The Hated Male Concubine

The wind blew the fresh scent of spring.
Jaran immediately thought that this year’s spring unusually smells good, while saying, 

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“Because he has no someone special he truly adores, His Majesty could be kind to everyone.” 

“…”

“Sukbi is selected as the most favored concubine, but that is only because Sukbi’s father is a loyal retainer, so he only treats him a bit more.
It is not because His Majesty is particularly interested in Sukbi.
Has Sukbi ever received excessive treatment from His Majesty?”

Seon shook her head.

“Treats me indifferently because he loves Sukbi?”

“… No.”

“Then, are there any big differences in his treatment of Sukbi and Jeongbin in front of watching eyes?”

“No.
There’s no big difference.”

“That is not the emperor’s love.
I’m saying that it should not be bland like liquor and faint that it could not be grasped like that.”

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“…”

“The emperor’s love… is the same as giving a palace to someone.”

Right then, Jaran thought of Jeongan Palace where Yeonbin stayed.
That grand and boasting fruit of the confident love, which the predecessor emperor did not hesitate to build for the male concubine he named as his lover.

“Pulled in by one person’s smile and can’t see another person’s tears.
Doing things that are hard to understand only for a specific person.
Somewhere, only looking at that one person no matter who was there, outright showing he loves that person to everyone.
That is the emperor’s love.”

“…”

“That’s why I’m saying His Majesty is heartless.
From the reign of the previous emperor until now, such a thing never occurred to His Majesty.”

“… Forgive me, Your Majesty.
It is hard for me to understand that.”

Hearing the empress’s words, Seon quickly bowed again and apologized, but the empress, who was smiling gently, only looked beyond the window with a subtle gaze and said nothing.

Yeonbin’s face, meek and calm while kneeling in front of her, came to her mind again.
The one who made the emperor, who hardly showed his distress in front of her, made a very troubled expression last night.
Then, would that person be able to make the emperor make other kinds of expressions?

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The only one person who sparked the emperor’s wrath that the other concubines never had, now, could he also spark that other particular feeling?

Also, what kind of expression would the person, who reached out his hand kindly but never gave it more than that, make when he desperately craved affection?

Jaran quietly propped her chin.
She felt like she had been living so peacefully.

***

“The people in the northwest region are vigorous as well as rash, and also aggressive.
There are always a lot of disturbances happening in the northwest at this time, so take care of that region more.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.
I’ll take care of it with no sloppiness since this is a matter you ordered specially.”

Yihan stared at the one, who bowed and answered him, without any words.

Yeon Juwon.

He was the father of Yeon Hwawoon, the source of all his anguish nowadays.

After the morning assembly ended, Yihan caught him to ask about the management of the northwest region that he instructed him individually.
But for some reason, Yihan looked like he still had a lot to say, despite their talk about the matter having ended smoothly.

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Juwon, who received the silent gaze from Yihan, then opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, is there anything else you want to ask me?”

At that time, Yihan was thinking of a big problem inside his mind.
He had no other way because the old man, who had little expectations that he would bring it up first, was completely clueless.

“Khm khm.
Erm… Did you know that Yeonbin had an accident and was near the brink of death recently?”

Yihan talked about it as nonchalantly as he could.
He was being considerate in his own way since he thought it would be difficult for Juwon to start the talk about a concubine even though he was his father.
Yihan thought if he started it like that, Juwon would continue the talk himself.
However, Juwon’s answer escaped Yihan’s expectations.

“Yes, Your Majesty.
I know about it.
I’m ashamed because His Highness Yeonbin could not behave properly and troubled you.”

“……”

“……”

“…… Is that all?”

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“……”

“Even though your son had that accident, is that all you have to say?”

Hearing Juwon’s answer, Yihan furrowed his brow and asked back with a dissatisfied voice.
Although Yeonbin was the pain in the neck that always caused trouble in this imperial palace, Juwon was his father.
What kind of father in this world could be this placid and coldhearted when their son experienced a near-death situation?

While sitting on the throne, Yihan leaned his body forward and glared at Juwon.

“I mean, he is your son, don’t you worry about him?”

“Because Your Majesty don’t talk more about that, doesn’t that mean Yeonbin is safe?”

“I mean, that’s true, but…!”

Yihan unknowingly raised his voice, then took a deep breath. Well, it is certain that one’s true color will always show through, so I’m sure Yeon Hwawoon’s personality isn’t good even when he still lived at his parents’ home.

Yihan felt like he could understand if Juwon had no affection left for his own son when he always faced that kind of person.
He thought that must be the reason he gave that person to the emperor and left.

Still, even so, a son is a son, right?