The Five-Year-Old Baby Princess Rules the Palace - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#20. I Don’t Want to Become a Shinyeo

Could the people of that era have ever imagined King Gwangjo desperately pleading before a five-year-old child?

The old king with a fierce countenance reminiscent of a tiger was turning pale and at a complete loss before a young princess as small as a puppy…

Eunhye, who had been pouting her lips as if about to burst into tears at any moment, silently nodded her head.

Only then did Gwangjo let out a sigh of relief and nod his head.

[Yes, yes, that’s right. Yes, well done. But from now on, I will always be by your side, so even if you meet that fellow again next time, don’t worry. I’ll give him a proper thrashing.]

At the sight of Gwangjo’s bushy beard bristling as if his anger still hadn’t subsided, Eunhye shook her small head from side to side.

Though that fellow Jihoo had behaved quite rudely, hadn’t he tried to give her his protective charm?

Moreover, since she had already said she would forgive him, there should be no need to extract his soul alive and throw it to the dogs of hell.

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

Eunhye thought it would be best to keep that fellow Jihoo out of Grandfather Gwangjo’s sight.

* * *

Meanwhile, after hearing everything about the incident with Princess Eunhye at the palace and sending Jihoo out of the room, Kim Gyo-hyeon decided after much deliberation that he should visit Minister of the Board of War Park Nam-il.

Park Nam-il, who was the Gukgu of this country and Princess Eunhye’s maternal grandfather, was someone who had cherished Heeran, Jihoo’s mother, greatly.

When Heeran was a Shinyeo, after she saved his only daughter Park Ji-hee from danger, Park Nam-il rescued her when she was expelled from Seongsucheong and facing death.

He also petitioned His Majesty the King to allow her marriage to him, and was someone who cherished her son Jihoo like his own grandson.

Moreover, after learning that Jihoo, born between him and Heeran, was particularly clever compared to children his age, it was Park Nam-il who recommended him as Crown Prince’s companion.

Kim Gyo-hyeon hurriedly entered the palace to meet Park Nam-il, who had not yet finished his duties.

Since he was Princess Eunhye’s maternal grandfather and also the father-in-law of this country’s king, surely if he told him about the tremendous mistake his son had made, he would give some advice.

As Kim Gyo-hyeon had just passed through the palace gates and was walking hurriedly toward Gwolnaegaksa, a middle-aged court lady approached with urgent steps from the distance.

“Are you Lord Jipyeong?”

“I am, but why do you ask?”

To Kim Gyo-hyeon, who answered with a puzzled expression, the court lady bowed her head and conveyed her mistress’s command.

“I am Lady Seo from Queen Dowager’s Palace.”

“Ah…!”

Surprised by the mention of Queen Dowager’s Palace court lady, Kim Gyo-hyeon hurriedly bowed his head.

“Queen Dowager commands you to come to Jagyeong Palace after the hour of Mi today.”

Kim Gyo-hyeon nearly stopped breathing. Had his son’s mistake already reached Queen Dowager’s Palace?

How should he handle this situation?

Kim Gyo-hyeon, who had closed his eyes tightly while looking down and taken a deep breath, bowed his head again and spoke.

“Yes, I, Kim Gyo-hyeon, will enter Queen Dowager’s Palace without delay. Please convey this message.”

“Yes, my lord. Then I shall take my leave.”

After receiving the answer, Lady Seo bowed lightly and turned around. Kim Gyo-hyeon watched Lady Seo walking away with hurried steps and let out a long sigh.

Oh, what should he do about this situation?

Queen Dowager cherished Princess Eunhye dearly. If such a person knew about all the rude words and actions his son had committed against Princess Eunhye, she would certainly not let this pass easily.

Three months ago, when he became Princess Eunhye’s writing teacher by His Majesty the King’s command, it was Queen Dowager who had called him separately and bestowed a precious inkstone as a gift.

Kim Gyo-hyeon clearly remembered the gentle yet firm voice he had heard then.

“Jipyeong, close your ears to the wicked rumors heard within the palace. No matter what anyone says about the princess, from now on the princess is your disciple.”

“Yes, Queen Dowager.”

“And a teacher gives everything to his disciple and teaches them. Sometimes you must remember that this could even mean your life.”

Sigh…

The dark clouds scattered here and there across the clear morning sky seemed to foretell the storm approaching him.

Kim Gyo-hyeon, who had been sighing deeply while standing, shook his head once as if to clear his mind, then began walking hurriedly to find Minister of the Board of War Park Nam-il.

There was still time before the hour of Mi (3 PM) that Queen Dowager had commanded, so he had to find a way to save his son and his family before this matter reached His Majesty the King’s ears.

* * *

While Kim Gyo-hyeon, Kim Jihoo’s father, was busy trying to find a way to save his family and son’s lives, Eunhye, the protagonist of this incident who had already met Jihoo and forgiven everything, was having a pleasant conversation with Gwangjo, her 6th generation ancestor.

At midday, when the sun had risen to the middle of the sky and filled Byeolgung’s front courtyard entirely with yellow light, the palace servants guarding Princess Eunhye’s chambers tilted their heads at the sound of voices seeming to come from inside the room.

Hadn’t they said she had fallen into deep sleep after having her late lunch?

Lady Park had gone to the kitchen to personally prepare refreshments and drinks to bring when Princess Eunhye woke up, even giving strict orders to be especially careful not to wake the deeply sleeping Princess Eunhye.

But what kind of magic were these continuing voices and laughter sounds?

Could Princess Eunhye really be having conversations with ghosts?

The youngest Nain trembled and wrapped her shoulders with both hands, then Lady Han glared and twisted her lips.

Seeing this, the young Nain was startled as if having a fit and hurriedly lowered her hands to clasp them below while looking down.

No one could carelessly open Princess Eunhye’s chamber door before Lady Park returned.

Gwangjo, sitting as a semi-transparent spirit between the silk screen and small desk, suddenly asked Eunhye, who had been speaking to him in whispers, with a curious expression.

[Child, do you know why your father and mother, even knowing you can see spirits, don’t think of ways to cure it but instead issued a gag order?]

“Ah, that is…”

At Gwangjo’s question, Eunhye’s eyes immediately became moist as she lowered her head.

“Yes, it’s because if it becomes known that a princess of a nation sees spirits, I would be deposed and have to go to Singung.”

At Eunhye’s dejected answer, a heavy sigh flowed from Gwangjo’s mouth.

[Ah…!]

Taeshin Kingdom was said to be a country established by the Son of Heaven, who was the son of the heavenly god, since ancient times. The god who created humans and all things on this earth selected the most beautiful and intelligent woman among human women to take as his wife and have descendants, and he was the first king of Taeshin Kingdom, King Taejo.

Afterward, the Son of Heaven selected nine pure women with sincere faith, shared his divine power with them, and established Singung of Taeshin Kingdom.

For generations, Singung had protected Taeshin Kingdom with the words and prophecies of the heavenly god, selecting from among pure women untainted by impurity those whose spiritual eyes had opened to distinguish between good and evil spirits, and who possessed foresight and intelligence.

After going through a long training process, when they reached the stage where they could bestow healing blessings through prayer, they finally gained the qualifications to become Shinyeo.

Thus, becoming a Shinyeo of Taeshin Kingdom meant living a life of dedication solely for the country and people while giving up all aspects of an ordinary woman’s life, so while it came with high status and infinite glory, it was accompanied by endless sacrifice.

Gwangjo smiled bitterly as he looked at Eunhye, whose head had dropped so low that her rice cake-like cheeks seemed to fall.

No matter how glorious the position of Shinyeo might be, one had to give up all of a woman’s life. Moreover, what king would welcome a princess of a nation being deposed to become a Shinyeo?

Gwangjo smiled gently as he looked at the cute and pretty ribbon placed charmingly on top of her round, black head.

[Yes, even I would hate to give such a pretty daughter like you to Singung. Heh heh heh.]

At Grandfather Gwangjo’s hearty laughter, Eunhye raised her head and moved her strawberry-like lips as she spoke.

“The royal physician said that the fever I had during smallpox hasn’t healed yet, so if I take medicine and eat well and become healthier, it can be cured.”

At Eunhye’s words filled with earnest hope, Gwangjo smiled sadly.

Though the ghost gate hadn’t opened yet, telling a child whose spiritual eyes had opened that eating well would cure it…

What was urgent for this child now was to prepare so that the ghost gate wouldn’t open following the spiritual eyes.

Perhaps seeing Gwangjo’s sad smile, Eunhye also opened her mouth with a sad face.

“I also don’t want to become a Shinyeo. If I become a Shinyeo, I’ll have to go to Singung and won’t be able to see Grandmother, Father, Mother, and Crown Prince either.”

This was a child who had fought alone with the evil spirits visible to her eyes every day for two years. How difficult would it be if such a child had to go to Singung and endure that loneliness alone again?

Gwangjo smiled painfully at the sadness filling Eunhye’s large eyes.

[Yes, so that you won’t become a Shinyeo, this grandfather will block and eliminate all the evil things that appeared before you. So our child will have no more hardships.]

Eunhye’s lips began to move up and down. At this moment, Grandfather Gwangjo was much, much better than Father, Mother, and Crown Prince. It really felt like she had gained a complete ally.

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

At the joy filling her sparkling black eyes like starlight, Gwangjo’s old face also brightened.

Then from outside the door, the presence of Lady Park, who had prepared refreshments, was heard.

“Princess, did you cough? Lady Park is coming.”

“Ah… Wet nurse.”

Eunhye, with startled eyes, looked wide-eyed at Gwangjo.

How strange would it look if Lady Park and the Nains came in and saw this scene now?

She had left her bedding area and come around to sit on the bare floor in front of the desk.

At Eunhye’s surprised appearance, Gwangjo laughed heartily and stood up from his seat.

[Heh heh heh heh, hurry and come sit here. This grandfather also has somewhere to go.]

As Eunhye stood up together with Gwangjo rising, she bowed her head modestly, and Lady Park’s voice was heard again from outside the door.

“Princess, since you coughed, shall I come in to tidy up the surroundings and bring in the fresh refreshments I’ve prepared?”

“Yes.”

Eunhye’s eyes widened as she finished answering while looking toward the door. Queen Dowager, who had been standing in front of her just moments before, had vanished in an instant.

“Oh! Has she already left?”

And just then, Lady Park and Lady Han, who entered through the opened door, came to an abrupt halt while holding the refreshment table.

Why was Princess, who had been sleeping just moments before, now standing facing the folding screen? And in a posture as if she were conversing with someone, with both hands clasped together in front of her chest, no less.

Lady Park and Lady Han, who found themselves unconsciously looking around the room while standing, swallowed hard with fear at the thought that there might be some other presence in this room besides themselves.

Then goosebumps that started from the back of their necks began spreading down their shoulders and forearms all the way to the backs of their hands!

Eunhye turned toward them and spoke with a bright, pure smile.

“Come in quickly. That’s my refreshment table, isn’t it?”

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