Bound
Title: Bound
Summary: A well-kept secret, that’s what he was, a scandal the king was keen on keeping hidden. But Jaejoong had a secret of his own, Jung Yunho.
Pairing: YunJae
Genre: Fluff, Smut, Drama, Historical
Rating: NC17
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He sat on the wooden floor as he stared out his window, watching the pristine palace garden before him. The sight was so calm, not even a ripple disturbed the pond in the middle of the green. With his cheek resting on his hand, he blew a lock of hair off his nose. Wind blew the chimes hanging from his door pane, for a moment, the stillness was disturbed by the weak clanking of bamboo. He decided to lie on his back and stare at the ceiling instead. A sigh escaped his lips.
Earlier that day, he woke even before the sun peeked though the horizon, just like he always did. Three, four, five, six, seven handmaids helped him put on an extravagant hanbok, made of fine silk, which came all the way from China. He ate a breakfast of rare fish and fresh vegetables that probably costs as much as a whole week’s worth of meals for an ordinary farming family. He didn’t have the liberty to enjoy it, however, since he had to rush to the king’s chambers to greet him in the morning.
After his morning rituals, he spent some hours practicing the flute with the royal musician. After that, he painted, then read short epics from the capital’s most famous writer, then he wrote some poems of his own, he walked around the garden, he played with the feisty stray cat he had decided to name Jiji, he ate another hearty meal and now as the sun reached its highest point in the day, he found himself with nothing interesting to do.
He was not royalty, not even part of the nobility, he was not a scholar, neither was he honored in the military.
A well kept secret, that’s what he was.
He was sold to the palace by the young age of 12. He was from a poor family. Too many siblings, too small a house, and too huge a debt. He had been fortunate (or unfortunate) to entice the king with his beauty, as he was accepted to be one of his consorts.
He was a scandal the king was keen on keeping hidden. The leader of the Joseon could never be found out as a homosexual.
No one but those who reside in the palace knew of his existence. A secret decree was issued; anyone caught, or even just rumored, to acknowledge his existence outside was sentenced to immediate death.
Rules were broken in order for him to be kept. Likewise, new rules were created to secure him.
He was not allowed to go out the walls of the palace. The day he was sold was the last time he saw the streets of Hanseong.
“Please sit up, you’re going to wrinkle your hanbok!”
“The king wouldn’t be pleased to see you like that when he calls for you later tonight.” His personal handmaid warned him. From the corner of the room, she paused doing her embroideries to stare at the consort.
He frowned but ignored her words of caution. He turned sideways to face her, causing more wrinkles on his clothes, “Eunhye, I want to learn archery. Why does everyone insist I do all the shit…” Eunhye gasped at his words; he rolled his eyes “…the female consorts do? Why won’t they let me be like a normal man?”
“Because you’re not normal.”
“Well I am unhappy. I want to learn archery.”
“The military captain already refused to accept you in their training. Do you know what the king might think when he touches your hands and feels callouses all over your palms?”
“Well, do you know what the king might think if I tell him I refuse to smile because you have made me gloomy by refusing my wishes?”
Eunhye sighed, “Fine, I will appeal to the military captain once again.”
“…first thing tomorrow?”
“Yes, first thing tomorrow”
He flashed a triumphant smile and was about to roll on his back again as he heard a loud discord from the outside.
He immediately stood up and peered through the window. Some palace police were struggling to control a man. It was too far to see how he looked like, but he could faintly hear him shouting curses.
“Another one!” he said. Excitement started to build up in him. Instead of using the door, he slung his leg over the windowpane to jump. Just before he launched himself, Eunhye managed to reprimand him….but it was too late. He was gone.
The handmaid immediately scampered through the door to chase after the troublesome consort “YOUNGWOUNG JAEJOONG-SSHI! JAEJOONG-SSHI! COMEBACK HERE!”
---
Jaejoong hid behind a tree as he watched the prisoner get dragged along the palace walkway. He watched the man who had frayed clothes, unruly hair, and a small face. He could tell he was injured by the traces of blood on him.
The small troop paused as the head police came out to meet the criminal.
“Do you think you can get away with this?” The head of the police seemed so enraged as he strode towards the man.
“There are hundreds of crimes around Hanseong and you don’t seem to catch them, so yes, I thought I could. But unfortunately, it seems that your whore made you come too fast that you actually had time to do you job.” The man smirked and Jaejoong finds himself holding back a laugh.
The man’s remark earned him a heavy smack across his face. It was to everyone’s surpise that he was still smirking.
The chief attempted to hit him again but, with a swift movement, he pulled the guards holding him to his front, in the end causing them to be hit by the chief’s hands. He pushed them further and more roughly, making them to fall to the ground. The other guards attempted to go for him but they froze in intimidation as he confidently just stared them down. It was as if warning them they’d get hurt if they moved any closer.
He and the head police played a staring game, everyone was still and Jaejoong, too engrossed with what was happening, didn’t even notice that he was biting his lips too hard.
“I wouldn’t have expected this from you. To think your father was a scholar.”
The other police attempted to hold him again but nudged them away. “You don’t have to hold me. I can walk my way to our destination.”
The chief shakes his head. “Jung Yunho, you arrogant piece of shit.”
“Tsch.”
Jung Yunho.
Jaejoong stepped out from behind the tree just before the crowd started moving. A few policemen, including the chief weakly acknowledge him with a small bow.
Yunho however looked at him with a piercing stare, his eyes followed him even when they started to walk away.
Jaejoong was frozen in his place. An indescribable chill, not quite equivalent to fear, shot up his spine. It was as if he knew the man would change his life. It was scary, yet exhilarating.
When Jaejoong walked back to his room, he lied down and stared at the ceiling. “Jung Yunho. I will meet you tomorrow.”
---
Jaejoong sighed, for what he thought was the 100th time, as he heard the consorts chatter. They were seated in the king’s dinner table, waiting for his arrival. He hated waiting for the king because it meant he had to spend more time with these women.
The other consorts tire him. Most were older than he was, and those closer to his age viewed him as nothing but competition for the king's favors. It wasn't that he minded, but the girls were usually airheaded, shallow and conceited if not overly cautious and unnecessarily timid. He preferred his time with the handmaidens.
The door finally opened and everyone in the room stood up for the king's entrance. Lee Changsuk was a fairly young king. He was handsome, intelligent and fit, which was why, unlike with many other kings, consorts didn’t have a problem bedding him.
Dinner breezed by and it was time the king invited his companies for the night. Jaejoong found himself in Changsuk’s bed with three more women. Being the favorite, the king’s lips were latched on his neck. He faked a few moans, making sure Changsuk was pleased with his reactions.
“Mmm. How was today, Youngwoung?”
Youngwoung was a nickname his mother gave him and the king decided to keep.
“It was interesting…” A kiss was planted on his lips but he doesn’t stir the slightest.
Changsuk didn’t seem to mind his lack of interest in the conversation as he’s lost in Jaejoong’s milky skin.
Jaejoong faked another moan as he closed his eyes. Even with his majesty worshipping his body, all he could think of was seeing Yunho in the morning.
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A/N: Wow. I'm actually back. I KNOW I MUST BE NOTORIOUS FOR TAKING FOREVER TO UPDATE, but fortunately for this fic, I'm already done writing most of it so updates won't be a problem. I MISSED WRITING
Anyway, it's my first historical fic, and I actually want to make it as accurate as possible...buuuuuuuuut....I doubt this is accurate at all. I failed. I haven't put the official number of chapters yet, but in my estimate it could be more or less 4 chapters.
I hope you enjoy! *Yunjae cookies*