Like the First Snow

The next few days are quite nice as she is not burdened with the King’s presence. She even starts to think that maybe Cheoljong has listened to the voice of reason after calming down.

But her peaceful days do not last long as they meet face to face again. On the pathway between the lake and the gardens, they bump into each other with their numerous servants on their tails. In the aftermath of their fight, Soyong sees the smoldering flames of anger in Cheoljong’s eyes.

Unfortunately, the determination is still there as well, and Soyong shakes her head with a disappointed sigh. Not wishing to give him the attention he wants, Soyong silently turns and leaves without saying a word. Her cold behavior is met with disapproval from Court Lady Choi, but she seems to bite her tongue at Soyong’s angry look.

As if Cheoljong’s games are not worrying enough, soon another source of stress occupies her head: her approximate due date comes and goes, but she does not go into labor.

She hears out the council of her physicians as they voice possible reasons for delayed labor and what medications she must take now.

“Is my child in harm’s way?” Soyong hugs her belly as her heart speeds up in her chest. “The royal child is fine, Your Highness,” the royal physician assures her. Among all her new

physicians he’s the only one she truly knows and trusts. “As long as the child continues moving and kicking, everything is alright.”

“However, we must take steps to induce labor,” another physician chimes in.

Soyong obediently takes all the medication they suggest. She even tries to talk to her belly, negotiating with her baby to come out soon, but nothing seems to work.

The constant worry for the child’s safety has her tossing and turning every night, and she becomes so desperate that she asks Court Lady Choi to share some folk remedies to induce labor. Her friend refuses at first, claiming to not believe in such things, but under the gaze of Soyong’s pleading eyes she gives in.

The first piece of advice is to walk more, so Soyong spends the entire day walking around the palace. To her displeasure, she even meets Cheoljong a few times. Her husband looks puzzled at her determined steps as she walks in circles around the lake.

“Do I need to know?” he asks Court Lady Choi as she passes him once more. She does not stay around to hear the court lady’s answer as she continues her walk at an even faster pace.

Unfortunately, this simple advice does not help. Soyong’s legs hurt so much the next day that she does not leave Daejojeon Hall the whole day, opting to let the ever-eager Hong Yeon massage her feet.

Luckily for Soyong, the next trick does not involve any physical activity and only requires staying calm and relaxed.

The royal physician smiles from ear to ear, opening his trunk of needles.

“I am beyond elated to know Your Highness is finally ready to appreciate acupuncture,” he says, baring one of his needles.

Soyong decides not to shatter his happy mood by saying she really has no other choice. It’s between acupuncture and drinking castor oil. Between the two she chose the lesser evil and Court Lady Choi agreed that oil isn’t a good remedy now because of possible side effects.

Acupuncture ends up not helping either, and Court Lady Choi reluctantly shares one more trick: spicy food. It leads Soyong to her favorite dish of ramyeon again, and not just the basic ramyeon, but the spiciest version of it she loves but has been forbidden to eat during her pregnancy.

“Just be careful, Your Highness. I asked Man Bok to add more spices,” Court Lady Choi warns her.

Soyong breathes in the magnificent scent she had missed so much. She tries the broth first and almost spits it back with how spicy it is.

“My child, I’m ready to do anything for you!” Soyong tells her belly after regaining her composure.

Covered in sweat from the extremely spicy broth, Soyong finishes the whole bowl. Alas, it only makes her spend another night without sleep. She feels queasy no matter how much milk she drinks to soothe her stomach from the spicy ramyeon. And after all her efforts, she still does not go into labor.

“There’s nothing else left?” Soyong pouts the next day after eating her usual tasteless porridge approved by Court Lady Choi. If she is honest with herself, she’s happy to have something so simple after last night’s ramyeon.

“Well, there’s one more piece of advice I know, Your Highness,” Court Lady Choi reluctantly admits.

“Tell me! I need to try everything.” Soyong scoots forward on her seat, looking up at her standing friend.

“Sexual intercourse could induce labor, Your Highness,” Court Lady Choi says in a low whisper, blushing in embarrassment.

“Yeon-ah¹The ending -aa or -ah is usually used by close people or friends. For example, on the show only Soyong’s father and cousin Byeong-in address to the Queen as «Soyong-aa»., could you hit Court Lady Choi’s shoulder for me?” Soyong bursts out. Hong Yeon hesitantly pats the older maid’s shoulder. “I said hit, not pat, Yeon-ah,” Soyong whines. “Court Lady Choi, how could you so easily suggest such an inappropriate thing? You know full well how complicated my relationship with the King is right now!”

“My apologies, Your Highness, but this is the last trick I have heard of,” Court Lady Choi says, lowering her head.

Soyong lets out a deep sigh; she promised her child to do everything, but she cannot do that. Her pride doesn’t allow her to ask for it, even in an emergency.

But for the child’s safety, she must at least try, right? And not because she misses her husband and has very disturbing dreams which include him, rose petals, and a hot bathtub.

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  The ending -aa or -ah is usually used by close people or friends. For example, on the show only Soyong’s father and cousin Byeong-in address to the Queen as «Soyong-aa».