Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 51

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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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Episode 51
‘There’s no one coming for me.’
Gye-san rose slowly. When she opened the door, a brother from the adjoining room stood there with an awkward expression.
“What is it?”
“You might want to go out to the Inner courtyard.”
He left that message and slipped back into his own room.
Gye-san stepped out, puzzled. As she walked the corridor, a familiar voice reached her ears.
“So because you live here, you thought someone like you could do as you please.”
That sharp, clear voice—
“My apologies. My judgment was poor, and I spoke out of turn.”
“If you knew it was out of turn, why did you do it?”
“I beg your pardon.”
Realizing the voice belonged to Buyeo Hui and Gung-in, the attendant who managed Dongnyeon-gung, Gye-san hurried down the corridor and rushed into the Inner courtyard.
Gung-in, who oversaw Dongnyeon-gung, had always been dismissive of Gye-san and the other siblings. Could it be that he had been disrespectful to Buyeo Hui?
When she arrived, Buyeo Hui was glaring down at Gung-in, who knelt before him.
“Oh, Your Highness.”
Fearing trouble would erupt, Gye-san called out urgently. Buyeo Hui turned, and the brows that had been raised in anger at once composed themselves.
“Gye-san, you’re awake?”
“Yes. How did you—”
“I came to drag you out if you were moping about. But do you know what this man said to me? He asked if you were some new half-blood.”
At Buyeo Hui’s words, Gung-in, who had gone pale, pressed his forehead to the ground.
“I did not know my place. Please forgive me.”
“That child carries the blood of His Majesty, even if only in part. How did a mere nothing like you dare to look down upon the royal lineage?”
“I beg your pardon. I will not repeat such a mistake.”
“You had better not. If you do, there would be no reason for that head to remain where it is.”
Buyeo Hui wrapped an arm around Gye-san’s shoulders, speaking to her.
“Come, half-blood sibling—ah, I know, don’t call you that. Come, Gye-san.”
Gye-san, looking dazed, let herself be drawn away. She ventured to speak carefully.
“Thank you for defending me.”
“I wasn’t defending you. You simply suffered an injustice.”
“Still, I’m grateful.”
“That’s enough.”
Unable to bear the awkwardness, Buyeo Hui lowered the arm he had been keeping around Gye-san’s shoulders. Looking embarrassed, he averted his gaze, then suddenly turned his head sharply.
At that, Ju-hong, who had been following, extended a stack of books with both hands.
“You left these behind.”
“Well done.”
Buyeo Hui took the books and swung them casually. Gye-san’s interest was piqued.
“What are those books?”
“Sam-cheon’s homework.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“She says it’s homework, and she’s happy when I ask her to summarize it.”
“Because she can read?”
“That’s right. She enjoys Military Strategy, so she’ll especially like this one. The way it’s organized from a fiscal management perspective is quite well done.”
Yet Gye-san could not understand why he insisted on calling it “homework” in such a tormenting way. She hesitated, then asked carefully.
“Wouldn’t she prefer it if you said you were lending it to her?”
“One copy, perhaps.”
“Sir?”
“What about three volumes? Ten?”
“She’d find it burdensome?”
“There are many eyes in the palace. If I say I’m giving Sam-cheon homework, what will people say?”
“That she works hard, or that she’s remarkable?”
“And if I say I bring her books every time?”
Imagining the gossip that would circulate through the palace, Gye-san fell silent. Watchful of her inability to answer, Buyeo Hui’s lips twisted.
“They’ll say she doesn’t know her place.”
Only then did Gye-san understand—this was Buyeo Hui’s way of looking after her.
“When we first met, you treated me that way as well, because you were concerned for me—”
“No. I did it because I didn’t like you.”
“Ah, yes.”
Gye-san, flustered, bowed her head.
“Now I find you tolerable enough.”
“Thank you…?”
When Buyeo Hui arrived at Mokseo-gung, he pushed open the gate and stepped inside. Sam-cheon, who had been sitting at a table in the Inner courtyard, stood at once to greet them both.
“I greet Your Highness.”
Buyeo Hui abruptly thrust the books into Sam-cheon’s hands.
“Take these. Summarize them by the day after tomorrow.”
Sam-cheon accepted the books with both hands, and the corners of her mouth twitched upward.
“Oh my, you keep giving me homework. Shall I prepare tea?”
“Never mind the tea. Is Gye-san at the Yeonmu-jang?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll head there at once.”
Gye-san, who had stepped back and was watching with a contented expression, made her way toward the Yeonmu-jang. Buyeo Hui, left behind, glanced at the seat where Sam-cheon had been sitting.
“What were you doing?”
“I was writing a letter.”
To support this, paper and brush lay on the table.
“To me?”
“I beg your pardon?”
Buyeo Hui skimmed the letter. Confirming it was merely routine business correspondence, he spoke in passing.
“Since you’re writing anyway, write one to me as well.”
“Waste such fine paper on that—”
“I’ll give you one hundred sheets of high-quality paper.”
“Then I’ll write with all my heart.”
At her swift change of heart, Buyeo Hui’s brows narrowed.
“Hasn’t Mokseo-gung’s finances improved a bit?”
“One must be frugal to prosper. But aren’t you going to the Yeonmu-jang?”
“What would there be to do but sparring?”
Why had he come, then? As Sam-cheon looked at him questioningly, Buyeo Hui pulled over a chair and sat.
“The weather is fine.”
Sam-cheon glanced between Buyeo Hui, who was pretending not to care, and the books. She grew anxious—he would need to leave before she could read them.
“Read comfortably. It’s my homework anyway.”
“Then, shall I?”
Sam-cheon settled into her seat and began to read. As Buyeo Hui listened to the gentle rustle of turning pages, gazing at clouds drifting lazily overhead, a smile crept across his lips.
Yong-yong stretched and got to her feet. She had arrived late the night before and slept deeply until now.
“Our home really is the best.”
Now she understood how much she had missed it while she was gone. Rain must have fallen in the early morning—the scent of earth rushed in through the open door. Stepping onto the porch, she saw thatched cottages clustered halfway up the mountainside in a single glance.
The Mountain Village, with its air of having escaped the mundane world, is where the members of the Wollang Unit make their home.
Descending the narrow stone steps from here leads to Wollang Valley. Officially, it is known as where the families of the Geum-dong Merchant Guild reside, but in truth it is a village composed of those connected to the Wollang Unit.
“Beautiful day.”
Dam-no, who had been training on the other side of the low fence, rose to his feet. His sweat-dampened clothes clung to his body, revealing the broad shoulders and firm chest beneath.
“Sleep well?”
“Yes. Your training has strengthened you even further.”
“I can’t afford to neglect my practice. Shall we spar?”
“This afternoon. I need to make the rounds and pay my respects first.”
Yong-yong loosened her muscles lightly and put on her shoes. Having been away from the village for five years, she needed to visit each household and greet them.
As she gathered the souvenirs she had purchased at Jeong-hyeon-seong, Weol-ya stepped into the courtyard.
“The leader has arrived.”
“You came late last night, I hear. That took longer than expected.”
“The suspicious princess conducted a thorough investigation, so we stayed a bit longer. From the atmosphere, it seems her suspicions have been put to rest.”
“Good. Have you unpacked your things?”
“We’ll do it slowly. But has something amusing happened?”
Weol-ya, unable to hide her smile, spoke up.
“The daughter of the Ye Family has made another prophecy.”
“What is it this time? Does it concern the Celestial Maiden?”
“She says the Crown Prince will change.”
“Now that’s serious politics. What will you do?”
The political situation in Baekje mattered little to Weol-ya. Power struggles were something that happened all the time anyway.
“The prophecy about Princess Gye-san proved quite useful, so I intend to watch how this unfolds for a time. And should Dan-hwa somehow leave the palace alive, see that she and her sister can live quietly together.”
“Understood.”
Though she answered reflexively, Yong-yong was puzzled. Those were words meant for the member who would be dispatched to Sabi-seong to protect the Celestial Maiden.
As Yong-yong stood bewildered, Weol-ya thrust a letter toward her.
“It’s for you.”
Yong-yong received the two-page letter and unfolded it. She stopped at the first sentence and could read no further.
— Yong-yong, become my guard.

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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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