The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan - Chapter 52

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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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A Doomed Great Family’s Time-Limited Young Lady — Chapter 52

“Of course, the Senior Patriarch wished it so, but still…….”
That Dan Mok Cheon Gi was called the Senior Patriarch within the Great Family was proof that everyone had welcomed the fact that the young Dan Mok Hyeon Seong would soon become the Family Patriarch.
Once he had become Senior Patriarch, Dan Mok Cheon Gi did not wish to be called the Family Patriarch again, even after losing his son.
As for Dan Mok Hyeon Seong — no one would say his talent was lacking; but if it were, where would one draw that missing talent from?
To fashion what one does not possess, one has no choice but to hollow out one’s own substance.
In the previous life, Dan Mok Seong had done precisely that. Ryeon was simply grateful not to see such a thing again.
“But Uncle.”
“Mm?”
“We were supposed to go see the medicinal herb shop outside. When are we going?”
“I was meaning to go long ago, but it was put off because you were laid up after pummeling that Geum Jong Ha.”
“I told you I’m completely better now.”
“Are you really? Shall we verify?”
Dan Mok Hyeon U lifted Ryeon up in both arms and gauged her weight.
The white cat in Ryeon’s embrace purred and bounded away with a leap.
“Hmm. You’ve put on a bit, haven’t you?”
“Nngh…….”
Watching Ryeon strain to add weight to her limbs and demonstrate her strength, Dan Mok Hyeon U burst into laughter.
“Come on, let’s go! Let’s hurry and get the Inner Sect Patriarch’s permission.”

In contrast to the hearty way Dan Mok Hyeon U had spoken to Ryeon, when he faced Wi Ji Cheong, the Inner Sect Patriarch, his expression had grown stiff and tense.
“Ah, you’re taking Ryeon outside?”
“Before that, I… yes.”
Though they were family in private and held equivalent rank as the Inner Sect Patriarch and Medicine Patriarch in public, Dan Mok Hyeon U rarely managed to maintain his confidence before her.
No one blamed him, and it was truly not his fault, yet Dan Mok Hyeon U carried in his heart what had happened when Ryeon was born.
Though the wound Ryeon had suffered then had left no scar, it was he who bore a scar upon his heart instead.
“Please bring sufficient escort, and keep your route unknown to the outside…….”
“I’ll be careful.”
Wi Ji Cheong cut off Dan Mok Hyeon U’s fumbling words with a gentle smile.
“Why not take Dan Mok Hyeon Seong with you as well? Wouldn’t he feel left out if you took only Ryeon?”
“He actually said the same thing!”
Dan Mok Hyeon U’s face brightened as he began chattering about Ryeon’s thoughtful heart and how fairly he himself loved both his nieces and nephew.
Ryeon’s pace in learning characters was truly remarkable, and lately she had even composed some elegant poems — he’d even given her the name Hwa Ryun after one of them — and her skill with the flute was quite exceptional, it seemed there was nothing she couldn’t do…….
“At this rate, people will be calling Ryeon the living incarnation of the Celestial Immortal Maiden.”
“Hmm. That may well be…….”
Seeing Dan Mok Hyeon U about to respond in earnest, Wi Ji Cheong hastily waved her hand and pushed him toward the door.
“Today it seems the external branch leader and I will spend all day discussing how to accept new disciples, so Medicine Patriarch, please take good care of our Great Family’s future.”
Dan Mok Hyeon U laughed openly, but when he was about to say “Leave it to me!”, he faltered and instead managed only to say he would be careful and return soon.
Wi Ji Cheong watched his retreating back with a look of gentle concern.

When Dan Mok Hyeon U mentioned he would take Ryeon and Dan Mok Hyeon Seong out, Dan Mok Hyeon Yo had not objected much and simply consented.
But the moment she saw Dan Mok Hyeon Seong and Dan Mok Ryeon standing side by side in the courtyard, she raised her eyebrows sharply and looked between Wi Ji Cheong and Dan Mok Hyeon U in turn.
Then she heaved a great sigh, clamped her lips tight, and furrowed her brow.
“……Won’t Ryeon be a little cold? I heard frost settled even in the early mornings these past few days.”
“Today isn’t particularly cold, and she’s dressed quite warmly. If anything, Dan Mok Hyeon Seong is more…….”
“No, no, no!”
Dan Mok Hyeon Yo cut off Wi Ji Cheong’s words with an expression that nearly wanted to cry out, then spoke in a voice of barely restrained patience.
“I have a new Pi Poong Yi that I brought when I came down from Ha Nan Province. It’s a piece of clothing that Dan Mok Hyeon Seong has so many of that I haven’t even opened it yet, but I think it would fit Ryeon perfectly.”
Though Ryeon and Dan Mok Hyeon Seong had a considerable height difference and the garment could hardly fit, Dan Mok Hyeon Yo spoke with determination.
“I’m not sure if I should accept such a thing…….”
“Of course you should! Ryeon, come along with your aunt.”
As Wi Ji Cheong began to demur, Dan Mok Hyeon Yo practically swept Ryeon into her arms and led her away to her quarters.
And so Ryeon found herself changing out of nearly every garment she had been wearing in her quarters.
The final piece she donned was the Pi Poong Yi—a white robe embroidered with silver-lustrous thread—which was somewhat large for her until Dan Mok Hyeon Yo cinched it with cords, drawing it taut in all the right places.
When Ryeon glanced at herself in the mirror, she was somewhat startled. What had been a simple, plain appearance had transformed into that of a true noblewoman.
In the meantime, Dan Mok Hyeon Yo had bickered with her younger brother.
“Were you really planning to send Ryeon out dressed like that? What would have become of her if I hadn’t stepped in?”
At her low, firm words, Dan Mok Hyeon U rubbed his head sheepishly.
“What’s the matter? It wasn’t that bad…….”
“What will people say? They’ll gossip that after I return from Ha Nan Province, I neglect my own household yet dress only my daughter in finery!”
“No one would say such a thing. And Ryeon was dressed modestly and beautifully. It’s only that sister dressed her in something more elegant.”
“That disparity is precisely the problem!”
Within the Great Family’s walls, it would matter little how they dressed; but when two girls venture out side by side, one clad in fine embroidered silk and the other in simple muslin, wouldn’t every passerby on the street talk?
“And when Ryeon goes out alone, it’s the same matter. Going about in nothing but plain clothes is absolutely, absolutely out of the question.”
The word “plain” was the last reserve of Dan Mok Hyeon Yo’s patience.
“The Inner Sect Patriarch won’t accept just anything offered to him, so I’ll leave it to you to procure suitable garments for Ryeon. See that you pay attention to it.”
Only then did Dan Mok Hyeon Yo notice her younger brother’s own appearance, and she let out a silent cry of dismay before dragging him away to select something in her husband’s proper size, after which she finally allowed the three to depart.
As she watched the three figures recede into the distance, she pressed her palm to her forehead and sighed.
“This wretched household.”

Dan Mok Hyeon Seong’s mood was not at all poor. In truth, her time in Ha Nan Province had been far from entertaining.
Her parents were always occupied, and she had no one of her own age with whom to associate.
‘Hmph. I can hardly be expected to play with such childish creatures.’
What was she to do with those infants who needed to cling to their older siblings’ hands everywhere they went?
Whenever she saw them dressing alike in matching clothes and ornaments and playing together, Dan Mok Hyeon Seong would turn her head away where no one could see.
The sight of them forcing the same style in colors that didn’t even complement one another!
So when returning to Hang Zhou, Dan Mok Hyeon Seong carried not only the burden of knowing she would have to fight the heir of Geum Ga Jang to protect this cousin, but also a considerable worry that should her cousin awaken, she might suggest they dress in matching garments.
Though they were said to be the same age, her cousin was born a month later and had only just awakened from illness—technically, she should be counted as one year younger.
If one thought of her as an infant, it would make sense that she’d enjoy such childish things.
But the moment she saw Dan Mok Ryeon dressed in her own clothes, it didn’t seem so bad after all.
Though their features were not alike, the pretty face suited the bright garment well enough to deserve approval.
‘Still, if Dan Mok Ryeon asked to match accessories, I suppose I could buy her one piece…….’
“I’d like to visit the Ho Seon Ui Gak medicinal herb shop first.”
So when this Dan Mok Ryeon mentioned the herb shop, Dan Mok Hyeon Seong had to swallow back an escaping sigh.
She had heard that Ryeon was interested in the herb shop and wished to visit it, but she hadn’t truly believed it. She had thought it merely a pretext to draw out the Medicine Patriarch, Dan Mok Hyeon U.
‘What if bitter scents cling to my clothes at the herb shop?’
Dan Mok Hyeon Seong glanced down at her own garments but did not dismiss Ryeon’s request.
“Hmm, the medicinal herb shop at Ho Seon Ui Gak?”
“Yes. Our Great Family receives medicinal herbs from there, doesn’t it?”
Dan Mok Hyeon Seong noticed that Ryeon spoke subtly differently depending on her audience.
When speaking to her, the speech was somewhat slow and measured. When conversing with Dan Mok Hyeon U, her voice dropped lower and quickened slightly.
With her younger brother Dan Mok Bi, her voice rose and her face beamed with laughter, and when speaking with that servant, Hwa Ryun…….
“You wouldn’t mind stopping by there for a moment, would you?”
Dan Mok Hyeon Seong thought it likely wouldn’t be particularly entertaining, but she nodded nonetheless.
This cousin was weak and had never ventured beyond the Great Family’s walls since awakening, so everything outside would be novel to her—unlike herself, who could visit the market at Ha Nan Province whenever she pleased.
“Well…… it’s fine.”
As she said this, Dan Mok Hyeon Seong cast a surreptitious glance downward.
Her cousin, pale as though she had never once seen sunlight, blinked her wide eyes and gazed back at her with a soft smile.
‘I can’t leave her alone.’
Seeing that bright, open face, Dan Mok Hyeon Seong thought it seriously.
Like a white tuft of down that would vanish instantly if it wandered into a marketplace, Dan Mok Ryeon seemed as though she too might be blown away by the slightest wind or spirited away by someone if left to her own devices.

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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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