Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 81

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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 81. Udee Ma
“Whimper.”
Yi Hwon, nestled in my arms, squirmed slightly.
Realizing I had been holding him far too tightly, I loosened my grip.
‘Compose yourself.’
I struggled to master my anxiety.
Yi Hwon had stopped crying, but he was still trembling, his breath catching.
It seemed my own dread was transmitting directly to him.
Exhale.
I drew a deep breath.
“Young Prince.”
I smiled at Yi Hwon.
It was a forced smile, but I hoped it appeared as natural as possible.
“Don’t worry. I’m right here beside you, aren’t I?”
“Sniffle…”
My smiling face and calm, gentle voice seemed to have finally soothed him.
A soft sigh escaped Yi Hwon’s lips.
“Young Prince.”
These words tumbled out unexpectedly, even to myself.
“I will protect you.”
The moment I spoke them aloud, I was startled by my own words.
Protect Yi Hwon…?
Could I truly take responsibility for such a promise?
I had no certainty.
Could what was happening now in Sung-gyeong Hall save Suk-ui’s life three years from now, when she was destined to die?
And…
With my own strength.
With the meager abilities of a mere four-year-old child.
Could I save Yi Hwon, who would leave this world at twenty-one in all his brilliance?
…I don’t know.
No, to be honest, I have no confidence.
And yet…
“I will absolutely protect you.”
For some reason, I wanted to say this.
Even if it were an impossible fantasy, even if it became a promise I could never keep.
I wanted to make a vow, if only to myself.
“So please, Young Prince. Don’t cry.”
I spoke while looking at the tear streaks on Yi Hwon’s cheeks…
But in that very moment, it was I who was weeping.
I did not know why the tears had come.
Anxiety. Fear.
A desperate sorrow that I might not be able to protect the people of Chwisuondang and Yi Hwon.
My resentment toward my own weakness burst forth along with tears.
That was when it happened.
“Bom-bo….”
Yi Hwon’s small hand, delicate as a maple leaf, gently pressed against my cheek.
“Don’t cry….”
“….”
“Bom-bo. Don’t cry.”
…Don’t cry.
Yi Hwon spoke those words, but he was still nothing more than a baby who had not yet learned to speak properly.
He could not possibly understand the meaning of “don’t cry.”
I knew his words were merely an echo of my own plea to him not to cry….
“Yes. I won’t cry, young master.”
I met Yi Hwon’s unwavering gaze with quiet resolve and spoke.
“Don’t cry.”
Yi Hwon whispered again, tenderly stroking my cheek.
Watching him, I nodded firmly.
I won’t cry, Yi Hwon.
I will never show weakness before you.
***
It was quite some time later when I left Jinsudan.
Yi Hwon would appear to fall asleep, only to open his eyes and whimper the moment I tried to rise.
In the end, I could only leave Jinsudan when twilight had begun to descend.
‘I wonder if the matter at Sung-gyeong Hall was resolved well?’
As I walked through the darkening corridors of the Royal Palace, I suddenly turned my head to glance toward Sung-gyeong Hall.
I considered casually passing by Sung-gyeong Hall, but quickly abandoned the thought.
The deployment of the Geumgun meant an official and extensive investigation had begun.
I had no desire to commit the foolish act of lingering near Sung-gyeong Hall and drawing unwanted suspicion.
‘I don’t know what is happening, but I hope it will be resolved by now.’
As I trudged toward Chwisuondang, my mind remained consumed with deep thoughts.
It was just as I reached the entrance of Chwisuondang.
“I’m back….”
“Bong-bong! Come here, quickly.”
Seol-hyang grabbed my arm as I stepped into the Inner Courtyard with my head lowered.
Seol-hyang pulled me toward herself—a touch that felt as though she were shielding me.
“Huh….”
The moment I perceived the situation in the Inner Courtyard of Chwisuondang, I froze entirely.
“Madam, what is happening?”
“I don’t know either. What on earth is all this….”
Seol-hyang’s voice trembled uncontrollably.
My gaze sweeping across the surroundings quivered in tandem.
The Inner Courtyard was packed with palace maids.
Every single person belonging to Chwisuondang, without a single exception, had gathered in the Inner Courtyard.
In that moment, Jang Hee-bin emerged from within the quarters.
“Commander of the Naegumwi.”
Only upon hearing Jang Hee-bin’s dignified voice did I realize it.
That Kim Che-geon, the gruff gentleman I knew, the Commander of the Naegumwi, stood in the center of the courtyard.
Jang Hee-bin regarded Kim Che-geon with an unwavering expression.
“Commander of the Naegumwi. Though I shall naturally obey a royal command, surely you owe us an explanation of what this concerns. The palace maids are deeply anxious—tell us the full account of this matter.”
Even amid the bewildering situation, Jang Hee-bin maintained her composure.
Kim Che-geon spoke with formal courtesy.
“We shall conduct a search of Chwisuondang and the chambers of all its palace personnel. It will not take long, so please wait a moment.”
“All personnel, you say… Surely you don’t mean to search my chamber as well?”
“Yes. Such is the royal command.”
“Ah…”
Jang Hee-bin pressed her trembling hand to her chest.
She was visibly struggling to maintain her composure.
After drawing several deep breaths, she posed another question.
“Then I shall ask one more thing.”
“Please do.”
“Is only Chwisuondang being searched? Or are other places included in the search as well?”
It was a shrewd question—one I myself had not anticipated.
Kim Che-geon, who had seemed to deliberate for a moment, finally spoke.
“The royal command was to search all concubine quarters and palace maid chambers with equal thoroughness.”
In other words, the Geumgun had not descended only upon Chwisuondang.
“What exactly are you searching for that warrants all this?”
Jang Hee-bin’s question came again.
But this time, Kim Che-geon shook his head.
“I cannot disclose that.”
His manner was courteous yet cold and resolute.
…But I already knew the answer.
The Geumgun who had searched every corner of Sung-gyeong Hall.
What they sought so desperately by overturning the chambers of all palace personnel, including Chwisuondang, was unmistakable.
‘They are searching for evidence right now.’
Evidence of poisoning, nothing less.
Circumstances suggesting poisoning must have emerged either at Sung-gyeong Hall or during my treatment of Park Suk-ui.
In this era, the word poisoning meant only one thing.
‘Poison.’
They were searching for poison.
So, the King is now….
‘Trying to uncover who orchestrated the poisoning sent to Sung-gyeong Hall.’
My conclusion meant one more thing.
If they were searching for poison from outside, it meant they hadn’t found the culprit within Sung-gyeong Hall itself.
‘Surely…. They won’t find anything suspicious in Chwisuondang, will they…?’
My heart pounded with dread.
Tense and rigid, I watched the Geumgun moving in and out of the quarters.
Everyone was trembling, but the Geumgun didn’t ransack the rooms roughly or handle objects carelessly.
They simply conducted a thorough search, which took some time.
It wasn’t just the Palace Maids’ quarters, including Jang Hee-bin’s Private Chamber and my room.
The Geumgun’s footsteps extended even to intimate places like the Nae-so Kitchen and the bathing area.
And so, as the rather lengthy search was coming to an end.
“What’s over there?”
One of the Geumgun asked Han Sang-gung.
Han Sang-gung shook her head as if there was nothing of note.
“The western section is empty. It’s not used as quarters for the Palace Maids, and few people venture there.”
“You mean it’s completely vacant?”
“Ah, there is one storage room where old items are kept…. But it’s been so long since anything was used there that it’s practically abandoned.”
Thump.
My heart dropped to my feet.
The Western Storage.
Of course there would be no poison there for the Geumgun to find….
‘Heuk-mak.’
My secret—Heuk-mak was inside that place.
“Then let us take a look. Will you guide us?”
“Of course.”
Han Sang-gung moved forward with the Geumgun.
Thump. Thump.
My heart hammered wildly.
Before I knew it, I was following behind Han Sang-gung.

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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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