Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 30

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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 Thirty
Once Samcheon slipped into the shop, Gyesan looked around. People in shabby, worn clothes moved about with tired faces.
The life of commoners.
At first, the squalor had startled her, and she’d pitied them.
But not now. She understood that they too possessed life and happiness. The children here grew up nourished not by rice and meat, but by the deep love of their fathers and mothers.
Still, this village didn’t seem to sell preserved jujubes either.
‘Samcheon will have to buy some.’
As she glanced around a corner, something caught her eye.
‘What is that?’
At the village’s entrance stood five stone mounds. Atop each mound sat an overturned sieve, and through each one was thrust a single iron spike.
As she moved closer, someone grabbed her arm. She frowned at the rough grip and turned to find a man with fox fur draped across his shoulders. By his appearance, he looked like a hunter.
“Children shouldn’t go near that. That’s a Tiger Ghost’s grave.”
“I… what?”
The Hunter saw her confusion and added a rough explanation.
“When a tiger kills someone, they become a Tiger Ghost. That’s why we make graves like that to contain them after a tiger attack. My daughter is buried there too.”
“I… I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
“I’m telling you since you don’t seem to know. Don’t touch them—a Tiger Ghost might come out. The tigers here only take children.”
“Yes. I’ll be careful.”
Gyesan bowed respectfully as she spoke.
Hearing that, the Hunter immediately headed up the mountain.
Three days after leaving the inn that Yong-yong had secured for them, Gyesan had reached a point where speaking formally even to commoners no longer felt strange.
It was the fruit of Samcheon’s relentless education.
Soon after, Samcheon emerged from a side room she’d rented attached to the shop and approached Gyesan. The moment Samcheon saw the stone mounds, she understood their meaning.
“There are tigers around here, it seems.”
“Only children. We’ll have to be careful.”
“Good thing there’s a room available. And it seems Jeonghuonseong is in turmoil right now.”
“Why?”
Samcheon spoke carefully, mindful of the eyes around them.
“Byeol Palace was attacked, and the princess has been abducted. That’s why the checkpoints are taking so long. Father might not arrive today after all.”
“He’ll come eventually, even if it’s late.”
Speaking out the cover story they’d been rehearsing, the two of them walked through the village.
They saw the market that day and bought a pouch of dried meat and a bamboo water container. From tomorrow on, they’d have to walk all day to reach the next village.
The two of them entered the shabby side room attached to the shop and tried to sleep.
The bed creaked just from sitting on it, and the bedding carried a musty smell. A large insect clung stubbornly to the wall.
Gyesan, without complaint, lay down and asked.
“How long until we reach Sabiseong?”
“Since we’re walking and don’t know the way well, we should probably plan for a week, shouldn’t we?”
Samcheon answered and locked the door latch.
Then she shut the window tight and placed a brass bowl right against the windowsill. If anyone tried to open the window from outside, the bowl would fall and make a loud noise.
Still uneasy, she sat with her back against the door. This way, anyone trying to open it from outside would have to push Samcheon’s body aside first.
Gyesan, watching Samcheon quietly, asked.
“How’s your ankle?”
Samcheon lifted her skirt to show her ankle.
“It’s fine. The swelling has gone down.”
“Good. You have to tell me right away if it hurts.”
“Yes!”
She answered spiritedly, but anxiety gnawed at Samcheon.
She’d expected to run into one or two ruffians, yet their path had been smooth as though someone were protecting them. But danger always came when one’s guard was down.
“You sleep first. I need to think things through for a bit.”
If she said she’d sit by the door standing watch, Gyesan would order her to sleep, so she made an excuse.
“Alright. Get some rest soon yourself.”
Exhausted, Gyesan clutched her sword to her chest, closed her eyes, and soon soft snores drifted through the room.
Samcheon gazed at Gyesan’s sleeping face before slowly closing her own eyes.
“Brother!”
Hwui entered the pavilion with a practiced smile.
“Hwui, welcome.”
The Crown Prince, rumored to cherish Hwui like his own son, greeted her with a warm face. He’d sent word ahead, so refreshments were already laid out for her.
Once Hwui was seated, the Crown Prince asked kindly.
“So, what was Ungzinseong like?”
“More fun than the palace anyway. Just watching people in the marketplace makes the time fly.”
“You didn’t cause too much trouble, I hope.”
“A little. Just a little.”
The Crown Prince gazed at Hwui as though she were adorable.
From long ago, the Crown Prince had laughed off whatever mischief Hwui caused. Her value came from the Baek Family on her mother’s side, so there was no reason to be strict with her.
Besides, with so many younger siblings, being overly indulgent was the only way to win the reputation of being affectionate.
For the sake of his future reign, he needed the Baek Family’s support. So the Crown Prince spoke again today with affection in his voice.
“Once you’re married, you’ll mature, won’t you?”
“Married? I hate that.”
“I saw her at Nakhwajung—she seemed to suit you well.”
Hwui pouted in protest and popped one of the refreshments into her mouth. Then she brought up the matter casually.
“But that girl is a bit strange. She apparently had a prophetic dream that the Thirty-First would return in glory as an undefeated general, and she truly believes it will come to pass.”
“…Who is the Thirty-First?”
“The Thirty-First.”
“Ah, so that’s what that child was called.”
The Crown Prince recalled who she was and was startled. He’d heard that the princess he’d sent as bait to uproot the Jin Family was called the Thirty-First.
The Crown Prince summoned a palace attendant and whispered instructions in her ear. Once the attendant hurried away with her orders, he smiled pleasantly again.
“And did she say anything else?”
This was the question Hwui had been waiting for.
“She said she would be at the side of someone who will become the Great King.”
“The Great King?”
“Yes. But she said it wouldn’t be me. Don’t you think that’s strange?”
The Crown Prince’s expression shifted.
Originally, he’d intended to disregard the marriage proposal from the Ye Family. Many families wanted to send their daughters to him, but none spoke of such a young girl.
But if the reason were a prophetic dream, the matter took on a different complexion.
“You dislike her?”
“You don’t like her either, do you? I dislike her too.”
Hwui deliberately affected a sullen tone but felt a wave of shame.
Ah, Gyesan and Samcheon should know the effort she was making.
In a dark, vast cave prison, children huddled together, trembling. Among them were Samcheon and Gyesan.
Samcheon reached over and pressed her hand to the forehead of Gyesan, who lay on her side. The heat felt intense—her fever was rising.
‘Should I reveal her highness’s identity?’
But doing so might only put her in greater danger.
Unable to decide, Samcheon was confused when the door to the cave prison opened and two men entered—one in a yellowish-brown martial robe, another with a bushy beard.
Samcheon glared at them.
‘Villains.’
On the road back to Sabiseong.
A man in a yellowish-brown martial robe approached Samcheon and Gyesan as they ate their packed lunch.
When Samcheon shared some rice balls with him, he offered them some sweet tea water. Since their water had run out, Samcheon and Gyesan accepted and drank.
After that, their memories went blank. When Gyesan’s eyes opened, she found herself trapped here. Unlike Samcheon, who’d come to her senses quickly, Gyesan had begun to fall ill.
“Who’s the smallest?”
“That one’s the smallest.”
The man in the yellowish-brown robe appraised the children like merchandise, seized Samcheon’s arm, and dragged her outside. Gyesan, who’d opened her eyes just then, reached out, but her hand fell short.
“Samcheon!”
Gyesan’s cry echoed behind her.
The man pulled Samcheon forward in long strides. Torches lit the passage, but they only illuminated the ground beneath their feet. Still, it didn’t take long to realize they were inside a cave.
“Walk faster.”
The man in the yellowish-brown robe urged Samcheon on as they exited the cave.

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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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