Even If Flowers Bloom on a Broken Branch - 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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92.
Chae Eun-oh slowly examined her face in front of the mirror.
Thanks to the apricot-colored rouge she had applied to her eyes, lips, and cheeks, she looked full of life. If nothing else, she had never been outshone by Lee Yeon in terms of beauty.
‘But how could I possibly lose to a mere street girl?’
Even without the weight of brilliant jewels, her beauty alone was enough to assert her dominance.
Chae Eun-oh combed her hair back flawlessly, ensuring not a single strand was out of place, before securing it with a hairpin.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Chae Eun-oh muttered to herself.
“There is no reason to hide anymore.”
No matter how deeply she hid herself within Daehee Palace, or how she knelt before Geonhwijeon, the King never looked back at her.
The words carried to her through the palace maids were always the same. Memorials from Confucian scholars urging her deprival of rank piled up, the ministers discussed her Pyewi at every Royal Court meeting, and no one inquired about her well-being or her situation.
‘Not a single soul.’
Furthermore, that woman from Yeongsongjae had entered the palace quite some time ago, yet her shadow had not even been cast near Daehee Palace.
‘So, I must go and meet her myself.’
Chae Eun-oh’s eyes flashed fiercely.
As she turned around, Court Lady Shin, who had been standing behind her, looked up. Her face had grown terribly haggard over the past few days.
With dark circles under her eyes and hollow cheeks, she clearly had not been sleeping well. Chae Eun-oh found that appearance utterly amusing.
“What, did you not feel like sleeping with your legs stretched out comfortably?”
At Chae Eun-oh’s sarcasm, Court Lady Shin bowed her head and bit her lip tightly.
For days, Chae Eun-oh had not left Court Lady Shin alone. She kept her close at all times, never taking her eyes off her. She was monitoring her every move.
Moreover, Court Lady Shin could not even guess who had tattled about her wrongdoing to Chae Eun-oh’s ears, which only heightened her mental anguish.
‘Which child could it possibly be…?’
Who could have tattled about my wrongdoing to the Queen?
While feeling as though she could trust no one, Court Lady Shin was truly driven to the brink of madness by the fear, guilt, and disillusionment that if she did not commit the deed, disaster would fall upon others as well.
“You slept just fine when you sinned against me, but now you look pathetic.”
I want to end this.
She wanted to finish the task quickly and ease her mind.
Court Lady Shin closed her eyes tightly and fumbled with the medicine vial inside her robes. Then, she followed behind Chae Eun-oh as she left the room. Her footsteps were immeasurably heavy, as if weighing a thousand pounds.
Behind her back, several gazes pinned themselves to her retreat.
* * *
“What would be good?”
Ever since the banquet had fizzled out and ended, Hong Ran had been agonizing over that single question every single day. She felt frustrated because a good idea simply would not come to mind.
“Court Lady Han. What is good for a pregnant woman? Would she like it if I sent some medicinal herbs?”
“Since the medicine used varies depending on one’s constitution, I do not believe that would be a good idea.”
“I suppose so, right…?”
Hong Ran let out a heavy sigh and tapped the table. The space around her was littered with crumpled pieces of paper. Hong Ran massaged her forehead with a troubled expression.
“I should have had someone pregnant around me to know. Things like meat or fish will be well taken care of by those around her anyway.”
If anyone was going to do it, Juhwa would surely take charge of everything before and after the birth. It brought a slight smile to her face to clearly envision her stepping forward to manage even Lee Yeon’s postpartum care.
‘It would have been nice if I had received such care too.’
Somehow, she felt a little envious. It was something she would never receive.
Just then, Court Lady Han spoke softly.
“Perhaps a little pastime would be suitable?”
“A pastime?”
Hong Ran tilted her head. Her expression showed that she did not readily understand.
“You mean giving work to someone who needs to rest?”
Court Lady Han smiled slightly. Her expression showed that she found Hong Ran, who was tilting her head, quite endearing.
“Was the Grand Princess Consort someone who sits quietly in her room, or was she someone who takes action herself?”
“The latter, of course.”
Hong Ran said without a moment’s hesitation. Her tone was brimming with confidence.
“The young lady—no, the lady was someone who could not stay still for even a moment. Rather than staying still, she would always go out to find something to do.”
Hong Ran’s gaze turned distant. Her expression surged with longing.
“She would enter the side-dish kitchen without any hesitation, and she even cleaned her room with her own hands. She never stayed still for a moment.”
“Therefore, she will need it all the more.”
Court Lady Han said with a smile.
“If someone who used to move around like that has no choice but to lie completely still, she will be exceedingly bored. She might endure it for a day or two, but the longer it drags on, the more frustrated she will become.”
Listening quietly, Hong Ran nodded. This was because it made a lot of sense as she listened.
“So, would it not be best to provide something she can pour her attention into, so that time has no choice but to fly by?”
“Is there such a thing?”
Court Lady Han smiled brightly.
“Transcribing books would be good, and painting pictures would be excellent as well. Also, raising a pet like a puppy or a kitten is very wonderful. Watching their antics makes you completely lose track of how the day passes.”
At the mention of puppies and kittens, Hong Ran’s eyes sparkled.
“Come to think of it, the Grand Prince is often away, so she must usually be lonely. If an animal that acts charming is by her side, it would be beneficial in many ways.”
Hong Ran clapped her hands together and laughed. At that, Court Lady Han smiled back and said.
“Then I shall go ahead and procure a small white puppy for you.”
“If you do that, I would be most grateful. Thank you truly, Court Lady Han.”
At the heartfelt, pure praise, Court Lady Han smiled and bowed her head.
Certainly, Hong Ran was of a vastly different caliber compared to the other women of the palace. She hid nothing, never twisted her words, and engaged in no calculations.
If she was grateful, she said she was purely grateful, and if she was uncomfortable, she would tell them directly to be careful with this or that.
The palace attendants, who had found Hong Ran somewhat difficult to approach at first, gradually opened their hearts and approached her with sincerity.
‘The atmosphere has changed a lot since Suk-ui Hong Ran came to the palace.’
At least that was the case for Yeongsongjae.
While the honor of serving His Majesty was always present, the atmosphere had been quiet and suffocating. However, after Hong Ran arrived, vitality circulated throughout the entire pavilion, and warmth lingered.
As if spring had come at the end of a long winter.
‘Though she does not say it… Her Ladyship must be terribly envious of the Grand Princess Consort.’
Court Lady Han looked at Hong Ran quietly. She was agonizing over whether a white puppy, a yellow puppy, or a completely black puppy would be best.
That sight appeared a bit pitiful in Court Lady Han’s eyes.
‘It would be wonderful if something good happened to Her Ladyship, just like that lady.’
If she were to conceive, it was certain that she would receive far more favor than she was currently getting.
Thinking that she ought to order the preparation of food that would further nourish the bodies of His Majesty and Hong Ran, Court Lady Han rose from her seat.
“Then I shall head out now to prepare the gift.”
“Yes, have a safe…”
She was just about to say, ‘trip,’ when.
Suddenly, the door burst open along with the sound of several people running urgently from afar.
As the startled Court Lady Han was about to scold them, asking what kind of insolent behavior this was, a palace maid whose face had turned stark white cried out.
“S-she has arrived.”
Court Lady Han knit her brows at once. Unable to tolerate the servant’s behavior, she was about to shout at the palace maid when Hong Ran quietly caught her arm to stop her and asked the maid.
“Who has arrived?”
It was then.
A long shadow fell in front of the Yeongsongjae pavilion.
Hong Ran slowly lifted her head. And she froze. A familiar person was standing before her eyes.
‘That person is…’
She was the one who had guided her when she first came to this palace, and she was the one standing beside the Queen when she had tormented Lee Yeon.
Court Lady Shin, whose eyes met Hong Ran’s, bowed her head slightly and spoke briefly.
“The Queen Her Highness has arrived.”
As Court Lady Shin stepped back by one pace, the figure of a person wearing a jade-white ceremonial jacket was revealed.
It was Queen Chae Eun-oh.

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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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