Blooming even in the mud - Chapter 74

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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 74

Her response came incredibly quickly.
“The flowers in the garden are more than enough.”
Since he had never dreamed that Yoo Seo-hwa would readily agree to flower viewing, he was not greatly disappointed. Even so, it seemed he was just a tiny bit dejected.
Soon, he began to ponder how best to cultivate the garden for Yoo Seo-hwa.

While the completely thoughtless Kkot-bun merely grinned, delighted by the dramatic transformation of the girl who was once nobody, Dal-rae could not do the same.
‘It’s not that I’m jealous of her…… Yes, to be completely honest, if she hadn’t saved my life before, I might have gone mad with jealousy.’
She wasn’t jealous, but her mind was rather complicated. So much so that her heart, which had resigned itself to ending her life as a slave, was now wavering.
Dal-rae greeted Gyeong Won-ui, her mind cluttered with all sorts of stray thoughts.
“Did you call for me, Master?”
At most, she thought it would be nothing major, likely just asking something about that girl. However, the first words out of Gyeong Won-ui’s mouth were a name she had been forced to bury deep in her heart ever since her elder sister died.
“Kim Ho-rip.”
“……!”
“Are you indeed his daughter?”
“Yes, yes…….”
Hearing her father’s name for the first time in over ten years felt incredibly foreign.
To Dal-rae, who was so startled that she had lost her wits, Gyeong Won-ui offered a chair. Dazed, Dal-rae sat down in a flurry, not even realizing how bizarre it was for a slave to sit face-to-face before her master.
“Actually, seeing the birthmark on your forehead brought it to mind. We have met once in the past, though you probably don’t know it.”
“Th-this servant has?”
“It was before the elder was sent into exile, so you were very young.”
“I am deeply sorry…… I do not remember at all.”
“Due to personal reasons, I am currently investigating the events of eighteen years ago. Would you be able to answer some questions?”
“If there is anything I can recall, I will tell you everything, Master.”
Regaining a bit of her composure, Dal-rae calmed her racing heart.
“When he took up his post in Shengguang, were you in the Capital City?”
“No. Since my mother passed away not long after giving birth to me, my father took me and my elder sister to his post.”
“Anything that happened in Shengguang is fine, so speak freely.”
“Because I was so young, I can only remember trivial things here and there. Will that be alright?”
As Gyeong Won-ui nodded, Dal-rae even furrowed her brow, rummaging through her dust-covered memories.
Her tale, delivered in an uncertain tone, piece by piece, continued. After a long string of trivial stories about how she was almost bitten by a dog raised in the courtyard of the government office, a plausible detail finally emerged.
“I absolutely hated the birthmark on my forehead that I’ve had since birth. I was crying after being teased in Shengguang as well, when I met a certain Taoist Master.”
Gyeong Won-ui, who had been listening silently, reacted for the first time.
“A Taoist Master? Are you certain you met him in Shengguang?”
“Yes, there is a stream right next to the government office in Shengguang, and I remember the Taoist Master saving me when I almost fell into the stream while crying there. I often saw Buddhist monks, but it was my first time seeing a Taoist Master, so I remember thinking his Taoist robes and hairstyle were strange.”
“And then?”
“After hearing the reason why I was crying, the Taoist Master gave me a talisman and taught me some kind of incantation. He said it was a special talisman given for free out of pity for a young child, and told me to drink water mixed with the ashes of the burnt talisman twice a day. While reciting the incantation, that is. He said the birthmark would disappear if I did.”
She said she could not remember the shape of the talisman or the incantation because it was too long ago, but it was certain that she had met a Taoist Master.
Gyeong Won-ui’s eyes gleamed with a peculiar light. There were no Taoist temples in Shengguang or its neighboring counties. Unless it was a wandering Taoist Master, there was no reason for one to be in Shengguang.
Unless the true stronghold of the White Head Sect, before they began to spread their influence in earnest, was actually Shengguang.
“Within a few days, my elder sister and father caught me. My father was furious, saying that he was tricking a young child with sinister sorcery. My elder sister comforted me as I cried in fear. She told me that thanks to me, they would be able to find those wicked Taoist Masters before they could trick more people. That was probably…… two months before my father faced the accusation…….”
Tracing her memories, Dal-rae’s complexion turned stark white.
She thought it was strange that he had only been listening and then suddenly pressed for details about the Taoist Master. At the same time, the pieces she had held as mere fragments sorted themselves out in her mind as she spoke to Gyeong Won-ui. A suspicion—a ‘could it be?’—had taken root.
“…….”
Dal-rae did not voice her suspicion aloud and merely clenched her fists tightly. Not only was there no evidence, but as the daughter of a felon of high treason, it was a topic she could not rashly bring up.
Gyeong Won-ui also refrained from touching upon that point for now.
“Do you know who the person that accused him was?”
“……I do not know.”
“It was Minister of State Affairs Chu Se-gu, whose ancestral home is Shengguang. Chu Se-gu’s daughter is the culprit who instigated Kkeoksoe.”
“…….”
“This time, Chu Se-gu’s daughter is going down to Shengguang to recuperate, and she requires a maidservant.”
Dal-rae understood the meaning behind his words without much difficulty.
“Do you mean for me to go to Shengguang as your spy, Master?”
“I am not forcing you. It could be dangerous, and you might not be able to maintain your composure in front of your enemy. I will give you time to consider it carefully, so if you feel even the slightest hesitation, tell me without reservation.”
“I will do it.”
It was a firm decisiveness without a single shred of hesitation.
“My father died without any guilt, and my elder sister also died miserably. Until now, I could not even dare to dream of revenge, but if there is an opportunity, I will do anything.”
“Good.”
Gyeong Won-ui nodded and stated the final condition.
“You must keep this a secret. Even from the young lady.”
“Yes, because she would surely worry.”
A faint smile returned to Dal-rae’s face, which had been rigidly set with determination.

The Emperor’s contemplation grew long. It was only after the teacups on the refreshment table had long grown cold that the Imperial Voice resumed.
“If the suspicions are true, it is an affair that can never be overlooked. However, you mean to say there is no proof?”
“As of now, it is merely my humble suspicion, Your Majesty.”
“A counterattack might hit you if you are careless.”
“I am prepared for that.”
His voice was resolute. The Emperor drained the lukewarm, cooled tea in a single gulp.
“Only now do I recall, but I also clearly remember the confession that the birthplace of the White Head Sect was Shengguang. It was recorded in the official report as well, but somewhere along the line, it became Maeshan. Since there was more than one or two instances where my elder brother misled the truth for political purposes, I had thought there was another reason to put pressure on the Maeshan region, but…….”
Muttering to himself, the Emperor organized his thoughts.
“The remnants of the White Head Sect have not yet been completely subjugated, so if the purpose is to investigate the truth behind those scoundrels, the justification will be more than sufficient.”
“It is highly probable that the official report was forged along the way.”
“There is a draft of the official report at Prince Ning’s Estate, so it will suffice to have someone bring it. Grand General of Pacifying the State Gyeong Won-ui.”
“Please bestow your commands, Your Majesty.”
“I grant you the authority to investigate the White Head Sect and any collaborators who might potentially exist. As this is also an oversight authority to ferret out those involved regardless of how high or low their status is, do your utmost.”
The Emperor affixed his hand-signature on the spot, drew up an Imperial Edict, and bestowed it upon him.
Once the official business concluded, the conversation naturally shifted to casual private chatter. It went without saying that the arson incident at the private residence was brought up as a topic.
“Hearing from the Empress, it seems Yoo Seo-hwa narrowly avoided disaster. How is she now?”
“She has recovered enough to frequently take walks, provided it is in the nearby garden.”
“Hahaha.”
The Emperor let out a hearty laugh, having sensed a certain change in Gyeong Won-ui’s tone.
Gyeong Won-ui had been consumed by the sole thought of exacting revenge on Yoo Seo-hwa. It had been deeply regrettable to see him wading in a muddy slough that was no different from self-harm, but it seemed he had dispelled the shadow to some extent.
‘I am curious as to what events transpired, but poking and prodding might make me look indiscreet. There will be a suitable time later.’
Leaving his curiosity for the future, he casually asked Gyeong Won-ui.
“To have a whole pavilion entirely destroyed by fire, the damage must be no small matter. I wish to offer solace even if I must tap into my Privy Purse, so is there any item you urgently require?”
“If so, though it may be presumptuous, may I make one request?”
“Speak.”
It was a rare occurrence for Gyeong Won-ui to readily agree to accept something. Upon hearing the answer, the Emperor’s curiosity soon turned into bewilderment.
“Is that truly all you need?”
“It is what I require most, Your Majesty.”
“Haha, very well. Since it is not a difficult matter, I shall have it prepared at once.”
Though curious about the reason, the Emperor once again shelved it for the future for the time being.

Gyeong Won-ui, who had now been officially granted even the oversight authority, called for Wang Jeong-mun.
“And so, it has been decided to reinvestigate Chu Se-gu and the origin of the White Head Sect.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Wang Jeong-mun, who had been marveled while listening to the explanation, also composed his expression.
“Then what shall we do with the personnel investigating Cui Shecheng?”
“That…….”
After conflicting internally for a moment, he soon flashed a bitter smile. If Yoo Seo-hwa were to find out later that he had deferred clearing his father’s false charge for the sake of her revenge, she might become angry with him.
“For the time being, let us divide into two teams and commence the investigation.”
“Understood. And because it was an uncertain conjecture, I delayed reporting it until I obtained confirmation, but…….”
Wang Jeong-mun continued in a somewhat hesitant tone.
“There are circumstances indicating that the other tracker pursuing Cui Shecheng is the Minister of State Affairs. If you had not brought up the Minister of State Affairs this time, General, my mention of this would have been much later.”
“……Is that so.”
Chu Se-gu’s traces were stepped upon in an unexpected place. Gyeong Won-ui swallowed the dark suspicion that suddenly surged within him. There was no confirmation. He must not get agitated.
To put it bluntly, it was entirely possible that Cui Shecheng, who was deeply into gambling and possessed astronomical debts, had run off with Chu Se-gu’s money.
“Report immediately once Cui Shecheng’s whereabouts are revealed. If possible, I will go to find him myself.”
The two men refined their plans while exchanging opinions with one another.
Just before Wang Jeong-mun, having finished his business, opened the door to leave, Gyeong Won-ui’s low voice chased after him. Hearing those words, Wang Jeong-mun’s back froze in place.

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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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