Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 230

As I mulled over a stream of thoughts, I sighed, realizing I had to return to the palace.

“Well, now that I think about it, we have to go back, even if no one else does. Ah, I wonder if we could just sleep here tonight?”

“Consort Song will be waiting.”

“Ugh…….”

How annoying. All I need to do is keep things quiet in my residence anyway, but if I don’t return too late, Consort Song will likely report my absence to the Crown Prince’s palace.

But sending someone to inform them seems like a bit much just to deliver that message.

‘I have the palanquin [a covered litter carried by poles] and the carriers who brought me, but they aren’t of the status to visit the Ongju’s [a princess of the second rank] residence. Even if they did deliver the message, I doubt the palace maids would believe them.’

It seemed I had no choice but to satisfy my hunger with tea and snacks before returning.

While munching on a cookie, I asked Youngsun to confirm a few things that came to mind.

“By the way, have there been any suspicious movements around the house lately? Anyone trying to monitor us?”

“No, and we usually stay inside unless we have visitors.”

Since the people who go to the market are almost always the same, those who don’t go out rarely have a reason to.

“Sometimes, people come by wanting to sell antiques to the Ongju.”

“Hmm. I’ve said this before, but it feels like it’s been quite a while since I bought anything new.”

“Even so, the Ongju’s fondness for antiques is so well-known that people still come by occasionally.”

“I wonder how that rumor started, honestly.”

Lately, I’ve really been refraining from my hobbies due to money.

In a way, it seems like my hobby has changed to publishing the newspaper.

“What should we do if something you like comes along?”

“Hmm. But we don’t know when that will happen. I told Youngsun to contact me if there’s anything good, but she hasn’t really recommended anything lately, right?”

“Because you said you were saving money.”

Youngsun nodded, and Soi and Chunho, who were next to her, chuckled.

“……Saving money, you say.”

The person who impulsively bought a building……?

They were both saying those words with their eyes, so I pretended not to hear and avoided their gaze.

People can be like that sometimes…….

“Anyway, since there are strange people around, it’s best to be careful here too.”

“Pardon? What do you mean, Ongju?”

“Refrain from letting outsiders in for a while. You never know what those guys might do.”

“?”

Seeing Youngsun’s puzzled expression, I finally realized.

“Ah.”

I had to explain again.

I summarized the strangely long story as simply as possible, telling her about the restaurant with the illegal gambling den and how I had become enemies with them. Youngsun’s eyes wavered.

Well, it was understandable.

Youngsun had been living a somewhat sheltered life here since becoming a slave, so she had no reason to be involved with such low-life people.

“How dare those who do such dangerous things target the Ongju…….”

“Who knows? Maybe it’s because they’re not ordinary people?”

“Should we inform the servants that there are people targeting the Ongju?”

“Hmm. They’ll probably find out soon anyway, so it’s better to tell them in advance. And also, that I won’t tolerate anyone getting caught up in gambling in my house.”

“Yes, Ongju.”

Still, I think it’s better for me to tell them directly before leaving.

I don’t really feel like it, but if I say I’m going, they’ll all come out to greet me again.

So much to do. How annoying.

“Haa. I don’t want to move.”

“If you’re tired, I can carry you on my back.”

After I finished my tea and snacks and sprawled on the cushion, Chunho, who was refilling his tea and snacks, quickly replied.

“No. I think I’ve gotten a bit heavier now.”

“That’s okay.”

“No, you came in a palanquin. Why are you worrying about that?”

“Ah.”

At Soi’s words, Chunho and I made foolish faces at the same time.

I’ve been relying on Chunho so much lately that I forgot I came in a palanquin today.

“I guess we should go back early. Chunho, do you want to clock out here?”

“What are you saying when the Ongju might be in danger? You keep telling others to be vigilant, but you don’t seem to realize you’re in danger yourself.”

“Umm.”

Perhaps because he heard all the important things I said today, Chunho had a rare stern look on his face.

“Hoo. Then shall we go quickly?”

“Yes.”

I came all this way, but I have to leave so soon without even checking my collection. How sad.

But people can’t always get what they want.

“Catch him!”

As I got up to prepare to return to the palace, the outside suddenly became noisy.

“What’s going on?”

“Ongju, are you here? I’ll go see what’s happening.”

As I was about to go outside, Chunho and Soi grabbed me. Chunho confirmed that Soi was holding me back and went out the door.

“What’s the matter?”

“A suspicious person was loitering in front of the house. I immediately ran out to catch him as he tried to escape, so I’ll probably bring him back soon.”

It was the former Chetamin [special military force] who was scheduled to be deployed with Jia for the operation today.

Judging by what he said, the person who ran out to catch him must also be a former Chetamin.

“What kind of guy is it?”

“It was definitely a man.”

The people inside were also buzzing, and the servants had knowing looks on their faces.

“It seems the servants know something.”

“Then I’ll ask…….”

Creak-

Just as Chunho was about to finish speaking, the door opened, and a man, held by the hands of the former Chetamin, was dragged in while struggling.

“Oh, it’s a misunderstanding! I’m……!”

“Do you know where you were loitering!”

“Th, that’s…….”

The man, kneeling in the yard, stammered and then opened his mouth with a brightened expression after discovering Youngsun.

“Youngsun! Please say something! I, I’m not a suspicious person.”

“…….”

Youngsun was silent, but the gazes of those present naturally focused on Youngsun.

“Does Youngsun know him?”

Youngsun, her face reddened, sighed and nodded in response.

“I’m sorry. He is…… someone I know.”

“Hmm.”

I shook my head, looking at the slightly pathetic-looking man and Youngsun.

‘Youngsun has an eye for antiques, but she doesn’t have an eye for men…….’

Even if they were secretly meeting or he came without permission, the fact that he immediately called out Youngsun’s name after being caught… He doesn’t know the owner’s personality, yet he’s saying such things.

He only seemed like a frivolous guy trying to lighten his crime by dragging Youngsun in.

I led Youngsun back into the room for now.

“Is that man the one you’re seeing?”

Really?

Whether my question wasn’t much different from the conclusion, Youngsun revealed the relationship between the man and herself with a complicated expression.

“I don’t know if the expression ‘seeing’ is appropriate, but in the past…… we had talks of marriage in the past.”

“……Marriage?”

“It wasn’t a formal discussion, but I believe there were just words between the elders of our families.”

I became a little embarrassed. Youngsun’s family was ruined by treason, after all.

‘Ah, this is a bit complicated…….’

The Crown Prince is currently investigating, so there’s no point in touching it carelessly, but…… I can’t even know how Youngsun’s family is involved…….

‘Youngsun probably doesn’t know either.’

It wasn’t easy for a lady in the inner quarters to know what her father was doing.

It was quite a long time ago now.

“In Youngsun’s opinion, is that man trustworthy?”

“…….”

Youngsun was silent for a moment at my question.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can guarantee it.”

“Hmm.”

It was a more rational answer than I thought.

I wasn’t sure if I should say it was fortunate that Youngsun could make an objective judgment, but…….

As expected, I couldn’t trust him because he called Youngsun’s name as soon as he was caught.

“I don’t think I can trust that man either. If Youngsun has feelings for that man, you should think about it more. Old ties might make your heart weaken, but the world is wide and there are many men.”

“Yes…….”

Youngsun had an ambiguous expression as if my statement was somewhat inappropriate, but she eventually nodded at my words.

***

“The Ongju has generously forgiven you, so be grateful!”

“Don’t loiter around here suspiciously again!”

“Aigo!!”

The man, released from the rough hands of the servants, glanced back and ran away.

He had deliberately approached, hoping to find out something about the Ongju, but he never expected to be caught.

‘Damn it, will it be difficult to find Youngsun in the future?’

He felt disgusted that everyone seemed to see him as a rogue.

Why did he fall so low! How could the Ongju treat him like this!

If things had gone as they should, he would have taken Youngsun as his wife and devoted himself to the civil service examination to rise to a government position. Whose fault is it that that future was ruined!

The man, panting, looked around several times in the middle to see if anyone was secretly following him and found his destination.

“Elder!”

“What brings you here?”

Familiar-looking servants guided him to the inner quarters, and the man was able to meet the person he was aiming for right away.

“I’ve heard about what happened today. What are you planning to do now?”

“Has the rumor already spread……? Well, everyone must be enjoying it.”

The story about Suyeong Ongju spreads so quickly.

One way or another, people were favorable to Suyeong Ongju.

There was a basic sympathy for the Ongju, who had lost her birth mother at a young age and suffered from illness, and she had a strong impression of being a commendable person who was enthusiastic about charity work from a young age.

On top of that, she had been creating surprisingly interesting things one after another, so people quickly showed interest in stories about the Ongju.

“So it’s a problem if the Ongju continues to help the Crown Prince like this. We need to make them separate from the Crown Prince, even little by little. What Suyeong Ongju is doing, whether intentionally or not, is helping the Crown Prince. Because of that, there are many forces who dislike the Crown Prince…… but the Ongju’s role is bigger than you think in the Crown Prince successfully expanding his power.”