Chapter 37

Consort Park wakes up by the scent of fragrant incense sticks lighted in her room, Lulu was quick to attend her when she tried to get up but ended up grimacing by the body pain she felt.

She recall that The Emperor gave her the tea and she suddenly got knocked out.

Consort Park lifted the thick comforter and saw several marks in her body.

She felt horrified!

"Lulu? What happened?"

Lulu's eyes widened.

"Your Grace didn't remember? His Highness spent the night here."

Lulu chose to lie, earlier, she was called by Sheen, the personal servant of Consort Han and had accepted silver as a payment.

Besides, only Lulu and a few maidservants saw that the Emperor left and didn't really spent the night there but at the Jade Pavilion, a little bribe won't hurt the account of Consort Han.

"Really?" Consort Park felt happy but at the same time regretful that she didn't have any memories of the wonderful event last night.

But seeing her body, she moved a bit and saw droplets of blood in her sheets, her swollen breast and privates, and the marks in her body, Consort Park smiled happily.

Lulu saw that her mistress is happy, thus she's happy too, she purposely didn't remove the sheets for Consort Park to see it as the evidence.

"Prepare a warm bath for me." She slowly got up, feeling light despite the body pain, in her heart is the earnest hope that she will soon bear the Imperial child, her ticket to be the Empress.

'Huh! Curse you, Consort Han!"

***

After the chaotic scene on the kitchen, maids rushing in and out while Jeon and Sheen cooked the sweet treats, Consort Han look at Jeon who's happily eating the cinnamon rolls tops with chili flakes.

What a weird craving.

"Lili, please prepare the cinnamon rolls that I will take to the Empress, and Sheen, come and help me wear my clothes."

Kana get up and head to the main room, Sheen followed him suit, and prepare a grand hanbok for him to wear along with the exquisite set of jewelry.

Kana wore a light blue hanbok with lotus embroidery from top to bottom.

In his neck was a silver necklace, and bracelet on his wrist along with the silver hairpins adorning his long jetblack hair.

They are ready to go when Madame Yoon came with an unfamiliar lady following her aside from her personal maidservant.

"Mother? Good morning.." Kana meet her and guide her inside after he kiss her cheek.

"Kana'er, Your grace, are you heading out?" Madame Yoon look at what he's wearing.

"Yes mother, but that can wait, how's Brother Yin?" they reach the main room's area where they receive visitors when Kana advert his gaze to the woman behind his mother.

"Who is this lovely lady?"

The woman bowed at him, "Your Grace."

"She's the mother of Lili, remember that you told me to pull her out at the Park residence? I've got her." Madame Yoon proudly said, indeed no one can say no to her, after all she's the princess of the Kingdom of Silla, even born from the former King's concubine, Madame Yoon is the sister of the current King.

Specially she's the main wife of the Great General who fought for the Empire.

"She's Bai Wuilan, can you let her unite with Lili? We need to talk."

"Sure! Lili!" Kana called out an immediately a rushing girl came in.

"Yes, Your Grace?" but was stunned when she saw someone.

"Mother?" she exclaimed, and followed by a cry.

"Go take your mother to your room, Lili."

Lili look at him with full of gratitude.

"Thank you Your Grace, I will never forget this!"

The mother and daughter left, Kana ordered Sheen who came with Lili to tightly close the door since this seems so private.

Madame Yoon look at Sheen as if asking why she's still there but Kana smiled.

"Let her to stay mother, what is it?"

From her sleeves, Madame Yoon took out a folded paper, and handed it to Kana.

In shaking hands, Kana saw that the paper was sealed with the Crown Prince of Yuan.

"Your brother already read it, he's doing fine and active now, he wanted you to read it yourself."

Kana nodded and opened the letter.

(italicized)

"The General is alive, and we almost infiltrate the Empire, he will come home soon once the war is over, I won't forget this efforts, I will repay you soon.

- Ling Jiwon

Kana look at his mother, his eyes turns misty, he dried it using his free hand and look at his mother.

"Father is alive. And I just got a pledge from the future Emperor of Yuan." Kana smiled wickedly.

Madame Yoon wasn't ignorant and she know that he's son is planning about something big.

"What is it Kana'er? I know that your father is alive, I can feel it.. That's why I am not sad even the slightest."

Madame Yoon confidently said.

"The Emperor promise me that when he came back, He will crown me as the Empress, and when that happens, my enemies will increase.. Some people will fall but new set of enemies will rise. I should prepare a precaution."

Madame Yoon dare not to talk and waited for him to continue.

"I will use my throne to install my people on government posts, two of my shadow guards will hold the 3rd important office of the Empire, Health and Defense.."

Madame Yoon nodded, but didn't talk, hence Kana continued.

"After this Father will come back and people will hear his heroic deed, so it is rightful for the Emperor to let his father in law rest on war and have him sit as the new Minister of Defense instead!"

Madame Yoon was stunned.

"But Minister Park already that post Your Grace." the Park she meant was the brother of the Prime Minister.

"We just need evidences of his conspiracy with Consort Pleng, I'll ask my guards to take care of it mother.. I will ask you for something big.. I hope you won't be mad at me."

"What is it Your Grace? Tell mother and I will surely give it to you." Madame Yoon eagerly ask.

The people in the capital respected her even more because she's not just the Princess of Silla, the madame of the entire Han Manor, she's also the mother of the First Rank Consort. So she will be happy on whatever Kana will request.

"I want you to make Bai Wuilan as father's first Concubine."