Wonbeom always thought about himself as a patient man. After all, even his plans to avenge his family and take over the throne were thoughtfully plotted for two years.
So even though he can’t catch the moment when his baby kicks in Soyong’s womb, he isn’t upset. It’s just not the time for him to feel it yet.
“I am sorry, Your Majesty,” Soyong murmurs in a sorrowful voice, still pressing his palms against her belly. “The baby was kicking just a moment ago!”
Continue readingA gentle wind sways willows leaves on long slim branches making calming almost musical noise. Twenty fifth King of Joseon, King Cheoljong, also known by his given name Wonbeom, is enjoying his walk by the gardens and big green fields that are a part of the palace. His mood is up today because he’s going to meet his beloved future wife. Correction, second wife. But in his heart, she’s one and only. The gardens are full of various beautiful flowers and blooming trees but none of them is exactly what Wonbeom is looking for.
Continue readingEveryone has a favorite part of their day and for Cheoljong it is when the Head Eunuchs informs him that the appeals are finished for the day.
After that announcement, the King is free to do whatever he pleases. He may dedicate the rest of the day to training or studying, but today he has more important and enjoyable activities in mind. Today he has dinner planned with his Queen in Daejojeon Hall1Daejojeon Hall – Queen of Joseon residence after the wedding.. And maybe more than just dinner, he hopes.
Continue readingHanyang1Hanyang was the capital and largest city in Joseon. It was the center of the country’s government and home to the royal family and high ministers. As a result, the city hosted a constant undercurrent of political intrigue between various factions vying for control of the government. Now it’s Seoul – the capital of the Republic of Korea (South Korea). is a huge and noisy city. It is so different from the village Wonbeom was forced to live in after he and what was left of his family went into exile. At day, the Hanyang streets remind him of rivers running through the forest as people weave and scuttle between hanoks2Hanok – a house. in their hurry to be somewhere. Others haggle with sellers at the market or converse in an open tavern.
Continue readingHello everyone! Here I’m going to post a series of short stories about YongBeom (Kim So Yong / King Cheoljong) and other characters. Most stories will show characters before the show started or post-finale.
If you have any requests, feel free to write them in the comment section.
Continue readingEvery time Cheoljong thinks he finally understands his wife, she proves him completely wrong. He thought that he had figured out why the Queen was so upset with her pregnancy news the first time: the male part of her personality from those times was afraid to lose himself inside a pregnant woman’s body. Both Cheoljong and Soyong thought that Bong Hwan was happy to go home before labor (an opportunity Soyong was a bit jealous of when she felt the full force of her first contractions).
Continue readingEvery new day without seeing the King feels like torture for Soyong. She promised herself that she would give him space to think everything through, but as time passes by she becomes more and more distressed. She is so anxious these days that Court Lady Choi and Hong Yeon start worrying for her health.
Soyong gave Cheoljong an uneasy task, she understands that. He needs to make an important and life-changing decision. But at the same time, she is scared. She knows now that even without the King’s love she will be able to find her happiness inside the palace. But her heart aches for his love. Craves it.
Continue readingThe morning greets the King with a bright sun and clear blue sky. It’s as if the weather reflects his cheerful mood as he’s ready to meet his Queen and ease her worries. He goes straight to Daejojeon Hall1Daejojeon Hall – Queen of Joseon residence after the wedding. in hopes of meeting her for a quick talk before he has to go to a royal conference. But to his disappointment, he discovers she has already left for a walk in the garden. The attendants who have stayed behind to clean up the chamber inform him where she planned to go and he hurries in that direction. The Head Eunuch is of course nagging him that they will be late for the conference, but the King doesn’t listen to him.
Continue readingSpring has arrived with a clear sky and a soft warm breeze. It’s the perfect weather for walking and spending time outside. Cheoljong decides to spend the day in his favorite pavilion near the lake, where it feels fresh and calming. For the last few days he can’t stop thinking about Soyong’s story. And if he’s being honest with himself, he still doesn’t know how to feel about it.
He decides to go back to the start with the two items now placed on his lower desk: the red ribbon Soyong gave to him when they first met at the palace and the Queen’s Dictionary that he wrote to understand his wife better. He gazes at the two items that symbolize two different people.
Continue readingKim So Yong tells Cheoljong about Bong Hwan’s departure and raises the question that concerns her the most.
Post-finale serious talk about Bong Hwan that we all missed. As much as I love how the show ended, I hate unresolved questions and I’m sure Soyong shared her experience with Cheoljong. She is a person who didn’t want to live in a lie, so I have zero doubts she never told her husband about the chef.
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