Chapter 39: Dungeon
While walking out of Jade Pavilion, Sheen walk closer to her master.
"Your Grace.." She softly said, while looking around.
Kana definitely understand that Sheen has been worried about what she heard when Kana talked to his mother.
"What do you have in mind?"
Sheen lean closer.
"Aren't you worried about Madame Yoon's feelings Your Grace? I mean.. She's the only wife after all these years, and now.. Now.."
Kana smiled a bit.
"You're naive Sheen Sheen, I am not worried even a bit, my mother once lived in the palace, she's a princess, don't forget that.. So she will definitely know how to handle things.. And besides, I need an instrument for future purposes."
Sheen's eyes widened.
"Instrument?"
Kana nodded, "More like a puppet, inside the golden cage of the palace."
Sheen heard the finality of his voice so she never dare to say a word again.
***
Kana arrived at the Main Palace where the Empress Dowager lives but he's quite shock that everyone was there.
"Pardon this Consort for being late, Your Highness." Kana bowed his head in respect.
The Empress Dowager wave her hand.
"Nonsense Kana'er sit down.. Consort Park is a bit late as well, I can see that my son visited the four of you last night."
The rest of the consorts smiled a bit, though they are aware that the Emperor just went on their pavilion to pay them respects and for the sake of his name.
Only Consort Park smugly smiled, she felt really lucky that the Emperor chose to lay in bed with her.
Kana sneered secretly while looking at her smug face.
'This bitch, she's so smug as if something really happened.'
The ten Royal Concubines are all chatting happily, and the other Consorts are just happily sipping their teas while Consort Mia is surprisingly silent, Kana wondered what might this old hag thinking?
Consort Hyun was on house arrest while Consort Pleng is in the dungeon.
Consort Park poured tea for the Empress Dowager while Kana handed her the sweet treat.
Empress Dowager smiled a bit, this two is clearly competing.
One was eager to be pulled up to power but the other is just lowkey and confident.
She both accepted with her hands at the same time to avoid being biased.
No one talk about the war and about what happened inside the Palace these past few days.
Everyone was just talking about music, art and literature.
Kana softy shake his head.
He is wondering what future might be waiting for these women once the Emperor will be back, according to the rules, the Royal Concubines of the deceased Emperor will be exiled or if the Empress Dowager is kind enough they will be keep as her servant, as for the Consorts they will follow their sons if they will be send to any provinces as feudal lords.
Kana smiled a bit, so Consort Mia will say goodbye to the Palace this coming days, Consort Park will be alone, in the lair of power hungry lions.
Looking at the Consort who's animatedly talking to Consort Lin, he wondered how long might it be for Consort Park to show her real colors, Kana wondered.
Consort Lin waved at him, and Kana waved back.
What a sweet little girl, or is she even a girl?
Kana goes to the Empress and whispered, they both get up and excuse themselves formally.
But the ladies followed them when they found out that the two will visit the mausoleum.
Hence, their entourage heads to where the former Emperor was, to pay respect.
They held incense sticks and bowed in deep kowtows, wishing the kind late Emperor to rest in peace.
***
At the far side of the inner Palace where the third Prince resides, his two consorts meticulously took care of him along with an Imperial physician.
That morning, after he wake up and felt that he can already move, Prince Tong got up and fix himself, then he head to the most secluded part of the Empire where the dungeons are located.
He needs to clarify things to his mother.
***
After paying respect to the late Emperor's grave, they decided to walk around the palace and Kana was lost. He don't know where to go, he tripped and almost fall but he suddenly hit his elbow on the side of a huge and wide wall.
The wall was push back, and a door was open!
It's a secret door!
In curiosity, Kana took a step and go in, he followed the light but got startled when he heard the door behind him gently closing, he almost stumbled when he noticed that he is standing in a slightly wide platform and under him is a spiral staircase made of cement.
Despite of being scared, Kana is more curious and he walk down, he is welcomed by the unpleasant smell of rotten unimaginable things and faint of noises, moans and cries of strangled like voices filled the air.
Kana move slowly and he realized that he entered a secret door of the Imperial Dungeon!