Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 73

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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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Chapter 73. Determination
On my way back from Hee-jeong Hall to Changgyeong Palace.
I chose a path different from my usual route.
Specifically, one that would take me past Bogyeong Hall.
Unlike that time when I had taken a wrong turn, this detour was entirely intentional.
Suk-bin, who hadn’t shown her face for over a hundred days.
I was curious about what she had been doing.
‘If she won’t appear on her own, then I’ll have to seek her out myself.’
Confronting Suk-bin was an extraordinarily tense and frightening prospect.
She was no easy adversary, after all.
But understanding the enemy’s movements was absolutely crucial.
As Bogyeong Hall came into view in the distance, I gradually slowed my pace.
For some reason, all the palace maids were gathered in the courtyard of Bogyeong Hall.
‘What’s happening?’
I flinched slightly upon recognizing the face of the maid wielding the rod.
Yet I was confident that even if they noticed me, they wouldn’t dare touch me as recklessly as before.
Steeling myself, I proceeded toward the front of Bogyeong Hall with feigned composure.
‘There are too many people—I can’t observe anything without drawing attention.’
The atmosphere seemed unsettled, which struck me as suspicious.
Just as I was about to pass by Bogyeong Hall.
A small movement stirred among the palace maids.
Glancing into the courtyard of Bogyeong Hall, what caught my eye was….
‘Suk-bin.’
But….
‘Why does she look like that?’
It was far removed from the composed Suk-bin I had always known.
She wore a plain white mourning robe.
Her face bore no makeup whatsoever, and her hair was braided long and loose.
‘Is she ill?’
Yet her complexion appeared quite healthy, oddly enough.
“Suk-bin. You have endured much.”
It was then that I recognized a familiar voice and a familiar silhouette.
“Endured? It is all a devotion for Queen Min. I merely pray that Heaven recognizes my sincerity.”
“Heaven surely will. Ever since Suk-bin began her devotions, Queen Min’s condition has improved considerably.”
What is Heo Sang-gung doing here…?
The sang-gung with the familiar voice was none other than Heo Sang-gung from the Inner Palace.
That arrogant sang-gung I had confronted at Tongmyeongjeon just an hour ago.
Now I finally understood what Suk-bin had been doing for the past hundred days.
‘…She had been performing devotions for Queen Min all this time.’
As expected…. Suk-bin would never simply sit idle.
The day Gwi-in Kim faced one hundred days of confinement after her outrageous act of seizing my bundle of belongings.
That day, the King did not punish Suk-bin, but left her with a warning to conduct herself properly.
It was clear that Suk-bin had been exercising restraint while building her own justification.
The justification being that she had made devout offerings for Queen Min’s recovery.
It was a characteristically clever move for Suk-bin.
Not only would it earn Queen Min’s trust, but it would also stir the King’s heart—already burdened with guilt over Queen Min’s illness.
‘Could it be… she planned even that far ahead?’
Suk-bin’s face glistened with moisture—whether sweat or water, I couldn’t tell.
Looking at her, what suddenly came to mind was the death of Queen Myeongseong, King Sukjong’s mother.
Queen Myeongseong had contracted an illness and died after undergoing a shamanic ritual where she was drenched with water in the depths of winter.
The reason given was to cure King Sukjong’s ailment.
‘Surely she isn’t trying to recreate something similar?’
If she had planned that far, she would truly be a terrifying person.
A chill ran down my spine, and I hastily left the area in front of Bogyeong Hall.
In any case, the risk I took in passing by Bogyeong Hall had borne fruit.
I had not expected to encounter Heo Sang-gung from the Inner Palace here.
‘Perhaps… Heo Sang-gung might be Suk-bin’s person.’
I became certain that Suk-bin would be the first to hear news of Jang Hee-bin’s inquiry.
‘How far do Suk-bin’s hands reach?’
Suddenly, even Chwisuondang did not feel safe.
Yong-hee, who had been a spy, had disappeared, and Bok-hee had become my loyal subordinate, but…
‘What if she’s planted someone else?’
It was while crossing the threshold of Changgyeong Palace with such thoughts that it happened.
“Gasp.”
In that moment, I was truly startled as if I’d seen a ghost.
Lost in thoughts of Suk-bin, I had failed to notice the presence of a person nearby.
Just a few steps ahead of me…
stood Gwi-in Kim with a ghostly pallor.
‘Her hundred days of confinement have ended.’
I stared blankly at Gwi-in Kim before snapping back to my senses with a start.
“I-I trust you have been well.”
“…”
A loud snort, as if demanding to be heard.
Gwi-in Kim’s appearance had changed drastically from one hundred days prior.
Within her hollow eyes, something like flames seemed to burn.
Her face was so gaunt that it could be said to have become half its former size.
Gwi-in Kim had always possessed a rather sharp impression, and now that sharpness was even more pronounced.
Her gaze was terrifying.
Without thinking, I swallowed hard.
Gwi-in Kim, who had been glaring at me as if she would kill me, opened her mouth.
“You reduced me to this state, and here you are scurrying through the Royal Palace like a mere rat.”
“….”
I had no idea how to respond.
This was unmistakably a declaration that I was her ‘enemy’.
I had naturally anticipated that she would despise me.
But to think she would reveal such vivid malice toward a mere four-year-old child.
“I…. I….”
I was flustered.
Before the overwhelming fury directed at me, my tongue stumbled without my consent.
My mind remained clear, but the limitations of being four years old were unavoidable—my body shrank back of its own accord.
“A lowborn creature brings a lowborn brat into this place, muddying the waters of this noble Royal Palace. The very sight of you radiates such a putrid stench that I feel my skin crawl! Remove yourself from my presence at once!”
“….”
In that moment, I felt utterly crushed beneath Gwi-in Kim’s presence.
I knew I should offer a proper farewell.
But the words merely circled on the tip of my tongue and refused to leave my lips.
Just as I abandoned the attempt to speak and hastily bowed before turning to leave—
“Stop.”
“….”
“You dare leave my presence without even a proper bow?”
There was no time to steel myself or anticipate what might come.
Gwi-in Kim approached with quick steps and raised her hand in a sharp motion.
She was clearly about to strike my cheek.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
That instant.
Thwack!
A dull sound echoed.
The unmistakable friction of a palm striking flesh.
Yet nothing happened to me…?
‘…What? Seol-hyang?’
I stared in shock at Seol-hyang, who had stepped in front of me.
“You wench, what do you think you’re doing!”
“I acted without thinking…. I beg your forgiveness, Gwi-in. The child is so young that I fear I have committed a grave discourtesy. Please, I implore your mercy.”
Gwi-in Kim’s lips trembled with rage.
In the meantime, Sang-gung’s voice could be heard trying to calm the agitated Gwi-in.
“Hwang Bong-bong, apologize at once.”
“…I have erred, Gwi-in.”
I bit my lip hard.
It was not the humiliation of bowing before someone like Gwi-in Kim.
It was the fact that Seol-hyang had taken a blow meant for me.
A surge of hot emotion welled up from the depths of my chest.
“My lady. That child is…. As you know, His Majesty….”
Sang-gung was breaking into a cold sweat trying to placate Gwi-in.
Gwi-in, her eyes fierce and menacing as she glared at me and Seol-hyang, spun around and left.
“….”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
But I held them back. Again and again.
I refused to let them fall.
I could not accept that I had lost to Gwi-in.
I could not acknowledge this helpless defeat—that as a mere palace maid, I must naturally submit to her will.
“Hwang Bong-bong. Are you all right?”
Seol-hyang asked.
“And you, Seol-hyang?”
“She didn’t hit my face. When I stepped in just as she was about to strike your cheek, she ended up hitting my rear instead. You know how plump mine is, don’t you? It didn’t hurt one bit.”
Seol-hyang rattled on, trying to lighten my mood.
Even though she was the one who had actually been struck….
“Hwang Bong-bong.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Let’s keep this between us, shall we? If Jang Hee-bin finds out, she’ll quarrel with Gwi-in. She’s already troubled enough today—let’s not burden her further.”
“…Yes. I’ll do as you say.”
Yes. That was Seol-hyang’s way.
To endure in silence, to accept quietly.
To grumble about the filth and pettiness, yet ultimately bow to power, and place her mistress’s heart above all else—the way of a palace maid.
I clenched my teeth as I spoke.
“This will never happen again.”
“Right. Just avoid Gwi-in from now on. Goodness, how can a person be so cruel? No matter what, to do this to a child….”
Watching Seol-hyang gently pat my back, I spoke once more.
“Never. This will never happen again.”
It did not mean what Seol-hyang understood—that I would avoid Gwi-in.
It was the opposite.
I would not overlook her malice.
I would not cower.
I would not flee or hide….
I would stand against her boldly and vow to survive, no matter what.

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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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