The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 41

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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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The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 41

Chapter 41. The Jegal Family Estate (3)

I couldn’t tell her I had witnessed this from a future I’d experienced, so I offered a vague deflection instead.
“I’m something of a genius myself, you see.”
“You truly won’t tell anyone?”
“Of course not. I have absolutely no desire to become entangled in such troublesome matters.”
“That’s a relief. I’m grateful I won’t need to resort to more drastic measures.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
The foolish young lady from moments before had vanished without a trace.
The Jegal Yu-ah before me now bore far greater resemblance to the Jade Maiden Without Smile I had known.
Sharp yet courteous…
Had this woman truly been acting out that brainless, radiant madness?
The realization sent a chill down my spine.
“In any case, what is your true purpose in all this? Is it for your family’s sake, or for your own survival?”
“If it were merely for my survival, I wouldn’t go through such tedious efforts. There are simpler ways to feign death, after all.”
“Then it is for your family.”
Suddenly, the harsh words I had spoken to her earlier came flooding back.
Ah…
A wave of remorse crashed over me. It was I who owed her an apology, not the other way around.
I quickly clasped my fists and apologized to her.
“Please forgive my rudeness earlier when I spoke of destroying your family’s reputation.”
“There’s no need. At that time, I deserved such words. Rather, I should apologize to you.”
“What?”
“I deliberately provoked you. Creating a scene when all eyes are upon you proves most effective.”
She smiled brightly.
“In truth, hearing your words only strengthened my resolve to save my family. I was growing rather weary, you see.”
I found myself momentarily dazed by her smile.
So this was how she could smile…
I asked Jegal Yu-ah then.
“But why did you come all the way here to request a martial bout with me?”
“In truth, circumstances have arisen requiring me to officially remain in seclusion. My grandfather has also permitted me to break one arm, so there would be no harm to you.”
Her answer made the reason immediately clear.
By breaking an arm, she would have legitimate cause to remain confined to her quarters, whereas at the Training Ground, someone might intervene before such an injury occurred.
That’s why she had come to this secluded place.
“Forgive me for using you.”
“It’s fine.”
“Next time you see me, I’d appreciate it if you’d simply pretend not to notice me, or better yet, ignore me entirely.”
“Understood.”
“And thank you for coming alone like this.”
So she had revealed her true feelings because she believed I was by myself.
Except I wasn’t.
Palgap was right over there.
Though I could see him hiding, the fact that he gave off absolutely no presence was remarkable, no matter how I thought about it.
Had it been like this in my previous life as well?
I decided there was no need to mention Palgap’s existence, so I held my tongue.
At that moment, she extended her left arm toward me.
“Then, might I ask one more favor of you?”
I let out a sigh and asked.
“Are you truly certain you want me to break it?”

* * *

Dawn broke.
After eating breakfast and resting briefly, I was summoned by the Grand Patriarch and traveled to his quarters alongside Yu Chief Manager.
Fortunately this time, we reached the Grand Patriarch’s quarters without any obstruction.
The Grand Patriarch was staying in the Separate Quarters, though it was not the sort of Separate Quarters I had imagined.
Did ordinary Separate Quarters typically contain such expansive pavilions, ponds, and gardens?
“Haha! I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Thank you for inviting me to such an esteemed place.”
Yu Chief Manager, having adapted to the scale of the Jegal Family Estate, offered his respects with composure.
I followed suit and bowed as well.
“I’ve prepared a fine spot. Come this way.”
Yu Chief Manager and I followed the Grand Patriarch, and we took our seats at a table positioned within the pavilion where the pond and garden were beautifully visible.
“First, allow me to apologize to you.”
The Grand Patriarch spoke while looking at me, and I could guess the reason.
“I heard that last evening, Yu A came to find you and requested a martial contest. I had my doubts, but she actually went through with it.”
“Rather, it seems I should be the one apologizing.”
“Ah… you mean about Yu A’s broken arm?”
“I am deeply sorry.”
“It was I who ordered her arm to be broken. So you have nothing to apologize for.”
“I remain truly sorry nonetheless.”
I apologized to the Grand Patriarch, but truthfully, I had no real reason to apologize.
No matter the circumstances, how could I have actually broken Han Sojeo’s arm?
“It’s truly fine. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize. But let’s set that matter aside… do you find the scenery of this place to your liking?”
“Indeed, it’s a most charming location.”
The Grand Patriarch smiled and responded to Yu Chief Manager’s words.
“This is truly one of my favorite places. What do you think? Would you care to compose a verse about what you see here?”
“My skills are modest at best, but I shall attempt one.”
Yu Chief Manager paused in thought before opening his mouth and reciting a poem.
The Grand Patriarch and I closed our eyes, savoring each line.
“Thank you for listening to my humble verse.”
“Why speak so humbly? In truth, I have always loved poetry, and I have invited countless literary guests to this place to compose verses. Among all of them, I must say your work stands unquestionably supreme.”
The Grand Patriarch showered Yu Chief Manager with praise without pause.
His eyes were completely captivated by him.
One might believe they were soulmates.
Thus the Grand Patriarch and Yu Chief Manager exchanged verses back and forth, and before long, they had become perfectly attuned to one another.
“You there! Where have you been all this time before appearing now?”
“I myself have been enlightened. Meeting you today, Grand Patriarch, is like sweet rain falling upon the drought of my life.”
But the problem was me.
I did not particularly care for poetry.
I had reluctantly added myself as co-author merely to help publish Yu Chief Manager’s collection of verses.
Because of this, being invited here and conversing with them about poetry while smiling made my facial muscles feel as though they might convulse.
Ah, this is driving me mad.
In the meantime, an entire pot of tea had been emptied, and the Maidservant brought fresh tea.
And dried jujubes were served as refreshments.
The Grand Patriarch personally poured the tea and drank from his cup.
“The tea has changed.”
At my remark, the Grand Patriarch smiled and replied.
“I dislike drinking only one variety of tea, so I make a habit of constantly changing what I drink.”
“I see. Is this tea perhaps called Moonlight in the Cup?”
“Oh! You know it well. Do you have knowledge of tea as well?”
“Having encountered various teas at the Merchant Guild Headquarters, I have come to know a little about them.”
“Still, to identify the variety merely by taste is quite impressive.”
“Thank you.”
“But about that poem…”
And so the conversation turned once more to poetry, and the two of them began to lose themselves in their own world.
Excuse me?
An entire hour has already passed, has it not?
Still, I have never seen Yu Chief Manager enjoy himself so much.
What is this…
How could someone capable of smiling like that have lived such a life?
Suddenly, my mouth tasted bitter.
As I listened to the two of them converse and slowly savored my tea, the pot was soon emptied.
When the Maidservant brought fresh tea, the Grand Patriarch cast an intriguing gaze toward me.
“This time, would the young master care to guess the name of this tea as well?”
“I shall give it a try.”
I respectfully accepted the teacup offered by the Grand Patriarch and took a sip.
This too was a tea I recognized.
“This is Green Beauty, is it not?”
At my words, the Grand Patriarch smiled with satisfaction.
“Correct. In truth, these are all teas I favor.”
“We are grateful that you would serve us such precious tea.”
“You are my valued poetic companions—it is only natural.”
In the Grand Patriarch’s gaze toward Yu Chief Manager, affection dripped like honey.
Could he truly be so pleased?
Whether due to the Jegal Family Estate’s tradition of valuing knowledge or his own personal inclination, the Grand Patriarch held considerable passion for poetry and literature.
Despite being the master of a martial arts family, he possessed profound expertise in the literary arts.
Thus his connections extended not only among martial artists but also among scholars and literati.
If he held Yu Chief Manager in such high regard, the latter’s reputation among literary circles would surely rise further.
And the Jegal Family Estate would become a formidable backing for Yu Chief Manager.
Yet that was only possible if the Grand Patriarch continued to live.
For some reason my mouth felt bitter, so I ate a dried jujube.
Sweetness lingered on my tongue.
Indeed, eating something sweet lifted my spirits.
I reached for another jujube, but in that moment I had to stop my hand.
Wait—a jujube?
Something troubled me.
In the future I had experienced, there seemed to be an incident related to jujubes….
In that instant, the name of the tea I had drunk came to mind.
Pear Reflected in Moonlight.
Green Beauty.
And the first tea I had tasted—Flowers and Birds in Clear Sound.
I bit my lip slightly.
Had the Grand Patriarch been poisoned to death?

The future I experienced—approximately fifteen years from this present moment.
An event that shook the world unfolds.
The Empress’s passing.
It might have been dismissed as a mere illness, but the Emperor, who loved the Empress so deeply, could not let it rest.
He commanded that not a single shadow of doubt remain regarding her death.
Perhaps it was his reluctance to let her go in such a manner.
Yet that reluctance uncovered an unexpected truth.
The Empress had been poisoned.
Flower and Bird Melody Tea, Moon Reflected in the Cup, and Green Beauty Jujube.
Poison was mixed into these three teas, and when combined with each tea, the toxic essence remained undetectable.
They achieved perfect balance.
But when balance shatters, calamity follows.
The poison hidden within the jujube was what disrupted that equilibrium.
Consumed separately, they were merely delicious teas and delicious jujubes.
But when ingested sequentially throughout a single day, therein lay the danger.
Even consuming them for a day or two produced no visible effect.
Only through consistent consumption over at least a year would the body begin to show signs of deterioration.
This is why physicians could not identify it as poison.
The victim would languish and fade, then perish.
Naturally, the cause of death would be recorded as illness.
This poison’s name is Imperceptible Marsh.
Like its name—slowly sinking into a swamp without realizing it—this terrifying four-layered poison drags a person toward death across time.
I could not fathom who created such a poison, yet it was undeniably genius.
Could such talent not have been directed toward something worthier?
This poison began to be used from this very era.
But what should I do?
I observed the Grand Patriarch’s face.
His complexion suggested he had not yet been severely poisoned, and judging from when he would die, he was not yet beyond the point of antidote.
After this poison became known to the world, physicians discovered its cure.
I too knew that antidote.
Most merchants walked the righteous path, but many employed underhanded tactics beneath the surface.
Thus, I had to remain vigilant to avoid falling victim to such schemes, and I had to master knowledge of various antidotes.
If the Grand Patriarch died, Yu Chief Manager would grieve deeply.
He had finally found a kindred spirit.
His sorrow might lead to an early death, and Father would suffer as well.
I exhaled slowly.
Regardless of the circumstances, I could not simply ignore a person dying before my eyes.
In truth, I had hesitated before coming here.
Since the Jegal Family Estate had traditionally served as military strategists for the Murim Alliance, I believed maintaining a favorable relationship would be difficult.
Yet something felt amiss.
When the Jegal Family Estate fell, and even after its collapse, the Murim Alliance offered only perfunctory condolences.
They did not actively assist or help with the aftermath.
That was partly why I had come—to see things with my own eyes and make my own judgment.
But who on earth could it be?
Who would do such a thing?
Could it be that Jegal Yu-ah is already aware of these movements and is merely feigning ignorance?
That seemed quite likely.
Just then, the Maidservant announced that it was time for the midday meal.
This was my opportunity.
“Pardon me, but where does this tea come from?”
“Why do you ask?”
At his question, I concealed my true intentions and replied.
“The aroma is remarkably deep. I confess I grew curious to see and learn firsthand how it is brewed.”
“Haha! As expected of a young man—such enthusiasm!”
“I apologize for my presumption.”
“Not at all. When one encounters something excellent, the desire to learn from it is a quality worthy of praise.”
He continued with a smile.
“Well, it is no great secret, so I shall allow you to observe the process.”
“Thank you.”
“We shall do that later. For now, let us take our meal first.”

After the meal, we intended to resume our exchange of poetry.
But circumstances did not unfold as planned.
“My, an uninvited guest has arrived.”

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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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