The doors skidded open, revealing the layers of a stale black forest cake made up of Tang people. The toppings: female servants, wearing their uniform red body-fit hanfus stormed inside and scampered down the marble floor, finding their organized spots at the sides of the court. A platoon of big and robust Tang guard paraded, iron rings from their armors and boots clanking in a loud cacophony. They stood beside each hwarangs, but the kingdom military did not even move a single muscle, ignoring their presences. No shoulders shuddered, no bodies quivered in intimidation despite their enormous builds.

The main attraction of the entourage finally appeared from a small one-man, fancy palanquin—Tang's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Everyone sucked their tongues in and shifted their feet in dignified stances. He was a man with a slender body and gray highlights unequally spread on his black hair. His face had a few wrinkles, painting his fifty-five years of existence. His gray beard was as silky as his hair. His luscious green hanfu whispered down the carpet as he approached near the King's throne.

"My greetings, King Jae Joong of Silla," bowed the Tang Minister.

Jae Joong acknowledged the respectful gesture and dipped his head low. "Greetings, Minister Lei Ming. The long distance of your travel did not even falter your bright clear skin." the King smiled.

"You expect the best features from the best nation," laughed Lei Ming.

An awkward atmosphere cloaked the court as Jae Joong's brow jerked skywards, "You seem to have traveled alone. I thought you were with Prince Xiao Ji."

"Prince Xiao Ji is indeed with me," Lei Ming gushed with a zany smile.

All Silla citizens craned their heads by the door but there was a dull silence. Jae Joong waited for anything that could surprise him but there was nothing. "Where is he, then?"

Lei Ming cackled and landed an abhorrent gaze to the King, impervious of any sprinkles of light. "Perhaps you are forgetting something?" Perplexed with the Tang diplomat's brisk change of attitude, Jae Joong clarified, "I am afraid that I have no idea what you are pertaining to. Forget something?"

The green hanfu rustled in a turn and faced the crowd. With his strong aura, people were magnetized by his presence, all ready to lend their ears to the elderly man. "Is this how you welcome a Prince? Is this how people of Silla are?" he turned back to Jae Joong and demanded, "Crown Prince Xiao Ji would only come inside if all people here, including you, King Jae Joong has genuflected and bowed before him."

Words of taunt and insult did not waver Jae Joong's regal stance. His eyebrow just arched in response, leaving the Tang diplomat hanging awkwardly, waiting for a bleak answer. "Well, if that is the case, I regret to tell you that Prince Xiao Ji will remain outside then." A smirk after a jibe. People were shocked by the King's conclusion.

"In case you have forgotten, you are now in the kingdom of Silla. You should act according to our customs, and people here do not just fall into their knees unless it is for the King or for the Crown Prince—Silla's Crown Prince, which is Prince Sae Joo."

Lei Ming shifted his sight to Sae Joo, observing the emotionless countenance of the young royal. He cleared his throat and rebutted, trying to save himself from graver humiliation. "You have the nerve to disrespect the heir of Tang Dynasty which has lived for centuries. The almighty kingdom! Greatest all over the world! Rest assured that this will be known by our Heavenly Emperor."

"Go ahead. Your groundless threats do not scare me at all. Our nation, our rules."

The old minister's decency started to unhinge from reality. His knuckles turned white, digging his nail at his prune-like palms. He underestimated that a King with soft features would remain unruffled, despite words of fulminations. Hearing the Emperor's heavenly name had not made the Silla King succumb in terror. Bold, new, hasty. Lei Ming decked out another card, trying his luck to overpower the strong-willed ruler. "This might spark a war between Tang and Silla. The unification of the Three Kingdom had been made to action majorly because..." before he could even utter another word, Jae Joong cut him already, leaving his tongue hanging in dead air, "Yes, I know that. Silla will always be forever grateful to Tang in that matter. However, you must have forgotten that your current emperor has nothing to do with that. I, as well, have nothing to do with that because it happened years ago. History is always right to be remembered and honored, but yesterday's favor has been paid years ago. So you do not use that reason to adjust our customs just for you."

The dormant volcano had erupted, leaving casualties behind. Tearing pride into pieces, shattering ego into shards of bitterness. Jae Joong was a man of patience, thread longer than someone could imagine. But when his forbearance petered, all layers of halo would break loose. Squinting his eyes, flashing displeasure, Jae Joong rearranged himself in his throne in a regal, intimidating posture and asked, "So, is Prince Xiao Ji still interested in entering? We will still welcome him accordingly... guided by our customs."

Lei Ming's raisin lips drew into a thin line, beard hanging stiffly. Soon after, people heard an announcement coming from a Tang eunuch. His declarations were in Tang language, an alien way to communicate for the majority. People anchored their sights to the door, and a shadow of a petite person strode through the brick woods. The wait was over. Prince Xiao Ji, alone—with no retinues—swanked down the red carpet with long, brisk steps.

Sae Joo observed the Prince's gait, and knowing his character for a brief moment in time, he diverged his look from the petulant royal, trying to hide his face. Xiao Ji reached the foot of the throne and glared straight to Jae Joong, ignoring Lei Ming's courtesy bow.

"Welcome Prince Xiao Ji," greeted Jae Joong and grinned. "Everyone, please greet Tang's Crown Prince." all people bowed down their heads and honored the Prince's presence.

"This is how we treat royal visitors. We do not need to get down on our knees. Anyways, how are you? You must have been very tired. I never thought that you would go out of your palanquin and show yourself up. Do you want some wine?" offered Jae Joong.

"Do you think I did not hear anything that you have said? You had the nerve to disrespect our great nation! You will regret all of these. Mark my words," warned Xiao Ji.

"Disrespect? You have heard everything, have you not? It was your diplomat who disrespected our nation first. What do you think of our kingdom—your colony? your property? Pardon my tone, but you have crossed the line, and as a King, I will not take this obloquy lightly."

Xiao Ji's rockhard glare jabbed Jae Joong's face. His indomitable facade wanted to crack the King's skull and forage his brains. But as his superego kicked in, his true emotions were concealed and a scoffed of mockery lunged their invisible barrier. "So do I, King Jae Joong. I will not take this lightly. My father will surely know about this. When he does, he will cease the diplomatic relationships between Silla and Tang."

"It was easy for you to say, Prince Xiao Ji. What do you know about diplomatic relationships? The Emperor would surely not do that, given that this issue is too fiddling to talk about. The important matter that we have to talk about here is you claiming that Dokdo Islands belongs to Tang when it is obviously not."

In the midst of a heated conversation, Jung Ho could not hold his itching bottom anymore, worried that Xiao Ji might snap any minute in the court. "Your Majesty, please pardon my interruption. I think your discussion about that must be in the prepared gazebo, with You, the council, and the Tang envoys only. The noblemen are watching, Your Majesty."

Jae Joong acknowledged the Prime Minister's suggestion. A part of a ruse planned by the apprehensive brother. He called out the attention of a unit of palace servants and hwarangs to escort the Tang visitors to the gazebo, to finally start the bilateral talk, which was delayed due to a trivial issue of paying respects. A group of kitchen servants, on the other hand, served the much-awaited food and beverages to those noble people who would be left in the main court.

"Let us discuss the issue thoroughly in the gazebo. Please follow our hwarangs."

Xiao Ji was about to turn around, but he was distracted by a familiar image in his left, adjacent to the King's throne, "You?" the Tang Prince scoured his eyes in confusion. Jae Joong shifted his view to Sae Joo and asked, "Yes? Is there another problem? Do you have something to say to my son?"

The garbled Prince stepped back, head shaking in disbelief. "No, no...That boy is your son?"

"Yes. Silla's Crown Prince, Sae Joo."

"No!" barked Xiao Ji.

"What exactly is happening?" spat Jae Joong, irked by the Crown Prince's incomprehensible tantrums. Sae Joo stood and explained, "It is because I have fooled him and his people, way back in Dokdo Islands."

People stopped momentarily from eating their meals, and all zipped their mouths to listen to the Prince's shocking revelation.

"It was a long story indeed. It happened in Dokdo Islands a couple of days ago. I was brought to the island along with other captives. He told us that he would release us once a Prince defeats him in a swordfight. I could not fight back then, so I talked to one of my fellow captives to pose a Prince, to fight him..." Sae Joo squinted his eyes to Xiao Ji and resumed, "Fortunately, that fellow had won, and I am here now right in front of you all.

The noblemen exchanged unknown whispers full of judgment towards the Tang Prince. Xiao Ji was beyond insulted with the Prince's avowal. The stares filled with contempt spread across the court like a big tidal wave, devouring the islands after a strong earthquake. The Tang Prince needed to save himself before he could outburst. He shouted abruptly because of too much ignominy.

"No!"

Lei Ming tried to calm his master down, knowing that he would not slip his fingers and let this public disgrace go. "Your Highness, please calm down."

"Stay out of this, Lei Ming or I will have your head shredded!" Xiao Ji roared.

The Prince's ill manners alarmed Jae Joong, worried that he might do something beyond the morals of humanity. He immediately ordered Xiao Ji and Lei Ming to proceed to the gazebo, to continue their discussions in a calmer manner. If he could not pacify the cantankerous royal using the regal and professional way, he would resort to a more violent approach. But of course, the first choice must always be the priority. Always the first answer.

Surprisingly, with Jae Joong's encroaching light-tenor voice, Xiao Ji was lured to follow. He strode his way outside the court, his boots torturing the soft-hearted carpet. The council members followed, and eventually, Sae Joo did.

The sweltering heat of the natural fireball pricked their fragile mortal skins. Sweats accumulated in clusters outside their pores before drenching down their bodies, strolling down the courtyard. A raging attitude would fire up the heat of the sun apparently. Xiao Ji dismantled from the group and went straight to Sae Joo at the back. Everyone drew their attention to the two Princes, about to get heated in a fearless confrontation. Hwarangs came in, Tang soldiers put in. Ready to protect their respective masters. Sae Joo raised his arm, telling everyone to proceed to the meeting place without the two of them.

"I can handle this, Father. You proceed with your main concern with the Tang diplomat."

Sae Joo noticed Dae Wong talking briefly to his father. Soon after, the King responded, "Be careful, Prince."

"I will, Your Majesty."

The gazebo stood alone near the King's personal pavilion. Under the arched yellow bridge, across a man-made lake, the peaceful water, with pink water hyacinth hats on its surface pirouetted in harmony as seeds fell from the beaks of summer birds, fluttering in the air. Yellow leaves had surrendered and faced their inevitable demise, falling from their mother branches to the waters, some to the ground waiting to be stepped on, washed away by the wind to a place they never imagined.

Servants had served the hottest tea, the most delicious Silla meal, and the oldest and the sweetest wines. Another platoon of hwarangs encircled the whole vicinity, watchful of any dire circumstances. "Shall we sit?" offered Jae Joong.

The discussion officially started, with Jung Ho stating the initial prognosis of the malignant illness rifting the two nations, devouring and consuming their diplomacy. Silla and Tang always had a complicated relationship. Mutualism in a way. One party benefits from the other and the other way around. For years, that kind of relationship had always come into the verge of breaking. Leaders change, principles and laws change. But as always, all misunderstandings had always been resolved, hopefully, this conflict would too.

Jung Ho stood and announced, "Allegedly, Tang Empire claims that Dokdo Islands is one of their territories. It was evident due to Prince Sae Joo's claim when he had an encounter with Prince Xiao Ji in the said island. The Tang's Crown Prince, together with some noblemen held a party when a group of bandits arrived with captives of mixed race: Silla and some other unknown South-east Asian races. Prince Xiao Ji organized a game of sword duels. If he was defeated, he would release the captives, if not, he would give some captives to the nobles as free slaves. What is your take on this, Minister Lei Ming?"

"Indeed, they are all true. However, slavery should not be your issue then. I believe we are here to talk about the ownership of Dokdo Islands," Lei Ming boasted.

Jae Joong put in, "Worry not, Minister. We will address each issue accordingly," he took a few sips from his tea and continued, "First, I do not truly understand why you claim Dokdo as your island. Bring out the map!" Dae Wong handed a scroll from his sleeves. Jae Joong unrolled it and landed it on the table. He stood and pointed out the islands, stressing out the location.

"If you are going to examine, your empire is too far from the islands. In terms of nautical distance, I would understand if Balhae or Yamato would claim it. But Tang? It is ridiculous."

Lei Ming raised a brow with Jae Joong's explanation. He scoffed, confident that he had his bullet to counterpart the King's attack. "Is that so? One question, King Jae Joong. How could you say that the island is yours? Clearly, Prince Xiao Ji would not be able to host his party if there were any hwarangs from Silla, guarding it. It was a free island, I suppose."

"You are clearly mistaken. We have hwarangs there. We have our records! The island is small, but not that small. You should remember that Dokdo Islands are divided into two simpler islets. One belongs to Silla, while the other one belongs to Yamato. Our islet has hwarangs. As far as I know, the other one has Yamato soldiers as well. None of those is a free island; there must be guards—unless Prince Xiao Ji had those guards killed. The Yamato Empire would not take a blind eye on this, they might blame Silla for whatever had happened in that island, may it be a party or whatever."

The Tang diplomat's sneer of disgust widened as he ordered one servant to handle him a scroll. Jae Joong's eyes narrowed, sensing what the scroll might contain. Lei Ming opened the scroll and showed it to everyone. Jae Joong's eyes flared, seeing a written agreement with the Yamato's Emperor seal, giving the ownership of one islet to Tang."

"Wh-what is the meaning of this?" he smacked the table with his fist, voice pitched up.

"I guess you could read, Your Majesty. A written agreement between two Emperors. Officially, that island where Prince Xiao Ji had a party belongs to Tang."

Jae Joong was gobsmacked, straight into his face. A spiked iron fist which stung his pale white skin. All this time he had no idea that he was being played. He was an imp, trapped between two giants. Tang had played on him, Yamato had ridiculed him. But most especially, his brother had outsmarted him again. Jung Ho approached his older brother, trying to console him, stealing gazes at the Tang diplomat.

Jung Ho could distinctly remember his driving passion not to be exposed. He did not want to trigger Tang, especially its Emperor, whom he had a huge debt to pay. The moment Jae Joong ordered the Prime Minister to send an invitation for a bilateral talk with Tang, he also wrote a letter of advice to the Tang Emperor—to create a deal with Yamato for them to officially own one part of Dokdo Islands. Eight days had passed. In the middle of Hwarang mass recruitment, Jung Ho had received a response. The Tang Emperor thanked him, but he had already sealed a move before receiving the letter. He revealed that Prince Xiao Ji had ordered killing Yamato island guards in order to fulfill his childish desires. Yamato and Tang were on the verge of war because of what had happened, but the Tang Emperor had successfully manipulated the Yamato Emperor, using a gambit the latter could not outwit.

The deal was closed. Hitting three birds in one stone. Jung Ho's secret would be safe, Tang would own Dokdo, and Prince Xiao Ji's slavery issue would not be brought about anymore.

Lei Ming smiled and asked Jae Joong, "Is this issue over, now that you know Yamato has handed the sovereignty of one Dokdo islet to Tang?"

The council members had mixed reactions, but generally almost pointing into one unanimous decision. Different hues of red, but all were still red. Jae Joong's entire body quivered as he was pestered by his ego. He raised his white flag, body drenched with the bitterness of intangible defeat. "Right. I acknowledge that. One part of Dokdo Islands belongs to Tang now."

"Good. Now, regarding Prince Xiao Ji's childish act, rest assured that we would address this matter properly. Like what you have said, our nation, our island, our rules."

Jae Joong warned Lei Ming for the last time before letting the unwanted visitors go, "I am against illegal slavery. But if that is what you want, taking people's lives for granted, fine. Just leave my people alone because once I knew that our people were taken into slaves illegally, I would personally talk to your Emperor, and if he demands for war, I would give him war."

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NOTES:

Hi everyone!

The map posted above reveals the location of Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) between Korea and Japan. I couldn't find a vintage map that has more emphasis on the island than the one that you could see above. If you ever want to do your research regarding what really happened in real history, you could just search it all over the internet.