The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 349

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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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Special Side Story Episode 19
Side Story 7. A Servant’s Perspective
The right side of the stone wall near the back gate leading into the Main Hall.
“…so please convey this message for me. I won’t forget this kindness. I’m truly asking you.”
Beneath the shade of green branches extending over the wall, a neatly dressed warrior of considerable rank repeatedly pleaded with a stocky, middle-aged man of short stature.
The middle-aged man replied with a gentle, weary smile.
“I understand. Please don’t worry too much. The Family Head will surely remember your service.”
The warrior, looking somewhat relieved, continued expressing his gratitude before carefully retrieving a small bundle from his sleeve.
“Now that I think of it, I heard your wife has been ill recently. A good supplier I know received some fine medicinal herbs… use these when preparing medicine for your wife.”
The middle-aged man examined the bundle he received and spoke with evident surprise.
“My goodness, what is this? I’m not sure I should accept something like this. I would have spoken well of you regardless.”
“Medicinal herbs are all the better when used by someone who needs them, so don’t worry about it.”
At that moment, the middle-aged man withdrew a silk pouch from the bundle and returned it to the warrior.
“I must return this.”
“….”
The warrior, who had been about to say something, caught sight of the middle-aged man’s expression and awkwardly took back the pouch before turning to leave.
After the warrior departed, the middle-aged man continued walking along the stone wall. The guard stationed at the back gate of the Main Hall looked startled upon seeing him.
“Eon-du? Why are you coming out already? Weren’t you supposed to rest longer?”
“Ah, everyone seemed bothered by my presence at home.”
“Ha ha, you’ve been driven out, haven’t you?”
As Eon-du exchanged brief greetings and passed through the gate, a figure suddenly appeared from behind the door without a sound, causing him to startle and stumble backward a few steps.
“Ugh!”
The guard watching the gate chuckled with amusement at the sight, while Eon-du patted his chest and looked at the guard with exasperation before turning to see who had startled him.
“So Nok? What are you doing hiding here?”
Eon-du understood the situation just from looking at So Nok’s eyes.
“Look at that expression, look at it. You need to manage your face better. Hmm?”
Seeing So Nok reach for a small brush and ink from her sleeve, Eon-du waved his hand dismissively and continued speaking.
“What, you don’t remember how he used to disrespect us back then? Were you planning to pass along what he said?”
So Nok nodded.
“Even though Wang Warrior did disrespect us in the past, compared to other warriors, it wasn’t so bad. During my apprenticeship days, he even looked out for my convenience a few times. That’s why I accepted his gift.”
So Nok let out a scornful laugh.
“Hmph.”
“And you? Honestly, that level of treatment wasn’t even mistreatment. You showed promise from when the Young Lady was young… actually, the Family Head showed promise from childhood too….”
Eon-du, who had grown momentarily wistful, shook his head and continued with reproach.
“In any case, you’ve had such an easy time because of the Young Lady, yet you remember every little slight? In my day….”
As he began speaking, So Nok let out a groan and quickly spun around, dashing back through the Main Hall’s back gate.
Eon-du, momentarily stunned by her swift departure, shook his head slowly and spoke.
“These young people these days are just too quick….”
Eon-du slowly walked toward the Main Hall again.
After passing through the immaculate garden that reflected the master’s taste and standing before the Family Head’s office, a faint voice reached his ears. Eon-du’s expression stiffened slightly. He sensed an unusual emotional intensity in Baek Li-ui-gang’s voice that was rarely heard.
“…what on earth have you been doing? That sum is practically equivalent to So Chang-won’s annual revenue. What exactly did you get into on your birthday to warrant such a demand for payment?”
Eon-du was one of the few permitted to enter the Family Head’s Office without prior announcement, and he carefully opened the door and stepped inside.
“It appears they sent the invoice here because the Hui-ju region where the Namgung Clan resides is quite distant.”
“Go Chong-gwan, there’s no need to make excuses for him. We both know that’s not the real reason.”
“Ahem.”
Last year, Namgung Hee, Baek Li-ui-gang’s second grandson, had caused a major incident, and an enormous sum had been spent to clean up the mess. And because of it, the Young Master hadn’t lied—the Young Lady had beaten him with a broom until dust flew from his clothes.
So it seemed the Young Master had sent word requesting that the Baek Li Family, rather than the Murim Alliance or the Namgung Clan, cover the bill.
Baek Li-ui-gang pressed his head as if seized by a headache.
“I thought we might get through this year without incident….”
For the Family Head to speak in such a manner, the Young Master’s mishaps were practically an annual tradition. In fact, their absence would have been cause for concern.
Go Chong-gwan spoke.
“Then I shall instruct the messenger to send the invoice to the Alliance Leader’s side.”
“No, let us pay it ourselves. However, we cannot simply approve such a sum without proper verification. Send someone to investigate the full circumstances—what happened and how this amount came about—and only then shall we remit payment.”
Go Chong-gwan’s expression brightened slightly.
Eon-du felt a subtle admiration.
This young Go Chong-gwan was renowned for being even more merciless and meticulous than his father. Yet how the Young Master had managed to wrap Go Chong-gwan around his finger remained a complete mystery.
Baek Li-ui-gang continued with gravity.
“And that rascal surely didn’t cause this trouble alone. Prepare a list of those who were involved with him. If possible, contact the sects and families of those named on the list from this very place….”
Go Chong-gwan exchanged a few more words with Baek Li-ui-gang before departing the Family Head’s Office.
In the interim, Eon-du discarded the cooled tea water and freshly prepared a new pot of tea.
Baek Li-ui-gang lifted his teacup and spoke.
“You’ve arrived. How is your wife?”
“Yes, she has improved greatly. Family Head, I am grateful you sent the Physician. He even prepared medicinal tonics for all of my family members.”
“You may rest a while longer.”
“Oh no, that’s not necessary. She said I was fine and told me to return to serve the Family Head. She asked where else one finds a master who prepares tonics for his servants’ families. Besides, she said our daughter would be by her side, so I shouldn’t worry and should return at once. I felt awkward staying away, so I came back.”
“Ah, you mentioned your daughter lives nearby.”
Baek Li-ui-gang said nothing further, but Eon-du, who had served him for so long, could not fail to perceive the envy in his heart.
Eon-du changed the subject.
“On my way here, I encountered Wang Warrior. He must have heard about my wife’s condition, for he gave me some precious medicinal herbs.”
“Wang Warrior gave them to you? …Ah, I see. That must be why. You really are something.”
“Surely one may accept a gift given with sincere heart?”
Baek Li-ui-gang, who seemed untouched even by the shadow of bribery, had one exception—medicinal herbs. He scarcely considered herbs to be bribes at all.
Many already knew of Baek Li-ui-gang’s attitude and believed it stemmed from his daughter’s illness.
Yet Eon-du was the sole person who knew the Young Master’s leniency toward herbs was not solely because of the Young Lady.
Even now, as a mere servant, his wife’s illness had brought him to accept such herbs, but would he have even conceived of such a thing in the past? It would have been utterly unimaginable.
* * *
Eon-du had served Baek Li-ui-gang since childhood, barely remembering those early years. And that meant he had been at his side even when Baek Li-ui-gang was treated with contempt as a child.
A servant’s fortune follows his master’s fortune, so his own circumstances could not have been favorable.
He had never received his wages on time, and every menial task fell naturally to him.
When the Baek Li Family distributed gifts to their subordinates on auspicious occasions, Eon-du received nothing, and when winter quilts were prepared for the servants, his were made last and with cotton so sparse it was shameful to call them quilts at all.
Yet I dared not protest. Those were the days I simply endured.
His mother had suffered from a chronic illness for years, and at some point, her condition visibly worsened. His father had passed away before Eon-du could even remember his face, leaving him with only his mother as family.
Eon-du had scraped together every coin he could through odd jobs, only to spend it all on physicians and medicinal herbs. Yet his mother’s condition showed no signs of improvement, and when he desperately sought help from the Medical Chamber at Baek Li Estate, all he received in return was cold reproach.
It was then.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
Eon-du accepted the heavy pouch from Baek Li-ui-gang with a bewildered expression.
“Use that money for your mother’s medicine.”
“I beg your pardon?”
The weight alone told him it was a substantial sum.
As the young master of the Baek Li Family, Baek Li-ui-gang wanted for nothing—the estate provided everything he needed in abundance. Yet this very comfort came at the cost of freedom. Every expenditure, every purchase had to pass through his mother’s approval. And his mother was a woman who despised drawing the attention of others.
“Young Master, where did you obtain such a large sum?”
“I went to the Family Head.”
“You—you went to the Family Head? Surely not… on my account?”
“Yes.”
At that time, the Young Master still addressed his own father with the formal title of Family Head, as his mother had instructed him to do.
‘But he actually went to the Family Head and asked for money…!’

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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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