Minister Dae Wong was found by the beggar. He opened his eyes and adjusted it to the light coming from the sun. "Who is this guy?", he wondered. He didn't have the enough strength and he loss his consciousness again. The beggar untied him and help him get to the temple.
"Oh my goodness! That's the Minister!" The monk gasped when he saw the beggar with the Minister. The beggar just nodded.
The monk snapped out on his senses and ordered the beggar to lay him on a wooden bed inside a small room in the temple.
"What happened to him?" The beggar just shook his head.
"He looks dehydrated and he has a lot of bruises. Get me some herbs in the kitchen." The beggar ran and get some herbs.
The monk squashed the herbs using a wooden mortar and pestle. He raised the Minister's right sleeve and applied some squashed herbs at the Minister's bruises.
A few minutes later, Minister Dae Wong opened his eyes. He adjusted his sight and slightly raised his upper body. "Where am I?" He looked around.
"You're here at our temple. Thank Heavens, you were found by Hyuk.", the monk replied.
"Oh, so his name was Hyuk. Thank you, Hyuk. But how did you find me?", Minister Dae Wong asked.
----
"Hyuk, get me some woods. I will start cooking our lunch." Hyuk just nodded. He prepared all of the materials needed such as sack, ropes, and ax. He went to the forest and was about to chop some small trees. He was whistling while walking on the forest. A few moments later, he noticed an unconscious man tied on a tall tree. "Who's that?", he wondered. He approached the man and he gasped when he discovered that it was the Minister that talked to them a while ago. He quickly pulled his ax from his back and cut the rope.
----
"If it wasn't for you, I could've died there. I owe you my life, Hyuk." Minister Dae Wong smiled to Hyuk. Hyuk just smiled back.
"Minister, kindly remove your robe so that we can apply some herbs to your wounds." The Minister removed his upper clothes exposing his broad shoulders and muscular arms. The monk applied some squashed herbs in his bruises in the right chest.
"Thank you so much. I owe you my life but I really need to get back to the palace now.", Minister Dae Wong replied.
"Are you sure that you would be fine?", the monk asked.
"Yes, thank you."
"Before you leave, please drink this tonic." The Minister drank the tonic and pushed the cup away because of its bitter taste.
The Minister get out of the bed, wore his clothes and rode his horse. He didn't mind the physical pain. He gathered all of his strengths. He was really in a hurry because its just a couple of hours before the ceremony starts.
----
The King gathered all of the royal officers, priestesses, cooks, hwarang leaders, and royal maids inside the main palace hall. There were a mixture of different people inside the main hall of the palace.
"Everyone, is everything ready already? The hwarangs and their positions on every part of the palace, the food for the offering and for the people, the receptionists to organize the order of the people, the candles and incense, everything!", the King shouted.
"Yes Sire, the hwarangs are already oriented with their positions. Thanks to our governors here. The number of palace hwarangs are enough already to protect the whole palace." The Prime Minister bowed his head.
"Thank you for your report, Prime Minister. Extend my gratitude to the governors.", the King said.
"Yes, Sire. Will do."
The King looked at other personnel. "How about other departments? Is everything ready?"
All of the people inside answered in unison. "Yes, Sire!"
In the middle of the meeting, Lady Jang entered the hall and everyone looked at her. The King's eyes narrowed and his eyebrows met.
"You're late! Where were you? You are one of the most important persons in this ceremony and yet you just showed up now? Your subordinates didn't even know where you were. How can you be so irresponsible?", the King angrily shouted.
"I am sorry, Sire.", Lady Jang replied and bow her head.
----
After the meeting, the King went out alongside with Minister Yeol. They were walking in the palace grounds with their personal maids and hwarangs.
"Minister Yeol, any words about Minister Dae Wong?"
"None yet, Sire." A deep breath escaped through the King's lips.
"Sire, what if he didn't make it on time?", Minister Yeol asked.
The King looked at the Minister. "I have trust in him. He will come on time."
"Dae Wong, please make it on time. You are my only hope for this. Heavens, please let him go back safe and please bestow to me your good mandates. Please do not let me give the wrong predictions to the people. I will still push through with that announcement even though my solid proof is not yet here. I would rather say that it won't happen than mention a specific time. I implore you with all my heart as a father who cares for every people in this kingdom. Please grant me your grace and give me your mandate. Don't make the eclipse happen." The King looked up to the skies as he reminisced all their hardworks for the upcoming ceremony.
----
The Prime Minister was also busy orienting his all subordinates. He gathered all of the hwarangs for the final briefing on the main ceremony.
"All clear? You know your positions already?"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Alright, off you go. Move!" The hwarangs started to march to their positions. They marched based on their group colors.
----
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
"Your Grace, the palace is already doing the final preparations for the eclipse prediction.", Dong Hee reported to the Queen as he peeped through the windows.
"I see. Let us all hope that the predictions of the King is correct. Everyone. I want all of you to pray right now to the Heavens.", the Queen ordered.
All the personnel in the Queen's room knelt down and bowed their heads. They prayed that the King will be blessed by the Heavens.
"Sire, I am with you. The whole Silla is with you. I am praying earnestly that blessings will come to our kingdom." The Queen pressed her hands together as tears flow from her eyes.
----
"Faster... Faster!", shouted by Minister Dae Wong as he lash the horses trying hard to get to the palace in time.
"Sire, I promise. I will get there on time."
----
This is the moment everyone has been waiting for. All the things needed were already prepared. All personnel are already on their designated positions. The main palace ground was ready. From the decorations to all equipment needed. All hwarangs are already on their places. The main gates were open and a lot of people from the different parts of the kingdom entered the palace. People exchanged murmurs.
"The King is about to announce the mandate from the Heavens. What could it be?", asked by a peasant.
"Let's just all hope for blessings.", a woman carrying a child said.
A lot of people gathered from different social status. It was like a sea people where you could really offer a price to someone who could get a needle on the ground. From the highest officials to the homeless people, everyone gathered up in this main event. On the man-made altar, all Ministers are sitting. The Prime Minister sits on the King's right
side while Lady Min and Chil Yook stands behind him.
"His Majesty!", one of the Ministers shouted.
The King came out from the altar wearing a white, royal robe with black embroideries of random patterns at the end of his big, long sleeves. He also wears his crown made of gold, with bits of gold stones dangling as accessories. He walked straight to the center and raised his right arm.
----
The blue royal palanquin of the Prime Minister's son passed by the capital market. The place was quiet. The usual crowded people became bleaked at that moment. The royal maid opened the windows. She was thinking why the market place has very few people.
"Young Lord, I can already see the palace.", the royal maid said as she opened the windows. Jung Min just smiled.
"Aren't you excited? We're almost there."
The royal maid asked a random man at the market.
"Excuse me, why are there few people here? What is happening?"
"Didn't you know? There's an on-going ceremony at the palace grounds right now. The King is about to predict the occurrence of the eclipse. I decided not to come. I need to work.", the man replied.
"Yes, yes. I forgot. Thank you... Yes, the eclipse."
"Why are you not attending?", the royal maid asked.
"What for?" He shook his head. "I will just spend my time here at the market and besides, I don't want to depend my fate to the Heavens at all times. It enough that I go to the temple at times."
The royal maid flinched. "Ah, alright. I see your point. Thank you."
----
The King announced his prediction to the people. Everyone cheered.
"Long live, our King!"
"Long live, Silla!"
"Long live!"
Everyone rejoiced. All of the people were happy about the said news. Every word that the King said transcended to their senses hoping that only blessings will happen to the kingdom. There was a feast. A very serious event suddenly turned into a very happy one. The courtesans assembled at the middle and danced. Royal maids were serving food to everyone. The King go up to the altar and sat on the seat reserved to him.
"I can't believe this is happening. Its true, the eclipse really is not happening. The sky is very bright.", Lady Min said.
"So did I. This is the first time that I have witnessed this. I guess Lady Jang was right all along. There is no eclipse. We fell in our own trap. If anyone of us could just read that almanac, we will know that there is really no eclipse. I became too confident. I thought that the change in the alignment of stars is just crazy." The Prime Minister looked to the King in his left. The King smiled to the Prime Minister.
"We will always be with you, My Lord", Chil Yook said.
"I guess this is the time for my next plan." The Prime Minister stood and left. The King looked confused when he saw the Prime Minister but he just shrugged it off and watch the people celebrate.
"Where is he going?", Lady Min asked.
"I don't know.", Chil Yook replied.
----
Minister Dae Wong suddenly stopped his horse. He noticed that this should be time that the eclipse should have or shouldn't have occured. He looked to the skies.
"This is it. I guess Lady Jang is right. There is no eclipse. Yes! Thank Heavens for this!" Out of nowhere, the monk's words ran through his mind.
"Even so, I need to tell the King everything that I have discovered!"
----
Almost an hour has passed. In the middle of the celebration, the music stopped. Everyone wondered. The wooden bars were removed and the main gate was opened. Everyone saw a group of hwarangs, the red, purple and the green groups lining up and suddenly marched at the center of the palace grounds. Everone was confused about that scene. They didn't know what are they for, and who was behind it.
The Prime Minister suddenly emerged at the end of the line wearing a plain white robe and his hair undone. He walked straightly on the carpet barefooted. It send shivers down each people's spine. Silence fell. The piercing sound of nothing was accompanied by a strong gust of the winds. The Prime Minister turned around and look at the people.
"I congratulate each one of you!", the Prime Minister exclaimed.
"What is the meaning of this?" The King stood in awe. He's confused why the Prime Minister was there.
Even the Prime Minister's minions don't know what is happening.
"Do you know anything about this?", Lady Min asked.
"No... I guess this is what our Lord's next plan is.", Chil Yook replied.
The people felt a heavy ambiance with what was currently happening. Anxiety and fear started to consume their happy and hopeful hearts. Denial that the eclipse will happen started to arise in every people's mind.
"Everyone, as the King's dear brother, I also want to give you a gift." The Prime Minister smirked.
"What is it? Go straight to the point!", a merchant shouted.
The Prime Minister went to the center where the King did the rite of ceremony. He imitated what the King did. He raised the jar to the skies. The people suddenly became infuriated as the King is the only person allowed to do it.
"How dare you ridicule the King?!", a person shouted.
The Prime Minister closed his eyes for a while and when he opened it, a loud sound of certain declaration was unleashed from his mouth.
"People of Silla! Witness!... Witness the real mandate of the Heavens!" He raised his two arms and lift his head up to the skies. The Prime Minister's voice resonated on all the four corners of the palace walls like a roaring tiger.
Everyone looked at the skies with mixed emotions. Some are confused, while others are afraid that the eclipse might occur.
The people stared for briefly a minute. "Now what? What's in the sky?", a peasant shouted.
"Everyone, the eclipse won't happen! It has been declared by the King.", a farmer butted in. An indisctinct chatter was heard all over the palace.
The Prime Minister knelt down, closed his eyes, and spread his arm sideward like a man getting ready to be sacrificed. A sinister grin formed from his mouth. All people are already talking about the scene that he caused. From all the common people to the group up until the altar where the nobles are sitting.
"What is the Prime Minister doing?", Chil Yook asked. "I do not know. I have a bad feeling for this. I think he's just humiliating himself.", Lady Min replied with a worried face.
"Is this how he cope up with his defeat or is this the beginning of something terrifying? I am really confused.", Chil Yook added.
Everyone mocked the Prime Minister. All people were shouting at him.
"Get out of there! You are just ruining the celebration!
The King ordered the yellow group hwarangs to escort the Prime Minister, to save him from humiliation. The yellow group hwarangs rushed to the center to assist the Prime Minister but the Prime Minister's hwarangs stopped them and pointed their swords towards them. The people got more astonished.
Everyone gasped. "Is this a rebellion?"
The King's patience already ran out. His eyes narrowed in fury and his hands are already shaking out of anger. He walked quickly towards the center to talk to the Prime Minister. "Stand up and get back to your seat, Prime Minister or else this act will be considered as an act of treason!" The King yelled.
A few moments later, the sky started to dim out. "What's happening? Its getting dark!" People panicked.
"Look at the skies everyone!"
The people briefly looked at the skies. Everyone was left speechless at that moment. The sun was gradually being engulfed by the shadow of the moon.