RED STAR IN THE SKY GORYEO (The Scent Of Life 2)
CHAPTER 21 UNCOVERS SECRETS IN THE INNER PALACE

Byeol returned to the training camp. Lady Soo calls Byeol to her room..

"Byeol-ah, tomorrow morning with Hwa Young enter the Inner Palace. This is Queen Janghwa's order. There are indications of insiders trying to poison the Crown Prince. Eunuch Han will drive you,"

"Yes, ma'am," Byeol replied saluting a sign of obeying the orders of his superior.

Early in the morning the three of them entered the palace. They were immediately ushered by Eunuch Han into the Inner Palace where the queens and concubines of the king lived. The Inner Palace was under the stewardship of Queen Shin, so the process of getting into it had to be careful.

Byeol and the other girls lined up in front of Queen Shin's pavilion. They're all pretty. Byeol and Hwa Young feel inferior, but for the sake of the mission they run, then they have to do it. It didn't take long for Byeol to enter the palace due to Eunuch Han's connections. Money can do all business.

The new ladies and gentlemen marched around the palace and entered the Inner Palace environment. Byeol walked in the line confidently. His eyes were unceasingly looking here and there looking at the luxurious palace ornaments. At the same time, from a distance there was Wang So and Wang Jung who were walking looking at the line towards the inner palace.

"Hyung, they are new ladies recruited by the Inner Palace" said Wang Jung

Wang So sharpened his eyes looking at the female figures who were marching walking in the distance. As if he could not believe his vision, it was like seeing Byeol in the row of ladies. But Wang So was not sure of what he saw.

Byeol managed to enter the Inner Palace. He worked in the service of the king and other members of the court. Byeol not only cook, make tea, provide drinking food for members of the palace, prepare bath water and their clothes.

"We can't stay here long Young-ah. As soon as we get the evidence of the poison, we get out of here" Byeol told Hwa Young that there was no one around. Hwa Young nodded her head in understanding

***

Byeol and Hwa Young brought teapots and snacks for Queen Janghwa. In the hallway of the palace they met Queen Shin who was walking towards her palace with the ladies and gentlemen. Byeol and Hwa Young stood up while saluting. Their breaths were stifled, their hearts pounding with fear of being discovered. As soon as the group passed, Byeol and Hwa Young could breathe a sigh of relief. The ambitious queen of Goryeo, thought Byeol.

***

Byeol and Hwa Young sit in front of Queen Janghwa.

"I congratulated you before. You can enter the palace inside" said Queen Janghwa kindly.

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Queen" said the two of them, bowing their heads in salute

"What have you got. I want the people who harmed the Crown Prince to be arrested" Queen Janghwa said

"We're just entering today, your majesty, we need time to check things out. It could be that the poison was put from the medicinal herbs soaked by the noble crown prince, or from the food and drink consumed. We'll find the evidence" Byeol explained

"I'm waiting to hear from you guys" Queen Janghwa said in an anxious tone.

They also told the Queen. Byeol and Hwa Young share the task of supervising several maids who take care of the Crown Prince's food, drink and bath water.

***

Byeol was walking in the corridor when suddenly someone pulled him into a building. Byeol was surprised, but the man gave the code to be silent.

"Your highness" said Byeol with wide eyes.

"I thought it was you" said Wang So.

"Why are you here and that dress ...?" asked the man while frowning when he saw the dress worn by Byeol.

Byeol momentarily silently weighed whether he would be honest with Wang So whether or not.

"Hamba has promised his Majesty the king to help the Crown Prince. Aren't we in the same boat?" ask Byeol.

Wang So silently could not comment while looking at Byeol.

"Hamba hope you don't tell anyone that I'm here, please Byeol

"You know that life in the palace is not easy byeol-ah, why would you sacrifice your freedom out there and enter a vortex that could take your life. You always worry me" said Wang So.

"But the rice has become a noble porridge, We just enjoy this way of life," explained Byeol aware that he must be in the palace for the succession of Wang Mu as King Hyejong as he should be.

"There's a lot to do. I hope you will stop by the Inner Palace," said Byeol smiling and saying goodbye to Wang So.

The girl saluted and left. Wang So heavy heartedly took off Byeol. He could not believe that the girl chose to enter the palace of a dangerous place in Goryeo. In the palace where the vortex of conspiracy where all face and drop each other. He doesn't want Byeol to be the pawn that will only be sacrificed.

Byeol stepped in the hallway towards the crown prince's palace to conduct an investigation. In his heart Byeol said, "Hamba always thinks of your noble condition. Are you doing okay? The case of Monk's Hood, the mastermind could be your own closest person. Your mother and brother,"

***

Mr. Park was drinking in his study that night. She feels depressed because of pressure from Queen Shin over the Monk's Hood case. He called his servant to bring him another drink. A maid came in and brought another bottle of drink. Without waiting for long, Mr. Park immediately drank the wine. Unexpectedly, the drink felt burning his throat, heart and body. Foam came out of his mouth. Mr. Park feels betrayed. His eyes glared as he pointed at the female servant. Mr. Park died instantly from poisoning. The waiter smiled sinisterly and then walked out of the room quietly

***

A female servant entered Madam Hae's room carrying a tray of medicine. Madam Hae is already preparing for a break. The maid gave the medicine to Madam Hae. Without any prejudice, Madam Hae drank it. The woman was shocked when the drink caused her body to burn and her mouth to foam. Lady Hae died, as did Mr. Park. The female servant smiled and left Madam Hae's room secretly.

***

Wang So was in Lord Choi's pavilion when Wang Jung came running towards him.

"Hyung. The people we caught in the valley all died drinking poison. They all kept their mouths shut and we got no information. Minister Park and Mrs Hae, they were poisoned to death in her home" Wang Jung said

Wang So was furious, his jaw hardened when he heard the news that the people who were the keys to the case were all dead. Wang So also thought hard to untangle the tangled thread of the case again. Then he went to Queen Shin's pavilion. From the beginning he suspected his mother who had been the mastermind of this case.

Wang So went straight into her mother's room, though the lady-in-waiting and the eunuch forbade her from entering. With the look of hateful eyes he looked at his mother who was casually drinking tea.

"What else are your plans to take down the Crown Prince?" asked Wang So directly.

"What are you talking about?" ask Queen Shin calmly.

"You better stop making trouble before the victims become more and more" said Wang So

"Speak politely to your mother. Are you accusing me of a crime?" queen Shin asked as if she was innocent.

"We know Minister Park is your man. The case of Monk's Hood is your engineering. And now you're washing your bloodied hands by killing all the key witnesses to the case. Stop or you will face me," Wang So threatened his mother with a stern tone. After saluting, Wang So left without saying goodbye. Queen Shin growled, then threw her cup on the floor. Unexpectedly, his son dared to fight back.

***

Byeol was following someone that night who was secretly coming out of the inner palace. He's the waiter who takes care of the food and drinks served to the Crown Prince. The dayang looked in all directions. He was seen waiting for someone, until it finally emerged from behind the wall of a eunuch from Queen Shin's pavilion. I don't know what they're talking about. Byeol tried to get closer so he could hear their conversation.

"This is not what it used to be. Put it in the Crown Prince's herbal medicine or dab it on the edge of his bowl. Her Majesty the Queen wants the Crown Prince dead tomorrow. Remember, the success of this plan is in your hands" the eunuch said, giving a different vial of poison than usual.

"Yes, sir," said the lady who looked anxious.

The two men also separated. Byeol followed where the lady had gone. The Dayang went into his room. Byeol directly held the door of the room. Dayang was surprised by the appearance of Byeol.

"Take out the vial of poison" Byeol ordered

"Who are you?" asked the lady while tightly holding the poison bottle in her shirt.

"I know that you, who worked with Queen Shin, poisoned the Crown Prince" Byeol said, pointing out his special warrior badge.

"What are you talking about?" the lady said as if she did not know what Byeol was talking about

"Your mother and sister are fine in the village. Queen Janghwa guaranteed their safety. Stop, I know you did it because of the pressure and threat of Queen Shin. We'll ask for leniency for you if you want to cooperate with us. If you do, then not only your life is lost, even the life of your family" Byeol assured the lady.

Byeol had checked the girl's background before and asked Queen Janghwa for help to evacuate the Dayang family. The face of the lady-in-waiting looked a dilemma, then slowly took out the poison bottle from her clothes. Byeol smiled, the mission was successful.