Letter.
In 688, the 20th year of Emperor Yeonghon’s [1]reign, Yeonghyeon, the King of Seongjong, received a divine call from the heavens and was appointed as a bibin.
*
The bell rang three times.
As soon as the clear and bright sound of the bell reached the shaman's feet, she raised her hand and struck the drum. The shaman's sleeves, long enough to touch the ground, moved gracefully like butterfly wings, but her drumming hand was sharp and firm. With her eyes covered in silk, the shaman vigorously drummed, capturing the attention of everyone in the temple.
Dum, dum, dum.
Only one person, a man seated on the most prestigious throne, rested his chin and looked at the fire burning in platform with indifferent eyes. The flames swayed in the wind and faded away like unopened flowers. His golden eyes followed the subtle changes in the flames, expressing unwavering confidence in the fire's endurance.
The sound of the drum resonated to the sky. It was a bold sound. The shamans beat their drums loudly, urging the heavens for a response.
The priest overseeing the ancestral ritual fell to the ground, trembling, gazing at the whitish feet of the shamans. The energetic bell sound, following the drum's final beat, began at the shamans' ankles. Their exposed white ankles, with visible veins, moved slowly but captivatingly, drawing people's attention. The bell given by the emperor himself rang out, clouding his senses.
As the noise, resembling drops of water on the water's surface, lingered and floated in the air, flames erupted. The emperor, previously observing the fire with boredom, suddenly stood up. The shamans, drumming and distracting the people, ceased their dance. Gradually, the people who had surrendered their minds to the shamans regained awareness and saw the fire. The heated breath of the shamans floated around the Celestial Temple.
The priest let out a feeble noise, shattering the silence. He swallowed his lingering anxiety, but instead of fading, it solidified and settled in his stomach. Frustration grew as he closed and opened his eyes, focusing on the emperor seated atop the heavenly throne, draped in ornate white fabric adorned with golden threads depicting ascending wolves in the sky. Gaining courage, he looked up to see breathtaking golden eyes. The emperor's golden eyes, crescent-shaped like the ruling moon, contrasted sharply with the priest's despairing expression.
As the emperor rose, his crown jewels chimed melodiously. Descending elegantly, he was revered by shamans, the concubines, the injured king[2], the princess, courtiers, and eunuchs, all bowing in homage. The priest stood nearby, trembling. The emperor paused briefly, then gently lifted the priest's chin with a hand so fair it seemed almost supernatural. Paralyzed by this touch, the priest met the emperor's eyes, revealing a deep smile in the golden orbs.
The priest was tasked with revealing the mandate of heaven, but before he could speak, the emperor intervened, urging him to disclose the heaven-ordained concubine. The priest's lips were parted by the emperor's touch, and as the priest attempted to speak, he faltered, overwhelmed by emotions.
"Under heaven's will... the new concubine of Your Majesty..."
Upon the mention of a new concubine, the existing concubines' eyes tightened with tension, and the emperor subtly expressed his displeasure. Civil and military officials behind him eagerly observed the emperor and the priests. The emperor's hand, holding the priest's chin, cut through the warm air, and a long, fair yet masculine finger touched the priest's lips. The gesture carried an intention, urging him to speak swiftly, with an implicit message. This person was mysterious, akin to a perennially blooming flower. The priest, captivated by this beauty, focused on one among the beauties, who stood out even among the emperor's stunning array. She had her hair tied up, revealing her neck and cheeks. As the priest, still gazing sorrowfully at her face, turned to look at the emperor, the emperor's lips moved gracefully, forming a beautiful smile.
"Who is the Emperor's bibin?"
"The new bibin of His Majesty..."
The priest swallowed dry saliva, fixed his trembling gaze on the ground, and then opened his mouth again.
"That is King Yeonghyeon, His Majesty's son and the true king."
As the emperor's son and the royal title were mentioned, those in the Celestial Temple were astonished. The surviving queen froze, unable to breathe, and Emperor Yeonghon [3]smiled oddly behind his mask. Some shamelessly dozed off during the ancestral rites. Normally, the emperor would have identified and punished such a person, but he maintained a smile on his face, seemingly pleased that his son had become his concubine. If anything, the smile deepened as time passed. The priest swallowed hard, witnessing a pure smile that seemed to transition from spring to summer.
"Your Majesty!"
Yeo So-ui, who had been quietly holding her breath among the onlookers, rushed forward urgently. The soldier stationed in Celestial Temple tried to stop her, but the emperor raised his hand, signaling him to stand down. As the emperor turned towards her, Yeo So-ui arrived with tears streaming down her face and fell to the emperor's feet. Her slender shoulders shook uncontrollably as she sobbed loudly.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty… Something seems wrong! Kang[4], no, King Yeonghyeon [5]is Your Majesty's biological son! Raising this matter to the heavens once more...!"
Despite her fear, Yeo So-ui spoke up to defend her only son, but the emperor's laughter silenced her. The emperor laughed joyfully, a pleasant sound, as he observed Yeo So-ui crying at his feet. Yeo So-ui swallowed back her boiling tears and lifted her head to meet the emperor's gaze. The emperor smiled sweetly, as if in the best mood in the world. Seeing his kind and beautiful smile, Yeo So-ui stopped crying and stared at the emperor. Suddenly, the emperor bent down and gently touched Yeo So-ui’s cheek. Yeo So-ui trembled slightly, experiencing his kindness for the first time since the wedding. Whenever he was kind or friendly, there was always a reason, and the main reason for this was her son. The emperor wiped away her tears and spoke.
"Are you perhaps jealous because your son is chosen and you feel empty too?"
"Your Majesty!"
Yeo So-ui called out to the emperor with a pale face. She quickly shook her head, denying the suggestion, and grabbed the emperor's wrist. The emperor coldly pulled away. She fell to the side, but without even a whimper, she approached and prostrated herself again with her forehead on the ground before the emperor. Her slender back trembled constantly, but her eyes were filled with heartbreak as she looked up at him.
"Your Majesty, please... Please reconsider that decision. The chosen bibin by the mandate of Heaven is Your Majesty's son."
She cried out loud and pleaded with the emperor.
"And now he is this Emperor's concubine."
The emperor stopped laughing and spoke with authority, rallying his troops. Yeo So-ui, in despair, looked at the emperor without words. As the emperor observed his loyal soldiers assembling silently, he remained resolute. The soldiers quickly gathered, kneeling with hands on their raised knees, looking up at the emperor with unwavering loyalty. His calm smile showed deep trust in them. In a single move, he shattered Yeo So-ui's hopeful expression.
"From now on, King Yeonghyeon won't be your son. Consider him as the Emperor's wife."
Yeo So-ui let out a despairing cry and fell to the ground, yet nobody pitied her. Faced with an old face turned new enemy, the concubines clenched their fists beneath their sleeves. Though the emperor clearly understood this, he quietly announced to those in the Celestial Temple, almost boasting about it.
"King Yeonghyeon is no longer the rightful king. He is this Emperor's queen."
Pausing deliberately, the emperor slowly addressed the bewildered courtiers.
"He is my queen."
His smile grew gracefully, reminiscent of a sage descending from heaven.
[1] It said Gyeonghye but that’s Yeon Ju’s title. Yeonhon is the name of the emperor
[2][2] His son
[3] It said Gyeonghye but this is the title of Yeon Ju. Yeonhon is the Emperor’s name. Kang’s title name derives from the emperor’s name.
[4] His given name
[5] His title name
Welcome to the new hell hole! So, this story is only suited for those who have a peculiar taste in stories. This is not for everyone and I advise those who will try to read this knowing this is incest and hated that kind of troupe to stop reading and bleach your brain with fluffy healthy relationships.
Re-read the warning from the Character glossary and don't bomb review this novel with the cause of trauma because I have already warned you. If you haven't read Inferno, then I suggest you turn back now. For those who read it, this is pretty much similar to that but that novel is so much worse than this, but still fuck up.
This has 5 volumes and I have already translated the 4 volumes. Im currently translating volume 5. I will slowly upload the chapters every weekend. Maybe a Saturday release or sunday. While I will be uploading it, I will also proofread it again before updating it.
And lastly, don't forget to support me!
