Sakura's Petals
Ratu
THE QUEEN'S RESIDENCE MAIN HALL
“Let's go again.”
Hwa Ryong nodded respectfully, picked up a new vase again and began to choose another rose. Occasionally he grimaced, as the thorn of a rose pierced his finger. Meanwhile, Dayang Noh watched anxiously from the side. Twenty-five flower vases have been assembled by the Crown Princess, but none have pleased the Queen. In fact, actually the twenty-five vases are already very beautiful. Hwa Ryong, who has been blessed with knowledge about the household of the palace, makes the flower arrangements more beautiful than the palace ladies made. But, I don't know why the Queen was being so hard on him.
“Repeat again.” said the Queen, for the umpteenth time.
Hwa Ryong began to string again until the bright day changed night. The queen who had just returned from her dinner, saw the results of Hwa Ryong's flower arrangement and sighed.
“Repeat again.”
Hwa Ryong started to string again. About ten vases he made, when then the Queen snorted. “Stop it. Go back to your residence. You do not have the talent of flower arranging, Crown Princess.”
“Pardon my shortcomings, Your Highness.”
“Go.”
Hwa Ryong has resigned. He had time to look at it because all day continuously sitting and arranging flowers. But he managed to balance his body again, then pay his respects to the Queen, who was busy reading his book. His honor was not paid by his father-in-law. Hwa Ryong with a slight shock, returned to his residence.
Once at the Crown Princess's residence, Hwa Ryong finds her bed occupied by the Crown Prince. “I heard all day, you were at Mother's Palace. What the hell are you guys doing? Did Mom tell you bad things about me? Don't you guys conspire behind my back, huh?”
Hwa Ryong paused for a moment, then smiled broadly at the Crown Prince. Dayang Noh who was about to reply, was stopped by Hwa Ryong's hand signal. “Iya, right, Jeoha. Why do you know?” Along with his words, the ladies resigned.
“My feelings only. Comeoverhere. I miss you so much.” he said. Hwa Ryong approached the Crown Prince, took his hand and sat down beside him.
“Eh, what is this?” ask the Crown Prince, confused. Hwa Ryong immediately hid his scarred hand from the Crown Prince. “Why is your hand full of such wounds?”
“Ah, the. I was about to pick some roses to take home, but because it was so hard I ended up getting a lot of injuries while taking them.”
“Then, where is the rose now?”
“Hmmm, I gave it to the ladyboy to assemble and display in front of the room.”
“Do not repeat again. You always make me anxious. Whether you're picking roses or something, don't hurt yourself, do you understand?”
“Iya, Jeoha.”
“Again, you are now Crown Princess of Joseon. You have a lot of maids to do this kind of work. Just order them and don't hurt yourself.”
“I understand, I will not repeat it again.”
“Appointment?”
Hwa Ryong nodded, slowly.
“Is there anyone out there? Quickly have the Royal Physician prepare medicine for the Crown Princess.”
The sound of Dayang Noh entering the room, then bowed respectfully assuring. Meanwhile, Hwa Ryong looked at her scarred hands. Trying to think positively about her in-laws, she sighed softly.
THE NEXT DAY
The queen told Hwa Ryong to make a calligraphy painting in the palace library. As before, the Queen seems dissatisfied with the work of Hwa Ryong.
“What is this calligraphy like appropriate for a Crown Princess?” The Queen threw the calligraphy paper towards the Crown Princess.
The Calligraphy Master who was near the Crown Princess, stared at the paper with a wrinkled face. “Your Majesty, this calligraphy.”.
“Oho! You dare cut off my conversation with the Crown Princess!”
“I'm sorry servant, Her Majesty the Queen.” he said, with his forehead stuck to the floor.
The queen turned towards Hwa Ryong. “Create a hundred calligraphy paintings like this. You can't leave this room or eat or drink until you finish. Do you understand?”
Hwa Ryong gasped softly. However, realizing there was nothing he could do, he nodded respectfully. “Ya, Your Highness.”
The queen walked out of the room, leaving Hwa Ryong and the ladies of the Crown Princess, along with the calligraphy teacher who was still kneeling on the floor.
“You can get up, Guru.” said Hwa Ryong.
The calligraphy teacher got up, then immediately saluted. “I'm sorry, Your Grace.”
The calligraphy teacher left. Hwa Ryong started painting. Several hours passed without feeling. About half of the painting is finished. The dayang-daang who accompanied him stood around, starting to twitch tiredly. Meanwhile, Hwa Ryong continued to paint even though his hands felt so tired.
A few hours passed again and the calligraphy painting was almost completely finished. Hwa Ryong scratched his last alphabet, with a tired look. As soon as he finished, he handed it to the eunuch who was standing next to him.
“What is it right to have a hundred?”
The eunuch nodded, pleased. “Yes, Your Grace. Now, you can rest.”
Hwa Ryong smiled, tired. He tried to stand up from his chair. However, he staggered for a moment. Dayang Noh, immediately caught the body of his master.
“Your Majesty! Are you okay?”
Hwa Ryong, who was still dizzy, nodded slowly. “Quiet, I won't faint just because of something like this.”
Half-detached, Hwa Ryong left the palace library area for his residence in the Eastern Palace. Once he arrived, he immediately cleaned himself up.
As the ladies were preparing their dinner, suddenly a lady-in-waiting stepped in and announced the arrival of the Crown Prince.
Hwa Ryong immediately rose from his throne and greeted the Crown Prince outside. “Jeoha!” respectfully. The Crown Prince immediately gestured for the palace ladies to leave, leaving the two of them alone.
As soon as he arrived at the room, the Crown Prince was startled for a moment after seeing the tray containing the food presented on the table. “Hwa Ryong-ah, are you still not having dinner?”
Hwa Ryong was silent for a moment. “Sya, Oppa. I was in the library too long so late for dinner.”
“I told you to take care of your body. You know very well that I will suffer greatly when you get sick.”
“I know, Oppa. I'm sorry.” Both are silent, stiff. Hwa Ryong sighed, then displayed the best smile he could at that moment, as he was so hungry and tired. “What Oppa wants to listen to a poem?” he asked, then turned to the bookshelf.
The Crown Prince suddenly hugged her from behind. “Please, don't do anything that could worry me.”
Hwa Ryong turned his body, hugging the Crown Prince tightly. “I promise, Oppa.”
The Crown Prince smiled, then grimaced. “I never expected my wife in the future like this, so naughty and disobedient.”
Hwa Ryong pretended to be angry. “Then, just find another woman.”
The Crown Prince laughed. “How can I find another woman, while my heart has been captured?”
Both giggle. “Hmmm, Oppa. Instead because I always make Oppa worried, I will reward Oppa for a dance. How?”
The Crown Prince nodded, interested. “Of course, I want.”
Hwa Ryong smiled, then immediately turned towards the changing room. “Oppa wait here for a moment, yes?”
AN HOUR LATER
The originally enthusiastic Crown Prince happily, began to wait in boredom. Almost an hour later, Hwa Ryong was in the dressing room and did not come out. Maybe because there was no ladyboy to help her change clothes so she took a long time, he thought. But an hour is not a short time.
“Hwa Ryong?” call the Crown Prince slowly, finally.
There's no answer.
“Hwa Ryong-ah! I'm in, huh?” asked the Crown Prince with some hesitation that it turned out that Hwa Ryong had not finished changing clothes. No more answers. The Crown Prince entered the dressing room.
To his surprise, he saw Hwa Ryong lying unconscious on the floor of the dressing room, still with complete dangui. The Crown Prince immediately crouched down towards Hwa Ryong and tried to wake his wife up. However, there was no response. The Crown Prince's heart felt like it had been stabbed by a thousand needles.
“Is there anyone outside? Call the healer immediately!”
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" Eye-changing eyes will only make the whole world go blind. "
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