The four most influential ministers of Tanzang sat in a beautiful hall, engaged in a low, decent conversation. After the dancers finished their performance, Minister Lee waved them away. The dancers and maids in the room quickly left the hall.
"Thank you all for coming to chat with me," Minister Lee said. "It has been a long time since we had a gathering like tonight."
Minister Tang nodded. "I thought I lost my head last time."
"Last time, we acted hastily and spoke too early, which made His Majesty angry," Minister Choi added, a grim reminder.
Minister Yan said, "I heard that His Majesty has left the capital and is heading south with the mages and Chief Keme."
Minister Lee looked at Minister Yan in shock. "You mean, His Majesty is not in the palace anymore?"
Minister Yan nodded. "I heard from His Majesty's personal servants." He looked around the room to ensure no one else was within earshot except the four of them. "I also heard unspeakable news."
"What is it?" Minister Tang urged, leaning forward.
Minister Yan looked at the people sitting at the table. "The same maid told me that when General Bayarmaa returned to the capital, His Majesty often went out to General Bayarmaa's mansion late at night."
Minister Tang scoffed. "That's normal. Everyone knows that His Majesty loves and favors General Bayarmaa the most."
Minister Yan lowered his voice, leaning further in. "His Majesty and General Bayarmaa are," he said, clasping his hands together and slowly moving his right hand up and down in a suggestive motion.
The ministers sitting at the tables gasped.
"No wonder His Majesty passed such a law," Minister Choi said, a smirk spreading across his face. "So that's how it is… His Majesty and General Bayarmaa have this kind of relationship. This is why His Majesty has always favored General Bayarmaa."
"Then we have a problem," Minister Lee stated, his expression darkening.
"What's the problem?" Minister Choi asked.
Minister Lee explained, "Ever since His Majesty became the ruler of Tanzang, he has not appointed a queen. If His Majesty has formulated such a decree, is it possible that His Majesty wants to appoint General Bayarmaa as His Majesty's queen?"
"That is not right," Minister Yan interjected, aghast. "A queen has always been female. Having a male queen would infuriate the heavens and punish Tanzang!"
"If His Majesty wants to appoint General Bayarmaa, who will dare to speak out against him?" Minister Lee countered, his voice grim.
"Although our sons and daughters may all serve in the imperial court," Minister Tan said, "the Bayarmaa family has always held the highest position among them. If General Bayarmaa became Queen of Tanzang, there would be no place for us to stand in Tanzang."
"What shall we do?" Minister Yan asked, his voice low with conspiracy. "Are we going to kill the Great Grand General Bayarmaa or His Majesty, or both?"
"Appointing a new general is much easier than appointing a new ruler," Minister Tan reasoned.
"Besides," Minister Choi added, "General Bayarmaa is very skilled. It will be difficult to kill him, but the security around General Bayarmaa is lighter than that of His Majesty."
"If…" Minister Lee suggested, a sinister smirk on his face as he looked at the three men at the table. "What if we borrow His Majesty's hands to do the killing?"
Minister Choi smiled. "It's a brilliant idea. We can do it without incriminating ourselves."
Looking down at the number of fish swimming in the crystal-clear river, it was unimaginable for Haneul. He was excited that the mages had done something extraordinary. Haneul stood up and looked across the river, where he could clearly see the people by the river. He sighed with a heavy heart; though he had created the magical river, Haneul found it hard to believe that the little river could truly protect his kingdom from invaders.
"Your Majesty, what's with the long face?" Chief Keme asked, observing Haneul's troubled expression.
"We were concerned that the river would not deter intruders from invading our kingdom," Haneul admitted.
Chief Keme smiled. "Your Majesty don't be afraid. This small river will make Tanzang the safest place in this land." Chief Keme saw a group of hunters walking with pheasants on their backs, carrying bows and arrows. "Young hunters!"
The hunters turned to look at Chief Keme. One of them asked aloud, "Are you talking to us?"
Chief Keme smiled. "Yes."
The hunter shouted arrogantly, "What do you want?"
Chief Keme looked at Haneul, then shouted to the hunters. "If any of you can hurt this man," he pointed at Haneul, "you'll be richly rewarded!"
Sukh looked at Chief Keme, concern etched on his face. "Chief, His Majesty's life can't be joked with like that."
"His Majesty doesn't believe that this river can protect Tanzang from invaders," Chief Keme explained. "So I just want to prove that this magical river can."
The hunters laughed, finding the idea amusing. The same hunter asked again, "Are you sure?"
"Shoot me to death," Haneul declared, a glint in his eye. "If you succeed, I will give each of you ten thousand gold leaves."
One of the hunters quickly drew his arrow and pointed it at Haneul, releasing the arrow without hesitation. The arrow circled in the air and went straight towards Haneul. Sukh quickly jumped in front of Haneul, but as soon as the arrow crossed the magic river, it seemed to disappear without a trace. Suddenly, from the other side of the river came the grunting pain from the hunter who had released the arrow.
The elder hunter stood up and shouted frantically, "You shot my brother!"
"We didn't shoot your brother," Chief Keme said calmly. "He shot himself with his own arrow. If you don't believe me, look at the arrow."
The hunter quickly checked the arrow, and it turned out to be his brother's own. "You dare to joke with us! I'll swim over and cut off your head!" The hunter roared frantically. "You wait!"
"I advise you not to swim across this river," Chief Keme warned, his voice grave, "otherwise you will be wandering in this magical river forever."
Chief Keme's warnings fell on deaf ears. The angry hunter took off his gear and jumped into the river. The hunter's companions and the Tanzanian guards on both sides waited for nearly an hour, but from the moment the hunter jumped into the river, they never saw him reappear.
"Chief Keme," Haneul said, his face now alights with understanding, "you have proved that this river is trustworthy."
"If it will reassure His Majesty," Chief Keme said, "allow me to move the Kakungga people to live here."
Haneul smiled broadly. "We believe in you. We don't doubt your loyalty to us. We will return to the capital and inform your people to move here." He sighed contentedly. "Not only that, but we are declaring that this land will be a sacred site, and no one will be able to remove the Kakungga from this land without our authorization."
Chief Keme fell to his knees. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Chief Keme," Haneul said, "the soldiers will stay here for another month, and if all goes well, we will be able to live in peace for many years to come." He sighed. "Let's go back to the capital."
On the way back to camp, Sukh turned his head to look at Haneul and asked, "No more seeking… the whole North is yours. Now is the time for peace and to rule over the land you conquered with compassion."
Haneul looked at Sukh and said with a smile, "Since the entire northern hemisphere is ours, there is no reason to seek more. Also, I want to spend the rest of the time with you. Think about it, I spent my youth fighting wars, forgetting to enjoy myself, and now that other Kingdoms want to wage war against me, or maybe I became old enough to understand that I don't need much in this life. I just need you by my side."
"Your Majesty," Sukh said, "I have already told you. I will not agree to marry you into the palace."
Haneul said with a smile, "I assure you; I will not force you, but please come back to the capital with me."
Sukh suddenly stopped. "Haneul… If I were a woman, I would enter the palace with you without hesitation."
Haneul turned to look at Sukh. "I wouldn't like you so much if you were a woman," he said with a genuine smile. "I love you for who you are." He took two steps closer to Sukh. "I won't trade you for anything." He stretched out his head to kiss Sukh, but Sukh backed away quickly. "Ah… I forgot; you don't allow me to kiss you in the open." He giggled and walked ahead of Sukh.
After Haneul, Sukh, Chief Keme, and the four hundred mages returned to the capital, Haneul appointed Chief Keme as Duke of the Southern Border and issued an edict to designate the southern border as a holy place for the Kakungga people. Many ministers were not satisfied with Haneul's decision, but there was nothing they could do.
Four months after returning to the capital city, Sukh and Chief Keme stood face to face on a grassland outside the capital city. Chief Keme smiled at Sukh. "No matter how many miles you send us, we still have to separate in the end. Let's split up here."
"Godfather, have a safe journey," Sukh said, his voice soft.
"Are you sure you're not coming with us?" Chief Keme asked.
Sukh shook his head. "I promised His Majesty that I will stay in the capital. I will visit you."
Chief Keme laughed. "You didn't keep your promise to me, but you will keep your promise to His Majesty at all costs."
Sukh said with a smile, "That's because your temperament is much better than His Majesty's."
Chief Keme jumped on his horse. "Would you regret staying with him?" he asked, his gaze searching.
Sukh shook his head firmly. "No."
Chief Keme smiled. "Good." He rode his horse to catch up with the other Kakunggas who were walking ahead.
Sukh stood watching the Kakungga people until he could no longer see the last person in the queue. He sighed and was about to turn around when he saw two dark shadows quietly approaching behind him.