Soo Jung sat guiltily on her bed as she watches her brother reading on the floor.  Apparently, the one day she promised turns out to be 3 days now.  It’s not her intention to break her promise, but she really can’t find a way to smuggle her brother out.  The security in the palace is really really tight, no one can simply enter and leave without permission.  And she herself is very busy too, the tributes are often called and gathered to be trained.  


So far, none of them get to bed the emperor yet.  They are too inexperienced and ignorant according to the head of Imperial Harem.  Speaking of the head, she’s scaring the hell out of Soo Jung.  She’s a very old woman, already servicing the Palace for more than 40 years.  The lady is also experienced since she already served most of the late emperor’s favourite concubines before being promoted to what she is right now.



She is very stern and firm, and Soo Jung is under the impression that she would rather stare at a pile of dung all day rather than the tributes.  She seemed to hate them a lot, well all of them seems to.  Apparently, the tributes from Jamsil has been looked down on even by regular ladies-in-waiting.  It’s ridiculous to say the very least.  It’s not their fault that their country loses to Joseon in war, it’s not their fault that they had to be sent to a foreign land to keep their family alive. 


Unfortunately, the head, Ms. Chae Mool is the living embodiment of double standard.  It wasn’t only once that they had caught her sweet talking to another local concubine who has the chance of being favoured by the emperor.  And the next minute after the concubine left, she’d turn to them with a grim line on her face, cussing at them for eavesdropping.



This tribute matter taught Soo Jung a lot.  Nothing is fair in love and war.  With so many tributes scheming against one another, from poisoning foods to tampering cosmetics, it’s a miniature war everytime the tributes are asked to gather.  She never thought things will turn out this way.  She to the very least thought that the tributes will help to look after one another, especially since their fathers are of the same status, and they are all stuck in the same fate. 


Seemingly, the desire to survive becomes the victor of their conscience, catalyzing them to become one of the stereotypes of Forbidden City’s concubines.  Lucky they didn’t give her any attention since she is lacking in the look department.  To them, she is of no threat, and she is thankful for that, otherwise, she couldn’t even bear to think of the consequences. 


Shuddering, she remembers the fate of the most beautiful amongst the tributes, Soo Ji Ae, the daughter of their soon-to-be-ex prime minister.  She was really the prettiest, even Ms. Chae Mool treated her properly and with care, predicting that the news of her beauty will soon reaches the emperor’s perimeter.  And it did.


 2 nights ago, the head of imperial household invited her to a royal function, her alone, it was only for one night.  She barely even meets the emperor, let alone bed him, but it was enough to ripple the wave of jealousy.  That night, she died.  The royal physician believes that the food she ate was poisoned and it was most likely done by other tributes out of jealousy.


That alone causes all hells to break loose.  She was after all the only daughter of the prime minister of Jamsil.  Her father clearly dotted on her a lot from the way he nurtured her, and when she died, people started pointing fingers to one another.  Needless to say, it caused rifle in Jamsil.  The prime minister started to attack the suspected families and before time, ministers started to choose sides.  The king’s absence wasn’t exactly helping either, since there’s no one to act as the middle ground.  Some of the ministers were killed, some run away, others who weren’t affected stayed on their ground.  She was lucky her father was one of those least suspected, since according to them, Soo Jung is too kind, too timid and is practically incapable of killing.   Not knowing whether she should take that as a compliment or otherwise, she decided to have a positive mindset.


“1021,” the soft voice of her brother almost didn’t reach her hearing. 


“What?” she looked at him from her bed, wondering what else is going on in his mind right now.  Her eyes darted towards the cover of his book, ‘The Relation of Numbers’.  Heaving a sigh, her respect for her brother intensifies even more.  She’d never survive reading such a book. 


He continued reading without minding her, his lips sometimes moving, saying inaudible things that sounded like numbers. 


“Jae, good night,” she smiled sweetly, laying her body on her bed, wanting to get a proper sleep.  Goodness, today was really tiring.  Ms. Chae Mool keeps on training them intensively, from the proper way to walk to the proper way to sleep, they had to do it all under the scrutinizing eyes of the hawk.  And those who didn’t do it properly will be punished by her cane.  Heck, she was beaten so many times today for her inability to put on her make up correctly.  As if being beaten is not enough, her self-degradation becomes more aggravated when she mistakenly applied her blusher to her lips, wallowing herself in self pity from all the laughter erupted from the other ladies.

  
She looked at him pleadingly, expecting at least a ‘Good night,’ from him.  He didn’t say anything, he never really did since he is more to the solitary kind.  She should be immune to his silence by now, but somehow, her self-uncertainty and guilt twisted his silence to anger. She can’t help but to think that his silence is the way he expresses his anger towards her for keeping him cooped up in the place he least wanted. 


“Jae, I promise I’ll find a way to get you out tomorrow.  Please don’t be angry at me,” she mumbled, her voice incoherent from the drowsiness.  There was no answer again. 


“Jae?” 


She lay on her side to have a better look at him with her half-lidded eyes.  She can see his adam apple moving before he says, “I’m not angry.” 


She carve a tired smile, cursing her self-inferiority.  Jaejoong will never get angry at her, she should’ve known that.  “I’m glad you don’t” 


She swear she can see a ghostly smile on his lips before she succumbed to the much anticipated sleep.


The black chess piece moves up horizontally, gnawing a white piece on the way.  Hong Chul sigh as he tried to think of his next move, his hand scratching his head helplessly when the young man in front of him gnawed another piece of his white chess. 


“Sire, I’m really bad at this,” he acknowledges his weakness while bowing apologetically, worried that he’ll bore the emperor with his mediocre way of playing. 


“You were the one who taught me this when I was 10.  How can you be bad at this?” the emperor’s almond eyes never once leave the chess set on the table.  Those who didn’t know him any better would’ve think that he’s angry at the moment.  But he isn’t, Hong Chul know that.  That’s just his way of speaking, so that he’ll appear tough and cold to the others.  That kind of aura is needed really, especially if you’re the emperor.  By behaving that way, the subject’s respect will be intensified even more, and he will never be deemed unworthy or too weak for the throne. 


It appears to work since now, no servants or subjects, including the ministers dare to speak to him without being wobbly on the leg.  The detached persona added with his wisdom and bravery makes up for who he is today, the great emperor with a broad ambition.


When he was first enthroned as the emperor, the ministers were understandably doubtful of his capabilities and strength.  He was after all very very young, and aloof.  Thinking that they can have their ways around him just like how they did with his late father, the ministers constructed a lot of schemes to have him wrapped around their little finger.


The new emperor however is different, nothing alike the previous emperors they served.  There’s just something really bothering about him, they couldn’t pinpoint what at first, but their suspicion was confirmed when the most powerful and cunning of the ministers, the prime minister, was executed a week after the young emperor succeeded the throne.  The young lad twisted all their plans and schemes and before long, their plans back fired.  


Apparently the new ruler know how to make use of his brain.  Accusing them of treachery for crimes they did not even commit, the new emperor killed all the ministers who got listed on his bad books, be it for mingling close to the treacherous prime minister or being too powerful for their position.  


Before long, all the problematic ones were eradicated, substituted by those the emperor deemed to be loyal and worthy.  And of course, the cabinets right now wouldn’t even lift a finger if it weren’t by the consent of their ruler. 


Once he got full control of the cabinet and his administration, he started it all, the war frenzy.  He started attacking kingdoms within the continent, consumed by the thirst of power and riches.  The general of war does all his bidding, even if he found his ideas hasty, because if he hadn't there'd be a huge chance he'd be next on the emperor's target list.  And of course, the emperor’s decision was never hasty.  Apparently, every single order he made had been thought of thoroughly, constructed with great details.  It amazes the cabinets sometimes, how someone so young can be so wise, so thoughtful, so- cruel. 


He kills people as if they were ants, and that was all done for the sake of achieving his dream, to become the emperor of the world.  Sure, it sounded so much like a child’s dream.  But when it comes out from the emperor’s mouth, Hong Chul wonders if he'll really achieve it.  He was very stubborn even back then when he was young.  He was so stubborn, so obstinate, to the point where people will just have to be forced to give him anything he wanted.  What he wants, he gets.  And dear God, goodness know how many others will be killed if he really carry on with that aim of his. 


“You’re drifting off,” the cold voice reaches him, inevitably raising the hair on the back of his neck. 


“Pardon me, Sire.  I did wrong,” he immediately bows, apologizing for his audacity.  The emperor made no remark on his apology, instead, he continued playing as if he had said nothing before. 


“What’s happening in Jamsil now?” the emperor suddenly asked as Hong Chul take his turn and move his chess piece. 


“Sire, last night their Prime Minister, Soo Ji Mong  attacked 2 other minister’s families.  So far, 7 families had been eliminated.  Others run away.  It’s been very very hectic over there.  We presume he’ll attack the Minister of Treasury now.  Our spy over there managed to convince him that the minister forced his daughter to poison the deceased one to prevent her from getting a place in your harem.  He’s losing his sanity right now, so he’ll most likely attack them without any second thoughts,” he answered respectfully, drawing his hand away from the board after he finished moving his piece.        

    
The emperor nodded hearing that, pleased that his plan is working out just fine.  So, they wanted to stay alive by sending their daughters to him?  He’ll let them stay alive, he won’t kill them, he’ll just let them kill each other.  Don't get him wrong.  He can easily order his people to kill them right now, he's had more than enough man power to paralyze them all.  


But where's the fun in that?  He needs a thrill, and at this point, typical form of murdering people starts to bore him off.  That's why he received the tributes on the first place, instead of slitting the messenger's throat when the humble offer from Jamsil first came.  He wanted to give them hope.  To see for himself the light on their faces once they think they'll survive.  And after that, he'll steal that away from them in ways they'd never expect.  He wants to see them kill each other.  He wanted to show the world, just what his powers are capable to do, how he was powerful enough to override brotherhood bonds in people.


He needed his entertainment.


And it was beyond easy for him to accomplish that.


First, order Hong Chul to arrange some function and involve the daughter of the Prime Minister of Jamsil in it to provoke jealousy from the other tributes.  Then, poison the food she ate during the function, and when she reached back to the quarter, she’d be dead.  And since the ladies are envious of her for getting his attention, they ought to be the one suspected for the murder.  The father of the dead one will get angry and the trust he had for his colleagues will be gone in a snap. 


One thing leads to another, and now almost all the ministers of Jamsil who were supposedly blood brothers had been destroyed.   Their king is 2 days away from being killed, the ministers are at 2 feets away from killing each other, isn't that tragic?   


“Check mate,” he said, ending the game with a satisfied curve on his lips. 


Soo Jung woke up really really late that morning, curse her habit of sleeping like a log.  She puts on the first dress she saw on her closet while pouting.  “Why didn’t you wake me up?” she sulkily asks Jaejoong.  The male didn’t answer her as he continues reading his book on the table.  Her pout becomes even longer upon receiving no response. 


As soon as she’s done dressing, she fixes her hair half-heartedly, still feeling bitter. She didn’t even have the time to take a bath, goodness know what Ms. Chae Mool will say to her when she arrives later.  Soo Jung shivered thinking of the possible punishment she might get. 


“Jae, I’ll go to my training now.  I’ll smuggle food for you later, don’t go anywhere okay?” she reminded him hurriedly as she stumbles outside.  Once she’s gone, Jaejoong heave a sigh, that girl is really…


As soon as Soo Jung reaches the utmost lawn of the 2^nd Class Female Attendants Quarters, she stopped dead on her track when she saw her fellow tributes standing respectfully in front of a woman, a very beautiful one.  She's got eyes the color of emeralds, skin almost as fair as Jaejoong's and thin red lips in the form of a scowl.  She's gorgeous.  



Suddenly feeling physically inferior, like she always did everytime she first stumbles into a very beautiful lady, she started patting off her clothes in search of ugly wrinkles.  When she can find none, she went back to standing still, not knowing what to do.  From her posture and the servants around her, that lady is powerful. But then, what would a powerful lady want in 2nd Class Female Attendant Quarters.  They should be invisible to her if she indeed is as powerful as Soo Jung imagined her to be.


“And this one is Kim Ji Hye, the only daughter of Jamsil’s Minister of Treasury.  And this one-” Ms. Chae Mool stopped talking when the beautiful lady comes closer to Ji Hye. 


“Lady Ara?” she furrowed her brows.  The so-called Lady Ara ignored Ms. Chae Mool’s questioning look as she run her finger through Ji Hye’s jaw gracefully.  The look on her face though was nothing close to graceful, she didn’t look too happy. 


She should be one of the concubines judging from her clothes.  But why is she here?  To keep an eye on them?  But they are nobodies, they aren't worthy of her attention.  They're basically the lowest of the lowest there is in that place, just a step higher than regular servants.  They're pretty much harmless.


Soo Jung sigh inwardly, it must be really hard being a concubine, loving a man who loves thousands of women besides you.  Just look at that lady, she’s very pretty.  She ought to live happily ever after, given if she marry a commoner.  Her husband ought to love her a lot. 


But now, since she’s one of the emperor’s women, even the beautiful her can’t help but to feel insecure, consumed by jealousy and uncertainty, not wanting to be overpowered by other ladies who ought be the emperor’s next golden girl. 


Soo Jung knew she had made herself known when she senses Ms. Chae Mool surprised eyes on her.  She gulp bitterly before she quietly walk closer to the clump of people, her stomach rumbling in sudden tension.  That old lady always have sharp eyes, she whined deep deep inside.  She kept her eyes on the ground before she bow in front of the lady gracefully, knowing she is in deep trouble for arriving late. When she finally does look up, she finds Lady Ara looking at her judgingly, her brows furrowed as if she’s thinking of something unthinkable.  Then, the lady scoffed.


“Your father must be so desperate,” she claimed, still with her bitter smile.  


Soo Jung knowing what she’s hinting at looked down dejectedly.  “My Lady, that’s Kim Soo Jung, the daughter of the Minister of Jurisdiction.  She’s Kim Ji Hye’s cousin,” Ms. Chae Mool introduces her. 


Lady Ara frowned, looking at Ji hye and Soo Jung alternately.  “Are you sure about that?” she scoffed in disbelief.  Soo Jung can’t help but to remember this one saying, ‘Beauties are roses’.  It sounded so legit in her mind right now.  They are pretty, they smells well, but they’re untouchable for once you get your hands on them you’ll touch the thorn and you’ll be the one to bleed.  Tiny gasps and laughter can be heard from the tributes and servants alike, sending Soo Jung even further down the abyss of humiliation.  


“Ms. Chae,” Lady Ara called, her eyes expresses arrogance and gloat.


“Yes, how can I help you my lady?” despite looking so annoyed, Ms. Chae Mool managed to sound polite.  This can only means one thing, Soo Jung had been right, Lady Ara is one of the powerful ones, not that it’s surprising of course, she’s too pretty to be a regular concubine.  


“I’ve never seen the quarters before.  When I first entered the harem, I became the Imperial Concubine straight away I didn't have the chance to live here.  Show me around,” she asked, no, more like demanded. 


“Yes My Lady,” Ms. Chae Mool immediately succumb, knowing what the lady wants.  She’s been in the palace for so long, she know what’s going on in the ladies' minds as fast as she can speak.  Lady Ara is afraid of the tributes.  Though it sounds as ridiculous as it seems, she does, just like the other most powerful ladies before her did.  They always felt the same way everytime a new group of consorts arrives.  


Sure, these are the lowest of the consorts, but who knows what filthy trick a thing called life will conjure.  She's just playing safe.  It would be better if she got rid of the decent looking ones from the very start.  In this case, it's Ji Hye and Se Na.  She will find their fault and she won't stop until she managed to do so.


Jaejoong was reading his book quietly on the table when he heard commotion outside.  Shaking his head, he decided to ignore it and continue reading. “3630,” he read.  “3 plus 3 equals to 6 and 3 minus 3 equals to zero,” he continued.  The distinct voices outside messes up his reading.  Feeling all frustrated, he slammed the book to the table, can’t he at least read in peace? 


“No!” said a voice outside.  Funny, cause it sounds a lot like Soo Jung.  Trying to push the alarming thought away, he hesitantly picked the book back and opened the page he last read. 


“Please don’t!” he heard the voice again. 


“Why?  What are you trying to hide?” said another voice.


And before he knew it, the door flung open and a lady in red enters it, looking around the room expressively before her eyes settles on him. The display of emotions on her face was apparent as she looked at him in shock.  Behind her, there are countless of girls, some dressed in what seems to be lady-in-waits attires while some regular clothes.  Gasps and groan can be heard throughout the room and Jaejoong’s mind was nothing but idle.  What’s going on here?  Behind the lady in red, stood Soo Jung with tears in her eyes muttering a ‘Sorry.’ 


The lady in red approaches him as the others stood still by their ground, anticipating her next moves.  She ran her finger through his face gently, seemingly shocked, absorbed.  He is very beautiful, so beautiful she can’t help but to be awed.  His milky smooth skin, his big brown eyes, his luscious lips...  If he were to be a girl, he’d definitely be one of the emperor’s favourite. Her awe turned to jealousy before she even knew it. 


“You?  You’re a man?” she asked, gasping for air. Her gentle face turns red from what Jaejoong identifies as anger.  She turns around and strikes Soo Jung right on her cheek.  Soo Jung hold her aching cheek while sobbing. 


“He-“ she tried to explain but only to receives another slap.  The sounds of viewers gasping can be heard again, some hold their cheek in shock as if they were the one getting the blow.


“Please, we’re-“ 

-Slap-

-Slap-

-Slap-


“So, this is what you’re hiding!  You brought a man to the Imperial Harem!  Your lover!  How dare you!” she yelled as her hand dive for another slap towards Soo Jung’s cheek. So, checking the girls’ room one by one apparently is a wise move.  You’d never know what you’ll find if you do so. But still, she never expected to find something like this in the quarter.  


Goodness, what a foolish girl.  How can she brought her man with her to the harem?  Despite the shock and anger, she still feels a little unsatisfied.  Why does it has to be her?  Why can’t it be the prettier ones, so that she can get rid of them easily and gets away with it.


“My Lady, please, that man is her brother.  He’s not her lover,” Ji Hye speak up to her.


Bingo!  Lady Ara smirked and narrowed her eyes cynically before she shot, “Kim Ji Hye, am I right?  You’re her cousin if I was not mistaken, so why should I trust you?  Are you trying to cover up for them?”


“My Lady, please,” Soo Jung begged, but she only get another slap.  “Hmm, I wonder what the emperor will do to your family for sending a no longer virgin girl as a tribute,” she drawled. 


“Guards, take them!” she then ordered, her face hardening.  She turn towards Ji Hye, slowly curving a smirk, “Take her too.”  


“My Lady, please.  Ji Hye has nothing to do with this,” Ms. Chae Mool interrupted.  Lady Ara immediately turns to her, her face feisty and challenging. 


“What do you mean by that?  She’s her cousin, she ought to know something about this-this adultery!  And she chose to keep quiet, I don’t know about you but that sounds like an accomplice to me.  The emperor wouldn’t be too happy.”


Unable to counter her, Ms. Chae Mool chooses to value her life and keep quiet.  Some of the tributes starts to tear up.  First, Ji Ae died, and now Soo Jung and Ji Hye are both captured.  What will happen to them now?  Will they face the same terrifying fate?  Sensing their fear, Lady Ara smirked in victory before she announces, “Send them all to the dungeon.  I’ll have my way with the two ladies, while the man, put him anywhere.” 


She give a one last glare to Jaejoong, her eyes unreadable. 


She don’t even know why, but she hates him already.   



AN:  Readers, there will be a big surprise for you in the next chappie.  And, yes, YunJae will meet soon ;)