756 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

The emperor's residence boasted twelve palaces divided into six on the east and six on the west, known respectively as the Eastern Six Palaces and the Western Six Palaces. These were the abodes of the women of the royal family. However, these women were not limited to just the concubines. They included Grand Dowager Queens, crown princesses, and princesses, all residing in these twelve palaces or nearby. Once a residence within the palace was claimed, it was rare for it to be vacated. It wasn't a simple matter of strictly assigning spaces based on rank because that wasn't feasible. Thus, where someone resided wasn't necessarily a measure of power or influence within the palace intrigues. Nevertheless, there were still informal hierarchies. For instance, in the Western Six Palaces, the Seung-geon Palace was regarded as the foremost palace on the western side. Traditionally, Seung-geon Palace had been the abode of the most favored consort but was now occupied by a princess. Attached to Seung-geon Palace was the left-side rear chamber. The rear chambers flanking the main hall were typically used by the maids attending the mistress of the palace. On the left was the left-side rear chamber, filled with an unusual and thick cloud of smoke. A maid opened the door cautiously and entered– "Oh, Lady Ryeong, what's this? Why all this smoke?" The maid waved her hand in surprise. Despite the thick smoke, a woman sat cross-legged in the room. Her deep tan, sharply defined facial features, and slightly drooping eyes gave her a languid air, characteristic of a woman from Tienzhu. The woman, sitting cross-legged, responded with an innocent smile. "It seems the incense candles didn't dry properly. What can we do? We can't ventilate, so we must consume it. You came at the right time. Let's clear the smoke together." When ventilation is impossible, one must inhale it. A truly unconventional method of ventilation. The maid, accustomed to this, checked for any air leaks around the tightly closed door, then sat right beside Lady Ryeong, grasping her hand. And so, they began– Inhale, exhale. Inhale. Inhale. Exhale. The only sound was of breaths deeply drawing in the smoke. How could deeply inhaling clear a room filled with smoke, one might wonder. Yet, before long, the smoke began gathering thinly, threading together, and entering the nostrils of the two women. It was a peculiar scene as if reversing the dissipation of incense smoke, where time seemed to flow backward. Gradually, the room's air cleared of its impurities, showcasing remarkable air purification. Lady Ryeong, who had been intently inhaling the smoke, quietly opened her eyes. "[So, what kind of person is the new Mama?]" She spoke fluently in Sanskrit, the language of Tienzhu. "[Oh, don't even get me started. Her prana – or energy – is so strong, it seems like all seven chakras are fully open.]" "[Isn't she said to be a transcendent martial artist? They call it 'Daejucheon' here, right? However, the internal energy of Zhongyuan merely imitates our yoga, never reaching the spiritual heights of chakras.]" For reference, yoga, even in the language of Zhongyuan, is also yoga(瑜伽). "[So, is the new Mama interested in spiritual practices?]" "[Yes, her eyes sparkled with interest.]" At this, Lady Ryeong's lips curled into a subtle smile. "[Of course, it makes sense. Mama's authority derives from favor, so why not learn the way to captivate a man? Well then, kindly share this knowledge.]" "[Yes, Lady Ryeong.]" The maid responded with a bashful smile and suddenly patted her own thigh. "[Ah, that's right. I knew the new Mama looked familiar somehow; she's the spitting image of Princess Yeonsool's portrait!]" It was a keen observation. Lady Ryeong tilted her head. "[Is that so? I've heard rumors that Mama is a peerless beauty indeed. If she resembles the portrait, well, no wonder she's captured the Crown Prince's heart.]" But that was all. When a woman's portrait is drawn, it's natural for the artist to enhance her beauty. As a result, many portraits end up looking quite similar, reflecting the idealistic beauty preferences of the people of Zhongyuan. Given this, if the new Mama truly mirrored Princess Yeonsool's portrait, then the notion of her being the most beautiful woman was likely no exaggeration. --- In front of the Dan Gyeong Hall of the Southern Three Ministries. Officials in their formal uniforms were scattered across the expansive courtyard to the north, each occupying a sizeable area, despite standing relatively spaced apart. They uniformly knelt on the wide front lawn before Dan Gyeong Hall – a significantly vast spot even by the standards of such an imposing residence. All together, in unison with a synchronized rhythm, they raised their voices. “““Your Highness, this cannot stand!!!””” “““How can you grant the inner chamber to a woman whose background is unknown!!!””” “““Please, reconsider!!!””” In essence, their fervent appeal was to revoke the admittance of the Heavenly Sword Flower into the palace at once and expel her immediately. Why were these people, on a swelteringly humid day following rains, their breaths catching under the glaring sun, so deeply involved in someone else's affairs of romance? Of course, it was a situation that could cause significant concern for the elders. Looking past the Crown Prince’s personal situation and the pressure from the emperor, wouldn’t the picture appear unfailingly dire? The first time seeing the Heavenly Sword Flower, reputedly the most beautiful woman of the current times, and giving her the inner chamber based on her looks alone might seem impulsive. It appeared to any observer as though the Crown Prince was besotted by beauty and had made a reckless decision. Thus, the Crown Prince's expression soured bitterly at the petitions yelled from outside. Very bitter indeed. Considering the Crown Prince's usual gentle and unassuming nature, one might wonder if he had concealed such a temperament, his expression so sour it warranted questioning. Qing might have felt perplexed upon seeing this scene. Yet, what future monarch cannot bring his chosen partner into the inner chamber? If desired, couldn't he gather all the beauties of the world into one place, creating, in eastern fashion, a grand palace overflowing with enrapturing pleasure? Of course, the answer was no. (There have been emperors who did so, but those countries often faced ruin.) This concern was not limited to just Zhongyuan. For officials serving any dynasty across the world, the monarch's marriage was of utmost importance and could not be treated lightly. The reason being, the king's consort held power in her own right and became part of the faction supporting the king's authority, generally known as the royalist faction. In essence, the more consorts the emperor or crown prince had, the greater their political power became. All court officials dreamt of their families joining the imperial family through marriage, much like modern people dream of winning the lottery. Hence, it wasn't uncommon for Zhongyuan's officials to secretly wish for their daughters to enter the imperial palace. While the current emperor was well past the age of pursuing romantic interests and already had established a proper number of consorts, this situation didn't call for expansion. But what about the Crown Prince? If his partner were my daughter, that would be ideal. However, if that's not the case, then she must not be from a powerful family. And if she is from a powerful family, she must be from our faction, not the opposing one. This was the prevailing scenario, setting the stage for a grand conflict over who would become the Crown Prince's consort. In such a climate, an unexpected woman, a martial arts master from the Murim world, suddenly captured the Crown Prince's attention and took over his inner chamber? Naturally, officials from all factions could only raise their voices in vehement opposition. The Crown Prince felt exasperated. He himself didn't want such a predicament. What brother, in his right mind, would want a wife who resembled his sister exactly? It’s only because he was compelled to do so. Truly, ugh. The Crown Prince had his own worries. The eyes, which seemed capable of falling out with a light tap on the back of the head, and an overall appearance of stubbornness, leaving one with the impression she wouldn’t listen, could only be described as more than obstinate, and a complexion that, despite her active nature reminiscent of a wild boar, seemed pale and sickly. It was an all-too-familiar appearance. Of course, he did not believe the ludicrous notion that the Heavenly Sword Flower was actually Yeonsool. He remembered his sister during her most difficult days. Her condition was unbearable to witness, with pustules covering her entire body, cracking and festering, yet in the midst of it all, tumors rose prominently like toad skin, oozing pus. Even if she had recovered well, how could her face have become so pristine? Even now, Yeonsool covers her face to hide the hideous scars. Surviving the catastrophic illness, which even the gods had abandoned, was nearly a miracle. As heartbreaking as it is to say, if she'd only suffered facial scars and survived, it could be considered fortune blessed her. Moreover, claiming that the current Yeonsool is fake because her behavior doesn’t resemble Yeonsool's? Does that mean Yeonsool must act like ‘Yeonsool’ her entire life? In her youth, she was merely immature, excessively so, more accurately described as reckless beyond the point of immaturity. Her oversized build could have made her arrogance more noticeable, and perhaps if she'd been smaller and less imposing, there wouldn't have been such expressions as 'acting like Yeonsool.' She would have perhaps just been a little terror, skirting about. Now, all that's changed is that Yeonsool has matured, more so after surviving death. Occasionally, thoughts of the past might seem amusing, but he doesn't miss Yeonsool's previous behavior. Yeonsool, having surpassed the age for marriage, couldn't remain a child forever. What the Heavenly Sword Flower presently does resembles Yeonsool's past reckless behavior, but as the emperor often said, the princess's conduct was no different from a common wandering martial artist. In essence, it means wandering martial artists behave like Yeonsool did in her youth, thus resembling Yeonsool's past behavior was only natural... However, the Crown Prince's concern was not the absurd claim that the Heavenly Sword Flower is the real Yeonsool and the palace's Yeonsool is fake. His mother, when and where did she mistakenly believe the Heavenly Sword Flower was her daughter? And for a clap, both palms must come together. Surely, his mother wouldn't have instantly believed the Heavenly Sword Flower to be Yeonsool from a mere glance. There must be some cunning ploy by the Heavenly Sword Flower to use his mother's misconception for significant gain... Considering his mother is the mother of the realm, earning national esteem would indeed be... Suddenly, the Crown Prince recalled a point. Indeed, didn't his mother spend over a month at the shrine of the Divine Maiden Sect, overseeing rituals, and graciously bestow all the lands in that area afterward? It's only fitting that she, being the one who directed the rituals, would feel justified in granting lands surrounding it, though reportedly she gave away too much. Bang! The Crown Prince struck the tea table with a loud thud. So indeed, isn’t it all clear now! That devious woman must have deceived and manipulated his mother, who was mentally unstable at the time. Surely, his mother wouldn't enter a state of madness. Besides, she’s still so lively now. The Crown Prince’s eyes hardened with resolve. He would uncover every truth about this deceitful woman. And thoroughly exact the price for mocking the royal family.