RED STAR IN THE SKY GORYEO (The Scent Of Life 2)
CHAPTER 9 SUN HWA

A ladyboy from Wang Wook's palace was seen running along the corridors of the palace to meet a girl who was embroidery with the other girls. Seeing a lady-in-waiting come in a hurry, they stopped their activity. The dayang saluted, then whispered something into the ear of the girl wearing light purple clothes. The girl in purple clothes widened her eyes.

"Who is that girl. Very brave," said the girl in purple.

"Know her servant is the daughter of Lord Choi Ji Mong, your highness," replied the lady.

Then he stood up and walked towards the training ground of the princes. The other girls followed him, as well as the maids hurriedly followed behind him. The group stopped in front of the stone gate. The girl saw Byeol and the princes finished practicing. They laughed together. The purple-clothed girl looked on with a dislike face and immediately passed from the place, after confirming that the news that her lady was carrying was true.

***

The next day Mr. Choi was already ahead to the training ground. Byeol followed accompanied by Yideum walking both through the palace garden. No matter how long came the girl in purple with the ladies intercepted the steps of Byeol and Yideum. Looking at a girl who looked like a noble, Byeol bowed his body in salute. He doesn't know who the girl is. Byeol felt bad because of the girl's piercing eyes.

"You're Byeol?" ask the girl.

"Yes, your highness," said Byeol still with a position of respect.

Yideum looked down behind Byeol.

"You know the rules can't just be anyone who's going to perform at the Crown Prince's birthday festival?" ask the girl again

"Yes, your honor," replied Byeol

"Then why are you among the princes training for the show later? Who told you to?" search for the girl again.

"I told him to replace Wang Jung" a voice made them all turn their heads.

It was Wang Wook who came.

"Sister" said the girl.

Byeol immediately saluted when he saw Wang Wook coming over .

"Wang Jung had a dislocated leg, and no one could replace him but Byeol," Wang Wook explained.

"But ... Brother knows a woman from the outside should not hang out with insiders let alone carry weapons" said the girl.

"Sunhwa you better not interfere. We have one more day left. Go take care of your own business" Wang Wook said

Sunhwa put on a bitter face, saluted her brother, then left. Byeol looked at the girl's departure with relief. It was really not comfortable in the heart to see the attitude of the girl who turned out to be named Sunhwa

"Are you okay, Miss?" ask Wang Wook.

"Yes ... I'm fine, thank you," said Byeol still lowered his head

"You want to go to the training ground? Come together," Wang Wook asked

"Yes" Byeol replied briefly as if keeping his distance.

Wang Wook smiled and then they walked together, but Byeol and Yideum chose to walk behind the Prince. Wang Wook stopped, then looked over. He was astonished by Byeol. Why is he walking behind me? thought Wang Wook. Byeol also stopped even Yideum almost hit Byeol because it stopped suddenly.

"This ... approach. It feels uncomfortable to walk in this position," Wang Wook said as he reached out to Byeol. The girl approached beside Wang Wook. They walk together again.

"Don't feel awkward. Don't think about Sunhwa's attitude. The palace does have a rule not just anyone carries a weapon. Considering you're Lord Choi's son, a noble confidant, I think you're still entitled to hang out with the court. As long as you are careful in the palace, even the noble king will not be able to defend you if you make a little mistake" Wang Wook reminded.

"Yes, your highness," said Byeol briefly.

Wang Wook smiled at Byeol.

Byeol remembered his father's advice to be careful with the people in the palace. Stay today, and tomorrow he's in the palace. Byeol hopes to be home soon.

They finally arrived at the training ground. Everything went as usual. Byeol was a little nervous, and his legs were a bit stiff until he was unsteady and fell down. Everyone stopped to see Byeol fall. Wang Wook smiled and extended his hand to Byeol. Byeol welcomed the prince's hand and then rose from his position. Wang So looked on dislikefully at the scene between Byeol and Wang Wook. He was burning jealous. The training that day ended well.

***

In the scorching afternoon Byeol accompanied Yideum the streets surrounded the palace. They wanted to see the palace crowd preparing for the party. Seen by the ladies and gentlemen, and the eunuchs of the palace were busy here and there preparing for the Crown Prince's birthday. They put up lanterns and flower decorations.

Their steps reached the archery practice site. Wang So, Wang Jung and a young prince. Byeol never saw the teenage prince. Byeol walked over. Wang Jung shot his arrow and was on target. Seeing the greatness of the Prince, Byeol unconsciously clapped his hands in excitement. The princes looked straight. Seeing Byeol coming, Wang Jung immediately waved his hand and smiled widely.

"Byeol-ah!" greet Wang Jung while waving his hand.

Byeol came closer. Wang So glanced at Byeol, while the young prince was silent with a puzzled face full of question marks looking at Byeol who was silently staring at him. Byeol looked at the young prince, in his mind appeared a vision shadow. He's a teenager who was executed by someone in Byeol's vision in front of the palace gates.

"Byeol-ah .. Can you shoot?" wang Jung asked Byeol.

Byeol regained his senses and smiled.

"Yes ... Yes, I can take a little," replied Byeol.

"Wanna try?"haggar Wang Jung

Byeol smiled cheerfully.

"Can?" ask Byeol

"How is the condition of your noble feet? Is it okay?" ask Byeol.

"As you can see, my legs are still there" joked Wang Jung.

Byeol smiled widely. Wang Jung thrust a bow and arrow at Byeol. Byeol has put up the horses. His hand spread the bow.

"Holding the bow like this" Wang Jung said, instructing Byeol as he held Byeol's hand from behind.

Wang So saw his sister who took the chance to hold Byeol's hand directly pull Wang Jung's collar from behind. Wang Jung was shocked and protested.

"Hyuung," Wang Jung protested.

"Be polite," Wang So reminded.

Wang So smiled and the young prince laughed seeing Wang Jung frowning. Seeing their behavior, Byeol also laughed. He was preparing to release the arrow again. Byeol took a deep breath and exhaled. The arrow was released and hit the target in the middle of the board. Everyone applauded. Without them noticing came the entourage of the crown prince Wang Mu. The Crown Prince clapped his hands at Byeol's ability. The people present immediately turned their heads and saluted. Byeol was surprised to see who was coming. He was the man who was going to execute the young prince who was beside him at this moment.

"I don't think Choi Ji Mong's daughter is so good at martial arts and weapons. You deserve to enter the women's army" the Crown Prince praised Byeol.

"Ah, your honor, I am flattered" said Byeol, bowing his body.

"How about we bet on arrows. I challenge you to shoot. The winner can ask for anything to the loser" said the Crown Prince.

Wang So widened his eyes in surprise. He understood what this gamble meant. The crown prince actually felt dislike for Byeol's ability. Byeol can't agree to it, Wang So thought. The man was worried that something happened to Byeol when he won or lost.

"Her Majesty better the servant who replaced Byeol for this match. His Majesty is more experienced and has been forged with many wars. I thought it was not worth the ability of the girl yesterday afternoon with her majesty" said Wang So wanted to save Byeol

The crown prince scrunched his forehead a sign of dislike. Byeol just bowed feeling worried.

"Yes .. true what Wang So said, the noble one is better to undo the noble intentions" said the young prince.

"Wang Eun .. You're a child, you better not interfere" replied the Crown Prince.

Byeol was surprised, after knowing the name of the young prince, his heart became incompetent now. Wang Jung gestured for Wang Eun to shut up.

"Alright, prepare the bow and arrows of Eunuch Choi, let this girl shoot first,"

Eunuch Choi prepared a bow and arrow, then gave it to Byeol. Three rounds, the first shot and the second a perfect score. The last round made everyone flutter. Byeol's hands were sweating coldly. Slightly miss the midpoint.

The Crown Prince's turn to archery. It was as if no one dared to breathe. Only the blazing sun is getting fierce in the crowns. The first and second rounds are right in the middle of the goal. Remaining the last round. The crown prince had already taken a ready stance and the horses. His sweat dripped on his forehead, his eyes narrowed due to the glare of the sunlight. Three ... two .. one .. all seemed to count down when the crown prince pulled the bowstring.

"Wwwaaaawww!" a cry of pain came from behind the Crown Prince.

The sreeett!

The arrow shot off the target because the Crown Prince lost concentration. He was surprised by the scream. Everyone present was shocked and turned to face Eunuch Choi who was squatting in pain holding his leg.On the left right side there was Wang So and Wang Jung pretending to be sympathetic. Eunuch Choi was in pain because of both of them.

Wang So steps on foot and Wang Jung kicks Eunuch Choi's shin. Automatically Eunuch Choi screamed in pain, and his screams disperse the concentration of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince put on a sour face for losing.

"All right, you guys managed to beat me. Byeol has the right to ask for whatever he wants" the Crown Prince said as he threw his bow to the ground.

"Your highness, may the request be requested next time. Not now" said Byeol, kneeling.

"Alright, I grant your wish" said the Crown Prince and left them.

Byeol is still on his knees. He thought who knew his plea could one day save Wang Eun from execution. In vain, he wanted to change history. Seeing the crown prince's entourage move away, they set themselves up again. They glanced at each other then...

"Yeeeeaaayy," Byeol's camp cheers in unison.

Byeol laughed happily, his smile was wide and then invited the high five to Wang Jung, but because Wang Jung did not understand he only looked at Byeol's hand, then Byeol raised Wang Jung's hand and then tapped in his hand. Then they went five and laughed together. Byeol also invited Wang Eun high five, they were compact. But when inviting high five Wang So, with a flat face Wang So did not respond instead went away. Seeing that, Byeol frowned. To celebrate Byeol's victory, Wang Jung invited them to have a drink at his residence. Byeol's smile returned.

***

The three of them sat in the gazebo, while Wang So did not come with them. He preferred to sit at the end of the cliff looking at the cityscape from above. Byeol sat down to enjoy his tea while watching Wang Jung teach Wang Eun wrestling.

There was sadness in Byeol's eyes, the princes were both sons of the King, but they could kill each other just for the sake of power. Wang Eun is still a teenager, and she even dies before she grows up. Wang Jung, even though he was a master of wrestling and martial arts, he had no ambition to rule, he would become a great war general. Then his gaze turned towards Wang So who was still sitting pensively on the edge of the cliff. He will be a great king in the history of Georyeo.

However, how could his fate storyline connect with Wang So? That's still a mystery to Byeol. The figure of a man who smiled at him while extending his hand. Byeol was deep in thought until he realized that a palm was being swung around covering his gaze towards Wang So.

"What are you thinking? Wang So's body can be broken just because of the look in your eyes, Don't you think dirty about it?" the seductive Wang Wook who was unwittingly by Byeol was already sitting next to him.

Byeol just smiled.

"I forgive the servant who is unaware of his glorious presence. Servants think about life in the palace" replied Byeol.

Wang Wook stood up and approached the wild rose close to the gazebo.

"Life in the palace is indeed as beautiful as the Byeol-ssi rose but we must be careful of it, otherwise we will be pierced by its thorn," Wang Wook explained.

Byeol smiled as he looked at Wang Wook. The man, an aristocratic figure of Silla descent, is intelligent, handsome, dignified, and in fact he is more suitable to be king, but his life path will not be so. He will only be the man behind the scenes when the figure of Gwangjong ruling and unique from his descendants who will become the next kings of Goryeo.