While people mourned the departure of a lovely woman whose chronicle was filled with praises, others schemed for their personal gains.

A man whose features were hidden inside his robe seemed to be more irritated by the sudden turn of event but wasn't that perturbed till he received a report of his investigation. In a scrunching motion, the paper laid waste at his feet.

What? Daejong has a secret woman?

He sat down hurriedly on an armchair bedecked with animal print furs and got to writing. He wrote hurriedly but neatly and passed it to his messenger.

"Give this to her highness, make sure she replies before leaving the palace," the messenger was obedient as he nodded in acknowledgement then bowed out.

As he left, the man banged his fist on the table and uttered profanities. He retrieved the portrait from inside his sleeve, unfolded it slowly, traced the well-depicted features and frowned deeply.

"You are a physician?" he said robotically then folded it neatly back inside his sleeves.

"Daejong, how will it feel to bed your woman?"

The messenger turned out to be a palace guard as he was fully dressed in his uniform, with all protocols dully observed he soon found himself at the level two consort's palace. The maids recognized him as their own from their friendly smiles and warm reception. The chief maid scurried in and returned with a warmer smile.

"Her highness invites you in," they opened the door for him, escorted him in and raised the demarcating screen hiding the person behind.

Behind the screen was a very beautiful woman whose elegance oozed out majestically. She had a lotus silver crown on her hair which seemed to match the silver embroidery on her blue robe. Her slender arms were beautifully adorned with silver rings and bracelets which jiggled majestically as she stirred her tea. No visionary queen looked as lovely her, she even looked more beautiful than the jasmine painting sitting comfortably behind her mutton seat.

He heard a clearing of throat which brought him out of his reverie and reset his faulty brain that lacked the reflex to communicate manners to him.

Kowtowing on the ground, he greeted as well as apologized for his disrespect.

Seo-yun felt good with his admiration as it implied she was a beautiful woman, she disregarded every other thing and nodded at him, he gave the letter to her directly and went back to stand.

Boisterous laughter filled the large room,her elegance wasn't lost even in her laughter. The poor messenger nearly fell on his knees to worship at her feet. Truly, no woman would wear the phoenix robe as good as her.

"What? Secret woman? a measly physician? Nam Joo has really become disillusioned!"

She beckoned on her chief maid to retrieve a file which was handed over to him. Detailed report of all Daejong's movement was well written and it made no mention of any secret rendezvous. He only visited three places in the last six months; the empress palace, princess palace and the grand dowager's palace. He barely visited his mother's palace as the dowager was always on a visit either complaining on his lackl.u.s.ter attitudes towards the women sent to him or his nonchalance on the issue of getting a crown prince.

He read through it line by line and found nothing wrong with it. Seo-yun pushed open the drawer attached to the table and wrote her reply which was handed over by her maid.

He received it respectfully and bowed before leaving.

She didn't even remember the letter again as she prepared herself physically and mentally to receive the phoenix crown. In her state of ecstasy, she seemed to recall an event that happened few days ago, a level four sukwon had boldly placed her hands on his shoulder to comfort him and offer her condolences. The funny aspect was the accommodating attitude Daejong gave her, he even smiled curtly at her but she hadn't even received as much as a gaze from him.

Shi young has always been ambitious since her arrival at the palace, but once she found the emperor was more invested in his empress she folded her ambition in. Now that the empress is gone, she would shoot her shot at luck.

"Lady Nam, please get my father for me, I want the end of mourning period to be my coronation ceremony!"

The maid smiled happily, "Yes Your Majesty!" she chirped happily.

In a fake admonishment, the chief courtmaid smiled, "Shhh, you stupid girl. If someone heard they would think we killed the empress"

She turned to Seo-yun, "Forgive her your highness, she's still a child and don't understand this things yet."

Seo-yun smiled brightly at them, she was really in a good mood. "She's not that wrong for I will soon assume that title."

They all beamed with pride and happiness with Seo-yun's the cutest. As for the palace maids, they advance together with their masters and fall when their master is casted out. If eventually their lady becomes the empress, they would be second only to the emperor's maids in hierarchy.

The message bearer arrived swiftly to deliver the reply to his master who long awaited him. He scanned his environment sharply with keenness, suspiciously he circled the building twice before knocking with a code on his master's door.

He went in and handed the letter over to him.

The man tore through the seal, unfolded and read the content. His distorted face became visible as he smirked at the letter.

"You know him so well?" he echoed the words he read. "He doesn't have any woman around him and doesn't visit any concubine. He hasn't ever invited any lady over to his palace?" he laughed loudly.

"Seo-yun, you have really become stupid," he uttered helplessly.

With the candle in his room, he burnt the letter to ashes and reclined on his seat.

Pondering for a while, he sat up suddenly and retrieved a powdered substance from his cupboard.

"Watch the physician's movement and report every thing to me, if Daejong as much as gaze at her, bring her to me!"

The messenger looked on confused as he daringly asked a perturbing question.

"Not kill, but bring?"

For some reason unbeknownst to him, he got angry with the question. As he slammed his fist on the table, he roared.

"She's mine to keep or kill. Don't ask unnecessary question again!"

Impatiently, he waved him off and turned to change his clothes. The disgusted look on his face showed he was unhappy with the activity, but the thought that he would soon own something made his discomfort worth his efforts.