The Five-Year-Old Baby Princess Rules the Palace - Chapter 49

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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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#49. Prince Chung-in and Prince Ju-an

 

Was it the scent of flowers drifting from Hyang-won Pavilion on the late spring breeze?

 

Where is such a fragrant flower scent coming from?

 

Lady Han continued to sniff as she walked, carrying Eunhye on her back.

 

“Princess, where could such a thick flower fragrance be coming from?”

 

Eunhye said nothing and remained lost in deep thought, as if she couldn’t hear Lady Han’s puzzled question.

 

“Princess?”

 

The middle of her back felt unusually warm, as if the princess had buried her body against it and leaned her cheek there.

 

Lady Han called out to Eunhye once more when she received no answer to her question, then looked at Lady Park walking beside her with a strange expression.

 

Shake shake.

 

Lady Park also shook her head with an expression that showed she didn’t know either.

 

The Princess had been silent ever since leaving the greenhouse and getting on Lady Han’s back.

 

Lady Park looked once more at her young mistress who seemed to be pondering something deeply while riding on Lady Han’s back, then tilted her head in puzzlement.

 

Could the reason she had asked to be alone have been because of the crying female ghost said to appear in the Queen Mother’s Garden?

 

Both Lady Park and Lady Han were well aware of the strange rumors about the Queen Mother’s Garden.

 

Though no one knew where or from whom it had first spread, there were stories of a woman’s crying being heard from the greenhouse in the Queen Mother’s Garden, and one or two of the palace servants on night duty claimed to have seen a ghost.

 

Because of those rumors, they heard that Lady Ji and Lady Im of the Queen’s Palace were suffering greatly. That’s why they had tried so hard to dissuade her when the Princess said she wanted to be alone in the greenhouse today…

 

Though they had ultimately lost to Princess Eunhye’s stubborn insistence, the hour or so they had waited outside had felt as long as a year.

 

Lady Park continued to glance at Eunhye, who had remained silent since coming out of the greenhouse alone.

 

Could the Princess have actually seen something inside the greenhouse?

 

As Lady Park shivered alone from the fear that naturally arose, she spotted Prince Chung-in and Prince Ju-an in the distance, dragging Hwanggu along.

 

Wait, isn’t that dog definitely the Crown Prince’s?

 

It was clearly the sight of Hwanggu desperately trying not to be dragged away.

 

But as a court lady, she couldn’t dare question the princes about it. As Lady Park watched the two princes with a worried expression, she heard her young mistress’s voice.

 

“Stop for a moment. Isn’t that our Hwanggu?”

 

At the slow but firm voice of the young princess, the steps of Lady Park, Lady Han, and the Hyesin Palace servants all came to an abrupt halt.

 

“Put me down, Lady Han. And Lady Park, go tell Prince Chung-in and Prince Ju-an that I want to see them for a moment.”

 

Oh no, the Princess has seen it too.

 

Knowing Prince Chung-in’s violent temperament well, Lady Park bowed with a worried expression.

 

“Yes, Princess.”

 

“Lady Han, please put me down.”

 

“Yes.”

 

As Lady Han lowered her body, Eunhye stepped down to the ground with support from a nearby servant, then began walking step by step in the direction Lady Park was quickly heading.

 

“Princess!”

 

As Lady Han followed with a panicked voice, Eunhye muttered with her cute eyes deeply furrowed.

 

“I don’t understand why Prince Chung-in and Prince Ju-an are forcibly dragging Crown Prince’s Hwanggu like that.”

 

Prince Ju-an, who saw Eunhye walking quickly toward them before Prince Chung-in did, looked startled.

 

And just then, Prince Chung-in, who heard Eunhye’s message delivered by Lady Park, turned his head with a very angry face.

 

“Where is Prince Chung-in going, dragging the Crown Prince’s Hwanggu so roughly?”

 

Prince Chung-in gaped in surprise at Eunhye, who raised her small chin and spoke in a crisp voice.

 

“You, you can speak… half… wit…”

 

Unable to finish his strange words, Prince Chung-in stared at Eunhye with wide eyes and his mouth half open.

 

The eunuchs and court ladies bowing beside him also swallowed nervously as they dared to look at Eunhye.

 

And an enchantingly thick flower fragrance suddenly wafted from where the young princess stood.

 

Wasn’t there a widespread rumor that Princess Eunhye of Hyesin Palace was sickly and couldn’t even make eye contact with people?

 

But the appearance of Princess Eunhye now standing before them was incomparably healthy.

 

The palace servants, who had unconsciously raised their heads along with Prince Chung-in and Prince Ju-an looking at Eunhye in surprise, startled and quickly bowed their heads.

 

“We, we greet Princess Eunhye.”

 

Eunhye, who had briefly glanced at the palace servants surprised to see her, looked up at Prince Chung-in with rather stern eyes for a child and asked.

 

“I understand Hwanggu’s home to be Your Highness’s Seongjeong Pavilion, but where are you taking him?”

 

As his older brother Prince Chung-in stood there too shocked to say anything, Prince Ju-an quickly bowed and answered.

 

“Princess! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. How fortunate that you look so healthy!”

 

Eunhye smiled brightly at Prince Ju-an, who was three years older than her at eight years old.

 

“Prince Ju-an! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Has it been about two years?”

 

At Eunhye’s voice, which sounded very pleased, Prince Ju-an’s cheeks reddened all the way to his ears.

 

“Ah… yes, yes, that’s right. Since the Princess fell seriously ill, I haven’t seen you even once, so it has been two years.”

 

Perhaps because they were only three years apart in age, Prince Ju-an had quite a few memories of playing various games with Eunhye, unlike Prince Chung-in. How his heart had tickled when she called him brother in that cute voice.

 

The fact that he had a little sister prettier than any doll or fairy couldn’t have made him happier. So whenever there was an opportunity to meet the Princess, Prince Ju-an would always follow his mother, Lady Gyeongbin.

 

But on the day when a terrible epidemic spread through the country and the shocking news came that the cute princess was hovering between life and death, Prince Ju-an ran alone to the Queen Dowager’s Palace, crying loudly.

 

“Great-grandmother, please save the Princess!”

 

Six-year-old Prince Ju-an, who had prostrated himself before Queen Dowager Jeong and cried loudly, eventually returned to his quarters with Lady Gyeongbin, who had also rushed over upon hearing the news, and was beaten on the calves that day.

 

After that, he had also been beaten on the calves again by Lady Gyeongbin for throwing a tantrum about wanting to visit the Princess’s Quarters upon hearing the absurd rumor that the Princess had become a half-wit after recovering from smallpox.

 

As Prince Ju-an was gradually erasing the happy memories with the Princess from his heart, his little sister appeared before his eyes, even more beautiful than before!

 

Prince Ju-an found himself looking at Eunhye with a beaming face without realizing it.

 

“I’m truly glad you look so healthy.”

 

“It’s thanks to Prince Ju-an’s concern.”

 

Eunhye, who had smiled brightly at Prince Ju-an, turned her head and looked at Prince Chung-in with a face that had instantly turned cold.

 

Then she extended her small hand toward Prince Chung-in, who was still gripping the leash of the struggling Hwanggu.

 

“Please give me the leash. Hwanggu is in great pain.”

 

Only then did Prince Chung-in seem to come to his senses and frown at Eunhye.

 

“You… you’re not this dog’s owner either, so why are you telling me to give it to you?”

 

The Princess, rumored to have become a half-wit after her illness, had suddenly appeared after two years. And she was speaking to him in a clear voice with quite a dignified appearance, even seeming to scold him.

 

The flustered Prince Chung-in scowled and raised his voice.

 

“His Highness commanded me to take care of Hwanggu. A half-wit like you wouldn’t know!”

 

“You? Did you just call me ‘you’?”

 

“That… that’s right, you…”

 

At the unexpectedly bold voice, Prince Chung-in gaped again, and Prince Ju-an quickly stepped in front of his brother and hurriedly offered an apology.

 

“Forgive me! Forgive me, Princess. My brother misspoke.”

 

Eunhye, who had been glaring at Prince Chung-in with her chin raised haughtily, frowned as she looked at Prince Ju-an bowing to her.

 

“Why is Prince Ju-an apologizing? Does Prince Chung-in not have a mouth?”

 

It was Eunhye’s sharp question, displeased with Prince Chung-in still gripping Hwanggu’s leash tightly.

 

“Ha! After suffering from that terrible illness for two years, you’ve become even more impudent than before! As Father’s eldest son, can’t I speak freely to a mere princess?”

 

“Prince Chung-in…”

 

“Prince Chung-in!”

 

The voice of the eunuch beside Prince Chung-in, who had turned pale, and Lady Park’s indignant voice rang out together.

 

Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof!

 

Perhaps because of the loud voices the two had made, Hwanggu, whose leash was held by Prince Chung-in, began barking loudly.

 

“Be quiet!”

 

As Prince Chung-in raised one foot as if to kick the barking Hwanggu, Eunhye shouted sharply.

 

“Stop that foot! If you dare kick Crown Prince’s Hwanggu! That would be no different from kicking the foundation of this nation!”

 

“Ha! You… this…”

 

“Brother!”

 

In front of Jungkwang Gate leading to Jaseondang, the unexpected argument between Prince Chung-in and Princess Eunhye drew the attention of passing palace servants.

 

But Prince Chung-in couldn’t calm his anger and glared at Eunhye, even grinding his teeth.

 

Flustered by this sight, Prince Ju-an stood between Prince Chung-in and Eunhye and bowed once again.

 

“Princess, I’m sorry. My brother went too far.”

 

Eunhye looked straight at Prince Chung-in, who was watching her with fierce eyes from behind Prince Ju-an, who was blocking for his brother and apologizing, and opened her mouth.

 

“Why does Prince Ju-an keep apologizing? Prince Chung-in has no mouth that knows how to apologize for rudeness, only a mouth that knows no manners and savage feet!”

 

“What, what did you say? That thing, relying only on her mother, is being so insolent…”

 

“Brother!”

 

It was Prince Ju-an’s shout, cutting off his older brother Prince Chung-in mid-sentence. If this continued any further, there would surely be trouble.

 

Prince Ju-an turned toward Prince Chung-in and slowly shook his head.

 

Brother, you have greatly crossed the line.

 

To even mention the Queen Mother. Do you truly wish to be executed?

 

Please apologize immediately.

 

At the deepened gaze of his younger brother who was five years his junior, Prince Chung-in clenched his fists and looked around.

 

The passing nains and other palace servants were staring at him with surprised eyes.

 

Prince Chung-in flared his nostrils as he inhaled, then twisted his lips and opened his mouth with a sneering expression.

 

“The Princess has become much bolder than before after recovering from her great illness. How dare she look straight at her older brother who is eight years her senior and lecture him.”

 

Then Eunhye, who looked straight into Prince Chung-in’s eyes, chuckled and lowered her gaze toward the whimpering puppy.

 

“While I was ill, Prince Chung-in, who is eight years older, seems to have grown younger instead. He has become even more immature than Prince Ju-an, who is eight years old.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

Then Eunhye raised her head straight again and looked at Prince Chung-in, who was frowning deeply, clicked her tongue and said:

 

“How dare you treat this nation’s legitimate Princess so carelessly, and also handle this nation’s royal property so roughly. Tsk tsk tsk, I am truly worried about what the adults would think if they knew of this.”

 

“You! Really!”

 

It happened in an instant.

 

Prince Chung-in, bursting with anger at the impudent little Princess who was scolding him, raised his hand threateningly, and from Eunhye’s mouth came a mature voice unbelievable for a five-year-old!

 

“Prince Chung-in, shut that mouth! Where do you get off speaking so informally!”

 

Not only Prince Chung-in but Prince Ju-an also looked at Eunhye with surprised faces.

 

How could a child who was only five years old shout with such powerful energy?

 

Prince Chung-in was so startled that he even dropped the puppy’s leash he was holding, and seizing that moment, the puppy began running like lightning toward the Crown Prince’s Palace, its former home.

 

“Oh my, Prince Chung-in! What shall we do!”

 

The eunuchs and nains serving Prince Chung-in began chasing after the puppy, and the area became complete chaos.

 

But Eunhye was glaring at Prince Chung-in with her small face raised.

 

“Explain yourself. Why were you roughly dragging Crown Prince’s puppy around? And also your rude informal speech to me, the legitimate Princess of this nation.”

 

Then Prince Chung-in snorted, bent down to meet Eunhye’s gaze, and raised only one corner of his lips.

 

“Even if I were to explain, I would do so to my older brother. You are not the owner of that puppy, are you not?”

 

“Prince Chung-in, please watch your words.”

 

At Lady Park’s admonishment, unable to watch any longer, Prince Chung-in suddenly stood up and raised his right hand, striking down.

 

Smack!

 

“Lady Park!”

 

Lady Park, struck hard on her left cheek by Prince Chung-in’s hand, collapsed to the ground as if thrown down, and a startled Lady Han screamed and crouched down beside her.

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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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