Behind Five Willows

Seojun felt like death.

He had worked himself into a state of exhaustion. His father frequented his doorway, a heavy shadow that lingered. “You ought to eat some food with meat,” Minister Yu would remind him. “Since you can only study when you are without illness, do not be stubborn, and be careful with your health.”

Trays of food would come in, and then the trays would leave with the food barely touched. He had no appetite. He did not break from his studies, did not dare give his thoughts space to roam. The moment he did, he became instant prey to the most agonizing emotions he had ever experienced.

He studied from dawn until dusk. His plan was to know the Five Classics without reliance on commentaries, with a particular attention to the Book of Documents.