Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 34

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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 34
Gyesan and Samcheon’s eyes dropped to the ground simultaneously. Weeds had overgrown so thickly they couldn’t see what lay beneath their feet.
The Hunter, approaching with heavy steps, brought his Wooden Stick down beside Gyesan’s foot. At once, a snake lifted its head from beneath the weeds and opened its jaws wide.
“Aaah!”
“Eek!”
While Gyesan and Samcheon cried out in alarm, the Hunter moved his Wooden Stick with practiced ease. The snake coiled around the stick as he guided it, tightening its grip and flicking its tongue.
As the snake waited for an opening to strike, it found itself trapped in the Burlap Sack instead.
The Hunter covered the sack’s mouth and spoke.
“Don’t step off the path. At the fork ahead, take the left—the right way gets rough. Avoid it.”
“Ah, yes.”
“And that Rocky Mountain over there is forbidden. You’ll be cursed if you go near it, so don’t even glance in that direction.”
The Hunter tossed out these words and strode back into the forest with long steps.
“Thank you! Be careful yourself!”
Gyesan called out to the Hunter’s retreating back. Without turning, the man continued walking and soon vanished between the trees.
“A kind person.”
Samcheon looked at him with a questioning expression. She wasn’t sure if kind was the word, but he did seem like a good person.
Back on the path, Gyesan studied the mountain the Hunter had warned them against. But on the far side, she noticed a ridge with peculiar contours.
“The boulder at that mountain’s peak looks like a turtle.”
“Oh, you’re right—that must be its nostrils. Strange…”
Samcheon trailed off mid-sentence. A jujube tree struck by lightning stood stubbornly before them, and somehow it seemed familiar.
Why was a landscape from her dream standing here in reality?
‘This should have been the dream about growing taller.’
While Samcheon stared ahead, troubled and dazed, Gyesan clapped her hands sharply.
“This is the place from your dream. Isn’t it?”
The terrain was so unmistakably identical that even Gyesan, who had only heard it described, recognized it at once.
“It’s similar. But why is it so similar?”
Samcheon wanted to cry.
“Let’s go look.”
At those words spoken without hesitation, Samcheon’s pupils wavered.
“G-go? But that’s beyond the mountain. It’s not on the way. It looks close, but it might be much farther than it appears. Besides, the Hunter told us it’s forbidden.”
“We need to verify whether the dream was real. You said we weren’t the only ones trapped, didn’t you?”
Samcheon bit her lower lip.
Gyesan was right. If the dream was truth, other children might be in danger. They had to help.
But Samcheon was afraid. The dark chasm that had swallowed her, those moments when every sense had vanished.
Death itself had come like that.
“…I’m scared.”
That was Samcheon’s honest heart.
The fear that she might have to enter that chasm again. And the worry that her dream was leading Gyesan toward danger.
“Your Highness, Jamyeong’s dream didn’t come true perfectly either, did it?”
They had faced peril at Byeolgung, where they were supposed to die, yet they had escaped.
“What if the dream changed things?”
“Your Highness?”
“It’s possible, isn’t it? I bought the sword because of the dream, and I met Yongyong because of it. If either of those had been missing, we wouldn’t have survived.”
“You’re… right.”
It was a fact she couldn’t deny.
“Let’s just go close enough to confirm. If it seems like more than a False Dream, we can call the State Army. If it was a False Dream, we laugh it off.”
“Just to confirm?”
“Yes. If we go back like this, I won’t be able to sleep for worry.”
There was also the option of returning to Sabisung and sending others. But in that time, someone else might fall into that chasm.
“…Your Highness will have to step forward before the State Army.”
“There’s no helping that. I can accept that much.”
Gyesan’s resolve was firm. Still, her resolute voice reached Samcheon’s ear even as she hesitated.
“I can’t abandon the people we can save.”
Samcheon’s brow drooped.
Why was her liege so admirable?
“Then let’s just check from a distance.”
Samcheon spoke as though extracting a promise.
“Yes. We only have to cross one mountain. It’s not that much of a detour.”
Gyesan strode ahead briskly.
And so their footsteps turned toward a new direction.
Hae sat in the shade of a tree where the curved gate of Yeonhwa Palace was visible, her eyes fixed on the plaque.
“I need to find out who the Secondary Consort’s closest attendant is.”
Just as she was about to call for Geun, the girl’s voice came trembling through.
“…Her name is Danhwa.”
When Hae turned with a puzzled look, Geun hesitated before speaking.
“I became suspicious while investigating my mother’s poisoning, so I looked into it a little.”
Hae’s gaze swept over Geun. She’d brought the girl along out of boredom, but it seemed she might prove useful after all.
“Tell me about this Danhwa.”
“The Secondary Consort brought her when she entered the palace. She’s said to be the daughter of a wet nurse, and all important matters supposedly go through her.”
“If we can turn just that attendant, Hae’s crimes will come spilling out.”
“If we can turn her, that is.”
Hae smiled as if problems might yet resolve smoothly, then pressed further.
“So what’s Danhwa’s weakness?”
“Excuse me?”
Geun’s eyes widened.
“Didn’t you say you’d looked into her?”
“I, I don’t know her weakness.”
“When you dig into someone’s background, you start with their weakness. Everyone’s too naive these days.”
“I, I’ll definitely find her weakness next time.”
“Usually a person’s desire becomes their weakness, so remember that.”
“Their desire?”
Geun asked with innocent eyes.
“Most people can be bought with money. Wanting to be rich is such a common, ordinary desire. Sometimes they might crave honor or power, but money can solve that much too.”
“So it all comes down to money.”
Geun nodded as though she’d learned a great lesson.
Pleased by her earnestness, Hae even explained the exceptions.
“Though there are people who can’t be bought. Take Samcheon, for instance. If you offered her money, power, or honor to betray Gyesan, what do you think would happen?”
Geun, who had visited Mokseo Palace these past few days, offered her answer carefully.
“I think she would tell the Princess. It seems the attendant cannot be corrupted.”
“Right. And since her only remaining blood relative is a gambler, threatening the family wouldn’t work either. As long as Gyesan is Samcheon’s most precious person, there’s no fear of betrayal.”
“I understand.”
“In any case, you must find Danhwa’s weakness. I’ll just confirm her face and leave, so tell me as soon as you see her.”
Geun clenched her fists as if steeling her resolve.
“Yes. I’ll tell you right away. Usually she stands closest to the Secondary Consort on the right side.”
“You’ve done quite thorough work.”
As Hae’s eyes registered surprise, Geun shrank back again.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“Can’t you stop saying you’re sorry all the time?”
“I’m sorry…”
Geun answered habitually before covering her mouth with her hand. Seeing how both Gyesan and Hae objected to this habit, she understood it wasn’t good.
“I’ll try to fix it.”
“Only say sorry when you’re genuinely regretful, or when you can’t help yourself—never otherwise. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Hae looked over Geun with dissatisfaction. Just what kind of raising did they do in Dongyeon Palace to produce someone like this?
She supposed she’d have to set aside a day to perform a purification ritual.
Even after waiting long in front, Hae didn’t appear for some time.
“She’s probably hiding in Yeonhwa Palace out of shame.”
At Hae’s murmur, Geun tilted her head.
“Shame?”
“The prophecy the Heavenly Seer made about Gyesan.”
“That she would become an Undefeated General? I believe it will come true.”
Geun’s eyes gleamed brightly.
“Exactly. Isn’t there talk spreading that she made the child paint and learn instruments while starving her, when she’s destined to become an Undefeated General? She might have locked herself away because she can’t stand the mocking looks.”
“Was such a rumor spread?”
“I spread it.”
Hae smiled when—
At last, Secondary Consort Hae emerged from Yeonhwa Palace, trailing her attendants. When Hae signaled, Geun shook her head with difficulty.
“She’s not there.”
“What’s not there?”
Geun scanned the procession again before answering.
“Someone else is standing in that position today.”

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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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