The Five-Year-Old Baby Princess Rules the Palace - Chapter 51

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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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#51. Twisted Nature

 

“This… this humiliation! I will surely!”

 

Prince Chung-in, with a face like a demon, clenched his fists while watching Lee-hwan’s retreating figure in the distance.

 

“Brother… please restrain yourself. You went too far this time.”

 

At Prince Ju-an’s mature voice, unbelievable for an eight-year-old, Prince Chung-in glared and shouted.

 

“You! Whose younger brother are you exactly! Do you want to curry favor so badly with that bastard who sits on the Crown Prince’s throne thanks to having the Queen Mother as his mother!”

 

“Brother… brother…”

 

Prince Ju-an, with a face about to cry, looked up at Prince Chung-in with resentful eyes.

 

Brother wasn’t originally like this. As far as he remembered, Prince Chung-in was truly kind and intelligent. Until two years ago, before smallpox spread through the palace, didn’t brother like the Crown Prince and cherish the young princess dearly?

 

What could be the reason for brother’s sudden change?

 

Prince Ju-an’s eyes, looking up at Prince Chung-in who was about a ja (approximately 30cm) taller than himself, quickly filled with hot tears.

 

“What are you crying for when you did nothing praiseworthy! Damn! My mood is ruined. I should go to Byeolchuk and catch some rabbits. Follow me!”

 

Prince Ju-an reached out toward Prince Chung-in, who turned around coldly with his anger unresolved.

 

“Brother! It’s not time for Jonghaek to dismiss yet! If mother finds out…”

 

“Shut up! Didn’t that Crown Prince bastard say so earlier? That Father summoned all the ministers to Sajeongjeon! Wouldn’t he have summoned the old men at Jonghaek too!”

 

Prince Ju-an’s small heart trembled with fear at Prince Chung-in’s twisted lips and spiteful words.

 

If mother found out about today’s events, she would surely scold him harshly. But he couldn’t leave brother alone after he was humiliated by the Crown Prince and the young princess.

 

Prince Ju-an blinked his gentle eyes while watching Prince Chung-in begin walking ahead with angry steps, then squeezed his eyes shut thinking about what would happen at Byeolchuk.

 

Poor animals will die again…

 

Moreover, since Byeolchuk’s location was behind the Queen Mother’s Palace where the Queen Mother resided, Prince Ju-an’s heart was always anxious. Even though it was quite far from the Queen Mother’s Palace in the depths of the rear garden, didn’t the head court ladies and court ladies from Suragam frequently come and go there?

 

The terrible things Prince Chung-in did there whenever he was angry were secrets known only to those who knew.

 

Behind Prince Chung-in advancing toward Byeolchuk with menacing momentum, Prince Ju-an and two eunuchs were moving with trembling steps.

 

* * *

 

Bang!

 

A white hand adorned with thick jade rings of various colors struck the black writing desk forcefully.

 

“What? Prince Chung-in and Prince Ju-an met whom and heard what?”

 

At Lady Gyeongbin’s voice that seemed to split the room’s air in half, Lady Seo’s hunched shoulders curled inward even more.

 

“I… I humbly apologize, Lady Gyeongbin.”

 

“What business did my sons, who should have been at Jonghaek, have wandering the palace with the Crown Prince’s dog at that hour?”

 

“That… that, this servant doesn’t know well…”

 

Bang!

 

At Lady Gyeongbin’s sharp hand movement striking the writing desk as if to break it once more, Lady Seo shuddered and pulled her neck in like a turtle.

 

“I’ll have to replace all the eunuchs. Tell them to fill Prince Chung-in’s side with useful ones who earn their keep, not useless ones who can’t properly assist young princes.”

 

“Yes, yes, Lady Gyeongbin.”

 

A frosty voice came down over Lady Seo’s head as she gulped down thick saliva at Lady Gyeongbin’s venomous face that seemed ready to breathe fire from her eyes.

 

“By any chance, did Prince Chung-in and Prince Ju-an go to Byeolchuk?”

 

“Pardon? Hiccup… I apologize, I apologize, Lady Gyeongbin!”

 

Prince Chung-in’s eerie hobby known only to Lady Gyeongbin and her close associates – Lady Seo trembled like an aspen tree, recalling Prince Chung-in laughing as if mad after cutting off a chicken’s neck with a knife.

 

And that wasn’t all.

 

The sight of him deliberately choosing pregnant rabbits to kill, then cutting open their bellies to pull out the wriggling red baby rabbits one by one and crush them with his hands was a horrific memory she could never forget for life.

 

Lady Seo prostrated herself flat on the floor, her chest heaving at Lady Gyeongbin’s frightening gaze that seemed ready to pierce right through her.

 

“Though Prince Ju-an and the eunuchs tried to stop him, Prince Chung-in…”

 

Lady Gyeongbin exhaled sharply through her nose and clenched her fist on the writing desk.

 

Prince Chung-in – that child shouldn’t have overheard that day’s events. Lady Gyeongbin squeezed her eyes shut, recalling the child’s pale face asking if it was true.

 

Two years ago when smallpox spread through the country, the Crown Prince should have died according to the original plan. Everything went wrong because the princess, who happened to visit the Crown Prince’s Palace, ate the refreshments prepared for the Crown Prince.

 

How disappointed she had been to hear that the useless girl had caught smallpox instead of the Crown Prince.

 

At that time, Prince Chung-in had overheard her conversation with her father, Left State Councilor Choi Nak-hyeon, who had visited her quarters.

 

Prince Chung-in had come to her quarters to tell her that his younger brother Prince Ju-an wasn’t eating and was crying upon hearing that the princess had caught smallpox. That child, pure as white snow and intelligent, seemingly born with royal qualities, broad-minded and clever from a young age, had completely changed after that incident.

 

Prince Chung-in’s voice still seemed to echo vividly.

 

“Mother, is what I heard true? Did you really try to kill Hyeon, no, the Crown Prince together with grandfather? Please say it’s not true.”

 

Lady Gyeongbin slowly opened her eyes while grinding her molars with all her might, then stood up with determination.

 

“M… my lady?”

 

Lady Seo, who had been prostrated before Lady Gyeongbin, quickly raised her head.

 

“Let’s go. I must go see that spectacle myself today. Surely he wouldn’t do such hideous acts even in front of his mother.”

 

“That won’t do, my lady! If by any chance you encounter the Queen Mother on the way…”

 

Lady Seo jumped up and hurriedly blocked Lady Gyeongbin’s path, bowing her head.

 

Wasn’t Byeolchuk located deep in the rear garden of the Queen Mother’s Palace? Going toward the Queen Mother’s Palace, they might encounter the Queen Mother. Moreover, if the Queen Mother were to learn of Prince Chung-in’s bizarre and horrific hobby…

 

Lady Seo shook her head vigorously from side to side while keeping it bowed, as if she didn’t want to imagine it.

 

“My lady, this servant will go directly to bring them back. Please wait here.”

 

Then Lady Gyeongbin lifted her pointed chin upward and clenched her molars.

 

“No. By now, isn’t the Queen Mother busy preparing medicinal decoctions to send to Jagyeong Palace?”

 

“However… if by any chance…”

 

At Lady Seo’s continued dissuasion due to her lingering anxiety, Lady Gyeongbin smiled bitterly and continued.

 

“And who else but I, his mother, can stop Prince Chung-in’s eccentric behavior? Let’s go to Byeolchuk, and tell everyone except Lady Seo not to follow.”

 

“Yes, Lady Gyeongbin.”

 

Lady Gyeongbin’s face clouded with sorrow as she passed by the bowing Lady Seo.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, Eunhye, who had arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace while bickering over who would hold Hwanggu’s leash, smiled brightly with delight at the sight of Ma-ui who had arrived after receiving urgent notice.

 

“Are you the Ma-ui from Saboksi?”

 

“Yes, Princess Eunhye. This humble one is Ma-ui Jeong Chan-bo, who came running immediately upon receiving urgent summons.”

 

As if he had truly come running urgently, his leather boots were covered with mud he hadn’t had time to brush off, and the leather cord tying his shortly wound topknot had come loose and hung down below his hood.

 

Eunhye looked at the beads of sweat on Ma-ui’s forehead and wrinkled her nose apologetically, then pointed at Hwanggu with an embarrassed gesture.

 

“Please look at this fellow’s neck. It seems injured from being forcibly dragged, so please examine it and apply some medicine.”

 

“Yes, Princess. This humble one will examine him briefly.”

 

At Eunhye’s command, Ma-ui bowed deeply and carefully approached Hwanggu, whose leash was held by Lady Han.

 

“Let me see.”

 

His voice was surprisingly gentle and youthful, not matching his appearance of about thirty years old.

 

Ma-ui brushed aside the fur on Hwanggu’s neck and frowned upon seeing the deep abrasions from the leash.

 

“I humbly report with regret – who dared treat the Crown Prince’s Hwanggu so roughly? The skin is wounded from pulling the leash so hard, he must have suffered greatly.”

 

At Ma-ui’s words, Eunhye also frowned slightly with displeasure.

 

“Sigh… yes, there is such an ill-mannered person. So can it heal if you apply medicine?”

 

At Eunhye’s question, Ma-ui answered while unpacking the bundle he had brought.

 

“Yes, Princess. I will trim some fur around the wound area to prevent infection, disinfect it, then apply medicine. And this humble one will come every other day to check the wound, so please don’t worry.”

 

Eunhye nodded vigorously as if pleased with Ma-ui’s answer, then crouched in front of Hwanggu and extended her small hand.

 

“Our Hwanggu, did it hurt a lot? Now when Ma-ui applies medicine, I’ll blow on it for you. Then it will heal quickly. Understand?”

 

At that truly lovable sight, Ma-ui, who was taking out scissors, a small knife, and medicine to apply from his bundle, couldn’t help but smile.

 

It had already been seven years since Ma-ui Jeong Chan-bo entered the palace and became part of Saboksi, caring for horses, livestock, and small animals – today was the first time he had seen Princess Eunhye, whom he had only heard about in rumors.

 

Surely he had heard that she had become very shy after suffering from smallpox two years ago – wasn’t that wrong?

 

Wasn’t Princess Eunhye so cute and lovely? And how clearly she spoke – he thought, ‘So this is when you use the expression about an oriole chirping.’

 

The rumors that had spread even to Saboksi as if carried on the wind were all lies.

 

What vicious person had spread such rumors about such a lovely and intelligent Princess Eunhye?

 

Jeong Chan-bo looked at Hwanggu receiving Princess Eunhye’s warm touch and suddenly thought of the small animals at Byeolchuk.

 

A few years ago, right after passing the examination for miscellaneous positions at Saboksi and becoming Ma-ui, he was assigned to Byeolchuk, which cared for the palace’s small animals.

 

Byeolchuk was a place where small animals including rabbits and goats, as well as dogs, chickens, and pigs were raised and cared for.

 

However, since about two years ago.

 

The small animals at Byeolchuk were frequently found brutally slaughtered or barely clinging to life with terrible wounds.

 

Even when trying to catch the culprit, everyone would just hush and shake their heads, leaving Jeong Chan-bo with no way to know who was committing these heinous acts.

 

Just a few days ago, when he rushed to Byeolchuk after an urgent call, he had to squeeze his eyes shut at the horrific scene.

 

A mother rabbit who had recently given birth was sprawled out in a terrible state along with her babies.

 

The mother rabbit, strangled with a silk cord, lay dead with bulging eyes, while the newborn baby rabbits had all their front paws cut off and were covered in blood.

 

Seeing the small, fragile baby rabbits, like cotton balls, writhing in pain while squeaking in their dead mother’s embrace, the other veterinarians at Byeolchuk and Jeong Chan-bo shed hot tears.

 

Who could commit such cruel acts? How could someone wearing human skin do such things?

 

Jeong Chan-bo wept as he ended the baby rabbits’ suffering, praying to heaven that such incidents would never happen again.

 

Not long after that incident, today while tending to the pen of newborn foals, Jeong Chan-bo had received word that something was wrong with Hwanggu from the Crown Prince’s Palace and rushed over in surprise.

 

Hwanggu had recently lost all three of her puppies. It was her first birth, and they were stillborn.

 

Because it was that same Hwanggu, his steps had been urgent, wondering if she might have suffered harm from the wicked person who had been hurting the animals at Byeolchuk.

 

But to think he would get to meet such a lovely Princess Eunhye in person. Moreover, Jeong Chan-bo breathed a sigh of relief seeing that Hwanggu’s condition wasn’t as serious as he had thought.

 

Jeong Chan-bo asked Lady Han to hold Hwanggu, then removed Hwanggu’s collar.

 

Then Eunhye crouched down beside Hwanggu and stroked her head.

 

“Even if it hurts a little, be patient. Then I’ll give you jerky. You have to stay still. Understand?”

 

The sight was so adorable that Jeong Chan-bo smiled silently while carefully cutting and trimming the fur around Hwanggu’s neck as she obediently rested her head in Eunhye’s hands.

 

When he poured disinfecting alcohol on the red scraped wound and slightly torn skin, Hwanggu flinched.

 

“Whoa, whoa, it’s okay. Just bear with it a little.”

 

Jeong Chan-bo soothed Hwanggu as if handling a horse, then took out yellow ointment, spread it on the wound, covered it with medicinal cotton, and wrapped the wound with cloth.

 

Eunhye’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she watched the white cloth being wrapped gently around Hwanggu’s neck.

 

“How amazing. If you do this, our Hwanggu’s wound will heal quickly, right?”

 

“Yes, Princess. I will come again in two days to examine her, so please do not worry.”

 

Eunhye, who seemed pleased with Jeong Chan-bo’s treatment, nodded vigorously and smiled brightly while stroking Hwanggu’s head, which looked like it was wearing a white headband around her neck.

 

“Hwanggu, it won’t hurt anymore. Even if the puppies think you look strange, tell them it’s okay, alright?”

 

Puppies?

 

At Princess Eunhye’s sudden words, Jeong Chan-bo quickly looked around Hwanggu.

 

He couldn’t see any puppies anywhere, so what could she be talking about?

 

Lady Park gave a knowing look to Jeong Chan-bo, who was smiling awkwardly with a confused expression.

 

“You’ve worked hard. Now go back to the Office of the Royal Stables. Princess Eunhye will send snacks for everyone at Saboksi to share and enjoy.”

 

“Thank you, Princess Eunhye.”

 

At Lady Park’s words, Jeong Chan-bo bowed deeply toward Eunhye and busily gathered his tools as he stood up.

 

“Then I shall take my leave now.”

 

Then Eunhye smiled brightly and waved her small hand back and forth.

 

“Yes. You worked hard. And thank you.”

 

Hwanggu suddenly stood up as if to see him off and began barking while wagging her tail vigorously.

 

Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof!

 

“Our Hwanggu is saying thank you. The puppies are all saying thank you too. Haha.”

 

Jeong Chan-bo was slightly flustered by Eunhye’s words about puppies again, but soon smiled pleasantly and bowed his head.

 

“Yes, Princess Eunhye. Your kind words make this humble servant feel so honored that I don’t know what to do with myself. I will gratefully enjoy the snacks you’re sending.”

 

“Yes! I’ll tell them to send lots, so share them with your colleagues.”

 

Jeong Chan-bo’s mouth curved upward in a smile as he bowed once more to Eunhye, who was nodding with a bright smile.

 

Come to think of it, didn’t his own four-year-old daughter also create imaginary friends just like Princess Eunhye?

 

Since Princess Eunhye knew that Hwanggu had recently lost all her puppies during birth, she must have created imaginary puppies.

 

Thinking of the adorable Princess Eunhye, Jeong Chan-bo’s steps back to the Office of the Royal Stables were exceptionally light that afternoon.

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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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