Sisters in the Royal Court
Copyright© 2026 by Megumi Kashuahara
Chapter 12: Navigating Court
Historical Sex Story: Chapter 12: Navigating Court - A story of two sisters who both became consorts to the same Joseon prince, both elevated beyond their station, both genuinely loved by a man who chose them for who they were. One brilliant and brief. One quiet and enduring. Both essential to the tapestry of a family built from loss.
Caution: This Historical Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Ma/Fa Romantic Oriental Male Oriental Female
1485 - Jiwon age 18, Hyeon age 20
The summons came on a cold winter morning.
“His Majesty requests Prince Yi Hyeon’s presence at the morning court session. Your consort is also invited to attend.”
Jiwon looked up from the correspondence she was reviewing, startled. “I’m invited to court? That’s ... unusual.”
“Highly unusual,” Hyeon agreed, equally surprised. “Consorts don’t typically attend unless there’s a specific ceremony or announcement.” He frowned. “I wonder what this is about.”
They found out soon enough.
The Crown Prince’s Troubles
The morning court was already in session when they arrived. Jiwon took her place among the other women of the royal family—queens, consorts, senior court ladies—while Hyeon joined the ranks of princes and officials.
King Seongjong sat on his throne, his expression grave. Before him knelt Crown Prince Yeonsan, looking sullen and defensive.
“The Crown Prince has again demonstrated poor judgment,” the King announced, his voice carrying through the hall. “Excessive spending on entertainments, inappropriate behavior toward palace women, neglect of his studies and duties.”
Murmurs rippled through the assembly. This wasn’t new—Crown Prince Yeonsan’s troubling behavior had been the subject of whispered gossip for years. But for the King to address it so publicly suggested the situation had reached a critical point.
“Your Majesty, I meant no disrespect—” Yeonsan began.
“Silence.” The King’s tone was sharp. “You are heir to the throne. Your behavior reflects on the entire kingdom. Yet you conduct yourself like a spoiled child rather than a future monarch.”
Jiwon watched the scene unfold with growing unease. The King was publicly humiliating his heir—necessary, perhaps, but also dangerous. Crown princes with wounded pride could become vengeful.
“I have decided,” the King continued, “that Crown Prince Yeonsan requires better examples of proper conduct. Therefore, I am assigning Prince Yi Hyeon to serve as advisor to his brother.”
Hyeon’s head snapped up in shock. Jiwon felt her stomach drop.
This was a poisoned gift. If Hyeon succeeded in improving Yeonsan’s behavior, he might be seen as a threat to the Crown Prince. If he failed, he would be blamed for the failure. Either way, he was being placed in an impossible position.
“Your Majesty,” Hyeon said carefully, bowing low. “I am honored by your trust, but I am hardly qualified to advise the Crown Prince—”
“You are qualified by your consistent demonstration of proper judgment, scholarly dedication, and appropriate conduct,” the King interrupted. “Unlike your brother, you have never given me cause for concern. Perhaps your example will inspire improvement.”
Translation: You’re the good son. Make your troublesome brother more like you.
Yeonsan’s expression had gone cold and hard. He would not forget this public comparison, this implied superiority of his younger brother.
“I will serve as Your Majesty commands,” Hyeon said, because there was no other acceptable response.
“Good. You will begin immediately.” The King turned his attention to Jiwon. “And you, Consort Park. I am told you have been of assistance to my son in his administrative duties.”
Jiwon bowed low. “I am honored to serve in whatever small way I can, Your Majesty.”
“Your assistance will continue. The Crown Prince’s household is in disarray—poor management, excessive waste, inappropriate allocations. You will review the household accounts and recommend improvements.”
Jiwon’s mind raced. The King was essentially asking her to audit and criticize the Crown Prince’s household management. This was even more dangerous than Hyeon’s assignment.
“Your Majesty, I am hardly qualified for such an important task—”
“You managed Prince Hyeon’s household efficiently when you were merely Nain, and even more so as his consort. You have demonstrated competence. That is qualification enough.” The King’s tone brooked no argument. “You will work discreetly and report your findings to me directly.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The court session continued, but Jiwon barely heard the rest of it. Her mind was churning with the implications of what had just happened.
They had been given a dangerous assignment—one that could easily make enemies of the future king and his household.
The Aftermath
Back in their quarters, Hyeon paced while Jiwon sat in stunned silence.
“This is a disaster,” he said. “My father just publicly declared me the better son and ordered me to reform my brother. Yeonsan is going to hate me.”
“He already hates you,” Jiwon said quietly. “Or at least resents you. This just makes it official.”
“How am I supposed to advise someone who outranks me and despises me?”
“Very carefully.” She stood, moving to intercept his pacing. “Hyeon, we have to approach this strategically. One wrong move and we make a powerful enemy.”
“We already have a powerful enemy. The Crown Prince will be King someday. If he remembers this humiliation—and he will—he could destroy us.”
“Then we make sure he doesn’t remember us as the cause of his humiliation. We make sure he remembers his father as the source, and us as ... reluctant participants who tried to help as gently as possible.”
Hyeon stopped pacing, looking at her with dawning understanding. “You’re saying we should deliberately fail?”
“No. We should make token efforts that appear earnest but produce minimal actual change. We give the King the appearance of compliance without actually transforming Yeonsan into something he’s not.” She thought quickly. “And we frame everything as respectful suggestions rather than criticism.”
“That’s ... incredibly subtle manipulation.”
“That’s survival in palace politics.” She took his hands. “Hyeon, your father put us in an impossible position. We can’t actually succeed without making Yeonsan hate us. But we can’t refuse without angering the King. So we walk the middle path—we try just enough to satisfy your father, but fail gently enough not to threaten your brother.”
He pulled her close, resting his chin on top of her head. “I hate this. I hate palace politics and power games and impossible positions.”
“I know. But we’re in it now. We have to navigate it carefully.”
The First Meeting with Yeonsan
Three days later, Hyeon was summoned to meet with Crown Prince Yeonsan.
The Crown Prince’s quarters were opulent to the point of excess—silk everywhere, expensive art, elaborate furnishings. It looked more like a pleasure palace than a future monarch’s residence.
Yeonsan himself was sprawled on cushions, a cup of wine in his hand despite the early hour. He looked at Hyeon with undisguised contempt.
“So. Father’s perfect son has come to reform me.”
Hyeon bowed respectfully. “Your Highness, I come only to offer whatever assistance might be helpful. I have no desire to—”
“To what? To make me look worse by comparison?” Yeonsan’s laugh was bitter. “Too late. Father already made that clear in front of the entire court.”
“I had no foreknowledge of His Majesty’s announcement, Your Highness. I was as surprised as you were.”
“Were you?” Yeonsan studied him through narrowed eyes. “Or have you been positioning yourself as the dutiful son all along, waiting for this opportunity?”
“I have no political ambitions, Your Highness. I’m the third prince. I have no claim to the throne and no desire for one.”
“Everyone has ambitions.” Yeonsan drained his cup and gestured for a servant to refill it. “You’re just better at hiding yours.”
This was going worse than Hyeon had feared. He decided to try honesty.
“Your Highness, I understand your anger. What our father did was humiliating, and I am sorry you were subjected to it. But I assure you, I am not your enemy. I never have been.”
“Then what are you?”
“Your brother. Who has been ordered to offer advice whether either of us wants it or not.” Hyeon managed a slight smile. “Which puts us both in an uncomfortable position.”
Yeonsan’s expression flickered—surprise, perhaps, at the directness.
“At least you’re honest about the awkwardness,” he said finally. “Most people would pretend this is some great honor, advising the Crown Prince.”
“It’s a trap,” Hyeon said bluntly. “If I succeed in changing your behavior, you’ll resent me. If I fail, Father will blame me. I can’t win.”
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