I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 31

 

Chung-rin’s lips were parched and dry, and her complexion was pale. She looked utterly wan, perhaps due to what she had experienced the previous night.

 

With such a frail body, she stood before the maids and begged for punishment, so even Yeonjo had no choice but to soften his anger.

 

“Miss Chung. Are you feeling alright?”

 

“Thanks to your concern, I was able to rest well.”

 

After last night’s incident, Yeonjo had confined almost everyone involved.

 

He also prevented Yeonhopyeong and Yeonriri from leaving the Yeomhwa Family grounds, and ordered Chung-rin not to leave her residence at all.

 

“Can you explain why you were with Ho-ryeong at dawn?”

 

Chung-rin steadied her breathing as her lips trembled.

 

“Actually…”

 

The story that followed was something Yeonjo already knew in full.

 

He had been worried that she had attempted to flee with his second son, but seeing Chung-rin’s pitiful demeanor, her pale cheeks that looked ready to collapse at any moment, and her swollen eyes from crying all night, he could be certain.

 

She had nearly become a bride who fled before the wedding ceremony after being deceived by Yeon Ho-ryeong’s tricks, but she had no feelings for Yeon Ho-ryeong whatsoever.

 

“Miss Chung. You must not speak a word about that boy Ryeong to anyone. Do you understand?”

 

“I will keep that in mind.”

 

“I’ll tell that boy Pyeong to take good care of you, so recover your health well. The wedding ceremony will proceed as scheduled.”

 

“Yes, Family Head.”

 

Fortunately, Chung-rin seemed to have no intention of going against Yeonjo’s wishes.

 

“You two continue to take good care of Miss Chung from now on.”

 

Okxiang and Sawol also answered with pale faces that they understood.

 

As Yeonjo was about to take his leave, Sawol carefully stepped forward.

 

“However, Family Head, I would like to ask if the young lady must continue to remain confined. Her headaches have improved greatly from her recent walks… I’m afraid they might worsen again.”

 

“Hmm. If it’s for Miss Chung’s health…”

 

Since he had ordered strict surveillance of the surroundings, it seemed permissible to allow her usual walking path.

 

After all, one must be healthy to bear strong children.

 

“I permit it.”

 

“Thank you, Family Head.”

 

It was when Sawol bowed her head in joy.

 

The family’s chief steward approached and whispered carefully.

 

“Family Head, a guest has arrived.”

 

At this, Yeonjo’s brow relaxed slightly. He thought the Maryeonghwaga had quickly sent a physician for his son.

 

Yeonjo muttered to himself that it was fortunate, and without listening to the rest, quickly ordered them to bring the guest in.

 

“Miss Chung. Then take good care of your health until the wedding ceremony.”

 

After leaving those parting words, he hurriedly left the residence.

 

After Yeonjo hastily departed.

 

Chung-rin stared at the door through which he had disappeared for a while.

 

Then she rose and tightly grasped Sawol and Okxiang’s hands.

 

“Sawol. Okxiang. I’m so sorry to both of you.”

 

Chung-rin hung her head low and shed tears.

 

Seeing this, Sawol became flustered.

 

“No, Miss. You stepped forward directly for our sake.”

 

“It was because of me. I couldn’t just let you two get hurt.”

 

When Chung-rin showed genuine remorse, Sawol hurriedly supported her.

 

“Moreover, Sawol, you even got permission for walks for my sake…”

 

“Miss…”

 

Sawol looked up as if deeply moved.

 

Unlike Sawol, Okxiang said nothing, but inwardly admired the current situation.

 

The Yeomhwa Family was definitely changing.

 

And in the direction Chung-rin desired.

 

Okxiang felt complicated emotions at Chung-rin’s sincere expression.

 

Chung-rin had won Yeonriri’s heart and had Yeon Ho-ryeong eliminated by Yeonhopyeong’s hand.

 

How would she change the Yeomhwa Family after this?

 

She would report this fact to her eleventh brother.

 

But the changes to come were impossible to predict.

 

Perhaps she too might give her heart to Chung-rin in the near future.

 

Five days remained until Yeonhopyeong and Chung-rin’s wedding ceremony.

 

What would happen in that time?

 

It had reached the point where she was looking forward to it.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

Yeonjo was dumbfounded at the sight before his eyes.

 

Third Prince Wicheonso, dressed in splendid dark red robes, was sitting in the guest hall with a smiling face.

 

“I didn’t expect the head of the Yeomhwa Family to welcome me so warmly.”

 

Wicheonso’s eyes curved gently, but his pupils were an eerie red color as if soaked in blood.

 

The robes with red embroidery over black silk seemed to add decoration to his magnificent appearance.

 

Who would have thought that instead of a physician sent from the Maryeonghwaga, the most capricious Third Prince from the Heavenly Sect would visit him unexpectedly?

 

Not knowing this, his hasty order to bring the guest in had been the source of trouble.

 

Yeonjo barely concealed his frowning brow and forced a relaxed smile.

 

“The household is in disarray with wedding preparations. I ask for your understanding.”

 

“Of course, with such a joyous occasion ahead.”

 

At the word “joyous,” Yeonjo’s face crumpled. His mind was troubled by the incident his second son had experienced last night.

 

Still, having invited him in himself, he couldn’t very well issue an order to leave to someone who was a Third Prince. He had no choice but to respond with gratitude for the understanding, even if only ceremonially.

 

In fact, this was Yeonjo’s first time having such a long private audience with Wicheonso.

 

Three years ago, after Wicheonso became Third Prince, Sect Leader Kwon Mu-seong entered closed-door training, and the annual banquets held at the main school also disappeared.

 

He might have met him at monthly meetings.

 

But the capricious Third Prince didn’t attend meetings, so there were hardly any opportunities to face him.

 

So Yeonjo found the current situation bewildering.

 

He had only heard abundant rumors about Wicheonso.

 

“But what brings the Third Prince to visit here?”

 

“I was curious about how the woman who will become Family Head Yeon’s daughter-in-law is doing. I understand she was hovering between life and death for quite some time – how is she now?”

 

When talk of Chung-rin came up unexpectedly, Yeonjo became tense.

 

About two weeks ago, Wicheonso had brought Chung-rin, who had fallen into water.

 

Until then, he had kept Chung-rin confined to the house and prevented her from going outside, making it an even more bewildering incident.

 

Yeonjo was inwardly nervous because he hoped Chung-rin wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention until after the wedding.

 

At that time, Wicheonso had exchanged a few words and immediately left.

 

“The person who will become the Yeon family’s daughter-in-law nearly met with disaster. You should keep a closer watch on your surroundings.”

 

“Family Head Yeon. If anything happens, please send word to me. Who knows? I might be of help.”

 

These were meaningful words, so Yeonjo felt uneasy.

 

Wicheonso was the Third Prince of the Heavenly Sect.

 

He had learned the Heavenly Moon Technique from the Sect Leader, gaining powerful martial prowess, and after becoming Third Prince, he was said to have gained the right to judge apostates.

 

Though his position was lower compared to other princes, perhaps due to the unique madness that those who mastered the Heavenly Moon Technique possessed, no one could treat Wicheonso comfortably.

 

Nothing that could give him cause for complaint must happen before the wedding was held.

 

So Yeonjo had moved busily to meet the Sect Leader, confirm the marriage between the young master and Chung-rin, and maintain order in the surroundings.

 

His inability to pay attention to Chung-rin, who had been hovering between life and death after falling into water, was also due to this.

 

With the wedding ceremony just five days away, could Wicheonso’s appearance really be coincidental?

 

“Miss Chung has recovered greatly now. If the Prince hadn’t helped that day, we wouldn’t have been able to hold the wedding.”

 

Yeonjo laughed heartily while concealing his true feelings.

 

“But surely you didn’t come just out of curiosity about my future daughter-in-law?”

 

At this, Wicheonso smiled leisurely.

 

“Actually, I came because there’s something I’d like to ask for your cooperation with.”

 

“Cooperation, you say…”

 

“You must have heard about the recent incident where the Bloodstone Flower, our sect’s sacred relic, disappeared. Actually, we discovered this not far from here.”

 

What he held in his hand was a red crystal.

 

Yeonjo also knew about the Bloodstone Flower.

 

The Bloodstone Flower was originally a sacred relic given to the young sect leader, but the Sect Leader had declared he would also give it to those who achieved great merit.

 

At that time, he opened up reports, and Yeonjo had also seen the Bloodstone Flower with his own eyes then.

 

So he could be certain that what was in Wicheonso’s hand was a piece of the Bloodstone Flower.

 

“There were cart wheel tracks and horse hoof prints where this was dropped.”

 

That meant they were heading toward the Yeomhwa Family.

 

“Third Prince, that’s a misunderstanding. Our family has sworn loyalty to Cheonjon all this time.”

 

“Of course, I know that fact very well.”

 

Wicheonso’s eyes curved in a gentle arc. Yet even so, Yeonjo found Wicheonso eerily unsettling.

 

“However, apostates are just like insects, hatching their eggs anywhere.”

 

Wicheonso fiddled with the fragment of the Bloodstone Flower with his fingertips.

 

“Perhaps an apostate has firmly taken root here in the Yeomhwa Family. So I request your cooperation in rooting out the apostate.”

 

Right after that, what Wicheonso presented before Yeonjo was a token he had received from the Sect Leader.

 

“I have already received permission from Cheonjon. To ensure the Yeomhwa Family doesn’t suffer false accusations, this Wicheonso will thoroughly investigate the inside of the Yeomhwa Family.”

 

For Yeonjo, it was like a bolt from the blue.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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