The Five-Year-Old Baby Princess Rules the Palace - Chapter 33

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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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#33. Truly a Loyal Subject

 

“Queen Dowager, Princess Eunhye has arrived.”

 

As soon as This Servant finished her announcement, a delighted voice could be heard.

 

“Quickly! Tell her to come in quickly.”

 

As Eunhye, dressed in a flower-pink jacket and indigo skirt, walked through the quietly opening door, Queen Dowager’s wrinkled eyes curved greatly.

 

“Come here, Princess. Didn’t this old woman miss you at all? I was quite disappointed that you didn’t come for morning greetings today.”

 

As if matching the rhythm of her small steps in silk shoes, Queen Dowager’s welcoming words continued to pour toward Eunhye.

 

“Queen Dowager, please receive your granddaughter’s bow.”

 

The child who would have run to me calling ‘Queen Dowager’ as soon as the door opened has grown so much.

 

Queen Dowager, swallowing an inexplicable sense of emptiness, nodded repeatedly toward Eunhye who was raising her small hands neatly in front of her eyebrows.

 

After finishing her bow with an adorable appearance and standing up, Eunhye smiled cutely at Queen Dowager, then looked at Kim Gyo-hyeon who had stood up and was bowing his head when she entered.

 

“Teacher is here as well.”

 

“Yes, Princess.”

 

At Jipyeong’s respectful answer, Queen Dowager looked surprised and asked Eunhye.

 

“Since you don’t seem surprised, did you know that Jipyeong was here?”

 

Oh no!

 

Queen Dowager told me this, but I made a mistake!

 

Eunhye, who had paused while standing, smiled broadly and sat in front of Queen Dowager.

 

“I saw Teacher on my way in. Why did Queen Dowager summon Teacher? Don’t tell me you’re planning to ask Teacher whether I’m studying well?”

 

Her appearance of even pouting her lower lip as if it was too much was incredibly cute.

 

“Hahaha! How could that be? This old woman knows very well how clever our Princess is.”

 

Queen Dowager smiled so that all the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were visible.

 

“Hehe, you flatter me.”

 

Queen Dowager, pleased by the Princess’s appearance as beautiful and lovely as a blooming azalea, leaned toward Eunhye.

 

“Our Princess looks very happy, which makes this old woman very glad.”

 

These weren’t just empty words. Indeed, Eunhye’s appearance that Queen Dowager saw today was very different from before.

 

Wasn’t she the Princess who always seemed frightened as if watching someone’s mood, unable to properly raise her head with a face and eyes full of fear?

 

Queen Dowager glanced at Kim Gyo-hyeon who was quietly sitting about half a step behind Eunhye, then smiled kindly.

 

“Can you have dinner with this old woman today?”

 

“Yes, Queen Dowager. But will Teacher also dine with us?”

 

At Eunhye’s answer, Kim Gyo-hyeon stiffened his face and lowered his head.

 

“That would be inappropriate, Princess Eunhye. How could I dare to dine with you two…”

 

Then, a calm voice different from before flowed from Queen Dowager’s mouth as she looked at Kim Gyo-hyeon.

 

“Princess, this old woman has something curious and called Jipyeong here. Before dinner arrives, I want to ask you something – can you tell this old woman everything that happened today?”

 

Hmm… if I tell everything, Teacher and that guy Jihoo will be in big trouble. What should I do?

 

Eunhye’s mind began to grow complicated as she slowly blinked her eyes.

 

Queen Dowager said that Queen Dowager only knows about the incident with Lady Gyeongbin and that I met Teacher’s son, right?

 

Then how much does Teacher know? Did that guy Jihoo confess all his wrongdoings to Teacher?

 

Queen Dowager, thinking Eunhye’s hesitation meant she was frightened, immediately changed her attitude and smiled kindly.

 

“Princess, I’m not trying to scold my Princess. I just heard that you experienced something terrible this morning and my heart aches.”

 

At Queen Dowager’s mention of “something terrible,” the corners of Eunhye’s mouth twitched.

 

She remembered the incident with Lady Gyeongbin that she had forgotten.

 

No matter that she was Father’s concubine who bore a prince, Lady Gyeongbin was truly outrageous.

 

At Eunhye’s expression that looked like she might burst into tears, Queen Dowager’s face quickly changed to one of concern, and even Kim Gyo-hyeon’s expression hardened.

 

“Princess, this old woman knows everything and has already punished her, so please ease your heart. Hmm?”

 

Queen Dowager wanted to put her on her lap and comfort her, but Jipyeong was still in the room.

 

“Princess, give me your hand.”

 

At Queen Dowager’s command, Eunhye pulled out her hands that had been clasped inside her jacket and placed them on Queen Dowager’s hands that had already reached across the desk.

 

Warm hands like dry leaves gently grasped Eunhye’s hands.

 

“Queen Dowager…”

 

Eunhye looked up at Queen Dowager with eyes that had unknowingly filled with tears.

 

Nod nod.

 

Queen Dowager nodded with kind eyes without saying anything.

 

Child, this old woman knows all about what happened with Lady Gyeongbin. How frightened and hurt you must have been.

 

Salty tears finally leaked from the corners of Eunhye’s lips that were pressed tightly together to hold back tears.

 

After closing her eyes tightly and opening them, shaking off the tears that had gathered, Eunhye smiled faintly at Queen Dowager.

 

“But Princess, I did hear from Jipyeong that you met Jipyeong’s son at the place where you suffered that ordeal.”

 

Eunhye’s head, whose hand was gently held by Queen Dowager, turned toward Kim Gyo-hyeon. He was her teacher, swallowing nervously as if very tense.

 

Don’t worry, Teacher.

 

I have already forgiven that guy Jihoo, who is Teacher’s son.

 

Eunhye looked into Kim Gyo-hyeon’s trembling eyes and closed her eyes prettily.

 

“Yes, Queen Dowager. Teacher’s son, Young Lord Jihoo, appeared and comforted me when I was in distress.”

 

Comfort?

 

Kim Gyo-hyeon’s eyes widened as if struck by lightning.

 

Didn’t his son surely commit an unforgivable sin against Princess Eunhye?

 

Not only impious words but he even dared to touch the Princess’s body.

 

But how is the Princess speaking like this and defending our Jihoo?

 

Queen Dowager had asked how Jihoo came to enter the palace today and why he was wandering the palace alone when he met the Princess. So he reported that today was Jihoo’s birthday and he had brought him to the palace as a birthday gift to show him around.

 

Then Queen Dowager remembered that his son Jihoo had unfortunately failed the selection for palace attendants 5 years ago and felt sorry for him, and that’s when Princess Eunhye arrived at Jagyeong Palace.

 

When Kim Gyo-hyeon heard the voice outside the door saying the Princess had arrived, his head spun.

 

If the Princess reports our Jihoo’s impiety and rudeness to Queen Dowager, how should I beg for forgiveness? No, how can I save my young son?

 

But comfort!

 

Didn’t the Princess clearly say she received comfort?

 

Kim Gyo-hyeon looked at Eunhye with disbelieving eyes, and Queen Dowager narrowed her eyes at his attitude.

 

There was surely something more that she didn’t know.

 

“Princess, tell this old woman a little more in detail. What kind of comfort did you receive from Jipyeong’s son?”

 

Then Eunhye smiled cutely at Queen Dowager who was holding her hand tightly.

 

“Um… that is, Queen Dowager. I was so startled by the hideous creature that Lady Gyeongbin showed me that I fell down, and Young Lord Jihoo appeared and gave me his handkerchief and comforted me.”

 

“Wh-what? Handkerchief? Comfort? Is that all?”

 

At Queen Dowager’s incredulous words, Eunhye smiled brightly and nodded.

 

“Yes! He said that handkerchief was very precious to Young Lord Jihoo! But he let me wipe my tears and runny nose with it… um… and… um.”

 

As if thinking of something more, tilting her head while looking at her teacher’s pale face, the corners of Eunhye’s eyes curved mischievously.

 

“Oh, and he immediately recognized that I was a princess, and though I don’t know where he was going, he even said he would escort me. Saying two is better than one.”

 

When Eunhye finished speaking, Queen Dowager looked at Kim Gyo-hyeon with a very moved expression, and he looked at Eunhye with an extremely flustered face.

 

For a moment, it seemed like Gwangjo’s laughter could be heard from far away.

 

“Ho, truly living up to his reputation. Like father, like son. How can he be so gallant?”

 

Queen Dowager’s voice, deeply moved by Eunhye’s words, came to Kim Gyo-hyeon filled with gratitude.

 

“I am deeply honored, Queen Dowager!”

 

Kim Gyo-hyeon, unable to find what answer to give, could only prostrate himself while trying to calm his pounding heart.

 

To his ears came Eunhye’s clear voice once again.

 

“That’s not all, Queen Dowager. When I went to my brother’s library and was returning to my quarters with Lady Han, Teacher’s son was waiting there until then.”

 

What kind of words are these!

 

Kim Gyo-hyeon’s head, who had been prostrated, lifted involuntarily.

 

His son should surely be confined at home, but she saw him again in the palace?

 

What on earth do these words mean?

 

“What? Jipyeong’s son was waiting for you?”

 

When Queen Dowager’s question full of curiosity came over, Eunhye nodded with a bright smiling face and continued.

 

“Yes. He said he was worried whether I had safely returned to my quarters, so he didn’t leave the palace and waited.”

 

At Eunhye’s words, Queen Dowager also tilted her head. Surely Jipyeong hadn’t mentioned such things, so did Jipyeong not know about his son’s actions?

 

Eunhye looked at Queen Dowager, who was tilting her head, and Kim Gyo-hyeon, who had turned pale as if struck by lightning, then narrowed her eyes as if recalling something and continued speaking.

 

“That… uncle, you said? He was waiting at the place where I met with that uncle who is a Hongmungwan Gyori.”

 

“A Hongmungwan Gyori—do you mean Kim Dae-hyeon?”

 

The story so far had already been shocking enough, but now that his own older brother’s name had come up, Kim Gyo-hyeon felt as if his soul might leave his body entirely.

 

While he had rushed out of the house to clean up the mess Jihoo had caused, what on earth had happened?

 

Unlike Kim Gyo-hyeon, who was shocked to the point of fainting, Eunhye nodded vigorously at Queen Dowager’s words, which sounded quite intrigued.

 

“Yes! That’s right. He definitely said he was Hongmungwan Gyori Kim Dae-hyeon. And then he said he was the uncle of Young Lord Jihoo.”

 

“That’s right. If he’s a Hongmungwan Gyori, then he would be your older brother. Isn’t that so?”

 

“Ah, yes, that is correct, Queen Dowager.”

 

Kim Gyo-hyeon bowed his head again as he answered, his eyes shaking uncontrollably.

 

How on earth had his older brother and Jihoo been together inside the Palace?

 

“Yes, go ahead and tell me. So this child Jihoo was worried about the Princess moving alone and kept waiting?”

 

At that, Eunhye nodded her small head cutely as if to say that was exactly right.

 

“Young Lord said that letting me go alone was a terribly disrespectful thing to do, and he was worried about whether I had returned safely to my quarters, so he was waiting.”

 

“Hooo… A true loyal subject indeed.”

 

As if genuinely moved, Queen Dowager nodded greatly while looking back and forth between the two. But Kim Gyo-hyeon was restless as if sitting on a hot pot.

 

Why was Princess Eunhye protecting his son so much, and when had that rascal Jihoo entered the Palace again?

 

Moreover, how had his older brother ended up dancing to that young child’s tune?

 

Kim Gyo-hyeon struggled to calm his pounding heart, unable to decide whether he should confess the truth now and beg for forgiveness, or withdraw like this and meet his son first.

 

Just then,

 

“Teacher.”

 

Eunhye’s clear voice reached the ears of Kim Gyo-hyeon, who couldn’t lift his head.

 

“Yes, Princess Eunhye!”

 

Kim Gyo-hyeon’s head shot up involuntarily, and he saw Eunhye’s face smiling so beautifully.

 

“When you return, please be sure to tell Young Lord Jihoo that I was grateful for his warm comfort. And please tell him that I won’t forget his intention to grant me a precious audience.”

 

Was this Queen Dowager’s way of telling him to say nothing more and leave?

 

He had always known that Princess Eunhye was very intelligent, but could she really be this deep?

 

Toward Kim Gyo-hyeon, who had unconsciously opened his mouth halfway, Queen Dowager smiled warmly and commanded.

 

“I have heard from the Princess all the stories I wanted to hear from my Jipyeong, so you may take your leave now. And I will specially give your admirable son some imperial tangerines that His Majesty the King bestowed, so receive them before leaving the Palace.”

 

Kim Gyo-hyeon looked at Eunhye, who was smiling brightly at him, and rose from his seat with a dazed expression, bowing his head.

 

That the incident his son had caused would conclude like this—Kim Gyo-hyeon wanted to pinch his cheek right away, wondering if this might be a dream.

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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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