Eight

"Wow."

Eunuch Hong's jaw dropped as they arrived at Jinhae port.

"It's busier than I originally expected," said Hwi.

"The more people there are, the more cautious we have to be," Kang Eun Soo reminded them.

"Hiyah!"

Eunuch Hong carefully steered the carriage through the crowd of people, who all seemed to be unbothered that a full blown horse-pulling carriage was amongst them.

"We should find an inn," Hwi suggested.

Kang Eun Soo nodded in agreement.

"That's a great idea," said Eunuch Hong. "The baby might be hungry."

Hwi gave a small laugh.

"The baby or you?" he asked reassuringly.

"The people seem content here," said Hwi, as they came to a halt in front of a decent looking inn.

He proceeded to help Noh Ha Kyung off the carriage while Kang Eun Soo assisted Yu Gong with Taeyeon swaddled in her arms.

"Whoa!"

Without warning, Noh Ha Kyung fell right into Hwi's arms, leading her to reminisce on their first encounter. Her heart began to pound wildly as their eyes locked.

"Sorry," she said quickly. "My left foot slipped."

Hwi released her at once and straightened his robes.

"Bok Dong, why don't you go in and go about getting us a few rooms?"

Eunuch Hong nodded and went inside.

"This is a bustling town," said Noh Ha Kyung.

"Ever since we began trading with the Ming, businesses flourished in this area," Hwi replied.

This was the most they've spoken since they left the hut. Still unsure of how he felt, Hwi had to just go with the flow. He didn't fully understand all of this.

"You will have to stay here with Yu Gong while I take care of business with Minister Baek Young Woo," Hwi told her.

"This way, my lord!"

Hwi jerked his head to the courtesan house across the street where several young ladies were trying to get his attention, immediately making him feel uncomfortable. He glanced at Noh Ha Kyung and looked away when their eyes met.

"Amusing isn't it?" Hwi scoffed, trying to make light of the awkward situation. "If only they knew."

"I must've seemed just as foolish when I didn't know," Noh Ha Kyung replied.

Hwi watched as she walked away from the inn into the center of the market.

"Check in without me," Hwi told Kang Eun Soo. "We'll check out the town and will be back shortly."

Kang Eun Soo nodded and proceeded to secure the horses.

"I didn't mean it like that," Hwi caught up to Noh Ha Kyung.

He didn't know why he always felt compelled to explain anything to her anytime they had a misunderstanding. It wasn't like they were a couple.

"It doesn't really matter now anyway," she replied. "Since now I know the truth."

He followed her as she entered a jewelry shop and watched as she picked up a jasmine flower hairpin.

"This is pretty, isn't it?"

She held the hairpin up before Hwi, who nodded in agreement. There was a short period in time in which he had the luxury of freely browsing through jewelry, imagining himself in various accessories he could never be seen in public with. Now, he was embracing what he was really destined to be.

Realizing at once that it must be awkward for Hwi to be in a jewelry shop, Noh Ha Kyung suggested they return to the inn. Hwi followed her out. As he passed the courtesan house, several of the ladies dashed to greet him, pushing Noh Ha Kyung out the way.

"Sorry, excuse me!"

Hwi wiggled his way out of the two women holding his arms and grabbed Noh Ha Kyung's hand. He tugged at her to move before the ladies swarmed him again.

"Oh he's taken!" Hwi heard one of the ladies pout.

Noh Ha Kyung stared at the side of Hwi's face as they walked hand in hand towards the inn. She wasn't sure what this meant but she knew one thing - it felt good.

"There you two are," said Eunuch Hong.

Hwi released Noh Ha Kyung's hand at once but it was too late. Eunuch Hong had witnessed their brief affection and shot a confused expression at Hwi.

"I don't get it," Eunuch Hong said to Hwi later as they settled in their rooms.

"Don't get what?" Hwi asked, knowing damn well what Eunuch Hong was referring to.

He washed his face and gently patted it dry with the cloth Eunuch Hong handed him.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but I think your former Queen still has feelings for you," replied Eunuch Hong.

Hwi let out a heavy sigh and sat down at the wooden table. He pinched his forehead with his index finger and thumb to relieve the throbbing pressure in his head.

"It's hard to let go of someone you truly loved for a long time," said Hwi.

"Are you referring to Jung Ji Un or...

"I'm referring to Noh Ha Kyung," Hwi interrupted.

The same applies to Jung Ji Un, too, really. Perhaps, Hwi felt the way he currently did because he wasn't sure how to move on from Jung Ji Un. As for this very moment, however, his complicated feelings were for Noh Ha Kyung.

"I lied to her," Hwi continued. "Her feelings for me were sincere and all I did was break her heart and tear apart her family."

"That sounds like sympathy to me," said Eunuch Hong.

"It is," Hwi replied. "But I'm not sure how to tell her that when...

"... she still loves you!" Eunuch Hong gasped. "I knew it!"

"I hope it's just a phase," Hwi replied. "I can never provide her the happiness she so desires."

"Why?" Eunuch Hong asked. "Love is... love."

"What?"

"When you love someone, you love who they are, not what they are," Eunuch Hong explained. "I love and respect you because you're a great king. Even if you're not a king, I would still admire you as a person. What you are doesn't change how I feel about you."

Speechless by Eunuch Hong's response, Hwi blinked wildly a few times and attempted to change the subject. He just felt too uncomfortable at the moment for a heart to heart conversation. He really needed to focus on Minister Baek Yung Woo.

"We need to get going," Hwi told him. "I've yet to surprise Baek Yung Woo."

Eunuch Hong adjusted his hat and followed Hwi out of the room where Kang Eun Soo was waiting at the front.

"Wait here," Hwi told them.

They watched as Hwi slid into Noh Ha Kyung's room next door.

"My lord," the ladies gave a slight bow to acknowledge him.

"You don't have to do that on the journey," Hwi told them. "We don't have to adopt royal etiquette when we're out in public."

The ladies nodded.

"I have business to tend to over the next few days," he continued. "I've arranged for Bok Dong to stay with you, and will return when I've taken care of everything I need to take care of."

The ladies nodded again and watched as Hwi exited the room without another word. Outside, Hwi gave a single nod at Kang Eun Soo to signify that he was ready.

"We should try his residence first," Hwi suggested to Kang Eun Soo as they walked out of the inn. "If he's not there then we'll head to the port."

Kang Eun Soo nodded once and followed Hwi down the road through the market. It wasn't long before they came upon a larger road that separated into a fork, which was less busier than the marketplace.

Minister Baek Yung Woo's manor was easily identifiable as it was the largest and most lavish looking property on the road. Outside the main entrance, two soldiers stood guard at either side the doors.

"Is your Master home?" Kang Eun Soo asked them.

They exchanged a quick glance and scanned Kang Eun Soo from head to toe.

"Who are you guys?" one of the guards asked. "How dare you ask for our master so bluntly?"

Arms crossed, Hwi smirked from behind. Sensing a violence response from Kang Eun Soo, Hwi stepped to the side and stared at the guards.

"Go tell your master Lee Hwi is here to see him," he coolly told the guards.

Eyes widened, they both dropped to their knees, shaking out of fear.

"Your Majesty!" one of them gasped. "We deserve to die!"

"Where is your master?" Hwi repeated.

His tone remained calm.

"He's... he's not home," the other guard stammered.

They didn't dare make eye contact with Hwi.

"Well where is he?" Kang Eun Soo asked.

"He's... he's at the Ok Jeong Courtesan house by the port."

Hwi nodded at Kang Eun Soo and they both left premises.

"I think we will be able to take care of this guy sooner than we originally expected," said Hwi.

They approached the courtesan house with caution, not wanting to alert the corrupt minister beforehand. If he was up to no good then they wanted to catch him in the act.

"Are you sure about this, my lord?" Kang Eun Soo asked Hwi.

He wasn't sure how Hwi felt about these places now that he knew Hwi's true identity.

"Well, we gotta go inside the tiger's den if we want the tiger cub," Hwi replied.

They finally entered the courtesan house and was immediately greeted by several young women wearing sheer clothing. Their bodies emitted a strong, rosy scent.

They made their way to the second floor of the building where there were other women entertaining their male patrons. Laughter and giggles echoed from the private rooms throughout the hallway.

"Hello handsome!"

It was as if the young woman had apparated from thin air. Hwi watched as she clung onto her royal guard's shoulder. Kang Eun Soo peeled her off as Hwi couldn't help but snigger. He'd never witnessed such a reaction from him.

"Whoa!"

The woman shoved Kang Eun Soo into a vacant room. Hwi followed and sat down across from them.

"Serve us your best wine," Hwi told the woman.

She gave a seductive nod and left the room.

"What are you doing?!" Kang Eun Soo asked in a loud whisper.

"Blending in of course," Hwi replied.

"... a toast to our lifelong friendship and prosperous business!"

The excitement next door made Hwi turn his head slightly in the direction of the voice that had just spoken.

"Joseon women are indeed gems!" another male voice exclaimed. "General Xi will be very pleased!"

"Is that...

"Shhh!" Hwi put one finger over his lip for Kang Eun Soo to remain quiet.

"We shall raise another toast to you, Minister Baek!"

Hwi and Kang Eun Soo immediately shot up and dashed next door.

"What the?!"

"Good evening, Minister Baek," Hwi smirked at the awestruck, shameless royal official.

"Y- Your Majesty!"