"Place it in the King's favorite food, after the Chief Eunuch has finished testing for poison." Minister Lim, instructed the Queen.
"Won't they find out that he was poisoned?" Queen Eri asked, hesitantly, trying to figure out an excuse not to go through with the minister's plans
"This is a new poison, that only a few know about, by the time they learned that King was poisoned, the new King would have ruled for a long time." Minister Lim, firmly said, anticipating these questions would be asked by the queen.
The Queen, stuttered her words asking when she should execute the plans "W…When shall…I use this?"
"Use your judgment… but remember the King must die soon!" Minister Lim, looked at the Queen "If not… It's you and your son that will die!" he said, threatening the Queen to execute his plans, if she did not want to suffer his wrath.
That night, the King passed the royal gardens on his way to his mansion. There he heard laughing; out of curiosity, he entered the garden with his entourage closely behind. There he saw his two sons, hiding from prying eyes while having drinks in a gazebo.
"Is this the proper act for a royal prince?" The King asked, his voice startled the two brothers, so much that they almost tipped over in their chairs. They quickly gathered themselves, faced the King, and bowed to him.
The King walked around the gazebo, examining the numerous empty liquor bottles. The brothers bowed their heads in shame and avoided the scrutinizing eyes of the King. "I know how it was to be young and wanting to have a good time" The King started "But you must remember, you are part of the royal family and as such, you have to protect your honor and integrity" The King picked up a small white bowl filled with liquor and drank it in one fell swoop. "People will look to the both of you, you must be always at your best. There is a time for letting loose, and it is when you are rested in your houses"
"Yes, my King," the two brothers said in unison.
"It is all right to lay around and drink, as long as you have fulfilled your tasks and duties for the day" The King turned around, his hands behind his back, and was about to leave, but he stopped and looked back at his sons "The three us should have a drink in the King's mansion. I'll wait for the two of you this time tomorrow.
The brothers looked at each other and then looked at their father who was smiling at them. They both answered, "Yes father".
Nodding his head, the King smiled as he started his way back to his mansion. Once the King was out of sight, the two princes chuckled as they thought they were going to get seriously scolded.
"You said this was a good idea," Man-Ju said while giving Young-Sik a small punch on the shoulder.
"No," Young-Sik said, as he returned the favor to Man-Ju, "I said this is probably a good idea, as long as we don't get caught"
"We got caught, by the last person who should have caught us" Man-Ju replied.
"Yeah, well I'm going out," Young-Sik said, changing the topic and wanting a change of scenery.
"Are you insane?" If Father finds out that you went out again, he is going to kill you, and then he's going to kill me.
With a sly grin, Young-Sik, approached his brother tapped him on the shoulder, and said "Then pray that I don't get caught" He then proceeded to walk to the western side of the royal palace, where the security is less compared to the other areas.
"You are not leaving me here to clean up this mess" Man-Ju shouted at his brother
Young-Sik shouts back with a smile on his face "I saw Eunuch Ahn…I'll tell him to clean up there" After saying those words to his brother, Young-Sik ran towards the western wall of the royal palace grounds.
Man-Ju pouted as he surveyed the mess that the two of them made. He shook his head and walked away "No way, I'm cleaning that"
At the King's residence, Queen Eri nervously waits for the Lady in waiting to finish testing the King's dinner for poison. She watched as the Lady in waiting dipped a silver spoon at each dish being served to King Seo-Jung. The Queen quickly took the tray with the King's food from the court ladies serving it. "I'll serve the King his supper," the Queen said
"But Your Majesty" the Lady in waiting was about to protest but was immediately silenced by the Queen.
"I will serve the King his supper!" The Queen said in a calm and stern voice. Her eyes narrowed while staring at the servants.
The servants have no choice but to relent to the Queen, they all bowed and walked backward "Ye, Your Majesty" they all said.
Queen Eri scoffed, once the servants were out of sight. "Persistent pests," she said. She placed the tray down on a table. She kept looking around her to make sure no one could see her.
Minister Lim's words echoed in her head while, with her hands trembling, she took something out of her sleeves. "Just mix it with his food and my son and I will be free" she kept repeating to herself. She was about to pull the stopper from the bottle when she heard someone call out to her
"Your Majesty…what are you doing there? Where are the servants, why are you carrying the food tray?" the King asked, wondering why the servants left the queen alone to serve his food.
Queen Eri, discreetly placed the bottle back in her sleeves, picked up the food tray, and answered the King "Jeohna…I just wished to be the one to serve you your meal… It is a Queen's duty after all to serve the King's needs"
"Let's just eat out here" The King suggested
The Queen protested, she wanted to be alone with the King inside his quarters, where she could slip the poison in his food. Not outside, where she could not even attempt to take the poison out, in fear of being seen by someone. "But Your Highness
The King took the tray from the Queen and placed it back on the table. He pulled out a chair and sat on it "When did it become inappropriate not to eat here" he said as he took a spoonful of rice and a bite from the boiled pork. "Sit by my side my Queen and let us share this scrumptious meal," King Seo-Jung said to the Queen, inviting her to have dinner with him.
Queen Eri, forced a smile and sat beside the King. She took the pair of silver chopsticks and started with the vegetable stew. The King smiled at his Queen as they shared the meal, unaware of the evil intention his beloved wife was planning for him.
As the busy streets of the capital surround him, Young-Sik disguises himself as a commoner while navigating the area near the palace. It was already dark, yet people still walked the market way, amusing the prince of life outside the palace.
Strolling innocently around, he did not expect to meet someone who would recognize him. "I see you're still up to your old tricks Your Highness" a maiden's voice called out to him from behind.
He turns around only to be surprised by Lady Ji-Hye, the daughter of Minister Lim "Young Lady Lim, fancy meeting you here. I was very sure that you would be somewhere classier" Young-Sik quipped. He looked at the young lady. She was beautiful with fair skin; her hair was long black and smooth. She has a heart-shaped face, with small black eyes, and her button nose accentuates her slightly wide red lips.
"Well, I need to practice my people skills, since I am going to be your wife soon," She said arrogantly
Young-Sik wrinkled his face "People skills?" he said to himself "The only people that can tolerate you are the ones you pay" he quietly thought.
Lim Ji-Hye, though beautiful has an ugly reputation. She is known to be selfish, ambitious, and uncaring of people she considers below her status. She lingers around people of noble birth or people of high status to elevate herself.
"Are you so joyful that the news has rendered you speechless my prince?"She asked with a flirtatious voice
"Uhm…say what? Uh no…I was counting the servants that you have with you. Ten, you need ten servants to walk the market?" Young-Sik replied, obviously not listening to what she was saying.
Ji-Hye looked back at the servant girls following her "Ten is not too much, after all when I become your wife, the number of servants following me will surely double" She looked at the tattered clothes "What are you wearing? Don't worry after our wedding I'll make sure that all of your garments are up to my standards. You will be the best-dressed prince anywhere" Ji-Hye winked at the prince and left along with her entourage
The moment Lady Ji-Hye and her entourage disappeared from view; Young-Sik felt a cold shiver travel down his spine. He shuddered at the thought "Aish…like I'm going to marry someone as snobbish as her" he looked at the hair on his arm stand on its end as he made his way.