In the afternoon, when his headache had subsided, Min-jun ordered a palanquin to the Jangmi Villa. Orders be damned, he was going to go through with his plans for today, and deal with those little brats that had bullied Mai while he was at it. Mai had refused to return after the incident yesterday, and Min-jun could not simply allow something like this to go unpunished. Sun came along mostly because Min-jun promised him he wouldn’t back down without a fight. It was a bit odd. Min-jun was sure that Sun hadn’t always been so compliant. Well, it was to Min-jun’s advantage anyhow. No need to question every little detail that went in his favor.
Min-jun was carried all the way to the Royal Academy, where he was guided out of the palanquin by Sun. He winced a bit at the discomfort in his ankle but turned to thank the servants that had carried them this far.
“Your Highness, do not strain yourself,” Sun said, taking his arm. Min-jun stepped away from him before anyone could get any ideas of love affairs between them.
“I can endure it,” he told him. “Let us go inside now.”
. . .
They entered the Chief’s office so quietly that the man didn’t notice them until they were at his desk.
“Your Highness!” The Chief bowed, trembling from the nerves. “I-I did not expect you would be blessing us with your presence today.”
“I hope it is not too much trouble.” Min-jun withdrew a list from inside his robes. “I would like to start with the class these boys are in. They personally asked me to come to their class first.”
The Chief’s eyes widened in shock. “How impudent of them! I will punish them right away!”
Min-jun placed the tip of his fan to the chief’s soldier. “Do not be so hard on them. I understand their eagerness.” Of course, Min-jun wouldn’t mind if the brats got taught a lesson. However, it would not suit the image he was carefully trying to craft if he mistreated the students. Min-jun slapped the flat side of the fan to the palm of his hand. “Where is Scholar Ha-jun? Usually, he serves as our guide.”
“Yes, of course, I’ll fetch him right away,” the Chief mumbled, bowing again. He then ran off toward the door, shouting at the guards to bring Ha-jun to his office. From his reaction, Min-jun figured the Chief hadn’t known about Ha-jun’s attempted kiss yesterday, but that didn’t mean he didn’t play a hand in this scheme at all.
“Hmm,” Min-jun hummed, bringing the fan to his own chin. “Interesting.”
“What is, Your Highness?” Sun asked. It was a comfort to have him here rather than that useless guard the King had assigned to him the day before. At least Sun knew how to do his job. Min-jun needn’t fear being taken to a dark corridor somewhere with Sun around.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Min-jun said. If Sun knew about yesterday’s events, the truth would find its way to the King shortly after. Min-jun wanted Ha-jun scared stiff, not dead.
“Nothing at all.” He couldn’t let the King ruin some perfectly good blackmail material.
Scholar Ha-jun and the Chief returned to the office, and Scholar Ha-jun bowed in greeting. From the outside, Ha-jun appeared unbothered, but Min-jun saw the slight twitch in his fingers. He was nervous. Min-jun noted with some satisfaction that his nose appeared bruised and crooked.
“I was wondering where you’d gone,” Min-jun said. “Usually you come to greet us at the gate.”
“I beg his Highness’ forgiveness.” Scholar Ha-jun straightened but kept his head lowered. “I did not know you would be joining us today.”
“And why is that?”
Scholar Ha-jun pursed his lips and cleared his throat. “You had not arrived in the morning as usual. I thought the King might’ve asked you to stay.”
Min-jun smiled. He’d bully him, just a little bit. “As if the King must ask for my permission to do anything. You are not claiming he is subservient, are you?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness.” How obedient and mild-mannered, he was, when he’s been caught red-handed.
“Ofa er ub atfc. P klrt ab kjraf cb wbgf alwf,” Zlc-pec rjlv.
. . .
Ktfs kjixfv rlvf ys rlvf atgbeut atf tjiir bo atf Cmjvfws, jr Zlc-pec tjv jrxfv Vec ab iju yftlcv.
“Tbe rffw regqglrfv ab rff wf.” Zlc-pec xfqa tlr nblmf ibk jcv tlr qbraegf gfijzfv. “Ktbeut P reqqbrf P mjc’a yijwf sbe joafg sbe kfca ab jii atja agbeyif ab ufa wf lcabzlmjafv ijra cluta.”
“It was all in good fun, Your Highness, believe me,” he said, mimicking Min-jun’s tone.
“Hmm, yes, I’m sure you trying to force yourself upon me was also all in good fun.” Min-jun could tell he’d struck a nerve by the tightening of Ha-jun’s jaw. “Let me guess. You’re a scholar of no fortune or connection, who no one appears particularly fond of due to your lower status. Someone threatened you to follow along with this haphazard plan, and you, at a loss for what to do, agreed. You were sent to seduce me. After all, I worked as a kisaeng, it must not be too difficult for me to betray the King’s trust, no matter how much affection I hold for him.” How many times had it been said? ‘You are a Kisaeng, you’re used to bedding strangers.’ Therefore, he must be willing to bed anyone.
“You don’t think I might’ve done it out of my own desire for you?” Ha-jun asked.
“Desire.” Min-jun laughed. “Do not humor me so, my dear scholar. Your eyes are cold and dead when they’re on me. No, you’re most definitely following orders. As you’ve said, you were the only one who had not joined the wailing protest that day. You do not feel strongly enough about this issue to risk your life.”
Ha-jun could not offer a retort, not even to deny Min-jun’s claims. “And?”
“And I am here to offer you an out,” Min-jun said. “I want you on my side.”
“You want to blackmail me, you mean.”
Min-jun sighed, fanning himself lightly. “Now, now, Scholar Ha-jun, let’s not jump to conclusions. I am offering a business proposal. I doubt you want to end up dead in a ditch somewhere, and I do not want to be forced to leave the Palace. I’m sure we can help each other.” The truth was Min-jun’s allies in the Palace were few and far between. The ones who appeared loyal were only loyal as far as it did not go against the King. But Ha-jun. Ha-jun had schemed against the King. He had guts. Right now, Min-jun needed people like that. People who would be willing to go behind the King’s back like this.
“What does His Highness wish of me?”
“If they plan any more schemes like these, you will tell me. And, in the future, should I need your assistance, you will give it.”
There was a moment of deliberation, but Min-jun did not concern himself with it. “Very well.”
“Good.” He raised his voice once more. “It seems we’ve arrived. Thank you for guiding us, Scholar Ha-jun.”
“It was my pleasure, Your Highness.” He bowed once more. Whether or not he would run back to his master to tell him of their conversation was another issue entirely. Min-jun sighed. He had more important things to worry about now.
. . .
The classroom was a quiet thing, filled with warm sunlight and a crisp autumn breeze. Twenty desks stood side by side, each one carrying the students’ supplies – inkstones, brushes, paper, books. As soon as he entered, the professor, a frail old man, bowed deeply and excused himself to the back of the classroom. Tch. These scholars were all cowards.
“I will spare you the introductions, as you all know who I am already,” Min-jun said, looking out across the group of students. They were young noblemen, pampered and groomed for this role. He could not tell one apart from the other, save for one. Choi Yung was partially turned toward the window, but Min-jun could feel his gaze on him. Min-jun wondered what the boy was up to now. “Since you already know my own name, I think it’s only right that you all tell me yours.” He needed to know the faces of those brats, after all.
They went around the room introducing themselves. Some of them still seemed in awe of him. That was understandable. Min-jun had taken the time to prepare his best cosmetics and a stunning white and pale gold hanbok for this occasion. He wanted to look striking, yet elegant. People, especially nobles, were partial to those who were beautiful.
And so it began. Min-jun sent a brief prayer to his mother, his real mother, hoping her teachings would serve him well here.
“Does anyone know what my profession was before the King chose me to become his royal consort?”
Silence. They feared speaking the word, clearly. Among them, only Choi Yung left his sense of propriety behind.
“A kisaeng,” Choi Yung said.
“Indeed.” Min-jun sat down behind his desk, finally granting his injured ankle some relief. “Something many have found disgraceful. What most of those showing a sudden interest in my life omitted is that I was also an investigator.”
Choi Yung rolled his eyes, but the rest of the room lit up with intrigued chatter.
“Have you solved many cases, Your Highness?” one of them asked, bright-eyed and blushing slightly, wearing a uniform that was a bit too big for them. They seemed less wary than the others.
“Yes,” he replied. “I have. Do you know how?”
The student shook his head. “No, Your Highness.”
“It’s quite simple,” Min-jun said. “I always assume there is someone trying to skew my perspective. A demonstration.” He reached inside his sleeve to pull out a pebble, or so it seemed. He handed it to the bright-eyed student. “Feel free to pass it around. Go on.”
“I don’t understand,” one of the other students said. “It’s just a rock.”
“Is it?” Min-jun asked, not denying nor agreeing with his assessment.
Another student peeked at the stone by leaning over the shoulder of his friend. “It’s jade, Your Highness.”
The friend slapped him, playfully, and laughter ensued.
“It is,” the student insisted. “Look at the formation of the layers.”
They continued to laugh, and his friend chided him. “Don’t be so stubborn in front of His Highness.”
“He’s quite right,” Min-jun said, standing to take back the jade. A jolt of pain in his ankle traveled until his entire leg felt numb, but he ignored it, sitting down behind the desk once more. “Though I’m not surprised you did not realize. You’re all used to seeing jade once it’s polished and shaped into pins and jewelry.”
“I see,” the bright-eyed student said, excitedly, leaning over his desk. “You are like the jade, Your Highness. People have slandered you so terribly when you are in fact as virtuous as any nobleman.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Min-jun said. “But I cannot claim to be so virtuous.”
It was then that another joined them, unbeknownst to the students or the professor, who were too entranced by his performance to hear the soft click of the door sliding open. The King leaned against the wall, an easy smile on his face, clearly trying to draw Min-jun’s attention to him. Hmph, as if Min-jun would let the King ruin this for him. Oh, but how dashing the King looked in that black hanbok, with silver vines trailing upward from the hem. No, no, he must focus.
“What I am saying is that we are all fallible,” Min-jun continued. The King tilted his head to the side, smile widening as he realized Min-jun, in fact, would ignore him. “You all accepted the pebble was only a pebble, and even when someone provided you with evidence of the contrary, you laughed at him.”
They were humbled now.
“It would appear the only thing we can be sure of is that our knowledge is limited and our characters are often lacking.”
The King bowed his head, holding down a laugh, no doubt. I’m glad this is amusing to you, Your Majesty.
“If it’s true that we are so foolish,” the bright-eyed student spoke again. “How can we distinguish between reality and falsehood? Is anything true at all?”
Oh dear, it would appear Min-jun had given them nothing but an existential crisis.
“Like any skill, it can be learned. We learn best from experience,” Min-jun said. “You know what jade looks like in the rough, so no one can fool you into believing it is a mere pebble. What is something you know a great deal about, student Myung?”
The student lowered his head, ears turning red, and mumbled, “gardening, Your Highness.”
More laughter.
“A noble pursuit,” Min-jun said, raising his gaze briefly to the King. “You wouldn’t mistake an alba rose for a tea rose, would you?”
“Never, sir. They’re quite different! Tea roses are much more fragrant and there tend to be more of them in one bush, while alba roses are much lighter in color and hardier too. They don’t suffer from illnesses as easily as other varieties.”
“Gaining knowledge and experience will help you see the truth of the world,” Min-jun said. “And when it comes to human failings, gather knowledge on them as well. If you wish to learn to distinguish a person’s lies from truth, you must first listen to many lies.”
The lesson continued on from there, with Min-jun occasionally picking on the students who had bullied Mai and giving them questions no one could possibly answer, which left them adequately flustered. Every now and then, his body would betray him and his eyes would slip back to the King, who looked at ease as he leaned against that wall, handsome enough to steer anyone’s mind off track. But not Min-jun’s. Every time his mind stuttered, he would force himself to gather his senses and continue on his way.
Finally, his lesson ended. And through the content silent, soft clapping emerged. The King stepped away from the wall, smug as ever. Everyone kneeled before him, bowing until their foreheads touched the ground.
“Your Majesty!” the professor said, nearly hitting the floor with how fast he kneeled down.
“You may stand,” the King said, as he reached Min-jun, who had remained standing all the while.
“Your Majesty, what brings you here on such a fine day,” the professor said, suddenly appearing beside the King. He paid the professor no mind.
“I am here to take home a rather obstinate consort,” the King said. The next moment, he was lifting Min-jun off the floor, one arm under his knees and the other around his shoulders. Close to his ear, he whispered. “Does it hurt?”
“No.” Min-jun wrapped his arms around the King’s neck.
The King chuckled softly, as he began to walk out of the classroom. “Liar.”
A/N: I am not a philosopher or a particularly wise person, please disregard Min-jun’s lesson as mere midnight ramblings of the author lol. Sorry if this chapter was a bit slow. I’m trying to pick up the pace but there are so many little moments that are important in the long run. Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please leave a comment down below.
Princess carry in front of the class
Cheol knows how to charm a man 😏
His majesty so smug in back of room trying to distract Min Jun lol
heheh yes, very smug. Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
Thank you for commenting!
Stupid Ha-jun! Min-jun can definitely tell when someone is interested or not and he won’t cheat on his king either way. I wonder if it was the nobles or Mother this time. I really love how this chapter ended (swoon).
I’m glad you liked the end! I definitely wanted cheol to do something swoon-worthy at the end. Thank you for commenting!