The Ascend

Min Jay Yi's Villa

The silk felt soft against her skin, still emitting an enduring smell evoking memories of the royal storage, where she often found herself carrying out cleaning duties as the Eastern Palace Eunuch. Ga-ram had carefully stitched a hanbok out of it that fitted her without giving away anything of her feminine form. What would she do without Ga-ram! Jay Yi rolled the scroll, looking up to the sky. The cottony clouds had draped their curtain wide, hiding the luminous sun behind its veil and away from her gaze.

The King had abdicated! Crown Prince Yi Hwan was now formally the King, ruler of Joseon. 

Kim Myung Jin had rushed to their courtyard twenty days ago at dawn with the news. Jay Yi had sunk to her knees, tears of unfettered joy spilling over. The three hugged each other, danced a happy dance, clapped, and cried some more. 

 The Coronation had been the very next day. The Procession Jay Yi had never dreamt of witnessing this soon came two days ago. 

 "Can you arrange a bouquet of gardenia for me?" Jay Yi had asked Myung Jin. 

 It seemed the entire populace of Hanyang had poured into the streets to witness the opulent event. People had travelled from faraway lands hoping to glimpse their newly crowned King, who was already making waves for his bold approach and fearless attitude. The stories of his compassionate nature and brilliant mind were already spreading across the country. 

The Procession had been slow, and the wait had been long and arduous. Jay Yi, Myung Jin and Ga-ram had chosen to wait in front of the Inn. Manyeodang had been added to the route unexpectedly. The area had never seen a Royal procession before, the excitement in the air infectious at being granted the favour. 

 Most subjects lined the streets on both sides, genuflecting in obeisance to their esteemed King as customary. Only Noblemen and women were allowed to stand with their heads bowed in deference. 

 It was the only time noblewomen were allowed to stand outside without completely covering their faces, a custom perhaps perpetuated by the hopes of catching the eye of the King by women of low-ranked noble families that did not have the qualifications to connect to the Royal family otherwise. It worked out well in Jay Yi's favour, as she stood in expectation, hoping to catch Hwan's eyes and convey how proud she was of him. 

Jay Yi had chosen to dress with care. Her hanbok was a summary yellow jacket woven with various motifs, the shoulders adorned with delicate floral patterns exquisitely stitched with multi-coloured silk threads and a lilac skirt that drew attention to her lithe figure and flawless complexion. The fabric had come from the Royal storage. Jay Yi knew Hwan would recognize them. He had chosen them himself with care. She had paired her hanbok with lilac and orange flower accessories that adorned her long braided hair. A pair of heavily embroidered yellow silk shoes completed her outfit.

 Jay Yi had coaxed a young child to hold the bouquet of gardenias in her hand, hoping Hwan would see it and perhaps spot her in the milling crowd of thousands of people thronging the street. She hoped she could find him amongst the thousands of officials, troops and followers surrounding him. 

Jay Yi need not have worried. As soon as the Monarch's cavalcade had turned the corner, her eyes had caught Hwan, majestic on the horse, his Kingly robes lending him a grandeur that dazzled the eyes. 

The Procession was glorious.

 Led by Guards and soldiers, with Officials of the Court and musicians following the King's entourage, it was grandeur personified. Procession officials held the billowing flags encrusted with the dragon proclaiming the King's presence aloft, his seal in proud display.

 The grand spectacle also included the palanquin carrying Lady Hyegyeong, the King's distant Aunt who was now installed as the dowager in the Palace, which was facing an unprecedented absence of a female authority figure.

 Hwan rode amongst the cluster of Royal Guards, with the Royal Guardian leading the way. Tae Kang looked proud and regal in his marching Royal Guardian attire as he rode with his sword, followed by a small troop. 

 Almost immediately, Hwan spied the flowers and spotted her, meeting her eyes. His face visibly lit up, a proud smile gleaming on his face. He stopped the Procession and said something to the guard nearest to him. 

 The guard asked the child to come closer with the flowers so His Majesty the King could accept them. 

 Hwan kept his eyes on Jay Yi, watching her, and even from a distance, she caught on the intensity as he gave her his customary nod in answer to her bow. Her hand automatically went to her throat as she smiled. His handsome face beamed, making Jay Yi's heart lurch at its sheer beauty. It felt like the seven months that separated them had melted away instantly. 

Their little silent conversation had been suddenly interrupted by Myung Jin, who had rushed through the crowd and fallen prostrate on his knees, hailing the new King by wildly waiving his hand, bowing repeatedly to drive the point home. Hwan could not help but laugh at his theatrics, and Tae Kang joined him, his shoulders shaking in suppressed mirth. Ga-ram ran after him, trying to drag him back, bowing again and again in apology in the general direction of Hwan without looking up. The vigilant guards instantly removed Myung Jin. Before being carried away, Myung Jin winked, and Hwan hid his laughter under the pretext of accepting the bouquet of gardenia from the child. He looked up at Jay-Yi's glowing face and mouthed a silent 'Khumabda!'". 

Palace

Hwan tied the strings of his hat, feeling a little out of sorts. The Court was adjourned for two weeks to help settle the madness of the last few days. The respite was welcomed by all, including Hwan. The dilapidated, forgotten structure on the Western side of his Palace had become his most convenient hideout. He first discovered its use when going out with Jay Yi disguised as Scholar Park. Later, his covert bodyguard unit established a secret lair where they honed their diverse martial arts styles and had their meetings with Hwan. A trio was assigned for Jay Yi's protection on a weekly rotation. Hwan had just started to set the process of running his government as the stand in ruler for the King when suddenly he found himself thrust into a position Hwan was not sure he was ready for. 

Hwan stepped back and studied his reflection in the ornate mirror positioned in the corner of the small room that housed everything he needed to travel incognito. 

While he had hoped to ascend the throne one day and live up to his brother's ideals, Hwan never imagined the day would arrive this abruptly. He was not thrilled about it. However, he was thankful that at least his father remained by his side.

It was twenty days ago. Hwan accepted the cup of wine from his father and placed it gently in front of him. He was updating the King on the country's affairs, with his trusted Ministers of Court sitting behind him. Little did he know the turn of the conversation and his life was about to take that day.

 "We hoped you would select a Crown Princess soon, Your Majesty," the Chief State Minister sounded worried. "The marriage ban needs to be lifted; people are getting restless."

Hwan clenched his fist, his teeth grinding into each other. The topic of his marriage had been gaining steady momentum lately. His demeanour, however, did not betray any of the distaste he felt. 

"It has been almost six years now with the marriage ban in place if we count the two years for Crown Prince Li Hyeon," the newly appointed Right Minister Kim Duk Sun said. 

The King moved to the window, absently looking out.

"Do you really want me to choose you a bride, Yi Hwan?"

Hwan had been startled to hear his father address him by his name. He had not realized his fingers had been digging into his own flesh.

"Why do you ask, Abbamamma?," Hwan asked, perplexed.

"I want to free you of the burden of being tied to a woman just to strengthen your support in the Court. Do what you have to find a woman worthy of the seat of the Queen of Joseon rather than a tool to serve your interest." The King responded, signalling to the Court that he wanted them to focus on the woman rather than the family.

"Your Majesty, would that not be contrary to the Confucian principles and customs of the Royal family that have been in practice for generations?" the newly appointed Minister of General Affairs asked with an air of concern.

"What good did the customs achieve? This is an unprecedented situation. I would like Hwan to find families he thinks will be his allies without being burdened by them." The King had sounded a lot like his old self.

"How can the Crown Prince accomplish that, Your Majesty? With the Royal Wedding Directorate currently defunct, arranging the Crown Princess selection is becoming impossible." Left Minister Han said. The office had lost most members to the Court's recent upheaval. 

"You are right, Councillor Han. As a Crown Prince, he cannot. But he can, as the King."

"What do you mean, Abbamamma?" Hwan dreaded the answer.

"It's time, Crown Prince, for Joseon to see the man who has proven his capabilities beyond reproach ascend the throne as their new King."

Shell-shocked, Hwan and the Ministers had tried to dissuade the King from taking such a monumental decision, but the King had not relented.

The following two weeks had swept by in a tempest. Customs and practices Hwan never knew existed materialized. Following his Coronation the next day, the training for his nearly three-day Procession through Hanyang commenced almost immediately, with all six ministries directly engaged in preparation. Hwan had entrusted most of the arrangements to the capable hands of the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of General Affairs, except for the route. 

Hwan had felt euphoric at the thought of the Procession. For Hwan, connecting with his subjects was one of the most cherished parts of his job as their King. He had decided to visit his Grandfather's and his Mother's shrines. Deep inside his heart, though, Hwan knew that part of the excitement had been the prospect of seeing Jay Yi. 

 He had known Manyeodang was where Jay Yi would be. However, adding it to the Procession route had proven to be a tall order, but Hwan had been adamant. It had been worth it. Hwan's heart had almost stopped in anticipation as they had neared Manyeodang, half in the exhilaration of seeing her, half in trepidation that he would miss her. His fear was unfounded. She was a vision in yellow and lilac, her radiant beauty standing out in the crowd like a beacon. Her sunny smile and eyes brimming with pride lit up his entire being, filling it with contentment and happiness he had not experienced since that last night on the hilltop. Her joy had been undiluted, reaching out to caress him, almost as if everyone else had ceased to exist for those few moments.

As he had reclined on his bed in the makeshift palace tent at the site of the shrines later into the night, Hwan's glance had drifted to the flowers, now sitting prettily in a vase, each bloom reminding him of her touch. He plucked a blossom from the bunch and brushed it across his lips softly. He fell asleep clutching it to his chest, a slight smile floating on his lips, in a tranquil slumber that had eluded him since Jay Yi had left the Palace.

Hwan gave another cursory glance to his form, clad in a coarse handbok and trousers of an undistinguished colour. The sole remaining adornments were the golden hairpin atop his head, hidden under the straw hat that concealed most of his face and his jade Monarch name tag, tucked away within the voluminous folds of the sleeves. He signalled Tae Kang. 

Hwan was ready to scale the Eastern Palace walls.