4. Late Night Walks

Eunuch Kim entered the Crown Prince’s room, bringing a plateau with sweets and tea. He expected to find His Royal Highness absorbed in reading his documents and preparing himself for the next day's meeting with the ministers.

BANG!

Looking around panicked, he dropped the plateau and started to look all around the room moving chaotically.

“Your majesty!? Your Highness!? Where are you?” shouted with despair.

Then suddenly he remembered that Lee Sun must be out of the palace again, as he used to do, incognito. But the most annoying thing for Eunuch Kim is that he never announced him beforehand so he won’t panic every time he finds his missing. It is his responsibility to know the whereabouts of the Crown Prince at any moment of the day. However, ever since he became the personal eunuch of the Prince, it wasn’t a day easy for him. Since Lee Sun was a child, he had all kinds of habits that gave a hard time.

Dressed up as a random merchant, with a large and tall hat with beads going all around his chin, till his chest, Lee Sun left the Palace through the gates he only knew and his most trusted guard. He was doing this ever since he was 15 and like this his ten years of going out incognito became one of his favorite activities. It gave him the opportunity to hear the people, to see the reality of the streets and to meddle with the normal daily problems of those living on the other side of the palace’s walls.

And the best place to hear and find out everything is no other place than the one the most frequented by the noblemen of the country- the brothel. It is a spot where the business meets the sins, where the rich men gather up to close great deals and the darkest secrets are enclosed or disclosed between sips of alcohol and silky skirts of courtesans.

“Welcome, Mister! What a pleasure to see you again! Come and I will ask the girls to prepare your room. You know that we have one room ready for you all the time. You are one of our oldest customers. “ said Madam Moon with a large smile. She was running this brothel for 10 years, immediately after the previous Madam passed away. For sure she was in her 40s, but Madam Moon still looked younger than that age. With a fair skin, always powdered with white, red colored lips and dark eyes that would make even the time stop in place. Her full chest was protruding through her mauve, embroidered top and her round hips all covered with long silk black skirts. She turned her back to Lee Sun, waving a silky fan embroidered with cherry blossoms, showing a slim, long hand, with a milky white smooth skin and long, red painted nails. Even though she was well over 40 years old, her hair was as black as 20 years ago, tied in a tall braided updo.

Lee Sun knew her since he started to come to this place, ten years ago. At the same time she became the matron of this place. She didn't take customers, but she was making sure none of the men entering this place is disappointed or makes any troubles to her girls. However, there he was only one customer she visited in his room and spent long hours together. And this was Lee Sun.

Passing by other rooms on his way to his designated space, Lee Sun could see many of his ministers drinking and touching girls, laughing loudly and making dirty jokes. The same noblemen who were looking most dignified during their court meeting, were rolling on the floor in this brothel looking disgusting and behaving out of their rationality. Only one room didn't look the same as the others. It made Lee Sun raise an eyebrow after passing by it.

“So Minister Jang is here tonight?” he said in a low voice while sitting down on the cooled floor of his room.
“Most nights he is here. He stays late till morning and meets various people. Most of them merchants.”, replied Madam Moon joining him, sitting down across the room, in a low voice also.

“Who serves him in his room?”asked Lee Sun, starting to rub his chin.

“You know that he never drinks. Or at least, not here. And he does not let any girls join them or serve them in that room. He asked to be alone with his guests.” whispered Madam Moon. “But you know what is the stranger thing!? I see those merchants meeting him for a while and they do not come back again to see him. Ever again.”

“And why is this strange to you? Maybe they finished their business.” said the Prince.

“Believe me, it is strange. In all my career here, I never saw a man who entered this place once to not come back again. Never. Only if he died.” replied Madam Moon in a hissed voice.

“So you say that Minister Jang does something suspicious? I know for sure that it is already suspicious to see him making businesses outside of his position at the court. He is not allowed to have any occupation outside of his main role as a minister. I will take a look at him.” spoke Lee Sun while standing up.

“Are you already leaving, Your Majesty?” asked Madam Moon, standing up immediately.

“I will go for now, but I need you to do something. Try to find out anything about any of those men in the room of Minister Jang and report to me next time.” demanded the Prince heading to the sliding door.

“Very well, Your Highness” replied Madam Moon with a gentle bow.

On the way out, they passed again by the room of Minster Jang and he was still there with those merchant noblemen. Minister Jang saw the passers by and, suddenly, he seemed curious about the man who was accompanied by Madam Moon herself. He stood up for a moment and looked to the main entrance where he saw a young tall man leaving, followed by another man holding a sword. That nobleman looked so familiar.

“Madam Moon, I see you have had private guests lately. I did not know you started to offer those services again.” said Minister Jang with a sly smile.

“Oh, Minister Jang, not at all. I do not offer any services like that, I am too old, you know” laughed Madam Moon “He was just asking about one of our girls. He must have a crush, I think. This young man seems to be on fire.” she continued with a cheeky smile.

“Must be that, then.” Minister Jang said, coughing. “Speaking of your girls, Madam Moon, I also need one of them. Send me one in my room during my next visit.”

“Very well, Mister. Do you have any specific request about how she should look? What kind of girl would please you?” asked Madam Moon.

“It does not matter. I only want a young one, with no signs or scars on her body. Also, that tattoo that all your girls have, I do not want to see it. Make her cover it when she comes to meet me.” talked Minister Jang.

“Of course, Mister. That can be done with no problem. We have our ways here, as you might know - you aren’t the only one who does not like to see tattoos.” replied Madam Moon languorously.

Minister Jang returned to his guests and Madam Moon went to her quarters to meet a specific girl.

On his way out from the brothel, Lee Sun could see Minister Jang talking to Madam Moon and this made him wonder what it was about. So he would visit this place again sooner than he thought.

Chapter end