NovelOLX Chapter 136: Vermilion Princess Seol (1)
Chapter 136: Vermilion Princess Seol (1)
The next day, Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon returned to Cheongdo Palace.
After an exhausting
Recently, she faced a series of events that profoundly challenged her values. So everyone was uncertain about what she might say next.
“Inner Palace Inspector Seol Tae Pyeong lost his position because of me.”
“…Huh?”
The first to react was the Azure Princess.
The only reason Seol Tae Pyeong had been able to frequent the inner palace and interact with the crown princess consorts was his position as the Inner Palace inspector.
When it became clear that the manners of the inner palace had been poorly managed, Seol Tae Pyeong was also in danger of losing his position.
“Then… does that mean…?”
“Yes. Because of me, he has lost his position. Not just him; many others have suffered as well… I feel deeply responsible for it.”
“Vermilion Princess, please don’t blame yourself too much. The responsible actions you’ve shown so far won’t be undone by a single mistake.”
The Black Princess, at least, offered genuine words of concern.
The Vermilion Princess glanced at the Black Princess and thought to herself that she was indeed a genuinely good-hearted person; rather, she wasn’t suited for this political arena.
“Still, for Tae Pyeong… for General Seol to lose his position as the Inner Palace Inspector ….”
“I will take responsibility for it.”
The Vermilion Princess set her teacup down on the table and spoke firmly.
“I have thought about it many times since I returned the golden hairpin. I… am not fit to be the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.”
And with that, a declaration that would shake up the entire gathering was made in the middle of the tea gathering.
If it were anyone from the Jeongseon clan, they would have clung to the collar of her court robe and begged her to reconsider. Simply having someone from the Jeongseon clan seated as the mistress of Vermilion Bird Palace carried immense influence.
However, she made her decision on her own, without consulting a single person from Jeongseon.
“Once I have taken care of those who have been harmed by this incident, I will resign my position as crown princess. I am certain that His Highness the Crown Prince will gladly grant his permission.
She would cast off her court robes and return to Jeongseon as a mere woman.
At her explosive declaration, not only the crown princess consorts present but also the maids froze in place.
The mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace. It was a position every woman in the palace coveted, one that left them salivating.
If not Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon, then who else could possibly take responsibility for that role?
The sudden announcement of such a monumental change sent the inner palace into chaos. Yet, the Vermilion Princess’s expression remained resolute.
Through her countless moments of turmoil, she had not emerged empty-handed.
What she had gained was the courage to cast off the authority she had carried her entire life.
The White Princess was stunned by the declaration and she looked at her with trembling eyes.
Sitting before her now was not Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon but simply the woman named In Ha Yeon.
***
Rumors spread rapidly that the power structure of the inner palace was about to undergo a seismic change.
If not for Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon, who else could possibly bear the weight of being the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace?
Who could ever take her place as the most authoritative crown princess consort? It was, after all, nothing less than a throne of thorns and a poisoned chalice.
Such a scandalous topic that was perfect for gossip circulated among the maids all day. It seemed only a matter of time before the news spread beyond the inner palace.
“Didn’t I tell you all to fetch water from the well? And here you are, chattering away in a place like this!”
“Aah! Maid Seol… we’re so sorry…!”
Seol Ran, who had burst out to personally find the maids neglecting their duties, scolded the girls caught in the midst of their gossip.
She placed her hands on her hips and let out a loud “Ahem!” as she exhaled into the crisp early winter air; her breath formed a misty cloud in the process. Not long after, she muttered, “It’s gotten so cold!” and soon returned to worrying about the maids’ health. She was just kind like that.
This was the high senior maid Seol Ran.
A girl known for her exceptional skills and character. The most famous girl in the Heavenly Dragon Hall.