Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 76

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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 76. A Problem Among Problems
“Now, watch carefully and try to follow along.”
“Caw caw caw?”
“Stop looking around and focus!”
One, two, three.
I swung both my arms vigorously.
“You see? This is how you do it. Watch closely!”
Spreading all five fingers wide, I held my arms out to the sides and flapped them up and down with exaggerated motions.
I was giving Heuk-mak a demonstration of ‘how I do it’.
The flight instructor was me, Hwang Bong-bong.
The student was Heuk-mak.
And Geum-deok was here as ‘random passerby number one’.
“Watch again carefully. Like this, flap flap….”
…ugh. Reality check.
“I can’t do this anymore.”
“Caw caw?”
“Meow.”
I flopped down onto the old wooden chest with a sigh.
Geum-deok rubbed against my legs, while Heuk-mak, who had waddled over, kept cawing.
I sat Heuk-mak on my lap and spoke to him sternly.
“You’ve grown quite a bit now, Heuk-mak. They say crows are so intelligent. Shouldn’t you be understanding words by now?”
“Caw.”
“You don’t seem to be in any pain, and you eat incredibly well…. So why can’t you fly?”
Heuk-mak had grown considerably in the meantime.
At first, he was like an oversized head on a tiny body, but now his body had filled out and he looked quite like a proper crow.
He could even peck at his food on his own now.
But Heuk-mak had one fatal problem—
There was still no sign of him being able to fly.
“Come on, fly! Go!”
I gently tossed Heuk-mak from my lap into the air.
Flutter flutter.
He flapped his wings, but Heuk-mak simply landed back on the ground.
“Geum-deok.”
“Meow?”
“Do you think he’s not a crow but a black chicken instead?”
“Meow.”
It was Prince Yeonning who had told me that Heuk-mak was a crow.
It was around the time my doubts about Heuk-mak’s true identity were turning into distrust toward Prince Yeonning.
“Hwang Bong-bong…!”
A voice calling from a distance.
It was unmistakably my name being called.
“Let’s go, Geum-deok!”
I sprang to my feet in an instant.
After hurrying Geum-deok out of the storage room, I quickly secured the door and made my way to the Inner Courtyard.
“Hwang Bong-bong! Where on earth have you been? I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”
It was none other than Han Sang-gung who had called for me.
“Oh… I suppose I was lost in thought and didn’t hear you calling. What did you need me for?”
It was an evasive answer, but fortunately Han Sang-gung didn’t press further.
“A message came from the Head Sang-gung. The day after tomorrow, His Majesty will be making a procession to Dongmyo, and he wishes to bring you along.”
“Oh… yes.”
“Did you already know about this?”
“Yes. I didn’t know the exact date, so I hadn’t mentioned it to you.”
“I see. Taking a young palace maid on a royal procession… what could this all mean…”
Han Sang-gung’s expression was somewhat bewildered.
“Dongmyo isn’t such a terribly long journey, but still, I’m worried. The inside of the palanquin will be quite stifling…”
Is that so…?
‘I’d only know that if I’d ridden in one before.’
Riding in a palanquin with only a single small window in such sweltering weather certainly didn’t seem like a trivial matter.
“It will be arduous, but I must go. It is His Majesty’s command, after all.”
“Of course that’s true. Still, it’s quite remarkable. His Majesty rarely brings anyone along on his processions—not even the Crown Prince, unless it’s a grand royal tour…”
Han Sang-gung seemed lost in thought, but what I was truly curious about was something else entirely.
“But ma’am, I was wondering…”
“Wondering what?”
“When His Majesty makes his procession to Dongmyo… will the Royal Physician be accompanying him as well?”
“The Royal Physician? Why would you ask such a thing?”
“Oh, just in case His Majesty should fall ill again…”
My concern for the King’s health was genuine.
But truthfully, the question concealed a different intention.
Regardless of my reasons, Han Sang-gung seemed quite impressed by my words.
“Though you’re but a child, your devotion to His Majesty rivals that of an adult. Yes, the Royal Physician will naturally accompany us as well.”
Excellent.
The King, myself, and the Royal Physician.
If these three could be together, my plan would proceed smoothly to success.
“So don’t worry yourself, and just make sure to pack a chamber pot.”
A… chamber pot?
“Why a chamber pot?”
“Why indeed? Even though it’s not such a long journey, one never knows what might happen. Surely you don’t intend to halt the royal procession just because nature calls?”
“Ugh… no. I understand. I’ll pack the chamber pot…”
My spirits plummeted in an instant.
No matter how accustomed I’d become to the Joseon Dynasty, the matter of sanitation remained an insurmountable challenge among all challenges.
‘Once I save Jang Hee-bin and the maids of Chwisuondang survive this ordeal… maybe I’ll push for some improvements to the palace latrines instead.’
I was lost in fantasies of becoming a hero who solved an impossible problem and raking in rewards.
“By the way…”
Han Sang-gung approached me and sniffed the air.
“Why do you reek of something so foul? What on earth is that smell?”
“…Me?”
I widened my eyes as if I had no idea what she meant.
But what else could it be?
The stench that comes from someone raising a crow in a sealed, cramped storage room.
In other words, bird droppings.
“I suppose I’ve been sweating a lot… I’ll wash more thoroughly from now on.”
I answered with a dejected expression.
It was better to be branded as a child with poor hygiene than to have Heuk-mak’s existence discovered.
“Yes, that’s right. The hotter it gets, the more often you should bathe. In any case, prepare thoroughly for your outing tomorrow. Don’t overexert yourself—retire early to bed.”
“Yes, I will.”
I bowed deeply to Han Sang-gung and quickly fled the Inner Courtyard.
My plight as a ‘smelly child’ suddenly felt rather pitiful.
‘There’s nothing to be done about it. Heuk-mak will be able to fly soon anyway, so I just need to endure a little longer.’
Even as I thought this, something nagged at me.
After sniffing various parts of my body,
I removed my jeogori and shook it vigorously, then scrubbed my hands until my palms turned red.
***
“Hwang Bong-bong, have a safe journey!”
“If your stomach feels queasy, don’t hold it in—tell the Palace Maids in the Royal Chambers right away!”
“And tell us what the Dongguan Wang Temple looks like.”
On the day the King made his procession to the Dongguan Wang Temple, early in the morning.
A grand “Hwang Bong-bong Farewell Ceremony” was held at Chwisuondang.
I had made all necessary preparations.
First, I went to the Storage Room at dawn and scattered plenty of grain for Heuk-mak to eat.
After that, I scrubbed myself clean to wash away any lingering scent.
I put on the summer clothes Seol-hyang had prepared and went to greet Jang Hee-bin.
And….
‘I really hate this.’
Just in case, I had also brought a chamber pot.
‘I won’t drink water.’
Since last night, I had kept my fluid intake to the bare minimum—just enough to wet my throat.
The very thought of it made my skin crawl.
While the palanquin bearers carried me forward, using a chamber pot inside the moving palanquin…?
And then continuing forward while clutching that chamber pot…?
‘Absolutely not.’
I wasn’t yet prepared to surrender the dignity of a human being named Hwang Bong-bong.
I licked my parched lips and nodded with grim determination.
“Here, eat these when you get bored.”
Seol-hyang handed me a bundle containing snacks.
“Thank you, Seol-hyang.”
“It would be reassuring if one of us could go with you.”
Someone had said that.
That would certainly be nice, but I was neither a princess nor a royal daughter.
I couldn’t expect such consideration.
The very fact that a mere junior maid was riding in a palanquin and following the royal procession was extraordinarily unprecedented.
“Come now, we’re running late. Let’s go.”
Han Sang-gung urged me forward.
The King would board his palanquin in front of Hee-jeong Hall, but I had to board mine outside the gates of Changdeok Palace.
“I’ll return safely, everyone!”
After bowing once more, I set out toward Changdeok Palace with Han Sang-gung.
And I settled myself into the small palanquin that awaited me.
***
“Uncle, are you heading to the palace?”
In the inner courtyard of Yi Tae-jwa’s residence.
Park Moon-soo approached Lee Tae-jwa, who was about to leave the house.
“Yes, I was just about to enter the palace. Ah, that’s right.”
As if something had suddenly occurred to him, Lee Tae-jwa spoke up.
“Do you have anything special to do today?”
“No, sir. Nothing in particular besides my studies….”
“Then, why don’t you visit Dongguan Wang Temple?”
“Dongguan Wang Temple? But why there?”
In response to Park Moon-soo’s question, Lee Tae-jwa smiled and answered.
“His Majesty is making a royal procession to Dongguan Wang Temple today. If you’re fortunate, you might catch a glimpse of his face, and even witnessing the royal procession alone would be worthwhile. What do you say? Will you go?”
“Oh!”
Park Moon-soo’s eyes lit up brilliantly.
“Yes! I shall do so!”
“Then hurry and depart. His Majesty leaves early, so you must make haste to see the procession.”
“Yes, Uncle. I’ll dress properly and come right out!”
Park Moon-soo dashed into his room.

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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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