The Five-Year-Old Baby Princess Rules the Palace - Chapter 37

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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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#37. Suspicious Rumors

 

“Well then, shall we go now?”

 

“Ah yes, yes, Princess.”

 

This Servant, who received the lantern from Lady Han whose mouth was agape with wide eyes, quickly illuminated the light in front of Eunhye’s small feet.

 

“Princess…”

 

Lady Han pouted her lips and called out to Eunhye who was walking ahead with her back turned to them, but Lady Park grabbed her wrist and slowly shook her head.

 

There must be a reason why our wise Princess was acting this way. As servants attending their master, they should follow her wishes.

 

Lady Park gave Lady Han a stern look, then bowed her head toward Eunhye who was already two steps ahead.

 

“Yes, Princess. We shall follow behind, so please speak comfortably.”

 

“Thank you, nanny.”

 

Eunhye turned around and smiled brightly at Lady Park and Lady Han, then began walking step by step with This Servant.

 

Although Hyesin Palace, the Princess’s quarters, was right ahead, walking through the palace after darkness had fallen was something she wouldn’t have dared to do before.

 

The spirits in the palace that became more numerous at night, and the vengeful ghosts that spoke to her with chilling and eerie voices!

 

But now, not a single vengeful spirit could be seen, as if by magic.

 

At the peaceful sight of the palace without any sounds or ghosts, Eunhye looked up at Gwangjo who was walking beside her and smiled prettily.

 

With Great-grandfather here, this girl is not afraid at all.

 

Of course, of course. With this old man by your side, what is there to fear?

 

Eunhye turned her gaze away from the contentedly smiling Gwangjo and spoke to This Servant, whose face was visibly tense even in the darkness.

 

“Tell me. What is the reason you waited for me instead of going to your quarters? Do you still have questions about your brother?”

 

This Servant then shook her lowered head vigorously from side to side.

 

“No, Princess. I truly came out of the Royal Kitchen late because I was boiling and spreading out elderflower.

 

“Really? I was certain you seemed to have something to say earlier. Did I see wrong? Then you must be tired, so you can just go back like this.”

 

Just as Eunhye finished speaking and was about to turn around, This Servant spoke in a cautious voice.

 

“Um… Princess.”

 

Eunhye stopped her feet for a moment, looking at the round light at her feet, and looked dignifiedly at This Servant who was bowing her head.

 

“Tell me. What is it?”

 

This Servant hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the palace servants of Hyesin Palace standing about five steps behind and moistened her dry lips.

 

“Princess, could you please meet my friend just once?”

 

“Your friend? Suddenly?”

 

Eunhye’s eyes widened at This Servant’s unexpected request to meet her friend.

 

“Actually… I was hesitating whether I should tell you or not…”

 

“What about?”

 

This Servant bit her lower lip tightly as if hesitating once more, then finally opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.

 

“Actually, there has been a hushed rumor in the Queen Mother’s Palace for about half a month.”

 

“A hushed rumor?”

 

“Yes. The head court ladies told us to keep absolutely silent about it, but…”

 

Eunhye looked at This Servant with eyes full of curiosity.

 

“When I was in the Queen Mother’s Palace, my friend who shared a room with me is working to tend the flowers at Hyang-won Pavilion. But lately, she keeps… hearing crying sounds.”

 

Startled, Eunhye stopped walking and asked.

 

“Crying? Who?”

 

This Servant moistened her lips once more, swallowed her dry saliva, looked around, then lowered her body toward Eunhye and whispered.

 

“Inside the greenhouse at Hyang-won Pavilion, she says she keeps seeing a female ghost crying for help.”

 

“In Mother’s Garden?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Eunhye stood there with her mouth agape.

 

Wasn’t Hyang-won Pavilion the place she often escaped to because there were no ghosts there?

 

But a crying female ghost?

 

I’ve never seen one before?

 

Eunhye tilted her head and looked up at Gwangjo.

 

Great-grandfather! It seems there are other people in this palace who can see ghosts besides me!

 

Gwangjo also looked down at This Servant with an expression that suggested this was not ordinary.

 

“That’s strange. I went there about half a month ago too, but there were no spirits.”

 

Indeed, when Eunhye had gone to Hyang-won Pavilion about half a month ago, no ghosts were visible. But suddenly the nains working there could see ghosts – wasn’t this truly strange?

 

At Eunhye’s muttering as if to herself, This Servant glanced at Lady Han who was standing on her tiptoes in the distance, curious, then bowed again and spoke quietly.

 

“Ah, recently, three citron saplings were presented as tribute from Miseondo along with citrons.”

 

Eunhye’s small white forehead wrinkled at the sudden mention of citrons after talking about ghosts.

 

“Miseondo?”

 

“Yes, Princess.”

 

Wasn’t Miseondo a small island at the very southern tip of Taeshin Kingdom?

 

Although it was said to be much warmer than the Taeshin Kingdom mainland, she had heard that the people’s lives were very difficult because the land was barren. But didn’t the very delicious and precious citrons grow only on that island?

 

Seeing Eunhye become quiet as she thought about Miseondo and citrons, This Servant continued her words.

 

“But His Majesty the King said that since citron trees are plants that grow in warm places, he gave them to be well cultivated in the greenhouse at Hyang-won Pavilion, which is the Queen Mother’s garden.”

 

Eunhye nodded, recalling the fragrant crimson citron that Queen Dowager had given her today.

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

Unlike other fruits, citrons were so precious that even Father would taste them only after first offering them to Queen Dowager after they were presented as tribute. Sometimes so few came up that they didn’t even reach Eunhye, who was a princess. But thanks to Queen Dowager and Crown Prince always sharing them, Eunhye could taste delicious citrons sufficiently every year.

 

When you gently peel the glossy crimson skin, the sweet and sour flesh wrapped in white, soft fuzz!

 

Citrons that made her mouth water just thinking about them! But this time, citron trees were presented as tribute along with the citrons?

 

Then would those precious and delicious citrons now hang in clusters in Mother’s garden?

 

Unlike This Servant who was talking about ghosts with a serious expression, young Eunhye’s head became filled with thoughts of citrons hanging in clusters inside the Hyang-won Pavilion greenhouse.

 

With her mouth half open and a dreamy expression as she smiled blissfully, Eunhye heard This Servant’s voice calling her.

 

“Princess? Princess Eunhye?”

 

“Huh? Huh? Sorry. So what happened then?”

 

This Servant tilted her head at the sight of the young Princess suddenly swallowing her saliva and continued speaking.

 

“Exactly from the night those trees were transplanted, crying sounds began to be heard from somewhere, and from a few days ago, ghosts started to be seen too.”

 

“Really? That’s truly fascinating. So other people besides me can see ghosts too.”

 

Following her tilting head, her chubby cheeks seemed to flow downward.

 

This Servant nodded slightly at Eunhye’s appearance, rolled her lips inward and bit them, then carefully opened her mouth.

 

“That female ghost too. If she has something she needs to say, like our Seonnam…”

 

At This Servant’s unfinished words, Eunhye slowly raised her head with a serious expression and looked up at Gwangjo.

 

Great-grandfather, could it really be that a ghost attached to the citron tree brought from Miseondo entered the palace? If that’s really the case, should I meet her?

 

Gwangjo, who let out a groan that only Eunhye could hear, released a long sigh.

 

[First, as soon as day breaks, go to Seongsucheong and meet Do-mu Makgae. Before the full moon when the yin energy becomes thicker arrives, you must first find Taeshin Kingdom’s sacred object.]

 

Nod, nod.

 

Yes, I understand.

 

Eunhye nodded her small head and looked at This Servant who was standing waiting for her answer.

 

“I understand, This Servant. I will visit Mother’s garden soon, so don’t mention this matter anymore. Understood?”

 

Knowing that although Princess Eunhye was young, she was someone who would not speak falsely, This Servant bowed her head deeply and let out a sigh of relief.

 

“Yes, Princess. Thank you for understanding my rudeness like this. Then I shall withdraw now.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Eunhye nodded and waved one hand toward Lady Han and Lady Park who were still standing on their tiptoes looking this way.

 

“Nanny! The conversation is all finished!”

 

Then Lady Han, as if she had been waiting, rushed over even before Lady Park and glared unnecessarily at This Servant while snatching away the lantern.

 

Lady Park, who had sent back the eunuchs carrying lanterns, also approached Eunhye with hurried steps and bowed her head.

 

“Princess, it’s quite cold. I’m worried you might catch a cold, so please return to your quarters now.”

 

“Yes, I understand. Then This Servant, remember what I told you and um… make lots of delicious things for the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. You worked hard today too.”

 

This Servant bowed deeply toward Eunhye who was giving instructions quite dignifiedly point by point.

 

“Yes, Princess. Then I shall withdraw now.”

 

This Servant, deliberately ignoring Lady Han who was still pursing her lips and glaring at her, walked quickly away toward the quarters where her lodging was located.

 

“Haaaaaam.”

 

Watching This Servant walk away, Eunhye yawned so wide her mouth seemed to split, looking exactly like the five-year-old child she was.

 

Seeing this, Lady Han immediately sat down in front of Eunhye and presented her back.

 

“Please get on my back. I’ll carry you to your quarters in no time.”

 

After her yawn brought tears to her eyes, Eunhye squeezed them shut then opened them, smiling brightly as she climbed onto Lady Han’s back with a little thud.

 

“Thank you, Lady Han.”

 

Feeling the warm, small body lean cozily against her back, Lady Han’s lips naturally curved into a gentle smile.

 

“You’re saying such unnecessary things again. My back always belongs to you, Princess. And I’m really curious about something, Princess.”

 

Lady Han, who had easily stood up with Eunhye on her back and was walking toward Hyesin Palace, spoke in a secretive voice.

 

“Haaah, what are you really curious about?”

 

Leaning against Lady Han’s warm back, drowsiness came creeping in. Eunhye let out a small yawn and asked in a mumbling voice.

 

“What kind of secret conversation were you having with This Servant earlier at midday and just now? Could you tell me?”

 

“Mm… that is… haaaah.”

 

After letting out another long yawn, Eunhye couldn’t overcome her heavy eyelids and squeezed her eyes shut.

 

“Princess?”

 

When no more words came, Lady Han turned her head to look at Eunhye, who had buried her face against her back.

 

“She must have been terribly exhausted.”

 

At Lady Park’s voice mixed with pity, Lady Han couldn’t help but smile sheepishly.

 

In the distance, two torches illuminating the front of Hyesin Palace’s quarters crackled as they fed their flames, seeming to beckon them to come quickly on this night.

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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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