Yun Ki had never felt so sidelined before.

He'd never felt himself deflate any faster than how he'd been feeling now.

He looked down, watching the outline of his erection disappear amidst the layers of clothing, one that had been prominent, moments ago.

He was certain, he'd succumb of blue balls and as Wang Taeiji is grasping his wrist and pulling him into The shared Chamber, he watches the doors close on a very perplexed yet satisfied looking Soojin, whose kind eyes glint back at him.

Yun Ki's jaw is tense.

The tick in his muscles is a constant reminder of the fact that the blood that had once rushed to his groin was now being redistributed, elsewhere.

Wang Taeiji feels at home as he slumps on the made bed, feeling the textile under his fingers as he hums.

Yun Ki on the other hand, runs his fingers past his scalp, tugging on the ends, almost painfully.

If only he didn't respect Wang as much as he did, he would've had his way with Soojin.

He would've trapped her under his body and felt bare flesh over flesh as he'd bite her shoulders and nibble over her body, reminding her that she belonged to Min Yun Ki.

He'd fill her up to the brim and shove in two of his thickest fingers as a plug, ensuring that his seed stayed in and soaked Soojin's velvety walls.

He'd marvel over the bump of her lower stomach, so inflated and gorged with bouts and bouts of cum.

One that'd threaten to leak past her gaping hole with even the slightest movements.

Agh, he was really going ballistic.

Playing out sensual scenarios of impregnating his wife was proving to be a throbbing headache, one that lingered along the midline of his tense forehead.

"Did the two of you really need to arrange this?" Yun Ki asks, irritatedly.

Wang Taeiji beams from ear to ear.

"Of Course! You're excited, aren't you?" He asks, looking at a very disgruntled Yun Ki covered in dried clay.

Yun Ki huffs out loud, untying the knot of his jokki, rather forcefully.

"Do I look excited? You really ran your lawn mow over the garden of dreams I'd spent years, growing and flourishing." He spits, discarding his upper clothing as he stands bare chested, heaving in a laboured fashion.

The elderly man laughs a little, watching Yun Ki's strained lowers.

"Aish, you were going to bed her, weren't you?" He sighs, pointing at Yun Ki's loins.

"For the first time, yes.." Yun Ki cracks his back, walking into the bathroom.

He lets out a strained sound.

"Where are you going?" Wang asks, giggling at Yun Ki's frustrated self.

An echo of Yun Ki's voice reaches him all the way from the bath, accompanied with a splash.

"To deflate the remainder of the balloon you popped, so strategically!" He snarls a snide remark causing the elderly Crowned King to fall back into the sheets, clutching his stomach, cackling.

——————

The pit of Soojin's stomach was gurgling with excitement as her maidservant cleansed the wet clay off of her body.

The clay Yun Ki had splayed over her cheek and neck, sat like a jewel.

She felt ecstatic.

As though her dreams of finding true love and stumbling upon the pot of gold that signified bounties of happiness, had finally found her way.

She's sat in the Bath of The Queen's chamber as her Maidservant scrubs her back, of all the dry skin.

"Bathe Pyeha in auspicious milk!" The elderly Queen commands, walking in followed by her own troop of women who place jugs and jugs of endless sweetened milk by the Bath.

[*Pyeha = Queen.]

Soojin watches the scene, staring at the silver tumblers with eyes perched wide open.

"Soojin-ah, a to-be-bride ought to be cleansed in the finest of Milk. It signifies washing away of all the impurities- mental and physical, as you prepare yourself to entangle in strings of relations that come with a Wedding. You'll be someone's wife, someone's daughter-in-law, someone's aunt but most importantly, a person whom the Women of Baekmin look up to, with relentless admiration and hope." She explains seated on the ledge of the bath, running a hand over Soojin's tresses.

A Maidservant brings a tumblr of milk, with shaky hands and the Old Queen steps away, watching the pearly white liquid soak all of Soojin's body right from the vertex of her skull, down to her toes.

Soojin feels refreshed, as though she's been reborn.

Unlike the first time, she felt more like a full-fledged bride today and the Queen of Goryeo was taking up the role of her Mother, as she involved herself in every ritual and fulfilled it, dutifully.

Soojin hadn't had this ounce of mental support from her very own mother.

Being at the receiving end of adoration and affectionate caresses filled Soojin's heart to the brim and brought tears in her eyes as she looked back at The Queen, passing down instructions regarding Soojin's bridal wear for tomorrow.

The Queen watches Soojin's glossy eyes and trembling lips, rushing over to her.

"What's wrong? A-Are you hurt? Was the milk too cold?" She questions, worriedly, running her eyes over Soojin's trembling and tense form, arms crossed over her chest, protectively.

Soojin shakes her head no.

"Y-You're far too kind, Y-Your Majesty." Soojin weeps, shoulders hunching and trembling every time she exhales a sob.

The emotions that overwhelmed here needed an outlet and she'd found the way to her own heart via her tears.

The Queen pulls her in a hug, drenching her own luxurious silk hanbok as she pats Soojin's bare back, consolingly.

There's comfort in her embrace and Soojin feels tended to.

She's breaking in the warmth of the embrace, feeling as though she has some support.

A hand placed over her shoulder, reminding her that her tough times were now over.

"Don't say that, dear. You and Yun Ki are like my own children..I'm doing this out of love and adoration for the both of you. I want you to receive the blessings you never did, back then." She sighs into Soojin's hair.

She was no stranger to the circumstances under which Yun Ki and Soojin had been engaged to Marry.

All the frail girl needed was a Motherly caress, the elder Lady thought to herself.

"I want you to call me, Eomeoni. I would love to be a Mother-like-figure to someone like you, Soojin-ah. You're really one of a kind.." She mumbles, caressing Soojin's goosebumps coated arms.

Soojin detaches herself from The Queen's embrace, nodding fervently.

"Eomeonim." She chimes out, smiling.

——————

"Eomeoni! I want you to meet someone." Yong Sun chimes out of the door, as he walks into the seating area, calling out for Soojin's Mother.

The elderly lady walks out, timidly, watching Yun Ki being followed by an aged gentleman.

One who bears a thick white beard and has a hump on his back as he bows before her.

Yong Sun chimes with pride as he pats over the elderly man's back.

"He is my teacher. The man who can cure Joon Ki-ssi. This man's hands are pure magic. He's come right from The Palace!" Yong Sun beams, staring at the elderly man's side profile.

"Ahjumma, I've come to see Joon Ki and give my verdict of his health. I have specialised in years and years of strategic health management. I believe I can do wonders with his body..Ah, before I forget, your daughter, Pyeha Soojin, is an absolute delight!" The man speaks out loud, in a gruff tone.

He staggers on his feet and his eye bags look rather heavy.

"Y-You've met Soojin?" The elderly woman asks, with stars in her eyes.

"Of Course! Yun Ki is like my nephew! Alas, your daughter sits in the Palace as a statue.." The man sighs, exhaling out loud.

Soojin's mother's eyes flicker in confusion, a small smile over her lips.

"What might you mean, Seonsaengnim?" She asks.

[*Seonsaengnim = Master.]

The elderly man seats himself on the plush sofa, fiddling with his nimble fingers.

"Let's just say, she's as good as a Widow.." He explains, causing The Mother's ears to perk up.

"Mwo?" She asks, bewildered.

[*Mwo = What?]

"You heard me, Ahjumma. Yun Ki and Soojin have no physical relations. Jeonha is cooped up with his Royal Concubine, all day. Soojin-ssi wets her pillow every night, in tears. I heard she gave up eating, even..Aish, I don't understand why you'd sent your daughter to such a place deemed no better than Hell.." He chides, pitifully.

"—However, running my eyes around your home, I can figure why you would.." He snarls a witty response, feeding her Mother's mind with lies.

He looks around the well-furnished home, tutting.

Foul Lies.

"Sh-She's unhappy?" The woman asks, confused.

The man sucks his teeth, in response.

"Of course. How would one feel watching their significant other rail other women and treat them as their Queen?" He questions the woman who could succumb to high blood pressure as she grabs the back of her neck, in agony.

The older woman shakes her head no.

"T-This can't be true. He cares for her..she told me so.." She stutters, embarrassingly.

The man laughs in response, watching Yong Sun's lips curl into an evil one-sided smirk.

"She lied to you..Didn't you see the burn marks all over her skin? Didn't she tell you he beats her?" He instigates, feeding the vulnerable old Hag with deceptive facts.

"H-How do you know this? Who are you.." The helpless woman asks, tears rolling down her eyes, vision blurry and heart far too weak.

The man leans back, legs crossed over one another as though he's sitting in his own home.

"Ahjumma, I'm the ears to The Palace..They call me Seonsaengnim Choi."