Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 56

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 56
“I went to Nakhwa Rock on the off chance. The landscape visible beyond the Baekma River was like a dream, differing only in season. How should I accept this dream?”
Sam-cheon shot a look that begged for answers. But in the inner chamber of Mokseo-gung, none of Gye-san, Geum, or Yong-yong—gathered to listen to the dream—ventured a hasty reply.
It was Gye-san who broke the heavy silence first.
“Someone stabs you, you say?”
“Yes.”
“But you don’t know who?”
“I didn’t see his face. His voice was unfamiliar too. His height was about this?”
Sam-cheon measured out the height she remembered with her hand. When she’d turned her head, his face hadn’t been visible, so it must have been around this height.
“A bit taller than my brother.”
“Yes.”
“If you spot anyone suspicious, tell me at once.”
“Yes. I will.”
“And His Majesty abandoned Sabi, you said?”
“……If there were a surprise attack or massive assault and enemy forces pushed all the way down here, it’s possible to abandon Sabi and choose to defend from Unggin Fortress instead. Sabi isn’t suited for defense, after all. But considering the current battle situation, the front line shouldn’t be pushed back this far. And besides, the flag was unfamiliar—nothing I’d ever seen before.”
This was the confusing part.
Not the flag of Goguryeo or Silla. A third force would have to gain dominance, invade Baekje, suffer defeat after defeat after defeat for the army to be pressed all the way to the gates of Sabi Fortress.
If that were the case, Gyeon-hun’s Army should already be wiped out by then—yet Sam-cheon was alive. The logic didn’t hold.
Gye-san ran her fingers through her own hair.
“Even by my reckoning, I don’t think Sabi Fortress will fall by autumn when the flowers of the Moon-Gate Pavilion shed their petals. But what if it’s not this autumn, but some distant autumn in the future?”
“If it’s a distant future, then yes, it’s possible.”
Victories couldn’t last forever, after all.
“So perhaps that’s why you only saw a brief moment. If the future is distant, there’s room for things to change. Simply put—the possibility of Sabi Fortress falling was created only yesterday.”
Usually Gye-san was loose in her thinking, but in unexpected situations like this, she wielded sharp intuition.
“Your Highness’s reasoning seems sound.”
“If a group using that flag appears, or if you have a similar dream again, we’ll think it over once more.”
“Yes. I sketched the flag so I won’t forget it.”
As Sam-cheon answered with a troubled expression, Geum, who had been silent, added her opinion.
“We need only keep closer watch on neighboring states’ movements. We can prepare this time too. If it’s a distant future, we’ll have even longer to make ready.”
While a grave atmosphere hung over them, Yong-yong let out a small laugh. The others’ eyes turned toward her—the reaction didn’t match the situation.
“My apologies. My mind wandered for a moment.”
Yong-yong rubbed the back of her neck, embarrassed at having drifted off during the serious conversation.
While the others let it pass, Gye-san took stock of the situation.
“I’ll speak to my brother and borrow the eyes of the Baek Clan. Then we’ll know quickly if trouble brews. For now, let’s do what we can today. Any reports?”
Geum stepped forward.
“Yes. The recruitment examination for supplemental personnel begins in three days. With five hundred thirty-one applicants, we’ve extended the examination period to one week.”
“Five hundred thirty-one applied for just thirty positions?”
Gye-san blinked in bewilderment.
“The number of applicants was surprisingly high.”
Gye-san and Geum looked at each other in confusion, so Yong-yong stepped in to explain.
“Our army has always been popular. We’re the only unit that provides survivor compensation funds separately, we have a higher survival rate than other armies, and most importantly—our food is delicious.”
Gye-san and Geum nodded in unison.
“That’s true. It’s excellent.”
“Our unit’s food really is quite good.”
The secret to the taste of Gyeon-hun’s Army’s meals was Deok-sim. Since she’d lent her hand, the communal meals boasted a level of refinement rarely seen in military dining.
Yong-yong raised a slight hand and spoke.
“I’ll take my leave now. When my leave ends, I’ll return to the unit.”
Gye-san only then remembered that Yong-yong was on leave.
“Do that. Why did you come today?”
“I heard the palace lady was taken away yesterday. Since she seems fine, I’ll return home as planned.”
Yong-yong glanced at Sam-cheon and smiled, teeth showing. The boyish grin was as fresh as when they’d first met.
‘They all get along well.’
Sam-cheon stood outside the banquet hall, smiling wryly.
The victory celebration banquet hosted by the Crown Prince was in full swing at Yeong-nak Hall, and music rang out.
Royalty and officials sat before delicacies, admiring the dancers’ movements. Eyes wavered, following the flutter of silk robes.
Some, drunk, stumbled without proper footing and made spectacles of themselves.
‘They could use this money to replace soldiers’ shields.’
Yesterday they’d locked Sam-cheon away and threatened her; today they threw a victory celebration. As if to say she should put yesterday’s ordeal out of her mind, the banquet gleamed with splendor.
While most laughed and carried on, Gye-san and Geum—the banquet’s true architects—looked troubled.
Royalty and other generals took turns pressing drink upon them, and it felt less like congratulation than harassment. Geum in particular looked half-present, her spirit half-gone.
‘Hmm? Why does her expression look like that?’
Looking closer, Sam-cheon saw someone offering Geum an alcohol bottle. Geum’s jaw trembled—whoever it was must have been rude about it.
Then Buyeo Hui, seated beside her, struck the man’s hand away sharply and intervened.
It was resolved.
Sam-cheon silently rooted for Buyeo Hui and straightened her gaze.
Around Sam-cheon stood other palace attendants. Since all the highest-ranking people within the palace were gathered, their numbers were considerable.
Being those who served royalty most closely, they refrained from gossip. Yet even so, they couldn’t help the sensation of eyes boring into the back of one’s head.
Sam-cheon tried not to mind, watching clouds drift across the clear sky. By the time she’d let seven clouds pass, a side door connecting to the banquet hall opened.
The one who emerged was a general from a unit that had joined as reinforcements during the last battle. Since he’d arrived just after the fighting ended and only marched in the triumphal procession, Sam-cheon didn’t remember his name.
The general approached Sam-cheon and spoke in a friendly tone.
“It’s been a while.”
“Palace attendant Sam-cheon greets the General.”
Not knowing why he was feigning familiarity, she bowed properly anyway.
She waited for him to pass with a kind smile in place when the general spoke in an exaggerated tone.
“I hear you went through hardship yesterday. Your face shows it.”
Unable to discern his intent, Sam-cheon lowered her eyes and arranged her face into an expression of sorrow. The general continued.
“It would be better to stop drifting between battlefields and retire to the palace to marry. It’s the capable ones who get caught between power struggles like shrimp caught between colliding whales.”
What presumption this was. She found it ridiculous, but Sam-cheon answered with a smile.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“Since the Crown Prince seems to have no inclination toward marriage, waiting risks you missing your prime. If your family is of modest standing and you struggle to find a match, I can arrange a good position for you.”
“That’s truly not necessary.”
“Should you change your mind, seek me out anytime. Then, farewell.”
The nameless general thus departed, having graciously worried over Sam-cheon’s future. As she watched his retinue trail closely behind him, Sam-cheon’s smile faded from her face.
What was his reason for seeking her out like that?
A vague unease lingered.
“Why that expression? Did someone pick a fight with you?”
Looking up, she found Buyeo Hui standing there, one eyebrow slightly raised.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————