The Five-Year-Old Baby Princess Rules the Palace - Chapter 68

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

#68. Welcome, This Is Your First Time Tasting Something Like This, Right?

It was already approaching sunset, as the sunlight streaming through the skylight in the library had greatly diminished.

Gwangjo and Yeonjo, along with Eunhye and Park Jeong-bin, were huddled together at a small desk in front of the west-facing window, their heads bent over a map showing the underground passages of the Royal Palace of Taeshin Kingdom.

“Wow, there’s even a path beneath Hyesin Palace where I reside!”

“Indeed. This uncle has been going in and out of the Palace for over ten years, yet never dreamed that such secret passages existed beneath my feet.”

[If you knew about them, would they be secret passages?]

Eunhye nodded as if in agreement with Yeonjo’s words, which Park Jeong-bin could not hear.

“If Father or Mother knew there was such a path behind my chambers, they would be shocked, wouldn’t they?”

“They would block it immediately!”

Park Jeong-bin answered Eunhye’s words with his nostrils flaring.

Eunhye glanced lightly at her uncle and traced with her short finger the passage marked on the map that led from Hyesin Palace to Yeon-yeong Gate on the south side of the Palace.

“So we go out this way, and find the apothecary near the general store called Man-bok Store in the marketplace, is that right?”

[Correct.]

“And we disguise ourselves as uncle and niece, enter the apothecary owned by someone with the surname Eom, say we came from the Palace, show our entry pass, ask for what the herb gatherer left behind, and then give them a pouch containing five nyang of silver. Is that right?”

This time Yeonjo nodded instead of answering.

“But how did you know that mushroom called Cheongmyeong Cloud Fungus would be there?”

As Eunhye asked with curiosity, Park Jeong-bin also nodded repeatedly, so Yeonjo glanced at Gwangjo and chuckled before speaking.

[King Gwangjo has grabbed the throats of truly many souls.]

“Pardon?”

At Yeonjo’s unexpected words, Eunhye widened her eyes and looked up at Gwangjo.

[Ahem, ahem, I used some force here and there to protect my descendant.]

Gwangjo coughed awkwardly and turned his gaze toward the window, while Yeonjo smiled softly and continued.

[When this is over, child, you should meet Eom-ga, who was a cook at Suragam.]

“A cook at Suragam? May I ask why?”

To Eunhye’s question, Yeonjo answered with pitying eyes.

[He died working day and night at Suragam without even knowing he had stomach cancer. But even after death, he couldn’t achieve enlightenment and remained in the Palace, and this time he informed us of Lady Gyeongbin and the Ministry of War’s cunning schemes.]

“Ah, he is truly a loyal subject. To remain as a spirit after death and still help the Royal Family.”

To Eunhye, whose eyes sparkled with emotion, Yeonjo spoke as if giving advice.

[He has a young daughter who lost her mother at birth, and now that her father has died too, she has become an orphan. So child, could you take in that daughter?]

“Yes! Please don’t worry. I’ll speak to Nanny and bring that child to my quarters.”

[Good. Be sure to tell Eom-ga about this – he will be very pleased.]

“Yes! I will certainly do so. Then tomorrow, after finishing my discourse with Teacher that begins at the fourth hour, I will prepare immediately with Uncle.”

Park Jeong-bin, who had been listening to the conversation between Eunhye and Yeonjo while gauging the mood, looked distressed at the mention of preparing.

“Princess, must you really go out? I beg you, please trust this uncle and wait in the Palace?”

However, Eunhye shook her head firmly, even clenching her molars.

“Uncle, I must go with you to naturally enter the apothecary that King Yeonjo told us about. Isn’t that right, King Yeonjo?”

While Yeonjo groaned and closed his eyes, Gwangjo smiled kindly and nodded.

[Of course, child, do as you wish. You’ll do well. If you’re really worried, this person can go with your uncle.]

At Gwangjo’s words pointing to Yeonjo, Eunhye quickly looked up at Park Jeong-bin.

“King Yeonjo is going to possess Uncle’s body again?”

Park Jeong-bin was startled by what she said while looking up at him, and covered his chest with both hands, widening his eyes.

“Are you talking about me? Suddenly?”

He remembered the suffocating feeling from half an hour ago, when something seemed to push into the center of his chest. And when he opened his eyes, he was sprawled on the floor with a splitting headache and no memory at all!

Park Jeong-bin shook his head vigorously while looking at Eunhye.

“That won’t do, Princess. Being possessed by King Yeonjo again – what are you talking about?”

Then Eunhye made a mischievous expression, stretching her lips long, and asked Park Jeong-bin while narrowing her eyes playfully.

“What will you do? Will you come out with me through the secret passage, or will you be possessed by King Yeonjo?”

“Oh my!”

Seeing Park Jeong-bin’s shock, Gwangjo and Yeonjo burst into laughter once again.

[What? Hahaha! What a bold little thing. Hahahaha.]

As the hearty laughter of the two kings, inaudible to others, rippled through the library,

the side door of the library creaked open.

“Princess? Princess Eunhye? You’re still here, aren’t you? We have returned.”

Seeing the two women return, Yeonjo looked at Eunhye with puzzled eyes.

[Didn’t you send them away earlier?]

“Hehe, I didn’t send them away, I sent them on an errand.”

[An errand?]

“Yes, I wanted to serve food to both of you, King Yeonjo.”

Eunhye smiled cutely at the puzzled Yeonjo and waved to Lady Park and Lady Han who entered the library.

“Nanny! Lady Han, come over here quickly.”

Then she grinned at Park Jeong-bin, who was standing there dumbfounded while watching the two women walking toward them.

“Uncle, please take good care of the Royal Family’s secret map.”

“Ah!”

Park Jeong-bin exclaimed in surprise at Eunhye’s words and hurriedly folded the map spread on the desk, tucking it into his jacket.

[Look at that. Our princess is much more capable than that half-wit, isn’t she? Hehehe.]

While Yeonjo shook his head as if he couldn’t stop Gwangjo’s doting laughter, Lady Park and Lady Han approached the desk, each carrying a small bundle called chanbo to avoid drawing attention.

“Princess Eunhye, we have returned.”

Eunhye looked at the fragrant-smelling bundles with pleased eyes and smiled sweetly.

“Thank you. Please set out what you brought here.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Lady Park and Lady Han placed the chanbo on the desk and quickly untied the knots, spreading out the food bundles to form a table setting.

“Wow!”

On the chanbo with its subtle jade-colored sheen, foods wrapped in oil paper were each giving off delicious aromas.

[What is all this?]

Yeonjo frowned at the sight of food suddenly spread out on the desk in the dim library.

“Hehe, please wait just a moment, King Yeonjo.”

Eunhye smiled cutely and watched with a bright smile as Lady Park and Lady Han unwrapped the neatly wrapped oil paper, then looked at Yeonjo.

“Though it’s not a magnificent feast like a royal banquet, this is food I really wanted to serve you, King Yeonjo.”

Where the secret underground map of the Palace had been spread just moments before, appetizing meat pancakes and skewered meat, along with sweet and chewy rice cakes and a bottle of sweet rice drink, were now laid out.

[Your heart is kind, but in this sacred library, what is this…]

Gwangjo smiled warmly at Yeonjo, who still looked displeased, and spoke.

[It’s the young princess’s sincerity, isn’t it? Please be patient for the sake of her good intentions.]

Though Yeonjo reluctantly closed his mouth at Gwangjo’s words, he was still unhappy about the greasy food smells in the library full of precious books. Moreover, they couldn’t even smell or taste the food.

A meat skewer was suddenly thrust in front of Yeonjo, who was trying to suppress his displeasure with a groan.

[What are you doing? Put it away, I will eat it.]

Then Eunhye shook her small head and spoke with eyes full of anticipation.

“Please try just one bite of what I’m offering, won’t you?”

[Yes, please try it.]

Yeonjo clicked his tongue in disbelief as even Gwangjo stepped forward to support Eunhye.

[What is this… Why are you supporting this too, Your Majesty? Taking the side of a child’s thoughtless behavior.]

Then Gwangjo frowned in frustration and even raised his voice.

[Oh my! Why so many words with food in front of you? Just open your mouth once. Hurry up and open your mouth! Our princess’s arm will get tired.]

Scolded by Gwangjo, Yeonjo looked at Park Jeong-bin and the two women beside Eunhye, who were bowing with wide eyes, and closed his eyes tightly.

Why does His Majesty indulge all this meaningless whining?

But when he opened his eyes, seeing Eunhye still holding the skewer with meat in both hands and looking at him with earnest eyes, Yeonjo groaned again and opened his mouth.

“Hehe, you made a good decision.”

Eunhye made a cute laughing sound and finally pushed the skewer she was holding into Yeonjo’s translucent mouth.

“Please try chewing it, King Yeonjo.”

Yeonjo closed his mouth with a thud, his eyes widened greatly, and then he slowly began to chew.

“…?!!!”

Gulp.

Yeonjo stared straight at the grinning Eunhye with his eyes widened as large as they could possibly get. After a moment, he exhaled roughly through his nose and opened his mouth toward Gwangjo, who was looking at him with a satisfied smile.

[G-Great King, what is… what on earth is the meaning of this?]

[It’s still too early to be surprised. Just quietly try a bit more of what that child is offering you.]

Before Yeonjo could ask Gwangjo anything more, this time a sweet rice cake giving off the fragrant scent of honey appeared before him.

“Queen Dowager, please open your mouth.”

Seeing Eunhye’s hand holding out the honey rice cake to him with her adorable face, his mouth opened automatically without even time to think.

The honey rice cake was gently pushed into Yeonjo’s helplessly opened mouth.

Unlike before, Yeonjo’s eyes grew enormously wide again as he hurriedly chewed the rice cake in his mouth.

Gwangjo burst into loud laughter at such a sight and stroked down his abundant beard with one hand as he spoke.

[Hahaha! What did I tell you? This is the first time you’ve tasted something like this since becoming a ghost, isn’t it?]

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