Later that day, Jin-Ri and Yeng were waiting outside Minister Shin's estate. "I can't believe I let you drag me into this," Yeng said, letting Jin-Ri know that she did not want to be there
"Well, you're a good friend that is why you're here" She explained, appreciating that Yeng was accompanying her "Look here comes Lady Hu" she informed her friend.
The two bowed to Lady Hu the moment she arrived followed by several carts of food and supplies "Why are you here Ms. Shameless? Didn't I say I would take care of things?"
"Yes, you did my Lady, I just thought I could help" Jin-Ri replied explaining her presence
Lady Hu then noticed Yeng "Ms. Yeng, the Cherry Blossom is about to open, shouldn't you be in the kitchen helping with preparations?"
Yeng bowed her head "Yes my Lady I will head back now" She waved at Jin-Ri and then made her way to the Cherry Blossom.
Lady Hu, gestured at Jin-Ri to join her. The two ladies went up to the soldier guarding the gates of Minister Shin's house "We are here to deliver food and supplies to Minister Shin" Lady Hu informed the guard
"That is not allowed" The guard quickly said, blocking their way
"What is your name?" Lady Hu asked the guard "I want Prince Young-Sik to know who is to blame that his master starved while he was away" she said threatening the guard
The guard's demeanor shifted to fearful upon hearing the prince's name and immediately opened the gates, not wanting to be blamed by the prince. Lady Hu and Jin-Ri entered the complex followed by two carts filled with food. Minister Shin who saw what had happened stepped out of his house to greet them. "What is this?" He asked the two ladies
Lady Hu bowed to the minister "These are supplies, my lord, Prince Young-Sik's court maiden thought that you might need them since you were all placed under house arrest."
A big smile appeared on Minister Shin's bearded lips "We are starting to worry because of our dwindling supplies. I gather that you are also a friend of the prince?" He asked Lady Hu
"Yes, my lordship, however, the idea is not mine...it is hers" She pointed to Jin-Ri who bowed to the minister gracefully
"Thank you, my dear, you might have just saved us all from starvation," Minister Lim said expressing gratitude to the court maiden.
"Please don't mention it, my Lord, it is my way of helping the prince, since I cannot assist him in the field of battle." She said humbly "My Lord? A question please, if you will allow"
"What is it, my dear?" Minister Shin curiously waited for the question
"The prince...he can win this war, right? He will return to us safe?" She asked the prince's master; someone she knew who could assess the prince's capabilities
Minister Shin took a deep breath "I have trained the prince well, but war skills are not enough to guarantee survival. Someone would also need intelligence and a strong will to survive. Something that your master also possesses. But even with those qualities it is hard to guess the outcome. The best we can do is to pray to the creator that the prince will overcome this" He gently explained to the two ladies
"I understand my lord, thank you for being honest...I know he can overcome this...I have faith in him" She said to the Minister
Minister Shin took Jin-Ri's hands "Don't lose that faith and hope...those are the best things we can do to help him" Minister Shin informed Jin-Ri, making her heart a little bit lighter
"My Lord, we will be leaving these two carts here, should you require more, just place the empty carts outside and we will get you what you will need" Lady Hu promised the minister.
"That is very generous of you, young lady, but I wouldn't want you to shoulder everything, we have the gold coins what we lack is the means to buy. So, as you suggested we will leave the empty carts along with coins to help in the purchase" Minister Shin insisted
"As you wish my lord, now if you will excuse us, we need to make the same delivery to Minister Im and Go" She explained and with another bow, the two ladies went to their next destinations.
For the next few days, she will content herself not hearing news about the prince, for she knew no news, means he was alive and well. She was re-assigned to laundry duty, her original post, but she never once neglected Prince Young-Sik's residence, she cleaned and cared for it daily, ensuring the prince had a home to return to.
King Man-Ju was out for his evening walk when he spotted Jin-Ri diligently scrubbing the patio floors of Prince Young-Sik's residence late into the night. "Isn't that the prince's court maiden?" he inquired of a nearby eunuch.
Eunuch Ahn quickly responded, "Indeed, your Highness. Since the prince departed for war, she has been tasked with laundry duties, but in the evenings, she can be found cleaning the prince's residence. Her loyalty and dedication to him are truly commendable."
King Man-Ju shot a piercing look at the eunuch, causing him to bow and step back in fear. A wave of jealousy washed over the King as he continued to watch Jin-Ri, noticing her weariness from the day's labor, yet a smile remained on her lips as she tidied the prince's grounds. "I alone deserve such unwavering loyalty... no one else!" he thought to himself
"Effective tomorrow, she will be reassigned to my entourage!" the King declared, his voice echoing with authority.
Eunuch Ahn, visibly shaken, attempted to voice his concerns. "But Your Highness, she belongs to Prince Young-Sik, a position granted by your father."
With a menacing stride, King Man-Ju approached the eunuch, his gaze piercing. "Do you see the previous King or the prince here?" Eunuch Ahn, gripped by fear, could only shake his head. "Then I demand her presence in my entourage by tomorrow!"
Gasping in trepidation, Eunuch Ahn replied, "Y-Yes, Your Highness."
The next morning, Jin-Ri was in line with the other court maidens, ready to receive her duties for the day, when Eunuch Ahn and the head court lady approached the line of court maidens "Hong Jin-Ri!" The eunuch called out her name, and Jin-Ri popped her head from behind the line
"I am Hong Jin-Ri, what can I do for you?" she asked nervously.
The head court lady approached and handed her a small parchment, Jin-Ri accepted the parchment and opened it to read the contents "You are being assigned to the King's entourage, go and take your station at the King's residence" Eunuch Ahn told Jin-Ri with a cheerful demeanor
Her face filled with surprise, Jin-Ri tried to protest "B-But I am Prince Young-Sik's court maiden, assigned by the late King Seo-Jung himself! I can't be re-assigned..."
"Show gratitude for the elevation of your status with your new post," the head court lady interrupted. The old lady grabs Jin-Ri by the arm and takes her to the King's residence. Though hesitant, Jin-Ri had no choice but to do as she was told.
When they arrived at their destination the King was already waiting. The three of them bowed to Man-Ju, the head court lady then guided Jin-Ri to join the other court maidens in line behind the King.
As they walked the palace grounds, the King spoke referring to Jin-Ri "You the new one, tomorrow, go to the seamstress and tell her you will need new uniforms for your new post"
Jin-Ri bowed "Yes Your Highness" she replied, but even then, her eyes wandered to the direction of Prince Yong-Sik's residence.
That night, after finishing her chores, she tiptoed back to Prince Young-Sik's palace, ready to tackle the dust bunnies lurking in the corners. While she was giving the curtains a vigorous shake, she didn't notice the King sneaking up behind her. With one final heave, she sent a cloud of dust flying right into the King's face, causing him to erupt in a coughing fit.
"You clumsy oaf!" yelled Eunuch Ahn, frantically brushing the dust off the King's royal robes.
Jin-Ri's jaw dropped in horror at her blunder. In a flurry of panic, she grabbed a clean cloth and started wiping King Man-Ju's face, while his entourage gasped in unison, "What are you doing? You can't just touch the King!" they all shoutedas if she'd just tried to steal his crown.
King Man-Ju shooed away his entourage like pesky flies. "Let her be," he commanded, eyes glued to Jin-Ri, who was frantically scrubbing his face like it was a dirty dish.
"Oh my gosh...please don't be mad, your highness! I didn't mean to mess up! I know I should probably be facing the axe right now, but can we just skip to the part where I don't get executed?" she said, flashing a nervous grin that could light up a dark room.
King Man-Ju chuckled "I never heard of anyone who got executed just because she showered the King with dust" He then looked at the prince's residence "Do you clean this entire place every night?"
Jin-Ri took a couple of steps back "Yes Your Highness, but only the places I wasn't able to clean from the previous day"
King Man-Ju smiled at the court maiden "No one could stop you from cleaning your master's house, can they?"
"Forgive my rudeness your Highness, but I will make sure that Prince Young-Sik will have a clean and warm house to return to after he drives those Aranese invaders out of Chiongsun," She said with utmost sincerity.
King Man-Ju nodded "Very well, if I can't stop you, let me lighten your burden a bit, I give you authority to stay in the prince's house until he returns" He then turned to his eunuch "Eunuch Ahn, transfer all of her possessions into the prince's residence"
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness, but I don't believe I am worthy of staying in the prince's residence," Jin-Ri said humbly. "I also worry about what others may think of me staying in the prince's house while he is away." Jin-Ri expressed her concern about how people might perceive her.
"Nonsense, you didn't ask for it, I gave it to you, people would be wise to accept it and not scrutinize you" The King assured her with a comforting voice. Man-Ju thinks that by doing these things he could earn her trust.
For a moment, Man-Ju was enticed by her sweet smile and expressive eyes "You don't deserve her loyalty brother...but as King I do" he thought to himself with a grin