Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 96

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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 96
23. The Deposed Consort Confined to the Mountain Temple
Yeon Lyang asked the question with such ease that it was hard to believe he was the same man who’d lost consciousness for over ten days—his complexion was robust, his vital spark unmistakable.
For a moment I could only feel relief at the sight of him sitting casually on the bed with that easy grin, but then my patience shattered and I cried out.
“What do you mean waking up this late? You’ve sucked the blood right out of me, and I’m at my limit!”
“Ha ha, sorry, sorry. My guard came down and before I knew it, I was out like a stone.”
“Out? You slept soundly? If you were going to sleep soundly for over ten days, why not just climb into your coffin? Want me to bury you myself?”
“Whoa, whoa, wait—I’m a patient here, ow! Sohye!”
After we’d exchanged our greetings of gladness, I took his pulse.
As I’d suspected, the Qi-Blood Flow wasn’t smooth—patches of Blood Stagnation were blocking his meridians in places.
Even though he was pretending to be fine, his movements would be greatly hindered. I swallowed my sigh and asked, “Is your Dantian all right?”
“Your Dantian—is it stable?”
“It’s not like my Qi-Blood got twisted for the first time.”
You’ll have Dizziness. Stay in bed longer. Your stomach isn’t growling, is it?”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind some meat.”
“This is a temple, remember? And what meat for a patient? Stop talking nonsense and eat your Rice Gruel. I’ll have it ready shortly.”
“My, our sister seems to have grown even colder in my absence.”
“Lie down, like I said.”
“…Yes.”
Yeon Lyang obediently settled face-down on the bed, hugging his pillow and chuckling softly. It was an odd sound, but he seemed genuinely pleased.
“Ju Ryeong. Have you been well?”
“Chirp.”
“So you haven’t gotten any meat either. Your coat’s gotten dull.”
“Squeak-squeak.”
“All right, all right. Tomorrow we’ll go hunt a wild boar together. Time to put some fat back on you.”
Watching him banter with Ju Ryeong, his face gaunt, was almost absurd.
A wild boar? The man would collapse just crossing the threshold.
Yet a snort of laughter escaped me. Hearing that nonsense made it truly real—Yeon Lyang was awake.
I shot him a sideways look and hoisted Ju Ryeong by the scruff of the neck.
“Chirp?”
“You have work to do. Come with me. And you stay in that bed until I return—not a muscle. If you get up, there’ll be consequences.”
“I’ll remember. Be safe, sister.”
Yeon Lyang waved his hand lightly as if to tell me not to worry. Hearing that familiar voice set my mind at ease.
Once outside the room, I set Ju Ryeong down in the courtyard.
“Ju Ryeong. Go catch some Centipedes for me.”
“Chirp?”
“Three-year-old ones. I need them for a Herbal Decoction, so bring me at least four. Catch them within a quarter hour.”
“”
“And don’t think you can sneak one to eat. Bring me all four as soon as you’ve caught them. Be careful their legs don’t break off—if they do, the potency drops. Understood?”
“Squeak…”
With his head hanging low, Ju Ryeong trudged out through the temple gates.
Once I’d sent him off, I went searching for Wol Am around the Prayer Hall.
Just as Wol Am emerged from finishing his preparations for evening prayers, he caught sight of me and asked.
“Guest, is there something you need?”
“Venerable One. If you have any medicinal herbs, might I trouble you for some? I’d like to brew a Herbal Decoction.”
“What sort of herbs do you need?”
“If you had Galangal and Borneol, that would be ideal—though I know those are precious. Would you happen to have Red Peony Root and Ziziphus Seeds instead?”
“We have dried peony root stored. And I believe we still have some Ziziphus Seeds gathered last autumn. Let me look and I’ll bring them to you shortly.”
“Thank you, Venerable One.”
I pressed my palms together respectfully and began preparing to brew the Herbal Decoction.
* * *
Yeon Lyang drained two bowls of Rice Gruel in quick succession, and still his appetite seemed unsatisfied—he kept smacking his lips.
“Couldn’t I have just one more bowl?”
“No. If too much food goes in at once, your stomach will turn. Drink the Herbal Decoction instead.”
As I held out the bowl of Herbal Decoction with a reproving tone, Yeon Lyang made a face.
Apparently the smell didn’t please him, for he stared at the bowl for a long moment before pinching his nose and swallowing the whole draught in one gulp.
Then, wiping his mouth with a grimace, he asked.
“Sister, what exactly is in this Herbal Decoction anyway? The smell and taste are both rather… peculiar.”
“You’re better off not knowing.”
“Now you’ve made me even more curious. What is it about it?”
“Centipede.”
“Ah, centipede. The pungent flavor is quite distinctive.”
Yeon Lyang, who had been nodding, suddenly cried out.
“……Wait. Centipede? A millipede? You’re telling me I just ate a millipede?”
“It’s the best thing for dispelling Blood Stagnation. Haven’t you heard it called a celestial insect?”
“……Sohye. Your brother looks like he’s about to vomit.”
Yeon Lyang clamped his hand over his mouth and turned his head toward the window.
“What? It’s expensive! Do you have any idea how long it takes to cultivate centipedes? The Dang Clan raises them over three years, I’m told. Swallow it. Go on, swallow!”
“Hrrrrgh!”
After that whole ordeal, both Yeon Lyang and I collapsed in exhaustion.
“At least you’re still alive, which is something, isn’t it?”
“True. That’s something.”
“Even if you roll in a dung heap, this world is worth living in. So we endure.”
Long and long. Don’t die.
As I turned my head, muttering, I caught sight of Yeon Lyang smiling silently.
His face was unreadable, lost in thoughts I couldn’t fathom.
I pretended not to notice and gazed at the ceiling.
Hoping—praying—that we would both live on for a long, long time.
* * *
I slept deeply that night, more soundly than I had in ages.
There was no tension in listening for Yeon Lyang’s every breath, no dread of sudden attack on the Mountain Temple. It was a peaceful night.
When I opened my eyes to the faint scent of incense, I heard the tap of a wooden knocker mingled with the whistle of a blade cutting through air.
……What? The sound of a sword being drawn?
Alarmed, I threw on my outer robe haphazardly and rushed outside the Mountain Temple.
Beyond the pale darkness, on a ridge above, Yeon Lyang was swinging a thick branch.
Had the man lost his mind?
“Hey! Yeon Lyang!”
“Ah, sister. You’re awake already? I suppose lying still for so long has left me stiff all over. My entire body feels…….”
“Are you insane? Get down here this instant! Lie down! Now!”
I dragged Yeon Lyang back and forced him onto the bed, then, unable to contain myself, drove acupuncture needles into him in rapid succession.
“Do you want your back to split open again? What are you, indestructible? Why not just rupture your Dantian while you’re at it? If you weren’t already a patient, I’d beat you senseless!”
“Ow! Sister, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please, gently with the needles—aaaaaah!”
Yeon Lyang thrashed and shrieked, his body trembling violently. The bed frame shook as if it might collapse.
Belatedly, I worried the commotion might disrupt the morning prayers, but the monks seemed unbothered.
Wol Am, smiling benevolently as he brought the morning meal, looked the very picture of a gentle Buddha.
“I apologize, Reverend. We were far too loud…….”
“Not at all, Lay Benefactor. It is pleasing to see that your brother is recovering so well.”
“……I’m sorry.”
Shame washed over me, and my head dropped of its own accord. I would have crawled into a mouse hole if one existed.
“I promise to keep my brother confined to his room so as not to trouble you reverends. Please, if it becomes an issue, tell me at once.”
“Ha, no need for such concern, Lay Benefactor. Your brother must rest comfortably as well.”
Gak Mun waved his hand with a laugh and transferred Yeon Lyang’s meal onto a tray.
As he handed me the tray, Gak Mun asked hesitantly.
“Forgive me……. Are you, by any chance, a physician?”
“No, I wouldn’t presume to be called that. I’ve simply picked up a thing or two here and there.”
“Even that would suffice. Lay Benefactor, might you be willing to examine our sister Hye O? She is quite unwell.”
“Sister Hye O? Besides the three of you, there is another nun here?”
My eyes widened. In all my time at the Mountain Temple, I had never heard that name before.
Wol Am nodded with a worried expression.
“Indeed. Sister Hye O has been unable to leave her room because of her illness. She cannot even manage her meals, and I fear something grave may befall her if this continues.”
“I’m not certain I can be of much help, but I could at least attempt to read her pulse…….”
“Yes, yes! Then let us go at once.”
Before I could even finish speaking, Wol Am seized the tray from my hands with surprising eagerness and thrust it toward Gak Mun.
“I shall bring your brother’s meal to him.”
“What? Oh, very well, I understand……. Wait!”
Then he took my hand and strode forward with great, purposeful steps.
It was unlike the usually measured pace I had come to know from the reverend.
Wol Am stopped before a room at the edge of the Mountain Temple where sunlight streamed in generously, and knocked lightly on the door.
“Sister Hye O. May I enter?”
“Yes……. Please come in…….”
A feeble voice reached from within the room. When Wol Am opened the door, she appeared—a woman propped against pillows on the bed, her face drained of color.
Her bluish, pallid hands gripped the quilt as though it might slip away.
On the small table beside the bed sat an untouched meal, the food now shriveled and crusted over.
“Your Highness, this will not do. You must eat something, or matters will grow truly grave.”
“Why do you call me by such a title? Please, do not address me so. As for eating—it is truly no matter. I have no appetite for it.”
“Your Highness…”
Wol Am’s expression grew pained, and his words trailed away.
Your Highness?
At this unfamiliar title, I found my gaze drawn repeatedly to the woman.
Unlike the other nuns, she retained her hair—it had not been shorn.
Her brows arched like crescent moons, fine and delicate, and her eyes held the quiet gleam of starlight.
Yet looking closer, illness was written plainly across her face, and her hair hung limp and brittle as straw.
The sight of her pale, cracked lips stirred an unbidden image of Dang Un.
That gaze which seemed to have released all earthly claims. A face upon which the mind had already made its peace.
This woman, too, was waiting for death to come.
Wol Am, observing her condition, spoke in a gentle, coaxing tone.
“Your Highness, this visitor is said to possess considerable skill in medicine. Now that she has come all this way, would it not be wise to allow her to read your pulse?”
“That is kind, but I cannot presume to such luxury. A Deposed Consort, cast out from the Inner Palace and now in Buddhist Ordination—how could I receive a physician’s care without inviting the Emperor’s wrath?”
The woman smiled with a sad tenderness. Her smile held beauty, yet carried the fragile, perilous quality of a blossom blooming at a cliff’s edge.
I swallowed the sigh that rose in my throat.
Hye O—the nun confined to a remote mountain temple, a Deposed Consort in hiding.

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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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