The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 699

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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 Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 699

Chapter 699. The Ice Palace Wedding (4)

A bear rushed toward me.
“Young Master!”
My Guard Warriors followed behind it.
“How did you all get here?”
It was Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, standing at the back, who answered my question.
“It would be quite sorrowful if those who are always present at such joyous occasions could not attend.”
She smiled.
“So the Palace Master temporarily granted them permission to enter.”
“In truth, I was concerned about it. Please convey my gratitude.”
“Of course. Then I shall come to escort you when the time arrives.”
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, left my quarters.
“Our Young Master is not only handsome, but dressed in such fine garments—truly a paragon of elegance.”
“Really?”
“Truly. Have you ever seen me flatter the Young Master without cause?”
That’s true enough.
Palgap never spoke empty praise about my appearance.
“But the silk used for this garment is quite extraordinary.”
At Lee Pil’s words, I nodded.
“Yes. I have never seen silk like this before.”
If I could sell this, I could make a considerable profit.
“I was asked to identify what kind of silk it is, but truthfully, I’m uncertain. Does anyone here know?”
They all examined my garment, then shook their heads.
“We cannot say.”
“Not even a hint comes to mind.”
Seo-woo Warrior changed the subject.
“By the way, where is Gwak Vice-Manager?”
“She is preparing elsewhere.”
“It seems you are quite eager to see how beautiful she will look.”
At Seo-woo Warrior’s words, I flinched and laughed awkwardly.
“As expected of a married man, you understand well.”
“I understand that feeling perfectly.”
At those words, Yeo Eung-am Warrior, another married man, also nodded.
Then Lee Pil Warrior spoke.
“Somehow, I feel envious.”
“If you’re that envious, I could introduce you to a young lady or two.”
At the Yeo Eung-am Warrior’s words, Lee Pil Warrior laughed and spoke.
“That’s kind of you, but I prefer meetings that happen naturally.”
“The way you say that… could it be you already have someone in mind?”
At Myeong-jong Warrior’s question, he shook his head.
“That’s not it at all.”
“Something seems off about this…”
Lee Pil Warrior quickly changed the subject.
“Ahem, anyway, on the way here I noticed they’ve prepared an enormous amount of alcohol.”
On the journey north, I’d received word from the Gwangjun Trading Company.
The alcohol ban had been lifted.
This year’s barley harvest looked quite promising, and it seemed the Imperial Palace had assessed it the same way.
After all, last year already showed signs of the famine ending.
So grain prices were nearly recovering to normal levels.
In my memories of my previous life, this autumn had been a bumper harvest too.
And so among the merchant groups that had bought up grain in advance to resell, those who hadn’t moved quickly enough suffered considerable losses.
Father and Eun Jung-ho must be moving about busily.
After all, the Eun Hae Trading Company needed to begin distributing the alcohol from our distillery.
The pleasure houses and taverns I’d purchased in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province would now spread their wings again.
I’d instructed them to move autonomously once the alcohol ban was lifted.
I’m not particularly knowledgeable about operating pleasure houses and taverns.
They each have their own methods, and if I interfere unnecessarily, the results would be worse than if I simply stayed out of it.
Though they’ll be busy and exhausted, smiles will surely grace their faces.
After all, they’ve experienced the hardship of business not going well for several years.
I can hear the sound of money steadily accumulating.
– Squeak!
Watching Geum-ryeong wiggle his rear excitedly these days confirms it.
Recovering the capital I’d spent acquiring those establishments won’t take long.
I’d bought them quite cheaply in the first place.
When Palgap saw my chamber, his eyes trembled violently.
“Th-th-that is… why are there two pillows on the bed?”
“Ah… the Palace Master only gave me one room. She said that since we’re already conducting the Ice Palace wedding, aren’t we already husband and wife?”
At those words, Palgap asked with eyes still trembling.
“Seeing there’s only one blanket, could it be that you two have already… already…”
“No, nothing happened at all.”
Then, finding it strange, I tilted my head in confusion.
“But Palgap, why are you the one blushing more?”
“Squeak?”
See, even Geum-ryeong thinks it’s odd.
.
.
.
A short while later.
The disciples came to my chamber.
“The wedding preparations are complete. We shall escort you.”
“Those of you who are guests, please follow me.”
Thus I parted ways with my companions and followed two disciples toward an unknown destination.
Soon I arrived before a chamber, and I could sense Seo Hyang’s presence from within.
“Enter and bring out the bride.”
“Understood.”
The door opened, and I stepped inside.
Seo Hyang sat quietly within.
She wore wedding robes of the same silk as my formal attire, adorned with elaborate embroidery and makeup, and the moment I beheld her, I found myself transfixed, unable to look away.
The Seo Hyang I had known until now was either frail and sickly, or dressed plainly as my deputy.
Even in those forms she was beautiful, but adorned with such care, her radiance was almost blinding.
“Am I… very strange?”
Seeing my expression, Seo Hyang asked with concern.
“Not at all. You are so beautiful that I momentarily lost myself.”
At my words, her face flushed crimson.
The disciples who had adorned her smiled with satisfaction.
“It feels rewarding to finally display our skills.”
“Don’t give us goosebumps—hurry and go.”
“Now put on these red shoes and place the red coronet upon her head, then bring her out.”
I helped her into the shoes and received the red coronet, placing it upon her head.
“Will she not wear a veil?”
One of the disciples answered my question.
“There are only women here—what need is there for one?”
“I see.”
“Instead, the red coronet carries the meaning of blessings.”
I extended my hand to Seo Hyang, and she took it, rising from her seat.
“The entrance to the ceremony hall is this way.”
They guided us through a different door than the one I had entered, and we stood side by side before it.
Then the door opened.
“…!”
And I was utterly astonished.
The disciples lined both sides, offering their congratulations.
Though I had sensed many presences, I had not anticipated such heartfelt celebration.
A disciple holding an instrument stood ready before us, leading the way with a joyous melody.
And the disciples showered us with red flowers in celebration.
“Congratulations!”
“May you enjoy a life of marital bliss!”
“May you walk together for a hundred years!”
The Disciple Attendants scattered petals made from crimson silk fragments.
In the Empire, red held auspicious meaning, but I had heard it carried even greater significance here in the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
The Ice Palace was monochromatic white in all directions, and for various reasons, the use of color was not freely permitted.
Red was a color allowed only on the most special of occasions.
Every Disciple Attendant wore crimson ornaments in their hair and crimson sashes at their waists.
Those who had come to celebrate us followed in our wake.
As I traversed the long corridor, I smiled upon seeing the figures waiting at its end.
The Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the Young Palace Master.
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
“We offer our congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you.”
“Then, let us now begin the formal Ice Palace wedding ceremony.”
The Palace Master and Young Palace Master led us to seats prepared in the rear.
Below stretched countless ice stairs.
Beneath those stairs lay dozens of dining tables laden with sumptuous dishes.
“In truth, these are my seat and the Young Palace Master’s seat.”
“Pardon?”
At those words, Seo Hyang and I exchanged startled glances with the Palace Master.
“However, today alone, these seats belong to the two who are being wed in the Ice Palace ceremony.”
“I feel quite embarrassed. I never imagined the ceremony would be such a grand affair.”
“It is too early to be surprised.”
Meanwhile, the Disciple Attendants who had followed me split into two groups and descended the stairs to take their places at the dining tables.
At the front sat Palgap and my Guard Warriors who had come as my guests, and behind them sat all the Disciple Attendants of the Ice Palace.
The Palace Master took my hand and Seo Hyang’s hand, joining them together, and spoke.
“Today, as the master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, I declare the union of these two. Furthermore, as witness to this marriage, I vow that I shall not forgive any who would sever the bond between them.”
“….”
The Palace Master’s words were, in a sense, quite formidable.
In other words, anyone who attempted to separate Seo Hyang and me would face the Palace Master’s direct judgment.
“Today is a festival of this palace celebrating the union of these two. Let all raise their cups.”
At those words, every Disciple Attendant raised their cup.
“I wish for these two a hundred years of happiness together.”
At her words, Young Palace Master Bing Haerin spoke.
“We wish for these two a hundred years of happiness together.”
Following Bing Haerin’s lead, all joined in the proclamation.
“We wish for these two a hundred years of happiness together!”
“Then, let all eat and drink with joy.”
Thus the grand banquet began in earnest.
Watching the joyous scene, I found myself thinking of my Master and his wife.
It would have been wonderful if both of them could have attended as the groom’s parents.
And as the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace and his wife, they certainly deserved to enjoy this Ice Palace wedding.
But since circumstances didn’t allow it, after the Previous Palace Master, my Master was skipped over, and Seo Hyang and I were granted this honor instead.
Someday, I must rebuild Seolpung Palace so that my Master and his wife can celebrate their own Ice Palace wedding, even if it comes late.
It was then that Young Palace Master Bing Haerin approached us.
“I’ve prepared a gift.”
She presented a small pouch made of white silk to both Seo Hyang and me.
“May I open it?”
She answered my question.
“You’re asking something obvious.”
I opened the pouch and found five gold coins inside.
“I thought about it, and since the Young Palace Master loves money most, I prepared money as a gift.”
I felt a bit of a sting at that.
“And since I had to prepare the same thing, the Divine Maiden’s gift is also the same.”
The gift was appreciated, but five gold coins?
While the number five can symbolize balance, it can also represent emptiness and nothingness.
And conventionally, wedding gifts are given in even numbers.
Was she mocking me?
“To prevent misunderstanding, if you combine the money from both pouches, it’s ten gold coins. This means that when two become one, they achieve completeness, like the word ‘perfect union.'”
“I see there was such meaning to it.”
“So don’t misunderstand.”
“Misunderstand? I never did. Haha.”
“Once again, I congratulate you both on your marriage.”
Following her lead, the disciples of the Ice Palace came to us one by one.
They congratulated us on our marriage and gave two coins each as gifts.
The Elders gave two gold coins, and those below them gave two silver coins.
The training disciples gave two copper coins.
And so the gift box before us began to fill steadily with money.
“Squeak! Squeak!”
Watching this, Geumryeong drooled with delight.
I knew this would happen, so I had them prepare a bowl quickly. Hehehehe.
Geumryeong’s saliva is quite precious, after all.
After the gift-giving time ended, the feast truly began.
Looking down below, my companions were also eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves.
Yet they kept glancing up at me, clearly continuing to watch over my safety.
But when would we finally leave this seat?
With that question in mind, I looked to my side.
Next to me sat the Palace Master, and next to Seo Hyang sat Young Palace Master Bing Haerin, both enjoying the banquet.
I asked the Palace Master in a low voice.
“Excuse me, when does this banquet end?”
“It’ll continue for nearly two days.”
“Then I must sit here for two days as well?”
“That’s not necessary.”
The Palace Master smiled softly.
“Ah! The time has come.”
As soon as those words left her lips, a drum sounded to mark the hour.
It was the signal for the Hour of the Rat—between eleven in the evening and one in the morning.
“Now the Groom and Bride should have their private time together. Both of you, rise.”
“Yes?”
At that moment, two Disciple Attendants adorned with red flowers in their hair approached us.
“We shall escort you to the Bridal Chamber.”
Following her, we arrived at….
“Is that it?”
“Yes, that is it.”
There were dozens of stone stairs, and atop them stood a small Separate Quarters.
It was a beautiful structure crafted entirely of ice, yet its exterior offered no handholds whatsoever.
Even ascending it seemed difficult from the start.
“Once the two of you enter the Separate Quarters, these stairs are designed to collapse immediately.”
She continued speaking.
“No one must disturb your intimate time together. Now, please ascend.”
“Yes. Shall we go?”
I extended my hand to Seo Hyang, and she took it.
Together, we climbed the ice-carved stairs and entered the Separate Quarters.
In that instant.
Crash, rumble, rumble.
The stairs we had just climbed collapsed in moments, exactly as the Disciple Attendant had said.
Inside, a simple table with refreshments was laid out, and the bed was covered with silk quilts.
Red lanterns hung about, creating an intimate atmosphere.
It seemed truly no one would disturb us during this time.
I sat facing Seo Hyang.
“Shall I pour you a drink?”
“Yes.”
Seo Hyang answered in a shy voice, and we shared a cup of wine.
Well then, now that….
“Geum-ryeong. Step outside for a moment.”
“Kuu…?”
Pretending to know nothing won’t help.
What are you trying to peek at!
Not a chance.

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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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