Jiyeon focus

Jimin had invited Jiyeon over to his guestroom at the Park mansion. Originally, she had thought that her brother wanted to catch up with her since he had not met her after coming back from his mission, but now that he had sat her down with a stern face and had asked her whether she was willing to help the palace with a severe matter, she had a notion what this was for.

"Jimin, what is it? Why are you so secretive?" she whispered, mirroring his behavior.

"Advisor Min sent me here to spy out the princess," he answered in a serious tone. "Did sister hear of the first prince falling sick?"

Jiyeon could not stop herself from snorting at her brother's demeanor. "Jimin, I tended to his bed when he fell sick. And he is not just sick, he got poisoned," she said nonchalantly.

Her brother's eyes widened comically. "Why did sister tend to his bed?" he asked, sounding angered and confused at the same time. Of course, that was the first thing her brother would be concerned about. Not that she knew about palace intern matters, but that she had sat at another man's bed. It was always the same with her brothers.

"I am Hoseok's disciple," she explained brusquely, making her brother look even more out of his mind.

"Uhm, sorry. Who?" he asked confused, looking like the little boy who had been struggling with the character drill his father had pushed him through.

Jiyeon smiled at her little brother. "The palace physician's disciple," she specified.

Big eyes stared at her, trying to contemplate what has been said. Then, "How can it be that I leave sister in the palace for some days and you are already neck-deep in the political intrigues and a medical disciple on top?" he exclaimed, turning away with a starstruck expression. "Crazy woman."

"Jimin, stop being like this. I am almost thirty. I can take care of myself," she sighed.

"And sister calls the medic by his first name! Unbelievable!" her brother continued. "Is he interested?" Now the big eyes were curious, and Jiyeon felt her face starting to burn.

"What are you saying?" she mumbled. "He is a widower with a child."

"That is no reason but a cause," her brother said with a lifted eyebrow. "Is sister interested?"

"Jimin!" she scolded her younger brother and hit his shoulder over the table. "We can discuss this another time. You told me to come here to do what?" she distracted him.

Instantly, her brother's face changed back to serious and he sat straighter. "Right. Since sister knows the prince has been poisoned, did you get a sniff of the poison?" he asked.

Jiyeon nodded. Hoseok had given the cup to her to learn about her first poison. It had smelled bittersweet in a sickening way. Later he had shown her how to identify the poison.

"If anywhere, the poison must be in the room of the princess," her brother mused. "But I, as a man, cannot be found in a woman's room, much less if said woman is my cousin's wife," he elaborated and Jiyeon understood why he had asked her to come here.

Jimin wanted her to search their cousin-in-law's room for the poison because if she was found, she could always talk her way out of it while her brother would be called a pervert and marriage wrecker. She was a little impressed that Jimin had thought about this first. Normally her brother was more of a hands-on person. But then again, since they barely met twice a year, what would she know about how he had become?

"I will do it," she told him. "Should I go now?"

Jimin seemed a little startled by her reply, but then he gathered his wits and made a plan. "The princess is often at home. The most secure way would be to make her go to the palace or out to the market," he summarized.

"Then make her go to the market," Jiyeon said with a shrug.

"Sister wants me to ask her to go to the market?" her brother asked dumbly.

Jiyeon shook her head. "Use Chunghee."

That made Jimin shake his head. "I would not know how. There is no reason to send him to the market, and I do not trust him not to run his mouth. Let us just wait until she leaves naturally."

Jiyeon did not quite like that suggestion, but Jimin had been living at the mansion for several days, not her, so she trusted in the ideas of an officer. Many people thought that her brothers had only achieved their position in the army because of their father, but Jiyeon knew that their father would never promote someone for their name alone. He had been hard with his sons and had taught them well, so that they would become capable soldiers. Thus, Jimin's instincts and thoughts were not to be underestimated.

"What if she does not leave today?" she asked instead of criticizing.

"Then sister will sleep here, and we hope for the best tomorrow," he answered and poured them tea. "Now tell me about that physician. What was his name? Hoseok?"

Jiyeon wanted to curse her brother but realized that her urge to tell him about everything was stronger. "I met him when he tended to consort Kang," she began. "And I asked him some questions about the treatment. So, he wanted to know why I was so interested, and I told him that I miss my family and want to go to the border with my brothers."

Jimin had the look of an apologetic and protective brother on his face which Jiyeon knew meant that he did not want her to get into danger there. Still, he did not interrupt her.

"So, what I thought was that I could become a physician," she tested the waters. "I will not be getting into fights, but I can be helpful. So, maybe father will allow me to come if I can be of use."

"So, sister is not interested in the medic?" Jimin asked. "You only want to join us?"

For that the answer was a little more difficult than Jiyeon had expected. She wanted to tell him that, yes, she only wanted to be closed to her family, but the thought of leaving behind the capital and the hours of studying as a disciple with Hoseok sitting next to her, reading some book or mixing teas and ointments, was causing her heart to feel heavy.

"I do not know," she admitted. "I really miss you and Jihyun. Busan is so boring without you, and aunty Solmi is no big help regarding that. All she is interested in are books and her children."

Jimin nodded deep in thought. "Let us think about this later. What did sister learn?" he asked eventually.

And Jiyeon could not help herself but smile. "I learned how to stitch up and burn out wounds, and how to make basic ointments for cuts and bruises. And yesterday, Hoseok showed me how to identify the poison," she told him happily.

"So, you really call each other by your given names?" her brother asked with narrowed eyes.

"Oh, Jimin!" Jiyoen breathed out annoyed. She just had told him what she could do now and all he listened to was her relationship state. "Yes, we do call each other by our given names because we are of same age," she growled.

"He must have at least a small interest then," Jimin concluded. "Is he willing to move to the border with sister?"

"Jimin!" she shouted at him and gave his shoulder some more hits over the table.

But her brother only laughed and endured the punishment.

"Fine, fine. I will stop now," he wheezed out after some blows and caught her hand. "I am happy that sister found an interest in medicine. I will try to persuade father for you." He gave her a long look. "And you try to persuade that Hoseok physician."

"Oh, you rascal!" Jiyeon exploded. "And you call yourself my brother!"

"Ow, sister, have mercy," Jimin cried and laughed at the same time when Jiyeon jumped over the tea table and pushed him down to throw some punches at his head.

"You only learn the hard way," she growled with a smile and buried her brother under a volley of punches.

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Princess Dahee had not gone out, so Jiyeon had asked her uncle to accommodate her for a night, for it was already late and she wanted to spend the next day with her brother as well. They had exchanged some pleasantries over dinner, her uncle not making a single comment about her being still unmarried, and then she had gone to talk another hour about Jimin's wish to join the royal guard so he could take better care of Taehyung.

And fate was gracious with them; the next day Dahee took her son and husband out to visit her mother. It was the perfect time to take a good look at the princess' possessions, so the two siblings had stayed back under the excuse of spending time together and making up for all the months they had been apart. Bogum had graced them with a soft smile and an understanding look before leaving them under the care of lady Ahn and the old housekeeper Yoon in case they needed anything.

Thus, only after the time of burning an incense stick, the siblings had gone over to the east yard which was mostly empty of obstacles and -coincidentally- close to the princess' rooms to have a round of sparring. Of course, Jiyeon was no match for Jimin, but she always liked to learn from her brothers. Maybe Jimin could teach her how to defeat Taehyung.

"Sister should practice more," Jimin teased her when he blocked her strikes with ease.

"I do not have a partner for practice," she answered unbothered and stroke for his open shoulder. He parried.

"Sister could practice with Chunghee. He is quite good," he taunted her with a cheeky smile.

Her brother needed someone to whip his butt for once. Maybe she should ask cousin Bogum to give him a nice beating when he came back.

"Someday you will face someone who will beat you to it and then you will learn what modesty means," she said with an aloof look and began hacking at him with more vigor.

"That person has yet to come," her brother replied arrogantly, and they chased each other through the yard.

It did not take much time until Jiyeon was drenched in sweat and they could proceed with their plan.

"Give me a break brother," she wheezed and sat down in the shadow.

"I will ask lady Ahn to bring us some water," he said and gave her a long look. Jiyeon nodded.

While her brother would distract lady Ahn with telling her about what they had been doing, making up an alibi, she would slip inside and search the rooms.

"Young master Park," the housekeeper almost scared them both to death.

"M-master Yoon, what is it?" Jiyeon asked after she had regained her calm.

"Someone is outside, looking for young master Park. He said young master has ordered something from his shop to be delivered here," old housekeeper Yoon explained.

Jiyeon looked up at her brother. "Are you expecting someone?" she asked, but her brother only looked at the housekeeper with blank face.

"Ah, right," he eventually awoke from his stupor and smiled at the old man. "I almost forgot about him. I will meet him at the door. No need to guide him inside." And he vanished with the old man, leaving a confused Jiyeon behind.

Should she go inside now, or not?

"Sister, go and ask lady Ahn for some water," Jimin shouted over his shoulder and answered her question. Apparently, the mysterious man had the power to stop their mission.

When Jiyoen came back from the kitchen, a tray loaded with a teapot of water, two cups, and snacks of lady Ahn in her hands, Jimin already sat in the shadows with a broad smile and waved her over to him.

"Concubine Oh found something when she took care of the bathhouse garden," he whispered while pouring the two of them a cup. "Advisor Min would not tell me why it solved the case and told me to ask Taehyung, but he said that we do not need to bother with the princess anymore."

If Jiyeon was honest, she was a little disappointed. Having a secret mission had made her feel excited and now that it was no longer necessary, her arms felt heavy from sparring and she would rather want to go back to the palace and visit the bathhouse. Maybe she would meet advisor Min on the way and could ask him about his findings.

"What is sister thinking about?" Jimin asked.

"I think that I will find the royal guards to go for another sparring fight," she replied mischievously.

"The roy-" Jimin choked on his words. "The capital is ruining my sister," he mumbled then and stuffed a pastry into his mouth.

Jiyeon laughed at him and took a small cake as well. She had missed her brothers. "Do you know anything about advisor Min?" she asked curiously while enjoying lady Ahn's delicious sweets.

That question changed her brother's expression completely, from falsely sullen to attentive and sharp. He put down the pastry and looked at her. "Jiyeon, do you remember the stories of the Dragon of the Eastern Sea?" he asked then, the gleam in the corners of his eyes hiding a secret.

Jiyeon furrowed her brows. Of course, she knew the stories of the savior of Busan. How could she not? "What does this have to do with advisor Min?" she asked confused.

Jimin grinned. "Advisor Min is the Dragon," he said quietly, looking satisfied with the fact that he knew such a grand thing, while Jiyeon's mind temporarily abandoned her.

"He... what?" Now it was her turn to struggle for words. The man who had handed her porn and had fought with her was the Dragon of the Easter Sea, the savior of Busan? "Impossible," she disagreed and shook her head. "That man cannot be the savior of our city."

"Why not? The crown prince and father called him general during our stay at Gimcheon and he was even sent to special missions," her brother said with a shrug and continued to nibble on the pastry he had left unfinished.

"Oh, Buddha help me," she cried when she saw the truth in her brother's eyes. "I kicked the savior of Busan in the chest." She had fought with a man she had a life debt with and had rudely punched and kicked him. The heaven must be shaking with her betrayal.

"Sister did what?" Jimin asked shocked.

"I fought with him at the tower," she admitted, not sure whether she should laugh or cry. She should have kneeled in front of that man and thanked him for his good deed, but instead she had rudely accused him of being an assassin. She had to find him to apologize.

"You did what?" Jimin cried out a second time almost pushing over the teapot.

"He attacked first," Jiyeon tried to defend herself. "And he was right to do so. It is not important. But how can this man be the Dragon of the Eastern Sea?" The idea she had of their savior could not be combined with the actual man. How could someone this skinny and messy be a general of the royal fleet?

"I will give him a good beating," her brother mumbled under his breath. "Attacking a woman, such a brutish man."

"Then you also have to give Tae a beating, and some of the guards. Just let it be," she huffed at him, still trying to comprehend the news. "Can I tell Hoseok?" she asked eventually. The physician could probably help her to understand this unbelievable truth.

"Never," her brother answered instantly. "The Dragon has been thrown into prison after his downfall and I am sure there are many people not happy with his reincarnation as the closest man to the king and crown prince." He looked honestly concerned, so Jiyeon nodded obediently.

"Only once sister marries him," he added, grin already hinting at the corners of his lips.

"You unbelievable wretch! Who raised you and fed you every day? Who are you to tease your older sister?" she began to scold him, and in the next moment they were running through the yard like a pair of silly siblings.

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Yoongi focus

The poison bottle had been found in the garden of the bathhouse and Yoongi had put one and one together and had traced the finding back to the unspeakable night the third prince had told him about. Now that the two assassinations could be connected to the same person, and the person could be connected to the Park household, the situation was clear to him. And even if only the attack on the crown prince was truly princess Dahee's doing, Yoongi had to act.

But his action could not affect minister Park and his son or consort Kang and the third prince. The implications for the royal family and the noble family Park would be too big, and the publicity was unwanted for such a delicate matter as the palace security. It had to be handled subtly but once and for all.

Thus, Yoongi was out on the market to find a certain woman and her son. He took a bite of the candied plums he had bought a moment ago and came to a halt next to the pretty face he had been searching for. His men always knew where the ones he was searching for roamed.

"What do you have for me?" the princess asked when she saw him from the corner of her eyes and Yoongi was slightly taken aback by those words. Had she been expecting someone? Someone in black with a straw hat perhaps?

But her brief look of shock when she truly looked at him told him that it had not been him whom she had been waiting for.

"Good afternoon, princess. Whom have you been expecting?" he asked her with a cold smile.

"My son," she said flatly, face neutral in the blink of an eye.

"I see." He bit off another of the glistening candied plums. Much too sweet for his own taste.

"What brings advisor Min out of the palace walls?" she asked him with lips pouted in distaste while pretending to look at the jewels on the vendor stall next to the toy maker. "Is his majesty giving his right hand a vacation?"

Yoongi just smiled and swallowed the sweet bite. "Not at all. I'm doing my job right now, princess," he said nonchalantly. "I'm here to tell her highness that assassinating the crown prince and the first prince is not the right way to attain power. It's punishable by death."

Her piercing eyes looked at him, searching for anything underneath his false smile. But her eyes could not penetrate a face that had trained to be impenetrable since childhood.

"What proof does advisor Min have to accuse me of such a deed?" she asked him arrogantly and walked further, Yoongi following a step behind.

"Does the princess think I would make false accusations if I had no evidence?" he asked back. He could not reveal officer Park's part in solving this case, nor the third prince's unspeakable encounter with the assassin, so it was best to stay silent on this matter. He did not need to tell her the truth.

"I do not dare to assume what advisor Min is thinking, for he can tell the fortune of the king and read the stars. What am I, a small woman, in comparison to such a man?" she asked sweetly.

Yoongi had to admit that she had some qualities he would be able to value if they had been working in his favor. But since they did not, she was an enemy who had to be eliminated.

"Oh, her highness' praise is too much for a lowborn such as I," he went along with her flattery. "I'm only here to remind the princess that we all have something we value over our own interests and life. A place perhaps, a spouse?" he mused for her.

"My marriage has been arranged, advisor Min," the woman said tonelessly. "A farce of the king to force my husband into loyalty toward him."

She was very sharp, Yoongi had to give her that. Not necessarily sharp in mind. Which woman did not know the purpose of her marriage? But sharp with her words and will.

"Hm, of course," Yoongi admitted. "Princess, how is your son doing?" he asked then.

Finally, the woman looked at him again. "What is advisor Min implying?"

"Oh, nothing. Nothing." He took another bite of the candied fruit. "Good day, princess," he mumbled and left her behind.

On the way back towards the palace, a boy passed him, and he gave him the stick of candied plums. "Here, little one. It's too sweet for me," he said, and the boy made big eyes at him.

"Chunghee?" he heard a panicked female voice behind him and smiled satisfied. "Chunghee!? Chunghee! Do not eat that!" she cried and Yoongi sped up his steps. This problem hopefully was solved.

Time to set things up for the next one.

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