Blooming even in the mud - Chapter 59

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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 59

“You…”
He opened his lips reflexively, then closed them.
Until just now, he had intended to completely trap Yoo Seo-hwa. Yet, he couldn’t believe his own reaction—feeling intensely flustered by the sole fact that her gaze had changed.
Yoo Seo-hwa did not even find his sudden, frozen reaction strange.
“…”
She merely stared at him in silence, as if waiting for his answer or his judgment.
For some reason, her transparent gaze, devoid of any joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure, overlapped with the eyes that had been shattering with despair just a few days ago.
“……I have business to attend to, so I shall take my leave.”
“Yes, please go safely.”
He threw out an excuse that anyone could tell was fabricated on the spot, but there was still no reaction from Yoo Seo-hwa.
As Gyeong Won-ui, unable to hide his agitation, turned back, Yoo Seo-hwa sat down in her chair once more. Her hands were calm as they rethreaded the needle and smoothed the fabric.
In the past, she would have anxiously studied his complexion, worrying about Gyeong Won-ui’s sudden change in demeanor.
‘But now, I’m not curious at all.’
It seemed that for someone who had lost the will to live any longer, everything became meaningless.
“Mmm.”
Massaging her somewhat stiff shoulders, she covered her mouth and let out a small yawn.
For the past five years, she had never rested or slept comfortably for even a single day. Guilt and sorrow had always chased her, clinging like a shadow.
Only after everything had crumbled did the long-repressed fatigue begin to wash over her little by little. Thanks to that, she was always short on sleep.
‘I should finish just this part and then close my eyes.’
Yoo Seo-hwa rubbed her drowsy eyes and moved her needle.
It would not take very long for the two garments to be completed.

* * *

Deok-sun was keeping a closer eye on Yoo Seo-hwa than on the other slaves.
‘If the master would just take her in as a slave concubine, it would make things easier for me, too.’
Though she hadn’t pried intentionally, it seemed certain that Gyeong Won-ui had taken her. Deok-sun glared with eyes wide to ensure that oblivious fools wouldn’t hit on Yoo Seo-hwa and rouse their master’s wrath.
‘There’s more than one or two guys whose faces go slack over that woman’s beauty. Tsk, tsk.’
Previously, everyone had noticed a certain relationship between Gyeong Won-ui and Yoo Seo-hwa, so no one dared to try anything, but since nothing special had happened afterward, some guys had been getting lax recently.
A while ago, a certain slave had even come out of nowhere to brashly ask for permission to marry Yoo Seo-hwa.

For Deok-sun’s part, she could only hope Gyeong Won-ui would decide to settle Yoo Seo-hwa into the inner quarters as soon as possible. Only then did it seem like she wouldn’t have to watch those foolish men anymore.
‘It’s a relief that Kmot-bun hangs around her all the time without knowing any better. Strangely, Dal-rae has been sticking close lately too. Since she’s a sharper girl than Kmot-bun, it seems like she’ll take good care of her.’
When Yoo Seo-hwa was struggling to save Dal-rae, Deok-sun had thought she was an incredibly naive girl, but as expected, good intentions brought rewards, and a person’s sincerity seemed to get through.
Walking behind the pavilion with a warm smile, Deok-sun suddenly gasped in surprise.
“Goodness gracious!”
Yoo Seo-hwa opened her eyes at the sound that was close to a sharp scream.
“Ah… Auntie Deok-sun?”
“What kind of child falls asleep on the ground in broad daylight? You were leaning against the building without moving an inch, so I thought you were a corpse.”
“I’m sorry. I was so drowsy that I only meant to close my eyes for a moment, but I fell fast asleep.”
“No matter how tired you are, there are more than enough wicked men who would do bad things if they saw a woman collapsed in a deserted place, so please be careful.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Deok-sun repeatedly admonished Yoo Seo-hwa well. Even putting the relationship with Gyeong Won-ui aside, it was only natural to worry when a woman was left defenseless alone.
Yoo Seo-hwa, who meekly acquiesced, stood up while holding the sewing materials she had placed on her lap. Deok-sun was about to pass her by, but stopped her steps just in case. It was something that could be dismissed lightly, but there was always a one-in-a-million chance.
“Since when did you start feeling drowsy?”
“It hasn’t been long.”
“Any other changes? For instance, have you ever thought that you’re craving certain foods for no reason, or that your appetite has changed? Have you suddenly felt lightheaded or dizzy?”
“Nothing has particularly changed.”
“Really? Hmm…”
Pondering deeply, Deok-sun decided to just ask directly.
“When was your last menstruation?”
“About two months ago… But why do you ask such a question?”
“And did you attend to the master around that time?”
Only then did Yoo Seo-hwa realize the reason Deok-sun was prying, and her face turned pale.
“I don’t think it could be that. My menstruation is originally on the irregular side.”
“Since there are no prominent symptoms, the probability of pregnancy might be low, but since there’s always a chance, we must make sure of these things. I’ll make some time for you soon, so go secretly to Zhang’s Pharmacy and find out for certain if a pregnancy pulse can be caught.”
“Auntie Deok-sun, is there a need to go that far?”
“Of course.”
Deok-sun’s voice grew stern.
“If it’s not pregnancy, it doesn’t matter, but if by some chance it is, it’s a huge deal. Furthermore, it’s something that must be reported to the master.”
At those words, Yoo Seo-hwa clamped her mouth tightly shut like a clam. Deok-sun coaxed her gently in a much softer tone.
“I know you’re worried, but if it’s true that you’re pregnant, it’s the master’s first child. Your lot in life might become a bit easier, too.”
“…”
“Don’t get your hopes up too high though, and prepare your heart as well. The master might tell you to get rid of the child.”
“……I shall do so.”
Patting Yoo Seo-hwa’s shoulders as she barely squeezed out an answer, Deok-sun gave a final injunction.
“You must keep your lips sealed until it’s certain. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll speak to the Needlewoman separately, so don’t overdo it until late just because work is piled up, and take care of your body.”
Yoo Seo-hwa nodded her head and pressed her lower abdomen with her hand.
Naturally, no fetal movement could be felt. And she did not wish to feel it in the future, either.

* * *

Yanghang is a coastal city in the south of Songyang State.
From olden times, it had developed based on trade and exchange with neighboring countries. In the present day, it had grown into one of the leading large cities in Songyang State.
The Tracker had entered Yanghang a few days ago, chasing the trail of Cui Shecheng.
‘But the trail cuts off right here… Since it’s a place with so much foot traffic, it would be difficult to pursue him if he disguised himself and slipped away. The question is how he concealed that build of his.’
He moved his feet aimlessly, contemplating.
‘He’s either hiding somewhere in Yanghang, or he turned back to flee inland after pretending to enter Yanghang, or he took a boat to a foreign country… If he took a boat, the countries with the highest probability would be Wu State and Seongju State.’
Indeed, the Tracker’s subordinates had searched the ports holding drawings of Cui Shecheng’s appearance, but there had been no results.
As he walked, the fishy smell of the sea mixed with salt grew thicker. It was a small port.
‘Maybe I don’t need to look here.’
It wasn’t a place where foreign trading ships frequented, but a port where fishermen launched their boats for harvesting seafood or seafaring work.
He was about to turn back, but changed his mind, thinking he might as well conduct a light inquiry since he had come all this way.
“Hmm… Well, I’m not sure.”
“It’s a face I haven’t seen before.”
“I’m certain. Merchants don’t come all the way to a secluded place like this, so a stranger stands out immediately.”
There were no particular results.
It was around the time he had looped around the port twice that a conversation worth listening to came up.
“Have you tried asking Suni’s Mother?”
“Who is that?”
“The lady over there.”
A middle-aged man pointed toward the south. At the edge of the port, a certain woman stood staring blankly at the sea without end.
She was someone the Tracker had passed by earlier because she exuded an atmosphere that made her somewhat difficult to approach.
“Is she someone who knows the area well?”
“It’s not so much that she knows it well…”
The man scratched his head. He had a slightly awkward expression, but he opened his mouth once a few coins were slipped to him.
“It’s just that ever since that house’s mister drowned in the sea, she stands there looking only at the sea like that every single day. She’s been at the port the whole time, so she might have seen the man you’re talking about.”
“It doesn’t seem like she would have the peace of mind to look around her surroundings though.”
“Probably so.”
The man scratched the bridge of his nose sheepishly.
“Suni’s Mother is truly pitiful, too. Suni’s Father is a man who lived his whole life on the sea, so I don’t know what on earth he was thinking to launch a boat on a day when the storm was so severe. Since the corpse hasn’t floated up yet, she keeps waiting just in case.”
“When was that?”
An unusual light flashed in the eyes of the Tracker, who had been listening with one ear. The date the man answered with was similar to the period when Cui Shecheng’s trail had vanished.
The Tracker approached the woman.
“Excuse me.”
“…”
The woman, who had been staring at the distant sea with a hollow face, barely turned around after being called several times. Her eyes were sunken.
After expressing his condolences with appropriate words, the Tracker subtly brought out a Silver Bottle from his sleeve and showed it.
“Could we speak for a moment?”
“……What is it?”
“I wish to know the situation when your husband launched the boat. I heard he paid no heed to the harsh weather, but instead of fishing, could it be that someone made a request of him?”
The woman tore at the hem of her skirt with a face that looked ready to weep.
“That foolish man… Because of that measly money, he walked into the underworld on his own two feet…”
“…”
“He was a rather stocky man in his forties. I don’t know his name…”
“Is it this face?”
Confirming the drawing of his appearance, the woman nodded her head.
The Tracker clenched his fist tightly. He had finally caught the tail again.
“Do you also know where he intended to go?”

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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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