I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 57
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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 57
When I tensed up, Wicheonso turned his gaze toward me.
“Don’t worry. He’s one of my people in Gyojeon.”
The man had black hair tied low and smiled with narrowed eyes. He appeared to be in his late twenties.
“Third Prince, I have returned after completing my mission.”
He paid his respects to Wicheonso and then became conscious of me.
“Oh, I had no idea you got married while I was briefly away. I thought you had no interest in women whatsoever, but you did hold a wedding ceremony after all. And so suddenly at that.”
I could see Wicheonso slightly frowning.
“If there was such an amazing method, you should have given me a hint too. We’ve known each other for years, so I’m disappointed.”
“Stop babbling and introduce yourself.”
“Oh, my apologies. I greet you, my lady. My name is Jinwongyeom. I belong to Yulmunbang of Gyojeon.”
Yulmunbang was the place in charge of the main school’s laws. Seeing how freely he conversed with Wicheonso, their friendship seemed quite deep.
“This fellow will teach you about our main school’s doctrines. Ask him about the Cheonmu Festival as well.”
It seemed Wicheonso had called Jinwongyeom as a doctrine teacher for me, who had entered the Heavenly Sect through marriage.
“Scholar Jin, please take care of me.”
“As a scholar of Yulmunbang, it’s only natural. And my lady, please lower your speech.”
“I understand.”
When I immediately lowered my speech and met his gaze, a chilling sensation ran down my spine.
Jinwongyeom’s eyes were not smiling.
But that gaze was only momentary.
He soon smiled thinly and erased his hostility. Then he stared toward Wicheonso.
“Then starting tomorrow, I’ll teach you the laws for two hours each day. Rest today.”
Though his light tone continued, my suspicion about this man wouldn’t easily fade away.
‘Did he attach this person to monitor me?’
Perhaps he thought Hyeonjyo the shadow alone wasn’t enough.
Still, Hyeonjyo never sent me such looks.
Perhaps Jinwongyeom himself found me disagreeable.
When Jinwongyeom withdrew, Wicheonso also picked up the sword he had placed beside the table.
“My lady, I have business so I’ll leave first. I’ll be late today.”
Since Wicheonso had missions assigned by the Sect Leader, it wasn’t strange for him to leave like this.
“Take care of yourself.”
It was a greeting I gave with the side effects of Hwanmagong in mind.
Wicheonso nodded slightly and went outside Cheonyanggung.
Before long, spring wind was seeping through the windows.
❖ ❖ ❖
Inside Gyojeon, dim sunlight seeped into the guest hall of Yulmunbang.
Being isolated from the outside by mystical formations, it was a good space for intimate conversations.
“I was truly surprised.”
Wicheonso observed the actions of Jinwongyeom, who sat across from him at the guest table.
“I thought the Third Prince might live as a bachelor for life, but you suddenly welcomed such a beautiful wife.”
Even while serving tea, Jinwongyeom’s words didn’t cease.
“Given the Third Prince’s personality, you wouldn’t have stolen a bride from the Yeonhwasega, so did your wife seduce you?”
“I told you to stop babbling. Someday that mouth of yours will bring disaster upon you.”
Jinwongyeom flinched in surprise and quickly shut his mouth. As if he wouldn’t say another word.
“Give your report first.”
“Both the First Prince and Second Prince have left for Sachen on missions from Cheonjeon. They probably won’t return even by the Cheonmu Festival.”
“Still, their wives will move.”
Wicheonso thought of the First Prince and Second Prince’s wives.
The wives from prestigious Seven Great Families were each doing their best to make their husbands the next sect leader.
“That’s right. Perhaps they might launch a gift offensive toward your wife to gain the Third Prince’s support.”
Since taking the position of Third Prince, Wicheonso had focused on eliminating apostates.
In fact, this was a method he chose to survive within the Heavenly Sect where power was solidified between the First Prince and Second Prince.
As expected, the First Prince and Second Prince tried to draw Wicheonso, who seemed uninterested in the next sect leader position, to their side.
Wicheonso used his capricious personality to avoid supporting either of them.
However, even now after holding a wedding ceremony with Chung-rin, he couldn’t be certain they still believed that.
“Do you think that method still works?”
“For the time being, it will. I heard the Third Prince displayed Hwanmagong in front of Cheonyanggung. Since the First Prince and Second Prince also know about Hwanmagong, they would have lowered their guard even after hearing the wedding news.”
Jinwongyeom opened his eyes slightly and added more words.
“Of course, the Third Prince is properly controlling Hwanmagong, but others don’t see it that way.”
Wicheonso nodded as if agreeing with Jinwongyeom’s words.
“Give me your hand. I need to check your condition.”
Wicheonso extended his right hand to Jinwongyeom with a displeased expression.
Jinwongyeom checked Wicheonso’s condition by feeling his pulse.
“Good. It’s still harmonious.”
Cheonwolgong and Hwanmagong had a relationship like light and shadow.
These demonic arts with completely opposite characteristics were maintaining harmony within Wicheonso. This also meant there was no limit to his potential.
“How were the side effects this time?”
“Once I see blood, most of it becomes controllable.”
“Indeed. That’s remarkable.”
“Still, it hasn’t completely disappeared.”
“I know. Be careful as there could be conflicts if you suffer internal injuries. Take the medicine I give you properly, and don’t hide the side effects of Hwanmagong outwardly.”
Jinwongyeom earnestly advised while opening the box he had prepared.
“If the Third Prince becomes the next sect leader and receives the transmission of the founding sect leader’s ultimate technique, ‘Honcheonmu,’ you could completely escape from Hwanmagong’s shadow. Perhaps you might even reach the realm of Cheonma.”
“Honcheonmu… That’s uncertain.”
Cheonma.
It was a realm that only a very few sect leaders of the Heavenly Sect could reach, and a title that only the ultimate Cheonjeon could possess.
Even among the 13 sect leaders, only 3 were recognized as Cheonma. It was a realm that even the current Sect Leader Gwon Museong hadn’t reached.
Therefore, Wicheonso couldn’t guarantee it either.
“Wongyeom… There’s something I need you to do.”
Wicheonso continued while withdrawing his hand from him.
“While you’re at Cheonyanggung, watch over Chung-rin… that is, my wife.”
Jinwongyeom, who was opening a drawer, was startled. Wicheonso had never made this kind of request before.
“Aren’t you two not going to be together for long anyway?”
Right after hearing rumors about Wicheonso’s sudden marriage, Jinwongyeom realized it wasn’t a normal wedding.
He knew that Wicheonso wasn’t an impulsive person.
That woman must have lured him using something as leverage.
“Since we held a wedding ceremony, she belongs to me. Don’t be contrary and show proper respect.”
When Wicheonso gave a low warning, Jinwongyeom smiled bitterly.
“Hmm, did such a person cut down his wife during his first wedding? Of course, that wife wasn’t normal, so I understand…”
The woman Wicheonso was reluctantly married to was someone the Second Prince had introduced.
On the first day of the wedding, that woman mixed poison into the harmony wine she offered Wicheonso and attacked him.
If Wicheonso hadn’t cut her down without hesitation, he might have been the one who became a cold corpse instead.
“Still, haven’t you been called a blood-crazed killer because of that incident until now?”
“…Anyway, isn’t Cheonsan about survival of the fittest, so it doesn’t matter?”
“That’s true, but you should also consider the sect’s morale. While the disciples fear and revere the Third Prince, the elders are wary of the Third Prince’s madness. You know well that you need their support to rise to the next sect leader position.”
Jinwongyeom handed Wicheonso a pill without backing down at all.
It was a special pill that Jinwongyeom had personally manufactured to temporarily suppress the side effects of Hwanmagong.
“I’m already concerned that your relationship with the Second Prince became slightly strained because of that incident. That’s why your wife will need my advice.”
“Indeed, for a Chungga woman who lived in confinement for 10 years, the First and Second Prince’s wives will be difficult opponents. If you’re that worried about your wife…”
“That’s probably not it.”
Wicheonso put the pill he had received into his mouth and said.
“The lady won’t be that easy to deal with. If it hadn’t been her scheme in the first place, this wedding wouldn’t have taken place either.”
Jinwongyeom’s narrowed eyes widened greatly.
It was because Wicheonso was genuinely evaluating Chung-rin highly.
Though questions arose, he didn’t ask further.
Because Wicheonso didn’t want to repeat the same topic.
❖ ❖ ❖
Right after Wicheonso left the Guest Hall of Cheonyanggung, I had Sawol prepare white clothes.
“It seems like inappropriate attire for a young lady, no, a lady who just had her wedding ceremony…”
While Sawol was worrying, Okxiang brought a small box that had been carefully stored among the trousseau according to my instructions.
“I’ve paid my respects to Cheonjon, so now it’s time to pay my respects to Mahu.”
“But I heard that Mahu doesn’t come out of Eunyangung.”
Sawol conveyed to me what she had learned from the maids of Cheonyanggung in a short time.
“Only Mahu’s long-time close associates can enter Eunyangung, and she’s been refusing even Cheonjon’s visits until recently.”
“If I can’t see Mahu directly, I’ll have to go through her close associates.”
After removing my makeup and changing into white clothes, I looked quite haggard.
Thanks to balanced meals and steady training, my body was much better, but my natural pallor still hadn’t faded.
Good. The weaker I look, the more their guard will drop.
The bell rang, announcing that it was noon.
It was the time when the gates would open and the path to Eunyangung would be cleared.
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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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