Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 9

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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 9
“Because no one will admit to striking her.”
As Hwi explained her reasoning, Gyesan’s eyes widened.
“Then why are we doing this?”
Hwi, seeing the confusion in her gaze, pressed her palms against her chest in exasperation.
“Think about it—if the Palace Servants of Yeonhwa Palace struck your Palace Maid, everyone will know about it.”
“So what?”
“Usually, disputes between Palace Servants go unspoken. They could escalate into conflicts between their patrons.”
“Right.”
“But you and Hae-sshi already have deep grievances. Since you’re known as the victim, people will see her as the perpetrator this time—whether she was involved or not. She’ll earn the reputation of a cruel woman who vented her anger on a young Palace Maid. And the rumors about how she starved you and mistreated you will gain more weight.”
“I want to punish Hae-sshi too, but I want to find the people who beat Samcheon. She’s been groaning and suffering all night, and those beasts are sleeping soundly somewhere.”
The cheek that had been struck by Hae-sshi was swollen, and Samcheon’s body was covered in bruises from the hands of cruel people. Every time Gyesan saw her lying there, rage burned in her chest.
Hwi, watching Gyesan’s fierce expression, lifted the corner of her mouth slightly.
“We don’t need to find them.”
Gyesan glared at Hwi stubbornly.
“I don’t care. I want to find them.”
“Hae-sshi will find them herself and punish them. Her face has already been dragged through the mud—do you think she’ll sit still?”
Now that she thought about it, Hwi had a point. As Gyesan wavered, Hwi pressed on.
“Besides, at best you were planning to give them the same treatment they gave her.”
“Yes. I was going to beat them the same way.”
“Hae-sshi will repay them tenfold. That woman is like a snake.”
Gyesan recalled Hae-sshi’s cold face. She seemed like someone who would return it hundredfold, not tenfold.
“Were you a genius in a past life? So the idea is to just damage Hae-sshi’s reputation?”
“And there’s another thing. If word spreads that we’ve been investigating, no one will touch Samcheon again.”
“Because they’ll think we’ll intervene next time too?”
“No fool would harm a Palace Maid backed by the royal family. You might not be afraid, but I am.”
Hwi’s maternal family was Baekje’s greatest merchant house, respected for both wealth and influence.
With Hwi as her silent patron, Samcheon’s life in the palace would naturally become peaceful.
“You’ve gotten smarter since you left, brother.”
“Watch and learn.”
“I will! Let me try this time.”
Gyesan stepped forward eagerly, blocking a Palace Servant’s path.
“Was it you?”
Her sharp gaze made the Palace Servant bow slightly as she spoke.
“May I ask what this concerns, my lady?”
“Did you beat Samcheon?”
“No, my lady. Are you perhaps searching for those who assaulted the girl Samcheon?”
“Yes. I’m going to find them and give them exactly what they gave her. Could it be you?”
Realizing the situation was serious, the Palace Servant’s face grew grave as she answered.
“I assure you, it was not me, my lady.”
“Is that so? Do you know of anyone suspicious?”
“I’m sorry, I do not.”
“Go then. But I will find them. If they beat the girl that badly, they should be ready for the same.”
Hwi, standing a step behind, murmured, “Not bad at all.”
Their coordinated performance continued until rumors that “Gyesan’s Palace Maid had been beaten by Palace Servants of Yeonhwa Palace and was now at death’s door” circled through the palace twice over.
Hae-sshi took pains with her appearance. She applied rouge to her lips darker than usual and chose the most ornate Hairpin. The face reflected in the Bronze Mirror was more beautiful than it had ever been.
She turned to her Palace Maid Danhwa with a satisfied expression.
“Tell my father to request additional favors. I need to replenish the empty coffers.”
“Yes, I shall convey that, my lady.”
Danhwa bowed respectfully and withdrew.
One chest of gold was empty; she would need two more to lift her mood.
Just as she was about to rise and leave for the gathering, Danhwa returned with a troubled expression.
“The Boat Outing has been cancelled. Word came that the weather is growing chill, and they wish to reschedule for another day.”
Hae-sshi’s lips tightened. Every gathering since yesterday had been cancelled one after another.
It was humiliating, but as long as the King’s favor rested on her, it would not last.
Still, she would not forget this insult.
Hae-sshi removed the Hairpin with apparent composure.
“I was tired anyway. I think I’ll take an afternoon rest.”
Just as she rose to change into more comfortable clothes, another Palace Maid entered with a stricken face.
“We have a problem, my lady.”
“Don’t be dramatic. What is it?”
Irritation colored Hae-sshi’s voice.
The Palace Maid was frightened but could not stay silent. Keeping her mouth shut would only invite greater disaster.
“Prince Hwi and Princess Gyesan are stopping Palace Servants in the corridors, searching for those who beat Samcheon.”
“Who is Samcheon?”
“A young Palace Maid of Mokseo Palace, my lady.”
As the small face of the young girl came to mind, Hae-sshi’s brow narrowed.
“They’re looking for me?”
“No, my lady. It seems the girl was dragged away last night and beaten severely. She is said to be hovering at death’s door.”
The Palace Maid’s voice grew smaller and smaller.
“How absurd. Why is that my concern? I was planning to deal with her anyway—they simply did a sloppy job. Let them suspect. Once the two of them catch the culprits, everything will settle down.”
“The trouble is… Palace Maids of Yeonhwa Palace were involved.”
The Palace Maid who had delivered the truth kowtowed flat to the floor.
Hae-sshi’s fist clenched without her intending it. Her subordinates had lost all sense and acted on their own impulses.
“I don’t recall giving any such order.”
“I am deeply sorry.”
The Palace Maid who had brought the news bowed first, and the other Palace Maids watching for her reaction followed, prostrating themselves on the floor.
Hae-sshi sighed and set down the Hairpin.
“I’ll rest for an hour. In the meantime, find out how the rumors are spreading and identify which girls were involved.”
Without changing her clothes, she summoned her servants to prepare for sleep.
After an hour’s rest, Hae-sshi heard Danhwa’s report. Five Palace Maids were kneeling in the courtyard, as she had ordered them to be brought.
“What if that girl dies?”
“That’s why I was careful.”
“You kicked her the hardest.”
These whispered exchanges stopped abruptly as the girls realized Hae-sshi had arrived, their heads snapping down.
Hae-sshi approached them with an unhurried gait, looking down at her Palace Maids.
“Why did you do something I never ordered?”
“We have committed a grave offense.”
“Please forgive us.”
Their trembling terror only deepened her displeasure. Because of them, her position had become precarious.
The previous matter could be excused as youthful excess born of inexperience in raising a child. She had taken precautions—she had never inflicted direct harm, merely reduced the girl’s meals and nothing more, certainly never starved her.
She had been careful to receive only as much blame as was proportionate, not a grain more.
But now rumors added that Gyesan’s Palace Maid had been beaten and left dying.
“She was starved for a week, locked in a storage shed, whipped before the Princess’s eyes to frighten her. And what else? That I have no maternal love, that I’m cruel because I cannot bear children?”
As Hae-sshi continued, the Palace Maids shrank further into themselves.
“Why must I hear such things?”
“W-we are deeply sorry.”
Hae-sshi looked coldly down at the Palace Maids as they prostrated themselves in supplication. How could she ease this rage, even slightly?
She swallowed her fury and opened her mouth.
“You will be whipped and reflect on your mistakes. Let your screams carry from outside the storage room. Ten lashes each. Take them away.”

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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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