Villainous Concubine Has Run Away chapter 5

* * *

After the Grand Concubine left, Minhyuk took a brief break over tea with his mother in the Empress Dowager’s quarters.

But something about it all felt strange.

Despite this being a time to rest, Minhyuk’s mind was more tangled than when he was working.

He couldn’t enjoy the moment at all.

Watching her son quietly, the Empress Dowager finally set down her teacup and spoke.

“I heard there was some commotion at the Grand Concubine’s residence. Is that what’s troubling you?”

“…Yes, Mother. It was all completely unexpected, and I still don’t know how to handle it. I feel heavy-hearted, as if I’d been neglecting him.”

It had been neglect, really—but the Empress Dowager didn’t say so.

Minhyuk already knew that better than anyone.

“I was shocked too when I heard. Honestly, I expected the Grand Concubine to be difficult, but he’s never caused any trouble, and there’s been no entanglement with his family either. So I only kept an eye on him. I couldn’t tell if he was strategically watching everything or if he truly had no personal agenda. Given his family ties to the Prime Minister, we couldn’t let our guard down.”

Minhyuk felt the same.

The Grand Concubine had always been expressionless around him, showing no interest at all.

If anything, he seemed indifferent, his mind always somewhere else.

He showed no desire for children, let alone any ambition for the Empress’s seat.

There was no greed for power, no possessiveness over the Emperor—he looked at Minhyuk the way someone might look at livestock.

And it was probably because he’d been worn down by years of unchecked abuse and violence.

Perhaps he had simply given up, just hoping the Prime Minister would torment him a little less.

“Mother, the Grand Concubine asked me for help.”

Minhyuk’s words brought a brief silence between them.

He didn’t even care that his mother was staring at him intently—his mind was filled only with the image of the Grand Concubine in the audience chamber.

Timid and withdrawn, he had spoken with utmost caution.

He had watched the Emperor’s expression the entire time, hesitating again and again before bringing up his brother.

“And what did you think? Did it seem sincere?”

“At least everything from yesterday and today did. I don’t know about the rest… but the way he looked right before the Prime Minister hit him yesterday, and how he asked for help today—it all seemed like someone exhausted from long-term abuse.”

“…That Prime Minister really is beyond help.”

Minhyuk glanced down at his own hand.

He could still feel the faint touch of that desperate grip, clinging to him with such weak strength, whispering, “I’m scared. I’m lonely.”

It was a pitiful gesture—but one that lingered.

This throws everything off. Even as he thought it, Minhyuk felt deeply confused.

“What exactly did the Grand Concubine ask for? Was there really nothing suspicious about it?”

“The Grand Concubine…”

‘Your Majesty. I know this must sound ridiculous, but… my brother. Could you keep him stationed abroad, like he is now?’

‘I know it’s a selfish request, but I just wanted to ask. When he’s overseas, our grandfather can’t get to him. I can endure the occasional beating here in the palace, but my brother… if he stays at home, it’s every single day. I just… I can’t stop worrying about him.’

“In short, he asked me to keep Brigadier General Cha Hanbin away from the Prime Minister.”

From an emperor’s point of view, it was an absurd request.

A military officer—an officer, no less—being kept permanently on overseas deployment?

It was unheard of.

Judging from his expression, the Grand Concubine knew just how ridiculous the request sounded.

But the fact that he still asked—that alone showed how desperate he was to keep his brother away from their grandfather.

“So Brigadier General Cha Hanbin was also abused by the Prime Minister? But someone like the Brigadier General? That makes no sense. This has to be an act—an elaborate scheme from their family to manipulate the throne.”

“…It didn’t seem that way at all.”

“Think about it. Cha Hanbin is one of the few dominant Alphas, like the Emperor. His physical condition and intellect are exceptional. You’re telling me someone like that was gaslit his whole life? I’d believe he was the perpetrator, not the victim. It’s just unbelievable.”

“No, Mother. It is a believable situation—because his younger brother was being held hostage.”

The Empress Dowager flinched at the word hostage, but her suspicious gaze did not waver.

“The Prime Minister used Daebin Palace as leverage to tie down the Brigadier General, and in turn, used the Brigadier General as leverage to control Daebin Palace. The two of them endured and suffered to protect each other. On top of that, the Brigadier General claims he didn’t even know Daebin Palace was being abused by the Prime Minister all this time.”

“What did you say?”

Minhyuk understood the Empress Dowager’s disbelief—of course she would be confused.

That’s what weaknesses do to a person.

The Prime Minister knew exactly what their weaknesses were and exploited them masterfully.

Even if Cha Hanbin is a dominant Alpha, he’s no match for the Prime Minister.

The man assassinated an emperor.

What more is there to say?

A grandson is nothing but a tool to someone like that.

“Mother, I need Cha Hanbin. This might even be an opportunity for us—a chance to claim both Cha Hanbin and Daebin Palace, and make them ours.”

Cha Hanbin, the youngest ever Brigadier General at 28.

Grandson or not, he’s an asset the nation needs. Everything he touched was resolved without fail.

That perfection made him the Prime Minister’s grandson—the first person they aimed to eliminate.

But overnight, the situation shifted.

The man who had once seemed so perfect it was terrifying—and Daebin Palace, his Concubine—were, shockingly, not the Prime Minister’s right and left hand, but his sacrificial pawns.

Now that Minhyuk knew the truth—that both had endured a lifetime of pain under the Prime Minister—this was an enormous opportunity.

A rare chance to claim talents fallen into his lap.

Even if Daebin Palace hadn’t asked for help, Minhyuk had already been considering ways to protect him from the Prime Minister.

But now that Daebin Palace had directly asked for help—there was no reason to refuse.

“Then what’s the plan?”

“First, we need to completely cut off the Prime Minister’s access to them, and then explore our options. The Cha brothers, Hanbin and Haejoo, really stir up a lot of feelings in me.”

When they were younger, Minhyuk had always called Daebin Palace by name.

But starting around age fifteen, every time Minhyuk said his name, Daebin Palace’s eyes would widen in surprise and he’d flinch.

Minhyuk never figured out why, but assumed Daebin Palace didn’t like being addressed by his name.

So from then on, he stopped using “Cha Haejoo.”

But now, maybe—just maybe—this could be a chance to call him that again.

As the situation veered unexpectedly, Minhyuk’s heart pounded strangely.

“If Daebin Palace refuses even to share a bed with the Emperor, let alone go into heat, because of the Prime Minister’s abuse, then perhaps the Emperor’s plan is worth following. Improving our relationship with him and bringing Daebin Palace to our side could be valuable. After all, the enemy of our enemy is our friend. And if we get Cha Hanbin too, that’s a major gain.”

Minhyuk looked steadily at his calculating mother.

Truthfully, there was a lot of emotion mixed into this plan.

Sympathy for Daebin Palace played a large role in his actions.

“And Mother—let’s stop giving him contraceptives for now.”

“…What?”

“Daebin Palace’s health is already severely weakened. Even a low dose, taken regularly, can’t be good for him. We should stop, at least for now.”

“…Understood. Let’s do that. The Emperor’s wishes are the most important.”

“Thank you, Mother. Then, I’ll be going now. Hey.”

Minhyuk rose from his seat, glanced around, and called for his attendant, naturally asking about Daebin Palace’s current activities.

“What is Daebin Palace doing now?”

“Just a while ago, the personal guards you dispatched arrived at his quarters. He’s likely meeting them now.”

“Is that so? I told you to choose only Betas—did you follow that?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We selected only the most qualified individuals. He should be pleased.”

“Hmm, in that case, I should go too. It’s best I see the condition of the guards with my own eyes, don’t you think?”

They had carefully handpicked the guards.

Even without them, the Emperor’s orders would’ve been enough to keep the Prime Minister away from Daebin Palace for now—but prevention was key.

That was the only reason he was going to Daebin Palace’s quarters. Nothing more.

---

I couldn’t believe my eyes—I rubbed them again and again.

Just moments ago, when I heard that the Emperor’s guards had arrived, I thought, ‘So the shackles are finally here’, and barely skimmed through their profiles.

But then—my god.

Among them, I saw someone I never expected.

The moment I saw him, it felt like lightning struck my brain.

My mouth fell open and I was speechless.

‘What is this? How is this happening? Is this even real? Did something happen to my head?’

‘Why is he here? What’s going on?’

I stood up and, as if possessed, walked toward the guard who had his head bowed.

* * *