"Answer my question child...is she your servant or not?" Grandfather Jang asked with a raised voice
Young-Sik tightens his grip on Jin-Ri's hand "Yes grandfather...but I want you to know..."
Grandfather Jang, turned to Jin-Ri and asked her a question, interrupting the prince "Do you love my grandson child?"
"Yes, I do sir" Jin-Ri humbly answered
"Tell me about my grandson," He asked Jin-Ri
She quickly answered, "The prince is brave, caring, puts others above himself, an excellent fighter..."
"I say again child...tell me about my grandson" He repeated himself, which startled Jin-Ri and the prince. She wrapped her brains around the old man's words, trying to figure out what Grandfather Jang was talking about.
With her eyes closed, she took a long, calming breath, then opened them after a moment to express her feelings about the man she adored. "Yong is volatile and reckless, always the first to unsheathe his sword at the faintest hint of trouble. He can be quite arrogant and unkind, dismissing the idea of diplomacy entirely."
Young-Sik looked at Jin-Ri, his shoulders lifting in a silent question, "What the hell?" Jin-Ri responded with a similar shrug, saying to the prince, "Yet, your grandson is also compassionate and thoughtful, often throwing himself into perilous situations without a second thought, just to assist someone in distress. He is loyal, and generous, and values the connections, the friendships, and the relations he has made. He will protect the weak and the helpless as if they were his family."
Grandfather Jang stared at Jin-Ri for a long time, and she felt uncomfortable and nervous. "What did you see in this young lady?" he asked his grandson
Following Jin-Ri's example, Young-Sik began listing qualities that irked him about her. "The first time we met, she smashed a pot right in my face—twice!" Jin-Ri's eyes widened in shock, and she shot him a frosty glare. Unfazed by her expression, the prince continued, "She's completely oblivious, loves to chatter endlessly, is annoyingly nosy, and worst of all... I always brace myself for injury whenever I come to her aid."
He shifted to sit beside Jin-Ri, taking her hands in his. "But she's also fiercely devoted, genuinely cares for everyone, listens to their problems, and is always eager to lend a hand. If she could, she'd embrace the entire world. Above all, she'll never abandon you, especially when danger is near."
The two stared into each other's eyes lovingly. Grandfather Jang leaned back in his chair and fidgeted with his bony fingers. "Lady Jin-Ri did you know that Lady So Bong the founder of this family and who was of noble lineage, married Jeup Gong, a common foot soldier?"
"Great-great-great something...Grandfather was a soldier?" Young-Sik asked with curiosity
Grandfather Jang gave a nod and a sly grin "My mother was a vendor"
"What does that mean sir?" Jin-Ri asked though she was almost certain what the old man meant
"It means young lady, that you should stop calling me sir, when you should be calling me grandfather" Grandfather Jang said to Jin-Ri with a smile.
"Are you giving us your blessing sir...I mean Grandfather?" She blurted out ecstatic at what the old man told them
The old man acknowledges Jin-Ri with a nod and proclaims, "You see, my family has never conformed to the traditions of other aristocratic clans that limit themselves to marrying within their elite circles. For countless generations, many of my kin have embraced spouses from outside noble lineages. In truth, this choice has become our most significant asset, rather than a flaw. While we may keep this aspect of our history under wraps, it is not out of shame; we take immense pride in our heritage. We choose to conceal it solely to shield our children from the harsh judgment and persecution of their peers."
Unable to contain her joy and elation, Jin-Ri stood up and hugged the old man "Thank you...thank you so much, Grandfather"
Grandfather Jang, pats Jin-Ri on the head and shoulder "Just promise me one thing, my dear child. Give me my great-grandchildren as soon as possible and I want a lot of great-grandchildren,"
The old man's request hits Jin-Ri like a mountain "Excuse me, what?" her expression was a comical mixture of annoyance and shock.
"Grandfather...can you tell me who Yong takes after?" Jin-Ri asked Grandfather Jang with a sly smile
"Oh, he behaved exactly like his mother. The late King was as gentle as a summer breeze, while my daughter was as temperamental as a winter storm" The old man revealed
"The Queen? He got his temper from the Queen?" Jin-Ri clarified, not able to believe that the prince got his volatile temper from his mother
"Oh yes my dear child, you should have seen how much the late King suffered at the hands of my dear Min-Ah before she accepted his proposal" Grandfather Jang, smiled a bitter-sweet smile as he reminisced about his only child "Of my two grandsons, Young-Sik looks and acts exactly my daughter."
"Even as a child, Young-Sik would behave exactly like his mother" The old man sighed "He was a pain to handle, just like her Majesty"
The Jang household erupted with lively laughter and banter as the old man continued to spill Young-Sik's childhood secrets and escapades. After their meal, Grandfather Jang approached the prince and embraced his grandson "Today you made me a happy man, you returning to me alive and well, and introducing your special lady"
"Thank you, Grandfather for accepting her" Young-Sik expressed
"Go to sleep, your old room is waiting for you," He told his grandson, he then turned to Jin-Ri "And for you granddaughter-in-law, my daughter's old room has been prepared just for you"
"Grandfather wait! Why do we need to...you know go to separate rooms?" Young-Sik naughtily
The old man flicked Young-Sik on the ear"You two are not married yet, and under my roof, only a married couple can share a room"
Just as the sun set the same day, a tranquil evening was abruptly interrupted by the forceful opening of the Go household's main gates. Servants poured out, their terrified cries filling the night as armed men invaded their sanctuary. The attackers showed no mercy, ruthlessly eliminating anyone they encountered. Amidst the turmoil, Minister Lim arrived, joined by Minister Gi and the Dowager Queen, stepping into the unfolding nightmare.
Minister Gi indicated the main house, and the armed men swiftly comprehended his directive. They rushed inside, and soon, the air was filled with piercing screams from within. Outside, a throng of curious onlookers gathered at the Go house gates, eager to see what was transpiring. However, three armed guards blocked their path, forcefully pushing them away and issuing threats of treason and death for anyone who dared to stay.
The three Officials strolled into the house casually, not minding the cries of the wounded and dying. The Queen dowager scoffed at the simple house that she entered. "All that money and not even one expensive decoration to my liking" She and Minister Gi followed Minister Lim through the hallways until they reached Minister Go's clinic. These three people were tied to separate chairs, Minister Go, his wife, and their teenage son.
As Minister Lim rifled through the physician's desk, frustration mounted when he couldn't find what he needed. In a moment of desperation, he snatched a hefty acupuncture needle. He turned to the minister's son, yanked his hair back, and aimed the needle menacingly at the boy's eye. "Where is the poison-stained spoon you found at the king's residence?"
"I swear, I don't have it!" Minister Go exclaimed, his voice rising in urgency. "Lim Do-yun, free my family! They're completely unaware of what's happening!" He begged his rivals, seeking a glimmer of compassion.
"LIAR!" Minister Gi bellowed, fury evident in his eyes as he struck Minister Go with a fierce blow to the face. "I heard you! You've been hiding it, and you three were just waiting for the prince to return to present all the evidence regarding the late King's death!"
With a sudden laugh, Minister Go remarked, "You should realize that something as significant as that evidence must be safeguarded. That's precisely why I've sent a rider to pursue the prince and hand over the evidence required to send the three of you to face the hangman's noose!"
Minister Lim gritted his teeth and repeatedly punched Minister Go, ignoring the cries and pleas of the physician's wife and son. "You lie, tell me where it is, tell me now!"
"Minister Lim, you're simply wasting your time. If what he claims is accurate, the prince may already possess it," the Dowager Queen explained with a measured tone.
"What do you propose we do then? Just sit here and wait for that little brat to return and eliminate us?" Minister Gi shot back, his voice laced with both anger and dread.
The Dowager Queen surveyed the clinic with a calm demeanor until her gaze landed on a bottle of arsenic. She pulled something from her sleeves and produced a silver spoon from the palace. "What I'm suggesting, my less-than-brilliant friend is this..." She poured the arsenic onto the spoon, discarding the bottle. "We create our own evidence!" she declared, brandishing the poisoned spoon.
Minister Lim chuckled as he watched the Queen, hide the so-called poison-stained spoon in one of the physician's drawers. Just then King Man-Ju entered the clinic along with two armed bodyguards.
The King, his voice trembling with shock, exclaimed, "Queen Mother, Minister Lim, I arrived as soon as you mentioned having proof that my father was murdered. But I never imagined you were implying that Minister Go was the one responsible!"
Minister Go's wife cried out, "Your Highness, my husband would never harm the former King! He regarded your father as a brother, you know that!"
"Silence, traitor!" Minister Gi yelled, striking the restrained woman hard across the face, causing her to stagger from the blow.
"Gi, you spineless worm, keep your hands off my wife!" Minister Go roared in fury, witnessing the attack on his beloved.
The King addressed everyone in the room with a commanding tone, saying, "Minister Gi, this is quite enough. These are nothing but allegations. If you cannot provide any proof, I will see to it that this family is released and exonerated."
The Queen dowager, grinned lightly, pretending to rummage around some drawers, she bided her time until she reached her target. "Is this enough your Highness?"
"What is that?" The King asked as he reached out for the thing that the Queen produced.
"That your Highness, is the proof that your father was poisoned," the Queen said as she watched her son the King examine the spoon. "Your father used that same spoon to eat his final meal. I had my suspicions about the previous King's death when I searched for the spoon, but it was already gone"
"How did you know it was here?" The King asked confused and shocked
Minister Gi then stepped in, "It was only by pure luck Your Highness, that I chanced upon this wretched human and his co-conspirators. They were planning to use that as evidence against you and your mother to dethrone you and put your younger brother as the new king"
"Who? Who are his cohorts in this plan to dethrone me?" The King asked, the fury palpable in his tone.
Minister Lim, quickly answered "Ministers Shin and Im Your Highness"
The King gestured to one of his bodyguards, who bowed and quickly left the room. King Ma-Ju went up to the bound Minister Go and said "Are you going to deny that you have anything to do with my father's death?"
Minister Go took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he feared might be his last moments. He focused intently, hoping against hope that his wife and son might somehow escape the impending doom. "Your Highness, if you closely inspect this so-called poisoned spoon, you'll notice that the discoloration isn't completely dark, indicating it has only recently come into contact with poison," he began.
"This silver spoon has been tainted with arsenic, which would produce symptoms quite different from those exhibited by the King. As your mother mentioned, the King suffered from headaches, breathing difficulties, and weakness, and ultimately succumbed to a heart attack!" He turned to the King, urgency in his voice. "Do you remember the almond scent that lingered around him? That's a sign he was murdered with a different poison known as cyanide, not arsenic! If the poison they say is wrong, then their accusation is wrong as well!"