Blooming even in the mud - Chapter 92

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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 Mud Chapter 92
 
 
“It is a sprout of a torreya tree.”
“……!”
Startled by those words, she snapped her head up. Next to the bursting green sprout, the remnants of the old torreya tree stood as withered, decayed wood.
“So it was a seed from this torreya tree.”
She had thought it faded away like the final curtain of those nostalgic old days. That she would never behold the lush green of a torreya tree again.
It was a mistaken thought. The torreya tree had not died completely. It had merely returned to the flow of nature, leaving behind a seed for a new era. Waiting for the season of lush green foliage to return once more.
“Torreya trees are slow to grow. We might not see the torreya tree blossom right away, but someday…….”
She could know without even hearing it.
Someday.
Someday, when his and her children grew up.
This torreya tree would remain a fond memory for the children, just as it had been in the past, gently coloring their lives. The flowing life and time were now entirely theirs.
Yoo Seo-hwa smiled in Gyeong Won-ui’s embrace, waiting for the approaching future.
 
 
Side Story.
 
 
 
Spring, and spring again.
A spring where red peonies and white magnolias bloomed in profusion as if competing in rivalry. Gyeong Won-ui and Yoo Seo-hwa held their wedding ceremony, six years late.
Spring had now become a season of joy and excitement for Yoo Seo-hwa once more. The season visited by another piece of welcome news was also, once again, the returning spring.
Changing into a riding skirt to go horseback riding, Yoo Seo-hwa suddenly murmured.
“Come to think of it, I had an interesting dream yesterday.”
“What kind of dream?”
“Even in the dream, I was riding a horse and running, when a tiny deer hovered in front of me.”
“Did you hunt it?”
“I didn’t. I had nothing in my hands but the horse reins. The deer’s fur looked so soft that while I was watching it, the deer tilted its face just like a human.”
Then, it skipped along as if telling her to follow. Yoo Seo-hwa in the dream spurred her horse and pursued the deer.
The place the deer led her to was a green hill. On the hill colored in the hue of fresh green foliage, only a single apple tree held a vivid redness.
Since it was a dream, it wasn’t strange that apples were ripe during the season when new shoots sprouted.
It was then that Kkot-bun, who was listening to the dream story, turned serious.
“So what did you do? Did you wake up right away? The deer? The apple?”
“Your face has suddenly turned strange, Kkot-bun.”
“My face isn’t what’s important right now. What happened to the dream?”
“It was nothing much. The apple looked so desirable that I forgot about chasing the deer and picked an apple right there and ate one. Just as I was about to eat a second one, I woke up.”
Kkot-bun let out an exclamation like a scream.
“It’s a conception dream! It’s definitely a conception dream! When was your last menstruation?!”
Unlike Kkot-bun who was jumping up and down, Yoo Seo-hwa gave a hollow laugh.
“It was two months ago, but you know it’s originally irregular. Last time too, my menstruation was late so we called a doctor, and it was nothing.”
“No, this time you even had a conception dream. It’s certain! My gut is telling me!”
Kkot-bun forced Yoo Seo-hwa, who was utterly skeptical, to sit down.
“Horseback riding when you might be experiencing pregnancy is absolutely out of the question! I’ll tell the Butler to fetch a doctor, so you must stay in the room without moving a muscle. Got it?”
“Hmm, I don’t think that’s it…….”
Because she had experienced a false alarm a few months ago while wondering, Yoo Seo-hwa didn’t expect much. Anticipating that the doctor would confirm it was nothing, she waited without even changing out of her clothes for horseback riding.
However, this time Yoo Seo-hwa was wrong.
“Congratulations, Princess. It is undoubtedly a pregnancy pulse.”
 
“Welcome, elder brother.”
Gyeong Won-yeong came out to greet him all the way to the door.
“Is my brother-in-law not at home?”
“Dong-i went to play at sister Hong Ok-geum’s house, so he went to pick him up.”
It was the winter before last when she forgave Eulsu, who had tried to deceive her out of fear that Gyeong Won-yeong might leave. The couple who came up to the Capital City came to live under one roof again.
Eulsu was so brilliant that he had taught himself to read and write. Gyeong Won-ui tried to grant him a small official post through Eumseo, but he refused. Gyeong Won-ui also respected his brother-in-law’s wish to obtain even a minor official post through his own strength.
Gyeong Won-ui was currently helping Eulsu, who was preparing for the Gwageo, both materially and spiritually.
“Here is the book your husband said he wanted to read.”
“Oh dear, I heard it’s a book that’s hard to find, so thank you. He will return soon too, so would you like to come in for a moment?”
“It is late today, so next time I will accompany the Princess.”
“The two of you must come together. Alright?”
Leaving the office, Gyeong Won-ui’s mind was already heading toward the private residence. On that day of all days, on his way back to the private residence after parting with his sister, he ran into several acquaintances. As he repeated greeting them and sharing casual conversations, his time returning home was somewhat later than usual.
When he returned home, the Butler ran out with a broad grin.
“Master! Have you just arrived!”
“Did something happen?”
“Oh, of course, yes, it did! Come quickly, quickly!”
While he frowned at the suspicious thought, the Butler made an even bigger fuss. It wasn’t just the Butler. Every servant he encountered wore a beaming smile.
The peak of the dubious atmosphere was Kkot-bun.
“Master! I will bring the Madame soon!”
As soon as Gyeong Won-ui entered the inner house, she ran off almost screaming. No matter how he looked at it, something was strange. It was an atmosphere different from usual.
‘If something were wrong with the Princess’s safety, they would have told me already……. What is it?’
While he tilted his head, Yoo Seo-hwa came down. Whether it was just his imagination, Yoo Seo-hwa’s atmosphere was also slightly strange. Instead of greeting him with a smile as usual, she somehow felt like she was glancing and reading his countenance.
“You are a bit late today.”
“On my way from the office, I met Won-yeong.”
“Ah, really? It has been a while since I saw Won-yeong too.”
“Even without that, she earnestly requested that I must accompany you next time.”
He felt that she was unable to concentrate even while holding a conversation. At the thought of ‘could it be’, Gyeong Won-ui’s complexion darkened slightly.
“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
“It’s not that, but…….”
Yoo Seo-hwa’s lips parted slightly. A flush rose faintly on both her cheeks.
‘Does she have a fever?’
As he reached out his hand to check her forehead, Yoo Seo-hwa closed her eyes tightly. Then she lifted her sleeve to cover her face.
“Princess?”
“Um……. You won’t have any busy matters late this autumn, right? For example, another expedition……. Or having to go out to the border…….”
“As of now, our country has no plans to raise an army. There was also no intelligence that other countries are preparing for war.”
It was a sudden question. While finding it more strange, Gyeong Won-ui, who was replying faithfully, suddenly had something flash through his mind.
“Do you want to travel far in autumn? Of course I will clear my time.”
“It’s not that sort of thing…….”
“……?”
In front of Gyeong Won-ui who was waiting patiently for an answer, Yoo Seo-hwa’s earlobes grew redder and redder.
“……father.”
“Pardon?”
“In late autumn, you, you are scheduled to become a father.”
Gyeong Won-ui needed a long time to understand her words.
When there was no response, Yoo Seo-hwa lowered her sleeve and raised her face. As her eyes, which were stealthily peering over, met his, he understood everything as if lightning had struck his head.
“So, that means, what you mean is……. A, a child…….”
“That’s right. I’m having a child.”
He felt as if his mind had gone completely blank. Yoo Seo-hwa lightly placed her hand on the arm of Gyeong Won-ui, who was staring blankly, having forgotten even the words to reply.
“It’s a child.”
At that moment, Gyeong Won-ui’s face flushed crimson.
Stammering with an expression that showed he didn’t even know what to say, he suddenly hugged Yoo Seo-hwa tightly. Passion poured into the ears of Yoo Seo-hwa, whose eyes widened at the sudden action.
“Thank you, Princess. Thank you so much…….”
Only then did Yoo Seo-hwa also relax her tension and lean into his embrace.
There was a time when she was certain that the seed of a hated father would never dwell in the womb of a mother who had lost the meaning of life. There was a time when such thoughts consumed and sickened her heart.
But now, she was simply joyful. That a child had come, and that she had become able to welcome the child gladly.
 
As the news of Yoo Seo-hwa’s pregnancy spread, congratulations were delivered from all sides. Even from the Imperial Palace, they sent gifts enough to fill a wagon, making Kkot-bun let out a joyful scream.
To congratulate the pregnancy, a welcome person visited after a long time. It was Lee Nam-seon.
“I truly congratulate you. You have confirmed that a child has come in a good season.”
Lee Nam-seon rejoiced as if it were her own affair.
A little over a year had passed since Emperor Geumche was granted death. There had been occasional discussions in the Imperial Court before, but the decisive reason was, after all, the rebellion of the White Head Sect.

It was Emperor Geumche’s will and testament.
Unable to betray her husband’s will and testament, Lee Nam-seon returned to her clan’s ancestral residence, cut off contact with people, and lived quietly. Coming to see Yoo Seo-hwa occasionally was the entirety of her outings.
Just as Lee Nam-seon had shown consideration for Yoo Seo-hwa at the Princess’s Residence in the past, now Yoo Seo-hwa intentionally made opportunities and time for Lee Nam-seon.
“Are you having any difficulty with meals?”
“It is fine so far. I suppose the child resembles their father and is gentle.”
“One never knows. I have never had a child so I do not know well, but looking around, I have seen cases where morning sickness comes later than others or continues until the month of childbirth. By all means, take care of your health.”
“I will be careful.”
Grateful for Lee Nam-seon’s worry, Yoo Seo-hwa smiled brightly.
Even until then, she had not realized it. That morning sickness was not something one could pass through safely just by being careful.

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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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