I Became the Eldest Daughter of a Fallen Family - Chapter 18

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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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Episode 18. This Just Might Work
General So Jin of the Victorious Luck.
Master of the illustrious So-bu clan, which had protected the empire across three generations, and a commander who had guarded the Eastern Border of the empire for over a decade.
Though he had been sentenced to exile on charges of embezzlement of military provisions and his very fate remained unknown, he still lived in the hearts of the empire’s people as an undefeated hero.
And yet this man had not only forced the blood of that hero—his own daughter, no less—to kneel, but had nearly had her flogged?
Wang Yun knew better than anyone that if word of this deed spread, he would not make it ten li before the people stoned him to death.
Especially now that, since General So Jin’s fall from power, bandits ran rampant and life had become a grinding struggle.
So then, how ought he to conduct himself now?
Wang Yun, a bureaucrat skilled in the art of survival, bent his spine like a bow.
“Ah! So the General’s daughter! Truly, the blood of heroes runs different! I, Wang, have long held General So in the highest esteem—how could fate play such a cruel trick! Your Highness, you are a true gentleman. Had you not stepped forward to save the young lady, how could I, Wang, ever hold my head up in this world?”
Shameless, Wang Yun. No—base, Wang Yun.
Only moments ago he’d been eager to kill, and now here he was, fawning like this?
There were limits, even for a thick-faced man.
So Yeon-hee wrinkled her nose at the 180-degree shift in Wang Yun’s demeanor and shuddered.
“Sir, please don’t speak of General. My father was dismissed from office early this year and became a convict. I’m embarrassed to receive such excessive courtesy.”
“But everyone under heaven knows what the General and the So-bu have sacrificed for this Dae Jin Kingdom! There must surely have been slander from treacherous courtiers.”
Was he really committing so firmly to this flattery?
So Yeon-hee was inwardly startled by Wang Yun’s far more resolute bearing than she’d expected.
But what shocked her even more was Wi Jung’s attitude.
Where had his cunning disappeared to, the sort that would even resort to seduction tactics? He suddenly accelerated without warning.
“Miss So. Though this man’s temperament is narrow-minded, his words are not without truth. The judgment rendered against the General was indeed unjust. It appears His Majesty made an error in his judgment.”
Insane. He’s openly criticizing the Emperor?
How frightening the hot blood of adolescence could be.
So Yeon-hee found herself at a loss, unable to fathom what he was thinking.
She was anxious that with the treason charge still fresh, one careless word might land an additional blow upon her.
“Your Highness, please don’t say such things. The Master of All Under Heaven is a wise ruler. How could I dare put into words doubts about his intentions, even if there were minor misunderstandings?”
But regardless, Wi Jung pressed forward with even greater insistence.
“To devote yourself solely to serving His Majesty even in circumstances like these—truly, you are worthy of being descended from a loyal subject’s blood. Why not visit our Wi Family? Even now, we wish to repay the favor of saving my grandmother’s life.”
“I appreciate the offer, but my family is waiting for me at home. I must take my leave now.”
“Then please, at least let us provide a carriage. It would be a great honor to offer even small assistance to the family of General So.”
“I really don’t think that’s necessary…”
Wi Jung clung on, seeking any opening, while So Yeon-hee refused with stubborn resolve.
Their exchange was beginning to shift from gentle tones to something more rigid when—
“Wi Jung. That’s enough. Let her go. Surely you know that pressing someone who’s refused is impolite?”
A voice, cool yet thoughtful, cut in with deceptive casualness.
‘Who is that? And when did he come in?’
Lustrous jet-black hair and sharp features honed like a whetted blade.
He was a handsome man with a calm, fluid bearing, yet his dark expression made him seem distant and difficult to approach.
But what surprised her more was the easy, unguarded distance between him and Wi Jung.
“A-Yun. But these are the General’s family members—even my grandmother’s benefactors. How can we simply let them go? I should at least press gifts upon them.”
“That’s exactly why you shouldn’t. Such behavior is a burden.”
The man called A-Yun said this, then grabbed Wi Jung by the scruff of the neck and dragged him away from the Prison entrance where he had been blocking the path.
‘Who is he? The way he handles someone even the local officials defer to—he must hold a rank at least equal to the Wi Family’s power.’
As So Yeon-hee narrowed her eyes to assess him, he gave a small bow of courtesy and promptly led Wi Jung outside.
Unlike Wi Jung, he showed no intention of forging ties with the So family, nor any desire to reveal his identity.
‘Well, if he’s not going to be a bother, that’s fine with me.’
She’d been dealing with enough absurdities since morning anyway.
So Yeon-hee decided she should hurry and get back to selling tanghulu.
At least, she thought so—until she discovered her tanghulu had already half-melted.
* * *
‘I’m going to lose my mind over this.’
She’d only been held at the Government Office for about half an hour, and already everything had stuck together like this?
So Yeon-hee knew full well that tanghulu’s sugar syrup could soften and become sticky on the surface.
But to think that mere three hours after making them, they’d all stick together and become completely unusable—she hadn’t expected that.
This meant today’s business was a complete wash.
So Yeon-hee exhaled a long sigh, her expression one of sheer dismay.
Yang, the butcher’s wife from the shop down the lane, had come to meet her at the Government Office when she learned what had happened, and now gently rubbed her back.
“My goodness, what terrible luck. But at least you came out in one piece—thank the heavens for that. If that whip had caught you wrong, you’d bear the scar for life.”
“That’s true, but I wasn’t even a criminal to begin with. If they’re going to harass innocent people, shouldn’t they at least compensate properly?”
A false accusation, strange rumors, and now her business ruined too. What was any of this?
So Yeon-hee let out a long sigh, bitter at the injustice.
But what could she do? This unreasonable system was simply the reality of this place.
Though the tanghulu was ruined and she couldn’t earn money, So Yeon-hee told herself to be content with having confirmed the Wi Family’s goodwill.
Just as she was about to pop one of the half-melted tanghulu into her mouth—
“…….”
She felt a gaze from the nearby alley that she couldn’t possibly ignore.
Clear, gleaming eyes like those of a puppy or a kitten, wet with longing. Thin lips parched and working soundlessly, as if tasting the air in hunger.
At the sight of children in patched clothing, their thin limbs exposed, So Yeon-hee couldn’t bring herself to put the tanghulu in her mouth and simply swallowed hard.
‘I wish I hadn’t met their eyes.’
How could she selfishly keep her share when faced with eyes wide and round with longing, unable even to speak the wish aloud?
‘Ah, well.’
Though she inwardly thought it was hopeless, So Yeon-hee kept her expression calm and extended her arm with the tanghulu forward.
“Want some?”
The children’s eyes grew wide. They nodded vigorously, then approached her hesitantly.
“Here, take these. I’ll give one to each of you, so don’t fight.”
So Yeon-hee distributed the tanghulu sticks one by one, starting with the youngest-looking child.
Then, as if from nowhere, more children came rushing over and formed a line.
‘What? There were only two at first—where did all these come from?’
As the group of child beggars swelled, So Yeon-hee swallowed dryly. But her business was ruined anyway—what did she have to hesitate about?
“Do you all want some?”
At her question, three small heads bobbed rapidly.
The synchronized rhythm of their movement was so endearing that So Yeon-hee laughed softly and handed each child a tanghulu stick.
The children carefully took the sticks and tasted the tanghulu, then began to chatter excitedly with delight.
“It’s so delicious! I’ve never tasted anything this good before!”
“How generous you are, giving us such wonderful food! Are you a fairy descended from heaven?”
“What? A fairy? You little thing, you’ve got quite the skill for flattery, don’t you?”
They called her a fairy over a single tanghulu stick.
Yet somehow, their clumsy compliments made her laugh.
It was that happiness on their faces, eating the tanghulu she’d thought half-ruined, that made her heart flutter.
‘Really, if you’re going to enjoy it that much, what am I supposed to do? Proper tanghulu tastes so much better than this.’
With an apologetic heart, she was about to give each child another stick when—
A voice called out from the opposite alley.
“Wow, Mother! Look at that! Doesn’t it look delicious? Please, buy me some too!”
……Wait. This counts as advertisement?
So Yeon-hee felt her cheeks flush at this unexpected publicity.

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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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