I Became the Eldest Daughter of a Fallen Family - Chapter 20

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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 20. A Guest and a Servant—Just a Hair’s Breadth Apart (1)
“Your Highness!”
“Uncle, why do you rush so urgently?”
The moment Wi Hyogwang burst through the Wi Estate’s gate, the young man Ju Hayun greeted him with a gentle smile.
“Your Highness, you left without even a guard! And Wi Jeong, you there—you neglect your duty to attend him properly. What have you been doing?”
“I merely took a tour of Jinseong. Nothing happened, so please set your mind at ease, Uncle.”
“That’s right, Father. We simply stopped by the Government Office for a moment. Why are you so upset?”
Wi Jeong spoke in jest, but his father’s eyes remained fixed only on Ju Hayun from beginning to end.
A flicker of disappointment rose in his chest, though this was hardly something new.
With a small sigh, Wi Jeong stepped forward, pretending to know nothing at all.
“Since the matter has come up, Father, I believe I have found the whereabouts of General Seung Un.”
“What? General So’s whereabouts?”
“Yes. Our grandmother’s benefactor is none other than General Seung Un’s daughter. She was wrongfully dragged to the Government Office because of an Arrest Warrant and nearly subjected to torture, so His Highness and I secured her release.”
“An Arrest Warrant? She was dragged to the Government Office? And tortured—tortured because of our benefactor? Who dared commit such an outrage? How do they look upon the Wi Clan!”
Wi Hyogwang’s brows shot up fiercely, his presence so menacing that Ju Hayun hastened to calm him.
The last thing anyone needed was for word of such a reaction to spread beyond the compound walls.
“It was merely a misunderstanding on the Local Official’s part. The young lady is unharmed, and the matter has been resolved. You may be at ease, Uncle.”
Had he demanded compensation or questioned why the affair was handled as it was, matters would have become thorny. Fortunately, the So Clan’s daughter was not that sort of person.
If anything, she had cut the matter so cleanly it only created a different sort of problem.
“Since Your Highness speaks so, I am somewhat reassured… though I confess I do not know how to atone for such discourtesy.”
“It seems the So Clan does not wish to be entangled with us. Perhaps it is best we do not press the matter.”
“…The So Clan may well feel that way. Indeed, it would be natural if they did.”
Wi Hyogwang fell silent, unable to find words to speak.
The courtyard hung in brief quiet before he smiled and turned the subject.
“At any rate, it seems Miss So possesses considerable courage. To endure such hardship and yet settle the matter quietly.”
“Yes, she is… quite extraordinary.”
Ju Hayun answered curtly, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
The memory surfaced unbidden—that face before a terrible whip, without so much as a blink. She was far beyond merely extraordinary; she was strikingly bold.
‘I thought her timid at first, since she offered no protest.’
But seeing how she had conducted herself since leaving the Government Office, he could not hold to such a notion.
Distributing refreshments freely throughout Jinseong under the guise of an opening celebration—what person in the world would orchestrate such a grand affair?
Whether it was to draw the attention of the townspeople of Jinseong or born of pure goodwill, her generosity was extraordinary.
“By the way, a letter has come from the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
Wi Hyogwang spoke in a lowered voice. He withdrew a silk scroll, neatly folded, from his robes and handed it carefully to Ju Hayun.
As Ju Hayun’s face hardened almost imperceptibly and he began to read, both Wi Hyogwang and Wi Jeong held their breath.
When even the sound of swallowing became audible as noise, Ju Hayun finally spoke.
“…Concubine Yeon has been placed under House Confinement. As for the Fourth Prince’s punishment, it seems it will be difficult to proceed this time.”
“…I see.”
“And I am being granted the position of Jinseong Military Commander, along with the post of magistrate of Cheongyang County.”
“…Pardon?”
A question flickered across the faces of the two men of the Wi household.
At that, Ju Hayun frowned slightly and gazed toward the distant sky.
“It seems my elder brother, His Highness, is preparing for the worst.”
That same sky his brothers in the Capital City were watching.
* * *
The sugar syrup problem resolved far more easily than expected.
There was no need for another display of modern ingenuity at Jijang Marketplace.
“Goodness, that stand really does look splendid.”
“Doesn’t it? My father made it for me!”
A gambit known as the father card.
At Yang’s exclamation, So Yeonhui’s shoulders rose with pride.
Setting the tanghulu she had prepared earlier into the stand her father had crafted, one by one, felt like gaining an army of ten thousand soldiers.
“So what you are saying is, you wanted to change how the tanghulu is displayed to ensure stable sales.”
The moment So Yeonhui lamented the sugar coating on the tanghulu melting and causing losses, So Jin had said as much.
After a moment’s consideration, he had quickly fashioned a simple tanghulu stand from a bamboo tube.
“There. Displayed this way, the tanghulu won’t stick to each other, and they stand out wonderfully, don’t they?”
The stand was made by drilling angled holes along the curved side of the bamboo tube to hold the tanghulu.
When the tanghulu were properly placed, it resembled a tree laden with berries.
Perhaps because of this, customers began to flock the moment business began—contrary to her fears.
Of course, it might also have been thanks to Yang roasting her fragrant sausages beside them.
“My, what have you been grilling all this while? The smell is so wonderful it bewitches everyone.”
“These are fragrant sausages—they’re processed meat like cured ham, very rich and tender. One skewer costs five cash.”
Yang answered kindly to a young bride who had stopped in her tracks as she passed.
Though she had never seen this face before, she had a strong feeling this woman would become a regular.
But pleasant encounters always attract troublemakers. A young man who had come with the bride suddenly scowled and grumbled.
“Five cash per skewer? It’s barely thick, even for meat! Isn’t that excessive? A flatbread with meat filling, broad as a palm, is also five cash!”
“Listen here, young man! Do you think this is cheap rabbit meat or mouse meat? This is pork! Do you have any idea how expensive quality pork is?”
Yang straightened her back and fixed him with a threatening stare.
Seeing her commanding presence, So Yeonhui quickly added her own voice beside her.
“That’s right. Besides, flatbread doesn’t even have much meat in it—it barely qualifies. But this is pure meat on a skewer, with juice running through it. By that standard, it’s absolutely reasonable.”
She conveniently omitted the fact that the meat itself cost only seven cash per pound, the cheapest cut available.
But since those who had already tasted it nodded in agreement, the man finally fell silent, looking foolish.
“Why don’t you just keep quiet and stop stirring up trouble? To my eye, it looks delicious. My apologies, ma’am. I’ll take one skewer of the fragrant sausage, please.”
“Wise choice. It serves perfectly as a snack or a light meal—at this hour, nothing beats it.”
With practiced motions, Yang rolled the fragrant sausage skewer back and forth over the heat once more, warming it thoroughly before handing it to the woman.
“You look newly married. Take good care of yourself. When you’re newly wedded, your health is your greatest wealth.”
The woman laughed shyly at the playful remark and took the skewer, but her eyes suddenly stopped on something beside it.
“What is that red, glossy thing? Is that something to eat as well?”
At last! Would the tanghulu finally have its moment?
So Yeonhui’s face brightened with a radiant smile as she answered eagerly.
“This is called tanghulu—a confection made with hawthorn fruit coated in sweet syrup. It’s good for your health and has that perfect sour-sweet flavor that’s quite delicious. One skewer costs only two cash, very affordable.”
“Then I’ll take one of those too. I’ve been craving something sour and sweet lately.”
The craving for sour and sweet is said to be a woman’s nature, just as haggling over value is a man’s.
As the young bride reached to open her purse, her husband suddenly cried out in alarm and tried to stop her again.
“Are you mad? The Back Mountain is full of hawthorn—why spend money on this?”
“Why not? It’s just two cash for a small confection.”
“No, listen! Money doesn’t grow on trees—what kind of fool spends seven cash on food? Are you trying to ruin the Yi Family?”
“Am I doing this for myself? The baby inside me wants to eat it! As a father, can’t you grant even that?”
If the Yi Family could be ruined by a mere seven cash, it deserved to fall.
And to speak so coldly to a pregnant wife? What a wretched man!
At the woman’s next words, everyone around them gasped and muttered their reproach.
“What? He’s acting like that over food for his pregnant wife?”
“What’s so expensive about it! All together it’s barely the price of a bowl of noodle soup!”
“Listen, stranger—feed your wife whatever she wants!”
As harsh, sharp gazes poured down on him from all sides, the man stammered and drew himself up in bluster.
But at that very moment.
“Miss So, I shall purchase five tanghulu for the lady. If you would be so kind as to wrap them beautifully.”
A man of flower-like, graceful bearing interjected smoothly, his eyes narrowing with charm.

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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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