Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 98

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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 Ninety-Eight
Yong-yong had expected criticism, disappointment, or hurt. But Gye-san was on the verge of tears.
Since that day in the forest when the two children had been driven like prey, Gye-san had not wept. Not even when they buried the soldiers’ bodies had she let tears show.
Once, when Sam-cheon had asked her why, Gye-san had answered this way.
‘My role is to stand firm in this place.’
The moment tears began to gather in Gye-san’s eyes, Yong-yong could not hide her shock.
“Your Highness, please don’t cry. It’s my fault.”
“I’m not crying! It’s just my nose running.”
Gye-san made the excuse without seeming to notice how red her eyes had become, and Yong-yong’s sharp glare softened as she snatched the handkerchief away.
“Yes, let me dry your nose, then.”
When Yong-yong offered the handkerchief, Gye-san snatched it from her with a half-glare.
Sam-cheon, too, was flustered by Gye-san’s tears.
She had barely collected herself when she drove her elbow sharply into Geum’s ribs, then dragged the startled woman out without a word.
Once outside the dining hall, their voices fell silent. Sam-cheon drew in the cool dawn air and released a long breath.
“That’s a relief.”
Yong-yong had been forgiven. Sam-cheon had thought Gye-san would shield her, but relief came nonetheless.
Geum glanced back toward where the two remained, then murmured as though to herself.
“It seems the princess has come to rely on Yong-yong quite deeply.”
“I’ve come to rely on her too, it seems. When she said she was leaving, my heart sank.”
She had entered into service as Gye-san’s guard and protected the household of Mokseo-gung. Yet she did more than simply protect them—she taught them swordsmanship so they could survive on their own.
Beyond swordsmanship, Gye-san had learned countless things from Yong-yong that the palace walls could never reveal.
More a teacher than a guard.
Geum spoke with evident concern in her voice.
“Truth be told, neither would I. Surely she won’t really leave us?”
“If she tries, I’ll cling to her trouser leg—whatever it takes.”
Sam-cheon understood that the feelings they had accumulated were not one-sided. Still, if Yong-yong insisted on leaving, there would be nothing to be done about it then.
Sam-cheon raised her eyes to the sky. Yong-yong’s fears would be resolved once the Wol-lang-dan’s time began to flow forward again.
Sam-cheon closed her eyes and poured her heart into prayer.
That their time would flow in its natural course. That they might each reclaim their lives.
Having prayed with all her sincerity, Sam-cheon slowly opened her eyes.
“The sun will rise soon. Tomorrow will be a crowded day.”
“We still haven’t found who commissioned this attack, and we have no leads. I cannot fathom how someone could do such a thing while wearing a human face.”
Geum found the malice of this unknown enemy unbelievable.
“For the time being, we’ll need to inspect all incoming provisions and verify everything again before serving. It seems necessary.”
“I’ll handle that part. It would be good to assign a dedicated person.”
“Yes. I’ll go see Young-hwa.”
On the outskirts of Gyeonhwon-gun, there stood a warehouse that had fallen into disuse long ago. Upon stepping inside, Sam-cheon’s eyes fell upon Young-hwa, kneeling with both hands bound.
Young-hwa, trembling with anxiety, let out a whimper the moment she saw Sam-cheon.
“Lady, Lady. Oh, please—”
Sam-cheon passed by the now-sobbing Young-hwa with cold indifference and nodded to the man standing behind her.
“I apologize for such a first introduction. I am Sam-cheon, a palace attendant.”
“Ah, yes. You may call me Dam-no.”
As he stroked his beard and spoke in an easy manner, something like familiarity flickered across his face.
In truth, Dam-no had been watching Sam-cheon from a distance for the past several years. While others rotated out once a year, Dam-no alone had always maintained that distance, keeping his vigil.
In doing so, an internal intimacy had accumulated until she felt to him like a daughter he had raised.
Sam-cheon bowed her head to him.
“Thank you for protecting me all this while. I’ll do my best to resolve everyone’s problem.”
Her expression was so full of resolve that Dam-no was taken aback.
“I… I hope you haven’t taken it the wrong way.”
“How could I harbor such feelings after receiving so much help? I look forward to working with you.”
After this brief exchange with Dam-no, Sam-cheon turned back to Young-hwa, who opened her mouth as though she had been waiting for this moment.
“Lady, please hear me out. That man gave me poison, yes, but I never intended to use it.”
Sam-cheon looked down at Young-hwa and spoke with certainty.
“No, you used it. Twenty-one people are dead.”
When she named the exact number, Dam-no’s expression shifted. The contempt that filled his eyes made clear he now regarded Young-hwa as barely worth his notice.
Unaware of this change, Young-hwa shook her head.
“No. Truly, I never meant to. I was going to report it to you as soon as I arrived at the barracks this morning.”
Sam-cheon withdrew a handkerchief and drew closer to Young-hwa. Thinking her tears were about to be wiped, Young-hwa lifted her head, only to have the cloth forced into her mouth.
“I know you have no son.”
Young-hwa’s eyes went dull in an instant.
The clarity of that transformation struck like a blade. This must be Young-hwa’s true self.
“Who ordered you to infiltrate Gyeonhwon-gun?”
Young-hwa shook her head, her expression one of resolute silence—whatever happened, she would not speak.
Sam-cheon lifted Young-hwa’s chin and met her eyes directly.
“If you were the kind of person to talk right away, they would have let you use the poison and then escape. You’d be executed if you stayed here, yet you kept up the act anyway.”
Young-hwa turned her face away, avoiding the gaze, but could not hide her confusion.
She couldn’t fathom how every detail of the plan was known. She was trying to gauge what else had been discovered when Sam-cheon spoke again.
“Why pretend your child had been abducted? What were you trying to gain with that pity?”
This time, Young-hwa gave no response. Dam-no, who had been watching, stepped forward.
“This sort of thing happens to be my specialty.”
Dam-no drew out a dagger and stabbed Young-hwa’s knee. Even Young-hwa, who looked as though she could endure torture without flinching, contorted in agony.
As she began to whimper, Young-hwa looked up pleadingly.
Sam-cheon spoke with cold contempt.
“Your resolve is weaker than expected.”
“The pain is severe, but the wound poses no threat to life. It’s useful to know where. Here, this spot. These locations and these work similarly.”
Dam-no helpfully indicated each point. Sam-cheon memorized the areas he showed her and asked.
“To get her statement, I’ll need to remove the handkerchief, won’t I?”
She had worried about her attempting suicide, but Dam-no laughed heartily.
“I’ve already checked her mouth, and biting her tongue won’t matter. As long as you stop the bleeding properly, a severed tongue won’t kill her.”
Young-hwa’s face went ashen white.
Sam-cheon removed the handkerchief from her mouth.
“I don’t know anything. I only followed orders. I was told to infiltrate, so I infiltrated. I lived faithfully. Then yesterday I received my orders. That’s all there is.”
“Tell me who sent you, and I’ll make sure you die easily.”
“I truly don’t know anything. Please believe me.”
Dam-no stepped forward again.
“Let me verify whether she really knows nothing.”
“Young-hwa is very good at lying.”
Dam-no let a friendly smile cross his face, then adjusted his grip on the dagger.
“I am skilled at many things. You wait outside, Sam-cheon. It will be loud.”
“I’m counting on you.”
As she stepped out of the barracks, Wol-ya stood guard at the door.
Sam-cheon nodded slightly to her.
“Thank you for your help. It seems I was right about the bikaecho.”
Wol-ya’s eyes, filled with confusion, turned toward Sam-cheon.
“Ah, forgive me. I misspoke. You told me about it in a dream.”
When Sam-cheon’s face grew troubled, Wol-ya smiled gently.
“I’m glad the dream was helpful.”
Wol-ya studied Sam-cheon, who smiled awkwardly.
Sam-cheon’s manner toward her had changed as well. Where once she had been filled only with the will to repay a debt, there was now a subtle ease about her.
The distance between them seemed mysteriously closer.
“It seems much happened in that dream.”

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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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