Chapter 36
The incident with the bamboo tube blew over quickly.
Namgung Choomyung backed off somewhat because Namgung Jeokmyung, known as the family's biggest fool, played it cool and said, "Why make such a fuss over love letters exchanged between a young man and woman?"
The fact that Jin Cheong-ak showed proof he'd taken out Chuhyeolgeomgwi also had a significant impact.
Namgung Choomyung wouldn't have wanted some unexpected formidable opponent messing up the plans he'd been working on for years.
The whole thing escalated into a wild rumor that Namgung Soyo's bodyguard had sliced Chuhyeolgeomgwi in half with a single move, and for about half a day, more than five other bodyguards showed up wanting lessons.
Of course, Jin Cheong-ak brushed that off, too.
But the information from the Heavenly Dragon Gate, delivered through the bamboo tube, wasn't so easily ignored.
First, the initial piece of information:
[The hit list from Salmak that the Namgung Family's been holding onto is the real deal.]
This made Namgung Jeokmyung appear much more trustworthy.
But the real shocker was the second piece of information, the answer to who Namgung Choomyung really was:
[It's all very mysterious, so we investigated, tracing back from the fact that he's at least using human skin masks. After examining various clues, we narrowed it down to three possibilities.
Personally, I think we need to take a very close look at this Yeonghwang Yuse (永皇遗世) group. There's hardly any information about them, and even our Heavenly Dragon Gate hasn't been able to determine exactly when they were established.
They're acting strangely for a mere offshoot of Salmak. They all have this repulsive, festering wound on their left shoulder blade, and some of the top fighters they're associated with... If you want the juicy details, come find me ♡]
Swish.
Seolyeong drew her sword, her expression one of utter intolerance.
"Ak, have you lost your mind?"
Jin Cheong-ak simply shrugged off her outburst.
"I just recited what was written on the paper."
Yes, that must be it. It was so detailed, it had to be Seol Seorin, the head of Chwihyangwon and Seolyeong's older sister, who wrote it.
"Was the middle part ripped out?"
"I couldn't read the whole thing. How was I supposed to decipher that woman's chicken scratch in such a short time? There's no way I could do that."
Yeonghwang Yuse. What an arrogant name.
Based on their actions, it's obvious they're the ones who tried to kill Namgung Soyo and were after the Hwasan Sect's Gongcheong Seokyu. Just as I suspected, they're in league with Namgung Choomyung.
'Gongcheong Seokyu is a well-known miracle drug, so of course, people are going to want it.'
Why they tried to kill Namgung Soyo while disguised as Namgung Choomyung remains a mystery. He just has a gut feeling it has something to do with Namgung Soyo's background.
Jin Cheong-ak opened a book he had brought from somewhere and said,
"Looks like the boss lady is dying to see our Miss Namgung..."
"I'll drop by when I have a chance."
"Time? We have plenty of time, don't we? Or did you guys start some top-secret mission without telling me?"
"You don't want to know."
"What difference does it make? If I'm going to get hurt either way, I'd rather know what I'm getting into, right?"
"Keep talking."
"So, it's okay if I say two things?"
"I'll chase you around stark naked for half a day."
"………………"
While tolerating Jin Cheong-ak's nonsense, Seolyeong, who had returned from her walk around the garden, plopped down on a chair and started munching on some rice cakes.
"Looks like guests are starting to arrive. Isn't this the first time the Namgung Family has actually felt... lived in?"
Yeil perked up her ears and listened to the maids gossiping on the other side of the wall.
"The problem is we have to prepare a ton of medicinal herbs. Young Master Choomyung's condition has worsened..."
"Oh dear... what are we going to do? If the second young master passes away, the young lord and the third young master will take over, right? Namgung Pae doesn't seem to care, though."
"It would be great for us if that foolish young lord actually managed to become the head. He's always out and about, so he wouldn't be underfoot, right?"
"Yes. They say Chorhong, or whatever her name is, is a beauty and quite easygoing. It would be wonderful if she just settled in as the lady of the house, concubine or not, and we didn't have any family drama."
"Dream on, girl. The old-timers coming today will be totally against it. You have no idea how chaotic things got last time with all the marriage talk about the young lord and the other masters..."
While they were eavesdropping on the servants' surprisingly practical and forward-thinking gossip, Chang-a returned to the room and quietly called to her.
"Miss."
With some random woman she didn't know.
"Are you Namgung Soyo?"
Yeil, who had her eyes closed, nodded at the unfamiliar voice. Then the woman said,
"I'm Soya, Lady Danli Mookran of the Seonu Family sent me. She's the older sister of the Namgung Family's late Grand Lady. The Grand Lady wishes to see you, Namgung Soyo."
Danli Mookran.
It was a name she had heard through Chang-a.
But it sounded more like a command than a request, and Chang-a and Seolyeong didn't like the woman's attitude one bit.
"Miss, you've been unwell lately; you shouldn't overexert yourself..."
"Lady Danli Mookran knows all about you coughing up blood. She's going to give you some medicine for it, so it should help."
The woman cut Chang-a off mid-sentence and said, all businesslike,
"Just so you know, the young lord and the other young masters have already come to pay their respects to the Grand Lady."
So basically, get moving and follow me.
'This is perfect.'
She needed to speak with Namgung Jeokmyung anyway, so this worked out well.
As Yeoil rose, Seolyeong muttered from behind her, "Damn it. This whole place is going to turn into a shitshow." She seemed pretty excited about all the people.
The woman led Yeoil to Bukcheong, the family head's private quarters, all the way in the back of the estate—a place she'd never been before.
As soon as she walked in, she heard a group of men and women laughing. She peeked through the window, and the atmosphere inside was completely different from what she'd expected.
'It looks like they're playing matchmaker.'
The numbers were even, too. Three men, three women. Well, three women if you counted Yeoil.
The loud laughter died down the moment Yeoil appeared. The awkward silence improved slightly when Namgung Jeokmyung introduced her.
"You made it, maknae. Aunt, this is Namgung Soyo. Soyo, meet Aunt Danli Mookran."
She took an empty seat after the woman indicated where to sit. She could hear Namgung Huimyeong's voice nearby, so it seemed like Namgung Choomyung was the only brother taking a break due to his health.
'I've coughed up way more blood than him.'
They only kept calling for Namgung Soyo.
She still couldn't tell if it was because she was a concubine's daughter and they were being disrespectful, or if Danli Mookran just really liked Namgung Choomyung.
A moment later, she heard a small gasp.
"Wow... incredible. I had no idea she was such a beauty. Namgung Soyo, right? Come over here for a moment."
Yeil stood in front of the head seat, the maid assisting her. The heavy sandalwood scent from the woman's sachet tickled her nose.
It was a scent she'd never encountered in the Namgung Family, since it was just her and the other female servants.
"Seriously... even up close, her skin is like perfect white jade. Not a single blemish..."
"Cough."
"...and yes, her forehead is round and her lips are thin; she's a complete knockout. A woman is supposed to be quiet and demure..."
"Cough, cough."
"Since she's blind, she must be gentle, right? So even though she's just a concubine's child, I'll find her a suitable match..."
"Cough! Cough! Cooough!"
Danli Mookran finally stopped talking, looking utterly disgusted by all the coughing.
Yeil didn't care, since she wasn't about to be polite to her.
