HBPEK C6

Chapter 6. It’s Too Early to Be Disappointed

A faint chirping filled the night as insects sang love songs under the deeply mellow moonlight.

A cool night breeze slipped through the open window, easing the heat of the day.

Only Yeonhwagung’s main hall remained occupied by Won So-ye, Eun-ryeong, and Chae-hee.

“Where is Seong-yeo?”

At So-ye’s question, Chae-hee quickly answered.

“Hehe, Lady Jin said she was going to the dressing chamber and stepped out.”

So she’s gone to report everything that happened today at Baekun Palace to Lady Yeongbi.

That actually works out better. She probably doesn’t know what I discussed with Ju-gun—she must be anxious by now. Heh.

So-ye turned to Eun-ryeong.

“Eun-ryeong, I have something I’m curious about.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At her formal reply, So-ye nodded slightly.

“How were the letters from Seo-mun brought into the palace? It can’t be easy to smuggle correspondence past palace regulations.”

It was something she had never asked before.

Bringing in love letters violated palace rules, and normally the mistress of such affairs was not supposed to know, so that she would not be held responsible if discovered. Eun-ryeong hesitated inwardly.

“Your Highness… why would you ask something like that? It would be better if you did not know such things.”

So-ye understood her concern.

If I push further, I’ll only put Eun-ryeong in a difficult position.

But then another thought arose.

Did Ju-gun really not know the letters were smuggled in against regulations?

Given his indifferent attitude, it actually seemed possible.

“Forget it. You don’t have to answer.”

Relieved, Eun-ryeong bowed slightly.

After dismissing both Chae-hee and Eun-ryeong, So-ye was left alone in thought.

In truth, she had never intended to remain in the palace.

It was unfortunate for the original owner of this body, but living as the crown princess of U-guk, trapped within the palace walls, was not something she could accept.

Once outside the palace, she could assume a new identity she had hidden away and live freely. She would no longer need to act as an agent.

And yet, after learning the circumstances of Won So-ye’s death, leaving the palace no longer felt so simple.

Whatever the reason, she was now sharing this body—so it was no longer someone else’s problem.

With that realization, she needed to decide whether to stay.

Suddenly, Ju-gun’s cold, unfeeling face came to mind.

Right. I can’t just leave like this.

The man who drove Hwa-jeok-yeon to death, and the one responsible for forging a letter to kill Won So-ye—he could not be forgiven.

Now that she was Won So-ye, she would take revenge.

Especially on Ju-gun.

She would make him understand pain, humiliation, and abandonment.

Having reached her decision, she immediately began planning.

First, she needed power.

Ju-gun was a peerless martial master, and if she was to face Yeongbi and the forces behind the forged letter, she would need influence comparable to the Je-gal family—masters of mechanisms and strategy, but also formidable martial artists.

And beyond that, she needed strength to move freely through the heavily guarded palace.

There was only one conclusion.

I have to recover my martial arts.

Even if not at the level of her past life—where she had reached the realm of an absolute master—she needed enough strength to move freely.

The problem was simple: this body had no internal energy at all.

Without internal energy, martial arts were nothing but empty form.

Fortunately, she still remembered all the martial techniques from her past life. If she regained internal energy, restoring her skills would not be difficult.

But generating internal energy quickly was nearly impossible.

And worse, this body was filled with impurities—so much so that even without the earlier suicide, its lifespan would have been short.

Yet, despite everything, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

It’s too early to be disappointed. Where am I? The imperial palace.

She knew that rare elixirs from all major sects were periodically delivered here.

Surely treasures like Shaolin’s Great Rejuvenation Pill or Wudang’s Supreme Pure Pill existed somewhere.

If she could obtain one, it would drastically shorten her recovery time.

The only question was where such items were stored.

Her eyes landed on a medicinal bowl left by the royal physician.

Let’s start there.

A crescent-shaped smile formed on her face.

Inside the Imperial Medical Bureau

The palace pharmacy bustled with activity.

Physicians prepared medicines, boiled decoctions, and sorted rare herbs.

Even in such a place, armed guards patrolled regularly due to the value of the materials stored there.

Into this routine environment, an unexpected guest arrived.

Chae-hee announced proudly,

“Her Highness, the Crown Princess, has arrived!”

At the announcement, everyone immediately knelt.

“We greet the Crown Princess!”

A loud, disciplined greeting echoed through the hall.

“Rise.”

At her command, they stood.

“Continue your work.”

With the order, the hall returned to motion.

The chief physician stepped forward respectfully.

“To what do we owe this honor, Your Highness? If you require medicine, we shall prepare it immediately.”

“I wish to look around the pharmacy.”

At that, the physician hesitated.

“This… Your Highness, if you tell us what you need, we can retrieve it for you…”

But So-ye smiled lightly and interrupted.

“No need. I simply wish to see it for myself.”

There was no room for refusal.

Eventually, the physician relented and guided her toward the inner hall known as Jongyakdang.

Jongyakdang (Hall of Rare Medicines)

The building was large, filled with rows of medicinal cabinets stacked across three floors.

Even from the entrance, the rich scent of herbs filled the air.

Guards stood watch at every corner.

Inside, rare medicines were carefully stored and cataloged.

So-ye scanned the labels quickly with sharp eyes.

First, Shaolin’s Great Rejuvenation Pill.

It was said to restore internal energy rapidly without the risk of deviation.

Even a dying person could be saved by it.

If she could find it, it would be a miraculous opportunity.

She headed straight for the upper floor.

As she climbed, her thoughts sharpened.

It must be stored separately.

And so, Won So-ye stepped deeper into the hall of treasures—alone, into the heart of the imperial palace’s hidden power.