RED STAR IN THE SKY GORYEO (The Scent Of Life 2)
CHAPTER 31 TRAPS

Feng Zhu was standing in a gazebo near the fish pond in the palace. He's waiting for someone. Soon Sunhwa arrived with the palace ladies approaching the man.

"How is your rest, sir?" tanya Sunhwa greeted the man

"The Goryeo Air is cooler than in Liao, I was able to sleep well last night," Feng Zhu replied in a respectful position.

"I noticed that you enjoyed the entertainment show so much last night, Is there anything interesting?" ask Sunhwa.

"Goryeo women are really beautiful like flowers. So do you" said Feng Zhu.

Sunhwa smiled then saluted upon hearing Feng Zhu's praise.

"Thank you for the compliment. I'll return your compliments later. Excuse me" said Sunhwa, then saluted and passed from the place.

Sunhwa's face turned sly, her friendly smile disappearing once away from the man.

***

A Eunuch came to the guest pavilion to meet Feng Zhu. Once reunited, the eunuch gave a letter from Sunhwa to Feng Zhu. The letter contained that Sunhwa would send the "Star of Goryeo" to Feng Zhu later that night in return for praise from Feng Zhu. The man was asked to come to a place. Feng Zhu smiled he understood what the word "star" meant. He can't wait for the night to come.

***

That night Byeol had just walked out of Wang Wook's residence when a eunuch ran after him, and called out his name. The eunuch informs that Byeol is awaited by Sunhwa in the pavilion on the hill outside the palace. Byeol was unsuspecting at Sunhwa's request asking him to come to a pavilion on a hill. He also walked on his own to the designated place.

Byeol had already arrived at that pavilion. The house looked bright, but there was no one there. Without hesitation, Byeol entered the house. Byeol thought maybe Sunhwa was late. Byeol looked around the room. Byeol sat waiting for Sunhwa's arrival without suspicion. Shortly after, the door of the house opened. Byeol thought the one who came was Sunhwa. But to his surprise, Feng Zhu came over with a flushed face from drunkenness.

Feng Zhu had just been invited to a banquet by Sunhwa, and ended up getting drunk. A eunuch escorted him to the pavilion on the hill and left him there. The eunuch told Feng Zhu that the "Star of Goryeo" was already waiting in the pavilion. Feng Zhu excitedly opened the door and found Byeol sitting alone in the room.

Byeol inched from his seat as Feng Zhu began to approach.

"You gisaeng sent by Sunhwa's daughter .. he he he is very beautiful," Feng Zhu said as he approached Byeol.

Byeol immediately stood away when the smell of liquor stung the nose.

"You ... Why did you get here?" byeol asked still astonished because the one who came was not Sunhwa.

"It's not important, what matters now is that tonight we are together," Feng Zhu replied with a chuckle.

"What are you talking about," asked Byeol as he inched away as Feng Zhu stroked Byeol's cheek.

The more rejected by Byeol, Feng Zhu increasingly aggressively approached Byeol. The girl's hand was on the floor when Feng Zhu brought down Byeol. No less powerful, Byeol kicked************** Feng Zhu. The man fell down and screamed in pain.

Byeol stood up and pulled out a knife from behind his shirt. Feng Zhu stood up and began to attack the unwilling Byeol. A fight ensued and Byeol's reflexes thrust his knife at the man. Blood spurted on Byeol's face. The blade stuck right in Feng Zhu's heart. Feng Zhu also took death.

Soon the door of the pavilion opened and the palace soldiers came to arrest Byeol who was still shocked by the incident. Byeol's eyes were wide open, his hands still holding a knife covered in blood when the soldiers and pavilion officials came to see Byeol's action.

"It's a trap ... It's a trap .. let go of me.. let go of me," cried Byeol thrashing as the palace soldiers captured and bound him.

***

The news of Feng Zhu's death and the capture of Byeol began to spread. The king and the court officials held a surprise meeting because the case could lead to the cancellation of peace between Goryeo and Liao. Tian Zuo was furious to hear that his friend had been murdered by a comfort woman. He asked to meet with the king and had the perpetrator who killed Feng Zhu brought to Liao and put to death there, otherwise the war would flare up again. King Jeongjeong asked Tian Zuo to be patient as the case had to be investigated first before deciding on a punishment for the perpetrator.

***

Wang Wook was in his study when Wang Jung came to his front and reported that Byeol had killed Feng Zhu. Wang Wook was surprised to hear the news, then he silently thought. He suspects Sunhwa is involved in the case, considering Byeol is not the one who easily kills people. There's no way Byeol did it, for what motive? While during the show for peace, Byeol was the most passionate so that peace could be realized. There's no way Byeol will destroy his own dreams. Wang Wook immediately stood up from his seat and went to see Sunhwa.

***

"Byeol-ah," call Mr. Choi

Byeol turned his head and approached the bars.

"Abeoji."

"My son, your face is pale. What really happened," asked Lord Choi in a voice trembling with sadness at the condition of his son.

"I'm fine Abeoji. How's mom doing?" asked Byeol who was more worried about his mother's condition than himself.

"Your mother is fine. She doesn't know you're here yet" said Mr. Choi, lying so that Byeol wouldn't worry, due to the fact that Byeol's mother was sick at the thought of her daughter.

"Thank God. I want Abeoji to keep this secret lest you know" Byeol said

"Yes ... Byeol-ah I know you must have been framed by someone. You know who he is?" ask Mr. Choi

"Princess Sunhwa. He invited me that night to come to the pavilion on the hill. But he didn't come. That Liao guy who came and tried to rape me. I was forced to do it in self-defense" Byeol said

"However, you will still be blamed, if there is no evidence at all to relieve you. Envoy Liao asked the king to take you to Liao and put you to death" said Lord Choi

"Hmm .. It's my destiny, maybe then I should go back to the future. The time is near. I got downstream of my life, Abeoji," replied Byeol calmly and understood his state.

Lord Choi suddenly cried. Her tears are dripping. Mr. Choi holds his daughter's cheek from the bars. Byeol finally cried.

"Are we going to split up and never see Oh Man Se again?" asked Lord Choi to realize that there was coming a time to part with Man Se who was in Byeol's body, "I will kneel before the king asking for forgiveness and asking that you not be put to death," said Mr. Choi while crying.

"I don't think Abeoji needs to do it" Byeol said in between sobs.

The father and son were crying. Their hands were clinging to each other, as if wanting to give each other strength and support.

***

Byeol sat contemplating himself in prison after his father left him. He thought about Wang So. What the man is doing right now when he's in trouble. But Byeol tried to stay strong even though he could not resist the tears dripping from the corner of his eyes. Byeol misses that guy. Byeol fell asleep due to exhaustion.

Byeol walked in a dark hallway. At the end of the hall was a light and someone called out to him.

"Wake Man Se-ah up, everyone is waiting for you to come back," a soft voice sounded as if spoken close to his ears.

Byeol walked up to the end of the hallway and suddenly he was in a white-walled room. In the middle of the room was a short-haired female figure sleeping with life aids attached to her body. He looked at the figure with a sad look. Next to the woman lying there was an old woman wearing a head covering. He sat with a look of pity.

"That's me?" inner Man Se in the body of Byeol who walked over and tried to touch the figure of the woman who was lying on the bed, but his fingers penetrated the body just like that.

Byeol can't touch Man Se's body. The old woman picked up a book on top of a small cupboard near the bed and began to read it. His voice was melodious and made Byeol stunned.

"Is that Buddhist silk? Aaah, no, it is impossible to read so beautifully, "inner Byeol. He stood looking at what was in front of him.

Braaaq..braaak!

A sound of a blow to the wood made Byeol wake up, then opened his eyes. Byeol realized, he was just dreaming. He saw a prison guard offering him food and drinks with a cold face. The guard came out and locked the door. Byeol just looked at the food in front of him without taste.

***

Wang So was on his way home to Goryeo on horseback. He immediately went home as soon as he got word from the envoy Wang Jung who said that Byeol was in trouble.His face looked anxious about the fate of the woman he loved. Wang So and some of his bodyguards rode on selected horses speeding the journey of Pyeongyang to Songak. A journey that takes days.

Lord Choi sat in the courtyard of the king's grand hall asking for forgiveness for Byeol. It had been two days that the old man begged without moving a little from his seat. Until he finally collapsed and fainted. Wang Jung and Wang Wook, who were overseeing Mr. Choi's actions, eventually helped the man back home. The king did not flinch at his decision. Byeol will be taken to Liao and put to death there. There is no evidence that can relieve Byeol, because the witness saw Byeol enter the house itself. The witness was a pavilion manager who had been paid by someone to testify falsely.