I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 27

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

He lifted his hand slightly to show me.
My precious cloth bundle dangled from his index finger, which was curved like a hook.
The knot was still tied. It didn’t seem like he’d seen what was inside.
Then why was he asking me such a question?
I hid my panic and forced myself to answer with feigned composure.
“I, I just wanted to see Grandfather….”
“I don’t want to hear words that don’t come from your heart.”
“….”
Strange. I thought I’d perfected my expression, so why was I caught?
“Did your father send you?”
His voice dropped low. He seemed ready to explode in anger if I said Father had sent me.
“Father?”
I tilted my head and tried to smooth things over, but Dang Mu-seon’s gaze only grew more intense.
It was as if he were shouting, ‘Stop playing games and tell me the truth!’
I almost wished he would just yell at me.
‘Looking at me so fiercely makes it even more frightening….’
I finally hung my head in defeat, pouting my lips as if I’d lost.
“Sigh. The truth is….”
I carefully removed the bundle from my finger and crouched down on the floor.
I untied the knot and laid out the contents like a traveling peddler.
Several toys and snacks.
Books and an antidote I’d hidden in the corner.
‘…Huh?’
The antidote was gone.
I’d crudely made it from medicinal herbs at the Jungwon Guild, but it seemed I’d dropped it somewhere along the way.
“This is….”
With a dejected face, I held out the book to Dang Mu-seon.
He took it with an indifferent gesture.
‘I’d originally planned to act cute and beg him to read this book to me….’
Still, at least I’d succeeded in showing him the book.
“Grandfather is….”
“Call me Elder.”
“R, right. Elder, you’re the master of the Library, aren’t you?”
Dang Mu-seon flipped through the book casually and answered vaguely.
“The Library Master is the master, not me. Why would I be the master?”
“Huh? But isn’t it? Here….”
I approached Dang Mu-seon’s side and rose onto my tiptoes.
I pointed to the characters written on the edge of the book’s back cover.
羡
The character for “envy.”
“This is Elder’s book, isn’t it?”
According to the naming conventions of the Dang Family, that character would be part of his name.
Of course, I hadn’t deduced it was Dang Mu-seon’s book based solely on this.
“All the other books here belong to Elder too, don’t they?”
After spotting that character, I had Dang Dam bring several books at random from the Library.
Every single one bore that same character.
The books were written in different places and created at different times.
If one person had collected all of them, only Dang Mu-seon could have done it.
“You’ve been collecting books since long ago, and if they’re all in the Library, then Elder must be the owner, right?”
I looked up at Dang Mu-seon with bright, eager eyes.
He, who had been listening silently to my deduction, closed the book.
“…So?”
A gentle breeze stirred his hair.
“What does the Library have to do with anything?”
“It’s this book.”
I clasped my hands behind my back and pointed at the volume with my chin.
“It’s torn.”
Perhaps because my answer was so trivial.
A deep furrow formed between Dang Mu-seon’s brows once more.
“Are you telling this old man to repair books?”
“I thought you might be upset since it’s your book.”
“Your words…”
He shook his head as though weary.
“Did you oil your tongue before coming here?”
“Hehe.”
As I laughed it off, Dang Mu-seon clicked his tongue and opened the book.
I pressed close to his side once more.
“Look! Only the section about the Sinkang fairy tale is torn!”
“Such legends appear in other books as well, don’t they?”
“Right? That’s how it should be, isn’t it?”
I nodded in response to his obvious question.
“But they were all torn too.”
“What?”
Dang Mu-seon’s gaze, which had been fixed on the book, shifted to me.
His eyes changed. They were no longer the indifferent eyes of someone humoring a child.
He had sensed the irregularity too.
“I wondered how fascinating the story must be to hide it away and read alone, so I searched through all the storybooks. But only that tale was missing.”
I waved my clenched fists emphatically as I spoke.
“It was definitely there. It’s all been torn out and gone!”
Flap, flap.
My hand faltered as I turned the page.
I had reached the section containing the legend of the Sinkang Fairy.
Just as I had said, the book bore obvious damage—as though someone had torn at it viciously.
He examined the book with meticulous care, tracing over the title on the cover and the torn edges multiple times.
‘Surely, Elder, you find this strange as well?’
I regarded Dang Mu-seon with a satisfied expression.
I had even packed my belongings, fully prepared to head to the Library immediately to investigate this matter.
But Dang Mu-seon quickly closed the book and looked at me as though surprised I was still there.
“Is your business concluded? You may leave now.”
“Pardon?”
Dang Mu-seon gestured toward the stairs with his chin.
A faint light seeped in from above, indicating the passage to the surface.
‘Already? I’ve only just arrived….’
I had hoped for further progress, but it seemed I would have to settle for this.
If I pressed the matter further, I sensed Father would become involved in a three-way confrontation.
Since Dang Mu-seon had shown interest in the books for once, I would simply have to wait.
“Then, farewell to you.”
I offered a respectful bow and ascended the stairs.
“Do not stray down another path. Keep your eyes forward until the Maid appears. Do you understand?”
Dang Mu-seon’s voice reached me from behind.
“Yes.”
I answered obediently and emerged from the Underground Chamber.
I heard the sound of the door closing behind me, but I did not turn back.
***
The sound of light footsteps faded into the distance.
Dang Mu-seon glanced upward at the ceiling, then returned the poisons on the shelf to their proper places.
Pushed aside by his hand, the book fell to the floor.
Contrary to my expectations, he did not examine the book further.
His interest lay elsewhere.
Dang Mu-seon withdrew a small medicine bottle from his robes and placed it upon the shelf.
It was the crude antidote I had brought.
Truly crude it was.
The greenish liquid, reeking of freshly ground grass, barely managed to perform its detoxifying function.
Moreover, it had been concocted from weeds growing nearby, not from the medicinal herbs of the Medicine Hall.
“…Did this child make this antidote?”
His eyes narrowed as he tapped the mouth of the bottle.
“I never taught her such a thing.”
***
“There’s no word. No word at all!”
“Eek!”
Gong Myo, who was sitting beside me, startled and knocked over the teapot.
“I’m sorry. Did you get burned?”
“Oh, no. It’s already cooled down….”
Gong Myo laughed awkwardly and glanced at the Maids around us.
She seemed embarrassed about spilling the teapot.
“Sigh….”
No matter how much I vented, the frustration wouldn’t dissipate.
Days had passed, yet I’d heard nothing from Dang Mu-seon.
‘The Family Council Meeting will be held soon….’
Surely he couldn’t still be investigating the books. Couldn’t the Family’s highest elder uncover even that much?
“Miss.”
As I stared blankly out the window, I heard Dang Dam’s voice.
He said he was going to the Commander’s Guard for a while, so he must have just returned.
“I’ve brought word from Dok-jon.”
He said, entering through the door.
“Really?!”
I bolted upright from my slumped posture.
Did Dang Dam look into this for me?
“What is it? What is it?”
My eyes gleamed with anticipation, and Dang Dam spoke at once.
“It appears Dok-jon has been away for some time.”
“….”
My gaping mouth snapped shut.
“Right. Thanks….”
That was quite the letdown.
Ugh, my body sagged again.
After climbing Jeungsan Peak, I petulantly tapped the bundle I’d carefully wrapped.
“I wasn’t expecting anything anyway.”
I’d harbored hope, only to grasp at empty air.
How could the Former Patriarch Elder show so little interest in the Family?
Perhaps I should have anticipated it. He stood by and watched when the Dang Family faced annihilation.
I’d never heard that Dok-jon had put up any resistance.
When he saved me from being tormented that day, I thought he’d be different from the other elders….
“He won’t stay away forever, will he?”
“That shouldn’t be the case.”
As I muttered absently, Dang Dam objected.
“He should return soon.”
He seemed certain of it.
I turned my body fully toward him and asked.
“Why? He might have gone far away.”
“No. That’s impossible. He always visits Jeungsan Peak on that day.”
“That day?”
“Yes. Dok-jon’s son and grandson are laid to rest on Jeungsan Peak.”
So both his son and grandson had died.
I had no idea.
“When did they pass away?”
“During the Cheonma War, they fell while helping the citizens of Sungdo evacuate, from what I understand.”
My hand, which had been unconsciously touching the knot of the bundle, stilled.
Perhaps it was because I understood the sorrow of losing family.
My heart, which had been condemning Dang Mu-seon, softened somewhat.
Could it be because of that?
That he had severed his ties with the Family Clan?
I folded my arms and laid my head down on the table.
“When he returns, be sure to tell me.”
“Yes, Miss.”
I closed my eyes quietly.
My thoughts of Dang Mu-seon had grown calmer.
It was on one such day.
“Ahhh!”
Instead of news of his return, Dang Lim’s scream rang through my Quarters.
“Hide me, hide me please!”
Dang Lim suddenly burst through the door with a shriek.

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