Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 83

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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 Eighty-Three
There had to be a limit to how long one could claim to be merely passing through, but surely staying a little longer wouldn’t hurt.
Gye-san and Sam-cheon appeared loose in their manner, yet they were careful not to let anyone too close—with the exception of those who had walked beside them since childhood.
It would help to remain until Weol-ya and Dam-no were fully absorbed into Gyeon-hun-gun.
So, just a bit longer.
Before that, I’d have to ask forgiveness for deceiving everyone…….
I was about to leave when I spotted the three Dol brothers approaching from afar—Jin-dol looking dejected while Dol-bok and Mak-dol tried to console him.
‘Those dunderheads.’
Yong-yong waited for the three to pass. But Jin-dol stopped before the Zelkova Tree and let out a heavy sigh.
“My wife’s going to be furious, isn’t she?”
Mak-dol started at this and asked urgently.
“Brother, you’re not planning to tell her you fought, are you?”
“The unit’s supplies have gotten tight. They’re cutting wages for three months.”
Though Dol-bok, sensing the gravity, offered his own advice, Jin-dol shook his head.
“Sam-sik’s younger brother lives in our village. It’ll come out right away if I lie, and if I’m caught, I’ll really be cast out.”
“Then that’s a real problem.”
Dol-bok, understanding the difficulty, proposed an alternative.
“What if you told her the reason you fought?”
“I can’t do that.”
A firm refusal.
“Why not? She’d understand if you explained.”
Mak-dol agreed and added his voice.
“Your wife would get angry right along with you. Those bastards tried to poison the children—a madman has things he can say and things he can’t. Don’t you think so?”
“That’s right. We should tell the Training Commander they called him a demon and a fox-spirit.”
Though both urged him on, Jin-dol’s resolve didn’t waver.
“She’d be even angrier than I am. That’s why I can’t.”
“Why not?”
Mak-dol’s voice rose in frustration.
“If I told her the truth, knowing her temperament, she’d march straight to those bastards and rip every hair from their heads. Things would spiral out of control.”
Jin-dol knew his wife’s nature well. She was the sort who would tear out hair—or worse.
If that happened, more people would hear about why the fight started in the first place.
Talk spreads and grows with each telling. Once suspicion takes root, it becomes impossible to contain. The fact that Yong-yong looked so impossibly young was enough; making this worse would only complicate everything further.
This was why the three had beaten that man so badly—why they’d beaten the knowledge into his bones so thoroughly he’d never speak of it again.
“If the Training Commander hadn’t been there, we’d all be dead. He taught men who couldn’t even read proper Swordsmanship and Shield Technique.”
“That’s true. I’ve heard other units use shield soldiers as arrow fodder.”
“And we know the debt of saving Geum-su. I don’t want to make this bigger than it is. Three months of hardship—that’s enough.”
When Jin-dol spoke with such resolution, Dol-bok patted his shoulder encouragingly.
“Whatever the Training Commander truly is, he’s our savior. We can’t forget that.”
“Agreed!”
And so the three passed beneath the Zelkova Tree, where a breeze stirred the leaves. For a moment, Yong-yong’s form flickered through the rustling foliage, then vanished again.
Beyond the tree, the sun was setting. Darkness would come soon, but Yong-yong couldn’t climb down from the branches.
The moment the sun rose the next morning, a cart arrived at the Byeol-chae.
The sturdy wooden cart had thick quilted awnings hung over it, and a military-grade horse was tethered at the front.
When Sam-cheon and her attendants came outside, the cart driver bowed respectfully.
“I shall convey you to Sabi.”
“I’m much obliged.”
Sam-cheon greeted the driver and loaded the baggage she’d prepared in advance onto the cart. As she hoisted the last piece, footsteps sounded from behind.
“So you’re ready to depart.”
Buyeo Hui appeared, and Sam-cheon’s eyes narrowed.
“What about the relief supplies?”
“That was Mother’s doing. If you wish to lodge a complaint, direct it to her.”
His grinning manner was utterly insufferable.
“My abilities are being misrepresented, which is troubling, but the rumors about the prince will be buried. I appreciate that.”
At least no one would hear anymore that Gye-san was emotional, foolish, or guilty of serious crimes.
The narrative had been transformed into something heartwarming: a ruler using her Pardon Authority to save capable subordinates, which inadvertently allowed Buyeo Hui to be saved as well.
Buyeo Hui opened his mouth with a sullen expression.
“I thought you’d be angry.”
“You did it for my sake, after all.”
As she spoke, she noticed Ju-hong standing behind Buyeo Hui, holding the horse’s reins. Ju-hong, dressed in practical, well-padded clothes, managed an awkward smile.
She looked as though she were embarking on a long journey.
“I’ve decided to accompany you to Sabi.”
“……Personally?”
Sam-cheon asked back in confusion, and Ju-hong’s shoulders drooped.
“Yes.”
A Palace Attendant escorting another Palace Attendant seemed slightly odd.
Sam-cheon shot a questioning look at Buyeo Hui.
“In selecting soldiers, I found none trustworthy enough. Ju-hong is the only one I truly rely on now. Beyond the matter of numbers, she gives me greater peace of mind in terms of actual skill.”
Sam-cheon knew Ju-hong’s abilities well. The problem was that Buyeo Hui had never separated from Ju-hong’s side before.
The thought of sending her shadow-like guardian away with herself felt burdensome.
Yet suddenly, Ju-hong’s face brightened.
“Is that truly so?”
“What? Why?”
Buyeo Hui asked as though displeased.
“Oh, no. I thought you were sending me away because I’d disappointed you.”
“Foolish talk. When you meet Gye-san after you arrive, explain clearly that Sam-cheon is in danger, and return quickly.”
“Yes!”
Ju-hong answered with vigor and loaded her own belongings onto the cart.
Sam-cheon, feeling the awkwardness, spoke defensively.
“I intended to report this to the prince upon my return.”
The corners of Buyeo Hui’s eyes lifted slightly.
“I know you. You’d certainly downplay it. Your escort’s lips might be sealed, but Ju-hong’s won’t be.”
Dissatisfaction filled Sam-cheon’s gaze. Buyeo Hui laughed and raised a finger in signal.
At that, people who had stood at a distance approached, each carrying a box. Sam-cheon, guessing they were gifts, spoke first.
“You don’t need to give us anything.”
“These are for Gye-san.”
“Ah, yes.”
While Sam-cheon looked embarrassed, Buyeo Hui loaded two of the boxes onto the cart.
“The smaller one contains Tea Leaves for Gye-san. The larger box holds Books that Geum-su wanted to read.”
Then Buyeo Hui opened the lid of the third box and drew out two swords.
“For both of you escorts. A memento of your visit to Ungchin-seong.”
A-rang and San-cho accepted the swords with awkward courtesy. Hesitating, they carefully drew the blades, and their expressions changed visibly.
“This, this, this pattern! These are the Dong-ho Swords, aren’t they?”
“Goodness, the blade sits perfectly in my hand.”
What Buyeo Hui had given required no explanation—they were simply excellent blades. Watching the two brighten, Buyeo Hui smiled faintly and spoke.
“You’ve worked hard. Please continue to exert yourselves until our return.”
“We’re grateful. I’m hardly worthy of such a precious sword.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
San-cho hung her new sword at her waist while A-rang clutched her scabbard tightly. Ju-hong, watching, grew excited and showed her own blade.
“Mine is a Dong-ho Sword too. The cutting power is different. Once you use it, you’ll understand why everyone speaks of Dong-ho with such reverence.”
The three became absorbed in conversation about their swords.
And Buyeo Hui approached Sam-cheon.
“This is for you.”
Buyeo Hui drew a Hairpin from his robe. It resembled his mother’s hairpin in form, but the petals were crafted from pomegranate stone.
“This is too fine a gift for me.”
“If you refuse, those girls will lose their nerve and have to set the swords down, won’t they?”
Sam-cheon watched Buyeo Hui’s grinning face, her lips pressing firmly together. Behind his shoulder, San-cho and A-rang were dancing with delight.
“Did you know I would refuse?”
“You’ve looked burdened since yesterday. Continue as you have. Since when did you ever refuse anything?”
“……I accept it gratefully.”
Buyeo Hui placed the hairpin in her hair with his own hands. Set together, they gleamed as though they had been fashioned as a pair from the beginning.
“It suits you well. Just like your mother’s hairpin. Just like you yourself.”

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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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