When Peony Blooms #AMBW

Chapter 32: "The Price of Ambition"

The late autumn evening hung heavy with anticipation and the whisper of secrets, almost as if the palace did not want to disturb the stillness of the air. All around, seemed to come alive as the sun began to dip beneath the horizon, bathing the courtyard in a gentle, golden hue.

Amidst it all, the young queen sat in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by the vibrant hues of the late autumn chrysanthemums. An antique-looking jade-green palace roof towered over her, and just beyond, the inlaid pillars of the walls were illuminated by the last rays of the sunset.

Disguised in the delicate hues of the descending sun, the heart of the palace stirred with an undercurrent of anticipation. The queen beribboned in a rich royal hanbok, was the picture of royal elegance.

As the physician bowed after his examination he smiled momentarily.  "We should make ready for the arrival of a princess," a voice, worn with age yet strong with wisdom, cut through the silent pondering. The queen looked up, her elegant eyebrows arched in surprise at the statement. It was the court physician, an older gentleman of venerable knowledge and experience in the matters of the palace.

The court physician's words sounded as if they had been spoken by a deity from another world. The Queen was visibly taken aback; her surprise was evident in her beautiful features.

The physician produced a barely perceptible smile. He seemed to understand the gravity of his words, and yet he also appeared to sense the importance of what he said. Taking a deep breath, he spoke once more: "You have blessed the land with a child."

The Queen nodded slowly and with obvious reverence. It seemed as though she had already made up her mind before the court physician had even spoken.

A soft smile played on the queen's lips as she turned towards Court Lady Choi, her close confidante. Her eyes sparkled with the unspoken promise of the future. The declaration of her pregnancy was met with shared smiles of joy, their eyes communicating blessings for the queen and her unborn child.

As the elderly physician bowed in respect and made his leave, Sa-wol approached the queen. A comforting aura surrounded her, the lines on her face narrating a lifetime of wisdom. She enclosed the queen in a tender embrace, her voice resonating with genuine affection, "Your majesty, you are destined to be an exemplary mother."

The queen, overcome with emotion, firmly held the hands of both women beside her, her grip a testament to the bond they shared. A silence fell between them, a shared understanding resonating in the quietness.

"Thank you," the queen whispered, her voice a gentle breeze in the silence. "Your support means more to me than I can express."

Lady Choi, her face softened by years of servitude, gently squeezed the queen's hand. "We are here for you, your majesty. In every step of this journey."

This quiet moment of sisterhood unfolded against the arena of the sun-drenched palace, the whispers of their shared joy resounding through the expansive halls, heralding a new chapter in the royal lineage.

Far from the jovial celebration unfolding in the heart of the palace, within the secluded confines of the queen dowager's quarters, a more somber ambiance hung heavy. Her room was a testament to her lofty status, bedecked with intricate carvings and ornate screens, the intricate artistry on the walls standing testament to the bygone eras.

Bedecked in her ceremonial attire, the queen dowager sat on a raised platform, her piercing gaze fixed on the court physician. "Have you conveyed the news to her?" She questioned, her voice rich with authority. The physician, with a deep bow of his head, affirmed and was promptly dismissed.

As the doors closed behind the departing physician, the dowager queen turned her attention to Hyun, her trusted aide. He stood a little apart, his keen eyes tracking a fleeting shadow that passed by the translucent rice paper doors.