I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 8

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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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For a while, there was peace.
My days consisted entirely of playing with Dang Lim when he visited my quarters, or visiting the Nanny during her illness.
Today too, Dang Lim had been lounging in my room until past lunch, when he finally prepared to leave.
“I should be going now.”
As I hopped down from the bed, Dang Lim pulled something from inside his collar.
“Here, take this.”
He pressed a small pouch into my hand before leaping out the window.
“Savor it.”
With the rustling wind, Dang Lim vanished.
When I opened the pouch slightly, pieces of candy—carefully broken by hand—gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.
‘He broke them all up because he was worried I’d have trouble eating them.’
I couldn’t suppress my smile.
He grumbles about everything and cries at the slightest touch, but he’s still a caring older brother.
“….”
That’s what made it so strange.
I had forgotten it while dealing with immediate concerns, but Dang Lim dies as a martial arts criminal.
It contradicted the warmth of the candy in my pouch entirely.
‘This Dang Lim oppressed the Weak Poison Sect and conspired with the Demonic Cult?’
It was impossible. If I told Dang Lim, he would scoff at such a future.
‘And Mother died at the hands of the Demonic Cult remnants….’
I pulled the pouch’s drawstring tight and bit my lip firmly.
Even a few days here made it clear.
Dang Lim, our family—it couldn’t be true.
Which meant….
‘Something terrible is about to happen to them?’
I had to know the truth.
Since I knew that both Dang Lim and the Nanny would die caught up in some incident, I couldn’t simply stand by.
Revealing the full story of the hallucinogenic flower might lead me to the truth.
‘I did leave that to Dang Lim….’
But seeing no word from him, I’m not satisfied with waiting.
I’ve decided to move myself.
“Now that I think about it, the time has come.”
The incense burner has been extinguished since yesterday.
They must have concluded they couldn’t control me through it.
So they’ll surely attempt something else soon.
For instance….
“Yeon-ah.”
Sending Dang Gyo-gyo to check on me.
“Are you inside?”
Dang Gyo-gyo’s gentle voice came from outside the door.
I hid the pouch in my sleeve and rushed toward the door.
“Sister?”
The moment I opened the door wide, Dang Gyo-gyo broke into a bright smile.
“Hello. The flowers have bloomed beautifully near the lake at Cheongpung Garden. Wouldn’t you like to go see them?”
It seemed she had completely forgotten about her irritation and huffing from our last meeting.
Dang Gyo-gyo, as if nothing had happened, wore that graceful smile once more.
“Wow!”
I too pretended to have forgotten everything, my eyes brightening. I clapped my hands together and smiled innocently.
“Yes, Sister! I’d love to!”
What was she planning to do?
I hoped it would be something grand. Something that would leave clear evidence.
***
A pavilion stood solitary in the center of the lake, surrounded by white and crimson blossoms in full bloom.
I sat there facing Dang Gyo-gyo across from me.
Half tense, half thrilled, I glanced around nervously.
At least I didn’t see anything that looked like an incense burner.
Though my height prevented me from checking everything thoroughly.
‘Then could it be the flowers?’
Among the flowers, there were a few that could cloud the mind.
‘No. That can’t be it.’
All the flowers in Cheongpung Garden were ones Mother had loved during her lifetime.
There was no way anything dangerous could be among them.
As I gazed intently at the flower field, seized by an inexplicable longing, Dang Gyo-gyo spoke.
“You seem quite interested in flowers.”
I nodded brightly.
“Yes. I love the fragrance. I like anything that smells nice.”
“So do I.”
As Dang Gyo-gyo nodded, the Maid brought out a tea table beside her.
The table held only a plate of refreshments and two teacups with lids.
“So I brought some good tea. Here.”
Dang Gyo-gyo unhesitatingly handed me the yellow teacup.
“Thank you…!”
I carefully pulled the hot teacup toward me and lifted the lid.
Steam brushed against the tip of my nose.
A familiar scent left a deep imprint in my mind once more.
‘The Silent Guest.’
So this was it. Another way to drive me mad.
The tea is strong. If it was steeped to this degree, I’m not entirely sure, but…
‘If I drink it all, I’ll be a fool right here on the spot.’
Dang Gyo-gyo picked up the pink teacup and hurriedly took a sip.
“Mmm, how delightful.”
I made a show of savoring the taste deliberately.
It’s just tea, then.
I caught a glimpse of the different color and realized she’d intentionally prepared a teacup with a lid to conceal it.
‘How am I going to get out of this?’
If I refused to drink it, she’d cry and make a fuss about me disrespecting her sincerity.
‘If it only ended there, I’d be lucky.’
She might even try to silence me if she realized I’d seen through her scheme.
But I couldn’t drink it either….
‘Ah.’
A brilliant idea struck me.
“Wow!”
I leaped to my feet and pointed at the clear sky.
“Sister, look! There’s a huge bird flying over there!”
Not a single insect was visible, yet I shouted shamelessly.
“Wow, it’s really big!”
I gazed upward as if entranced, hugging the pavilion pillar.
“A bird…? I don’t see one?”
Dang Gyo-gyo’s suspicious voice reached my ears.
Soon after, she approached me and gently grasped my shoulder.
“You shouldn’t strain yourself yet, so sit down now. Your tea is getting cold.”
She knew I shouldn’t strain myself, yet she dragged me all the way out here.
Of course, I didn’t voice that complaint.
“Sister, look over there. Do you see those flowers? They’re so beautiful!”
Instead, I began pointing excitedly at the flowers blooming in the garden.
“Yes, I see them, so now….”
“I think I understand why Father planted so many of these flowers. They’re truly lovely.”
“They are lovely. Yes. So….”
“Oh! Could that be an apricot tree?!”
As if I couldn’t hear Dang Gyo-gyo’s words, I continued bouncing and staring at the flowers.
Even after a long while of this, she was laughing—though with veins bulging at her temples.
“Hehehehe….”
It seemed she was absolutely determined to make me drink that tea today.
“Sister, you must remember! That one is….”
“Yes! You’ve said it’s hibiscus a hundred times! …Hehehehe. Now you need to sit down. My legs hurt.”
Finally, Dang Gyo-gyo’s patience reached its limit, and she grabbed my arm forcefully and pulled.
“Ugh?!”
I was dragged helplessly and forced down onto the seat.
“Now, drink it.”
She slid the teacup toward me with a smile.
‘My lips are trembling.’
How badly she must want to strike me. She’s struggling to hold back and force a smile instead.
I glanced down at the teacup, and the steam that had been rising steadily had already vanished.
‘It’s gone cold.’
I’ve certainly drawn this out long enough.
The time it takes for tea to cool—long enough for Guan Yu to sever an enemy general’s head.
I owe it to Gyo-gyo for waiting this long. I should at least take a sip.
“Yes, I’ll drink it!”
I smiled brightly and picked up the teacup. Gyo-gyo’s eyes widened with excitement.
I brought the rim to my lips and took a sip into my mouth.
And then.
“Aaaaa-CHOOOOOO!”
I let out a magnificent sneeze.
“Kyaaaah!”
About half of what was in my mouth, what my breath carried away, and what I deliberately spilled sprayed across Gyo-gyo’s face.
As if scalding molten metal had splattered on her, Gyo-gyo gasped and wiped her face frantically.
“Gasp, sniff! It’s the pollen! I’m so sorry, Sister…!”
I sniffled and apologized, but it seemed Gyo-gyo couldn’t hear me.
“Ptui! Ptui ptui! Ugh…! Bleeeech!”
Gyo-gyo scrubbed her tongue and retched, spitting out any tea that might have entered her mouth.
“Huh? Sister, is it hot? That’s strange. It should be completely cold….”
It couldn’t be hot since it had cooled completely, and it couldn’t taste bitter since I’d drunk the same tea pleasantly.
Yet Gyo-gyo looked far too desperate.
As if she’d ingested something poisonous, something she absolutely shouldn’t have consumed.
“Could there be something bad in this?”
I asked carefully, gripping the teacup tightly with both hands.
As if I’d struck a nerve, Gyo-gyo froze.
“Gasp.”
I covered my mouth as if I were the one who was shocked.
“You really did? I was just joking….”
Then Gyo-gyo clenched her fists and trembled violently.
Her lustrous bangs, which had been gleaming, drooped down like a rake.
“Did you… do that on purpose?”
“What? A cough?”
“Yes! You deliberately coughed…! Ha….”
Gyo-gyo started to shout something but clamped her mouth shut.
She must have sensed that saying more would be unwise.
“You cunning little thing…!”
Gyo-gyo stood up abruptly and gestured sharply at the Maid.
“Clean this up at once!”
It seemed she intended to quickly vacate the scene, having bungled the situation.
The Maid swiftly gathered the tea service.
The pastries, untouched.
Dang Gyo-gyo’s pink teacup.
And my yellow teacup—today’s evidence.
“No. Don’t take it!”
I clutched the teacup away from the Maid’s reaching hand.
“Ah, Miss! Please give it here…!”
The Maid approached with an anxious expression, then shoved my shoulder forcefully.
“Oof!”
I stumbled backward, about to fall on my rear—
“My.”
—when I didn’t.
Someone’s hand naturally caught my back.
“You two should play nicely.”
A leisurely voice accompanied the scent of sandalwood brushing my nose.
When I looked up, I saw half-tied loose hair and a slender frame draped in a green robe.
A gold earring on the right gleamed softly.
‘Second Brother, Dang Gui-heon….’
Dang Gui-heon helped me to my feet, then strode toward Dang Gyo-gyo.
He tilted his head, hands clasped behind his back.
An oppressive aura emanated from his silent figure.
“…O, oh, you’ve… arrived…?”
Dang Gyo-gyo stammered, her face drained of color.
“Y-Yeon-ah fell over by herself… how fortunate that Brother caught her,”
“Gyo.”
A chill radiated from Dang Gui-heon’s eyes as he smiled faintly.
“What’s in the tea.”

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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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