Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 14

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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 Fourteen
Though it seemed Juhong had taken offense at watching Gyesan’s match with him, Samcheon offered a different reason.
“Perhaps you lost interest once you confirmed she wasn’t a ghost.”
“Did I disappoint you? Were there ghosts you wanted to meet as well?”
Samcheon answered with only a smile.
“Ah, Your Highness! There’s a rumor that Cheongwan-nyeo has appeared. People were whispering about it earlier at Jeongwol-gung.”
“Cheongwan-nyeo?”
A being who unravels tangled pasts, purifies the present, and connects to the future.
Proof that the divine has not abandoned humankind.
“She’s said to have come from House of Ye.”
“This time it’s genuine, yes? There was an impostor about a hundred years ago.”
“I hope it’s real.”
If it were false, a storm of blood might sweep through the court. A deception played against the king could hardly be a light matter.
Samcheon simply wanted to live in peace.
The inner quarters of Dongyeongung consisted of several rooms connected by a corridor. Each room had its occupant, and Juhong’s chamber lay at the far end of the hallway.
At an hour when all should be asleep, Juhong moved with measured steps, her footfalls barely audible.
‘Hae-ssi… the lady.’
From the start, she had suspected Hae-ssi of the poisoning, yet evidence eluded her.
Even after the investigation concluded, Juhong had examined every corner of Jeongwol-gung several times over. But nowhere—not in vessels, nor garments, nor provisions, nor water—had poison been found.
Thus only baseless suspicion remained.
Could one hate someone based on suspicion alone? She did not know.
As she bit her lower lip, the door of the adjacent room opened quietly.
A figure emerged carrying a water pitcher, nearly colliding with Juhong. She bowed slightly in greeting, yet the person passed as though seeing nothing.
The siblings dwelling in Dongyeongung pretended not to know one another.
It could not be helped. A half-blood living in the palace could only be despised. Together they would suffer double the contempt; it was better to remain unentangled.
Juhong entered her chamber and closed the door. She unwound her Wooden Sword and laid it upon the table, then sat upon her bed. It had been a long time since she had exchanged more than three words with another person.
And this person was of royal blood, no less.
Until now, royalty had been to Juhong only those who struck her, cursed her, or dismissed her.
A royal who had taken the initiative in conversation and treated her as a person—this was unprecedented. Though one had called her a “half-blood” before departing, even that qualified as a gentle response.
Yet that person had even extended an invitation.
‘Should I go?’
Could she truly receive instruction in Swordsmanship? If she grew stronger, could she become someone capable of uncovering the truth?
She did not know that either.
Juhong found her thoughts turning to Samcheon, the court attendant.
Samcheon seemed remarkable. Even in the company of two royals, she spoke freely without restraint. Yet it did not come across as rude—only as the ease of those who were truly close. Juhong found herself wishing, even daring not to admit it, to remain near and observe.
Not that she harbored hopes of inserting herself into their circle. She simply wished to watch a while longer.
With her fists clenched, Juhong’s fingers trembled for some time before she reached her resolve.
At the break of dawn, the gates of Mokseogung swung wide. The one who strode in noisily was Hui.
Juhong, who followed behind, stood before the gate with a proud expression—she had succeeded in reaching the inner courtyard based on Samcheon’s advice.
The only difficulty was that Hui’s mood appeared quite foul.
Gyesan waved her hand cheerfully at the stomping Hui.
“Brother’s here?”
“Mother wants to arrange a match for me!”
“What? Brother’s getting married?”
“I’m not!”
Hui’s voice pierced the air.
Samcheon, standing beside Gyesan, flinched at the cry. His voice sounded particularly sharp today.
‘The Prince is to be married.’
A royal marriage was, after all, a matter of state strategy. It was not uncommon for such unions to be arranged before coming of age. Indeed, meeting candidates beforehand was more remarkable.
Usually such matters proceeded with neither sight nor delay.
‘So there’s a planned Royal Marriage, but they’re drawing things out by seeing candidates first?’
Samcheon turned to Hui.
“Shall I prepare tea?”
“Do I look like I can swallow tea right now? I don’t understand why Mother insists on binding me to some insignificant house. Not even one of the Eight Great Houses. Does this make any sense?”
Hui grumbled in evident frustration.
Ah, so that’s where his pride was wounded.
The nobility of Baekje could fairly be said to divide into the Eight Great Houses and all others. There was even a jest that the Eight Great Houses’ power exceeded the throne itself.
Samcheon spoke quietly to Gyesan.
“Your Highness, I must go to the tailor’s for a moment. Today is when my summer clothes are ready.”
“New clothes? Go ahead!”
“Yes.”
Samcheon excused herself from the irritable Hui and took her leave.
She passed through the eastern quarter and made for the Lotus Garden. The path, lined with lotus leaves, would lead her directly to her destination.
When the lotuses bloomed, the garden would become spectacular and crowded with visitors, but for now it was merely a vast pond. Still, the willow branches planted here and there swayed gently in the breeze—a pleasant sight.
‘I should take Her Highness for a walk when the lotuses bloom.’
She was smiling to herself when her crown suddenly rang out with a bright, clear sound like a bell chiming. Samcheon turned toward the source.
In that instant, her eyes met those of an ornately adorned girl.
‘What a beautiful person.’
The girl, who looked scarcely past her twentieth year, was draped entirely in silk and jewelry. With each step, her Hair Pins and earrings swayed like waves, drawing every eye.
The girl approached with a delicate gait, then withdrew a Handkerchief from her bosom and cast it toward the pond with a flourish. The fabric fluttered and caught half-submerged upon a lotus leaf.
‘What is she doing?’
Though puzzled, Samcheon stepped aside to let the other pass.
Yet the girl stopped directly in front of her, one corner of her mouth lifted in a smile, and spoke.
“I’ve dropped my precious Handkerchief in the pond. I do hope you might retrieve it for me.”
What sort of princely behavior was this?
Samcheon had seen clearly that the girl had thrown it deliberately, yet here she was with shameless audacity. Moreover, servants stood waiting behind her.
But this girl was a guest of the royal family.
Samcheon suppressed her displeasure and marshaled her courtesy into a gracious reply.
“I am Samcheon, a court attendant of Mokseogung. I was on an errand for Her Highness, so perhaps you might direct your servants to assist you instead.”
“Is that so?”
The smiling girl glanced back at her attendants.
“You there—I have need of you. Stand at the entrance to the Lotus Garden and count from one to one hundred, then return.”
“Yes, miss.”
The servants turned at once and walked away with purpose.
Left alone, the girl smiled wickedly.
“Oh dear, I’ve sent them away and now I’m alone. Surely I cannot soil my hands in that filthy water? Surely a lady of noble birth cannot? Not all of us nobles are the same, you understand.”
Samcheon found herself nearly impressed by the girl’s contempt.
‘Does she bear me some grudge?’
Though she could not discern the reason, the girl seemed eager to torment her. In such circumstances, one could only bear it with grace.
‘I’ll speak of this to Her Highness when I return.’
Samcheon approached the pond’s edge. The Handkerchief hung half-submerged, caught upon the lotus stem.
She crouched down and stretched her arm as far as it would reach, yet her fingertips could barely brush the fabric’s edge.
‘Just a bit further.’
As Samcheon extended her arm again with effort, the girl pushed her forcefully from behind.
Losing her balance in an instant, Samcheon flailed helplessly before plunging into the pond amid floating lotus leaves.
With a great splash, water scattered in all directions.

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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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