Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 76

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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 76
Sam-cheon spoke rapidly, her words tumbling over each other in barely concealed panic.
“……I never met with Prince Tae. Before the tea made me lose consciousness entirely, I only overheard what people were saying.”
“I’m grateful. You’ve saved my life as well.”
Jungbuin Baeksssi’s voice carried the weight of deep regret.
“No. I was simply fortunate.”
“You’ve always had good fortune. Is there anything you wish for?”
“I didn’t do this hoping to gain anything.”
“Still, I’ll prepare whatever you might need.”
Just as Sam-cheon was about to decline again, a mounted warrior rode up alongside the cart and spoke.
“We’ve found Prince Tae attempting to flee near San-chae. What are your orders?”
Sam-cheon swallowed hard.
She’d never doubted that Jungbuin Baeksssi would rescue Buyeo Hui. But which son she would favor in a dispute between her eldest and youngest—that remained unknowable.
If she chose to let the matter pass quietly, Buyeo Hui’s position would grow precarious. He might face assassination threats for years to come.
From what Sam-cheon could judge, Tae was not a man who would stop.
Ju-hong tensed as well, her fists clenching tighter against her knees.
Jungbuin Baeksssi drew a long breath and spoke with newfound composure.
“Let Prince Tae go, but take his escorts into custody. They aided in the kidnapping of Prince Buyeo Hui—if they resist, you have leave to execute them. From this moment forward, I forbid Prince Tae entry to the Main Family Estate. Tell him I expect him to remain at his Manor House until such time as he receives an invitation as a guest.”
“Understood.”
The warrior answered with a crisp bow and rode away.
After a moment’s thought, Jungbuin Baeksssi raised her right hand slightly, and a mounted woman drew near.
“Your command?”
“Send word to the elder daughter-in-law. Inform her of this unfortunate occurrence, and tell her I am prepared to arrange a divorce if she wishes one. Her natal family will suffer no disadvantage, and I pledge to maintain their current level of support. Should she choose to remain in the marriage, I respect that as well. Tell her to come to me once she has decided.”
“I shall do so at once.”
The woman who answered rode off alone, quickening her horse’s pace.
Sam-cheon watched the horse disappear into the distance, then exhaled carefully. Ju-hong released her breath at the same moment, and their eyes met.
‘I want to lie down.’
‘So do I.’
The two exchanged a wordless look when Jungbuin Baeksssi spoke again.
“You must both be exhausted. Don’t sit there—lie down and rest. That’s an order. Sleep if you can.”
Staying upright risked more questions. Better to feign sleep.
Sam-cheon murmured her thanks and curled herself into a corner of the cart to lie down. Ju-hong had the same thought, slipping down beside her and closing her eyes.
And Jungbuin Baeksssi watched Sam-cheon—watched her injured hand, and the Hair Ribbon bound around it.
“Hyah!”
Tae drove his heels into the horse’s flanks, and it thrust forward with a rough exhale. The four escorts behind him matched his pace.
Once he confirmed San-chae was surrounded by soldiers, he bolted at full gallop.
“Hyah!”
Tae clenched his teeth and spurred the horse harder.
He had to escape this forest as quickly as possible.
The path was dark and his speed reckless; branches he couldn’t dodge scraped his cheek as he passed. In normal circumstances he would have raged, but now there was no room for such indulgence. He had to slip away unseen, return home, and feign ignorance.
If cornered, he could insist it was merely a quarrel between brothers—that he’d meant no harm, only meant to frighten Buyeo Hui a little. Jungbuin Baeksssi wouldn’t be able to do anything against that claim.
Only the Great King could punish a prince.
Tae had met the Great King only once, on the day of his Coming of Age. The Great King had offered brief words of congratulation and encouragement, then gifted him the Prized Horse he now rode.
He’d felt no paternal warmth between them, though the Great King insisted he treated all his sons equally. And so the princes’ disputes went uninterferred with, he’d heard.
So he wouldn’t involve himself in this either.
At worst, Jungbuin Baeksssi would scold him. She might even hand over another business or two to pacify Buyeo Hui.
The thought made Tae’s stomach turn.
‘Idiots.’
They couldn’t even manage one simple task. His teeth ground together.
Everything had gone according to plan—at least until the report came from the Manor House. He’d spirited Buyeo Hui and Sam-cheon away in a Cargo Cart, slipped out of Ungjin-seong, and locked them in the prison he’d prepared at San-chae.
Everything was flawless right up until he was ready to depart and see Buyeo Hui’s condition for himself.
So how had it come to this?
If he’d left even one escort at San-chae, they wouldn’t have escaped so easily.
Or perhaps he should have ordered them killed and buried the moment they arrived, without waiting to witness Buyeo Hui’s end.
There was no need to see it with his own eyes.
‘This is infuriating.’
Nothing was working out.
If he reported failure, that person might be disappointed in him.
‘No. I’ll ask for one more chance.’
Abducting a single court attendant was child’s play. The fact that such a simple task had been entrusted to him surely meant an intention to build a stronger bond.
He would become that person’s lifeline. Once he was indispensable, his standing in the family would change.
For a moment, his mother’s cold gaze flickered through his mind, but Tae forced a smile.
‘It’s fine. She’ll just be angry for a while.’
He’d feign remorse for a couple of months, wait for his chance, and then act.
As he steadied his nerves, one of his escorts drew alongside and shouted.
“We’re being pursued!”
Tae’s brow furrowed. He’d fled the moment he saw San-chae surrounded, yet they’d been spotted faster than expected.
Ahead, three trees lay fallen across the path, blocking the way. Tae pulled hard on the reins to avoid crashing into them.
“Whoa, whoa!”
He barely brought the horse to a stop before finding himself surrounded by soldiers with drawn blades. As they slowly closed their circle, Tae’s face flushed red with fury.
“How dare you raise swords against me?”
Masking his fear with bluster, the lead rider spoke.
“Your Highness may proceed freely. We are merely attempting to apprehend those suspected of involvement in Prince Buyeo Hui’s kidnapping. Those who resist will face summary execution—such are our orders.”
Tae’s eyes narrowed.
“And if I don’t permit it?”
“Jungbuin has forbidden your entry to the Main Family Estate. She asks that you remain in House Confinement at your Manor House until such time as she invites you as a guest.”
“What? A guest?”
His own mother had referred to him as a guest—a visitor.
Rage boiled up inside Tae.
Once word spread that he’d been barred from the Main Family Estate, his standing would shrivel irreparably.
Jungbuin Baeksssi had made it clear she had no intention of letting this matter pass quietly. This was a warning: stop offending her, or worse would follow.
“I won’t be shaken by something so trivial.”
Tae dismounted and turned to look behind him.
“Once I’ve put enough distance between us, kill them all and flee.”
He barked the order at his escorts and walked forward.
The soldiers parted silently, letting him through. No one moved to stop him, so Tae slipped away alone, unimpeded.
Behind him, the clash of steel, brief screams, and the neighing of startled horses filled the air, but he didn’t look back.
His final order was tantamount to a death sentence.
The surrounding force outnumbered his escort five to one, and among them were several of Jungbuin Baekssski’s own guards. His men had no chance of escape alive.
Still, they might take a few of the enemy with them.
Without his escorts he’d have immediate troubles, but he could hire new ones easily enough.
Tae moved forward, his gaze fixed ahead, and let out a harsh laugh.
“My mother will come to regret what she’s done today.”
After more than an hour’s walk, Tae arrived at his Manor House and immediately sensed something wrong as he passed through the gate.
He turned to the gatekeeper.
“Where is my wife?”
The gatekeeper’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.
“She’s gone to her natal family.”
“She left for her family without a word? After everything I’ve endured today!”
“My sincerest apologies……”
“Never mind. Bring me wine.”
Tae entered his inner chambers without bothering to change clothes and threw himself onto his bed. As he stewed in his anger, he muttered that once his wife returned, he’d teach her proper respect.

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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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