Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 100

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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 One Hundred
“You do that sort of work too?”
When Buyeo Hui, who had been laughing heartily, posed the question casually, Ha-bin’s lips tightened slightly.
She had kept the matter of Princess Hwa-ran secret from her household as well as from Buyeo Hui. She had postponed her answer, thinking it better to excuse herself by saying Sam-cheon had requested the meeting, but now she looked ridiculous.
There was no backing away now, so she aligned her answer with the circumstances.
“It pays quite well.”
Ha-bin, speaking with cool composure, glanced at Sam-cheon without making it obvious.
Buyeo Hui was still laughing. She could see his eyes laughing too, which was rare—he seemed to genuinely enjoy the situation.
“Your family’s finances shouldn’t be lacking.”
“What I earn is still my own, is it not?”
“Fair enough. Write me a Talisman some other time.”
“Of course.”
Though there had been a moment of danger, Ha-bin maintained her composed expression throughout.
Having recovered her composure, Ha-bin turned to Sam-cheon with a question.
“What would you like? Wealth and glory? Good health?”
“There have been so many ominous things happening nearby lately that I need a Misfortune Ward. Just last night, I caught Gan-ja.”
Though her tone was light, Sam-cheon’s eyes remained fixed on Buyeo Hui’s face.
“That’s quite serious. Gye-san must have much on her mind.”
Buyeo Hui’s response was neither rushed nor delayed. He appeared appropriately startled and showed a suitable degree of concern. His reaction was perfectly calibrated—neither excessive nor lacking.
Sam-cheon spoke with emphasis.
“We must identify the mastermind. It’s essential.”
“Indeed. I’ll offer a reward to whoever finds the culprit.”
Buyeo Hui smiled, his lips barely moving.
The moment the atmosphere froze, a server approached. When asked if they were ready to order, Buyeo Hui opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for this.
“Bring your finest tea and prepare refreshments of every variety. Let’s see what skill you possess.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”
The server answered respectfully and moved with practiced efficiency.
He showed no sign of leaving. Sam-cheon felt anxious—there was something she needed to discuss with Ha-bin.
She decided it would be better to drink the tea as quickly as possible, leave this place, and arrange to meet later. As she watched the server disappear with the order, Buyeo Hui suddenly rose from his seat.
“I have somewhere I need to be, so I’ll settle the bill and be on my way. Enjoy your meal. We’ll meet again.”
Without hesitation, Buyeo Hui turned and said something to the server before leaving the Tea House. Even after he departed, Sam-cheon and Ha-bin sat in silence, staring out the window.
Only after Buyeo Hui’s figure disappeared down the street did Ha-bin lower her voice to ask.
“What just happened?”
“I’m not sure. He appeared suddenly.”
Ha-bin exhaled softly and crossed her arms.
“You should be careful. There’s no coincidence in the actions of Prince Buyeo Hui. From the atmosphere, it seems something has already occurred, but still.”
“He appeared so conveniently that I tested him, but I don’t think it was Prince Buyeo Hui.”
“If I may offer counsel, Prince Buyeo Hui is capable of anything.”
“……Thank you for the advice.”
Sam-cheon answered while regarding Ha-bin with a puzzled expression. They were not the sort of companions who would exchange advice.
According to what Buyeo Hui had told her, Ha-bin was someone who wouldn’t move an inch without compensation.
Ha-bin tilted her chin slightly and spoke.
“My prophecy concerning the Undefeated General is my greatest achievement.”
“That reputation will endure. Your Highness will remain the Undefeated General.”
Sam-cheon drew a silk pouch from her breast.
Ha-bin extracted a letter from the pouch and read it quietly. After reading it through twice, she tore it to pieces.
“I’ve memorized it, so don’t worry.”
“If it rains before the objective is achieved, I’ll send someone. Give me the pieces—I’ll burn them when we return to the Military Camp.”
When Ha-bin offered the torn letter fragments, Sam-cheon took them and placed them in the silk pouch.
The business was finished and it was time to leave, yet a full table of refreshments had been arranged. The server finished setting down teacups and dishes.
“The gentleman who left asked me to relay a message as he was settling the bill.”
Sam-cheon waited tensely for what was to come.
“He confirmed it. He says we’ll meet again.”
“Confirmed what, exactly……”
Sam-cheon turned over their conversation in her mind.
Did he mean he had confirmed that she caught Gan-ja last night?
Sam-cheon had tested him precisely because he had appeared right after she changed the future through a dream. Yet the probability that he was behind everything that had transpired was slim.
It was likely true that he had tried to abduct her. Using Tae could be written off as the curiosity of a man of power. So to link even the poison case to him would be excessive speculation.
Yet the uneasy feeling would not dissipate.
Especially the phrase “we’ll meet again” troubled her.
As Sam-cheon pondered gravely, Ha-bin offered her own theory.
“Perhaps he confirmed that you serve Princess Gye-san as a military strategist?”
It felt more reasonable than admitting he was the culprit. So when he had commissioned Tae’s abduction attempt, he hadn’t been certain then?
After organizing her thoughts, Sam-cheon studied Ha-bin. There was one thing she needed to address.
“I’m not that sort of existence.”
“Hmm.”
Ha-bin’s expression soured as she offered counsel.
“Information doesn’t leak only through spies or enemies. It can flow from pure goodwill without malice. Even if you’d cautioned people beforehand, it changes nothing. What if your own family knows? And they—what of them?”
Sam-cheon’s position within the Gyeon-hwon Army was quite high. Officially, she was merely Gye-san’s lady-in-waiting, but many regarded Sam-cheon as the second-in-command of the army.
If word of such matters had leaked, it would be meaningless for Sam-cheon alone to deny it.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“Think nothing of it. But what did you agree to receive from Princess Hwa-ran?”
“It was mere goodwill. I couldn’t ignore a good person struggling against Fate. I wanted to help.”
“Then I’d like to help too?”
Ha-bin laughed softly.
“The emphasis falls on ‘good,’ you see.”
Sam-cheon smiled in return.
“And I am good as well. Only my goodness turns inward.”
Sam-cheon found it absurd but kept her mouth shut.
“I’ll be going now.”
It was just as Ha-bin rose decisively. The server arrived carrying a bundled package.
“Please take this back to the camp and distribute it. This is an offering for the princess, and for provisions for the soldiers, if you’ll indicate where a cart can be brought, we’ll transfer them.”
The server bowed and turned to leave, leaving Sam-cheon’s mind in fresh turmoil.
Was this a provocation? Or an act of kindness?
Ha-bin, who had glanced at the package and was about to leave, paused. Drawing a faint breath, she returned and spoke.
“Eat without worry. Prince Buyeo Hui wouldn’t leave evidence behind. If trouble arose, he’d have to kill me too to silence me. But I’m still useful.”
After exchanging one more nod, Ha-bin departed the Tea House.
Sam-cheon, left alone, murmured.
“Wasting food brings punishment……”
I cursed him. From now on, I’ll tell you when he draws close.
“Thank you.”
Since I’ve laid misfortune upon him, his luck will worsen from here on.
It was somewhat reassuring.
“I came as your escort, so it’s only natural. It would be wise to take the food with us and verify it first.”
Startled by a voice suddenly behind her, she turned around. Caught up in her thoughts of Buyeo Hui, she had forgotten about Wol-ya’s presence.
She turned to look at Wol-ya, wondering if he’d misunderstood something she’d said to Ha-bin. Yet he was gazing out the window.
“He hasn’t left yet. He’s watching from behind the building.”
Sam-cheon swallowed hard.
“Does his behavior seem suspicious to you as well?”
“I was observing you, not him. I asked because you appeared to be on guard.”
At his words—that he had been watching her—Sam-cheon looked up at Wol-ya quietly.
Now that she thought about it, Wol-ya appeared whenever danger arose. He had always been watching her from somewhere nearby.
“For now, it’s merely caution. I’m hoping we won’t become enemies. An antagonist of his caliber would be too formidable.”
Sam-cheon gazed into Wol-ya’s eyes and smiled. Suddenly aware that she had survived beneath their protection all this time, the warmth in her gaze deepened.
Sam-cheon, who showed her brilliant smile only to Gye-san, turned it toward him now. At the sight of it, the back of Wol-ya’s neck flushed red. Yet he betrayed nothing, and asked instead.
“Where shall we go next?”
As though to say he would go anywhere with her.

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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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