The Love They Never Had

"Did you hear what His Highness and Concubine Park this morning before he left? I heard that he sent of his main wife's cousin to The Department of Penalty for bing careless in his job." "Really? What did he do?" "The Third Prince was greeted with an array of withered flowers. I heard all 3 of them got into a fight last night, so he was still angry when he left the palace." "It doesn't seem important, maybe he will return in a few days time?" "Everything matters when it comes to concubine services, he may be have ben careless about yard work he may also become negligent in more vital chores, and then what? Should he continue to spare him just because of his connections? Even after The Young Master Nam cleared up that eunuch scam? It is not worth messing with the concubines, not in front of our husband, anyways." "But he is a relative of…" "That is exactly why they are being stricter with him than usual, he can be considered abusing his relatives power and hurting he reputation." "What if it becomes difficult to find a replacement with equivalent experience?" "What experience? He was clearly bribed into woking for his cousin, which is why he must be dissociated with her even more." "Even though the attendant service records only state that the main husband and wife were together last night?"

"What exactly is everyone taking about?" "Peace be to you, Noble Consort." "And to you, Concubine Park; I hope that last night's unpleasantness didn't disturb you at all?" "What on earth do you mean? There are no misunderstandings between myself and His Majesty. Why would you feel as though I am holding onto a grudge? Or have you done something that I am unaware of? Forgive me Your Highness, but it is rather indecorous to jump to conclusions like that. And my apologies for coming in late, but His Highness let me sleep in a little bit more, but I still made my way to give you the morning greetings. And peace be to you, Attendant Kim, I hope that you recuperate from your miscarriage soon, because you are practically glowing already." "Thank you Concubine Park, for allowing His Highness to personally bid his goodbyes to me before he left.

"Attendant Kim does look rather voluptuous since she has plenty of time on her hands to just eat away in the kitchens since His Highness rarely visits her. Everyone shall be served tea for this meeting." "Thank you, Your Highness…is this Longjing Tea from last year? Old tea does smell like mildew, however well preserved it must have been kept, that is why I gave it away to my maids. But I have just received this years pre-rain Longjing Tea and I will send some to you later, Your Highness…" ""His Majesty already sent me some, so don' you worry about that, and also gave it away to my maids for their efforts in helping me suppress this plague from the palace, along with the concubines with children." "I see; the children will never bother us with trivial matters like tea I suppose, as s result of good upbringing and their studiousness." "That is right, not everyone can be bestowed with such luxury residences for their children, like the one Your Highness is currently occupying, which is the chambers of the previous Consort of the previous Emperor, who was honoured as a greatly prolific honour." "Does Attendant Kim refer to The Great Mother who's son rebelled against his own father?" "That is right indeed, Concubine Park." "Be careful concubines! It may seem as though you are cursing at my palace and my fortunes, and so soon after your miscarriage as well. I do not want you ill-fortunes directed at myself. Or maybe I should rehouse someone in your chambers?" "Your Highness, you are welcome to re-home my quarters to the next person that you are trying to buy off, especially with the unfortunate incident of the newly-appointed ministers that took place only this week."

"Concubines! If you ever speak up of a topic that I have not yet discussed, then refrain yourselves from bringing it up, do you understand me? I think that we shall dismiss ourselves for now due to the hot weather…"

"…not only with the ministers, but have you heard about the servant from the Nam Yangban who seemingly rose to power? He apparently killed all of our husband's men apart from the new recruits…" "What! What did you just say? Concubine?" "So does that mean when this plague is over, The Third Prince will have no support left? Apart from whom? Seo Hwi and his friends?" "He will relinquish the support if The Prince does not find his sister soon, and His Highness gave him his word…"

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"My Lady, you have only returned from the morning meeting, why do you look so unwell already?" "I am starting to feel nauseous early on in my pregnancy." "being melancholic can be harmful to the baby, I do hope that you can put your mind at ease. Let me call upon a physician for you…" "I would like you to call upon the physician that treated my husband once…Moon-Bok? I shan't meet with anyone else apart from him and I want him as my personal physician until my own physician come back to the palace." "Very well, we shall call of him immediately…"

"…My Lady, your constitution has become vulnerable due to the scorching weather recently and you must avoid it all together, it will increase the chances of you catching the plague." "I have no choice, we are all summoned to The Third Princes Consort's residence 3 times a day for these meaningless talks since our husband's absence. It really is rather taxing and she cannot help herself now that she has a tiny bit of control over us, even after how we challenged her last time." "I see, but this is hindering your pregnancy, even in this early stage." "She expects us to listen as though she is our husband himself, and I really dislike the incense that she uses." "Incense? Could you possibly describe the scent to me?" "It is a rather heavy and strong smell with ashy tones…" "My Lady, you need to be resting in-between these meetings for as long as you possibly can for the baby's sake. Quickly, undress her and put her to bed with plenty of water at her side…"

"The Noble Third Princess Consort is expected to attend the discussion of palace affairs immediately, by order of The Noble Third Princess Consort!" "What! But My Lady's daily attendance had been waived due to her pregnancy!" "Her Noble Consort does understand that Her Lady feels unwell recently, so she sent me here to accompany Her Lady, or how else can such meetings take place without her? Her Noble Consort is in charge of her husband's harem and therefore I hope that you will bey her decree? She even commands respect from His Majesty The Emperor himself…" "and we are all her measly servants, I understand; nobody can possibly steal her husband's favour, and that is why she is torturing us in his absence."

"…Concubine Park arrived late for no reason, which shows her constant disrespect for me since this morning's meeting. I must have her kneel outside to be made an example of. If you can already disrespect your superiors in your first trimester of pregnancy, how on earth will you behave when you give brith to an Imperial Heir? Do you think that you can take my place and rule in my stead? We only nurture heirs for the good of the country which they are to serve in future." "Your Highness, I have already explained the reason for my delay and I cannot hold such intentions as I am still a lowly concubine."

"Noble Consort, we are all feeling thirsty after these non-stop meetings, why don't we have some tea breaks now?" "Concubine Park is wrong for being late, but Your Noble Highness should allow her to rise due to her pregnancy…" "The Palace's women should obey female virtues; Concubine Park from the Park family continuously defies my words and twists them to make herself the victim. So in all respect, she will kneel outside my palace and read Lessons for Women to learn her own lesson and discover her true value, which can never be placed above mine." "But Your Highness! The courtyard is paved with hard granite which is currently burning under the fierce sun! No pregnant woman can kneel there, no matter how early in their pregnancy they are! We beg for your pardon for her pregnancy, before you make a decision that you cannot take back!" "Enough, Attendant Kim! Discipline must always be upheld when it is compromised! His Majesties would have done the same thing, unless you are all threatening me with them? Well? Concubine Park? Shall you walk, or will my servants have to carry you out there!" "Your Highness!" "Enough with the objections! You have always been well-behaved and you have successfully passed your first trimester, so yuor pregnancy is stable now. I have already consulted the physicians, so I will only allow you to kneel for 2 hours, otherwise who else is this disingenuous display for? Certainly not for my benefit? Now go! And all of you will help me to keep watch!"