, he entered the center of the courtyard and addressed the Naegumwi soldiers and palace attendants.
“Palace Maids of Sung-gyeong Hall, listen to my words.”
Now it was time to faithfully execute the King’s command.
“From this moment forward, the Palace Maids of Sung-gyeong Hall cannot speak to one another. Furthermore, you cannot enter your private chambers. Not a single one of you may leave the Inner Courtyard.”
“Y-yes, Commander of the Naegumwi. What in the world is this sudden commotion…?”
To Yun Sang-gung, who had turned pale and questioned him in return, Kim Che-geon delivered his words with gravity.
“It is a royal command. All of you must comply.”
Soon after, the King’s decree was delivered to Sung-gyeong Hall.
All the palace maids remained at Sung-gyeong Hall.
It was a royal decree that Suk-ui Park and Prince Yi Hwon were to leave Sung-gyeong Hall immediately and relocate to Jinsudan.
***
“What on earth is happening?”
“Why are the Naegumwi soldiers inside Sung-gyeong Hall? I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire life….”
The atmosphere at Chwisuondang transformed in an instant.
The palace maids gathered in small clusters, their faces etched with worry as they whispered amongst themselves.
Something had occurred.
The Naegumwi soldiers had sealed off the entrance to Sung-gyeong Hall, and both the Suk-ui and the Prince had been moved to Jinsudan.
Yet no one could discern what had transpired beyond that.
The interior of Sung-gyeong Hall was shrouded in absolute secrecy.
‘…Has the King discovered something?’
I remained lost in contemplation for a considerable time, but no satisfying answer emerged.
The heavy atmosphere that permeated Chwisuondang.
The anxious faces of the trembling palace maids.
I too found myself adrift, unable to grasp the situation.
The incident at Sung-gyeong Hall was not the only matter troubling me.
My meeting with Park Moon-soo.
The words that ‘my brother is searching for me’.
The possibility that Hwang Jin-gi might still be alive.
With the Sung-gyeong Hall incident layered atop all of this, I could not concentrate on anything.
‘I must regain my composure.’
Though the situation was chaotic, I could not simply let time slip away in a daze without taking action.
I went directly to find Han Sang-gung.
Han Sang-gung’s face was equally troubled.
“Madam, if I may ask you just one thing?”
“What is it, Bong-bong?”
“It’s about my brother.”
“Hmm…?”
“I heard he had died, but I wondered if you might know something more, Madam Han Sang-gung. Is it a confirmed fact that my brother is dead?”
I was not doubting Park Moon-soo’s words.
I simply wished to hear once more from Han Sang-gung, the very person who had first planted the thought in my heart that ‘my brother is dead’.
“Oh, my dear child.”
Han Sang-gung regarded me with a pitying gaze.
“Do you wish to hold onto hope that your brother might still be alive?”
“….”
No. What I needed was not hope.
What I desired was the truth as it stood.
“Well, I cannot say with certainty that he is dead, since I never knew your brother and never confirmed his body myself….”
Han Sang-gung’s words trailed off.
After a moment, she gently stroked my hair.
“Bong-bong.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Forget it.”
….
“Sometimes, forgetting is the better choice. Even sorrow is like that.”
Han Sang-gung continued quietly.
“In any case, to answer your question truthfully…. I did not witness your brother’s death. I merely judged based on the circumstances that suggested it.”
“I see….”
“But do not waste your heart on false hope. I’m not sure you’ll understand what I’m saying….”
I stood in silence for a moment.
I was actually grateful for Han Sang-gung’s coldness.
At least she had told me only the facts as they were.
It was then.
“Han Sang-gung, my lady. A Court Maid from Daejeon has come looking for Bong-bong.”
Seol-hyang’s voice reached us.
Beside Seol-hyang stood a maid with a familiar face.
It was the Court Maid from Daejeon whom I had come to recognize while going back and forth to Hee-jeong Hall.
“Bong-bong, you’ve been caring for the young prince all this time, haven’t you? You’ll need to come with us to Jinsudan and help us out. The young one seems to be having trouble with strangers—he won’t stop crying.”
I already knew that Park Suk-ui and Yi Hwon had left Sung-gyeong Hall and moved to Jinsudan.
But….
‘Could it be…. That not even a single Nurse Attendant went with them?’
That was something I hadn’t anticipated.
Han Sang-gung tapped my back gently.
“Bong-bong, go at once to Jinsudan and attend to the young prince. Seol-hyang, make sure the other Palace Maids don’t spread unnecessary gossip.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Han Sang-gung’s permission was granted.
I followed the Court Maid from Daejeon toward Jinsudan.
My feelings were peculiar.
Something far greater than I had imagined.
Perhaps it was an ominous premonition that something frightening was unfolding.
Despite the sweltering height of summer, a chill ran down my spine.
***
Upon arriving at Jinsudan, I was genuinely taken aback.
‘Surely… there isn’t a single Palace Maid from Sung-gyeong Hall here?’
Not only were there no Palace Maids, but even Yun Sang-gung, who was practically an extension of Suk-ui herself, was nowhere to be seen.
The only ones present at Jinsudan were the Palace Maids dispatched from the Royal Chambers.
Just as the atmosphere in the Royal Chambers had been, Jinsudan too was eerily silent.
Soon, a sound pierced through that stillness.
It was Yi Hwon’s cries coming from behind the closed door.
“Surely… the Nurse Attendant isn’t here either?”
“There isn’t a single Palace Maid from Sung-gyeong Hall here. Go on inside.”
The Court Maid from Daejeon’s response left me bewildered.
It meant that even the Nurse Attendant who had cared for the prince all this time had been confined to Sung-gyeong Hall.
I quickly entered the Private Chamber.
“Young Master!”
“Bong-bong! Hiyu…”
Upon seeing me, Yi Hwon shook off the hand of the Palace Maid who had been trying to soothe him.
Though his steps were unsteady, he rushed toward me with desperate determination.
Yi Hwon’s face as he approached me was streaked with tears.
Sorrow, fear, and finally the relief of meeting me.
Seeing his face marked by such emotions, my heart clenched.
I pulled Yi Hwon into a tight embrace.
“Don’t cry, Young Master. Everything will be all right.”
Everything will be fine, Hwon.
“Nothing will happen.”
Everything will be resolved soon.
Everything will return to how it was before.
“So don’t worry, all right?”
I held Yi Hwon close and continued repeating words of reassurance.
Though I wondered if perhaps I was speaking them to myself rather than to him.

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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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