The moon above the cloak of darkness sprinkled with myriad twinkling diamonds, flouted upon observing the treacherous pigs who caused a big ruckus in Myeongju neighborhood. Back in the province, these men hid in the darkest shadows as they trampled the susurrating dead foliage, witnessed by the thick undergrowth and dry, bone-chilling wind.

They stormed inside Chil Yook's abandoned house, waiting for any possibilities of the former owners' return—probably to get their remaining precious belongings. More importantly, their main purpose was to rummage the entire house upside down to get clues on their possible whereabouts.

As these men searched for anything that could be of good use, using their torches and lamps, one of their watchmen, stationed outside saw two men approaching the house from a fair distance. He alerted his colleagues, and they put off the fire of their torches. Positioning themselves within the quiet walls and corners, they patiently waited for these persons to come closer to the house. Holding their breaths. Regulating their own heartbeats. Sticking out their own daggers.

The steps became crisper, and a muffled conversation was heard outside.

"Are you certain about this?"

"Yes, I am. I need to get something from that house."

"It is perilous!"

"It does not matter to me. They can try, but I will not let them do what they want."

"Wait, you did not bring any lamps?"

"No need. I wish not to draw attention from the neighbors. I know my house even though my eyes are closed."

In the slightest glimmer of light from the saffron moon, the man crouching near the wooden door mouthed a colleague near the fireplace, "The Grand Marshal!" As they prepared themselves for an ambush, the door suddenly creaked open. The silhouettes were tall and lean. Soft flip-flop sounds of the straw shoes numbed their ear drums as the unknown men paced down the rattan floor.

"Just cling to my arms if you cannot see anything," a deep baritone offered. The fellow swung an arm, groping a miracle into the dead air. Their feet shuffled forward but suddenly paused after taking a few more steps.

"Is there a problem, Sir?"

"None."

Before taking another step, with the right signal, two of the men from the door and from the fireplace, both opposite from each other in a diagonal way, ejected from their positions as fast as a catapult and jumped behind the unknown intruders. Their bodies dropped in a thump. Groans and grunts of resistance thudded as their limbs knocked on the floor. They had clobbered the necks with their palms to put the two to sleep.

"We got them!" a light-lyric tenor boasted.

The rest of their colleagues reconvened and lit up their torches to see the much-awaited reactions of the two captives. As the flaring light from the light source illuminated the bodies, their stomach acids back-flowed to their throats. Their mouths hanged dry into the air in shock, recognizing that neither of those people was the former Grand Marshal.

"Who are these people?" a short, robust man barked.

No one responded; all of their breaths heaved at their voice boxes, trapped like a bird in a cage. In a quick snap of the devil, the entire house irradiated from a single light source near the kitchen. The bright yellow light scraped their eyes, tearing their irises in a flashy front. After some seconds, the lights receded, revealing another group of men in leather armors and baggy pants, half of their faces covered with black, silk cloths. Scuttling from the house kitchen, they pointed swords against the dumbfounded men and outlined the perimeters. More coming from the backdoor. Emerging from the underground storage room on the backyard, like freshly manufactured toys from the factory.

"A hwarangdo?" the leader of the intruder hissed—a lean man, with toned biceps, hissed, recognizing the leather armors, "Who sent you?"

"Hwarangdo?... You do have a knowledge with the hwarang system. You are not just simple bandits. Now tell us, who sent you?"

The leader of the intruders roared, "You are going to regret all of these!"

"I bet not. Surrender now, you are all surrounded."

Clanking sounds of the swords, iron clattering, and diverse chaotic war of different voice types were heard inside. The clamors intensified, bodies banged into the floor. Blood patches jetted to the walls. As the pandemonium continued, a shuffle was heard by the crickets and fireflies outside. Soft, light step of a man walking away from all of uproar. Ambling down the brae, the faint light of the natural satellite shone on the man's half-face, highlighting his diagonal scar. 

"Goodluck, hwarangs."

~~•~~

The palace had gone seemingly cold despite the smoldering rays of the sun during daytime. Cold breeze from the forests breached through Shun's skin as he was frozen into his position, asking the minister about his vague statement.

"What do you wish to imply, Lord Dae Wong?"

Teasing a mocking smile, Dae Wong held the young boy's shoulder and revealed, "Worry not. We will find out who those bastards are and who sent them."

Shun had established a sky-soaring trust towards Dae Wong after the minister had proven himself to him. His family's savior. The man whom he owed an incomparable sense of gratitude. Hearing the minister's words of assurance, he had somehow found peace within himself, that any moment he could find answers and solve the puzzle the soonest.

"My gratitude, Lord Dae Wong. I truly wish to find out who those men are. Why are they very eager to find my father? He is a man of peace and kindness. I just cannot comprehend all of these." Shun erupted a warm steam, roaring frustration. 

"Err, Shun, did your father mentioned something regarding his past? Like any clues that could help us perhaps?"

The boy crossed his arms, narrating what he had been told, "My father has been very private and secretive regarding his past. For years, I have been used to accepting the fact that I barely know his family background and all. He has always avoided the topic. He even scolded me at times when I kept on asking. But just recently, he revealed that he was once a servant..."

Dae Wong cut in the boy's statement, trying to confirm what he heard, "A servant? Did he mention his master's name? Maybe it was related. Those men might be his master's men."

"I am thinking the same, Minister. But he was not able to tell me who his master was. He just described him as vile, manipulative, and evil. I mean, all of his servants planned to escape from him. My father was just lucky."

The minister continued listening, pretending he was engaged by the boy's story, but in reality, he commended Chil Yook for having tons of excuses and made-up stories to his borrowed son. For fifteen years, Shun seemed to had so much trust for Chil Yook, and he never questioned his father's stories even once. The main reason for this—love and affection. Sae Yoo certainly was not carrying any portion of Chil Yook's blood, but the amount of love and care that he had given to the boy was beyond comparison.

Dae Wong was brought back to his senses and empathized to Shun's story. Since the night was not getting any younger, he advised the young nangdo to retire to his barracks. The boy bowed his head, thanked the nobleman, and left.

The silence of the night, the chirping of the crickets, the minuscule glimmer of the toenail moon above the casket-black sky seemed to lull the people in the palace. Some pavilions had put off the lights, guards standing half-asleep in the facade. Only patches of people were seen strolling down the courtyard, probably retiring to their own quarters. The end of the day was seemingly about to end perfectly, but not for Sae Joo. He had one task yet to accomplish.

He strolled down the hallway of Jung Min's pavilion, dull yellow light from the ceiling pecking on his pale, white face. The ladies-in-waiting welcomed him with a bow and a half-smile. "Good evening, Your Highness, what brings you here?"

"I wish to talk to Lord Jung Min."

A bow as a response. A middle-aged lady attendant called the inhabitant's attention. Sae Joo did not hear any answer from the inside. He waited, and the door opened, revealing Jung Min in his white, silk V-cut night robe. "Your Highness, what can I do for you?"

"May I have few moments?"

Jung Min offered his hand and smirked. Sae Joo frowned and walked his way inside. His feet shambled on a periwinkle Roman carpet, smelling jasmine all over the chambers. He sat at an elegant square table covered with blue satin mantle—with a small candelabrum and porcelain kettle on top. Scanning the entire room, he noticed the major vibe of the entire room was blue and shades of it. Starting from the dim, blue lights, the cozy color enlivened the entire room as seen with aquamarine bed sheets, cobalt curtains, and diverse hues of blue ceramics atop of cabinets and tables.

Jung Min deftly arranged his sleeves and poured jasmine tea on a small white cup with blue rose design. "Blue is a warm color, is it not?" he smiled.

Sae Joo lifted the teacup and took a measly sip, "Yes, I agree. Blue color calms the heart. It symbolizes depth and loyalty."

The elder cousin embossed a half-smile, "Loyalty. Hmm."

"Hyung, I want to ask... Where is your loyalty?" asked Sae Joo, eyes turned blue in a cold, icy gaze.

"Where are we going with this?"

"Your actions are baffling me. I know that you do not like me, so does that mean that your loyalty is with your father? Then I also realized that at times you seemed to be insubordinate with your family, knowing that you were the one who moved the motion for Jin Ri to face beatings. Some people even told me that your first suggestion was to demote her rank. You also exposed her true colors to me, giving me advice to watch out for enemies, for people who smile in front of me but keep a dagger behind their backs, ready to stab me anytime. So tell me, whose side are you in?"

Without any response, Jung Min reciprocated Sae Joo's gaze with a colder stare, sipping his tea. Sae Joo waited for an answer, but he received another question. "You are an incredible observer. Shame on me that I have underestimated you. Your arguments are quite sound, interconnected. You do your own assessment, Your Highness. Based on your observations..." he leaned forward and glued his eyes to the Prince, "where do you think my loyalty belongs?"

The Prince's nose wrinkled, perceiving what he had heard as a low-key insult. After all, he was not mistaken—his cousin resented him down to the bone, but he was also not fully indulged to the concept of the power of blood. Its thickness over any other liquid. Jung Min was a sea. Tranquil, serene, deep. However, he was also mysterious with a lot of things yet to be discovered. Sae Joo was actually more terrified of him compared to Jin Ri and the Prime Minister, who had already exposed their real colors. He had no idea when he would be bitten by his cousin's hidden fangs. A shadow lurking in the dark. Maybe the advice Jung Min had given him before was actually pertaining to himself—his cousin as his main nemesis.

"I do not know. That is why I am asking you," revealed the Prince.

"You are an intelligent person, Your Highness. I would let you discover it on your own... Did you come here just to ask that? I thought it was something urgent," sneered Jung Min.

"It is actually more than the topic of loyalty that I am after. You are the Head of the Prosecution Department—you conduct investigations, propose rightful punishments, and bring justice to everyone who deserves it."

"Yes, correct," acknowledged Jung Min, taking another sip.

"But I do not think that I am getting the rightful justice that I deserve. What happened to that man who surrendered in the court, telling everybody that their group abducted me? Have you punished him already? Where? When? What punishment?" spluttered Sae Joo, thick brows lifted, eyes locking derision.

Jung Min tried to compose himself despite being chagrined by the Prince's harangue. His hands quivered, yet he managed to clasp them together before explaining his side. "The punishment has been given. He was killed by poison, outside the palace, the night after the King gave the order. Have I answered your question?" he stood and walked to a table drawer beside his bed. "Do you want me to show you the inscriptions of the order with the King's seal on it?"

Sae Joo's eyes twitched, beckoning the elder cousin to go back to his seat. "No need."

The defensive nobleman returned to his seat, bowed his head, and apologized for his seemingly rude behavior. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I just want to say that I did everything I could to give you the justice you deserve. That man is dead. No need to worry... as for our department, I want to clear it out to you that sometimes we do our punishments in public, sometimes we do it in private, depending on the situation. Rest assured that everything that happens in our department has the King's final verdict."

The Prince seemed to had accepted Jung Min's excuse. After a session of banters, Sae Joo stood, thanked his cousin for the tea and left. The moment the door was opened, he ran into Jung Ho, who also had a plan to talk to the Prosecution Minister.

"Your Highness, I was not aware that you have somehow changed your sleeping pattern. I thought you are sleeping already in this hour." 

Sae Joo tried to avert his sight from the Prime Minister, but his uncle's malodorous attitude smashed his bravado. 

"Well, I could say it is because of what had happened to me. Ever since I was abducted, I could not sleep early anymore, afraid that a dragon might spit his fiery saliva to me," Sae Joo smirked.

Jung Ho's lips quirked into a thin line, quite insulted. "Good for you. You better watch yourself, Wangja-nim, that could happen anytime from now." he bowed his head and stepped his foot forward, but before his other leg followed, he paused and shifted back to Sae Joo, "Your Highness, the Tang diplomat will come tomorrow, together with Prince Xiao Ji. Prepare yourself accordingly."

"Expect my best demeanor tomorrow, Prime Minister. Goodnight." he strolled down the hallway, then out of the pavilion, going back to his chambers.

~~•~~

The morning came down as fast as a jab of a martial arts guru. Sae Joo, who did not have a long, satisfying sleep, wrestled against his yellow comforter, head pecking the overboard. His light skin was gnawed by the ray of the sun, perforating through his eastern windows. While in the middle of a rumpus of being half-asleep and half-awake, a thick, female, dramatic voice from the outside riled him, "Your Highness, the King wants to see you."

Sae Joo's eyes opened abruptly. He rose up to bed quickly and veered to his closet to cover his nightgown with any cloak available. He fixed his shoulder-length unkempt hair with his fingers, grabbed a towel and wiped his face, especially his mouth damped with spoiled saliva. The voices outside revved as he pictured the King's face while waiting outside. "A minute!" he notified. His hips gyrated into the orifice his silk, teal pants. With the final step of looking himself through a small mirror, his fingers ran across random parts of his face before flashing a forceful smile.

"Come in!"

The door opened, revealing Jae Joong in his maroon ceremonial robe and golden towering crown. His jewelry shimmered when stroke by the ray of the sun. He trod inside, arms crossed, eyes scanning the Prince from head to toe. "You cannot fool me, Prince. A true leader is always hours earlier than all of his people. Look at you. Do you think I would not recognize? Is that how you are going to face the visitors?" 

Disappointed, the King swiveled and walked to the door. "I will give you half an hour to take a bath and groom yourself properly. After that, meet me in the main hall. You should present yourself at its best in front of our visitors." Sae Joo felt the stress in that word, visitor, as if they were really pleasant people. They were more of blistering eyesores than human beings!

Half an hour had arrived, and the Crown Prince was ready to face his nemesis. Wearing a cerulean robe and indigo cloak, paired with black boots and golden topknot, he strode down the courtyard, stealing everyone's attention in brief seconds.

All of the council members and their families, together with their court ladies, assembled in the main hall, which was filled with new sets of curtains, newly painted furniture, and a new stretch of red carpet. A number of colored silk cloths hanged before the ceiling, stretching from one pillar to another. Several noblemen from the provinces had gathered early, standing lively on the sides of the carpet, exchanging gushes. A smorgasbord of hwarang had positioned on the quietest perimeters of the hall, like vigilant sentinels.

Soon after Sae Joo's arrival, the eunuch announced, "The Tang visitors have arrived."

__________