I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 64

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

Chapter 64

 

“Hwaumgungju, thank you for worrying about me.”

 

I chimed in with Nosoggun’s words and added.

 

“Sometimes will is more important than blood, as I heard in the Cheonmu scriptures, so as the Third Prince’s wife who entered the Heavenly Sect, I’ll show you my will.”

 

When I firmly grasped her hand holding the handkerchief, Nosoggun’s brow twitched.

 

“If you teach me other things as well, I’ll learn well. Please help me a lot.”

 

“…”

 

A brief silence passed.

 

Nosoggun quietly pulled her hand away, then folded the handkerchief and handed it to a maid.

 

She seemed to have lost interest in me, as if I appeared to be a simple person who couldn’t even read her inner thoughts.

 

But that didn’t mean I could completely let my guard down.

 

“If you don’t know well, it’s right to humbly accept. That’s a good attitude.”

 

She smiled, but for a brief moment, there was killing intent in her eyes.

 

She gestured to another maid.

 

The maid lifted a wooden box as large as her torso and placed it on the tea table between me and Hwaumgungju.

 

The maid briefly opened the box, showing that inside was a black ceremonial robe with red embroidery.

 

“I’ll entrust this ceremonial robe to the Third Prince’s wife for the next three days. It’s fabric sensitive to temperature, so you’ll need to store it with utmost care.”

 

I immediately ordered Sawol and Okxiang to store it well.

 

“I’ll see you during the time when I teach you Cheonmu.”

 

Hwaumgungju Nosoggun finally rose from her seat.

 

After Nosoggun left, the room became quiet for a moment.

 

When Sawol and Okxiang lifted the box containing the ceremonial robe, I could smell a faint fragrance. It was an unfamiliar scent, neither sandalwood nor white sandalwood.

 

I had the two stop for a moment, then reopened the box and ran my fingertips along the edge of the fabric.

 

Very fine formation patterns were carved between the soft fabric.

 

Lines thinner than needle points connected like veins, as if they were alive and breathing.

 

“…This isn’t just a ceremonial robe.”

 

The moment I wore this, those formation patterns were designed to activate.

 

“Sawol, Okxiang. For now, don’t let anyone near this box, and you two must never open it.”

 

I pushed it under the tea table and tapped my left wrist twice.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

“This wasn’t what I carved the seal for.”

 

Yeo Gyeong-o looked at me with disapproving eyes.

 

It was because I had sent a signal to Yeo Gyeong-o through Chomunhang’s seal.

 

“You know well about formations. So I had no choice but to ask for help.”

 

All the maids were dismissed so they wouldn’t know that Yeo Gyeong-o had come here.

 

“Did you forget that you’re the Third Prince’s spouse? That guy cherishes his new bride, so if he knew I was at this residence, he’d try to cut me down.”

 

Yeo Gyeong-o sneered at me.

 

It seemed the rumor that the Third Prince treated me well had already spread to Chomunhang.

 

Yeo Gyeong-o picked a pointless fight while knowing that my relationship with Wicheonso wasn’t ordinary.

 

“More importantly, check the ceremonial robe first.”

 

Since he belonged to Chomunhang, Yeo Gyeong-o would be well-versed in formations.

 

That’s why I risked danger to specifically call him.

 

“It’s a ceremonial robe used during the Cheonmu Festival. This robe is finished with special techniques, and formation patterns are often carved to protect the subject of the ritual.”

 

“If it’s for protection, what kind?”

 

“It’s a formation that senses people’s energy. If there’s someone with killing intent nearby, it’s designed to warn the person wearing the robe. In the past, there were some who were attacked during the Cheonmu Festival.”

 

Yeo Gyeong-o’s words put me somewhat at ease.

 

If it was a formation that was originally carved there, there was no reason to be wary.

 

“But this is a bit strange.”

 

He came closer and examined the ceremonial robe carefully.

 

“This wasn’t originally carved. Rather, it looks like it’s suppressing the formation that was originally there.”

 

It meant that the formation carved for protection couldn’t exert its proper effect.

 

“Does that mean Nosoggun deliberately made the robe like this and gave it to me?”

 

“That’s not certain. Hwaumgungju isn’t the only one who can access the ceremonial robe.”

 

It meant the culprit could be someone else among those with authority to access the ceremonial robe.

 

“Whoever it is, they’re probably targeting you, Chung-rin.”

 

It was clearly the work of someone who didn’t want me to complete the Cheonmu Festival safely.

 

I married the Third Prince instead of my fiancé Yeonhopyeong. It must be the work of someone who was displeased with me attending the Cheonmu Festival.

 

If there were those in Gyojeon who wanted something to go wrong with me, they would probably include Hwaumgungju Nosoggun and Hyeoncheonggungju Yuhwa.

 

They each wanted their husbands to become the next sect leader, so they would be displeased with Wicheonso interfering.

 

“Since we don’t know what results this formation might bring, it would be better to change the ceremonial robe.”

 

“That’s impossible. Nosoggun told me to guard the ceremonial robe well.”

 

“You’re going to wear that even though it might be dangerous?”

 

“If that’s the tradition of the Cheonmu Festival, then I must.”

 

It’s the first event held just five days after the wedding ceremony.

 

There must be no suspicious aspects to my behavior.

 

My actions at the Cheonmu Festival would have no small impact on the Third Prince’s reputation.

 

“And I can prevent anything from happening beforehand.”

 

I meant that I could block the problem from the start.

 

Because I had a plan.

 

“But what about the materials I requested?”

 

Yeo Gyeong-o frowned as if displeased with me extending my hand.

 

Then he took out a scroll from his chest and gave it to me.

 

“First, this is information about the First Prince and Second Prince, and their wives. I’ll provide additional information about their families separately.”

 

“What about the Third Prince?”

 

“Still investigating. I’ll deliver it through Okxiang once it’s organized.”

 

I received the scroll and put it in my chest.

 

Soon, the bell announcing the time rang.

 

“Thank you for coming so urgently today. I have somewhere to go now, so I’ll be leaving.”

 

When I gestured and gave him the order to leave, Yeo Gyeong-o pressed his forehead with his hand and withdrew with a disgruntled face.

 

He seemed to be grumbling about something, but I ignored it.

 

As soon as Yeo Gyeong-o went outside, I changed into white clothes with Sawol’s help.

 

Then I took the Cheonsan tea leaves I received as a gift from Eokmu and went outside.

 

Soon it would be time for Eunyangung to open.

 

I probably wouldn’t be able to meet Mahu today either, but I still had to consistently show my face until the Cheonmu Festival began.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

“I heard you went to pay your respects to Mahu again today.”

 

Jinwongyeom knew that I had been to Eunyangung, Mahu’s residence.

 

It seemed there were many eyes watching me within Cheonyanggung as well.

 

“As a new bride, I should naturally greet my elders.”

 

“But that’s not what Mahu wants. She’s someone who doesn’t even want visits from Cheonjeon.”

 

Some people don’t want to come out of the past. Also, they block people’s visits and put all their energy into ruminating over the past.

 

Mahu was exactly that case.

 

She had no reason to come outside, no reason to meet acquaintances who had changed.

 

She probably thought that being trapped in the past she created and not coming out was happiness.

 

So I decided to create a gap in her daily routine.

 

The Jeokseolhwan from Seolsan Jeokga was exactly that.

 

I sent the Jeokseolhwan to her because of the movements of Gwon Yun, the son of the Leader and Mahu.

 

Although Mahu and Seolsan had nothing in common, Gwon Yun, who had been the next sect leader, was different.

 

According to Sangteon-dang’s information, he had gone to Seolsan to train in Cheonmu martial arts. It’s known that he formed connections with the Jeokga at that time.

 

About 30 years ago, Gwon Yun made a bet with someone from Jeokga, obtained Jeokseolhwan, and sent it to Mahu.

 

The exact identity of that person from the Seolsan clan wasn’t revealed, but it’s presumed they had a deep relationship with Gwon Yun.

 

Since the time given to me was short, I couldn’t be certain whether that would be enough to move Mahu’s heart.

 

But if she remembered the scent of Seolsan, the situation might change.

 

So trying anything would be better than doing nothing.

 

That’s why yesterday I tried to awaken past memories with the Jeokseolhwan, and today I brought tea made in Seolsan.

 

What kind of influence would this small change have on Mahu?

 

One thing was certain: unlike information frozen in text, human hearts are bound to change.

 

But Jinwongyeom didn’t know my thoughts, so he just looked at me with disapproval.

 

“Young Master Jin. I understand you’re dissatisfied with my actions, but there’s no need to be so wary. I won’t do anything that would harm the Third Prince’s reputation.”

 

Though we’d only met briefly, looking at Jinwongyeom’s hands, he seemed more like someone who held a brush than a sword. Wicheonso keeping him close was probably because Jinwongyeom provided useful advice.

 

From the moment I first saw him, I noticed he had quite sharp perception.

 

Because he had been wary of me the entire time, trying to monitor my movements.

 

Jinwongyeom had realized that my marriage to Wicheonso wasn’t normal, and was probably watching me while suspecting whether I was trying to use the Third Prince.

 

‘It’s true that I’m using him for my revenge, but…’

 

It was also true that I intended to give him the position of Sect Leader.

 

So I had to emphasize that we weren’t enemies.

 

“Let me ask just one thing. What was your reason for marrying the Third Prince, Madam?”

 

Jinwongyeom’s eyes shone seriously, as if he had been waiting to ask this all along.

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