In that very instance at the Lim clan residence, the head of the clan is preparing himself to storm the palace. A servant approached him and gave him a rolled-up piece of paper. He read what was written, angrily crumpled the paper, and threw it in the brazier. He toppled his table and scattered anything he got his hands on.
Lim Do-Yun, came running inside his father's room when he heard the commotion. "Father…is anything the matter?"
When he heard his son's voice, the elder Lim calmed down. Do-yung calmed his breathing and looked upon his son "I received word that General Shin's army, is marching back to the capital as we speak. They will arrive before nightfall"
"General Shin is loyal to the King and his army is loyal to him. His arrival is a death sentence to our plans" The younger Lim said as he punched the thin wooden wall, creating a hole.
Then with a stroke of luck, another servant came in bearing an interesting message "Lord Lim, a carrier pigeon just arrived, it bears an important message"
"Give it to me" Do-Yun ordered the man. The servant quickly placed a small piece of rolled-up paper on the open palm of the younger Lim.
Do-Yun opened the message and quickly gave a sinister grin "We may accomplish something yet" he said
"What is it?" Do-Yung enthusiastically asked
He handed the paper to his father and said "Our spy sent word, that the Queen with his two sons is headed to Nyuong gum, the Queen's homeland, by taking the narrow pass within the mountains. They are only escorted by a handful of soldiers and several court ladies"
"This is a sign that the heavens favor our cause. I will lead some peasants to the mountain path and kidnap the royal family. You go to the northern gates quickly and make our private troops retreat. You make sure that this rebellion won't be traced back to us" Do-Yung said to his son, the urgency of his instructions is very evident in his tone.
Do-Yun nods to his father and with a simple wave of his hand, two men clad in black followed him with haste. After his son left, Do-Yung made his way out and headed towards the mountain pass.
An hour later, the king strolled into the palace courtyard, prepared to negotiate with the rebel leaders.
"NO! That is unacceptable" shouted one of the rebellion leaders "We want you to abdicate the throne and with your entire family, leave Chiongsun forever. We will choose our own King"
"That is impossible, I can abdicate the throne but whether my sons refuse the throne is not something I can decide for them" King Seo-Jung defiantly said
"Then we have no choice but to drag you and your family out of the palace and into the streets, take this chance we are giving while we are being generous to you," said another leader
"Before I pass judgment on you people, answer me this question" The King paused for a while and sighed "Why do you want me and my family removed? What have we done to merit such hatred from you?"
"You don't know?" one of the leaders asked, openly mocking the King "You are worse than a thief, you even deny the evil deeds you have done. If you don't know all the misfortune that you have caused us, then that is your problem"
"If you won't tell me, I cannot force you. But know this, General Shin and two thousand of my soldiers are marching back to the capital as we speak. They will arrive by nightfall, make no mistake the royal palace with what little soldier we have left, can hold on until they arrive. Take this chance I am giving you and go home, while I am being generous" The King turned his back and went inside the great hall. The guards then closed and barred the doors.
The rebellion leaders started to panic upon learning that the King's most loyal and fearsome general was on his way back to protect the King. Just then Minister Lim Do-Yun arrived and immediately met with the rebellion leaders.
One of the leaders quickly went to Do-Yun to tell him about the news "Minister, glad that you came the King is being stubborn and refuses our demands. He also said that General Shin would be arriving tomorrow"
Instead of answering their concern, Do-Yun drew his sword startling the rebellion leaders, he mercilessly cut down one of them and shouted "Death to those not Loyal to King Seo-Jung, death to the infidels" With those words, The Lim private army, who was part of the rebellion began to attack and mercilessly killed the farmers and commoners that they goaded to overthrow the King.
Do-Yun approached one of his men and said "Kill everyone, this must not be traced back to us. I'm going to the mountain pass and help my father"
The soldier bowed his head and said "Yes, my lord" in acceptance of the task given to them
With their lethal halberds, the private Lim soldiers impaled their targets, even those begging for mercy were not safe from death. They hacked and slashed at anyone within range of their blade, they intended to kill everyone who knew who the leader of the rebellion was.
The King who was inside the great hall, started to hear people screaming "What is going on out there?" he asked
A soldier looking out from the second floor, came rushing to the King "Your Highness… Minister Lim Do-Yun's men…they are slaughtering the rebels"
"What did you say?" the King looked at the guards of the palace doors "Open the doors, Stop them now! Let the rebels in!" he shouted
The soldiers quickly opened the doors of the grand hall, but when the King emerged, it was already too late. Bodies were strewn all over the palace courtyard. One of the Lim Private Soldiers approached the King, knelt, and said "My King, the rebellion has been quelled, and the instigators have all been executed."
King Seo-Joon immediately recognized the men to be under the Lim clan's employ "What have you done? Where is the minister of war and his father?" The King asked the horror of the carnage was palpable
The soldier replied "They received information, that the caravans were in danger, so they went to the mountain pass to protect them, Your Highness"
The King turned his sights to Mt. Yangge, hoping his family was safe "Captain gather your men, we are going to the pass and help the Queen's caravan" he ordered his soldiers
At that very moment, The Queen's caravan was trekking through the pass. The crowned prince was riding on his horse beside the palanquin of his wife. "We are nearing the border of Nyuong gum, we will arrive at my grandfather's house before nightfall," he said confidently
Princess Yoo-Na smiled at her husband "Is it as beautiful there as you said in your stories?"
"My words do not do justice to that place's beauty and allure." The prince quipped
"It is a beautiful place, Princess, I was there last year in time for the cherry blossoms to fall, it was so beautiful. Plus, they serve the tastiest chicken and pork stew in the whole kingdom" Young-Sik shouted, interrupting the conversation between the couple
"Prince Kim Young-Sik did I not tell you not to involve yourself in the conversation between adults?" Queen Min-Ah reminded the young boy
"It's quite alright Your Majesty, our conversation is not that serious anyway," Princess Yoo-Na said, amused by Young-Sik's innocence
The young prince turned to his mother and said, "See, mother, it's alright that I talk with them. The crowned princess said their conversation is not serious," he reasoned to his mother.
"Maybe so, but you still need their permission first" The Queen reminded Young-Sik
"Mother…I'm hungry. Do we have any food?" Young-Sik asked while rubbing his round belly
The queen looked at his youngest son with tenderness and pinched both his cheeks "Of course we do my darling prince" She then called to her lady-in-waiting "Kindly bring the prince's favorite honey biscuits."
The lady in waiting bowed and called Eun-Ae who was carrying the biscuits. She guided the little girl to the palanquin and helped her up. The young court lady bowed to the Queen and prince and handed the basket filled with biscuits.
The Queen beamed at the young girl, reaching out to take the basket. The Queen took out a honey biscuit and gave it to her son. She hummed a lovely tune to the youngest prince.
"That is a lovely song Your Majesty," Eun-Au said admiring the beauty of the Queen's voice and the serenity of the song
"It's a lullaby from my family. It was passed down from mother to daughter. I learned it from my mother, who learned it from her mother" The Queen said smiling at the very curious young girl
"How are you going to pass it down, you have sons You Majesty" Eun-Ae inquired
The Queen simply smiled at the inquisitive girl "You're right, I have two sons, but I also have a beautiful daughter-in-law that can learn it from me" The Queen glanced at his nibbling prince, still eating away at the honey biscuits. She then looked at the little girl in front of her "Would you like to learn it?" To which Eun-Ae eagerly nodded
The Queen started to hum the lullaby, Eun-Ae faithfully listened and when the Queen repeated the song, Eun-Ae joined in to hum with the queen. When they finished the song together the Queen commends Eun-Ae "That was pretty, let's go again" Queen Min-Ah suggested
While humming, Eun-Ae felt a tickle near her ear from a passing fly. She instinctively scratched at the itch and began to say, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, there was…" but her words were cut short. Her eyes widened in horror as she noticed an arrow protruding from the Queen's chest, crimson blood seeping through her elegant white garments. The Queen gasped, blood escaping her lips, and collapsed, her life slipping away.
Despite the initial shock, Seo-Joon was able to give clear and concise commands, "Protect the palanquins! Soldiers form a perimeter around the palanquins…archers inside the circle!"
The soldiers quickly took their formation, making a protective circle around the royal family. Princess Yoo-Na with her handmaidens took their bows and arrows and made defensive stances.
Young-Sik cried as he held onto his mother's arm "Mother! get up, you're not hurt, are you? This is just a joke, right?"
Reaching out to her son, the Queen whispered, "Be strong, my dear child; now is not the moment for tears." She then turned to Eun-Ae, her voice filled with urgency, "I beg you, take care of my boy." The young girl nodded solemnly. After one last look at her two sons, the Queen closed her eyes and breathed her last.
Prince Seo-Joon dismounted his horse and rushed to his mother, only to find Young-Sik weeping over their fallen mother. Rage surged through him as he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. Determined not to let sorrow overwhelm him, he swiftly got back on his horse and drew his sword. He took his place alongside his soldiers, ready to confront the source of the deadly arrow.
Suddenly, from the same path, they spotted a wave of forty or fifty insurgents barreling toward them, their shouts echoing fiercely. With his sword raised high, Seo-Joon proclaimed with unwavering resolve, "For the Kingdom!"