Chapter 9 (1/2)

Chapter 9: Re Memories Between Two Old Friends

Lotus walked out of the tent later that night The two Mongol soldiers at the entrance didn’t stop her, merely followed closely behind her A crescent-shaped portion of the red-orange tinted sun hung in the corner of the sky as it set A sky full of red-orange clouds bordered lake waters which were rapidly changing colors, appearing both real and illusory Waterfowl ski some ripples Cows mooed in the distance as they returned home “The cows and sheep return ho, and Lotus had becoht as she stared out at it

The sound of water splashi+ng rippled through the air as a fishi+ng line suddenly breached the water’s surface A fat fish was flung onto the shore Lotus looked over—it was that thin, tallover

The thin, tall ht hand, and had taken off the fish with his left, throwing it haphazardly into the wooden bucket at his side, before sitting back down and continuing to fish Lotus walked closer in order to take a peek, and saw that there werearound each other in their panic, and occasionally causing a ripple Lotus creased her brow and looked at the tall, thin man She then looked back towards the bucket The fish see at thereater panic as they looked back at Lotus with pleading eyes

Lotus hesitated before walking next to the tall, thinhow to start The tall, thinlike a sculpture

She bit her bottoive me those fish?” The man tilted his head and looked at Lotus, a hint of… sorrow? streaking through his long, thin eyes Lotus didn’t understand, but saw the man put down the rod in his hand, walk towards the bucket, and pick it up with one hand He walked back to the edge of the lake and upended it with both hands, flinging his arh arc through the air, landing them in the water as they happily sith twists of their bodies

Lotus stood up and stared dumbly at the man He didn’t say a word as he picked up his rod and turned to leave Lotus looked at his back and called out softly, “Jongseong?” She spoke in Korean

The , it really is you You’re here! You’re still alive!” Her voice had become choked up

The last king of the Goryeo Dynasty, King Gongyang1, was enthroned during the 22nd year of Hongwu’s rule, and had originally been a puppet, but received the wholehearted support of civil enerations for being the father of Korean scholaris Taejo sent e within Gaeseong city His entire fa Jongbon, and Jeong Jong, as well as their fahastly downfalls The Li faovernether Lotus was good friends with the three Jeong sons, and had guessed frons over the past couple of days that her kidnapping had been conized Jeong Jongseong’s figure

Jeong Jongseong turned and slowly took thea dark and weathered face His facial features orn, and wrinkles had carved deep fissures in his face The hair on the sides of his face was already spotted hite hairs “That’s right, it’sis still alive”

Lotus leapt up happily “That’s wonderful! You’re still alive!” However, when she saw his haggard and worn face, the words “How have you been?” died in her throat She opened herunderstood her intentions, and the two fell silent in that moment

After a while, Jeong Jongseong said softly, “The Crown Prince is also here”

“He’s also…?” Lotus asked

The Crown Prince who Gongyang King Taejo had ordered his execution in the 27th year of Hongwu’s rule Who would’ve thought that he’d still be alive?

“That’s right, he’s alive We’ve been hiding for the past five years, and arrived in Soren Tiazed up at the sky and said faintly, “The Crown Prince is now surnamed Kim”

In order to evade King Taejo’s pursuit, the Goryo royal faed their surna was a rare family name in Korea

Lotus was silent

“The Crown Prince’s intentions to capture you this tiotiate with that Lee thief”

“What are his terms?”

“It’ll be an exorbitant price at first—he’ll ask for that Li thief to trade himself for you”

Lotus was inwardly startled This was a ruthless play alright Her identity right noas that of the lady of the East Palace, the royal daughter-in-law of the current Eh she’d been captured in Chinese territory, the Eht fault Korea for not adequately protecting her The for This was a place that the Ming Dynasty had just pacified, and one that both Korea and China had fought over before The Chinese imperial court had always been particularly sensitive towards this region, and if King Taejo knew that she was here, but didn’t save her, he’d easily be labelled as someone disloyal to the Chinese court The relationshi+p that had finally warmed between the two countries would likely be destroyed Hoould King Taejo handle this?

As she thought about this, Lotus’ expression became worried

“It’s best if that Li thief values his life The Crown Prince can then publicize this reat extent, and send forth a petition to the Chinese court It’s possible that the Erew a bit excited when he spoke of this, as he finally saw a bit of hope for his long-crafted plan to obtain revenge for his fallen dynasty “We’ll be able to leverage Sorin Ti my Goryeo Dynasty!”

Lotus was silent for a while, before she said softly, “Jongseong, my daddy, Ah Min, and Ah Xiu, are all dead”

“So I’ve heard” Jeong Jongseong’s face became sorrowful

“They were killed by japanese pirates”

Jeong Jongseong remained silent

“The pirates’ sphere of influence has now extended to encompass the entirety of the Northern Cholla Province” Lotus cast her gaze towards the sun that was slowly setting beneath the horizon “I’ this trip to the imperial court in order to beseech the at this , if the imperial court decides to send troops to attack Korea, and the japanese pirates attack from the south in a pincer movement, those who die in Korea will not be limited to the Li clan, but will encompass the entire Korean population”

Jeong Jongseong stood there du eyes widened, and he suddenly yelled, “I don’t care! My father died such a ghastly death… He didn’t even have a full corpse! And Jongbon and his fa did they do? That Li thief, Li thief! I want to drink your blood, and feast on your flesh!+” Tears streamed down his dark face as he finally wrenched his body around and fled into the night

Lotus felt aback The sliver of sun in the distance had already disappeared, leaving behind a haze of orange and red that curtained the sky Will the people of my Korea really not survive this disaster?

That night, Soren Timur, citizen of the old Yuan Dynasty, sent out an extensive spread to “welco The entire cahter and chatter as he ordered people to light a blazing bonfire next to the lake, and set up three large tables between the bonfire and lake A variety of dishes, seasonal fruits, and fine wines were set up upon the on racks, their fat dripping into the fire

The new ht spilled onto the surface of the lake Slight waves traversed the surface as silvery ripples jumped, danced, and hid Fish would soive rise to a few splashes The drooping s near the sides of the lake swayed, and their branches whispered Their jade green leaves appeared even ht of the moon

The Crown Prince was apparently away on a trip, and had yet to return Jeong Jongseong accompanied Lotus on a sloalk, before they both took their seats at a table to the left The two looked at the seely familiar scene of the lake, and suddenly looked at each other, si the events of their childhood