Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 31

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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 31
7. Night Market Commotion
I woke as though surfacing from a deep faint, and it was already morning.
Though I’d hoped to sleep in on this rare day off, my mind was annoyingly alert.
Somewhere along the way, I’d grown accustomed to the life of a maidservant—waking the moment the rooster crowed.
“Mmm…….”
I groaned and pulled the blankets closer, at which Song Ji, who’d been getting ready to leave, let out a quiet laugh.
“Hey, I’m heading out. Make sure you eat something.”
“Yes. Have a good day, sister.”
After I’d seen Song Ji off from bed, I surrendered to a state of Unity with the Universe.
Which is to say, I did nothing but breathe.
Lying still, gazing only at the ceiling, I didn’t stir until the rosy glow of evening began to seep through.
If I wanted to make it to the Night Market, I’d need to get up soon and prepare myself.
I had to go. I really had to go…….
“Ugh, I just want to stay in bed.”
I groaned and rolled around on the mattress. Everything felt like such a bother—Night Market included.
“Come on, get up. So Hye. Get up.”
I mumbled to myself and stretched my arm toward the ceiling, and the Jade Bracelet slipped down my wrist. The milky white jade gleamed with a lustrous light.
It was the Protective Charm that Dang-jung had given me yesterday.
I wonder if it comes off. It would be nice to remove it normally when I go out.
Curious, the moment I tugged at the bracelet, a sharp sound cracked through the air and a Poison Needle shot free.
……Oh no.
I froze, my hand still clasping the bracelet. Watching the Poison Needle quiver where it had lodged in the ceiling, cold sweat broke across my skin.
I definitely shouldn’t try to remove this carelessly.
“Hey. I’m back. The Young Master of the Namgung Household has been waiting since earlier—shouldn’t you be getting ready to leave?”
At the sound of Song Ji’s voice, my heart sank.
Why now, of all times? It’s not like you’re a tiger!
I bolted upright, my voice sharp.
“Song Ji, sister? Wait—wait just a moment. Don’t come in!”
“Why? Is something wrong?”
“No! Nothing’s wrong at all—just wait outside for a bit!”
“Huh? What’s the matter with you?”
“Don’t come in! Just wait!”
I shouted and hopped frantically toward the ceiling. But no matter how high I stretched, my hands couldn’t reach the Poison Needle.
“Hey. What’s going on? Are you not almost done?”
“Almost finished! Just give me a little longer, sister.”
“We’re not going to be late? You wanted to borrow clothes, didn’t you?”
“It’s fine. I’ll be quick.”
I mumbled evasively and, biting my lip, dragged over a chair. If I left it like this and went out, innocent Song Ji might end up poisoned.
Standing on the chair and tilting my head back, I stared. The area around where the Poison Needle had struck was turning pitch black.
Elder, you said it was a mild poison. This looks like a straight ticket to the grave.
I tried to wipe away the stain by scrubbing the ceiling, but the poison only spread further, refusing to fade.
I pretended I’d seen nothing and pulled out the Poison Needle, sliding it back into the bracelet’s opening.
Song Ji, hang in there. You can do this. You have to.
……I’d better get her to take some Antidote Pills that I got from the steward, just to be safe.
“Can I come in now?”
“Yes. All done.”
“Then I’m coming in?”
After lingering a while, Song Ji finally opened the door and, seeing me, tilted her head.
“What were you doing? Why is the chair pulled out?”
“Oh, it’s nothing, sister. Will you eat these for me?”
I retrieved the Antidote Pills I’d hidden beneath the bed and pressed a handful into her palm. Song Ji looked at them questioningly.
“What is this?”
“It’s good for your health.”
Without much suspicion, Song Ji dumped the pills into her mouth, then screwed up her face and rubbed her lips vigorously.
“Ugh. Bitter.”
“Here, try some Honey Candy. I’ll get you some. Just wait, sister.”
“My, look at you. First you wouldn’t lend me clothes, now you’re doing things you’d never do before? Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
Song Ji beamed.
It’s only because I’m worried you might get poisoned…….
I awkwardly offered her the honey candy, and Song Ji puffed out both cheeks as she opened the chest.
After rummaging through it for a while, she pulled out a thin pink dress.
“It’s not silk, but it’s passable, child.”
“Pardon?”
She swallowed. “It’s not silk, but this dress is nice. I think it would suit you well. Do you want to try wearing it?”
Song Ji held the garment against my body and asked. I obediently put on the dress she offered.
Though it wasn’t as grand as the long robes the courtesans wore, the sleeves hung quite long, fluttering past my fingertips.
Song Ji seemed pleased with how I looked, her face radiating satisfaction.
“It looks like it was made for you. It’s true what they say—pretty girls look beautiful in anything.”
“Haha.”
“Come here. Let me do something with your hair.”
After adjusting my clothes, Song Ji gently combed down my hair and inserted a silver hair ornament.
“Sister, isn’t this expensive?”
“I bought it for my wedding, but I’ll lend it to you for today. It’s an important day, isn’t it? Go and have a good time with the Young Master.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean, have a good time?”
“My goodness. I thought things were going well between you and the Young Master? Weren’t you planning to follow Hui? That’s what everyone was saying.”
Where did that rumor come from? Was it Simyang again?
I shook my head in alarm.
“No, that’s not it. I’m not going anywhere like that.”
“Is that so? Well, I’m relieved. It would be wonderful for you to marry into a good family, but I would have been quite hurt if you’d gone off with Hui without saying a word to me.”
Song Ji spoke with a touch of petulance, as if pouting.
“It’s a misunderstanding. A complete misunderstanding.”
I would have to be mad to follow Namgung Hui. I was someone who knew how to value my own life and limbs.
At my vehement reaction, Song Ji laughed, understanding perfectly.
“All right, so don’t make that face. Right—Elder Chil asked me to give you this. He was nearby earlier. That’s an errand for the Elder, isn’t it? What did he ask you to buy?”
“Yes? Oh, yes. That’s right.”
Thank goodness she misunderstood of her own accord.
I nodded and took the silk pouch she handed me.
Surprised by its weight, I checked the contents and found both copper and silver coins inside.
Unable to help smiling at the generous amount, I grinned, and Song Ji rolled her eyes.
“Having fun on an outing, are you? You’ll be late. The Young Master is waiting for you, so hurry along.”
“Yes. Thank you for lending me the dress, sister. I’ll bring back some snacks.”
“Good. Bring back something delicious. But can I have one more piece of honey candy?”
“Of course. Sister, help yourself. You can eat all of it.”
“Really? You’re sure you don’t mind if I eat it all? You won’t complain later?”
“No, no. Eat it all. Here.”
I handed Song Ji the entire bundle of honey candy, then gave myself one final inspection.
I wasn’t wearing my maidservant’s clothes anymore, I had my entry pass, and my purse was full. Good. Time to go.
“Sister, I’m heading out!”
“Mmhm. See you soon.”
I bid farewell to Song Ji, who was already nibbling on the sweets, and left the quarters.
* * *
Namgung Hui was leaning against the City Wall. Just as Song Ji had said, he seemed to have been waiting for a while, his expression tinged with boredom.
I crept up quietly and poked his shoulder, and Namgung Hui started in alarm, his hand immediately reaching for his sword as he looked up.
“Who—! You came?”
“You came out early? Have you been waiting long?”
“No. I just arrived.”
He answered quickly and straightened his posture.
Unlike his usual style of binding his hair high in a single knot, Namgung Hui wore his hair in a loose half-tie today, dressed in a subtle sky-blue long robe without embroidery.
Though he seemed to be making an effort to appear unassuming, his air of nobility remained unmistakable.
His habitually rigid bearing and distinctive elegance were simply impossible to conceal.
Namgung Hui blinked his large eyes, seeming unfamiliar with my appearance without my maidservant’s attire.
“It suits you well.”
“Pardon?”
“You look like a peach blossom.”
“Is that so? Thank you. Shall we go then?”
I replied matter-of-factly and left the City Gate alongside Namgung Hui.
The streets at sunset cast long shadows, announcing the approach of night.
In the sky that had grown dark, red sky lanterns were beginning to rise one by one.
“It looks like they’re launching sky lanterns at the Night Market.”
Namgung Hui’s eyes sparkled as he pointed at the sky lanterns.
I smiled for a moment at his delighted tone, but soon found myself running to keep up with him as he hurried away.
“Young Master, wait for me.”
“Oh, right.”
I grabbed urgently at his robe, and he flinched, slowing his pace.
Soon the Night Market came into view in the distance.
Spread along the River Bank, the Night Market blazed as bright as midday.
Every street was packed with stalls glittering with lanterns, and there were vendors selling wares from small boats as well.
The thoroughfare teemed with a chaos of peddlers and customers, and the crowd swelled with faces of every kind.
We slipped into an alley crammed with vendors hawking snacks, and food of every description appeared before us.
There were sugar-glazed pastries I’d only heard described before, fried glutinous rice cakes I’d eaten once before, steaming dumplings with wisps of steam rising from them, and lumps that emanated a most peculiar odor.
…That strange-smelling lump—was that stinky tofu?
I wrinkled my nose at the pungent reek and glanced sideways; Namgung Hui was covering his nose with his sleeve as well.
Our eyes met, and we quickly retreated from the stinky tofu’s domain.
The moment we turned into a quieter corner to escape the stench, Namgung Hui stopped abruptly.
“Young Master, what’s wrong?”
“What is that?”
I turned to look in the direction he was pointing and saw a gambling mat surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.
“I’m certain of it. The dice made a different sound. Big, big!”
“Big? No, it’s small! Small!”
“Now, now, don’t quarrel. Why don’t we just check ourselves? Let’s open it up.”
A shabby-looking man soothed the crowd and lifted an overturned bowl.
“Big, I tell you!”
“Aha! Big it is! Big!”
“Big—those of you who bet on big, collect your ten coins.”
“Tsk, I could’ve sworn it was small this time.”
A man kicked at the ground and shuffled away, grumbling. It was a small-time gambling operation in full swing.
Curiosity flickered across Namgung Hui’s eyes.
Even dressed simply, he bore the unmistakable air of a nobleman’s son, and as he peered at the mat, the man with the bowl quickly struck up a conversation.
“It’s a game called Tou Shu, young sir. Care to try your hand?”
“Tou Shu?”
“Indeed, young sir. You guess whether the sum of two dice will be a large or small number. The rules are quite simple:
if the sum is one through six, it’s small; if seven through twelve, it’s large. What say you?”
“Sounds good.”
Namgung Hui, falling for the man’s solicitation, answered and opened his purse.
Good about what? This is bad.
I hurried to stop him.
“Are you gambling, Young Master?”
“Oh my, what a terrible thing to say. It’s not gambling, it’s a game, young lady. All we do is give a small gift to the winner of the game.”
The man looked scandalized at the suggestion.
That’s gambling if anything is.
While I gaped speechlessly at this absurd excuse, Namgung Hui was already handing over money to the man.
“Here. Ten coins.”
“Ha! Yes, young sir. You’ll find it most entertaining.”
The back of my neck prickled at the sight of Namgung Hui’s innocent smile.
No, no. Stop. Don’t do this.

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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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