Blooming even in the mud - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 25: Blooming Even in the Mud
 
 
 
Yoo Seo-hwa scanned the letter, desperately trying to conceal her trembling gaze. It was undoubtedly her own handwriting.
“Yes…….”
It was one of the many letters she used to send to Lady Zhang and Won-yeong in Ganam Province. It was the very last letter she had written on the night the Rebellion broke out, a letter she never managed to send.
‘I’d completely forgotten about it because things were so chaotic after that. Why on earth does the Young Master have it now? I thought it was lost in all the confusion.’
She remembered every word she had written to Lady Zhang and Won-yeong. After all, they were the sole reasons she had forced herself to stay alive.
The same went for this final, unsent letter.
She tried frantically to recall its contents, but she couldn’t understand his reaction. She was utterly baffled, seeing how deeply it had disrupted Gyeong Won-ui’s composure.
“It is indeed a letter I wrote to those two. It must have been swept up when the Princess’s Residence’s assets were being cleared out. It’s useless now, so you may burn it.”
She offered the explanation as carefully as possible, but it didn’t seem to have much effect. The fierce aura carved into Gyeong Won-ui’s face softened not even a fraction.
“Are you out of your mind? Who exactly did you write this trash to?!”
“……Pardon?”
“Or did you fabricate and write this letter on purpose just to provoke me?!”
It was a barrage of words that made absolutely no sense to her.
As she stood there merely blinking in sheer bewilderment, Gyeong Won-ui tore the letter to shreds. The scraps of paper, violently flung from his hand, struck Yoo Seo-hwa.
Though she was the one who said he could burn it, seeing him tear the letter to pieces right before her eyes made her heart plummet.
Then, a sharp, furious roar born of surging passion tore through the air once more.
“If this was a trick to provoke me, I must praise you for succeeding magnificently.”
“Y-Young Master?”
The man’s clenched fist slammed heavily against the wall. The vibration of the wall screaming under the impact reached the very back of Yoo Seo-hwa’s head.
Yoo Seo-hwa’s shoulders flinched.
She still couldn’t fully comprehend the meaning behind his words. Yet, she became chillingly aware that something had gone terribly wrong.
“Right, now that you’ve dragged me down like this, what exactly did you want? Is it too humiliating to live as a slave in a ruined house like this that fell by your hands, so you want me to sell you somewhere else?”
“N-No, Young Master……. There seems to be some sort of misunderstanding—.”
“Since I killed your husband, did you want to bring up Mother and Won-yeong just to watch me suffer in agony?!”
“……Young Master.”
Yoo Seo-hwa’s voice didn’t seem to reach his ears as he spewed out his boiling rage.
Yoo Seo-hwa bit her lower lip hard. The realization of her own ignorance, which began to crawl up from the depths of her chest, bound her hand and foot.
The vivid murderous intent in his eyes as he looked down at her with utter hatred ominously stirred her heart.
Her breathing hitched. A torn scrap of paper that had clung to her jacket fluttered limply to the floor.
“What exactly did I……”
What did I not know?
What was I ignorant of?
She wanted to confirm the true nature of this ominous feeling, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. She instinctively knew that whatever words left her mouth would only be twisted by Gyeong Won-ui’s murderous rage.
A grinding sound escaped from between Gyeong Won-ui’s tightly clenched teeth. He savagely grabbed Yoo Seo-hwa’s chin with one hand.
“Ugh.”
As the powerful hand squeezed her jaw, Yoo Seo-hwa let out a low groan in spite of herself.
It would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt. However, more than the physical pain, the heat radiating from his agitated fingertips cut deep into Yoo Seo-hwa’s heart. So did his eyes, which flickered with murderous intent. And his raspy, growling voice.
“This is my house, and everything here, down to a single slave, belongs entirely to me. This is the last time I will fall for your tricks, so do not provoke me ever again.”
Even after spitting out those chilling words, Gyeong Won-ui did not release her face immediately. Exposed to a murderous aura that felt as if it were chewing through her and piercing her whole being, Yoo Seo-hwa couldn’t even breathe properly.
His rough breathing mingled with her gasps as she choked and struggled for air.
It was only after Gyeong Won-ui finally let go of her with force and stepped back that she realized just how close they had been. It was almost as if they were about to kiss.
Even after Gyeong Won-ui’s back disappeared completely, it took a long time for the agitated air to settle.
“Ugh…….”
Only after a long while did Yoo Seo-hwa stumble and sink to the floor. Biting her lip, she gathered the torn pieces of paper one by one.
She didn’t want to tremble, but her hands kept shaking. Even the simple task of picking up the scraps of paper was difficult. Cupping the barely gathered fragments in both hands, she pressed them hard against her forehead. She desperately tried to calm her racing heart.
‘What could possibly be wrong with a letter I intended to send to the Soguk Lady and Won-yeong? It’s a letter those two never even received.’
The thought that she had to return to the Inner House to finish her remaining chores didn’t even cross her mind. Yoo Seo-hwa barely managed to move her trembling legs.
‘There must be someone who knows.’
A mere slave must not show any sign of meddling deeply in the affairs of the master’s family. For that reason, she hadn’t been able to pry into the whereabouts of Lady Zhang and Won-yeong.
But now, she had to find out. Why on earth had Lady Zhang and Won-yeong become Gyeong Won-ui’s taboo?
Feeling a sticky, ominous premonition churning in her chest, Yoo Seo-hwa passed through the middle gate.
‘Where should I go?’
The first person who came to mind was Court Lady Lee, who had been her closest confidante. However, it was impossible for her in her current state to meet Court Lady Lee, who had transferred her registry to the Imperial Palace. She had no choice but to look inside the residence.
Five years ago, when the Gyeong clan fell, the household servants of the estate were either subjected to asset confiscation or quit. The current Butler was also someone newly hired after the Rebellion.
This meant that not a single person from the old Gyeong estate who knew the past circumstances remained in this residence.
‘Then I must meet someone close to the Young Master.’
Yoo Seo-hwa didn’t know what kind of time the past five years had been for Gyeong Won-ui. Even so, there was one person she could think of.

On the day of the Rebellion, he had introduced himself to Yoo Seo-hwa in that manner, and he was Gyeong Won-ui’s deputy, whom she had occasionally seen at the Princess’s Residence as well.
‘He’s someone who usually isn’t seen around the residence, but the Young Master returned home today for the first time in a while. He likely escorted the Young Master and came to the residence. And as his deputy, he must have stayed close to the Young Master for the past five years.’
Of course, she wasn’t optimistic enough to think he would easily reveal private matters to a mere slave. However, Gyeong Won-ui’s deputy was a man who had never treated her harshly. If she pleaded earnestly, he might explain things to her.
By asking the soldiers here and there, Yoo Seo-hwa finally went to find Commander Wang Jeong-mun, who was said to be staying in a guest room in the Outer House. From what she heard, Jeong-mun had also been under King Ning’s command, just like Gyeong Won-ui. Currently, he was staying here as a retainer.
With the lowly status of a slave, even meeting him was no easy task. Yoo Seo-hwa pleaded with the soldier guarding the guest room.
“Could you please deliver a message to Commander Wang? I won’t take up much of his time.”
“Tsk, how dare a creature like you think you can see the Commander?”
“I beg of you.”
“Ugh.”
The soldier, who had momentarily shown signs of being captivated by Yoo Seo-hwa’s beauty, ultimately shook his head firmly.
“If I do something presumptuous, even I will be severely flogged, so beat it.”
She was at an utter loss. As she lingered for a while, unable to leave yet unable to force her way in, the soldier, who had looked thoroughly annoyed, suddenly straightened his back and offered a military salute.
“What is all this commotion about?”
“I-I apologize, sir! But this slave insisted so stubbornly on seeing you, Commander, that I couldn’t drive her away.”
“A slave wants to see me?”
Passing over the bowing soldier, Jeong-mun’s gaze landed on Yoo Seo-hwa. Recognizing the slave who stood by the side of the road with her head politely bowed, his eyebrows twitched.
“Are you a slave of this household?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then your master is General Gyeong, not me. I wonder what you could possibly have to say to a guest, but come inside first.”
Leaving the startled soldier behind, Jeong-mun’s manner of speech changed once they entered the room. While it wasn’t the utmost courtesy shown to an imperial princess, it was a polite form of speech that showed her a degree of respect.
“Do you have business with me, and not the General?”
As expected, he recognized her at a single glance. Yoo Seo-hwa pressed one hand against her chest, where an ominous feeling was churning.
“I am sorry to disturb you when you must be busy. However, I have come to see you despite my rudeness because there is something I wish to ask regarding the General’s family.”
“What is it?”
“Why have the Soguk Lady and Lady Gyeong not returned from Ganam Province?”
“…….”
Jeong-mun’s countenance, which had held a trace of curiosity, instantly froze.
“Do you truly not know the reason?”
“Yes…….”
“Sigh, to think such a thing has happened.”
Muttering to himself as he let out a sigh, Jeong-mun rubbed his face roughly.
“For Your Highness, of all people, to have been entirely unaware all this time, there must certainly be a reason. However, I do not know if it is appropriate for me to speak of this instead of the General, who is their family.”
“If not you, Commander, there is no one else who will tell me the truth.”
“But……”
“Please, I beg of you.”
In the end, Jeong-mun could not refuse her earnest plea. Letting out a heavy sigh, he reluctantly opened his lips.
“Actually……”
As she listened to the explanation that followed, Yoo Seo-hwa’s face turned pale, and then gradually went deathly dark.
Her ominous intuition became a stark reality, swallowing her up from beneath her feet.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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