Chapter 29

Chapter 29

As time flowed on, the day everyone had been awaiting dawned: the day of Ryu Hyeok’s investiture as Crown Prince.

In other words, it was also the day I, the Princess Consort Hye, formally entered the imperial palace.

I wore a crimson ceremonial robe embroidered with golden-threaded pheasants, and on my head sat a massive pheasant crown .

The crown was so heavy I thought my neck bones would snap, and the robe was so thick I could hardly breathe. I was practically buried alive in my clothes, on the verge of being crushed to death.

This was not Prince Hye’s residence but the palace, specifically the “Hall of Deliberation where the Emperor presided over court assemblies.

The hall was not only for court assemblies but also a symbolic space where the nation’s major ceremonies were held.

Now Prince Hye’s residence would lose its master. Of course, it would not stay empty forever.

Folded into the imperial family’s assets rather than remaining the prince’s private residence, it would be kept under management until, in time, an imperial relative granted a new princely title moved in and became its master.

‘Oh no. I’m so nervous.’

I was crushed less by the weight of the clothes than by the pressure of the position of Crown Princess.

I wanted to remain simply the Princess Consort Hye. Having become Ryu Hyeok’s wife, I had expected that I would someday be Crown Princess, but now that the day had arrived, my future looked pitch-black.

Whether I could survive in this vast palace, whether I could become the mistress of a capable heir to the throne, everything was in doubt. I felt as though I had been flung blindly onto an uncertain battlefield.

My husband had been soothing me for days, saying there was no need to worry at all, that only the place I lived and the title I was called by would change, but how could that possibly be true? Was the Crown Princess a mere title?

I would become the true second in command of the inner court!

‘I don’t know! I know nothing about the inner court!’

Moreover, I would have not one or two but dozens of mothers-in-law. Even if they were my father-in-law’s concubines, a mother-in-law was a mother-in-law.

Of course, within the inner court the Crown Princess ranked just below the Empress, so nominally she stood above the secondary mothers-in-law.

But those secondary mothers-in-law were elders of the imperial house, so I could not simply treat them as my inferiors.

‘It will be uncomfortable for them, and uncomfortable for me.’

Still, on the verge of rising to a noble position that others envied, I wondered whether I was complaining too much.

Why was my life impossible to explain without concubines? Father’s concubine, my father-in-law’s concubines…

I wondered whether being wedged among concubines was simply my ill-starred fate.

Even so, my father-in-law did seem a good deal better than my father. At least for the sake of his own honor and dignity, he would not thrash his daughter-in-law black and blue in the name of discipline.

In the midst of all this turmoil, an elderly-looking senior court lady approached.

“It is time for you to go.”

“…Ah, yes.”

I answered listlessly, but inside my heart was racing wildly.

At a time like this, even having my husband beside me, bound to me by every kind of love and loathing, would have eased my mind. He was the only one I had to lean on.

But according to protocol, my husband had to finish his preparations in another residence.

He had hinted that he wanted to be dressed in the same room as his wife, but the court ladies and eunuchs blocked him desperately, saying it violated protocol. The rules were so strict that even the great Prince Hye could do nothing.

Incidentally, according to one eunuch, he was the first person in the history of the Empire to insist on dressing together with his consort on the day of the investiture ceremony.

Hearing that made my face burn for no reason. What was he, afraid of being apart?

Wouldn’t people misunderstand and think he was completely under my thumb? When I had never made any such request.

The senior court lady led the way, and dozens of court ladies and eunuchs lined up behind me. Wait, was it normal for this many to follow?

When I stopped, they stopped, and when I walked, they matched my steps.

It was so burdensome I could die. Was he used to this? Of course he must be, having been born into the imperial family?

Just then, a welcome and familiar face came into view.

‘My husband!’

He seemed delighted to see me too, and came over with quick strides.

A man who was already dazzling enough, now wearing a ceremonial robe of the utmost splendor and a crown, shone especially brightly today.

Behind me, the court ladies let out suppressed groans one after another. If I had not kept my wits about me, I would have clutched my chest and gasped in admiration too.

“Hwacheon, isn’t your head heavy?”

He came to my side and whispered in a low voice. I murmured into his ear in return.

“I feel as though my neck bones will be crushed any moment.”

At that he smiled sweetly and tried to pinch my cheek as usual. After all the effort I had put into my powder!

I recoiled in horror and slapped his hand away, and my husband, finally realizing that he must not touch my face today, smiled with his eyes.

“What a pity. From now on you will have to go on carrying something this heavy on your head.”

“What…?!”

“You are a woman of the palace now. Simple ornaments like those you wore in the prince’s residence will not do. Every day will be like your wedding day.”

Damn it, I did not even need to look for poison. If I went on living like this, my neck would break and I would die before long.

I couldn’t tell whether this was good fortune or calamity. Oh, my wretched fate…

“You cannot remove the headdress even when you sleep.”

“Even when I sleep?!”

“There is one exception. On days you share a bed with your husband, you may take off all the ornaments and sleep.”

I gently clutched the sleeve of his ceremonial robe and whispered earnestly.

“Your Highness, you must come often… You understand? You promised not to let me die. If I have to sleep with this heavy thing on, I truly will die…”

In truth, it was Ryu Hyeok’s brazen lie, but the naive Hwacheon swallowed it without a shred of doubt.

“Yes, I suppose I shall have no choice but to share a bed with you every single day.”

“Ngh… You needn’t come every day, though…”

“What nonsense. I cannot let my consort’s neck break.”

She was a fool who believed his words unconditionally and without question.

The senior court lady guiding the two as they dallied spoke again.

“If you delay any longer, you will be late for the ceremony. Please follow me quickly.”

At that, I answered, tense as could be,

“Y-Yes, yes…!”

As I dragged my heavy body along, Ryu Hyeok spoke to me again.

“Hwacheon, you need not use honorific speech with the palace attendants. Treat them as you would your subordinates in your family home.”

“But the atmosphere is quite different from the servants at home…”

I could not say about the young court ladies, but from the senior court ladies I felt an indescribable pressure. It seemed a fierce aura that emanated only from those who had survived the murderous intrigues of the palace.

When we passed a certain turning, a vast crowd suddenly filled my vision.

Thousands of ministers and palace attendants in full court dress stood in orderly ranks.

Those countless gazes fixed on me and Prince Hye all at once. Terror took my breath away, and I wished I could hide in a mouse hole if there were one.

Now it truly began.

Glancing to my side, I saw Prince Hye with an expressionless face, his back straight, gazing ahead.

I followed him, clasped my hands before me, and tried to look very solemn. Did I look rather impressive?

The elegant form of Uijeong Hall unfolded before my eyes, with people lined up like clouds on both sides.

Still, the fact that I was not alone was a great comfort. My husband seemed a reliable shield by his mere presence.

Looking like an immortal, he suited the role of guardian spirit quite well. Rarely, I truly found him genuinely welcome.

The solemn music of the court musicians began. It was the signal to advance.

With each step I took, memories of my past life flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.

The memory of falling off a swing, the sorrow of lying sick after Father’s beating. Mother’s hands changing the damp cloths all night for me when I caught a cold, and even my stepmother’s hateful face.

Treading upon a past full of sorrow, I would write a new history on top of it.

As of today, I was the one and only Crown Princess of this vast Empire.

Along every path I passed, people prostrated themselves and bowed in unison. Among that crowd, I miraculously spotted Father.

When our eyes met, Father bowed his head deeply and, like everyone else, bowed to me.

A strange thrill rose within me at the sight. I felt wonderful.

I felt that I had won.

After passing down the long path and stepping inside Uijeong Hall, I saw the resplendent dragon throne.

When the Emperor seated on the throne gave a hand signal, the Minister of Rites read out the investiture proclamation in a resounding voice.

“To all the civil and military officials and to all under heaven, hear this. We have governed the realm by the Mandate of Heaven for decades, and now We shall establish the heir of the state to secure peace for ten thousand generations. Ryu Hyeok, Our only legitimate son, is gentle in nature, diligent in learning, and utterly filial, truly timber sent down from Heaven. Hereby, bestowing the jade register and the golden seal, We invest him as Crown Prince. Do not forget the heart that loves the people, and carry on Our will to achieve an age of great peace.”

Eunuch Jo approached and handed Ryu Hyeok the jade register and the golden seal. Ryu Hyeok bowed deeply and received them with proper dignity.

Then the Minister of Rites spoke again.

“Yu Hwacheon, daughter of the Yu clan, is endowed with womanly virtue and correct courtesy, and is in every way worthy to be mistress of the Eastern Palace. Hereby We issue the decree to invest her as Crown Princess. Assist the Crown Prince with devotion, preserve your chastity, and do not neglect your preparations to become the mother of all the people.”

Now it was my turn. I received the jade register and the golden seal from Eunuch Jo, bowed at the waist, and paid my respects.

We set the bestowed items down for a moment and performed five bows toward the Emperor, and in the final bow carried out the three kowtows, touching our foreheads to the floor three times.

The Emperor, watching with satisfaction, could not hide his joy and raised both arms high, crying out,

“Thus do We solemnly proclaim the investiture of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess!”

It was the moment I became a Crown Princess in name and in truth.

The imperial family members inside Uijeong Hall, and the ministers and palace attendants outside it, bowed three times in unison and cried out loudly,

“Long live His Highness the Crown Prince, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years! Long live Her Highness the Crown Princess, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

Feeling tickled and embarrassed, I stole a glance at my husband, and he was looking at me too. Since when?

He whispered in a tiny voice meant for my ears alone.

“Hello, Crown Princess.”