Secret of the Red Lotus Flower (빨간 연꽃의 비밀)

Chapter 14

"I ask again. What are you doing here in my room?" Ha-neul repeated as Soo-yun found that she could only stare at the Crown Prince in shock as he stalked across the room.

"I, uh, I just wanted to see you and ask-" Soo-yun's mind suddenly went blank as she tried to think of a reason to justify coming into the Crown Prince's room without permission.

Soo-yun quickly tried to stand up, but her knee bumped against the desk. The stacks of books toppled over and scattered across the floor. Soo-yun dropped to her knees again to try and gather them up again, apologizing repeatedly.

She felt Ha-neul's presence as the Crown Prince rushed over to books and knelt next to her to help pick up the mess. Soo-yun smelled her husband's sandalwood cologne and the memories of the archery field came flooding back again. She bit her lower lip and averted her eyes to focus purely on picking up the books. When Ha-neul's hand accidentally brushed her hand, Soo-yun leapt back as she had been scalded.

Soo-yun stepped away from the jumble of books she created and the person whose presence confused her so much. Clutching two books to her chest, she closed her eyes to control her breathing and slow down her racing heart.

When she opened them again, she looked down at the two books in her hands. Soo-yun could tell that the worn, dog-eared books had been read a lot more than any of the other books on the desk. Opening one at random, she saw more notes in the margin that she identified now as belonging to the Crown Prince. She didn't recognize the titles of the books, but the two authors, Yi Ji-ham and Kim Yuk, sounded vaguely familiar.

Once Ha-neul finished restacking the books on the desk, the Crown Prince stood again and faced Soo-yun. She saw her husband's eyes widen at the sight of the two books in her hands. Before she could say anything, Ha-neul snatched them out of her hands, crossed the room to a cabinet, and thrust them inside. As the Crown Prince did this, Soo-yun remembered where she had heard of those authors before.

Yi Ji-ham was a philosopher that lived back in her great-grandfather's time and Kim Yuk was a public official that died a few years ago. She remembered her father grousing about the man's attempts to push for tax reform and how much it would hurt the yangban nobles if his laws passed. She wondered why her husband would have their books in his room and try to conceal them.

"Why are you hiding those books? Soo-yun asked.

"It's not important," Ha-neul replied. "You wouldn't understand, so just forget you ever saw them. Just know that they are important."

"I may not have gone to school like you did or taken any civil service exams, your Royal Highness, but I'm not stupid. Try me," Soo-yun said. She had no idea where this defiance came from, but it might distract the Crown Prince about the fact that she had just trespassed into his room. She quickly cast her eyes downward before Ha-neul thought her too bold.

She felt Ha-neul's gaze on her and she fought the urge to shrink back. After a couple moments of silence, she heard the Crown Prince sigh. Looking up again, she watched her husband open up the cabinet and take the books out again. Ha-neul walked over to the sitting desk and put the books down. After sitting down, the Crown Prince gestured for her to sit as well.

"I know that Kim Yuk was the last Left State Councilor and my father complained about many of the reforms the man tried to implement. I don't know if I've heard of much about Yi Ji-ham," Soo-yun said.

"Yi Ji-ham lived around a hundred years ago. Most citizens probably care more about finding the means to get their next meal than an official long dead. Among public officials though, he is known as a mongmingwan, a true shepherd of people, and an example for which all civil servants should strive for, although most fall short.