HBPEK C7

CHAPTER 7. SO IT IS GIVEN TO THE CROWN PRINCESS, AS EXPECTED

As expected, the third floor of Jongyakdang stored only rare medicinal ingredients—items one might never see even once in a lifetime. Great care had been taken with ventilation and humidity; vents lined the ceiling, and charcoal and yellow clay were used to control moisture.

Before she realized it, more than an hour had already passed since Won Soye entered Jongyakdang. Forget the Great Hwandan—she couldn’t even find a single Gongjindan that was commonly seen in the marketplace. She searched everything from the third floor down to the first, but there was no sign of the Great Hwandan.

Where on earth did they hide it? Should I have just asked the royal physician?

As the thought crossed her mind that too much time had passed and the physician might soon come looking for her, a sense of urgency crept in.

While carefully retracing her memory to see if she had missed anything, the image of a large box she had seen on the third floor flashed through her mind.

No way… there?

Since the medicine cabinets were so neatly organized, she had assumed it would naturally be stored there.

She hurried back up to the third floor and searched for the charcoal-filled box. As expected, when she brushed aside the charcoal, a small iron ring used to open the lid came into view.

The moment she lifted the lid slightly, a strong medicinal fragrance burst out and stung her nose.

Even though she had already been overwhelmed by all kinds of scents while searching the apothecary, the aroma from this box was so distinct that it felt almost foreign.

This feels right!

She pushed the heavy lid open with all her strength.

The moment Won Soye looked inside, she couldn’t help but gasp.

Half of the fairly large box was filled with precious elixirs. There were so many that, if all were consumed and absorbed, one could easily become a martial god.

Her heart pounded wildly.

Moreover, it was a sight that would make even the abbot of Shaolin or the leaders of Wudang and Huashan collapse in shock.

These… these insane royal physicians!

The wooden cases that should have carefully held each elixir were nowhere to be seen. Instead, it was obvious that every time an elixir had been presented, it had simply been tossed into the box.

No matter how abundant the imperial palace was, any martial artist would treasure such elixirs with both hands—yet here they were treated worse than rice balls in red bean porridge.

“Your Highness, the Crown Princess!”

At the sound, Won Soye turned her head and saw the royal physician approaching with an awkward expression.

He bowed politely, but couldn’t hide the clear dissatisfaction on his face—as if asking why she was still here.

Won Soye quickly composed herself and greeted him calmly.

“You’ve come.”

“Your Highness, your body has not yet recovered. If those above were to find you like this, even ten heads would not be enough for me to keep!”

“Yes, my apologies.”

Damn it, why now? I haven’t even taken a single elixir yet!

“What is it that Your Highness seeks…?”

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the open box of elixirs.

“…Is it this?”

“….”

Won Soye couldn’t answer immediately.

What should I do? He must have realized I was trying to take these precious elixirs.

When she didn’t respond, the physician asked again,

“If not, were you looking for some other ingredient?”

His expression grew more desperate, clearly hoping for an answer.

For Won Soye, restoring her martial arts was urgent. There was no turning back now.

“Yes. This is what I was looking for.”

At her answer, the physician’s lips trembled.

…Was that too much? Should I just swallow my pride and ask for one?

Just as she was about to speak—

“Your Highness!”

The physician interrupted her.

“If you had told me earlier, I would have brought it to you. How could you trouble your precious body like this? Please step aside—I will prepare it for you.”

Won Soye’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Ah… very well.”

As she stepped back, the physician took out clean paper and began packing the elixirs.

“By the way, Your Highness.”

“Y-yes, what is it?”

“How many geun do you require?”

Her jaw nearly dropped.

Geun? These are elixirs!

It seemed the physician didn’t even recognize their true value.

“Shall I prepare it as I see fit?”

“…Yes, please.”

He piled a generous amount onto the paper—easily over two geun.

“If you require more later, please send someone.”

At this point, Won Soye couldn’t help but ask,

“Do you even know what these are?”

“Yes, Your Highness. They are items presented by martial sects. Especially those from Shaolin—their effects are excellent.”

He calls the Great Hwandan ‘medicine’? Absurd…

“Is it really okay to give them away like this?”

“I have heard that martial artists would risk their lives for these. However, as you know, they are useless in the imperial palace.”

“But there are those who practice martial arts here—wouldn’t they want them?”

“Tribute items can only be used by those permitted by His Majesty the Emperor. Your Highness is one of them.”

“And you don’t offer them to His Majesty?”

“These? Who knows what they are made of? Since their composition is not clear, they are never given to His Majesty or the Crown Prince.”

So that’s why they’re just left over… and given to me so casually.

By the time she returned to Yeonhwa Palace, the sun was already setting.

As darkness fell, Jin Seongyeo disappeared as usual.

When Won Soye spread the elixirs on the table, their rich fragrance filled the room.

Chaehee, her eyes full of curiosity, asked,

“Your Highness, are elixirs better than tonics?”

“Of course. They’re something you can’t get even if you want them.”

“Are you going to eat all of these yourself?”

Her desire was obvious.

“Stop that. If someone without martial arts takes them, it can be dangerous—you could even die.”

“Hehe, but you don’t know martial arts either, Your Highness.”

…She had a point.

Eunryeong added,

“Your Highness, you shouldn’t take them. Please return them or throw them away.”

“I have a method. So don’t worry.”

Chaehee immediately grinned.

“Then teach me too!”

“….”

This girl’s greed really had no limit.

“Enough. Both of you, leave.”

“Just one, please?”

No.

“Eunryeong, do we have osmanthus rice cakes?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Take them and share.”

Chaehee’s face lit up.

After the two left, Won Soye finally had the time to carefully examine the elixirs.

She began sorting them—when one caught her eye.

It emitted a faint reddish glow.

The Zaso Dan.

Huashan’s finest elixir.

It increased internal energy, strengthened bones and muscles, and sharpened the mind.

But no matter how carefully she looked—

There was no Great Hwandan.

That can’t be…

Without it, she couldn’t safely absorb the others.

She stepped toward the window.

The night was clear, and the moon shone brightly.

On the pond, lotuses rested quietly—white, red, yellow, and blue—waiting for dawn.

Pure, even in muddy water.

Ever since she had become a spy at a young age and wandered through the harsh martial world, she had loved lotuses.

Their strength to bloom through adversity… and their flawless beauty.

That was why she had named herself Red Lotus—Jeokyeon.

A dream she refused to leave as mere longing.

I will achieve it.