Chapter 98

She was in the posture of a child being punished. The court maid, who usually appeared calm and older than her age, had accepted Consort Bi’s proposal to help lift her impoverished family out of destitution.

Every time the maid, who normally didn’t look her age, swallowed her tears, the corners of her mouth twisted, revealing her youth.

” Consort Bi.”

“…I apologize, Gyo Gwi-bi Mama. I-If I had known you were busy, I would not have come, your younger sister. I have committed a rudeness.”

This was a completely unexpected situation. Consort Bi wished to withdraw first, compose her thoughts, and return.

“Stop.”

Consort Bi, who had been trying to leave, stiffened his movements at Yeon-oh’s command.

“Mo-hwa, go back to your room now.”

“Yes, Gwi-bi Mama. H-hic”

Mo-hwa, who had been kneeling, rose, sobbing. So-ha, who was outside the door, entered and led the sniffling girl away. The door closed, and sounds like a struggle and a spanking on a flat back seemed to be heard before they faded into the distance.

” Consort Bi.”

“Yes…”

“You certainly have been busy. Ah, yes. Both of them confessed everything. They have been dating for over a thousand days. Isn’t that amazing?”

Yeon-oh smiled faintly and sipped his tea. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] His smiling face was relaxed. It was difficult to find any seriousness in the gentle smile.

Therefore, Consort Bi could not gauge how much the two had exposed or how much they had confessed. Her eyes trembled anxiously as she tried to force a smile.

Consort Bi regretted coming alone without her trusted Court Lady. It had been her choice to show deference and friendliness to Gyo Gwi-bi, but she hadn’t expected this situation to be waiting for her.

“I apologize, Gwi-bi Mama. Confession, your younger sister doesn’t understand what you are referring to.”

Consort Bi repeatedly scanned the situation inside the pavilion. So-mok was quite beautiful. Wang Hak was tall and sturdy, and he had a deep, resonating voice unlike a eunuch.

A court maid and a eunuch dating was an open secret. While it could cause problems if caught, some even became a married couple with the Emperor’s occasional permission.

If only their relationship was exposed, Consort Bi could report it to the Imperial Family and have it smoothed over.

“Don’t do that, Consort Bi. Wouldn’t the trust of those who moved believing in you be broken? We confirmed that the grain bought by your relative was sent to Wang Hak’s house. Grain from the same place was also sent to Yun So-hwa’s maid who collapsed after ingesting poison. And this time, your relative sent a mountain of rice to the house of the maid So-mok.”

“Gwi-bi Mama, your younger sister…”

“If you report this, Consort Bi could smooth it over by saying she knows nothing and that her relative, for unknown reasons, coincidentally bribed the eunuch and maid connected to Consort Bi whenever such incidents occurred. However, if this matter becomes public, it will be difficult to protect your reputation.”

The last words were nothing short of a threat. They implied that even if Consort Bi avoided the immediate questioning, Yeon-oh would surely ruin her reputation.

Consort Bi was put in a position where she had to admit guilt without even knowing how much the opponent knew. She paused briefly to try and ascertain Yeon-oh’s knowledge again, but it was difficult to gauge. The opponent did not wait for her to think.

Clenching her lips tightly, the Gwi-bi slowly knelt.

“Please mete out the punishment.”

Her beautiful face briefly glared at the maid and the eunuch holding hands.

“First, admit your guilt.”

“Your younger sister resorted to treachery to tarnish Gyo Gwi-bi Mama’s honor.”

Consort Bi’s stiff face flushed red with heightened emotion. The contours of her slender neck became distinct under the fierce strain, then quickly subsided. Her face, a mix of anger, shame, and humiliation, struggled to hide her expression.

“Only this Consort?”

The face of Consort Bi, who had been forced to admit guilt, hardened further. Gyo Gwi-bi seemed to be aware not only of the trickery aimed at him but also of Consort Bi’s hand reaching out to Yun So-hwa.

She was not surprised because she had suspected Gyo Gwi-bi had somehow discerned her actions ever since he went out of his way to help the pitiful Yun So-hwa. She had thought that helping the pathetic Yun So-hwa might be part of the distinguished noble’s way of showing favor, but now she saw that he had stepped in to help precisely because he suspected her.

If she were to be truthful, the ominous warning Consort Bi sent to Gyo Gwi-bi was because she believed he was acting above his station in connection with Yun So-hwa.

“I apologize, Gwi-bi Mama. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Does Yun So-hwa have an honor to protect? Your younger sister does not wish to admit to that extent. The party concerned isn’t even here, is she?”

A slightly arrogant smile crossed Consort Bi’s face.

“Do you wish for the party concerned to be informed?”

“Gyo Gwi-bi Mama, please show your benevolence.”

“It would have been better if Consort Bi had shown benevolence to Yun So-hwa.”

At Yeon-oh’s words, Consort Bi spoke with a serious face.

“If you bury the sin your younger sister committed this time, I will not do the same thing again.”

Although her attitude was yielding, Consort Bi was not fully admitting her crime. Even if Yeon-oh informed Yun So-hwa of what she had done, it would be difficult to severely punish Consort Bi. Since Yun So-hwa’s standing in the consort palace was poor, using the party concerned as an accuser would actually make it easier for Consort Bi to escape.

The same applied to making the Giryung Palace incident public. Yeon-oh would gain nothing concrete, but merely invite hostility by exposing Consort Bi’s crime. Sometimes, when a victim exposes and publicizes the offender’s wrongdoing and actions, there are repulsive individuals who say the victim is also remarkable for discovering and reporting everything, even though the offender is the one at fault.

Therefore, securing a definitive weakness was better.

“I will believe you.”

Consort Bi lifted her head at Yeon-oh’s easygoing words. Her anxiously shaking eyes quickly scanned the face seated in the seat of honor.

“Thank you for Gyo Gwi-bi Mama’s grace.”

“No. It is too early to thank me, Consort Bi. The eunuch Wang Hak will be dishonorably expelled from the palace. Though Wang Hak claims the privately obtained medicine was a prank, his crime is great for attempting to trick a young maid by giving it to her. Be thankful that the maid was not seriously harmed.”

“I-I am undeserving! Gyo Gwi-bi Mama. I will live my life in atonement.”

Consort Bi was disappointed but understood Yeon-oh’s decision. Losing Wang Hak was a loss in many ways, but his disappearance also lessened the burden.

If Gyo Gwi-bi had made Consort Bi’s crime public, Consort Bi would have had to kill Wang Hak as quickly as possible. In fact, even in the current situation, killing Wang Hak to silence him would be the cleanest way to avoid complications later.

“Eunuch Nae, take Wang Hak out.”

“Yes, Gwi-bi Mama.”

Nae In-su, a Giryung Palace eunuch, entered and waited for Wang Hak to gather his belongings. Even as Wang Hak was being dragged out, he repeatedly bowed toward the seat of honor.

When the door closed, So-mok collapsed, bursting into tears. So-mok bowed her head towards the seat of honor and pleaded.

“Gyo Gwi-bi Mama, please… please, just my life…”

Yeon-oh understood that the maid did not trust him. But in this situation, Consort Bi would be the one who wants to kill Wang Hak more than Yeon-oh. She would want to conceal her crime by killing him rather than imposing a death sentence as a form of punishment.

“That depends on your future actions.”

So-mok lifted her face at Yeon-oh’s playful words.

“…?”

The Gwi-bi was equally puzzled.

” Consort Bi, this Consort wishes for the maid So-mok to move to the Giryung Palace. So-mok is meticulous and quick in her work, which thoroughly pleases me. What are your thoughts, Consort Bi?”

Consort Bi immediately understood Yeon-oh’s words.

He intended to keep So-mok close and observe her to pressure Consort Bi. Furthermore, he could use Wang Hak as a hostage to blackmail So-mok into reporting Consort Bi at any time.

“Your younger sister’s head naturally bows to Gyo Gwi-bi Mama’s profound wisdom. So-mok is a good maid who observes her surroundings well and finds work to do, so it would be beneficial for Gyo Gwi-bi Mama to keep her by your side and command her. So-mok, I am happy that you will serve a good master.”

Consort Bi forced a smile and spoke to So-mok. She had merely lost two workers she kept close by. However, as long as the two held by Yeon-oh were alive, Consort Bi could not move as before. Not just unable to move, but completely paralyzed.

Consort Bi’s elegant cheek, which was bowed, twitched involuntarily.

“Then, everything seems to be settled. Thank you for visiting today, Consort Bi. You may withdraw now.”

“I shall withdraw.”

Consort Bi withdrew, surrendering her maid without any resistance. So-mok watched the departing Consort Bi with tear-filled eyes.