Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 88

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

Chapter Eighty-Eight
Laughter echoed from Gye-san’s private quarters in the heart of the Gyeon-hun-gun encampment—a sound that hadn’t been heard in far too long. Gye-san lay on her side across the bed, listening intently to Sam-cheon’s voice, until curiosity finally won out and she asked.
“So who fired the arrow?”
Sam-cheon, seated at the foot of the bed, set down her cup before taking a sip.
“Princess Hwa-ran. She needed a witness with adequate martial skill. The bandits’ plan was to inflict wounds on their own faces and flee safely.”
“Strong enough not to flee at the sound of screams, but not so strong as to pursue the fleeing?”
“Yes. She was trying to gauge your disposition and abilities, it seems.”
“That’s where it failed. If Ju-hong had stepped in, escape would’ve been impossible.”
“They must have decided it was adequate since we noticed the ambush but didn’t immediately give chase.”
Gye-san tilted her head, weighing the logic.
“What was that bandit, really?”
“A soldier sent as escort from her family.”
Crossing the border, they would have resigned themselves to death.
Yet Hwa-ran had hoped they would all return together, and as a result, such a poorly conceived plan had been set in motion.
With her curiosity satisfied, Gye-san was left only with bitterness.
Had she not gained freedom regarding marriage as a reward, she too would have lived at the Great King’s discretion.
“When does the plan begin?”
“The palace should already be weeping as it prepares to depart.”
“I hope it goes well.”
Sam-cheon echoed her sentiment with a hum before taking another sip. Dried flower petals floated delicately atop the tea water Buyeo Hui had sent for Gye-san.
Idling like this made the feeling of being home real again.
“The fragrance is quite lovely.”
“You’ve always had a particular fondness for chrysanthemum flower tea.”
As Gye-san nodded, it occurred to her that she preferred her tea with astringent leaves. And Hui knew both their tastes well.
If the fragrance suddenly felt burdensome, would that be strange?
“I’m glad you’re back. I told you to take your time, but I worried myself sick. We’ve never been apart this long, you know.”
“I missed you terribly too.”
“I wanted to see you. When I heard it was dangerous, my chest wouldn’t stop racing. I’ll have to prepare more carefully going forward.”
Since Ju-hong had reported everything that had happened, Gye-san’s concern seemed to deepen.
It was meant to be just a brief visit to meet her father—or rather, Man-chun—but she had nonetheless become entangled in several incidents.
“It was dangerous, but I think it was right to go, as you said. I needed closure.”
“Do you know what became of your father?”
“I’ve decided not to concern myself with it anymore. Now he’s Man-chun.”
Sam-cheon took another long sip of tea. Though she felt perfectly at ease, Gye-san’s face twisted as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
“You have me, you know.”
“That’s right. I have you, so I’m fine.”
Simply being at Gye-san’s side warmed her back and satisfied her in ways she couldn’t quite name.
Isn’t this what family feels like? A presumptuous thought, perhaps, but there it was.
“You have Gold and your brother too.”
“That’s right.”
Sam-cheon echoed the sentiment once more.
“Still, I worry about my brother a bit.”
Buyeo Hui’s face flashed through her mind.
‘You’re free to pretend you don’t understand for now and run away.’
And she had run.
The rabbit fur collar he’d placed around her neck before she departed came to mind, making her nape tingle inexplicably. The hair pin in her hair suddenly felt conspicuous.
Before she knew it, her fingers were worrying the hair pin, and she felt the cool, smooth touch of garnet stone. Gye-san, noticing Sam-cheon’s side locks, asked.
“That’s your mother’s memento and your brother’s gift, isn’t it? They suit you well.”
“It’s not just these. He also gave me a treasure-grade brush.”
“If you hadn’t accepted, he would have sent something even more extravagant. He saved your life—taking nothing at all would have burdened him more.”
Thinking of the debt accumulated with Wol-ya’s group, Gye-san’s words rang true.
“You’re right. He’s that kind of person. I even heard him threaten that he’d bury me in gold and jewels.”
As she spoke, her expression darkened, and Gye-san’s face fell.
“You’re worried too, aren’t you? Your brother should be fine, though?”
Brought back to attention by Gye-san’s words, Sam-cheon opened her mouth.
“Ungiin-seong must be in considerable chaos right now. With Prince Tae stripped of his royal status, they’ll have to root out and punish all those implicated. Still, with Jung-bu-in making such a bold decision, it should be resolved well.”
“It’s difficult. My brother has always come through for me when things were hard, but I have nothing to offer him in return.”
Sam-cheon, observing the dejected Gye-san, offered a suggestion.
“What if you sent him a letter? Along with a substantial gift to draw notice. It would publicly establish that the Undefeated General and the prince are close.”
Gye-san’s eyes brightened.
“Is there a way to make it visible?”
“If we travel under the Gyeon-hun-gun flag, they’ll search at the gates of Ungiin-seong. They’ll open everything because of the issue with weapons. If we time it when there are many waiting to be inspected, word will spread in no time.”
“Will something like that truly help?”
“Of course. You’re the most respected person in Baekje right now.”
“Ahem, that’s rather odd to hear. I only tried to come back alive. Without your help, it would have been impossible anyway. In any case, choose something convincing.”
“I will.”
Sam-cheon added another task to her mental list for tomorrow.
If it could be of even modest help, she’d be satisfied. She’d ask Ju-hong to delay their departure slightly, then move quickly to complete it.
As she was calculating the time, Gye-san suddenly let out a deep sigh of relief.
“Still, I’m grateful you’ll be able to keep watch from closer at hand going forward.”
“…You mean Wol-ya?”
“Yes. Since he said he wanted to come and go whenever problems arose, I registered him with the Gyeon-hun-gun and gave him an entry pass. The person who always stood to his right was tested as well. His name is Dam-no, and he’s decided to remain in the Gyeon-hun-gun as a soldier.”
Sam-cheon rolled the names of Wol-ya and Dam-no over in her mouth.
It felt as if two people had suddenly entered the walls she’d built around herself, yet she felt no resistance. Only a certain wariness remained.
“Won’t the other soldiers think it strange?”
“I’ll assign them ranks to make sense of it. For now, they’ll be disguised as new recruits, and if we say they’re meant to perform secret missions externally, it should suffice.”
“I see. If they’re nearby, at least I can express my gratitude each time they help.”
“I’ve wanted to repay their kindness anyway, so if all they ask is to protect you, I’m the grateful one.”
“It still feels like the debt just keeps piling up. And I’m worried about what they’ll eventually ask me to do…”
Sam-cheon trailed off without meaning to. Since she couldn’t even guess what they wanted, a creeping anxiety was unavoidable.
“I wish I could help you repay it. Still, things worked out. I was worried about three of them, after all.”
“Three of them?”
“The one who puts people in jars, the one who commissioned your abduction to Prince Tae, and the one at Nakwhaam who meant to stab you.”
Hearing Gye-san’s words, Sam-cheon was rendered speechless.
“There really are three.”
“It would be good to know who they are, but it’s frustrating not knowing.”
Sam-cheon agreed with a nod.
There was a high likelihood that the one who commissioned Prince Tae was Gyeol, but she didn’t relay that. The moment she spoke, there would be confrontation, and she needed to be cautious.
“But don’t worry. Your benefactors’ Swordsmanship is formidable. Just sparring with them improved my skills noticeably. I might end up stronger than Yong-yong.”
Her thoughts naturally drifted to Yong-yong. Since Gye-san had said little, Sam-cheon knew only the rough outline of the situation.
“Why did Yong-yong disappear?”
“I think… I hurt her.”
At the sight of Gye-san’s dejected expression, Sam-cheon couldn’t bring herself to ask further.
Having gazed at the brush, Sam-cheon carefully wrapped it again and stretched out on the bed.
Nothing beats my own quarters.
She loved the comfort of a familiar space. Just as she pulled the fragrant blanket over herself and closed her eyes, I-re’s voice reached her, scattering sleep’s approach.
[Urgent news.]
Sam-cheon’s eyes snapped open.
[An urgent dispatch has come from Sabigung.]
Throwing off the blanket and rising, Sam-cheon glanced at the short sword she kept at the head of the bed.
“To our unit?”

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