I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 23

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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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“Huh, why…?”
A sea of fire out of nowhere—what kind of absurd thing was he saying?
“Why would it become a sea of fire?”
“Because I’ll set it. Fire.”
An even more ridiculous answer came back.
‘Uncle, you’re the Elder Brother Faction Deputy of the Dang Family!’
His eyes held absolute sincerity.
I shook my head vigorously, concealing my bewilderment.
“S-still. I can’t feel at ease. If a fire breaks out, it’s only dangerous…”
“Hmm. I see.”
He scratched his chin, seeming lost in thought for a moment, before opening his mouth again.
“Then, shall I explain it properly so you can understand as best you’re able?”
It was an irresponsible proposal, but for me, it was the best one.
I nodded eagerly, my eyes shining.
“Yes!”
“Good. Now, first.”
He extended his index finger and leaned his head closer. Without thinking, I mirrored him and extended my finger.
“First, you are not a being whose worth is determined by usefulness.”
Following an explanation that almost moved me, he extended two fingers.
“Second, the Patriarch would absolutely. Absolutely never harm you.”
“Third. The discipline and punishment of direct descendants falls under my jurisdiction. I would absolutely never do such a thing.”
“And fourth.”
Even the pinky. He continued speaking as he spread all four fingers.
“Even if such a thing were to happen, you cannot escape from us. Never.”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head without meaning to.
I could understand his explanation well enough, but not this fourth point.
‘But I did escape.’
I even vaguely remembered where I went.
“What if I sneak away to a place with no people?”
At my question, he shook his head firmly.
“Young lady, there are eyes everywhere.”
I blinked. My reflection appeared in his glass-like pupils.
“Unless it’s indoors or a hidden place, you cannot evade our sight. Even if you were to escape, we would discover you first.”
“…”
“So this is how I got caught by you…?”
His hand, stained with food, drew closer.
He grasped my cheek and stretched it out.
“Mmph. My cheek’s getting all stretched.”
Whether he didn’t hear my words or simply didn’t care, he continued stretching and pressing my cheek like mochi.
A flush crept across his face.
“…Ah, how delightful.”
Somewhere along the way, he’d become utterly absorbed in kneading my cheeks.
‘What an odd uncle.’
Still, I’d gleaned new information. Whether it would prove useful remained to be seen.
At least the poison incident bore no involvement from the Elder Brother Faction. It was a fabrication from beginning to end.
‘Someone administered the poison behind the Elder Brother Faction’s back, and deliberately left an escape route.’
How was such a thing even possible? According to my uncle, there were countless eyes watching throughout this place.
Of course, I should first consider whether I could trust the Elder Brother Faction Deputy….
“Glutinous rice cake….”
Looking at that melting expression, suspicion becomes impossible.
If his explanation were entirely truthful.
‘Then my escape from this place was someone’s intention all along.’
Why?
To replace my position with another cadet branch daughter?
If that were the case, there’d be no need to extract me.
‘They could have simply killed me….’
Their intentions eluded me. It felt as though there was something more behind it all.
“Jo Young.”
Lost in thought, I heard a voice from somewhere.
“Remove your hand.”
The hand that had been vigorously pinching my cheek froze. With a soft creak, the small rear door opened.
“Oh dear. I’d forgotten.”
He turned with an embarrassed laugh. I too quickly turned my head.
The voice belonged to someone familiar.
“Father?”
It was none other than Father who emerged from the rear door.
I hadn’t expected to meet him at such a moment.
‘Didn’t my older brothers say they were going to pay their respects?’
I asked Father, who was regarding my uncle with displeasure.
“Father, what are you doing here?”
“Well, the Patriarch has been interrogating since this morning-.”
“Enough talk.”
Father cut off my uncle’s words with a sidelong glance.
‘Did he have business with the Elder Brother Faction?’
It seemed I’d missed my older brothers.
Now that I thought about it, Father wore black mourning robes.
I craned my neck to peer behind the door. I could see a blood-stained green robe cast aside at Father’s feet.
‘Did he interrogate someone?’
Was that why he hid his presence upon seeing me arrive? Afraid I’d be startled by the blood?
“Come now, come now.”
My uncle rose and swiftly closed the back door.
“You’ve heard everything already. I’ll clear the space, so the two of you should have a proper conversation.”
He handed me over to Father’s embrace and hurried away.
I heard his voice instructing that no one was to enter this room.
His footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
‘No! He’s just leaving like this?’
How was I supposed to face Father alone right now?
I’d just told him about the nightmare where Father abandoned me.
“…My child.”
I flinched and straightened my head.
Father was gazing directly at me.
His eyes held none of the weary irritation he’d shown my uncle—they were entirely different.
A furrowed brow. Trembling irises. Lips pressed firmly shut.
‘He looks tormented.’
He’d heard everything. My words.
“Father, about that….”
I could only think to insist it was all lies, to explain myself immediately.
I felt as though I’d wounded him.
“My little one.”
But Father spoke first.
He brushed back the wispy strands of hair falling across my forehead, regarding me with profound tenderness.
His hands were rough and thick, yet warm. The sensation was comforting.
“I’ve made you think of me that way.”
He spoke in a voice tinged with sorrow, drawing me into his embrace.
“You were so frightened.”
I caught the scent of blood mingled with deep sleep, and beneath it, the fragrance of flowers from Cheongpung Garden.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
Because in that moment, I recalled the path of my escape.
I had been terrified. Truly.
Terrified I would never be held in this embrace again.
I grasped Father’s sleeve desperately and buried my face against his chest.
“Yes….”
***
“Hic!”
My eyelids were swollen, and my vision was reduced to half.
Yet the tears continued to flow relentlessly—a disaster in itself. I wasn’t even sad anymore, but the tears streamed down as if a dam had burst.
“Stop crying. How will you open your eyes tomorrow?”
Dang Lim fidgeted beside me, trying to comfort me.
As Father held me and headed toward the Patriarch’s Hall, my older brothers were there.
The three of us had gathered in a room, waiting for Father to change.
“Because of a nightmare? You saw a ghost, didn’t you? Hey, I’ll beat that ghost for you!”
Even watching Dang Lim clench his fists while breaking into a cold sweat didn’t stop my tears.
‘What can I do? Just being in Father’s arms makes the tears flow endlessly.’
As I wiped my eyes, my sleeve had rubbed them so much that it stung terribly.
“Ow. It hurts….”
“Did you rub it raw? Let me see.”
Gwi-heon sat beside me and examined my eyes. He pressed gently on my eyelid with his thumb, and he clicked his tongue.
“It’s red. Tsk.”
“It’s red? I’ll get medicine!”
Dang Lim shouted as if he were about to leap up at any moment.
“Father will be here soon. I’ve already instructed the servants separately. To bring ointment.”
It was the moment Gwi-heon shook his head and spoke.
The double doors split open, and Father entered.
Gwi-heon and Dang Lim’s mouths snapped shut. They rose respectfully and offered their greetings with rigid posture.
“Father.”
“We’ve come to pay our respects, Father.”
Father wore an even more refined appearance.
‘Hmm?’
He seemed different from when I’d seen him yesterday or just moments ago.
The tenderness that appeared only before me was naturally absent.
But that wasn’t all….
‘Much of the darkness has lifted.’
Unlike yesterday, when he’d seemed utterly exhausted, his gaze had hardened.
He looked somewhat stronger.
“Sit.”
Father gestured to them as he took the seat of honor.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t even stood to greet him.
Would that seem impolite?
The three of them didn’t seem to think much of it.
“I was about to call for you anyway.”
At Father’s words, Gwi-heon turned his body toward Father, who sat in the seat of honor.
Gwi-heon opened his mouth with a notably animated expression.
“Yes. I hear the Elder Council has begun to move, so we are prepared to….”
“That is a matter for adults. It is not your concern.”
At Father’s resolute words, Gwi-heon blinked.
“…Father.”
Father reached into his collar and withdrew something.
Three small wooden boxes.
We each caught one as they flew toward us.
‘What? This is….’
These were the wooden boxes Gong Myo had pressed into my hands after the Dang Family’s annihilation.
I hastily opened the lid and found dried flower petals inside, just as before.
“Your mother and I crafted one of these boxes together each time you were born.”

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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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