A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 265

Hangzhou’s bustling downtown. Sun Bin’s feelings were rather complicated as he looked at the beautiful woman in the fancy clothes he didn’t even recognize.

She was part of Wei Gajin’s group, whom Sun Bin first encountered while accompanying Saja Hyuk for a duel.

Sun Bin vividly remembered not only the duel between Saja Hyuk and Wei Gajin but also her protecting the defeated Wei Gajin and suggesting ‘the best under heaven’ to Saja Hyuk.

Although she had retreated after Saja Hyuk’s firm refusal, saying, ‘Wolves cannot ascend to the sky,’ she was a woman who didn’t back down against Saja Hyuk.

Kyunghee, the Princess’s feelings were also complicated as she looked at Sun Bin.

Soon, however, she noticed the gazes of the people around her. Being the spectacle of onlookers was not to her liking.

“Get in. My carriage is over there,” Kyunghee, the Princess said, and was about to turn around without hesitation. But Sun Bin’s voice stopped her.

“That’s a bit difficult.”

“Difficult?” Kyunghee, the Princess frowned and looked back. Sun Bin spoke as politely as possible.

“Yes. My lodging is near here.”

As Sun Bin spoke, he realized his mistake. He wondered if she might misunderstand, but Kyunghee, the Princess blinked and asked.

“So?”

“So, it’s difficult to take the carriage. If I do, I’ll have to come back, so no matter which direction I go, I’ll be moving further away.”

Kyunghee, the Princess sighed softly.

“I’ll take you back. Is that okay now?”

After finishing her words, she turned around and walked away without hesitation.

“Ah, well…….”

He was about to say, ‘There’s no reason to go together,’ but there was no reason not to go either.

If she were to ask, ‘So, aren’t you coming?’ that wouldn’t do either.

‘Well, quibbling over something like this isn’t very mature either.’

Although her attitude wasn’t very polite, being stubborn over it would be petty.

Rationalizing to himself, Sun Bin followed her.

Then, he suddenly looked up and saw Hang Ah, the maid he had seen before, standing there, staring at Sun Bin with sharp eyes.

On the surface, she seemed like an ordinary maid, but she was incredibly skilled at stealth. How surprised he had been when she suddenly appeared behind Sun Bin?

Sun Bin bowed his head and followed Kyunghee, the Princess. However, Hang Ah didn’t return the greeting, nor did she take away her sharp gaze.

Click.

Following Kyunghee, the Princess and her maid Hang Ah, Sun Bin also got into the carriage. Sun Bin sat opposite Kyunghee, the Princess, and the maid Hang Ah sat close beside Kyunghee, the Princess.

Once everyone was seated, the carriage slowly began to move again.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage had a large parasol to block the sunlight and thin wooden blinds on all sides.

Thanks to this, the wind passed through well, and the scenery outside was visible through the blinds, but the inside could not be seen from the outside. It was a common type of carriage in this hot region.

Bump, bump.

The carriage shook slightly as it slowly passed through the bustling downtown. But Kyunghee, the Princess, who had invited Sun Bin, was silently looking outside.

The flowing colorful lights were as beautiful as a dream, but her complex gaze told him that she wasn’t looking at the scenery. It was as if she was recalling the day when Sun Bin was with Saja Hyuk.

Eventually, Sun Bin spoke first.

“Is Wei Gajin doing well?”

Kyunghee, the Princess slowly turned her gaze to Sun Bin.

“When did you part ways with ‘him’?”

“I never said we parted ways, though?”

Kyunghee, the Princess chuckled lightly.

“But you did part ways.”

Her triumphant smile was somehow displeasing, but Sun Bin had no choice but to nod.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“See?”

“How did you know?”

Kyunghee, the Princess smirked.

“Because your eyes were reminiscing about the distant past when you looked at me. If you were still with ‘him,’ you wouldn’t have that look in your eyes.”

“I see.”

Sun Bin gave a bitter smile.

“It’s an unforgettable memory for me…….”

“Yes.”

Kyunghee, the Princess said softly. A bitter smile also appeared on her face.

“An absolutely unforgettable memory.”

She turned her gaze to the window. Then, she said softly, as if talking to herself.

“Because it changed so much.”

At that moment, Sun Bin realized what her gaze meant when she looked at him, and why he had readily accepted her somewhat rude invitation.

It was a vague sense of intimacy or bond that one has as someone who had once shared an unforgettable moment.

“I see.”

Sun Bin said softly. His gaze was also directed at the flowing scenery.

“It really changed a lot.”

The lights of bustling Hangzhou flowed outside the carriage. There were no more words between the two, but they were both back in the same time.

Clatter, clatter.

How long had the monotonous sound of hooves passed? Kyunghee, the Princess said softly.

“When was it?”

Her question was an extension of the question of when he had parted ways with Saja Hyuk. Sun Bin readily answered.

“It wasn’t long after I parted ways with the young lady.”

It was an unacceptable rudeness to call the Princess ‘young lady.’ But Kyunghee, the Princess didn’t care.

“Still, a lot has happened.”

Sun Bin said in a soft voice. A lot had really happened. From Hwanghak Jin-in and Tang Baek-ho to Okryong.

Without realizing it, Sun Bin gently stroked the White Dew he was holding. A strange light flashed in Kyunghee, the Princess’s eyes.

“A sword……. Shouldn’t you be holding a brush?”

Sun Bin chuckled.

“That’s how it ended up happening. As I said, many things have changed.”

“What you were recording?”

“I lost it.”

He lost everything on Okryong Snow Mountain. In fact, it was a stroke of luck that Sun Bin and Sa Soo-yeon had even saved their lives.

“You could have written it again, though?”

Although the records were gone, the memories remained. If he wanted to, he could write the book again.

But Sun Bin shook his head.

“I’ll think about it later when I have time……. I have something I want to do now.”

When he said ‘something I want to do,’ Sun Bin’s gaze was on his sword, White Dew. Kyunghee, the Princess didn’t miss it.

“Hmm.”

Kyunghee, the Princess leaned back and slightly crossed her legs.

Although the carriage was large, it wasn’t very spacious, so the tip of Kyunghee, the Princess’s foot, which was slightly protruding from her skirt, was almost touching Sun Bin’s calf.

If Sun Bin hadn’t moved his leg to the side, it would have definitely touched.

“You don’t seem like someone who suits a sword?”

Kyunghee, the Princess said, staring intently at Sun Bin. Sun Bin gave an awkward smile.

“What suits me is a very ambiguous premise, but it’s not a world where you can only do what suits you.”

Kyunghee, the Princess let out a burst of laughter.

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s not a world where you can only do what suits you.”

At her agreement, Sun Bin slightly bowed his head to express his gratitude.

“But can you do it? The path of a martial artist is a very overwhelming task for you.”

Kyunghee, the Princess’s eyes were quite challenging. Sun Bin replied with a gentle smile.

“If my heart goes, I don’t even consider whether I can do it or not.”

“Heart.”

Kyunghee, the Princess repeated Sun Bin’s words and laughed.

“Yeah, that’s how it is.”

The first time Kyunghee, the Princess became interested in the Jianghu [martial world], it was from a slightly light and condescending perspective.

But the overwhelming sight that Saja Hyuk showed her changed many things about her.

Faced with that tremendous power, Kyunghee, the Princess chose to face it head-on instead of avoiding it.

Now she can’t turn back. She has bet everything, literally ‘everything,’ on this.

“But what if you fail?”

Kyunghee, the Princess asked again.

“You can’t pass the civil service exam while idly doing other things like that. The path of a martial artist is the same. What will you do then if you end up achieving nothing?”

The question was also directed at herself. The Emperor does not forgive failure and does not bestow favor on those who are worthless.

If she cannot prove her own usefulness, Kyunghee, the Princess may be sent to the northern barbarians as a gift from the Emperor.

“Then there’s nothing I can do.”

Sun Bin shrugged.

“I’ll just have to reminisce sadly in the back room, saying, ‘I was young once, too.'”

Kyunghee, the Princess frowned. But Sun Bin’s words were not over yet.

“But just the fact that I burned so brightly even once, I think I’ll be proud of myself for the rest of my life.”

Sun Bin’s eyes were shining as clearly as the night sky as he spoke.

“Hmph.”

Kyunghee, the Princess laughed.

“Well, there are so many women in the palace who spend their whole lives doing nothing, just waiting for someone to look back at them, and then wither away sadly.”

There are many women in the palace who live only looking at the Emperor. Most of them don’t even receive the Emperor’s favor, and their existence is forgotten after spending the first night.

Unless they are from a powerful family or have great charm, most of them experience a similar fate.

Those passive appearances are more hateful to Kyunghee, the Princess than anything else.

“I hope what you’re doing goes well.”

Kyunghee, the Princess said as if giving permission. Sun Bin lightly expressed his gratitude and replied.

“I hope things go well for you too, young lady.”

Kyunghee, the Princess’s eyes changed slightly.

“How did you know?”

“Because it didn’t sound like you were talking about someone else. I don’t know what you’re doing, though.”

Sun Bin said. Kyunghee, the Princess’s words contained her own sincerity. That was one of the reasons why Sun Bin readily answered.

“Hehehe.”

Kyunghee, the Princess laughed as she looked at Sun Bin.

“Indeed, is he good enough that ‘he’ would allow him to accompany him?”

“Well, is that a compliment?”

The fact that the woman sitting in front of him was someone who shared memories and that she was someone completely unrelated to him, even someone whose name he didn’t know, made Sun Bin’s heart quite light.

It was the same for Kyunghee, the Princess, and she lightly nodded at Sun Bin’s slightly playful words.

“Yes.”

“Then I thank you.”

Sun Bin expressed his gratitude. He couldn’t actually bend his body because he was sitting in the carriage.

Kyunghee, the Princess received his example as if it were natural. And she stared intently at Sun Bin.

Sun Bin felt awkward at the beauty’s gaze and coughed slightly, avoiding her gaze, when he heard Kyunghee, the Princess’s voice.

“It’s been a while. It’s been a while since I’ve had such a comfortable conversation.”

Most of all, it was best that there was no prerequisite to beat the other person. Kyunghee, the Princess felt that her mood, which had not been good for the past few days, was becoming quite refreshed.

“Me too.”

Sun Bin smiled and expressed his agreement.

“Actually, I’ve been quite nervous these past few days taking care of the elders. The elders really have so much to say at their age…….”

Sun Bin shook his head as he spoke.

“Once you start a conversation, there’s no end to it, and the topic changes suddenly. Besides, they’re good at fighting, so once they get upset, there’s no way to appease them.”

Perhaps it was because he had a lot pent up inside? Sun Bin’s words flowed out like a torrent.

Besides, Kyunghee, the Princess also chuckled and chimed in with Sun Bin’s words.

“That’s right. It seems like older people are all like that.”

The Emperor also has a lot to say. It’s impossible to keep track of the sudden changes in topic during his speech. Besides, if you show even the slightest sign of arguing, he openly expresses his displeasure.

“Besides, ‘that person’ gets very angry if you displease him even a little bit.”

“That’s right. So I realized something.”

Sun Bin said with a serious expression.

“What is it?”

Kyunghee, the Princess showed interest. Sun Bin held up one finger and said.

“When the elders get sulky, you should never try to appease them. Rather, they get angry, saying, ‘I’m not angry!'”

Kyunghee, the Princess laughed. That was exactly the Emperor’s behavior.

“So, you should keep your distance for a while and then buy them something delicious. Then, they feel better as if by magic.”

“They also like music.”

Kyunghee, the Princess said.

“In ‘that person’s’ case, playing music for him calms him down. Sometimes he even falls asleep. When I see his sleeping face, I wonder if he’s the same person who was so angry.”

“Music. Ah……. I see.”

“Yes. Do you have an instrument you can play?”

“I learned a little bit of the Chilhyun-geum [a seven-stringed zither].”

“That’s too old of an instrument, isn’t it?”

The Chilhyun-geum is an old instrument. But Kyunghee, the Princess soon shrugged and said.

“But it might be a good fit for the elders.”

“It’s a bit sad that even playing has to please someone, isn’t it?”

Sun Bin said with a bitter expression. Kyunghee, the Princess laughed at that sight.

“Hehehe. Then you should become someone who doesn’t have to worry about what other people think?”

As if the sharp and edgy appearance from before was a lie, the sight of her smiling in front of him now was bright and beautiful.

Sun Bin smiled without realizing it.

The shining eyes of children, the warm smiles of the elders, and the bright and cheerful smiles of the young people.

They are all beautiful sights that one cannot take their eyes off of.

It is a moment when he cannot understand the gossips who rank the beautiful people, calling them the top beauties of the world.

‘Ah, of course, Sa Soo-yeon is the best…….’

Sa Soo-yeon shines. Maybe it only looks that way in Sun Bin’s eyes, but sometimes when he makes eye contact with her, his heart pounds wildly.

“What are you doing?”

Suddenly, Kyunghee, the Princess’s sharp voice broke Sun Bin’s reverie.

“Ah, yes. Just for a moment…….”

“I feel like I’m about to get upset?”

Kyunghee, the Princess’s gaze was even cold as she glared at him. But soon she smirked.

“Well, I’ll forgive you this time.”

“Thank you.”

Sun Bin once again bowed with an exaggerated gesture. Kyunghee, the Princess also received his example with a seemingly natural expression.

Sun Bin and Kyunghee, the Princess’s gazes met straight on as he raised his head.

“Ahem.”

The first person to avoid the gaze was Sun Bin. Sun Bin coughed and slyly turned his head to look outside.

It was already dark around him, as if he had left the bustling downtown of Hangzhou.

Clatter, clatter.

Just as Sun Bin was starting to think, ‘Haven’t we come too far?’ Kyunghee, the Princess, who had been staring intently at Sun Bin’s profile, said.

“What’s your name?”

Thinking that she was asking too quickly, Sun Bin replied.

“I am called Sun Bin.”

“Sun Bin……. If you’re not careful with your friends, you might not be able to walk for the rest of your life.”

Sun Bin gave a bitter smile.

Kyunghee, the Princess’s words were about an anecdote about ‘Sun Bin,’ a descendant of the historical figure ‘Sun-Moo’ [Sun Tzu]. He was betrayed by a friend and was unable to walk for the rest of his life. Of course, he did get his revenge later.

“May I ask for the young lady’s name?”

Bangmyeong (芳名) [your esteemed name] means a flower-like name. It’s quite a ceremonial modifier, but since she’s as beautiful as a flower, it’s not really wrong.

“Kyunghee.”

Sun Bin had a slightly puzzled expression.

Kyunghee (慶喜) is actually a very archaic name. It’s usually attached to palaces or halls, so it’s not really used as a woman’s name.

But it suited the beauty in front of him so well that Sun Bin nodded and said.

“It’s a pretty name.”

“It’s not a name.”

Kyunghee, the Princess raised her head. She placed her hands on her knees and looked down at Sun Bin with a quite challenging gaze.

“I am Kyunghee, the Princess.”

A proud smile on her lips, and eyes full of dignity. She was Kyunghee, the Princess, who was said to have the greatest influence in the current imperial family.

“Yes?”

Sun Bin asked back with a blank expression. He suddenly wondered what this was all about.

Of course, Sun Bin couldn’t not know the meaning of the title of Princess. But the fact that the person he had been talking to comfortably until just now was a Princess of the imperial family was something that Sun Bin, especially as a scholar, could not imagine.

“Hmph.”

Kyunghee, the Princess was very pleased with Sun Bin’s reaction. She tapped her fingers on the back of her hand on her knees and said to Sun Bin, who was still dazed.

“So, how about joining me?”

It was very unusual for her to make a recommendation rather than an order.

“Yes?”

Sun Bin once again asked back without realizing it.

Kyunghee, the Princess laughed. Sun Bin’s expression right now was the most pleasant scene in the past few years. Just thinking about this sight would make her laugh several times over.

“With my recommendation, you can get a pretty good position. And the Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance] can be of great help to you if you want to become a martial artist. If ‘his’ affairs are involved, I promise to take care of you.”

Sun Bin is someone who accompanied Saja Hyuk. If Sun Bin joins her, it will be of considerable help to Kyunghee, the Princess.

But aside from that, Kyunghee, the Princess quite liked Sun Bin.

“Of course, you don’t have to stay in inns anymore. Wherever you go, you’ll be treated like royalty.”

She leisurely looked at Sun Bin’s expression as if admiring it.

“Ah, come to think of it.”

With a slightly playful smile, Kyunghee, the Princess said to Sun Bin.

“You don’t need to go back to your lodging anymore, do you?”

It was a confident smile that didn’t even consider Sun Bin’s refusal, but rather seemed to be giving the other person a great gift.

“Ah…….”

However, Sun Bin, who was faced with that gift, could only give an awkward smile with a complicated look in his eyes.