My Ultimate Ambition

Lady Seo-yun was led to the spring water where the sunbeams were starting to arise. The air was filled with the rich aromatic odour of falling leaves and lily of the valley , the hedges were scarlet with roses and the ground a carpet of white and red. The birds were singing a morning hymn creating an ambiance of healing.

The smile on the courtmaid's face deepened on observing the calm spreading on the lady's face. Seo-yun's lovely eyes turned to her and sparkled. "I love it here _the calm, the serenity and the peacefulness is unparalleled!"

"It's the empress private place and will soon be yours , your highness!" the courtmaid beamed while sweet talking Seo-yun.

"I wouldn't dare answer that, the selection is still in progress" Seo-yun coyly disagreed while her heart beat in ecstasy.

"What? it's a well known fact that miss did exceedingly well _ it seemed the selection ground was just a place for you to showcase your talents" the courtmaid argued while nodding at another courtmaid to prepare light snacks for lady Seo-yun.

Seo-yun's face flushed red . The courtmaid saw it and thought it was due to embarrassment and tried to tease her again . There was no response, but a sudden stir and the courtmaid saw that the poor girl had fallen in a dead swoon at her feet.

Alarmed, terrified and in despair, she screamed while raising the drooping figure in her arms. She held her in her arms and called out her name "Seo-yun Agassi! please don't scare me ... Wake up!" but there was no sign of life. The other court lady rushed out to inform the empress while the guard assigned to them went to seek for medical assistance.

A terrible fear came over her that the lady in her arms is dead . Dear God, how beautiful she was, her drooping eyelashes looked so long and lovely ; even in the arms of death, her aristocratic face didn't diminish one bit , her face though pale looked innocent and beautiful just like the modern day world sleeping beauty.

Alas! the empress arrived with her entourage marching behind her. She clasped the child in her bossom and ordered that the best imperial doctor be brought to her or they lose their heads. "My child, please wake up and tell this mother what has happened to you". The loving words seemed to pierce through her dull brain; her eyes opened and she found herself clasped in the arms of the empress, a hot flush arose from her cheeks reaching her forehead.

"Your Majesty, I am fine now" Seo-yun said with labored breathing. The doctor arrived making relief wash over the face of the empress and panic take control of Seo-yun's face. The doctor enthusiastically took the pulse of the assumed future empress but withdrew his hands suddenly.

"Your Majesty!" he suddenly shouted "Please take the life of this unworthy servant". A passionate shudder seized her, a passionate murmur of unspoken anger passed over her lips "Doctor, I called you here to take care of my future daughter-in-law not to take your life __How dare you display this insolent behavior?" she growled.

"Please forgive this unworthy servant! but I dare not announce my diagnosis" the doctor protested.

The empress felt something had gone wrong and decided to act prudent. After all, the girl is as good as a royal and shouldn't be tainted so as not to degrade the dignity of the royal family. The doctor meekly came close at the signal of the empress and whispered to her ears. The shocking news unnerved her making her mouth drop. What evil calamity has befallen them on this auspicious occasion?

Regaining her composure, she made a critical decision immediately. "Court lady Bong!" she screamed while the said courtmaid knelt before her mistress. "Prepare the veils , this shouldn't stop the occasion". The courtmaid scurried away to perform her duty. She turned to another courtmaid. "Don't let any word leak out to others, if I hear any gossip all of you will pay with your lives, understood?" .

"Yes your Majesty!" the servants answered. No need to be told of the consequences if others find out what happened today. The empress beckoned on another courtmaid and drew her closer. Muttering so that only both of them could hear each other , she drew in a deep breath and patted her back. "Do you understand?" she said returning back to her audible and bold voice. "Yes your Majesty" the courtmaid bowed clearly understanding the task at hand. "Prepare everything and carry out my command to the least" she finally concluded before heading to the entrance but not before asking the servants to take Seo-yun to the royal infirmary for a proper care.

The dowager empress met the empress in her palace, her eyes filled with rage , ignoring the customary greetings she bombarded her with questions. "Hwanghu!how dare you try to change our custom and tradition? __ Veils? are you out of your mind?".

The empress who stood up to greet the empress indolently sat down on her seat. Taking the cup of water from the table, she raised it to her nose and sniffed . Closing her eyes with the attitude of someone enjoying the fragrance of a wine, she brought it to a full swirl before sipping it like a very expensive wine ."Yoo-hoo! so refreshing" she said before looking at the dowager like a worm.

All this slow motion were witnessed by the dowager who dug her fingernails into her palm as a sort of control over the urge to slap the empress.

"If you don't like it don't attend" she calmly said before sipping her wine... umm... water again. The dowager slammed her fist on the table while looking aggressively at empress. "Hwanghu! I want you to remember this words ... there is a limit to my patience!". Through gritted teeth she spat out those words before storming out of the palace.

At the departure of the dowager, the empress splashed the remaining content of her cup on the ground before throwing the cup on the ground. " Court lady Bong! throw the salts __an evil spirit just assaulted my dwelling place".

The empress picked up a honey cake with her chopsticks but dropped it at the thought of something. A cold shiver dripped through her fingers down her spine. "Court lady Bong! They should have arrived by now... see that they are properly welcomed with the highest decorum!"

"Rest assured your Majesty, nothing shall be lacking". She bowed before exiting the room to take care of the task.

The empress bit into her honey cake and smiled. "Nothing should go wrong today". She stood up and pulled up her flowing gown with the elegance of an empress. "To the selection hall" she said before marching out of her room, an uncertain smile plastered on her face.