I Became My Ex-Boyfriend’s Concubine - Chapter 48

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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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Chapter 48

Dan Bi crossed the cold stone floor of the throne room and approached Hyun. He, who had descended from the throne, clasped her hand firmly as if he had been waiting for her.
Rough, warm palms.
The warmth of nearly dying together in the Hunting Grounds transferred through undiminished. His face, which gripped her hand so tightly, now bore a tenderness altogether different from before.
As she slowly turned her gaze from that smile, she saw Woo Sang trembling violently, prostrate on the floor.
It was surely because of what she had heard Hyun say plainly with her own ears just moments ago.

“Your father has just abandoned you in this very place.”

Dan Bi went blank for a moment.
In truth, she had known it long since. When her daughter was confined in Naeng Gung, he was the sort who looked to his own profit before his child’s wellbeing.
Yet she had not realized he would hesitate not even to draw a blade to his own child’s throat for political gain.
For him, his own life was worth more than the bonds of blood between parent and child.
It was a chilling display, but it was not so important to Dan Bi.
After all, he was not her true father either; he was merely a useful piece on the board, nothing more.
Her only concern was how to use this situation to her advantage.
‘What if I asked him now, here, to cut off Woo Sang’s head?’
She deliberated briefly, then shook her head. She had not yet reached the core of the Main Quest.
‘Woo Sang’ as a piece still had much use.
Because of his position as her father, entering the palace had been easy, and by receiving the Sookhon’s concubine appointment, she could remain at Hyun’s side.
To hastily remove the backing that was the center of power would be to overturn her own carefully laid scheme.
What concerned her most, though, was something else.
Dan Bi slowly lifted her head to look at Hyun. Those eyes fixed upon her appeared kind on the surface, yet clearly concealed something beneath.
‘A test.’
It was no illusion. Hyun still harbored suspicions about her.
Even if she had saved his life, he could not have forgotten their blades crossing not long before.
He was surely gauging what choice she would make.
What should she do?
After a moment’s consideration, Dan Bi drew a deep breath. Then she met Hyun’s gaze directly.
“Your Majesty.”
Woo Sang’s shoulders flinched. He had sensed instinctively that his lifeline hung upon the tip of her tongue.
Looking coldly down at that servile back, Dan Bi slowly knelt.
“Your Majesty, there is one wish this concubine would request of you.”
“Speak. I shall grant whatever you desire.”
As strength entered Hyun’s voice, the officials in the throne room held their breath as one.
Dan Bi moistened her dry lips and murmured in a low voice.
“Please, I beseech you, forgive my father’s crimes with a merciful heart.”
A hush fell over the throne room at once.
Hyun’s brow visibly twisted. Woo Sang, who lay prostrate on the floor, jerked his head up as if unable to believe what he had heard.
“What do you mean by this?”
Hyun lifted Dan Bi to her feet, perplexed. Then, holding her close with one arm, he brought his face near.
“Sookhon, have you forgotten that your father has just pushed you toward ruin for his own sake?”
Dan Bi remained unmoved by Hyun’s cool question.
“His negligence in managing the Zao Cho has endangered Your Majesty’s precious life—a grave offense. Yet my father merely confessed even this concubine’s sin out of his devotion to Your Majesty.”
“It was all for me……?”
Even at his sharp tone, Dan Bi bowed her head calmly.
“Since it was all born from loyalty to Your Majesty, I beseech you to show understanding.”
Her composed voice settled over the throne room. Dan Bi quietly read his expression, biting her lip in silence.
‘Please, let him accept it.’
She needed to keep Woo Sang alive for now. If her backing collapsed, she herself would be destroyed.
Though that man who was her father had abandoned even her lifeline, she harbored not the slightest intention of dying with him.
Rather, if she kept Woo Sang alive here, it would serve her well in the future.
Having preserved his life through her mercy, Woo Sang would painfully understand what kind of person she was to Hyun. Using him thus would be far more advantageous to her than destroying him.
Dan Bi glanced slightly upward. Hyun remained silent for a long time.
The silence stretched on. Looking at her with an unreadable expression, he suddenly burst into laughter.
“Ha ha ha ha ha!”
As his laughter grew louder, Dan Bi simply remained still, her head bowed.
She had to feign indifference, to steel herself. That laughter concealed a capriciousness she couldn’t predict, and cold sweat traced her spine.
After a moment, Hyun withdrew his gaze from Dan Bi and turned his head toward Woo Sang.
“……Very well. Since the Sookhon has made such a request, we shall close the matter here.”
“Your Majesty……!”
Woo Sang bowed his head. Hyun continued in an indifferent tone.
“That ruthless loyalty of yours — willing even to use your own child — I have observed it most keenly.”
Though his words were laced with bitter sarcasm, Woo Sang seemed relieved merely to have escaped with his life. He exhaled the breath he’d been holding and pressed his forehead to the ground.
“Your Majesty’s grace is immeasurable!”
“However, Sookhon.”
Hyun cut off Woo Sang’s words and gripped Dan Bi’s hand firmly. He then lifted her hand slightly, forcing her to meet his gaze.
When Dan Bi’s eyes met his, he spoke.
“To squander such a precious opportunity begging for your father’s life — I am displeased.”
Dan Bi watched his lips steadily.
“Speak another wish — one for yourself alone, not for your father’s forgiveness.”
For a moment, Dan Bi suppressed the urge to leap with joy, exulting silently within.
Yes, this was it. The chance she’d been waiting for!
Dan Bi studied her own reflection in Hyun’s eyes.
Her current rank was Sookhon.
A position far too low to have a voice within the palace.
And besides……
Dan Bi slowly lifted her gaze to the empty air. A blue Status Window visible only to her eyes flickered into view.
She swept her gaze across the message written on the window before looking away.
What was needed to overturn this game had already been determined.
“Your Majesty.”
Dan Bi’s eyes shone with unwavering intensity.
“Grant me the rank of Gwiin.”
Woo Sang’s eyes widened with shock once more.
A murmur erupted among the officials standing around them. Her audacity in openly demanding the king’s favor froze the air in Dae Jeon in an instant.
Hyun’s expression stiffened for a moment, but Dan Bi did not flinch — she met his gaze directly.
Gwiin.
The rank just below Bin, the highest position capable of wielding real authority in the Inner Palace Administration.
But that was not all.

“Your Majesty. I beseech you to grant me the rank of Gwiin.”
“……What did you just say?”

Hyun would surely remember — this very request, from this very woman, in the last cycle.

“I have requested the rank of Gwiin, Your Majesty.”
“I have not yet held your hand even once. What reason would I have to grant you such rank?”
“I know the location of the Royal Seal.”

Dan Bi met Hyun’s piercing gaze calmly. A faint, curious smile bloomed at the corner of his mouth.
“Gwiin, is it……”
Hyun gently wiped away the trace of blood on Dan Bi’s cheek with his thumb.
“You speak truth. The service you have rendered — saving my life — is far too great to leave you merely as Sookhon. ……Let all officials in the throne room hear this.”
He lifted his head and commanded the assembly.
“The Sookhon, Lady Yeo, protected me in our moment of peril, and her merit reaches toward the heavens. By this decree, I elevate the Sookhon, Lady Yeo, to the rank of Gwiin. Let the Inner Palace Administration and the Outer Palace Administration show her proper respect in accordance with protocol!”
“We receive Your Majesty’s command!”
The officials’ affirmation, spoken after a moment’s hesitation, rang through Dae Jeon with magnificent resonance.
Woo Sang, his hands trembling, gripped the ground but could not bring himself to raise his head.
Dan Bi met the gaze of Hyun, who watched her in silence. Between them, a blue quest window flickered.

「Sub Quest completed.
You have successfully lured the king and inflicted a fatal wound.
Items provided as reward.
Location: Woon Cheong Gak」

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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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