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The faded leaves had lost their strength and began to fall one by one, and the bare branches slowly started to reveal their skin—late autumn had come. The entire country was covered in fallen leaves. And though it was only natural for leaves to fall and be shed in accordance with the flow of nature, not even the largest house in the nation was exempt.

However, it was difficult to hear the sound of leaves rolling about in that house. This was thanks to the dozens of servants who, even before sunrise, diligently swept the ground.

One might wonder—just how massive must a house be to require dozens of people sweeping leaves from the break of dawn?

Count the trees planted within the premises, and there were hundreds. As for the rooms where people lived, there were thousands. The roof tiles covering them numbered in the tens of thousands.

This grand and resplendent residence—what place was it, exactly?

It was none other than the Imperial Palace.

And this morning, somewhere within the palace, a line of beautiful women with white powder and red rouge painted on their faces were walking in procession.

Their attire varied from person to person—some already seemed to be welcoming winter, wearing fur-lined winter robes, while others, perhaps still reluctant to bid summer farewell, wore blouses that boldly exposed their chest.

Someone had tucked a fresh flower between her neatly combed hair, adding a touch of vitality, while another had adorned herself with large earrings set with blue jade that drew every eye.

At a glance, it was clear they were elaborately dressed, their nervousness unmistakable—for they were soon to appear before the master of the Imperial Palace.

At the very end of the line stood a petite young girl, who glanced around cautiously before whispering to the person next to her in a small voice.

“Ha Jaenyeo (a title given to candidates selected as concubines within the imperial court), are we truly going to meet His Majesty?”

“You must be new to the palace, Lady Yang. Yes, this will be your first time. This is the only day in the month when someone like us—mere jaenyeo—is allowed to see His Majesty.”

“…What should I do? I’m so nervous, my heart won’t stop pounding. I’m afraid my legs will give out the moment I see the imperial face.”

To calm her racing heart, Yang Jaenyeo ran her small hand over her chest several times.

Seeing this, Ha Jaenyeo let out a deep sigh and muttered bitterly.

“What does it matter even if we see the imperial face? Just look over there.”

At the intersection where the paths met, eight eunuchs were walking forward, carrying a radiant palanquin draped in golden curtains.

The palanquin was so large, it looked as if an entire room had been lifted and brought out as it was.

The jaenyeo immediately halted their steps and dropped to their knees at the sight of the grand palanquin.

Yang Jaenyeo, following suit, knelt down as well but couldn’t help her curiosity. She whispered softly.

“Who is riding in that palanquin?”

“She has everything the palace could possibly give.”

Yang Jaenyeo carefully lifted her head and peered at the woman seated within.

The woman’s hair was tied up high to the crown of her head, like clouds drifting in the sky.

The silver hairpin, slanted into the cloud-like hair, was adorned with blood-red jade, adding a flamboyant air.

Her eyes held a rosy hue, and her lips—red as though kissed by a pomegranate—were so alluring they could steal anyone’s gaze. Yet her robe, in contrast, was a shade of blue like morning glories, lending her an enigmatic grace—sensuous yet refined.

Once the palanquin disappeared into the distance, the jaenyeo rose to their feet and began walking again.

But Yang Jaenyeo, though she stood, seemed to forget she had to walk. She simply stood there in a daze, staring after the vanished palanquin as if entranced.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. A woman that beautiful…”

“I thought a fairy had descended from the heavens when I first saw her too.”

“Who… who exactly is that woman?”

“Do you truly not know? There’s only one consort in this vast Imperial Palace.”

“Then… that was Her Highness, the Gwi—Gwi-bi?”

Yang Jaenyeo was so startled that even her nostrils flared wide. She hadn’t expected to see the woman of all those rumors with her own eyes.

According to what people said, Her Highness the Gwi-bi was so graceful and exceptionally beautiful that the Emperor had no desire to take in any new concubines.

“I thought it was nothing more than idle gossip… but it’s true. No, she’s even more beautiful than I imagined. That must be why she was granted such an extravagant palanquin. …I’d like to ride in something like that too.”

“A foolish dream.”

“Pardon?”

Most people, when they hear such a thing, would at least pretend to play along. But Yang Jaenyeo’s mood dropped at Ha Jaenyeo’s firm and final response, and she trudged forward with a sullen expression.

After walking for a while in her gloomy mood, Yang Jaenyeo grumbled under her breath.

“Was there any need to be so harsh? I know I’m short and not particularly pretty, but still—I was chosen as a jaenyeo all the same, wasn’t I?”

As Yang Jaenyeo pouted, Ha Jaenyeo realized she may have gone too far and began offering a series of earnest explanations.

“I didn’t mean to offend. I too had dreams like yours when I first entered the palace. I thought that if I became a concubine, power would fall into my hands, and it would bring great benefits to my family as well. Even if I didn’t bear a prince, a single princess would be enough to secure a life of comfort. But look carefully.”

Ha Jaenyeo gestured with her eyes toward the group of women walking ahead.

“What am I supposed to see? You want me to count how many competitors there are?”

“Is there even one among them who isn’t exceptionally beautiful?”

Delicate features on small faces, slender waists, and graceful, flowing steps—these women were so beautiful that even another woman would find herself unable to look away.

Yang Jaenyeo merely shook her head in silence, giving no reply.

“And yet, His Majesty has not reached out to a single one of them.”

“Still… wouldn’t there be at least one jaenyeo with whom he’s spent a night?”

“If she had entered the palace as a jaenyeo, not just a simple maid, and earned His Majesty’s favor, she would’ve already been granted a title—even if it were the lowest rank of consort.”

“Then why does His Majesty bother selecting jaenyeo at all? If he has no intention of embracing any of them?”

The moment Yang Jaenyeo voiced her frustration toward the Emperor, Ha Jaenyeo gasped and hurriedly looked around. Only after confirming there was no one nearby did she reply in a hushed voice.

“Once Her Highness the Gwi-bi becomes pregnant, the selection of court ladies will come to an end, won’t it? After that, the ministers won’t have any reason to push for more.”

“I don’t understand why everything in the palace is so complicated.”

“If you don’t do anything foolish, it’s a simpler place than you’d think.”

Though Ha Jaenyeo had lived in the palace for barely half a year, she had seen enough of what became of the jaenyeo who engaged in so-called ‘foolish behavior.’

The timid ones would linger for hours in corridors the Emperor frequently passed, just to have their faces seen once more. The bolder ones would pretend to stumble, feigning a misstep in hopes of drawing the Emperor’s attention.

But despite their efforts, the Emperor never spared them so much as a glance.

The Gwi-bi, however, remembered them well. She later saw to it that they were severely punished—and ensured that their families suffered considerable consequences.

Even so, Ha Jaenyeo didn’t bother telling Yang Jaenyeo any of this.

From what she had observed over the past month, Yang Jaenyeo did not seem like someone who would attempt anything so bold. Even if she did, however, her older brother was a celebrated general who had distinguished himself in the war, so it was unlikely that their household would face any consequences.

Ha Jaenyeo gave her final piece of advice, seemingly concluding the conversation.

“In any case, just focus on making it through the year safely and leaving the palace. There’s no need to overthink the rest. All we have to do is eat well and sleep well during the time we have left.”

“I can eat well here, but sleeping well… that’s another matter.”

“You must still be unaccustomed to your bedchamber.”

“That’s not it. Back at home, I used to sleep until the sun was high in the sky.”

“…Ah.”

Throughout their walk, Yang Jaenyeo had been chatting away, while Ha Jaenyeo gave only half-hearted replies or the occasional meaningless sound of acknowledgment.

As the two continued walking and talking, a woman in shabby clothing passed by them.

Her hair looked coarse, like pig bristles, and her pale skin was rough and dry. Her body appeared gaunt, as if her skin clung directly to bone. The garment she wore wasn’t just plain—it was clearly of low quality, made of rough cotton that even susa-i (the lowest-ranked palace women tasked with menial labor) would turn their noses up at.

“…She looks familiar somehow…”

Yang Jaenyeo murmured to herself, and then, wanting a better look at the woman’s face, called out in a louder voice.

“Stop right there!”

The woman stopped in her tracks and looked back—but instead of offering a proper greeting, she simply turned and continued walking her original path.

At that, Yang Jaenyeo’s face flushed a deep red.

If the woman had simply walked by without hearing her, it might have been excusable. But for someone of such low standing—a mere susa-i—to look directly at a candidate for imperial concubine and not bow? What kind of law of the land allowed for that? Even the palace maids bowed when they saw a jaenyeo.

Yang Jaenyeo marched forward and blocked the path of the woman in shabby clothing, shouting indignantly.

“I may not yet be a concubine, but I was properly selected as a candidate! So how dare you pass by without showing me respect?”

“……”

“You—are you ignoring me again? You are, aren’t you!”

Ha Jaenyeo, who had been watching the scene with an unreadable expression, suddenly seemed to recall something. Her eyes flashed, and she hurried over, whispering urgently into Yang Jaenyeo’s ear.

“Stop at once. That woman is Her Majesty the Empress.”

“…What? Ha Jaenyeo, I’m in no mood for jokes right now.”

“I’m not joking. Don’t stir up unnecessary trouble. There’s nothing to gain by involving yourself with Her Majesty the Empress.”

“What are you even saying…? How could someone like her possibly be the Empress…”

Yang Jaenyeo stammered, clearly flustered. Was Ha Jaenyeo teasing her? No, she had learned that over the past few days. Ha Jaenyeo was serious; she didn’t joke around.

Suddenly, Yang Jaenyeo came back to her senses and dropped to her knees on the ground.

“I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress! I truly didn’t know—it never occurred to me that you were the Empress…”