A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 153

153. Traveling Together

The next day, No-gun, who had gone out early in the morning alone, returned with a rather large carriage.

It looked shabby, but it had a roof like a large umbrella and curtains made of cloth that could be lowered to block the sunlight.

“It may look like this, but it can pull four horses. So it’s very strong.”

No-gun seemed to like the carriage. He skillfully hitched the group’s two horses to the carriage in pairs and tied the remaining one to the back of the carriage with a long rein.

“The merchants were clamoring to buy this horse when they saw it. Northern Sea horses are hard to come by, but this one is special even among them.”

No-gun said, patting Sa Su-yeon’s black horse. The horse stood there calmly with its large eyes.

“Thank you for your trouble.”

At Son-bin’s words, No-gun brushed it off.

“It’s no trouble at all. Come on, everyone, get in.”

“I’ll drive from now on,” Son-bin declared, stepping forward. But No-gun clicked his tongue with a disapproving look.

“You’re just barely able to ride a horse, and you’re going to drive this? Don’t even think about it. Handling four horses is a world apart from handling one.”

No-gun waved his hand dismissively.

“At least someone like me can handle this, yes,” No-gun said, stroking the carriage, his eyes gleaming.

Son-bin knew there was no way around it. No-gun’s eyes were full of anticipation.

“Then I’ll ask for your help again.”

“Yes. Trust me.”

No-gun lightly climbed onto the driver’s seat and gathered the reins.

Son-bin turned to the group.

“Everyone, get in.”

Seo-rin and Dang-wol were already in the carriage, having taken their seats. Sa Su-yeon looked back at the children.

“Come on. Get in quickly.”

But the children were hesitating, especially the boy, who seemed unsure of what to do.

“Why?”

“Um, is it really okay for us to ride together?”

“Yes.”

Sa Su-yeon nodded.

“But, you even let us sleep and gave us food yesterday, and now even a ride in the carriage…….”

Sa Su-yeon smiled gently. Her appearance was so radiant, like a flower, that a blush reflexively rose on the boy’s cheeks.

“It’s okay. Did you hear what Young Master Son said yesterday? This is a place we really wanted to go to, so we’re just going together. Or do you not want to go with us?”

“Ah, no!” The boy shook his head so vigorously that it made a buzzing sound.

“But, we’re dirty and we smell…….”

“We all washed together yesterday. And our clothes are clean now too.”

The boy, Kang-min, had washed with No-gun, Son-bin, and Seo-rin, and the girl, Kang-rin, had washed with Sa Su-yeon. Dang-wol disappeared somewhere and reappeared, saying she had washed alone in the meantime.

Son-bin had asked the innkeeper to wash the clothes of the group and the children as well.

“But we have nothing to give you. We have no money…….”

“That’s…….”

She wanted to say it was okay, but she suddenly wondered if she was ignoring the children’s pride.

As Sa Su-yeon hesitated, Son-bin’s voice was heard from behind.

“I saw your sister playing the zither [a traditional Chinese stringed instrument] very well yesterday. Her name is Rin, right?”

Sa Su-yeon turned her head. Before she knew it, Son-bin had approached and was speaking with a smile.

“Yes! My sister is the best. The village chief and even the high-ranking officials at the government office said she’s very good!”

The boy, Kang-min, said with a proud expression. At those words, the girl, Kang-rin, blushed slightly and lowered her head.

“Then could you teach me a little while we’re going to Hangzhou?”

“Yes? To you, Young Master?”

Son-bin gave a wry smile.

“Just call me ‘hyung’ [older brother or respectful term for an older male] or ‘teacher’.”

“Are you a teacher?”

“Yes. I teach children like you at the academy.”

Suddenly, the images of the academy children flashed before Son-bin’s eyes. Their adorable figures waving their hands, saying ‘Come quickly,’ vividly appeared before his eyes, and a sudden longing surged within him.

‘Are they all doing well?’

“I, I’m okay with it,” Rin, who had been holding onto her younger brother’s sleeve from behind, said quietly. At those words, Kang-min nodded.

“Okay! Then my sister will teach you the zither.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Son-bin reached out and gently stroked the heads of the two children. It was an action that came out of him without realizing it because he was thinking of the academy children, but the children didn’t seem to dislike it very much, as their faces were bright.

“I want to learn too!” Seo-rin, who was already in the carriage, quickly said. Kang-min was rather pleased with that reaction and said generously.

“Okay. I’ll teach you too, hyung.”

Rin, who suddenly had to teach two people, looked worried, but Kang-min had a proud expression.

“That’s great. Come on, get in quickly.”

Kang-min nodded vigorously at Sa Su-yeon, who was speaking with a smile, and helped his sister into the carriage.

“Aren’t you in yet? At this rate, it’ll take all day,” No-gun grumbled from the driver’s seat. Son-bin quickly got into the carriage with Sa Su-yeon.

“We’re ready. Let’s go.”

No sooner had Son-bin’s words fallen than No-gun shouted.

“Alright, let’s go!”

With No-gun’s voice full of anticipation, the horse kicked the ground powerfully. The people riding in the carriage staggered for a moment.

* * *

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage ran unhindered along the main road. No-gun, who was driving the carriage, was holding the reins with a satisfied expression, and the children, who had been awkward at first, were now sitting comfortably, having adapted to some extent.

“Come to think of it, did you finish sending the letter to Shin-ui?” Sa Su-yeon asked. No-gun, who was driving the horse, replied.

“Ah, that? I sent it well. I told him to come to Hangzhou, so he’ll pack what he needs and come.”

No-gun’s plan to meet Shin-ui quickly was surprisingly simple: Send a message to Shin-ui, who would be waiting in Cheongwon, to come to Hangzhou.

“If we leave the academy to that kid from Hoyeon Martial Arts Center, there won’t be any problems.”

That way, they could meet Shin-ui sooner than going directly to Cheongwon.

“Will the letter arrive safely?”

“The contact will be certain,” Dang-wol said in a clear voice. “You don’t have to worry.”

Sa Su-yeon nodded.

“That’s a relief,” Sa Su-yeon said sincerely. If anything happened to Son-bin because of this, she would not be able to forgive herself.

Clatter, clatter.

Feeling the gentle swaying, Sa Su-yeon looked at the children.

Kang-min was telling his blind sister about the passing scenery, and Kang-rin was listening with a curious expression. Of course, one hand was firmly holding onto her brother’s sleeve.

“By the way, why are you going to Hangzhou?” Sa Su-yeon, who was smiling, asked. She remembered them saying they were going to learn the zither, but she wanted to hear more details.

Kang-rin, the older sister, hesitated slightly, but Kang-min readily answered.

“They say my sister can learn the zither properly there. Anyone with talent can become an artist.”

“Really?” Sa Su-yeon looked back at Son-bin with a slightly dubious expression. Son-bin shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, it’s a famous place for art, so there must be many famous artists, but I don’t know if there’s such a place…….”

“Yes, there is!” Kang-min said as if protesting. “My sister definitely heard it! From someone who was with a high-ranking official at the government office! Sister, right?”

“Y-yes,” Kang-rin seemed a little hesitant but slowly continued at her brother’s urging. “His voice was soft and kind, but he also felt a little… scary. Even the high-ranking official at the government office was at his beck and call…….”

Rin shuddered slightly as if recalling that time. Although she was one year older, Rin was smaller and much more frail than Min.

“He said that if you go to a certain place in Hangzhou, you can learn the zither properly. When I said I didn’t have any money, he said I didn’t need any money. If I had talent, I could even become someone who plays in front of the Emperor…….”

“Where is that place?” Sa Su-yeon asked, but Rin couldn’t easily speak.

“That’s a place he told me not to talk about carelessly…….”

Rin recalled the chilling coldness that lingered in the soft and kind voice.

The warning in that voice, saying that if you carelessly spoke that name, you could die without anyone knowing.

“It’s okay,” Along with Son-bin’s soft voice, a warm sensation suddenly covered Rin’s trembling hand.

She was startled for a moment because it felt unfamiliar, but Rin couldn’t shake off that light and warm hand. No, in fact, she didn’t want to shake it off.

“That place is……,” Holding the long, soft fingers that had grabbed her hand, Rin said, “It’s a place called Yewon.”

“Yewon?” Sa Su-yeon asked back, but No-gun, who was driving the carriage in front, echoed, “Yewon?”

“Ah, do you know that place?” Rin asked. No-gun turned his head instead of answering and asked Rin.

“Did you say the guy you met had a soft and kind voice?”

“Yes.”

“How old was he?”

“I don’t know, but he seemed young, and…….”

“And?” No-gun asked as if urging Rin, who was hesitating.

“That’s… everyone else seemed to think he was a man, but I felt like he was definitely a woman.”

“A woman?”

“Yes. When he came close to me and spoke, I smelled a subtle fragrance. His voice also seemed awkward as if he was deliberately making it rough…….”

“Do you know who it is?” Son-bin asked. No-gun clicked his tongue.

“Well? There are so many strange guys in the Outer Affairs…….”

He said that, but he seemed to have a rough idea of who it was.

“What kind of place is Yewon?” Son-bin asked again. He remembered it being mentioned a few times in the conversation between No-gun and Pil-ong.

“It’s a place where artists show off their talents, as the name suggests. It’s similar to a brothel, but a little different.”

“A brothel?” Sa Su-yeon frowned slightly at No-gun’s words. But Son-bin suddenly recalled a piece of his past memory.

It was the Suyukjeong in Xi’an that he had gone to with Saja-hyuk. That place was also said to be a place where artists showed off their talents.

It was Son-bin’s first time ever, and he vividly remembered the beauty named Nanhyang pouring him a drink.

“It’s a meaningless place to me, but it’s a very important place to some guys. It’s also a place that not just anyone can enter.”

No-gun frowned. Then, he suddenly looked at Son-bin’s face.

“It wouldn’t be difficult for you to get in, but I want to stop you if I could.”

“Is it an expensive place?” Son-bin asked. No-gun shook his head.

“No, it’s the opposite,” No-gun said. “If you’re revealing your existence just to get into Yewon, it’s not worth it. Unless they hand over one or two Yewons.”

“Are there several Yewons?” Dang-wol also showed interest. No-gun shrugged his shoulders.

“Yes. The most important one is Yewon in Hangzhou, but there are a few others. There’s one in Beijing too… It’s been a long time, so maybe there are more now.”

“Do they give it away?” At Dang-wol’s question, No-gun gave a wry smile.

“That’s how valuable it is. Would they give it away? Even if you received it, there’s nothing you could do with it.”

“Is there a Yewon in Xi’an by any chance?” When Son-bin asked, No-gun’s eyes took on an unexpected light.

“Do you know about it?”

“The place I know is called Suyukjeong.”

“That’s right. That’s Yewon in Xi’an.”

“Have you ever been there? To that Yewon brothel?” Sa Su-yeon asked.

“Yes. A long time ago…….”

Son-bin, who was answering absentmindedly, suddenly felt Sa Su-yeon’s cold gaze. When he looked to the side, Dang-wol was also staring at Son-bin with shining eyes. Son-bin was flustered.

“Um, well, for a moment, that… it was because of work…….”

Saying it was because of work was correct. He had to accompany Saja-hyuk to write his biography.

It wasn’t like Saja-hyuk had told him in advance what kind of place it was, so there was no choice. Still, it became like an excuse because he was flustered.

“Hmm,” Sa Su-yeon narrowed her eyes. “So Young Master Son was interested in that kind of thing? Brothels, artists, and such.”

“No, well, it’s not like that, I was purely… what should I say, playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting are basic accomplishments for a man of letters…….”

Playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting were traditionally recognized as basic accomplishments for scholars and noble hobbies that transcended the mundane world.

As Son-bin said, among men of letters, not being able to do these things was considered a lack of culture. But that was not very effective for Sa Su-yeon.

“I see. The zither played by a pretty lady must sound even more beautiful. I wonder if you even received a drink?” At Sa Su-yeon’s sharp remark, Son-bin flinched for a moment.

“Is that really so?” Sa Su-yeon’s eyes sparkled. Dang-wol’s gaze was also unusual.

“Um… Come to think of it, my master told me to stay away from women,” Seo-rin muttered as if she had suddenly remembered. It was like being cornered, so Son-bin gave an awkward smile, but No-gun said,

“The Hermit also went. To Yewon.”

“Yes? Really?” Seo-rin’s eyes widened.

“Often too.”

The atmosphere was reversed at No-gun’s words. If the famously noble Hwanghak Hermit frequented the place, it couldn’t be a strange place.

“It’s okay to go, Yewon……,” Seo-rin muttered as if she had gained a great realization, and Son-bin sighed in relief.

But that was too early. No-gun’s words were not over yet.

“But he never accepted a drink. It’s not always like that, but the drinks that artists offer often have other meanings.”

“What meaning?” Dang-wol asked. No-gun said, “What else could it be, well…….”

No-gun, who was about to answer, suddenly looked at Son-bin’s face. Only then did he realize and coughed dryly.

“Ahem. Well, it’s just a way of saying, ‘Please take care of me in the future.’ It doesn’t mean anything.”

No-gun slyly turned his head and looked ahead. Sa Su-yeon and Dang-wol’s eyes were full of suspicion, but they didn’t ask any further.

‘Hoo.’ Son-bin was relieved.

‘If I had said the wrong thing…….’

Still, Sa Su-yeon and Dang-wol’s expressions were not good. Son-bin slyly turned his gaze to the passing scenery.

‘If it’s Hangzhou, is that where the woman named Hwa-wol is?’

Son-bin rummaged through his memories. The woman in Suyukjeong was called Nanhyang. And Nobok had told him that Hwa-wol was in Hangzhou.

He wanted to ask No-gun about Nanhyang or Hwa-wol, but Son-bin couldn’t bring himself to say the words, knowing what would happen if he did.

“What does ‘Please take care of me in the future’ mean?”

“Well? The meaning is very different depending on how you think about it.”

Dang-wol and Sa Su-yeon were talking as if they wanted him to hear. They were right next to him, so he couldn’t help but hear them.

With Sa Su-yeon and Dang-wol’s stinging gazes on the back of his head, Son-bin turned his eyes to the passing scenery.

Clatter, clatter.

The scenery of the Gangbuk region flowed along with the carriage. But the barren scenery along the official road was not even worth looking at that day.