“I also know the father of Han Sangjae’s child.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ve known for some time now that a man has been sneaking into Haewolru in disguise.”

“Who is it?”

“First, we must verify the evidence.”

Gyeong Bohyeon gave a sharp smile. As if to suggest that she didn’t believe everything her father said just because he was her father, Yeon pressed her lips together in silence.

But nothing Gyeong Bohyeon said to his daughter could ever be considered trivial. Ryu looked displeased, his expression darkening. Yet it was said that Gyeong Bohyeon had many of his own men within the palace. The important thing was not knowing exactly where his eyes and ears were placed.

“If all the evidence is confirmed and Okbin and Han Sangjae’s crimes are proven beyond doubt, then what should be done?”

“What are you so worried about?”

“I promised Geum Dabeung that she would be allowed to return to her family. Even if His Majesty objects, I intend to keep my promise.”

Once a concubine entered the palace, she was not allowed to leave. Unless she committed a serious crime, she remained there until her death.

As there was no such thing as divorce, this was the norm. Even if she committed a crime, she was punished within the palace walls. Banishment even meant confinement within the palace grounds.

However, Yeon had promised to return Geum Dabeung to her family.

“Your Highness.”

“If a concubine commits adultery, execution by beheading is inevitable.”

“Father…”

“That means both Okbin and Han Sangjae will die. Since they tried to cover up their sins by falsely accusing an innocent person, the weight of their crimes will be even greater.”

Gyeong Bohyeon spoke as if this were the most obvious conclusion. Yeon imagined the two women being sentenced to death. She hadn’t touched her food, but her stomach was already turning.

She lowered her eyes, her lashes trembling faintly. She knew all of this already. Even if a woman had once shared the emperor’s bed, she was still just a subject. Neither of them had borne the emperor’s child. There was no way to save them. Their guilt was too obvious.

“Is your heart weary?”

“It’s not that…”

Yeon shook her head. But she couldn’t deceive her father’s gaze. He called to her gently, ‘Seol-yeon.’

At that moment, Soso, who had been watching over Bam-tteok, looked up. Yeon’s lips quivered slightly.

The crimes of Okbin and Han Sangjae were serious. They were not concubines who had risen from the ranks of servants; they were the daughters of noble, high-ranking families. They had been chosen by their family names to become imperial concubines, so engaging in adultery was a punishable offence.

However, perhaps they wouldn’t have done such things if they had received even a little affection from the emperor. If they had borne his children, they might have lived quietly for their sakes. Yet Yeon had taken that possibility away from them.

They were women who would never receive the emperor’s favour or bear his children. They would live lonely lives, only hearing that they were an inconvenience to the emperor. They could not return to their family homes or remarry. In the face of such inevitable misery, was a moment of indiscretion really such a terrible crime?

Yeon’s heart grew heavy and her face tightened with distress.

“What happened to Okbin and Han Sangjae is my fault.”

“What are you saying?”

Soso asked in surprise, her expression clearly asking why her daughter should suffer when it was those women who had done wrong. Yeon furrowed her brow and lowered her gaze.

“They could have lived peaceful, respectable lives if they hadn’t been chosen as concubines.”

“But still…”

“They’re trapped in the palace for life, unable to receive their husbands’ love. Can I truly say they’re innocent? Perhaps it was me who made them that way.”

At Yeon’s words, Soso fell silent. She shook her head, seemingly unable to fully agree. Yeon let out a deep sigh and looked at Gyeong Bohyeon. She wanted to ask: was there no other way?

Their crimes were certainly punishable, but they were still young concubines, barely past their teens. For their own sake, she wanted to spare them execution. Otherwise, she felt she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

“Father…”

“All of this lies within His Majesty’s authority.”

“Ryu won’t consider their circumstances. Even if His Majesty proceeds with everything by the book, you shouldn’t be the one to carry the burden of sorrow.”

Gyeong Bohyeon was firm. The fact that his daughter lived under the weight of such overwhelming love from the Emperor wasn’t her fault. It hadn’t been intentional. The deep affection between a man and a woman, shared sincerely and completely, was not a crime.

Of course, he understood what Yeon meant. But it was the Emperor who had chosen those concubines to serve his own purposes. If anyone should bear the guilt, it was him.

“However, since His Majesty cherishes you dearly, don’t you think he might grant your plea to spare them from execution if you were to beg him, citing mitigating circumstances?”

Ultimately, Gyeong Bohyeon recalled how helpless a man is in the face of the woman he loves. He had been like that, too. Even after everything had been set right, he couldn’t help but ache for Soso, still wandering with lingering sorrow.

Like her, he was troubled and anxious, searching for a way forward.

“Father…”

“Ultimately, a man is always powerless against the woman he loves.”

He said, glancing at Soso, who was tenderly watching their round, white grandson, who looked like a dumpling. Yeon averted her gaze from the warmth in his eyes.

It was clear now — she had to win Ryu over.

The next day, the t*rture began under imperial decree.

Tormented by the thought, Yeon had barely slept that night. She got up with difficulty and accepted Yeongji’s help. As she brought over a bowl of washing water, Yeongji carefully observed her mistress’s pale complexion. Ever since the incident at Jeobin Palace, she had not eaten or slept properly.

Although she hadn’t reported it to the emperor, who cherished Yeon deeply, it was obvious that she had lost weight recently.

“Why not do as His Majesty suggested and leave everything in his hands?”

“How could I possibly do that?”

“But Your Highness, you’re growing so weary… Taking care of the Crown Prince alone is exhausting enough…”

Yeongji spoke cautiously. For now, the baby was being looked after by Yeon’s mother and the head nanny, but once they returned home, she would be left to endure the prince’s tantrums alone.

Their little Bam-tteok — His Highness the Crown Prince — was incredibly stubborn and demanding. He was intelligent and clever, but that only made him harder to care for. Yet it wasn’t the prince’s care that had left Yeon looking so pale; rather, it was the affairs of the concubines.

And it wasn’t some minor disturbance. One concubine had committed adultery and become pregnant, while another had become involved with a maid, bringing disgrace upon the entire inner court.

Although Yeon was gentle and compassionate, she lacked experience in managing the inner court. If only the Grand Empress Dowager were healthy enough to serve as a stabilising presence…

“This is my responsibility. I can’t rely entirely on His Majesty.”

“Your Highness…”

“More than anything, if His Majesty handles this, there won’t be any leniency.”

“That may be true, but…”

Yeongji lowered her head and bit her lip. After taking a deep breath, she finally spoke.

“It’s not unrelated, Your Highness. A maid from Jeobin Palace has requested an audience with you.”

“A maid from Jeobin Palace?”

“Yes, one who served Lady Okbin.”

“What is her name?”

“She said it was Yanggyo.”

“Is she someone that Okbin brought from her family home?”

“I don’t think so.”

Yeongji replied shaking her head. With a shadowed expression, Yeon slowly nodded as she looked at her maid.

The girl who had introduced herself as Yanggyo had been visibly terrified from the start. Cowering on the floor, she could only sob pitifully when told to raise her head; her entire body trembled and she was unable to obey.

Yeon narrowed her eyes, finding the behaviour hard to comprehend. Unable to watch any longer, Yeongji scolded her sternly in front of Her Highness the Consort, asking if she had a death wish. Only then did Yanggyo lift her head.

“Please spare me, Your Highness…”

“Did you commit a crime worthy of death?”

“Yes…”

Tears streamed down Yanggyo’s face. Despite her flushed cheeks, there was a faint beauty to her features. It was then that Yeon instinctively realised that Yanggyo had been Okbin’s romantic partner.

Still shaking, Yanggyo finally began to confess everything, including how she had met Okbin.

She explained that she had not originally been a maid at Jeobin Palace. She had served Han Sangjae in Yeongchun Palace, and it was during her visits there that Okbin had met her and eventually persuaded her to transfer to Jeobin Palace.

“And then?”

“I never intended to do anything improper with Lady Okbin…”

Yeon narrowed her eyes slightly, recalling something Okbin had once said. Even if she were guilty, she had only been a victim.

A dry laugh escaped Yeon. She had thought that, at the very least, lovers would protect each other from the consequences of their actions. Clearly, that was not the case.

Feeling tension pull at the back of her neck, Yeon pressed her lips tightly together. Yanggyo continued to insist on her innocence.

She claimed that everything had been the result of Okbin’s sordid commands, and that she herself had committed no crime. Yeon could not easily bring herself to respond to those words.

Ultimately, she summoned a eunuch and ordered Yanggyo to be imprisoned.

It wasn’t until later that afternoon, after enduring t*rture, that a maid from Yeongchun Palace finally spoke up.