Even If Flowers Bloom on a Broken Branch - Chapter 81

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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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81.
The Royal Court was in turmoil.
The unprecedented incident of the King’s Father-in-law dying during interrogation was enough to throw the palace inside and out into chaos, but now a woman who had completely stolen the King’s favor had risen like the morning star.
“The master of the Naemyongbu still holds her position… but the atmosphere in Daehee Palace must be dreadful.”
“It isn’t normal for her to still be sitting in that seat anyway. How can she even show her face? She must be deposed and turned into a commoner.”
As if she hadn’t already been on everyone’s lips because of her father’s affair, the Queen had truly become the epicenter of all gossip.
“Then they must take the steps toward her deposition.”
“Indeed. Her father committed such a crime, so how can his daughter remain in the position of the Gungmo?”
“Furthermore, how many people have died by her hands over the years? She is truly her father’s daughter.”
Ever since Hong Ran received her official title, people everywhere began to speak about the Queen without any hesitation.
Those who used to cling to Lord Chae Mun had all scattered, so there was no longer anyone left in the palace to protect the Queen.
Not even the palace attendants of Daehee Palace.
“I see.”
Lee Yeon nodded. The revenge against Eun-oh was taking place step-by-step. Interestingly, everything was turning back on Eun-oh exactly as she had once done to Lee Yeon.
‘Look closely. See who is by your side.’
Those were the words Eun-oh had thrown at Lee Yeon when she was neglected, practically confined to the Cold Palace. Now, she was receiving those exact words right back.
A bitter smile played on Lee Yeon’s lips.
‘Look closely. See who is by your side now.’
Since the Queen’s methods were so cruel, the palace attendants of Daehee Palace had long since turned their backs on her, even if they had no choice but to stay by her side for now.
Lee Yeon took a sip of her tea and lowered her eyes.
‘With her father gone from this world and no flatterers remaining, she has no choice but to stand completely alone like a solitary island. Now that talk of deposing the Queen is out in the open, her heart must be swelling with venom.’
That resentment would likely be directed at someone else now rather than at Lee Yeon herself.
‘I only hope her hatred is directed at the culprit behind all of this, not at Hong Ran.’
Come to think of it, that was the truth.
This disaster hadn’t happened because Hong Ran caught Jinyeong’s eye; things had progressed this far simply because Jinyeong did not love Eun-oh.
But Eun-oh would never admit that. Blaming others rather than accepting the truth would be the only way to salvage her precious pride.
Thinking of the word pride naturally brought Jinyeong to mind. A look of deep displeasure washed over Lee Yeon’s face as she recalled that tedious, repulsive man.
“Yeon-ah?”
Seo Yeo-ro looked at Lee Yeon with a puzzled expression. It was rare for her to show such open disgust, given how little her expressions usually changed.
Instead of beating around the bush, Lee Yeon spoke her mind exactly as it was.
“I find His Majesty’s behavior exceedingly unpleasant.”
It was a sacrilegious thing to say, but she could say it to Seo Yeo-ro.
Lee Yeon spoke with a cold expression.
“It was likely no coincidence that I was present that day when Suk-ui Hong received her title.”
The moment it was reported that Hong Ran had received Royal Grace, he bestowed the title upon her as if he had been waiting for that exact moment. It was as if he had been targeting the precise time she would meet Hong Ran.
“He wanted to show that Suk-ui Hong would become more precious to him than I am. It is His Majesty’s pettiness, making sure I feel with my own eyes, body, and heart just how foolish my decision was to avoid the Gantaek and choose marriage instead.”
Immediately after Hong Ran received her title as Suk-ui, Lee Yeon had bowed her head to show her respect. Jinyeong had intended exactly that.
‘A scoffing warning that you must bow your head and show respect to the servant you used to keep.’
He was insulting her under the guise of treating Hong Ran preciously.
“It is a joyous occasion that Suk-ui Hong is spreading her wings and settling into the palace. I feel absolutely no jealousy or displeasure regarding that. I only wish for her safety and peace. However.”
The gaze Lee Yeon directed down at her tea was incomparably chilly.
“Using Suk-ui Hong to provoke me is utterly repulsive. It seems he wanted me to feel jealous or something.”
Did he think Lee Yeon was someone like Eun-oh?
Besides, her heart toward Hong Ran was filled only with warmth—guilt, gratitude, affection, and pity. For him to dare try and shake her heart with such a pathetic attempt to drive a wedge between them was laughably absurd.
Lee Yeon drained the cooled tea in a single gulp and muttered.
“Because His Majesty snatched away my husband and now even my friend, the storm in my heart refuses to settle.”
Speaking of her husband naturally brought up his current situation.
“By the way, how is the reconstruction of the fortress walls coming along?”
Seo Yeo-ro seemed to be quietly pondering the words confessed by Lee Yeon, who rarely revealed her inner thoughts.
When Lee Yeon prompted him again with her eyes, he slowly set down his teacup and spoke.
“I hear the weather has been unusually foul, so they haven’t been able to continue the work for some time. It has rained for over a week, so there’s no way much progress could have been made.”
Jinyul sent intermittent reports to Jinyeong via Pabalma. Seo Yeo-ro heard the news from the Sangseon and was passing it along to Lee Yeon. Although it wasn’t detailed, she was grateful just to know he was safe.
Lee Yeon’s face darkened.
“It is a relief that the bitter cold has passed… but at this rate, it will be difficult to complete it within the deadline. Is there enough food?”
“It wouldn’t be plentiful,”
Seo Yeo-ro replied.
“Therefore, I requested His Majesty to provide more manpower and food supplies. It seems only right to finish it quickly, even if it means mobilizing the nearby citizens.”
“I hope the two people I sent along are proving to be of help,”
Lee Yeon murmured, and Seo Yeo-ro stared intently at her. His expression suggested he had much to say, causing Lee Yeon to look back at him with a puzzled face.
And before long, her eyes gradually stiffened.
“You have something to tell me.”
Seo Yeo-ro, who had been quietly watching Lee Yeon, nodded slowly.
“His Majesty promised to provide sufficient food, materials, and manpower support. In exchange.”
In exchange?
Lee Yeon’s expression hardened. Jinyul had gone to perform a service for the country. He was currently in a difficult situation, yet the King was demanding something in return for providing support.
When Lee Yeon questioned him with her eyes, Seo Yeo-ro opened his tightly closed lips.
“He asked if we could take Suk-ui Hong in as our adopted daughter.”
He phrased it as a question, but it was no different from a command.
To register Hong Ran into the Seo Family meant that he truly intended to elevate her to the position of Queen.
If she became Seo Ran instead of Hong Ran, no one would be able to find fault with her status.
‘But.’
Lee Yeon’s face turned stark white as she clenched her fists tightly.
‘If that happens, our family could be placed in danger once again.’
Before her Regression, out of wariness toward Seo Yeo-ro’s influence, Jinyeong had stripped Seo Yeo-ro of all his titles the moment Lee Yeon became Queen, finding all sorts of excuses to practically dismantle the Saheonbu.
Now that he had a Grand Prince as his son-in-law, he would be even more vigilant, not just stand by and watch.
‘What should I do?’
If she refused, she would incur his wrath for defying a Royal Decree, but if she agreed to register Hong Ran into the Seo Family, the future consequences were so vividly clear that she could hardly bring herself to speak.
“So, what did you say to him?”
Thus, the words she finally managed to squeeze out after a long silence were a question in return.
Seo Yeo-ro shook his head slightly.
“I asked if he had consulted Suk-ui Hong about it. But…”
He continued with a rare look of embarrassment on his face.
“He asked what there was to ask. He said if it happened, she would simply be overcome with gratitude.”
It felt as if Jinyeong’s voice was echoing through Seo Yeo-ro’s words. His cold face and cynical eyes came to mind.
“He said that for someone who was a mere commoner’s daughter to become the adopted daughter of a noble family and the King’s woman, it wouldn’t be enough even if she ded… devoted her body and life to him forever.”
Lee Yeon noticed that Seo Yeo-ro had quickly corrected his words. Jinyeong had likely used a much more explicit expression than ‘devoted’.
And she realized once again.
‘I truly despise that man.’
Hong Ran was someone Jinyeong rarely cherished and treated preciously. However, that was only because he perceived her as his possession. He was treating her as an object, not as a human being with her own character.
“To say there is no need to even ask for her thoughts.”
Furthermore, using an expression like offering her body meant that far from respecting her, he merely viewed her as a tool to satisfy his desires.
‘The suggestion to register Hong Ran into the Seo Family isn’t for Hong Ran’s sake either; it’s just that he hates his possession being gossiped about by others as a flaw.’
Jinyeong simply wanted to turn Hong Ran into a flawless, top-tier object and keep her by his side like a pretty doll.
It felt incredibly foolish that she had momentarily wondered if he truly loved Hong Ran.
In reality, he was merely a beast wearing a human face, utterly consumed by possessiveness.
‘What if he gets tired of her later?’
That would truly be the beginning of ruin. Hong Ran, Lee Yeon, Seo Yeo-ro, and Jinyul might all have to taste that hell once again.
With a rigid face, Lee Yeon said she would think about it some more.
The problem arose the very next day, after Seo Yeo-ro had gone to the palace for his duties at the Saheonbu as usual.
“Father?”
It was baffling that a man who had entered the palace early in the morning had returned almost immediately.
Lee Yeon stepped into her shoes placed on the stepping stone, intending to ask if he had left something behind, but she nearly tumbled off the stone at the words Seo Yeo-ro uttered.
“Suk-ui Hong is currently performing Seokgodaewae.”
What?
Lee Yeon’s face turned completely white.

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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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