Moonlight Drawn by Clouds Volume 1 Chapter 5

"That place, called the Heavenly Hall, is the palace where Her Majesty the Grand Dowager Empress lives. Over here is the Great Hall where His Imperial Majesty the Emperor dwells. And this side is the palace where Her Majesty the Empress resides, called the Great Creation Hall."

Beautifully painted eaves, majestic palaces, the early morning fog engulfing the figures of the proud trees and flowers, a place where even a small blade of grass was special, this was the very Palace where the emperor lived.

"Wow......"

Raon continuously interjected.

Finally she had arrived at the royal palace. She had endured the one hundred days in the recovery room and had finally been released outside into the world, but that wasn't the end. After leaving the recovery room, Raon had to spend an additional month in the house with the persimmon tree of InDukWon. For one month, she learned the etiquette of the palace and only then had she finally received permission to enter the royal palace. Because she had to go through this difficult process to even take a step into the royal palace, she was overwhelmed with a deep emotion.

Raon looked around with eyes full of curiosity. The interior of the royal palace had way exceeded her imagination. It was a new and different world.

"At this rate, a bug is going to enter your mouth."

Eunuch Jang said this to his new junior. Eunuch Jang, who was turning twenty this year, belonged to the residence of the crown prince. He was in charge of guiding Raon to the eunuch work room. With a cute and round complexion, Eunuch Jang gave detailed explanations for every nook and cranny of the palace to Raon as they headed to the eunuch work room. Who stayed in what palace, who the most important person was, to whom they would have to lower their heads, and to whom they were to raise their heads.

If one were to summarize everything that Raon heard so far......

In the palace, one could never relax their vigilance. They always had to lower their posture, and they always had to lower their eyes. The only ones Raon was allowed to raise her head and command were the young junior worker eunuchs and the young court ladies that had just entered the palace. If not that, the only ones left were the servants that did the miscellaneous chores around the palace. Not wanting to miss anything, Raon perked her ears and asked Eunuch Jang a question.

"Where have the royal family members of these palaces gone?"

"How did you know they weren't here?"

Eunuch Jang stared at Raon, who had known a fact that he had yet to tell her. Raon raised her shoulders and responded as if it was nothing.

"There are only a minimal amount of court ladies and eunuchs that manage the Great Hall and the Great Creation Hall here. Doesn't that mean the residents of these palaces are not present?"

"Aha, is that so? Eunuch Hong, you are rather sharp."

Eunuch Jang nodded his head as he finally understood and began to carry on with the conversation.

"As Eunuch Hong said, Her Majesty the Grand Dowager Empress, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, as well as Her Majesty the Empress are not currently at the Palace. Every time the season changes, the chronic illness of His Majesty flares up again. Therefore, they have retired to the palace in OnYang for His Majesty to recuperate."

"Is that so? But is it okay for the emperor not to be present in the palace? If the emperor isn't present, who is taking care of the national matters in court?"

"Who would worry about that when the crown prince is still here?"

Eunuch Jang began to teach Raon about the enormous palace in front of their eyes.

"The crown prince dwells in that hall."

"The crown prince......"

Just reciting it in a murmur made Raon's heart shrivel up due to its domineering presence. Who was the crown prince? Wasn't he was this nation's, Chosun's, foundation as well as a man who resided in a place that was higher than the stars? Raon asked Eunuch Jang in a trembling voice.

"What kind of person is the crown prince?"

"If I were to put it into words......"

The moment Eunuch Jang opened his mouth, CRASH! With a bustling explosive sound, the inner gate of the crown prince's residence flew open. After a while, a young man, who was wearing a robe that was was darker than Raon and Eunuch Jang's robes, was thrown out.

"Isn't that Eunuch Sung of the empress dowager's residence?"

Before Eunuch Jang had finished his sentence, the Eunuch Sung let out a pained voice.

"Ow, ow, ow."

Behind Eunuch Sung, a young man in a red uniform and a red military officer's hat came towards them. This young man approached the head of Eunuch Sung, who was spread out on the ground.

"This is not fair. Really, this is all a misunderstanding."

Eunuch Sung, who had now gotten on his knees, faced the crown prince's residence and kowtowed and implored. As he pounded his head into the ground, eyes filled with tears, Eunuch Sung looked extremely pitiful. However, the young man that had been looking down on Eunuch Sung spoke in an indifferent tone of voice.

"Weren't you warned that you would not be forgiven if you did this again?"

His cold voice was terrifying as he disappeared back inside. As soon as he left, the eunuchs and court ladies of the crown prince's residence went over to Eunuch Sung's side.

"Are you alright?"

"A pity, your clothes are a mess."

With words containing their worries, the eunuchs helped Eunuch Sung, then disappeared. As if they played a bout of a goblin's game, the fussing ended in an instant. For a short while, a silent quietness flowed by.

"Did you see that?"

Eunuch Jang broke the silence. Raon, whose gaze had been fixed on the crown prince's residence, raised her head.

"What?"

"The crown prince is that kind of person."

"That person...... was the crown prince? He has a stronger physique than I thought."

Raon remembered the young man in the red robe and spoke.

"No, no. That man was one of the crown prince's soldiers."

"Aha, I see. But why did you say that the crown prince, whom I have not met yet, is that kind of person?"

"Doesn't the saying go 'If you see one, you'll know ten'? You can see from the situation that just occurred that the crown prince doesn't allow even the smallest mistake."

"Is he that strict of a person?"

"Even the word 'perfect' wouldn't be accurate to describe this incredibly thorough person. He is someone that not only demands perfection of himself, but doesn't allow others to make a single mistake."

"Mistake...... What kind of mistake are you speaking of?"

"There was a chief eunuch that served the royal family that went by Chief Chae. He entered the palace at the age of six, spent his whole life here, and ultimately became a fixture of the palace. To that kind of person, the crown prince said that his walk wasn't upright and had him sent out of the palace. Even if your small bones have thickened, if you catch the eye of the crown prince, he will find your weak point without a doubt."

To think that one could be exiled due to one's walk.

"The crown prince sounds like a scary person."

"You're right. The crown prince always watches those under him with the eyes of a hawk, so we have a saying. If you're in front of the crown prince, make sure even your breathing is up to code with the rules of the palace."

"......"

There was a chill in her spine. In Raon's head, she imagined a young man with sharp eyes with a stubborn expression chasing the backs of the eunuchs all day, looking for their weak points.

"Since the crown prince is very strict, I'm guessing even respectful eunuchs don't usually last a full year."

"Huhuhu, that's correct. Since one year is almost impossible, even one month is hard to endure. However, that's not the case with everyone. There are some eunuchs that have endured this for five years."

"What kind of person can do that?"

In a setting where the crown prince cannot tolerate even a trivial thing such as a walk that is not up to code with the palace rules, to think someone could endure that for five years. Didn't that mean that this person was completely flawless? A curiosity for the identity of this person arose. Raon stared at Eunuch Jang with eyes filled with anticipation.

Eunuch Jang, relishing in Raon's gaze, raised his head and spoke.

"That person is......"

"......"

"Me!"

"Really?"

"A lie has never left my mouth."

"Eunuch Jang! You're so incredible!"

Raon wasn't just surprised, she was looking at Eunuch Jang with wonder and reverence. To think that Eunuch Jang, who looked extremely average, was such an amazing person. Raon remembered once again the never-changing truth that one mustn't judge a book by its cover. She really wanted to get to the bottom of Eunuch Jang's secret on how he was able to endure five years at the crown prince's side. 

"Are you curious about my secret?"

"Yes, I am curious. What is your secret?"

Gulp, Raon swallowed without realizing it. Eunuch Jang leaned his head towards Raon's ears as if he was going to reveal his great secret. 

"My secret is......"

"Your secret is?"

"To not be noticeable."

"What?"

"It is to not catch the crown prince's eye. If you're not noticed, you won't catch his attention. You mustn't even make an appearance in any place that might catch his eye."

Eunuch Jang's eyes sparkled brightly as he spoke. 

"......"

Ah, please don't say that as if you are bragging. Such a timid way of living, she didn't want to learn that. 

Raon, who had been full of expectations, turned her face away from Eunuch Jang and stared off into space. Not seeming to care, Eunuch Jang began to tell his detailed story of how he had endured the crown prince's residence for five years. 

"When the crown prince coughs at in-shi (3-5AM), don't enter the bedroom."

(T/N: The crown prince coughs when he wakes up to alert the eunuchs outside he is ready to begin his day)

Am I supposed to seem like I'm listening?

"At myo-shi (5-7AM), the crown prince has his lessons. While he's having his lessons, just avoid the area near the courtyard. At sshi (9-11AM), he always heads for the back garden to take a stroll, so at this time, don't even think of going anywhere near the back garden...... Hey, Eunuch Hong. Are you listening to me?"

"......"

"This is all going to help you survive...... what are you doing? Why aren't you memorizing this? Hey, hey, Eunuch Hong......"

---

Eunuch Jang continued to lecture her about his timid way of living all the way until they reached the eunuch work room. 

"This is the eunuch work room. There is someone waiting for you inside. That person is going to give you the tasks you will have to do."

"It's a shame we're going to part here."

"If you really think that's a shame......"

Leaving behind Eunuch Jang before he had finished his sentence, Raon hastily entered the building with a signpost reading 'eunuch work room'. He's not going to follow me, is he? It's the first time I've met a guy who talks that much. He's more of a chatterbox than a woman. Raon shook her head. 

Just then...

"You're late."

Inside the work room, a thin and gloomy voice called out. In the office of the work room, behind the center of a large table, a man in his mid-thirties was sitting down. Raon hurriedly approached this man. 

"I go by Hong Raon. I am new and have just entered the palace."

Raon bowed her head and introduced herself. 

"Tsk, how long has it been since you've entered the palace, and you've just shown your face here at the work room?"

"I came straight here."

"How dare you talk back?"

At the sudden scolding, Raon shut her mouth. Even from a conversation of a few words, Raon could instantly tell that this man was someone who loved authority. However, she wasn't intimidated by this person's spirit. Looking at this snarling man, Raon was filled with pity. 

This man in front of her was Eunuch Sung of the Queen Dowager's palace. His miserable expression as he was thrown out of the crown prince's residence was still fresh in her mind. Acting in a servile manner as a mouse would to a cat in front of the crown prince, but here in this current location, acting as if he was king... in Raon's heart, he was pitiful. 

"What is it? Is there something on my face?"

Eunuch Sung yelled angrily at Raon, who had been staring piercingly at him. 

"No, sir."

"Then why do you dare to stare at me with your head held up high?"

"I apologize."

Raon quickly bowed her head. These kinds of people were all the same, ten out of ten. They were weak to the strong, but fierce to the weak. The wisest thing to do in this situation was to avoid it. 

"Such audacity from an airhead like you...... tsk."

Looking displeased as he continued to browse some documents, Eunuch Sung glanced across at Raon.

"By the way......"

"Yes?"

"Did you come empty-handed?"

"What do you mean?"

"Really, you came into the palace empty-handed?"

"Was there something I should have prepared?"

As Raon looked puzzled as she asked, Eunuch Sung asked again in a subtle voice. 

"Really, you haven't heard anything from anyone?"

"Yes?"

"Your first day at the palace, you prepare something for your superior...... So, you see, the junior can express his thoughtfulness to his superior through a present or something like that."

"I'm sorry. I haven't heard of this."

Seeing Raon quickly bow her head, Eunuch Sung tsked again.

"Really, I've never met such a fool. So because no one told you, you haven't prepared anything? Don't you know the ways of this world? Seriously, what were those old men thinking to recommend a guy like this? They must be going senile. Tsk tsk."

Eunuch Sung thought of Chief Eunuch Park DuYong and Merchant Han SangIk who had recently left the palace. 

Those damned old men. Even when they were in the palace, they always shocked people with their unexpected and unreasonable acts. It looks like they didn't fix that bad habit even until they left the palace. 

With a displeased expression, Eunuch Sung scowled at Raon as he shook his head and picked up a book that had been in front of him. 

"Well, what's done is done. Now, how much are you planning on spending for your orientation?"

"Ah, the orientation?"

"Yes, the orientation. It seems like you know what it is."

"Yes, I heard of it a few times as I was being trained. The new recruits that have just entered the palace ask their superiors for their support and guidance by buying them a meal, right?"

"Yes, it seems like you know it well. So, what will you prepare?"

"I heard that as long as you show your sincerity, anything is fine."

"Right."

"So, before I entered the palace, I prepared some rice cakes and some liquor."

Eunuch Sung began laughing as if he didn't believe her. He was laughing while clutching his stomach, but he suddenly stopped and raised his eyes.

"Are you joking with me right now?"

"......?"

Raon could sincerely only afford to prepare some rice cakes and some liquor. No, it was overflowing in sincerity. However, as if he wasn't satisfied, Eunuch Sung roughly began to turn the pages of the book. 

"A month ago, there were two new recruits. They each spent about fifty nyang and prepared their orientation. So? I think that it would be right for you to spend about that much as well, no?"

"I apologize, but I cannot prepare that big sum of money at this moment."

"Don't worry. I can loan you that much in advance. I will just take out a little bit from your paycheck every month......"

"You cannot do that!"

She had already used up three years' worth of money. There was no way she would have enough money to spend on the orientation. She firmly shook her head. The already displeased Eunuch Sung's eyes became even colder. 

"If that's what you think, then I can't pressure you to do so."

Eunuch Sung fiercely pulled back his sleeves and took out a piece of paper to write something down. On the piece of paper, her name 'Hong Raon' and the character 'dòng', representing the crown prince's residence, were written side by side. This meant that the place Raon was to work was the crown prince's residence. 

Eunuch Sung's smile was a bit fishy. 

It seems like those two old foxes wrote this before they left the palace. Let's see if a guy like you can dare to work in a place like the crown prince's residence. Preposterous. Acting all high and mighty because you were sponsored by those two oldies that left the palace a month ago.

Now the big shot in the palace was none other than Eunuch Sung himself. The corner of his mouth twisted as he added three more characters next to the 'dòng'. 

'JaSunDang'.

"Alright. When you exit, there will be someone waiting for you. They will take you to where you need to go."

Eunuch Sung shooed Raon out as if it was troublesome for him. Leaving the eunuch work room as if she were pushed out, Raon laughed bitterly. 

Looks like she was disliked from beginning to end. 

---

"Where were you assigned?"

Eunuch Jang ran over to Raon as soon as she left the eunuch work room.

"You haven't left yet?"

There's no way Eunuch Jang is the one that's supposed to take me, right?

"I received orders to take you where you need to go."

"Is that so?"

Thinking about suffering through Eunuch Jang's chatter, Raon began to sweat. Seeming to not care, Eunuch Jang smiled brightly and lifted up his hand to Raon. 

"Let's see where you've been assigned. Where is the document that Eunuch Sung gave you?"

"Ah right, they said I had to go here."

Raon gave the document over to the excited Eunuch Jang. She was curious about where she was to go. She thought of the many residences she had passed by after entering the palace. May one of the wonderful and dazzling residences become my home.

"Here, I wonder how nice the place you are to go is. Let me see."

Eunuch Jang opened up the document in a carefree manner. However, in the next moment, Eunuch Jang's complexion turned white. 

"Gasp!"

"What's the matter?"

"This, how......"

After taking turns with Raon in looking at the piece of paper, Eunuch Jang kept lowering his head.

"Why, is it a bad place?"

Eunuch Jang's eyes that were looking at Raon were filled with pity. Raon asked again with an uneasy expression.

"Is it that bad?"

"How...... tsk tsk."

Without giving her an answer, Eunuch Jang just clucked his tongue and began to walk. He gestured to her as if to tell her to follow him, and Raon began to walk as well. 

How long did they continue on like this? They passed by dozens of palace buildings before the two stood in front of a relatively smaller tall gate with a sign attached that said 'JaSunDang'. 

"What is this place?"

At Raon's question, Eunuch Jang looked at her with pity and answered. 

"This is the place where you are to stay from now on."

"Is that so?"

This is the place where I will be staying?  Looking at the wooden door, Raon's face filled with anticipation. 

"But...... this place is extremely quiet. It's as if no one lives here."

"Well, I guess one person will live here now."

"What?"

"Aigoo, look at the time."

Suddenly, Eunuch Jang began to shake as if he were a deer with its tail caught on fire. Raon looked at the flustered Eunuch Jang with suspicious eyes. 

Why is he acting like this? Is it because this place has someone that is even more exhausting than the crown prince? Well, what am I going to do?  I'm just going to get through one day at a time and slowly save up my paychecks. If I just get through three years, I'll be able to return back home.

Just then she heard the chatty Eunuch Jang's voice.

"Then I'm going to head out."

"Why? Why don't you step inside for a bit before leaving?"

At Raon's suggestion, Eunuch Jang frantically waved his hands. 

"No, no. No thank you, that's okay."

"Don't be like that and......"

"No, no. I'm very faint-hearted, so I cannot stand to be inside this ghost-infested...... Darn it!"

Eunuch Jang covered his mouth with his hands.

"Are there...... ghosts inside this building?"

"No, no. How can that be? A long time ago, during the time of great King Sejong, some of the court ladies attending the crown princess fell and died in the pond in JaSunDang. But how could they have become ghosts? Well, I guess there were a few people that claimed they saw the ghost, but......"

"......"

Don't cover your mouth now. I've already heard it all.

"Well then, I'll pray for you."

Hahaha, with an awkward laugh, Eunuch Jang slowly walked backwards and left. Hwiiiing. Left alone, Raon felt a seasonal but unusually chilly wind blow around her feet. She looked inside the gate and then let out a forced brave laugh. 

Well, how bad can it be?

---

"Ah......"

After she opened the solid tall gate and entered into JaSunDang, Raon let out a small exclamation. Golden silk cocoons, the world of virtuous men who had come down from the heavens to earth, a place filled with beauties clothed in embroidered sheer silk as soft as cicada's wings, where banquets were held daily with fragrant liquor and delicious food, where the music was played all year round without stopping, a never-ending rich world...... was nowhere to be found. 

A dense field of weeds beyond help, a broken-down residence that seemed like it was going to collapse any moment. Was this truly one of the buildings in the Palace? Raon doubted her own eyes. She remembered Eunuch Sung's eyes that were full of meaning as he looked at her and pfft, she laughed bitterly.

As I thought, so that's what he meant. 

The offense of coming into the palace empty-handed, the arrogant offense of not obediently borrowing money for the orientation... Raon finally realized that these offenses had landed her in this place. 

There must be a way for me to be able to leave this place if I try hard enough. If I bribe Eunuch Sung with the orientation like he wanted, I may be able to leave immediately. But she didn't have that kind of money, and neither did she want to do it. This place was a bit...... no, actually it was very neglected, but if she cleaned it up a bit, it would be liveable. She was going to find a way to make this residence liveable no matter what it took. 

"As for the cobwebs all around this place, all I have to do is dust it out. Even though the dust that rises up whenever I take a step causes me to cough to no end, it's not like I'll die because of it......cough cough. Ah, I might die. Let's start the cleaning now, cough cough."

Raon hurriedly rolled up her sleeves and began cleaning. 

How much time passed like this? After the cleaning was finished, the residence was still worn out, shabby, and chilly, but it was tidy enough for someone to live comfortably. 

"Ah, I'm finally finished."

Raon collapsed onto the clean floor.

The Palace is supposed to be spacious, but it was too spacious. Starting from entering the Palace, then going to the eunuch work room, then finally to this place, it took her the whole day. Before she knew it, the sunset permeated through the crack of the door. Not thinking about the fact that Eunuch Jang had dragged her around to show her all the buildings, Raon blamed everything on the large scale of Palace. 

"Aigoo, my legs."

Raon massaged her tired legs. However, she suddenly felt that something was looking at her and tilted her head. 

Was it...?

Gasp, she had turned her head, but nothing was there. In this spacious JaSunDang, there was only herself. There wasn't even an ant to be seen. 

Was she just feeling things?

Instantly, Eunuch Jang's voice came across her mind. 

'A long time ago, during the time of great King Sejong, some of the court ladies attending the crown princess fell and died in the pond in JaSunDang. But how could they have become ghosts? Well, I guess there were a few people that claimed they saw the ghost, but......'

Ehh, no way......

However, she felt it again and turned her head. As expected, no one was there. At this, Raon finally eased up sprawled out on the floor. 

"It's okay, you're just feeling things. There's no way ghosts exist. How are there ghosts in this day and age......"

Raon's voice died off. Her eyes that had been looking up at the ceiling widened. Her mouth began to open slowly. Finally, some words burst out of her mouth. 

"It's there! A ghost!"

On top of a crossbeam, one young man was looking down on Raon. 

Chapter end