When the Black Moon Rises - Side Story 2
Side Story 2
“Your Majesty, while the Minister of Rites’ death is regrettable, he is not the only one who met an unfortunate end during this drought.”
Head Eunuch Hong, his eyes blinking in bewilderment, immediately lowered his voice and advised.
“To hold a joint funeral for the Queen and the Crown Prince, who wished to save every single grain of rice for the relief of the people, with the Minister of Rites… that is… Moreover, the Minister of Rites ultimately failed the rain ritual and disappeared without a word.”
“...”
“The people may be caught up in the joy of their survival for now, but once their bellies are full, they’ll remember the friends and relatives they’ve lost. Even if memorial services are held in every town, it will be difficult to soothe all their grief. I’m worried that a lavish funeral for the Minister of Rites might provoke them.”
“Didn’t everyone witness the cause of that terrible drought during the last rain ritual? How could humans possibly stop the power of such enormous beasts?”
“But grief can cloud judgment. The sorrow of loss will surely surface someday, and when they seek a target for their resentment, I’m worried the Minister’s funeral might become the spark. That is my concern.”
“...”
“Is it perhaps the celestials’ power that worries you?”
“...It’s not that I haven’t considered it, but is that the only reason? Everyone is like my own children; I pity and care for them all. The Minister of Rites, who suffered harm because I entrusted him with an impossible task, and his daughter, now an orphan because of it.”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, haven’t you also lost family to this disaster?”
The Queen, whose health had been poor since giving birth, and the Crown Prince, who had not been born healthy to begin with, couldn't withstand the intense heat of the terrible drought and passed away.
Even so, with corpses piling up throughout the country, they couldn't hold a grand funeral, so they had been quietly laid to rest in the royal mausoleum.
“Now that the situation in the country is improving, and the whereabouts of the Minister of Rites, whom you were concerned about, have been found, wouldn't it be appropriate for Your Majesty to hold their funeral now?”
“Also, perhaps you should try to find the whereabouts of Prince Yeong?”
“Where would I find that rascal who left the palace without permission and hasn’t sent a single word since? He wasn’t among the bodies brought to the Lake of Blood, so I must assume he somehow survived this disaster.”
“Still…”
“Enough. He’s the type to do outrageous things with a straight face, so he’s probably alive.”
“In any case, the funeral… Yes, the funeral.”
Seong Ik-gwon let out a long sigh, his head full of complicated thoughts.
‘I must feel quite indebted to the Minister of Rites.’
He had a mountain of work piled up before him, yet he had been preoccupied with the Minister’s affairs.
‘But if necessary, I was prepared to execute him publicly to appease the people’s anger directed at me. At the time, I thought, who would stop those beasts if I weren’t here? In the end, I even resolved to sacrifice my own life.’
‘Looking back now, wasn’t it all just an excuse?’
He felt pathetic, wondering if he had simply been selfish, using seemingly righteous reasoning as an excuse to cling to his own life.
And because of his actions, the Minister of Rites ultimately met an untimely end.
While that disastrous drought had killed countless people, he had undoubtedly killed the Minister.
“...”
Seeing the lingering worry on his silent face, Head Eunuch Hong spoke up again.
“Your Majesty, if you continue to be concerned about Minister Jung, why not meet with the Left State Councillor?”
“Hmm? Why the Left State Councillor all of a sudden?”
“It’s just that, the other day, I happened to overhear…”
Seong Ik-gwon listened intently to Head Eunuch Hong’s words.
The next day, Kim Heung-soo, the Left State Councillor, visited the Minister of Rites’ residence.
“You wish… to adopt me?”
“Yes.”
The elderly man with a stern-looking beard nodded at Jung Chihwa.
The old man, whose lips were slightly downturned, recalled Seong Ik-gwon’s voice from earlier that morning when he had been summoned for a private audience.
“I hear the Left State Councillor wishes to adopt the Minister of Rites’ daughter. Is that true?”
“He was close to the Minister; I see he's made such a decision.”
“Yes. If the Left State Councillor becomes her guardian, helps her future, and arranges a marriage with a respectable family, it will be beneficial not only for her but also for you, as it will create a new connection.”
“People will praise your virtue for supporting your friend's daughter, and you’ll be indebted to me as well; it’s killing three birds with one stone.”
He had been pondering, ‘How can I adopt this poor Minister's daughter?’
He had been so close to the Minister. Shouldn’t he take responsibility for his orphaned child? Indeed, he should.
His tone softened a bit.
“Your father may not have been the type to meticulously care for others, but his affection for you was deep and strong. He must have been unable to close his eyes peacefully, having to leave you alone without a betrothed.”
“I know my words may seem sudden, as you've just heard the tragic news and haven't had time to compose yourself. But your father was like a brother to me, and you are like a niece. Surely, your father would also want me to take you in.”
“But that was only until my father failed the rain rituals consecutively, wasn't it?”
Recalling the memory of being miserably turned away from the tightly closed door one day when the drought was at its peak, Jung Chihwa interjected the old man's words with a steady voice.
“Don't misunderstand, Elder. Those weren't my words just now, but what your gatekeeper said to me.”
“That…”
“You may not have actually said those words. And you may not have even heard that I desperately knocked on your door, begging to see you.”
“However, I know that when my father was driven to seek out even shamans due to the worsening public sentiment, no one spoke up for him.”
She added, looking down at the flustered Left State Councillor.
“I'm not saying this to blame you. I understand that you have your own family to care for, so you wouldn’t have been free to act. However…”
Lifting her gaze, she met the old man’s eyes directly.
“How can I now call you father, when you didn't even lend a hand to my family when we were on the brink of ruin?”
“You… As expected of a woman. You're throwing away your own good fortune with your limited understanding. Look at your current situation. Do you have a betrothed, or any relatives to rely on? All you have is this ruined residence and those who still harbor resentment towards your father…”
“If you’re done, please leave. I'm busy preparing for my real father’s funeral, so I don't think I can entertain you any longer, Elder, even though you were, supposedly, ‘like a brother’ to my father.”
Her tone was polite, but the blatant sarcasm within it caused the warm air to drain from Kim Heung-soo’s face, replaced by anger. Slowly clenching his hands, he spoke in a much colder voice.
“Are you relying on those celestials? If so, you are gravely mistaken. How sincerely do you think those otherworldly beings will treat you, a mere insect in comparison? Do you think they will even remember you after some time has passed? How much do you think they’ll care about your pathetic situation?”
“Don’t worry, Elder. Even if I face another miserable situation, I won’t be knocking on your door this time.”
“...”
“I won’t go far. Since you’re so well aware of my circumstances, I trust you won’t mind my impoliteness.”
“...You…”
The child's insolent attitude made Kim Heung-soo's gaze, which had never tolerated such defiance, turn as sharp as a honed blade.
Under normal circumstances, he would have rebuked her impertinent words and showered her with even harsher insults. But…
‘The reason I need to bring this child in is too great to simply abandon her over a few words.’
But Jung Chihwa's expression was too resolute to try anything further here.
He knew from his long life that people with such expressions were not easily swayed.
Finally, Kim Heung-soo quietly rose and added coldly to Jung Chihwa.
“What you see and know is not everything. I couldn't help your father because I couldn't risk involving my own family in such an unstable situation, but it is my sincere intention to repay that debt by looking after you. Knowing when to forget the past and accept the hand offered to you is also a way to live. You should know that clinging to your pride isn't always the answer.”
“...”
“If you change your mind or need anything from me, feel free to come anytime.”
Even as Kim Heung-soo left the room, Jung Chihwa did not look back at him.
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