Chapter 21

“I hear His Majesty is bestowing a sedan chair upon Dam So-ui.”

A concubine heading toward her waiting sedan chair paused and spoke.

“Ah, yes…”

Dam So-ui was flustered this time for real.

“His Majesty’s grace shown to Dam So-ui is truly immense.”

Dam So-ui bowed his head to the concubine as she mounted her sedan chair.

“I see Consort Bi off.”

“I see Consort Bi off.”

Consort Bi, now seated in the chair, signaled for them to proceed with her hand. The lower-ranking concubines paid their respects to the departing sedan chair.

“It’s not surprising that a sedan chair is bestowed upon Dam So-ui. I heard His Majesty sends a separate chair when calling you to the Royal Audience Chamber at night, correct?”

“Yes, that is correct. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] The Imperial Palace is vast, and I am still unfamiliar with it.”

“To bestow a sedan chair, isn’t that a great grace?”

Dam So-ui was at a loss as to how to respond to the attention and compliments pouring over him. The embarrassed Dam So-ui spotted Yeon-oh watching them and acknowledged him.

“Consort Cheob-yeo, I heard you were promoted to Consort Cheob-yeo. It is late, but congratulations.”

A faint look of relief washed over Dam So-ui’s bright smile. He seemed glad to deflect the compliments being poured onto him by offering praise to someone else.

“Consort Cheob-yeo is clearly benefiting greatly from his family’s influence.”

Consort Hyang-bin tossed out the remark with a gentle smile. Since Consort Hyang-bin had instantly undermined the kind sentiment offered by Dam So-ui, the smile on Dam So-ui’s face hardened.

Yeon-oh simply nodded with an indifferent expression.

“This one didn’t know, but the power of the Gyo General’s Household must be formidable.”

Consort Hyang-bin and the other concubines, who had expected him to be displeased or upset by the mention of his family’s influence, smiled awkwardly.

“Haha.”

“Of course. The Gyo General’s Household is indeed formidable.”

“…Heh, haha…”

Yeon-oh glanced at the awkwardly smiling concubines and the cautious Court Ladies, then smiled radiantly.

“I understand why Consort Hyang-bin is envious that this concubine benefits from his family’s influence.”

Yeon-oh had maintained a serious expression while complaining of the Baekhong side effects in front of the Empress Dowager. As his face, which had been heavy with worry, broke into a bright smile, those unfamiliar with his look were involuntarily captivated.

The Grand Madam of the former Head of the Gyo General’s Household was famous for her exquisite beauty. Rumor had it that her youngest son resembled his mother, but few people had seen him in person. While his features were elegant even when his expression was rigid or sullen, his face was striking when he smiled.

Consort Hyang-bin, who was watching Yeon-oh’s smiling face, was the first to regain her composure.

“Consort Cheob-yeo has a very solid faith in the Gyo General’s Household.”

No displeasure was visible on Consort Hyang-bin’s face. Her voice was dignified, but the conversation was heading toward a point where she would chastise a concubine who behaved arrogantly by relying on his family.

“I have every reason to. Don’t I?”

Yeon-oh replied with a smiling face to Consort Hyang-bin’s remark. Although he was wearing a brilliant smile, Yeon-oh’s rhetorical question was tantamount to a cross-examination.

If she were to tell him now not to act arrogantly because his family was powerful, the person who spoke those words would be publicly insulting the Gyo General’s Household.

If she were to sneer and lecture Yeon-oh about whether the Gyo General’s Household was really that great, she would be openly declaring her animosity toward the Gyo General’s Household.

“That’s right… The Gyo General’s Household has accumulated great merit through generations, and its descendants are all brilliant. Consort Cheob-yeo has every right to be proud of being the legitimate son of the Gyo General’s Household.”

Consort Hyang-bin backed down.

“Consort Hyang-bin, you are from the Ga clan, correct?”

“That is correct.”

Consort Hyang-bin offered a satisfied smile at Yeon-oh’s question. While her family was not comparable to the Gyo General’s Household, it was respectable everywhere.

Consort Hyang-bin’s gaze landed on Dam So-ui next to her. Among those standing here, Dam So-ui’s family prestige was the lowest.

“Consort Cheob-yeo, I heard you were ill. I wanted to visit, but your Court Lady wouldn’t let me, saying your illness was severe. How is your health?”

Dam So-ui shrewdly changed the subject. His gaze briefly touched Court Lady Dong, who stood beside Yeon-oh. His look of sincere regret made him appear like a kind person worried about the sick.

However, it struck Yeon-oh a little differently. Although he seemed kind, it looked like he was blaming the Court Lady, who was of lower rank than himself.

“The sickness is fine now. Although this concubine’s illness was severe, my Court Lady must have refused outsiders for fear of spreading illness to the noble concubines. The current issue is the side effect of the Baekhong.”

Discomfort appeared on Yeon-oh’s previously serene face. At the mention of ‘Baekhong’, Dam So-ui’s expression visibly changed. His eyes flickered nervously, scanning the concubines around them.

“Ahem, it is late. I will be leaving now. Since the night is dark, everyone please take care on your way.”

Consort Hyang-bin reached out her hand to her Court Lady for service and turned to leave.

“Consort Hyang-bin, take care on your way.”

“Consort Hyang-bin, take care on your way.”

Everyone paid their respects to the departing Consort Hyang-bin.

“I must also leave now.”

“I shall also take my leave.”

The other concubines also began to leave one by one. The concubines, who held their breath and lowered themselves in front of the Empress Dowager, were extremely quick-witted.

They were all curious to see how Yeon-oh and Dam So-ui would clash, but expecting nothing to happen if they remained, they quickly vacated the area.

Once everyone had gone and only the two of them remained, Dam So-ui spoke.

“Consort Cheob-yeo, I heard you looked intently at this one when speaking to the Empress Dowager. Do you have something you wish to say to me?”

“No.”

Yeon-oh answered immediately. The reply was extremely brief. Yeon-oh merely looked at Dam So-ui and made no attempt to start a different conversation, seek a friendly chat, or leave the spot.

Caught in the uncomfortable silence, Dam So-ui opened his mouth again.

“…Are you, perhaps, angry with me?”

Dam So-ui scattered his gaze around as he spoke.

“That is not it.”

Yeon-oh found Dam So-ui’s nervous behavior intriguing. He thought he was simple-minded since he only stood there accepting compliments, but it seemed he was not completely clueless.

“Then…”

Yeon-oh let his voice trail off, mimicking the person across from him.

“I am not angry. Consort Dam So-ui, you…”

Yeon-oh stopped speaking and tilted his head slightly. A small voice, audible only to Dam So-ui, his Court Lady, and Court Lady Dong beside Yeon-oh, resonated.

“You haven’t drunk it, have you?”

Dam So-ui flinched as if Yeon-oh’s words were a sharp knife.

“…!”

Yeon-oh felt no pity for the eyes that shook violently like waves.

“Why didn’t you drink it?”

This time, everyone who could hear the voice was startled. Dam So-ui took a slight step back. Yeon-oh stepped forward by the same distance Dam So-ui had retreated.

“Consort Cheob-yeo.”

“This concubine is not angry. I dislike Consort Dam So-ui. I shall withdraw.”

Yeon-oh turned and walked away with Court Lady Dong. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] From behind him, he could hear Dam So-ui’s Court Lady attending to her master.

“My Lord, are you alright? Oh dear, your hands are cold.”

Yeon-oh, who had taken a few steps, turned back toward Dam So-ui, who was being comforted by his Court Lady.

“Why are you doing this?”

Court Lady Dong looked back at Yeon-oh with wide eyes. Her lowered voice was urgent. Yeon-oh strode purposefully and stopped in front of Dam So-ui.

“Consort Gyo, Consort Cheob-yeo.”

Dam So-ui, seeing Yeon-oh return, was startled as if he had seen a ghost.

“Consort Dam So-ui, you are from the Seokwol Dam Family, correct?”

“Yes…”

Dam So-ui answered haltingly to Yeon-oh’s question.

“That’s good.”

Having heard the answer, Yeon-oh turned again and went on his way.

“What does ‘that’s good’ mean…”

A murmuring voice was heard from behind. Yeon-oh’s turned back did not acknowledge it. Court Lady Dong quickly moved to keep up with Yeon-oh’s large, fast strides.

Court Lady Dong only slowed down once they were completely clear of the Empress Dowager’s building.

Yeon-oh only came to his senses when the hand that was attending to him slowed its pace and offered reassurance. Unbeknownst to him, he had been walking so fast and frantically that his legs felt stiff.

Only after slowing his pace did he realize his heart was pounding as if it would burst.

He had acted perfectly at ease in front of the others, but simply being among the concubines felt like all the energy was draining from his body.

It was difficult to remain calm upon hearing that the Emperor visited Dam So-ui daily or that he sent a sedan chair to summon him to the Royal Audience Chamber. Unconsciously, he had been clenching his fists or furrowing his brow.

It was not easy to pick a fight with the one who held the Emperor’s affection. It required a completely different mindset than usual.

“Are you alright?”

Court Lady Dong looked at the pale Yeon-oh with concern.

“I’m fine.”

Yeon-oh slowly matched his pace to Court Lady Dong, who was walking slowly for his sake. Court Lady Dong’s eyes were full of worry and confusion.

“Consort Cheob-yeo, what are you planning to do?”

“I will soon meet the Namcheon Grand Merchant who knows Baekhong well.”

Yeon-oh, whose complexion had slightly returned, answered in a casual tone.

“Why is meeting him important?”

Court Lady Dong’s steps slowed even more.

“Because Dam So-ui is from the Seokwol Dam Family, isn’t he?”

Yeon-oh increased his walking speed slightly as he spoke.

“And?”

Court Lady Dong looked utterly confused. What did Yeon-oh meeting the Namcheon Grand Merchant have to do with Dam So-ui being from the Seokwol Dam Family?

“There’s always a way for the living.”

“Excuse me?”

“I will meet the Namcheon Grand Merchant soon, and Dam So-ui is from the Seokwol Dam Family.”

“What in the world are you talking about?”

Court Lady Dong grumbled at Yeon-oh in a manner that was disrespectful, as she had done when they first met.

“Our Court Lady Dong has been in the Imperial Palace so long that she doesn’t know about the Seokwol Dam Clan’s source of wealth. Do you not know who the true owner of Seokjeongwon is, which handles 30% of the medicinal herbs circulating in Yulguk? You must also not know who the owner of Seokhyang Clinic, the largest in Seokwol, is.”

The Seokwol Dam Clan was an ancient family of scholars.

Befitting a family of great learning, the illegitimate sons of the Dam family also demonstrated excellent qualities. While there was no official discrimination between legitimate and illegitimate sons when taking office, unspoken discrimination still existed.

One of the illegitimate sons of the Dam family quit his official post due to the invisible discrimination and founded a lineage of apothecaries. Seokhyang Clinic of the Seokwol Dam Clan, famous as a place of master physicians and known for the Dam family’s reputation, was highly regarded by commoners, nobles, and the Imperial Family alike.

“Who in the world doesn’t know the owner of Seokhyang Clinic?”

Court Lady Dong chided Yeon-oh for treating her as ignorant of news outside the palace.

“Then why are you asking?”

Yeon-oh spoke, teasing the defensive Court Lady Dong.

“What does that matter…!”

Court Lady Dong acted like someone who knew no etiquette.

“Even Seokhyang Clinic would procure special medicinal herbs from Namcheon, wouldn’t it? And I will soon meet the Namcheon Grand Merchant. The Namcheon Grand Merchant supplies the Imperial Family with Baekhong. Do you think the Namcheon Grand Merchant will grant one request from me, who drank Baekhong, or not?”

Yeon-oh whispered quickly in a low voice.

“…”

Court Lady Dong’s eyes shook with fear. She seemed to be picturing the dangerous plan Yeon-oh had conceived.