Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 5

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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 5
“Your Highness, did you just call me ‘you’?”
Hae’s face twisted like a demon’s mask.
Gyesan stepped forward, blocking Samcheon behind her, and fixed Hae with a withering stare.
“That’s right. Who do you think you are, laying hands on Samcheon?”
Oh, Your Highness.
Samcheon shut her eyes tight.
The plan had begun with the calculation that Hae would not dare strike a princess directly. But now Samcheon could no longer predict what Hae might do.
Sure enough, her distorted face twisted into something far more malicious.
Hae had resented Gyesan from the moment of her birth. Since Gyesan came into the world, no one else had conceived. It was the Great King’s doing, surely—his lack of favor—but it infuriated her.
The Great King lavished his affection upon her, yet she had produced no heir.
Among all the concubines, Hae alone remained childless. Though she was the last to enter the palace, Jeong—who had arrived around the same time—had given birth to Gyesan.
The Grand Lady had mocked Hae by pawning off her own stepdaughter to her. What use was there in raising a princess the Great King would never look upon?
But once the responsibility fell to her, she needed to prove herself capable of managing it.
She had begun by having Gyesan study musical instruments intensively, and once her proficiency became presentable, she planned to parade the girl at tea gatherings to display her talents. She would make everyone know that it was she who had tamed the princess her own mother, the Secondary Consort Lady Jeong, had given up on.
Yet Gyesan refused to be docile. She insisted on learning swordsmanship instead, defying her, and ultimately brought nothing but shame.
“It seems the young lady requires some education.”
It was when Hae spat out the words, her eyes gleaming with malice.
“Perhaps it is the Secondary Consort Lady who needs the education.”
A stately woman’s voice cut through, and an elderly lady stepped past the gate into Mokseo Palace.
The Grand Lady’s mere appearance made the air of Mokseo Palace grow heavy in an instant. Her hair, white with age, caught the sunlight and gleamed; even her deep wrinkles seemed to radiate authority.
The court ladies Hae had brought with her withdrew to one side and bowed deeply. Hae, Gyesan, and Samcheon all paid their respects to the mistress of Baekje’s inner court.
The Grand Lady walked slowly into Mokseo Palace and stopped directly before the bowing Hae.
“I came because I heard the Secondary Consort Lady was mistreating Princess Gyesan. I thought it couldn’t be true, yet it seems it is.”
Her expression darkened.
“Mistreatment? No, I have watched over Her Highness with the utmost care. Has she not learned proper etiquette without flaw?”
The Grand Lady let her gaze sweep slowly through every corner of Mokseo Palace. The half-weeded grass and floors stained with dust were a sorry sight indeed.
Entrusting Gyesan to Hae had been deliberate—a way to gather leverage later. But she had never expected the concubine would neglect the princess to such a degree.
Following the Grand Lady’s gaze, Hae belatedly surveyed the palace and bit her lower lip in dismay.
“Utmost care? Look at the state of those floors.”
The Grand Lady’s reprimand rang through Mokseo Palace like a bell.
“My attention was lacking.”
“Lacking? You’ve starved the princess, and you call it lacking?”
“That is a misunderstanding. She has never missed a meal. I merely thought to provide education befitting her station as a princess, since she focuses solely on swordsmanship. I fear my eagerness outpaced my wisdom, being new to child-rearing. I shall heed your guidance.”
Hae lowered herself and offered a suitable excuse, but the Grand Lady’s expression remained unchanged.
“It seems I too have grown old. To make such errors in judgment.”
When the Grand Lady spoke of her mistake in entrusting Gyesan to Hae, only then did Hae drop to her knees.
“I beg your pardon.”
“I trusted you too much, I fear. From this moment, you are to have no further involvement with the princess. All Personal Allowance issued to her name must be returned in full.”
Hae squeezed her eyes shut. Everything had fallen apart completely.
“That I extend even this mercy is because the Great King’s favor rests upon me. See that you do not set foot in Mokseo Palace again. Do you understand?”
“I shall obey your command.”
“You may go.”
Rather than protest, Hae simply withdrew, taking her court ladies with her.
Samcheon swallowed hard. What had seemed tangled moments before unraveled with effortless grace. Just as relief began to wash over her, the Grand Lady’s gaze turned toward her.
“Lift your head.”
Samcheon raised her head warily. Fortunately, no hand came flying at her as it had with Hae.
The Grand Lady studied Samcheon intently, noting the swelling on her left cheek.
“You did well.”
Startled by the subtle tone, Samcheon quickly bowed again.
“I am honored.”
It didn’t sound like praise for faithfully serving the princess. Could the Grand Lady have guessed that this had been Samcheon’s own scheme?
But the Grand Lady said nothing more. She merely studied Samcheon for a moment.
When the Grand Lady gestured, a court lady standing behind hurried forward and bowed.
“Fetch healing salve for this child.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As the court lady withdrew, Gyesan bowed more deeply.
“Thank you for your care, Your Majesty.”
Her voice trembled slightly—genuine feeling breaking through. That sincerity moved the Grand Lady.
“I should have come sooner. Forgive me for not seeing earlier. Come inside.”
The Grand Lady brushed Gyesan’s back gently as they walked toward the inner quarters.
Unlike her manner toward Hae, there was warmth in her gaze upon Gyesan. The two of them walking together looked as affectionate as grandmother and granddaughter.
‘How fortunate.’
Gyesan needed a caring adult. Not a helpless child like herself, but someone with power and strength.
From the inner quarters came the Grand Lady’s hearty laughter.
Things seemed to be progressing well, which brought relief. But as her laughter continued, a flutter of unease began to creep in.
Surely nothing could go wrong.
‘……Right?’
The Grand Lady stayed for nearly two hours before departing. Mercifully, the mood remained warm until the moment she left, which allowed Samcheon to breathe easy.
Once they were alone, Gyesan grasped Samcheon’s wrist and drew her into the inner chambers. She examined Samcheon’s swollen cheek from every angle and frowned with concern.
“Does it hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
She had expected to be beaten worse—fortune had smiled on her.
Just as relief washed over her at how lightly it had ended, Gyesan’s brow furrowed.
“Did you know this would happen?”
“Somewhat.”
As Samcheon answered, she glanced nervously at Gyesan before adding more.
“I thought Sohwa’s mother would tell Secondary Consort Lady Hae, and Hwaran’s mother would tell the Grand Lady. But I believed the Grand Lady would only hear of it tomorrow or the day after. Since both the princess Hwaran and her mother, the Secondary Consort Lady, are cautious people.”
“So you expected to suffer until tomorrow or the next day.”
“……Yes.”
Samcheon drew out the word slowly.
Her readiness for hardship angered Gyesan.
Samcheon could read difficult books with ease and was skilled at mathematics. Sometimes she displayed a childlike innocence, but it was endearing.
Everyone praised her as exceptionally bright, and so Gyesan too had believed her clever.
But she was foolishly, utterly reckless.
“Don’t ever do that again. Don’t even plan to harm yourself, and don’t speak of it. Do you understand?”
“…….”
A court lady had been taught that she must even lay down her life for her mistress. Samcheon had learned this from the beginning.
When she didn’t answer at once but only blinked, Gyesan pressed her in a rare, grave tone.
“Answer me.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I shall obey your command.”
“Don’t worry either. Hae won’t be able to enter Mokseo Palace anymore.”
Even without such restrictions, no one would dare treat a princess under the Grand Lady’s direct care carelessly. Samcheon broke into a soft smile.
“I’ve decided to take charge of Mokseo Palace myself. Wasn’t that clever?”
“Pardon? I think I misheard. Your Highness, you’ll be managing Mokseo Palace?”
“You heard correctly.”
Gyesan laughed brightly.

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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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