The words of the messenger struck Seo Jin like a physical blow, jolting him awake as if he had been plunged into icy water. His heart pounded in his chest, and a cold sweat formed on his forehead, making his skin feel clammy. He leaped from his bed, thoughts racing through his mind, each more urgent than the last. In his haste, he struggled with his Hanbok, his fingers trembling slightly as he fumbled with the knots.
As he stepped out of his chamber, the scene before him was one of controlled chaos. Servants bustled about, their faces etched with worry. One of them, a young girl with a fearful expression, nearly bumped into Seo Jin as she hurried past. "Young Master, the lord—" she started, but he waved her off, knowing the news would be grave.
A horse was already waiting for him, its saddle expertly prepared. Seo Jin swung himself onto the mount beside the rider who had delivered the grim news. "I can't believe this is happening," the rider murmured, glancing back at Seo Jin. "Lord Jo was a good man, wasn't he?"
Seo Jin nodded, his mind elsewhere. "We'll find out what happened. There has to be an explanation."
The two rode off immediately, galloping through the awakening streets of the capital. The ride to the Jo residence was swift and silent, filled only by the rhythmic pounding of hooves against the dirt road and the occasional cry of a distant bird greeting the dawn. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of dew-covered grass, but the beauty of the morning was lost on Seo Jin. His mind churned with thoughts of Lord Jo and the mystery surrounding his death.
As they approached the Jo residence, an uproar of wailing and weeping reached their ears, growing louder with every passing moment. The household was in utter disarray, family members and servants alike overcome with grief. Seo Jin's brow furrowed. He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself at the sight of the once-proud estate now shrouded in despair, its inhabitants moving like shadows through the courtyard.
Dismounting, Seo Jin strode into the house, his presence commanding attention. The gathered household parted for him like a tide, their tear-streaked faces turning towards him with a mixture of hope and desperation. "Young Master Seo!" someone cried out, a woman's voice filled with raw emotion. "You've come! What will we do?"
He looked around, taking in their expressions of sorrow and fear. "I'll find the truth," he assured them, although doubt crept into his own heart. "Please, remain calm."
He entered Lord Jo's chambers, and the sight that greeted him was one of unspeakable horror. Lord Jo lay lifeless on the floor in a pool of dark, congealed blood. The sight made Seo Jin's stomach churn. He fought back bile as he noticed the deep, jagged wound marred Lord Jo's neck. The room smelled thick with death, the metallic tang sharp in Seo Jin's nostrils, leaving him dizzy with grief and anger.
Steeling himself, Seo Jin addressed the household, his voice ringing with authority. "I want every living soul under this roof present now," he commanded, trying to maintain a calm, steady tone amid the chaos.
The chief servant stepped forward, an elderly man whose face was lined with worry. "A visitor came last night," he began, his hands quaking as he spoke. "A Gisaeng named Hye Jin. She brought a jar of wine for us. We drank together..." His voice trailed off, grief taking over as he choked on his words.
Seo Jin frowned, sensing the dread in the man's tone. "And then?"
"We... fell into a deep slumber," the servant continued, tears streaming down his cheeks. "When we awoke at dawn, we found Lord Jo... like this."
"Describe this woman to me," Seo Jin asked, urgency pushing his voice higher.
The servant's brow furrowed as he struggled to remember. "It was dark, and raining heavily. I couldn't see her clearly, but she was extraordinarily beautiful. She said her name was Hye Jin and claimed to be from a Gisaeng house in the mountains."
Seo Jin's mind whirled with possibilities. "Prepare the horses. We leave for the mountains immediately," he ordered, his voice firm.
The ride to the mountains was fraught with tension, the winding path treacherous under the early morning light. As they ascended, dark clouds gathered, the landscape growing wilder, the path more rugged beneath the coming storm. The air felt electric, a chill running through Seo Jin's spine as if nature hinted at the turmoil brewing within.
When they finally arrived by nightfall, the shadows deepened around them as they approached the Gisaeng house. "What do we do now?" the rider asked, unease evident in his tone.
Seo Jin's expression hardened. "We get answers. I won't leave without the truth." But the news they received upon arrival was one that hit like a blow. Hye Jin, the very woman they sought, had died on her way to the Jo residence. The Gisaeng house was still in mourning, having just completed her burial. Confusion and disbelief clouded Seo Jin's mind. He clenched his fists, grappling with the implications. "If Hye Jin is dead, then who was the woman at the Jo residence?"
As dawn broke once more, the news of Lord Jo's death spread through the capital like wildfire. The streets buzzed with gossip and speculation, each rumor more outrageous than the last. Some whispered of karmic retribution, claiming Lord Jo's many sins had finally caught up with him. Others spoke of divine intervention, pointing to the unprecedented downpour that followed three years of drought as evidence of the gods' displeasure.
"Did you hear? They say he was tricked by a spirit!" one vendor exclaimed, shaking his head as he arranged his wares in the market.
Seo Jin stumbled upon the chatter, his heart sinking deeper. "I can't let this go," he muttered under his breath, determination rising as the whispers continued around him.
Back at his own residence, Seo Jin found himself at the center of a whirlpool of intrigue and suspicion.
Determined to uncover the truth, Seo Jin dove into investigation, relentless in questioning everyone who had been at the Jo residence that fateful night. "You must have seen something! Did anyone leave early? Did anyone have different wine?" he peppered them with inquiries, scrutinizing their accounts for inconsistencies.
Later, in the solitude of his study, he scoured records of the Gisaeng houses, seeking any clue that might shed light on Hye Jin's mysterious doppelgänger. The candle flickered as the night deepened outside, shadows dancing across the walls.
After a couple of hours of deep contemplation, Seo Jin finally stood up from his study seat. The weight of the mystery gnawed at him relentlessly. His study which was once a sanctuary of order and calm, had become a battlefield littered with documents, maps marked with potential leads, and notes filled with hastily scribbled thoughts. As he surveyed the chaos, the flickering candlelight cast long shadows, mirroring the turmoil within his mind. He took a shaky breath, preparing to face whatever awaited him.
As he made his way to his room, Seo Jin encountered a passing servant in the dim hallway. The servant, sensing his urgency, paused mid-step. "Bring water for me to wash up," Seo Jin instructed, his voice carrying an edge of impatience. "And prepare for my leave. I'm going to the palace."
"Yes, Young Master!" the servant replied, hurrying off to fulfill his orders. Seo Jin pressed forward to his room, quickening his pace, the soft rustle of his hanbok was the only sound in the quiet night.
When he pushed open the door to his chamber, he found Maid Servant Shin waiting for him. Concern laced her features as she took in his haggard appearance. "You look exhausted, my lord," she said gently, stepping forward. "Please allow me to help you."
Without needing to be told, she moved to assist him with changing into fresh attire suitable for an audience at the palace. Her fingers worked quickly and skillfully, securing the knots of his robes. "We must be prepared," she said as she adjusted the fabric around his shoulders. "The palace is not an easy place to go right now."
Seo Jin nodded, a mixture of gratitude and focus washing over him. "I know. But I need to find the truth behind all of this."
With a final check, Maid Servant Shin stepped back, allowing him to assess his appearance in the polished mirror. The reflection staring back was one of steely resolve.
As he made his way to the stables, shadows crept in the corners of his mind, doubts mingling with the necessity to act. His horse, a sleek and powerful stallion, awaited him. The horse's dark coat shimmered in the fading light as it shifted restlessly.
With a last glance back at his residence, the home that had been his sanctuary, he pressed his heels into the horse's flanks and rode forward.
The courtyard blurred into a rapidly fading view as he galloped out into the world beyond. The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the scents of earth and foliage. The rhythmic beat of the hooves echoed the steady pulse of fear and resolve in his heart, carrying him onward into the unknown. The palace loomed ahead, a silhouette against the darkening sky, promising answers hidden within its walls.
As they approached the gates, Seo Jin felt the weight of the evening press down upon him. The night whispered secrets, but he was resolved. He would confront the complexities of the court, navigate its hidden dangers, and uncover the truth behind Lord Jo's death. The shadows lengthened around him as he rode forward into the depths of the palace, the night both an ally and a foe, with the truth lurking just out of reach.