The rain poured heavily, thunder clapped, and the king, in a state of mental turmoil, ordered the guards to lock the palace gates and protect the queen and his child.
The queen had been in labor for hours, and the king, in desperation, tried to leave his chambers to go to hers, but he was stopped by the eunuch.
"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Ho pleaded, blocking the king's path.
The king was restless. He knew what evil would befall his family once his prince was born. His son's life hung in the balance, and there was nothing he could do to stop the unfortunate fate that seemed inevitable.
(Flashback)
At the assembly meeting, the king and the ministers were discussing important matters when Jimong, known as the "Heaven Ear," the head of the astronomy department (one who reads the stars and predicts the future), entered with a message.
The king lifted his head as he saw Jimong approach.
"Your Majesty," Jimong curtseyed briefly.
"Jimong, what news do you bring us today?" the king asked, his eyes darting around Jimong, who seemed unusually tense.
"Your Majesty, my apologies for disrupting your meeting, but..." Jimong hesitated.
"Your Majesty, I must share a vision that has haunted my dreams," he said, his voice low.
"Speak, Jimong. What has troubled your sleep?" The king asked curiously, his brow raised.
Jimong took a deep breath. "Your Majesty, in my dreams, I saw a great danger looming over our kingdom. A prophecy foretelling threats that even the mightiest warrior cannot defeat."
The king listened intently. "What is this prophecy, Jimong?" he asked calmly.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but..." Jimong went silent, refusing to speak further, his head bent, not daring to meet the king's eyes.
"Heaven Ear! What could be so difficult that you won't speak about it?" one of the ministers chastised.
"Jimong!" the king called loudly, his composure slipping as his mind raced, wondering what the prophecy could be about.
"Your Majesty, it concerns the child the queen carries."
The ministers began to murmur. The king's face reflected a mix of concern and disbelief.
"Your Majesty, the child, if kept, will bring a calamity to our nation. He will wipe out the entire kingdom. It will be a time of destruction and chaos," Jimong said, causing a drastic shift in the atmosphere.
"Your Majesty, the queen has long hoped for a child, and now that the heavens have decided to bless her, there must be another meaning or way to avert this prophecy," Left State Minister Joonho said, stepping forward and watching the king's expression closely.
"Your Majesty! This is a serious matter that cannot be treated lightly. It concerns not just those within the palace but all of Joseon," one of the ministers said.
"Your Majesty, if the unborn prince holds such a terrifying fate, then this matter must be treated with the utmost urgency," another minister voiced.
"Your Majesty, as the ministers said, this concerns not just the palace but the very fate of the nation. The kingdom hangs in the balance," State Minister Lord Shikryeom, the most cunning and ambitious man, who desired nothing more than power, said, his eyes locked onto the king.
"Your Majesty, the heavens have spoken. We must take this prophecy seriously and consider the fate of our nation."
"Your Majesty, please protect our people, as we hope you would," the Minister of Taxation said, and the others chanted after him.
The king gripped his robe fiercely, gritting his teeth.
(End of Flashback)
The sound of clashing swords echoed through the stillness of the palace as the king's royal guards fought desperately to prevent the minister's guards from entering the palace.
The king's chamber door flew open, and Lord Joonho stepped in.
The king could read his expression.
"Joonho, my heart yearns for Jiyeon, but the weight of the kingdom rests heavily upon my shoulders."
"Your Majesty..."
"Joonho, do you think the ministers will back down? They have been waiting for every opportunity to rid themselves of the queen."
"I must protect her, even if it means sacrificing our happiness," the king lamented, torn between duty and love. His heart ached, knowing he couldn't fight a battle that had already been lost.