"Why would you want those worthless corpses?" Man-Ju retorted, showing no empathy whatsoever.
The King's dismissive response ignited a fire within Young-Sik, but he managed to keep his composure. Taking a deep breath, he explained his intentions, "I wish to give them a dignified burial instead of letting their bodies rot in the snake pit, (A seemingly bottomless well, where the bodies of traitors are thrown)"
"I'm inclined to grant your request, but as my new mentor, Minister Lim, advised me, never give anything for free," He told the prince. Young-Sik could smell the false courage in his voice.
Young-Sik shook his head. "I'm not even surprised anymore...fine, I'll relinquish my position as supreme general of the royal army. You can give it to someone you trust."
Once again, Man-Ju was caught off guard by Young-Sik. "He is resigning from his post? He is powerful in that position, so why?" His eyes narrowed when he concluded, "He doesn't want to be tied down? That's it, he wants freedom of movement. That can't be, the leash on his neck must remain so I can control him," He thought
Assuming a poise of grace and benevolence, Man-Ju acquiesced to the prince's request, "You can have your masters, but on two conditions. First, they are not to be buried within the capital, and second, should I require your battle prowess, you will be called upon to serve me."
"Agreed" was the only word the prince said before bowing and leaving the King stunned and speechless.
Without wasting a moment, Young-Sik left the King's residence and headed straight for the morgue. He confronted the coroner, demanding, "I want the bodies of the three ministers and Minister Go's family released to me immediately."
The coroner looked up, bowing slightly, and inquired, "Do you possess the required documents, your Highness?"
In response, Young-Sik slammed his hand down on the table, his voice booming, "NOW!" The impact of his hand and the intensity of his command echoed through the entire building.
The coroner was taken aback, nearly losing his composure as he swung open the morgue doors to allow the prince entry. "These... these are Minister Shin and Im," he stammered, gesturing toward two bodies shrouded in straw mats in the corner. "And over there is the Go family; their heads are still at the northern gates, Your Highness."
Young-Sik placed a firm hand on the coroner's shoulder. "Head to Captain Gi at the northern gates. Instruct them to bring their heads here. Also, fetch me some thread and a needle."
When the coroner left the scene, Young-Sik felt his legs give way, but he quickly grabbed hold of a nearby table to steady himself. He fought valiantly to keep his emotions in check, but as he looked at the bodies surrounding him, one tear managed to escape, tracing a path down his cheek.
Jin-Ri and Lady Hu entered through the northern gates; they carried five bundles of clothes with them. They caught sight of Captain Gi and some soldiers busy taking down the decapitated heads. "It's heartbreaking; they were such wonderful individuals," Lady Hu reflected. Approaching the morgue, the two women hesitated at the door and noticed Young-Sik leaning over a table, his face a mask of suppressed sorrow. Determined to redirect his focus, Jin-Ri said, "Yong? I have what you asked for."
Young-Sik inhaled deeply and let it out before turning around to see what Jin-Ri had. "Tell me what you got," Young-Sik said in a melancholic voice
Jin-Ri laid out all five bundles on the coroner's table and started to unwrap them one at a time. "Just like you asked, I checked in at Minister Shin and Minister Im's homes, but no one was around; their families managed to leave safely. I picked up the General's uniform for Minister Shin and the scholar's outfit for Minister Im." She then revealed the bundles meant for the Go family. "I found the head physician's uniform for Minister Go, and for his wife and son, I got the priciest clothes I could track down."
At that moment, Captain Gi stepped into the morgue, accompanied by the coroner, who bore a coffin in his arms. The coroner also presented the prince with a small bundle of thread and needles. "Everyone, please wait outside," the prince instructed, ushering everyone, including Jin-Ri, out of the room before sealing the doors behind him.
"Why did he send us away?" Jin-Ri whispered, her heart heavy with concern for the prince.
Lady Hu quickly responded, hoping to ease her anxiety. "Think of it as the final gesture of respect the prince wishes to offer to his fallen masters."
"Final gesture of respect," Jin-Ri repeated softly, her gaze fixed on the cold, unfeeling wall of the morgue.
Inside, Young-Sik gently and sorrowfully took out the severed heads of the Go family, tears streaming down his face. Young-Sik painstakingly reattached the heads, each connection a desperate attempt to restore what was lost. He washed the bodies with tender care, using luxurious soaps to erase the stains of violence that marred their once-pristine skin. After cleansing, he dried them with reverence, anointing them with rich perfumes and oils that clung to the air like a haunting memory. He dressed them in elegant attire, garments that spoke of their former glory. After a long wait, the morgue door opened, and Young-Sik stepped out, his voice heavy with sorrow as he instructed, "Captain Gi, handle them with care as you place them in their coffins."
Captain Gi lowered his head in reverence to the prince, stepping inside with a handful of soldiers. Jin-Ri's eyes fell upon the lifeless forms being gently laid into their wooden caskets. She observed the prince's tender touch as he meticulously prepared the bodies of the Go family and his beloved Masters for their final rest. A deep sorrow welled up within her, compelling her to follow him, to offer solace in this moment of unbearable grief.
When she caught up to him, she couldn't resist asking, "How are you holding up Your Highness?"
"I'm fine, but honestly I'll feel better if you stop calling me Your Highness and instead call me Yong, since you know...the two of us." He smiled as he looked at her
"Sorry, it's just that we are in the capital right now, and if anyone hears me referring to you with just your name, it will be like...off with her head, then I will go aaahhhh!" She made a dramatic hack-like gesture on her neck
Young-Sik chuckled at the joke. Jin-Ri smiled upon hearing the prince laugh, "It's nice to see you are fine, Yong. I was worried about you."
"I made my final farewell to my masters, I have made my peace that they are no longer with us," Young-Sik said solemnly
"Will that be the end of it?" Jin-Ri delicately asked, curious about what the prince's next plan of action was
"No!" The prince quickly answered, "I have to capture the person who framed my masters."
Jin-Ri intrigued, asked the prince, "How will you do that?"
"I can't tell you, because that knowledge is something everyone will kill for," Young-Sik said ominously
"Fair enough, let's change the topic. where will you lay the masters to rest? I heard the King forbid you to bury them anywhere in the capital." She asked, her curiosity on full display
"In Nyuong gum, where they will have eternal rest." Young-Sik simply answered, "You better get ready, we leave as soon as the caskets are loaded on the carts."
"Of course!" Jin-Ri replied with a bright smile, strolling alongside Young-Sik, her arms dancing in the air like they were in a whimsical ballet. Suddenly, their hands brushed against each other, and a spark of electricity zipped through them, leaving both momentarily stunned. The prince and Jin-Ri glanced at each other for a moment, feeling this was not the moment for romantic feelings, they subtly stepped back, creating a tiny gap between them.
Captain Gi, upon witnessing the two, sighed and said to himself, "I guess the two of you can wait a little longer."
The following day, Young-Sik gazes at five burial mounds within the Jang family burial mountain. Grandfather Jang led the memorial services. Many residents of Nyuong gum attended the burial rites.
The prince stepped forward to say his final prayers for his masters. "Masters, I ask for your guidance; help me bring my brother back into the light. General Shin, please give me the strength to confront the evils of this nation. Scholar Im, grant me the insight to make the right choices. Physician Go, may your compassion inspire me to always think of the people first."
The prince turned around and saw Jin-Ri holding his sword in her arms, patiently waiting for him. They descended the mountain and spent the night in his grandfather's estate.
"I remember General Shin when he was just a captain, he accompanied your father and went all the way here to ask for your mother's hand in marriage," Grandfather Jang said in reminiscing about the olden and simpler days.
Turning to Young-Sik, Grandfather Jang continued with his stories, "You were born here in this very house, did your father tell you that?" He asked his grandson, Young-Sik, nodding to his grandfather's question, "The few days leading up to your birth, he had Physician Go trail behind your mother because he was the only physician he trusted to attend to my daughter."
Grandfather Jang chuckled a bit as he took a sip of wine. "Minister Im was one of my students; he was quite average, but I hand-picked him to be my grandson's teacher. I saw in him the same sense of duty to educate the youth as I did back in my days."
Early the next morning, Prince Young-Sik's group bid farewell to Grandfather Jang and the people of Nyuong gum as they made their way back to the capital.
Captain Gi and Lady Hu led the caravan, while Jin-Ri and Young-Sik were at the back. "Are you okay, Yong?" she asked worriedly. "I know it's hard, but please, you mustn't go and do something that will endanger yourself," she reminded him
Young-Sik glanced at Jin-Ri. "I wasn't planning on doing something stupid," he assured her in a hushed tone. "Something Minister Im told me; I know it's important, but I don't know how and why"
"What is it?" Jin-RI asked Yong, hoping she could help decipher it
"Innocent reflections hold the truth," Young-Sik revealed, much like the prince Jin-Ri was puzzled by the said words. Not know how these four words could hold any value or significance.