III) Prince of Jin and his wife
A cool scent quickly enveloped them. Jungkook's ear turned red, aware of what would follow next. For Jungkook it's been years for such an intimacy, making the experience somewhat unfamiliar.
Yet this was their long-awaited reunion. Although he didn't favour his(tae) usually direct, efficient and unromantic approach, he(jk) still wrapped his hand around his(tae) neck.
Fortunately he(jk) knew taehyung was always restrained, always stopping at the right time, never excessive. However this time he(jk) was mistaken.
The next morning when jungkook woke up, he was puzzled, wondering why he(t) had insistent twice. It was uncharacteristic of him(t). He(jk) rubbed his sore waist and looking at the marks on his(jk) legs, he(jk) was perplexed.
Imperial Maid
Lian Qiao:: * came inside carrying a dress* "Crown Princess the price of Jin with his wife are here. They are at Kun Ning Palace."
His(JK) father-in-law despite having many consorts had few sons. His(emperor) second son, Lu Jingchen, had already celebrated his coming-of-age and was named the Prince of Jin, living in the external Prince of Jin residence. He(jingchen) was his father's favorite and was not expected to leave for a fief.
The Prince of Jin's wife, Tang Feiyan, was the daughter of the Marquis of Wu'an and had married Lu Jingchen last year.
Kim Jeon Jungkook
Jungkook was puzzled, "Isn't my mother-in-law unwell? Why is she meeting them?"
Imperial Maid
Ren Dong scoffed, "Probably under the pretext of delivering some special remedy... But you know, it's not really to see the Empress Dowager. It's more about showing filial piety to the Emperor, and then they'll head to the Qianqing Palace."
Kim Jeon Jungkook
//I had forgotten about that.//
Tang Feiyan's maternal family had a famous physician ancestor who left many prescriptions, which she often used to curry favor, though Jungkook recalled few that were genuinely effective. But this busy effort of the couple gained them nothing, and Jungkook couldn't be bothered to deal with them.
After breakfast, he went to see his two children. Mrs. Zhou looked anxious and cautious, evidently fearing she had done something wrong, sensing the Crown Princess's hostility.
Kim Jeon Jungkook
//She's quite perceptive. No wonder she hid her true nature so well at first. It's a pity she chose to harbor bad intentions; otherwise, if she had remained a sincere nanny, her family's days wouldn't have been so bleak. But now, her departure from the palace was inevitable.//
Jungkook strolled around the courtyard with his children. Given his weak constitution, he needed to be more active to avoid succumbing to illness again. Unexpectedly, a visitor arrived. Tang Feiyan, having visited her mother-in-law, came to see him, bringing gifts of bird's nest and lingzhi mushrooms for nourishment.
Kim Jeon Jungkook
Jungkook welcomed her with a smile, instructing the maids to serve their finest early spring tea, "There's no need for such expenses. Your visit is enough."
Tang Feiyan
"How could I come empty-handed?" Tang Feiyan remarked as she observed the children, "Ah, Tae-era and Jungguk have grown so much taller since the Dragon Boat Festival."
Kim Jeon Jungkook
He instructed the children to call her "Second Aunt" and commented, "They grow up so fast. You'll understand once you have children of your own."
Kim Jeon Jungkook
// I remember In half a year, Tang Feiyan would conceive and give birth to a healthy baby boy.//
To Tang Feiyan's surprise, she took offense at these words, almost reacting impulsively. Having been married to Lu Jingchen for half a year without any news of pregnancy, she was becoming anxious.
An unintentional remark can often strike a nerve, and she felt Jungkook was deliberately provoking her.
Tang Feiyan
"Having children is indeed wonderful, but it's also very tiring," Tang Feiyan sipped her tea, masking her irritation, "As someone who single-handedly raised children for two years in Qingzhou, no one knows better than you. I'd rather wait awhile before having my own."
Jungkook smiled. Back then, the entire Kim family had gone to the capital, leaving him alone in Qingzhou. It might have seemed pitiful, but he did it willingly, urging Kim Taehyung to prioritize the bigger picture. What was a bit of hardship in exchange for the position of the Crown Princess and eventually the Empress?
Besides, it wasn't really hardship; he wasn't the one personally taking care of the children.
Kim Jeon Jungkook
Jungkook spoke softly, "You're right, it is indeed very tiring. It's kind of you to remember and care. I'll make sure to mention it next time in front of the Emperor and Empress Dowager. It truly is a hard task."
Tang Feiyan almost choked on her tea. She glanced at Jungkook with a bit of resentment. Although they were sisters-in-law, one had only recently arrived from Qingzhou, and the other had only just married Lu Jingchen. They didn't know much about each other, and Tang Feiyan thought to herself that the Crown Princess was quite sharp - tongued.
Tang Feiyan felt she hadn't gained any advantage and was displeased, yet she had nothing to boast about in front of Jungkook.
In terms of family background, Jungkook was not inferior; in beauty, he was unparalleled. Moreover, his husband was the Crown Prince, and he had twins. His life seemed perfect, except for his time in Qingzhou, which seemed like a period of abandonment which Jungkook clearly didn't mind.
Tang Feiyan
Tang Feiyan stood up, "My husband is still with the Emperor. I should see if they've finished talking. I'll visit you again next time, sister-in-law."
She managed to find a parting shot. The Emperor indeed favored Lu Jingchen, but so what? Kim Taehyung was still the Crown Prince, and before the Emperor's demise, he had no intention of replacing him with Lu Jingchen. Thus, Jungkook felt no threat. He politely saw Tang Feiyan off.
Having faced disappointment in the Eastern Palace, Tang Feiyan left feeling aggrieved and nearly broke into tears when she bumped into Lu Jingchen on her way out.
Lu Jingchen
"What's the matter, did your sister-in-law bully you?"
Lu Jingchen asked in surprise.
Tang Feiyan
"Not exactly bullied, but he is quite irritating."
Lu Jingchen
"How exactly did he annoy you?"
Tang Feiyan
Tang Feiyan said, "He mocked me for not having children," repeating Jungkook's words.
Lu Jingchen
Lu Jingchen: "..."
//It must be said, my wife is really a bit naive.//
Lu Jingchen
"If you had been married to me for three or four years without children, perhaps that would be a mockery. But it's only been half a year; who knows, maybe next year you'll have one. How is that mockery?" Lu Jingchen stroked her hair bun, "Don't overthink it, no rush... Remember, he's the crown prince's wife. You went to see him today, not to compete with him. Falling out with him does us no good."
Lu Jingchen was gentle in his methods and did not want to cause any conflict, and Tang Feiyan knew that this way, they would always have a way out.
Tang Feiyan
"It was my fault for not holding back. I'll be more careful next time," Tang Feiyan reflected and then asked about the father and son, "What did the Emperor say to you? Did he ask you to help with state affairs?"
Lu Jingchen
"With my elder brother there, how could he ask me to share the burden? But he did inquire about the situation in the royal mansion."
Tang Feiyan
Tang Feiyan was disappointed: "Is that all he talked about for so long?"
Tang Feiyan
Nothing serious, just trivial matters. Tang Feiyan cursed her father-in-law in her heart: "Did you see the Noble Consort?"
Lu Jingchen
"No, she probably can't serve the Emperor lately."
The Noble Consort was Lu Jingchen's biological mother and had been with him since his father left for his fiefdom. Now aged and faded, she had little role besides helping the frail Empress manage the inner palace. But her father, despite his age, still took new consorts and was active daily.
Tang Feiyan
Tang Feiyan whispered, "Does the Emperor have some secret recipe, or is he secretly consuming some elixir?"
Tang Feiyan
Tang Feiyan asked, "Aren't you curious?"
Lu Jingchen
"Not in the slightest. Who would think that way about their own father?"
Tang Feiyan
Tang Feiyan glanced at him and suddenly said, "I wonder if the Emperor's 'vitality' has been passed on to your elder brother."
Lu Jingchen
"What do you mean by that?"
Tang Feiyan
"If your elder brother inherits the Emperor's ways, he's bound to take concubines. Then, I wonder what my sister-in-law will do."
Lu Jingchen
Lu Jingchen held his forehead: "Are you still upset about that remark?"
Tang Feiyan
"You don't know how infuriating he(jk) is, that expression... you wouldn't understand. He simply disregards me. So, why can't I relish the thought of his misfortune? It's not my fault if your brother takes concubines."
Lu Jingchen
Lu Jingchen, pulling her along, said, "Next time, don't visit my sister-in-law alone. Another visit might just infuriate you to death!"
By the time their carriage left the palace gates and headed towards the Prince of Jin's mansion, it was already midday.
At this time, Jungkook received a letter from his family home. He knew what his mother had written in the letter. It was about his brother's affairs. The Jeon family, though an esteemed lineage for centuries, was now in decline, with scant heirs and few talents. Among the few successful ones in the younger generation was his brother. His father, the family pillar, faced his greatest political rival, prompting him four years ago to align with the Prince Cheng's (currently the Emperor) mansion, persuading him to marry Taehyung, which would aid the Prince's ascent to power.
As the sole ger son of the Jeon family, he bore an inescapable responsibility. Fortunately, aside from mismatch in temperament, Kim Taehyung was faultless. He(jk) managed to gain the approval of Prince Cheng (currently the Emperor) and his(emperor) wife and married into the royal household. Later, he(jk) attained everything he wanted: the title of Crown Princess, then Empress, his father's rise, and the Jeon family's wealth.
Sadly, his life was short, and he lost much. Furthermore, he couldn't be with his children, protect his family, or experience conjugal love. He always thought Kim Taehyung didn't like him enough, as theirs was a marriage of convenience and shared goals. He didn't ask for more until after his death when he realized it wasn't so. In this life, he didn't want to have any regrets.
Jungkook opened the letter.
As he remembered, his mother wanted to find a wife for his brother, eyeing the daughter of the Prefect of Shuntian. His brother, at twenty-four, was of age to marry, so his mother, in haste, didn't spend much time considering and inadvertently caused a tragedy, leading to his divorce two years later.
The prefect's daughter was already in love with another, was reluctant to marry his brother, but the prefect, eager to connect with the Jeon family, coerced her by threatening her beloved's safety, forcing her to agree. Reluctantly, the girl couldn't bring herself to love his brother, her thoughts always on her true love, and she fell ill. Upon learning the truth, her brother granted her a divorce to be with her love.
Since then, his brother lost the desire to marry, seemingly hurt by the experience. He remembered that when the Jeon family was imprisoned, his brother was still alone. Jungkook asked Lian Qiao to grind ink as he began to write a reply, advising his mother not to rush, lest she ruin his brother's life, leading to irrevocable regret. He wrote many intimidating words on several sheets of paper.
After finishing, he instructed Lian Qiao to send the letter out of the palace immediately. Afterwards, he felt his wrist aching. Perhaps it was from writing so vigorously. Rubbing his wrist, he was filled with worry. Too weak, his hand ached from just writing a letter, no wonder he died young. This couldn't go on.
Kim Jeon Jungkook
Suddenly, Jungkook said, "Lian Qiao, send a servant to fetch Liu Yipan from the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Imperial Maid
Lian Qiao asked anxiously, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Kim Jeon Jungkook
Jungkook, finding it hard to explain, said, "Just go and do it."
Kim Taehyung
When Kim Taehyung returned to the Eastern Palace for lunch, he was surprised to find Liu Yipan there. "Are you ill?" he asked.
Kim Jeon Jungkook
"Not exactly, I feel a bit weak."
Kim Taehyung
"Then you should be examined," he agreed, recalling his (JK) faint condition the previous night.
He(JK) was drenched in sweat and gasping for air, yet his (JK) hands never left his (tae) body. Either embracing his waist or clinging to his neck. How to put it? His desire for a child seemed strong, almost urgent...
So, to satisfy him, he(tae) had indeed put in extra effort. But if the imperial physician confirms that he is indeed physically weak, he(JK) might have to pause his(JK) plans.
Here Only the Emperor and Empress and the Princes and Princesses who are born from the Empress had right to use the surname (Kim) of royal clan.
Like only Taehyung can use Kim surname because he is born from the Empress not because he is the Crown Prince.
Other Princes, Princesses, Consort and Concubines use Lu as their surname.
Comments
adreana🖤🖤
shameless 🤣🤣🤣🤣
2024-10-29
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