A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 229

229. Scheme

The academy’s morning was more dazzling than ever.

A gentle breeze stirred the trees surrounding the academy, and a red flag embroidered with golden letters fluttered in the wind.

Raising a flag at the academy was an unusual sight, but the words ‘A Hundred Years’ Promise’ shimmering in gold were reason enough.

Though it was early morning, the academy was filled with people.

Even amidst the crowd that made the small academy seem cramped, the figure of the old woman, Dang Un-yeong, in her red wedding dress, shone brighter than anyone else.

“Congratulations.”

“You look so beautiful.”

“Wow.”

Sa Su-yeon and Jeok Se-hwa’s polite greetings and Hwa-sa’s heartfelt admiration poured out to Dang Un-yeong. Dang Wol-ah was silently watching, but it was easy to see the sparkle in her eyes.

The beautifully dressed old woman, Dang Un-yeong, smiled brightly and replied to them.

“Thank you all.”

She tried to act as if it were nothing, but Dang Un-yeong’s cheeks were slightly flushed.

Watching her, Shin-ui quietly said a word.

“Beautiful.”

“Yeong-mae is always beautiful,” No-gun said gruffly.

No-gun in his red wedding attire looked somehow comical. His awkward expression, as if he were wearing ill-fitting clothes, further fueled that feeling.

“Don’t you think so?”

No-gun turned to his side and asked. Next to him, the former Supreme Sword, Hyeok Ryeon-wi, with his large frame, sat silently.

The former Supreme Sword, Hyeok Ryeon-wi, did not answer immediately. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth quietly.

“Not as much as my wife…….”

“Okay.”

No-gun quickly stopped him.

“Showing up uninvited from the crack of dawn……. You just watch.”

As No-gun grumbled, he suddenly noticed Son-bin.

Dressed in new clothes, Son-bin was smiling and talking with Seo-rin. Sa Su-yeon, Jeok Se-hwa, and Dang Wol-ah were also seen next to him.

Hwa-sa and Geom-hui were also watching the old woman, Dang Un-yeong. Hwa-sa, in particular, couldn’t take her eyes off Dang Un-yeong.

“How could I have ever imagined that such a day would come in my life?”

No-gun’s voice was trembling slightly. No-gun turned his head and looked at the large sword, Pa-wol, placed on the floor.

Pa-wol, which was hard to even guess was a sword at first glance, was quietly placed on a wooden support.

Originally, it was placed in Son-bin’s quarters, but Son-bin took it out, saying he wanted to get some air. However, there was no one who didn’t guess the real reason.

“Good, it’s really good.”

Tears welled up in No-gun’s eyes. But today, even Shin-ui didn’t tease No-gun.

“Are you really okay with this?”

Shin-ui asked in a low voice.

“With what?”

“Being tied to one woman for the rest of your life? I know how you feel, but are you really okay with this?”

No-gun chuckled at Shin-ui’s serious expression.

“Well, to be honest, I still don’t know. Whether I’m doing the right thing…….”

No-gun replied in a calm voice.

“But maybe.”

No-gun looked up at Dang Un-yeong. His gaze towards Dang Un-yeong, who was smiling happily, was softer than ever.

“I might have lived until now to see this day.”

Shin-ui had nothing more to say to that answer.

“Wow!”

Suddenly, the entrance of the academy became noisy. The children who had disappeared somewhere had returned.

“Hmm? Those guys…….”

Shin-ui muttered. The children rushed to Dang Un-yeong, who was wearing a wedding dress, and scattered what they were holding in their arms.

Flutter.

Colorful flowers scattered in the air, fluttering in the wind. In an instant, flower petals scattered like snow in the academy’s courtyard.

“Congratulations, Grandma Teacher!”

“Congratulations!”

The children who scattered the flowers shouted and bowed their heads. Not only the children of the academy but also the five children who came with Dang Wol-ah were together.

“You guys…….”

The old woman, Dang Un-yeong, couldn’t continue speaking.

For Dang Un-yeong, the children had been searching for flowers since early morning. The children’s clothes, wet with dew and stained with grass, testified to this.

“Thank you so much.”

Rustle.

The old woman, Dang Un-yeong, bent her knees and hugged each of the children tightly. She didn’t care that her wedding dress was getting messed up.

“Ahem, ahem.”

At No-gun’s clearing throat, Dang Un-yeong raised her head. No-gun, who had already approached, was pretending to look elsewhere.

“A-are you okay with this? Even if you marry me like this?”

No-gun asked. Dang Un-yeong stood up.

Rustle.

“Yes.”

The old woman, Dang Un-yeong, said with a smile.

“I’ve been waiting for this day my whole life.”

No-gun’s face turned red at the answer that even made the listeners embarrassed. But Dang Un-yeong’s expression was only radiant.

“Thank you, Soon-rang.”

Dang Un-yeong said so with moist eyes. Her eyes were shining more beautifully than any girl.

At that sight, No-gun’s heart sank, and he forgot what to say.

“Shall we start the wedding ceremony then?”

Son-bin, who had straightened his attire, said in a soft voice.

∴

The wedding ceremony ended simply.

Originally, they would have gone through cumbersome procedures such as Juryukrye (周六禮, Six Rites) or Jujasarye (朱子四禮, Four Rites of Zhu Xi), but the two of them immediately held the wedding ceremony.

The wedding ceremony itself was just bowing to each other and sharing a glass of wine. But it was a more meaningful moment for them than anything else.

“Beautiful.”

Hwa-sa muttered to herself, and the old woman, Dang Un-yeong, in her red wedding dress, looked bright and beautiful.

On the other hand, No-gun couldn’t shake off his awkward expression, which made the people watching laugh.

After the wedding ceremony, everyone had a simple meal together. The food prepared by Jeok Se-hwa and Dang Un-yeong was neat and delicious, and all the children liked it.

“I’m leaving.”

Hwa-sa said abruptly after the meal.

Son-bin already knew she was leaving, but the children, who didn’t know at all, looked surprised.

“Why?”

“Don’t go, Sister.”

So-so and Aeng-aeng immediately widened their eyes. Hwa-sa stroked the two children’s heads.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back.”

As she spoke, Hwa-sa slyly looked at Son-bin.

“Can I come back?”

“Of course.”

Only then did Hwa-sa’s expression brighten when Son-bin replied with a smile.

“Ah, and…….”

Hwa-sa hesitated and couldn’t continue speaking. Son-bin had a puzzled expression.

“Can I…… get married here too?”

Son-bin smiled. It seemed that today’s wedding ceremony had made a big impression on her.

“Of course. You are welcome anytime, Miss.”

Hwa-sa’s anxious expression brightened. She said cheerfully to Son-bin.

“Thank you, Oppa [older brother/term of endearment].”

Pleased to have received permission, Hwa-sa didn’t realize what she had said.

Hwa-sa bent her knees and hugged So-so and Aeng-aeng tightly, rubbing her face against theirs.

“I’ll be back soon, okay?”

Hwa-sa, who had hugged the children, stood up again. And she said to No-gun and Dang Un-yeong, who were sitting in the middle.

“Congratulations, Uncle, Aunt. You said it’s a ‘Hundred Years’ Promise,’ so please live happily for a hundred years. Hehehe.”

No-gun gave a bitter smile, and Dang Un-yeong replied with a smile.

Hwa-sa bowed politely to Jeok Se-hwa. And after glancing at Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah, she turned her head and looked at Geom-hui, who was sitting silently.

“See you later, Ice Cube.”

Geom-hui only glanced at Hwa-sa and didn’t say anything.

“You heartless thing.”

Hwa-sa pouted and grumbled. But she didn’t say anything more.

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

Hwa-sa said a word to Son-bin in a rather coquettish manner and immediately flew away.

Thud.

Hwa-sa’s figure disappeared in an instant. Watching that, No-gun clicked his tongue.

“I don’t know why she uses her lightness skill [a martial arts technique for moving swiftly] when she could just take a carriage. Tsk, tsk.”

“Should I have offered her a horse?”

Dang Un-yeong asked No-gun with a worried expression. No-gun shook his head.

“She wouldn’t be able to ride it even if I gave it to her. She doesn’t know how to ride a horse. Anyway, she’s so impatient…….”

Jeok Se-hwa, noticing something in No-gun’s grumbling expression, asked.

“Do you two perhaps have any plans?”

Dang Un-yeong looked a little surprised but soon smiled.

“We’re thinking of going on a trip for a while.”

“A trip?”

When Jeok Se-hwa asked back, Dang Un-yeong nodded, and No-gun looked elsewhere, feigning ignorance.

“We’re thinking of going to Nam-ak [Southern Peak] for a while. I want to see where Soon-rang lived and hear how he’s been doing.”

Son-bin nodded. How many past days would the two of them want to share with each other?

“Ahem. By the way, what brings you here when I didn’t even call you?”

No-gun threw a word at the former Supreme Sword, Hyeok Ryeon-wi, as if the people’s attention was burdensome.

The former Supreme Sword, Hyeok Ryeon-wi, quietly raised his eyes and looked at Jeok Se-hwa. It meant that he had business with her.

“Me?”

Jeok Se-hwa looked at Hyeok Ryeon-wi with surprised eyes. Hyeok Ryeon-wi nodded and took out a thin letter from his chest.

Rustle.

Jeok Se-hwa, who had risen from her seat, approached Hyeok Ryeon-wi and received the letter in a polite manner. And she unfolded the letter and began to read it.

Jeok Se-hwa’s expression, which had been a little shy, soon turned into a surprised face. And finally, it hardened.

People looked at Jeok Se-hwa. Even after reading the letter, Jeok Se-hwa was lost in thought.

No-gun frowned and asked.

“What is it? What kind of letter is it…….”

“They say they want to bring me into the Hyeok Ryeon family.”

Jeok Se-hwa replied to No-gun’s words. At those words, people were instantly plunged into surprise and confusion.

“No, what is…….”

Dang Un-yeong was about to say something, but No-gun suddenly frowned and shouted.

“What? Is this guy crazy? Why suddenly…….”

“As an adopted daughter.”

No-gun, who had been about to jump up, stopped at Jeok Se-hwa’s quiet words.

“Adopted daughter?”

“Yes, to be exact, I’ll be Grand Warrior Hyeok Ryeon-wi’s granddaughter.”

Jeok Se-hwa said with an awkward smile. But she couldn’t hide her confusion.

“I have an elderly couple who are like nephews to me.”

The former Supreme Sword, Hyeok Ryeon-wi, said in a heavy voice. It was a little strange that they were an elderly couple but nephews, but it was not uncommon for such differences to occur when calculating lineage.

“They lost their children early and have lived alone their whole lives. I think you would take good care of them.”

It was a very long speech, unlike him. But no one was paying attention to it anymore.

In a secret garden where the afternoon sun poured down.

A woman was sitting quietly in a small pavilion built under the green shade, reading a letter.

Tinkle, chirp.

A small stream and the sound of birds tickled her ears as if teasing her, and a gentle breeze shook her hair. But the woman read the letter without the slightest disturbance.

Rustle.

The woman’s white and long hand put down the letter. Her long eyelashes flickered, and soon a low sigh escaped from her red lips.

“The imperial palace’s intelligence is slower than a mere tavern’s rumor.”

The woman, Princess Gyeong-hui, said, turning her head.

“So-ha, does this make any sense?”

So-ha, a small young man in official robes who received Princess Gyeong-hui’s gaze, replied with a smile on his face.

“It’s not that it doesn’t make sense.”

“The imperial palace’s interest is strictly selected according to the importance of intelligence and focuses on finding out deep internal affairs that are not revealed. For example, it is more accurate than anyone else when it comes to the corruption of high-ranking officials or the suspicious movements of the military, but it has no interest in collecting all kinds of rumors in the world.”

So-ha’s words were smooth. But Princess Gyeong-hui’s expression did not change.

“That’s right. But this is something that the Emperor ordered me to do directly. It can never be taken lightly.”

Rustle.

Princess Gyeong-hui picked up the letter and handed it to the maid, Hang-ah. Hang-ah, who had been quietly waiting next to her, respectfully received the letter and put it away in her arms.

“Dismiss Chief Eunuch Hong, who is in charge. If he cannot understand the owner’s will, he is no longer qualified to eat the country’s salary.”

So-ha smiled. It was his habit when expressing dissenting opinions.

“Although it is an unofficial position, dismissing the Chief Eunuch, who is in charge of the intelligence organization, is by no means a small matter.”

“So, I’m telling you to do it.”

Princess Gyeong-hui also smiled faintly.

“I cannot leave someone who is unwilling to cooperate with me in an important position. Even more so if his insight is only up to this point. Anyway, the Emperor is also thinking that it’s time for a reshuffle.”

Her last words were enough to eliminate So-ha’s anxiety.

“Dismiss him. There are plenty of eunuchs to replace him.”

“I will do as you command.”

The authority to appoint all officials, including the eunuch, ultimately belongs to the Emperor. If that Emperor is on Princess Gyeong-hui’s side, there is nothing she cannot do.

The only thing not allowed to her was related to the military, but as far as this issue was concerned, it would surely be as she wished.

“But at this rate, we won’t be able to use the Jiangnan Murim [martial arts world of Jiangnan region].”

So-ha muttered to himself.

“For the Namgung Clan to try to reconcile with the Blood 봉련 [Bongryeon – Crimson Lotus Cult], it’s completely unexpected.”

The news that angered Princess Gyeong-hui was this.

No one would have known that the fire that was supposed to engulf the Jiangnan Murim would be extinguished so absurdly.

“It means someone is there. Someone who has absolute influence over the Namgung Clan and the Blood 봉련 [Bongryeon – Crimson Lotus Cult].”

Princess Gyeong-hui said quietly.

The conflict in the Jiangnan Murim was clearly expanding. And she exercised influence over the government to intentionally neglect this conflict, so that this fire would eventually devour the Jiangnan Murim.

That situation was reversed in an instant. It is by no means natural that a conflict that seemed would never end without bloodshed would be resolved so easily.

“Is it the Outer Affairs [a secretive organization] again?”

So-ha said.

“To be exact, it would be that person.”

Princess Gyeong-hui said, as if muttering to herself.

“Sa Ja-hyeok. No, the Martial Emperor of Hyeoncheon.”

Princess Gyeong-hui’s eyes shone eerily, and the eyes of Cheongrang Sword Wi Ga-jin, who had been standing silently, also flashed for a moment.

His overwhelming force that they had seen that night was still vivid in their minds.

“But it has been a long time since he showed himself in the Outer Affairs [a secretive organization].”

So-ha said with a smile.

“The fact that we met him can be said to be good luck.”

“But even with that good luck before our eyes, we didn’t realize it. If we had known the meaning he held, we would never have retreated like that.”

Cheongrang Sword Wi Ga-jin was still silent, and Princess Gyeong-hui’s eyes were filled with blatant displeasure. But that displeasure soon disappeared.

“But it’s not over yet. He rejected me, but there is still a possibility left.”

Princess Gyeong-hui’s red lips moved quietly.

“The one who walks the path of the Martial Emperor.”

The most secret and important name they could find out.

That was ‘The One Who Walks the Path of the Martial Emperor’.

“Find him. This time, he will never be able to reject me.”

“But the problem is that we can’t even be sure if he really exists.”

So-ha continued, as if sighing.

“Even the Head of the Wudang [a famous Taoist sect], Cheongsu Jin-in, only knew about the Outer Affairs [a secretive organization] in fragments. It seems necessary to directly contact the people of the Outer Affairs [a secretive organization]. And more seriously…….”

So-ha’s voice lowered. And the smile on his face became thicker than ever.

“I wonder if this is against the Emperor’s will to destroy the Outer Affairs [a secretive organization].”

“The Emperor has never said that.”

Princess Gyeong-hui also smiled.

“He only said to remove the dangers of the Imperial Family for the coming days.”

The Emperor is old. No one dares to say it, but it was clear that the time was coming when the owner of the throne would change.

The succession to the throne is a matter that calls for blood. There were emperors who had countless civil and military officials beheaded for this. They thoroughly killed off any forces that could become obstacles to future power.

But the current Emperor did not want that. He was thinking of a succession according to the natural order. So, it is no exaggeration to say that he is a virtuous ruler who cares for all the people of the world.

“If the Outer Affairs [a secretive organization] were to pledge allegiance to the Emperor, the safety of the Imperial Family would be even more secure. Therefore, this would be the best result for the peace of the Imperial Family and the world.”

Of course, Princess Gyeong-hui would be between the Outer Affairs [a secretive organization] and the Imperial Family. And with that, her political status would become untouchable by anyone.

But So-ha did not bother to point that out.

“I have said something very foolish with my short-sightedness.”

So-ha bowed deeply and apologized to his lord, Princess Gyeong-hui.

“Please forgive my ignorance for not understanding the Lord’s deep intentions.”

Princess Gyeong-hui gave a faint smile. Princess Gyeong-hui, who had been watching So-ha bowing his head for a moment, turned her gaze away.

“How is the preparation for the Beoncheon Plan?”

Princess Gyeong-hui suddenly asked. So-ha knew very well what she meant by ‘preparation’.

“There are no problems. It will begin whenever you wish.”

“Good.”

Clatter.

Princess Gyeong-hui rose from her seat. The afternoon sun fell on her beautiful face.

“Don’t tell the wolf to think about ascending to the sky? If it’s such a sky.”