Blooming even in the mud - Chapter 49

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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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Blooming Even in the Mud Chapter 49

“How many times do I have to repeat myself? The person you slapped was Yoo Seo-hwa.”
His intention to break off the engagement—disregarding political benefits and even defying the Emperor’s will over such a trivial incident—struck her down repeatedly.
“There is only one reason I am not making you pay for striking Yoo Seo-hwa: because you are Sim-yang’s sister.”
It wasn’t because she had slapped a slave bestowed by the Emperor, nor was it because she had slapped a slave who was his property.
Setting those facts aside, Na-yeon had no choice but to accept that it was solely because she had laid a hand on Yoo Seo-hwa, the woman he had personally desired and taken.
Unable to pursue Gyeong Won-ui any further, Na-yeon stood frozen in place, the corners of her eyes trembling violently as tears spilled over. A drop of blood welled on her tightly bitten lip.
It was humiliating beyond measure.

‘I shouldn’t have brought it up.’
Returning to her room, Yoo Seo-hwa quietly regretted it. She shouldn’t have mentioned Gyeong Won-ui’s marriage alliance. Even if it was to push him away when he tried to embrace her in a place where anyone could pass by.
‘No matter whom Gyeong Won-ui marries, I no longer have the right to speak on it.’
She gently placed her palm over her chest.
A throbbing ache, mingled with the beating of her heart, pressed against her palm.
‘……Yet, it doesn’t shock me as much as when I first heard of the marriage alliance from Chu Na-yeon. It never will again.’
Whew. Yoo Seo-hwa blew out the lamp.
Listening to Dal-rae’s irregular, tossing breaths behind her, she sat quietly in the darkness for a long time.

* * *

As the eastern window brightened, the estate slowly awoke. Yoo Seo-hwa gently touched the forehead of the soundly sleeping Dal-rae.
‘The fever is gone and her breathing is steady, so I can rest easy. It was a clumsy treatment that could hardly be called medicine, but thank goodness it worked.’
She drew water from the well and washed her face with cold water that felt chilly to the bone. Her mind, which had been hazy and blurred after not sleeping a wink last night and being tangled in thoughts, felt a bit clearer.
“Yoo Seo-hwa, did you sleep well?”
When she returned after washing the silk handkerchief used to wipe Dal-rae’s body last night, Kkot-bun had already come to find her.
“What brings you here so early in the morning?”
“What else is there to do in the morning? Food, of course!”
Kkot-bun spoke playfully and pointed to the basket she had brought. It contained barley rice and pickled turnips.
“Thank you. I’ll eat well.”
“I wanted to eat together if Dal-rae was awake, but has she not opened her eyes yet?”
“There were no major issues last night, so I think she will regain consciousness soon.”
“That’s a relief. The other girls were worried a lot too. Oh, this pickle is a bit salty.”
Listening to Kkot-bun’s ceaseless chatter, Yoo Seo-hwa ate her modest meal.
It was cold barley rice that had been cooked a while ago and excessively salty pickled turnips. It was humble, but she knew she was fortunate just to be able to eat her fill.
“Dal-rae actually has a good hand for cooking, despite how she looks. With her gone, even the Banbitgan feels quiet.”
While chattering away, Kkot-bun glanced at Yoo Seo-hwa. Her nodding and responding appeared no different from usual.
‘Did nothing happen with the master yesterday?’
Thinking back on how startled she had been when summoned by Gyeong Won-ui, her heart still thumping.
‘He suddenly asked about something from months ago that I barely remember, so I thought something terrible had happened…….’
Her mouth itched to ask what had happened, but she held it back.
She felt certain that if she pried into this, she would never be able to maintain this comfortable relationship with Yoo Seo-hwa again. Yoo Seo-hwa was too good a person to throw away over mere curiosity.
“Uuuugh.”
Just as the two were nearly finished with their meal, Dal-rae regained consciousness. Groaning softly as she opened her eyes, she caught sight of Kkot-bun staring intently at her and gasped in surprise.
“Wh-what! Why are you in the same room as me?”
“Tsk, tsk, she still hasn’t snapped out of it. Do you think I crossed over to this room first thing in the morning with nothing to do just to watch you sleep?”
“What? Morning? Is it morning?”
Staring around the unfamiliar room with a dazed face, Dal-rae finally spotted Yoo Seo-hwa as well. Her expression instinctively crumpled.
“And who are you supposed to be?”
“Hey, do you really not remember? Or are you pretending not to? Should I splash cold water on you to wake you up, seriously?”
“Why are you picking a fight first thing in the morning? It’s annoying.”
“I’m the one who should be annoyed. Shall I tell you what you sneaked and choked on before collapsing? That’s why I said no matter how hungry you are, you shouldn’t just dig up and eat anything. You work in the Banbitgan of all places, and you don’t even know that?”
“What do you mean, sneaked and eaten—”
Dal-rae’s face suddenly turned pale. It seemed she finally remembered what had happened.
Yoo Seo-hwa placated Kkot-bun.
“Do not press her too hard.”
“No, she doesn’t even know who saved her life and is throwing a temper first.”
With a sharp voice, Kkot-bun pointed at Yoo Seo-hwa.
“Yoo Seo-hwa saved you when you almost died yesterday.”
“What?”
“If you don’t believe me, ask Deok-sun or the other girls. If it weren’t for Yoo Seo-hwa, you’d be rolled up in a straw mat and buried in some cold ground by now.”
“…….”
“Dal-rae, you must have no energy after vomiting and fasting all day yesterday, so please eat first.”
Dal-rae, who could only gape with a pale face, flinched at Yoo Seo-hwa’s words and averted her gaze.
“……Who asked to be saved?”
“Why, you little.”
While soothing a flaring Kkot-bun, Dal-rae slipped out of the room.
Watching Dal-rae stumble away quickly from a lack of strength—or rather, flee—Kkot-bun frowned.
“What kind of behavior is that, instead of saying thank you?”
“It is fine, as I did not do it to receive thanks. It was also a stroke of luck that it happened to be a poisonous herb I knew of from my shallow knowledge.”
“Next time, just ignore her whether she stuffs herself with poisonous herbs or not.”
Kkot-bun raised her voice exaggeratingly, as if determined to be angry on Yoo Seo-hwa’s behalf. Yoo Seo-hwa silently brought over some water for Kkot-bun to drink.

The morning, which had been somewhat bustling unlike Yoo Seo-hwa’s usual quiet quarters, passed. When she visited the Chimmo, she was requested to prepare for Dabcheongjeol first.
“Since the Inner House is empty, there is no lady or young mistress to go flower-viewing, but the Butler suggested we decorate the inside of the estate brightly. It’s the first spring our master is welcoming after returning in five years, so it would be a shame to just let it pass. Have you ever made artificial flowers out of hemp cloth?”
“I roughly know the shape, but I have never made them myself.”
“Unlike the Chaehwa of the Imperial Palace, making artificial flowers isn’t difficult. I’ve made some in advance, so you can easily follow along if you refer to them. You’re quick-witted, aren’t you? And you’ll keep doing this kind of work in the future, so it’s best to learn it now.”
The artificial flowers made from hemp dyed in yellow were attractive and neat. She lacked confidence in mimicking such delicate craftsmanship, but it was a task that had to be done.
Learning each step while listening to the Chimmo’s explanation, it was noon before she knew it.
Returning to her room with the remaining workload, Yoo Seo-hwa pressed her palms firmly against her eyelids. Perhaps because she hadn’t slept a wink at night, she felt immensely fatigued.
‘You know fatigue isn’t the only cause.’
A bitter, self-deprecating smile escaped her lips.
What truly exhausted her was having spoken unnecessarily to Gyeong Won-ui last night. Clasping her hands together in hesitation, she pulled out a chest from under the table and opened it.
The first things to catch her eye were scraps of cloth.
‘I gathered these thinking I might make something for Kkot-bun when I found some spare time later, but I haven’t been able to touch them yet because work has been busy.’
Beneath the cloth were several letters received from Hong Ok-geum. Hong Ok-geum fully understood her plight as a slave bound to the Gyeong Clan. Although she did not visit personally or send gifts, she occasionally sent a letter.
And at the very bottom was a simple, hand-carved wooden dwiggoji.

The very spring that her lover, who had returned from a distant battlefield, had wished to show her.
Because she had toyed with it like a habit during the five years Gyeong Won-ui was gone, Yoo Seo-hwa quietly lifted the finger-stained dwiggoji.
It had been a very long time. Once, it was the sole memory sustaining her despair-wearied heart.
‘Gyeong Won-ui, there will be no more occasions for you to show me spring.’
It was unnecessary.
It was a feeling no one would desire.
Just as she had no right to interfere in his marriage.
Her fingertips turned white with force as she gripped the dwiggoji. Keeping such a thing in secret must have driven her to speak so needlessly.
She ought to throw it away. Her mind knew she had to discard this.
“Ahem.”
The sound of a dry cough reached Yoo Seo-hwa’s ears as she lingered, unable to either discard the dwiggoji or put it back. Instinctively slipping the dwiggoji back into the chest, she turned around.
An unexpected person stood there. The owner of the hesitant presence was Dal-rae.
“I did not notice you coming because I was lost in thought.”
“I came by once earlier too, but you weren’t here……. You weren’t around for a while…….”
Dal-rae muttered, tapping the floor with the tip of her foot. It was a dejected appearance, unlike her usual self.
“I was learning needlework from the Chimmo. Do you have some business with me?”
“It’s nothing special, but…….”
“……?”
It was baffling that she would go out of her way to visit and mutter while claiming it was nothing.
She worried whether the fever from the poisonous herb had not fully subsided.
“Is your head dizzy?”
As she stepped closer, Dal-rae retreated a step in surprise instead.
Mouth twitching, Dal-rae scowled deeply. Then, she thrust forward what she had been holding in her hands behind her back.
“Take it.”
“This is……?”
Yoo Seo-hwa’s eyes widened. It was an item even more unexpected than Dal-rae’s visit.

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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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