Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter Eleven
“What if the royal family made an excursion to the nearby Secondary Palace? You could station an Investigator among the attendants.”
The Great King gazed at Hae, who was speaking softly beside him, with obvious affection.
But the time for solving this with a mere Investigator had long passed.
None of the Investigators sent before had returned. By now, the Jin Family would be thoroughly prepared. Any evidence would have been hidden or destroyed.
The Great King offered her a gentle answer, careful not to disappoint his consort.
“It’s not a bad approach.”
“Give me a little more time. I wish to ease Your Majesty’s worries.”
“Very well. Do as you think best.”
“If we searched the Main Residence, evidence would surely surface… Are there no other charges? What if we began an investigation on different grounds—an unconventional route, perhaps?”
“We cannot conduct a sudden raid on the Jin Family’s Main Residence without a grave crime amounting to High Treason—”
The Great King’s words trailed off as he spoke in that placating tone.
As he connected her initial suggestion to his thoughts, a solution began to take shape.
If trouble arose with a member of the royal family staying nearby, there would be cause to dispatch troops. And as it happened, he had thirty-one children.
“The younger, the better. There could be complications, so it cannot be the one called Hui. What was the age of that princess you were caring for?”
“Princess Gyesan turned eleven this year. She is resolute and skilled in Swordsmanship.”
“Skilled in Swordsmanship? I see.”
“She is quite brilliant, I’m told.”
Hae’s lips curved upward with an alluring smile.
“I have arrived.”
Hui burst into the Inner Courtyard again, arriving with the early morning breeze.
“You’re here?”
Gyesan hung from a persimmon tree branch, swaying her hand languidly.
“Is that how you greet your brother?”
“…Did you arrive?”
“That will do.”
Hui turned the bow on Samcheon instead.
“You summarize this by tomorrow.”
Samcheon accepted the book Hui thrust at her without hesitation. It was one she’d wanted to read, and a smile bloomed on her face naturally.
“Yes!”
She had long since read through all the books in Mokseo Palace’s library multiple times. This was how she managed to read new ones—by accepting Hui’s discarded tasks.
Gyesan, who had been watching, leaped down from the tree. She spun in a complete circle, and when her feet touched the ground, dust rose up in a pale cloud.
Samcheon quickly approached and brushed the dirt from Gyesan’s shoes.
“You’ll just get them dirty again anyway.”
“Then I’ll simply brush them off again.”
When Samcheon smiled brightly, Gyesan laughed along with her.
“Good.”
Seeing Hui flop into a chair, Gyesan drew the Wooden Sword from her waist.
“Let’s spar while you’re here.”
“I don’t want to sweat.”
“A match. Come on.”
Gyesan swung the Wooden Sword with a swish, her eyes shining brightly. Unable to resist that gleaming gaze, Hui’s temper flared.
“You always win anyway!”
“I can’t let you win. That would be disrespecting my brother.”
“I just don’t have talent for Swordsmanship!”
As Hui erupted, Samcheon quickly intervened to smooth things over.
“In my view, both Your Highnesses are remarkable.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Hui, Your Highness especially—your fundamentals are so solid that your form is quite beautiful. Come, eat. It’s grilled fish.”
“Oh? Fish?”
“I love fish!”
The conversation shifted as smoothly as water flowing downstream.
Gyesan and Hui raced to the table without ceremony. When they arrived, a full spread was already laid out waiting for them.
As the two sat facing each other with matching grins and began eating, Samcheon positioned herself behind Gyesan. She deftly filleted the fish, placing the tender flesh neatly into Gyesan’s rice bowl.
The precise way she separated the meat from bones and spines caught Hui’s attention.
“Are you mashing the fish meat?”
When Hui needlessly picked at her, Gyesan laughed gleefully and boasted.
“It tastes better this way.”
“Shall I fillet some for you as well, Your Highness?”
“I’m not a child. Never mind. One must use chopsticks properly.”
Hui declared this while attempting to clean her own fish. She tried to follow Samcheon’s method, but the flesh crumbled apart and wouldn’t cooperate.
As she glared at the offending grilled fish, Hui’s eyes drifted to the meat. Come to think of it, she preferred meat anyway.
With a mouthful of meat, chewing contentedly, Hui finally spoke.
“By the way, have you heard that rumor?”
Gyesan immediately showed interest.
“What rumor?”
“There’s a ghost appearing in Jeonggwol Palace.”
“I’ve heard about it, but Samcheon said it was just gossip.”
“Lots of people have seen it. Let’s go check whether it’s really a ghost.”
“We can’t go out at night.”
“That’s exactly why we have to sneak out.”
Hui grinned like a mischievous imp.
A mountain is a mountain. Water is water.
Juhong, Hui’s attendant, stood facing a wall. Nearly nine hours had passed since Hui entered Mokseo Palace, and darkness had begun to settle over everything.
Hui had not permitted Juhong to follow her inside. So there was nothing to do but wait endlessly.
Just as Juhong sighed heavily, the main gate swung wide open and Hui appeared.
“Come quickly.”
As Hui urged her on, Samcheon emerged saying “yes” in a hollow voice. Last came Gyesan.
Juhong stood there looking bewildered, unsure why everyone had come out. Then Hui spoke.
“We’re going for a night walk.”
In that moment, Juhong doubted her own ears. A night walk? She must have misheard.
“You’re returning, Your Highness?”
“I’m staying at Mokseo Palace tonight. Besides, you already reported to Mother that I would. In any case, coming out at night is a secret from Mother.”
A night walk was serious enough—if they were caught doing this in secret, Dismissal from Palace would follow immediately.
Juhong shook her head firmly. At home, she had rabbit-like parents and tiger-like siblings. Juhong’s salary was what kept the household afloat.
“Your Highness, that simply cannot be done.”
“If you keep quiet about today, I’ll let you enter the Inner Courtyard from now on.”
The Inner Courtyard…?
Seduced by this irresistibly tempting offer, Juhong nodded as though entranced.
“Mother will think you tattled if she finds out.”
“…Yes?”
Hui grinned wickedly and strode ahead, swinging her arms carelessly. Gyesan watched Juhong with sympathy and spoke as she passed by.
“You suffer much because of my brother.”
A quiet sob.
Once Hui had moved far enough away, Samcheon also spoke in a low voice.
“Your Highness enjoys praise.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s just my observation.”
Samcheon offered a small smile and followed Gyesan and Hui. Juhong disappeared into the darkness as well. She had to maintain a proper distance, since Hui disliked being watched and became suspicious if anyone stayed too close.
The four of them crossed the quiet palace at night and arrived at Jeonggwol Palace, located at the far edge of the Eastern District. As Hui pushed open the gate and entered, she offered her assessment.
“I’ve never seen a palace smaller than Mokseo Palace.”
“Mokseo Palace isn’t small—it’s cozy.”
Gyesan corrected her immediately.
“Fair enough.”
Samcheon also took in the sights of Jeonggwol Palace. It had been empty for about three months, yet it was maintained neatly. There was none of the eerie atmosphere one might expect a ghost to haunt.
“There’s nothing here! Let’s go back now.”
“After coming all this way?”
Hui’s expression turned serious.
“But you’ve confirmed there’s no ghost, Your Highness.”
“It might only appear after midnight.”
“…Yes.”
Realizing that Hui would need to be satisfied before this adventure ended, Samcheon abandoned hope of an early departure.
Hui and Gyesan proceeded to search every corner of Jeonggwol Palace.
Crack.
Hui, leading the way, stepped on a twig. When the branch snapped loudly, Samcheon flinched violently.
“Eek!”
Seeing this, Hui burst out laughing.
“Why are you so fearful? If a ghost appears, I’ll strike it down, so don’t worry.”
“Yes.”
Samcheon’s reply held not a shred of conviction. She was the sort who would sacrifice Samcheon as an offering and flee if a ghost actually appeared.
Just then, Gyesan noticed something.
“Brother, someone’s coming.”
“What? Where?”
While Hui’s head swiveled around, Gyesan grabbed Samcheon’s sleeve and pulled.
“Let’s hide.”
The three of them crouched behind a large earthenware jar. Hui kept turning her head around nervously as she whispered.
“Where exactly is this person?”
“Over there.”
Following Gyesan’s pointing finger, there was indeed someone there. Their presence was so faint that at first glance she’d almost missed them, but it was undoubtedly a person.
And a young one at that.
The silhouette that emerged from the darkness came to a halt in the rear courtyard. Dressed in white Martial Robes, the figure resembled what people had been reporting as a ghost.
As the boy’s face gradually became visible through the moonlight, Samcheon’s fear began to fade.
‘Like a young deer.’

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