Sakura's Petals
Start (Season 2)
A week passed after that incident. The letter of annulment arrived in Joseon that afternoon. Breath of relief was immediately despised by Hwa Ryong as soon as he heard it. A smile adorned his face. Not only Hwa Ryong, the royal family and the entire contents of Joseon were now able to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Good news, Your Majesty. The state of the Crown Princess has fully recovered.” Physician Jang told the Queen. Already a week ago, the Queen has always monitored the state of the Crown Princess. Sadness rose in his heart when he heard the Crown Princess was seriously injured. Therefore, he was so happy and relieved to know that Hwa Ryong had been healthy.
“Really?” The doctor nodded, saying.
“Does that mean he can undergo the unification ritual?”
The doctor nodded back. “Of course, Your Highness.”
THE CROWN PRINCESS'S RESIDENCE HALL
The news of the first night was spread in the palace. The news was heard by all the palace residents, including Hwa Ryong. The warm cup of tea he was drinking then fell when he heard the Queen's decision to hold the first night of the night.
“Your Majesty! Are you okay?” said Head Dayang Noh who has now been officially sent no longer as a temporary head lady, but as the permanent head of the personal lady-in-waiting Hwa Ryong.
“Ah. I'm doing fine. Just surprised.”
Seol who had now also been inducted into the fifth-level lady-in-waiting chuckled amusedly at the end of the room. Hwa Ryong glanced at him, embarrassed. The shadow about the first night made him dizzy. What should I do on the first night, he asked in his heart. Just thinking about it made his heart almost come loose as it continued to pound. After tonight, I will be Yoon Oppa's true wife, she thought. He swallowed worried. Can I do it well, he asked in his heart.
NIGHTS
Hwa Ryong sat in his room uneasily. The ends of her hair to her feet have been perfectly polished. The clothes he was wearing were also not ordinary clothes but ritual clothes. The heavy headdress made it even more uncomfortable. “Hwa Ryong, calm down.” he said, trying to stay calm, even though his breathing began to roar.
Suddenly, the eunuchs sounded. “Your Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.” His heart immediately ached either out of pleasure or fear. The Crown Prince looked gallant as he entered the room. Hwa Ryong even forgot to breathe when she saw her husband walking and sat down next to her.
“Tools can get into your mouth if your mouth keeps opening like that, my wife.” Hwa Ryong immediately blushed in embarrassment.
“Oppa.” whining.
The procession began immediately one by one. Hwa Ryong could feel his face getting redder as the core procession drew closer. The Crown Prince looked worried to see his wife.
“You okay?”
Hwa Ryong nodded, but inwardly unsure.
“We can postpone it if you're not ready. I'm in no hurry."
Doubt was evident on Hwa Ryong's face. His 14-year-old age left him completely inexperienced and uninformed about the first night. In fact, when her mother came to see her yesterday, she explained that the first night was painful. Hwa Ryong scratched his neck, puzzled.
“Alright, I'll go out and delay the process. Take a break for today. I know that Mother's decision is too soon.”
But, suddenly the desire to be with Yoon Oppa broke his confusion. Why should he be confused? Why should he be afraid? Wasn't being with Yoon Oppa her wish all along? He was even willing to commit suicide because the man who had now stood up and was about to walk out left him. With quick steps, he hugged the Crown Prince from behind. The Crown Prince gasped in shock.
“Hwa Ryong?”
“Do not go.”
The Crown Prince turned around and faced towards his wife. He looked at his wife's face, soft. A glimmer of fear was seen in his wife's eyes, so then he said, “I won't go.”
Hwa Ryong dares to kiss Crown Prince on the cheek. The Crown Prince's face immediately beamed. He also carried his wife to a golden mattress located in the middle of the room. Hwa Ryong's heart rate grew so fast that he could feel it.
“You are indeed. There is not a second you let me not pound.” said the Crown Prince. Hwa Ryong smiled amusedly.
The Crown Prince kissed the forehead, then the cheeks, then the lips of Hwa Ryong took turns. He did it slowly, worried that Hwa Ryong was frightened.
“I love you.”
Hwa Ryong felt her heart feel warm hearing that. She also touched her husband's face, soft. “I love you too.”
Hwa Ryong nodded, convinced with his entire heart.
The lights of the room were turned off, leaving the two united in the silence of a peaceful night. From a distance, the Queen smiled with satisfaction, pleased that the Crown Princess was now officially the wife of her adopted child. Sincerely, he wished for the happiness of the Crown Princess.
THE EO FAMILY RESIDENCE
That night, at the same time, Mi Kyung sits in her room. Hugging his cold body, he cried lamenting his fate. Now, the Crown Prince he loves is spending the night with another girl besides himself. It's like it's tearing his heart out.
He could only fall silent and begin to regret the fact that he could not be elected Crown Princess. One night until the morning, he continued to cry until his bed was wet with tears.
“I will not let the girl live happily. I'll teach her special pain and loss.”
THE UNIFICATION HALL
Binyeo phoenix had been perched between the strands of Hwa Ryong's hair. The Binyeo was paired directly by the Crown Prince. Hwa Ryong blushed in embarrassment as her husband paired it for her.
THE NEXT DAY
Mi Kyung comes to the palace, facing the Queen. His face was still puffy and looked tired when facing. The queen, who was feeding koi fish in the pond, was unhappy when she saw Mi Kyung in front of her.
“Your Majesty, I will forget my dream of becoming Crown Princess. But in exchange, can you make me the future concubine of the Crown Prince?”
The queen breathed an annoyed sigh. “Their first night just happened last night. Don't you feel ashamed?”
“I cannot allow our clan to be in such a appalling condition like this, Your Majesty. Please think about the future of the successor of the Eo family, Your Highness.”
The queen sighed loudly and tried to waltz away. “Forget your intention.” The Queen's affection for the Crown Princess was so great that she did not want to hurt her daughter-in-law by appointing another concubine for her son. He knew full well the pain felt when a new concubine was appointed. Because once upon a time, the Queen experienced that feeling.
Mi Kyung bravely blocks the way of the Queen, making Dayang Head Shim frown and reprimand, “Oho! How dare you in front of the Queen!”
“Please, Your Majesty. Has Your Majesty heard from you that the Eo family will be funding the orphanage fees in Joseon this year? I think if Father hears that the Queen has refused my little request, he will not be happy and may change his mind.”
The Queen knows very well that there is a threat behind Mi Kyung's words. Funding of orphanages has been a problem lately when Joseon cash is much reduced due to the focus on war financing. Outside funds, namely assistance from nobles is one solution. The Eo family is one of the wealthiest noble families and has been big in helping finance the Royal Family. The Eo family is more than capable of funding things like this. The queen looked at Mi Kyung sharply. “What do you mean?”
“Hamba doesn't mind persuading Father to finance some more orphanages if the Queen pleases.”
Queen grunts. “You really!”
The queen lost her words. The affairs of the state are greater than the wishes of his heart, he knows exactly that. Allowing Mi Kyung to become a concubine is tantamount to helping hundreds if not thousands of orphans outside the palace. Heart's fretting. Finally, after swallowing his saliva deeply, he said softly, “Listen, for I will only speak it once. Prepare yourself. Next month I'll put you in the palace. But this is my last favor.” The queen walked away as soon as she said it. Inwardly, he tried hard not to regret his decision. Mi Kyung who heard the Queen's decision, immediately smiled happily.
“Look at it, Crown Princess. I'll create hell in the middle of heaven that you have.”
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" I remember the first day I saw your eyes and felt my world spinning. "
- NN
SPECIAL tribute to SULLI
RIP Sulli, rest in peace dear! 🙏
Sulli's photo in a modern hanbok for W magazine