A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 441

441. Another Reunion

Tinkle. The sound of a teacup being filled echoed in the quiet room. The teapot, having filled the small cup, was placed silently on the table, and a pair of slender, white fingers gently wrapped around the warm teacup. Princess Gyeonghui quietly lifted the cup to her red lips and savored the aroma and taste of the tea, her eyes lowered. The black veil that had covered her face was now gone. She was merely drinking tea, but her fluid, natural movements and restrained gestures were as beautiful as a painting. However, Son Bin, who was watching her, was quite restless. A chilling aura emanated from Princess Gyeonghui.

“Um…”

Son Bin spoke, but Princess Gyeonghui didn’t even pretend to hear him. However, he couldn’t take back the words he had already uttered.

“…Have you been well?”

“Been well, you ask?”

Clink. Princess Gyeonghui put down the teacup and raised her eyes. She spoke in an extremely polite tone.

“My Royal Consort, who asked the Emperor for me, abandoned me and went to the Western Regions with others. Moreover, the only news I received was that he had been buried alive in the Sacred Valley of Seojang’s Dalai [a remote and dangerous location in the Western Regions].”

Princess Gyeonghui wore a chilling smile.

“And you think I could be well under those circumstances?”

Son Bin was speechless at her quiet rebuke. He had no excuses, and when he thought about it, it was all his responsibility.

“I’m sorry.”

Son Bin apologized.

“I did send a letter, but…”

“I know.”

Princess Gyeonghui cut off Son Bin’s words.

“The Chief Strategist of the Tang Clan showed it to me, saying it was proof that you were alive.”

Princess Gyeonghui’s red lips moved with a cold gaze.

“But do you think an uncertain letter, which I don’t even know when it was written, is enough proof? And am I supposed to believe you’re alive with just that letter, which doesn’t even have a single word for me?”

Son Bin inwardly clicked his tongue. Not sending his regards to Princess Gyeonghui and not writing the letter properly in the first place were all his faults.

“…I’m sorry.”

Son Bin apologized again.

“I unintentionally caused you concern, Princess.”

Princess Gyeonghui didn’t answer. No, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed even more. Son Bin’s appearance, only able to say he was sorry, only made her more annoyed, but she didn’t want to get angry at Son Bin for apologizing. Dealing with these complex emotions, which she was experiencing for the first time, was too difficult for Princess Gyeonghui.

“…I wasn’t worried.”

Princess Gyeonghui said quietly, pretending to look elsewhere.

“I don’t have the luxury to worry about dead people.”

Son Bin gave an awkward smile at her still prickly words. Still, it seemed like her anger had subsided a little compared to before.

“Still, I made you wear a black veil because of me, so really…”

At that moment, Princess Gyeonghui flinched.

“…What are you talking about?”

Princess Gyeonghui glared at Son Bin with a sharp gaze. Son Bin blinked with a puzzled expression.

“Didn’t you wear the veil because you thought I was dead?”

Princess Gyeonghui frowned.

“Who said that? Absolutely not.”

Son Bin tilted his head at her firm denial.

“Then why the veil…”

“Because I have to hide my face.”

Princess Gyeonghui said in a firm voice.

“Officially, I’m supposed to be in the Northern Province. I can’t just walk around with my face exposed.”

“Ah, yes…”

Son Bin’s reaction was lukewarm. In fact, only a few people could recognize Princess Gyeonghui. If that was the only reason, there was no reason for her to hide her face. Princess Gyeonghui couldn’t possibly not know Son Bin’s reaction, so she continued to speak nervously.

“I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but what I’m doing now is supplying goods to the Imperial Palace. Most of it is done in writing, but I sometimes have to meet with officials directly. What do you think would happen if I just went there?”

‘Ah.’

Son Bin realized what Princess Gyeonghui was saying. There would definitely be many people who could recognize her in the Imperial Palace. Of course, he wondered if she had to hide her face even here in Hangzhou.

“Then the clothes…”

The clothes Princess Gyeonghui was wearing now were black. Of course, mourning clothes were traditionally white, so she was definitely not expressing condolences. However, it was also true that it felt very restrained and solemn, unlike the clothes she usually wore.

“…Did I have to get your permission for my clothing preferences?”

Son Bin quickly shook his head at her cold words. It felt like something terrible would happen if he asked more.

“No, of course not.”

Princess Gyeonghui looked at Son Bin with a displeased expression and then sighed softly.

“I’m telling you clearly, I’m doing this in consultation with the Chief Strategist of the Tang Clan. I definitely didn’t ignore your wishes…”

“It’s okay.”

Son Bin said before Princess Gyeonghui could finish her sentence.

“You can do as you wish, Princess.”

Son Bin continued with an earnest expression.

“Just always be careful. I never want you to be in danger. And if you ever need my help…”

As he spoke, Son Bin suddenly saw a complex emotion flash across Princess Gyeonghui’s eyes.

“Did something happen in the Imperial Palace?”

Son Bin asked with a firm expression. Princess Gyeonghui sighed softly at his eyes, which genuinely worried about her.

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Rustle.

Princess Gyeonghui’s white, slender fingers wrapped around the teacup.

“But I should tell you this. In fact, the Emperor knows that I’m the representative of the merchant guild.”

Son Bin’s eyes widened. Princess Gyeonghui continued.

“To be exact, the eunuch who serves the Emperor also knows. It’s difficult to secretly deliver news to the Emperor, but writing a letter to the eunuch isn’t difficult.”

Son Bin quickly understood what Princess Gyeonghui meant. Most high-ranking eunuchs had separate residences outside the Imperial Palace. The eunuch who served the Emperor was the same. Princess Gyeonghui had delivered the news to the Emperor through him.

“In fact, the Emperor wouldn’t even be interested in my news. But the representative of a merchant guild that supplies military horses to the Imperial Army is important enough. Of course, there was also the intention to ask him to turn a blind eye.”

Son Bin nodded and asked her.

“Are you enjoying your work?”

“So-so.”

That’s what she said, but Princess Gyeonghui’s eyes were shining.

“Dealing with numbers is quite interesting. Above all, I like building it up one by one with my own hands. Some people may laugh if the Imperial Princess does the work of a merchant guild, but what does it matter now?”

Son Bin sympathized with her words. The situation was a little different, but he had felt a similar sense of liberation when he gave up his dream of becoming an official. However, Princess Gyeonghui’s nerves were touched by Son Bin’s happy expression.

“Why?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Son Bin quickly grabbed the teacup and pretended not to notice. Princess Gyeonghui, who was looking at him with a displeased expression, suddenly asked in a quiet voice.

“So, did things go well where you went?”

At those words, Son Bin put down the teacup he was holding. Clink.

“Yes. It’s over.”

“Muje?”

She couldn’t be indifferent to Muje’s well-being either. Son Bin answered quietly.

“He left with the previous Jade Dragon beyond the Gate of Naraka [a mythical and dangerous gateway]. Ah, the Gate of Naraka is…”

“That’s enough.”

Princess Gyeonghui cut off Son Bin’s words.

“You don’t have to explain. I’m not interested in that anyway.”

That’s what she said, but Princess Gyeonghui was silent for a while, fiddling with the teacup.

“…Yes, he was someone who said he was in the sky anyway.”

That was what Saja Hyuk had said to her guard, Cheongranggeom Wi Gajin. Princess Gyeonghui couldn’t forget Saja Hyuk’s words comparing himself to a wolf. Princess Gyeonghui suddenly raised her head. She looked at Son Bin and asked.

“Are you going too?”

Son Bin smiled. As expected, Princess Gyeonghui was sharp.

“No. I’m not going.”

Princess Gyeonghui smiled faintly at that answer. The smile seemed like a sneer, and it also felt somewhat empty.

“Then have you been in Seojang all this time?”

“No. I was also in Cheonchuk, and in Pasa for a while.”

“Cheonchuk and Pasa… That’s far away.”

“Yes. It’s very far.”

Son Bin wrapped his hands around the teacup, recalling the memories that flooded back. Princess Gyeonghui, who had been silent for a while as if not to disturb Son Bin, suddenly smiled and said.

“It was quite a sight when horses flocked to Seojang in your name. Even the Chief Strategist of the Tang Clan’s complexion changed. Thanks to that, I was able to come out like this…”

Princess Gyeonghui, who rarely smiled, asked Son Bin.

“Did you bring anything interesting from Cheonchuk or Pasa?”

Son Bin flinched at those words. And the sharp Princess Gyeonghui didn’t miss Son Bin’s reaction.

“…Could it be, a woman?”

Son Bin couldn’t understand how she could get the right answer so suddenly.

“No. No, it’s not that… Sarasvati did come, but she was originally an empress and a goddess…”

Son Bin was flustered and tried to explain somehow, but Princess Gyeonghui smiled coldly.

“So her name is Sarasvati? That woman.”

Son Bin swallowed hard. He could already guess what kind of reaction would come back. But Princess Gyeonghui was not ordinary either.

“Hmm, well, it doesn’t matter. It’s said that there are three palaces, six courts, and seventy-two concubines (三宮六院七十二妃) [a traditional expression for the Emperor’s vast harem], so it’s not bad to have many women to bear the heirs of the lord.”

Son Bin had no idea how such words could come out so easily, and how to react. The words three palaces, six courts, and seventy-two concubines (三宮六院七十二妃) in the old texts apply to the special case of the emperor. It is a completely different world rule for Son Bin, who has been thinking of himself as an ordinary scholar and walking the path of Muje.

“But wouldn’t the empress be a little difficult?”

Princess Gyeonghui, not even considering Son Bin’s embarrassment, stared at Son Bin and said.

“Wouldn’t that emperor stay still? Did you ask for the empress and get her too? Like me?”

Sarasvati quit being the empress. It’s ambiguous whether the empress can quit, but anyway, she left the position herself. But if he told her that, he thought more troublesome words would come out, so Son Bin just remained silent.

“Hmph.”

Only then did a smile appear on Princess Gyeonghui’s lips. A more arrogant and beautiful smile of triumph than before. For some reason, Son Bin felt relieved at that sight. When Son Bin smiled without realizing it, Princess Gyeonghui frowned immediately.

“Why…”

Clink. Princess Gyeonghui’s words were cut off by a small sound from the entrance. Son Bin and Princess Gyeonghui turned their heads, and the door opened to reveal Wonju Hwa Wol.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation.”

Hwa Wol bowed to the two with an elegant and polite attitude.

“Ah, Wonju-nim.”

Son Bin jumped up from his seat. It was sudden, but he was just grateful for Hwa Wol’s appearance.

“I was going to wait until you finished talking, but I thought it would take all night.”

Hwa Wol smiled. Her posture, which did not deviate from etiquette in the slightest, was in no way inferior to Princess Gyeonghui.

Rustle.

She came inside and closed the door. And she sat quietly on one side of the table and said to Princess Gyeonghui.

“How is it? Isn’t it a surprising person?”

Princess Gyeonghui gave a bitter smile.

“I admit it. I thought who would dare to surprise me, but I really didn’t expect it at all.”

Hwa Wol smiled. Then, she bowed politely to Son Bin, who was sitting in his seat.

“I’m sorry if you were surprised, Son Gongja-nim.”

Hwa Wol said, looking at Son Bin.

“But I was definitely going to tell you. I missed the opportunity because you said you trusted me, Son Gongja-nim.”

The ‘reason’ that Hwa Wol was trying to say was the identity of the other person. It’s because Princess Gyeonghui would not have met Son Bin. But Son Bin accepted her actions, which could have been rude, without even hearing the reason. Hwa Wol was quite moved. And at the same time, a slight playfulness welled up.

“Thanks to that, I wanted to surprise you a little. How is it, were you surprised?”

The fact that she said she ‘had something to help with’ and that she was a ‘widow’ was also for that reason.

It’s because Hwa Wol already knew that the ‘woman in the black veil’ was Princess Gyeonghui.

“Yes. I was really surprised.”

Saying that, Son Bin sighed. He really didn’t know what to do when a woman he met for the first time tried to tease him.

“But what brings you to Yewon, Princess?”

It’s natural that Hwa Wol and Princess Gyeonghui know each other. The place where Princess Gyeonghui was first brought from Hwangsan was here at Yewon. But was there any reason for Princess Gyeonghui to visit Yewon? Princess Gyeonghui answered Son Bin with a calm expression.

“I was thinking of trying something new.”

Son Bin was puzzled, but Hwa Wol suddenly interjected in a calm tone from the side.

“Princess Gyeonghui-nim. You shouldn’t say that.”

Princess Gyeonghui frowned at the calm voice.

“I told you not to call me that, didn’t I?”

“No. I’m speaking to the Princess, not the representative of the merchant guild.”

Hwa Wol, who straightened her body, said in a stern tone.

“If you acknowledge Son Gongja-nim as Royal Consort, you must correct that tone. Surely the Imperial Princess wouldn’t say she doesn’t know etiquette?”

Son Bin was startled. Even if she was Wonju, how could a Yaein [a person of lower social standing] scold the Imperial Princess? There was no way Princess Gyeonghui would tolerate such rude remarks. But Princess Gyeonghui didn’t get angry. And she didn’t ignore Hwa Wol’s words either. After making an unpleasant expression for a while, Princess Gyeonghui sighed and said to Son Bin.

“…In fact, I was able to start the merchant guild thanks to you.”

Son Bin was surprised again. It wasn’t a very great honorific, but it was something he couldn’t have imagined Princess Gyeonghui saying. For some reason, it suddenly felt awkward.

“If you don’t like it, should I do it like before?”

Son Bin quickly shook his head at Princess Gyeonghui’s cold voice.

“No. Please continue.”

Princess Gyeonghui made an effort to ignore Son Bin’s still surprised gaze.

“The fine horses of Seojang came in your name. But there are many other gifts that came to ‘Daeshinjang’ [a title implying great merchant]. Most of them are works of art and esoteric scriptures.”

Certainly, such things were written on the list of ‘gifts’ that Son Bin had received. And Son Bin had asked for all of them to be sent to Yewon.

“Ah, are you trying to start a new business based on that?”

Son Bin asked Princess Gyeonghui.

He ignored the feeling that there was a slight mockery in the word ‘Daeshinjang’.

“That’s right. Originally, the value of a work of art varies greatly depending on who you meet.”

Princess Gyeonghui’s eyes sparkled. Her honorifics for Son Bin were also coming out naturally, as if they had been for a long time.

“Yewon does similar things, but I know many people who are willing to pay a much higher price for them. What do you think?”

Her words certainly sounded plausible. Son Bin nodded and smiled.

“That’s definitely a good idea. I agree.”

Princess Gyeonghui smiled as if satisfied.

“Okay. Then I’ll proceed since you agreed too. Oh, and.”

Princess Gyeonghui said as if she had suddenly remembered.

“Why don’t you take this opportunity to meet the heads of the Five Great Merchant Guilds?”

“Yes?”

That was too absurd. But Princess Gyeonghui continued as if it were natural.

“Now that you’re back, shouldn’t you organize the Murim [martial arts world] or the Outer Affairs at least once? If so, it would be helpful to meet those who are said to control the logistics of the world.”

Princess Gyeonghui wore a faint sneer.

“Originally, people move with swords and food.”

Son Bin couldn’t help but be amazed. Princess Gyeonghui’s sense of seeing through Son Bin’s situation at once was the same as when she was in the middle of the Imperial Palace’s power.

“Why?”

Princess Gyeonghui asked, frowning. Son Bin quickly shook his head.

“No. I’ll consider it.”

Princess Gyeonghui nodded, though a little suspicious.

“If you want, Wonju can arrange the meeting.”

Princess Gyeonghui looked back at Hwa Wol.

“Can you do it?”

Hwa Wol smiled softly.

“Tell me anytime. It will take some time, but it won’t take too long.”

Hwa Wol spoke as if meeting with the heads of the Five Great Merchant Guilds in the world was like making a light outing schedule. Princess Gyeonghui nodded and said to Hwa Wol.

“Okay. Then I think it’s okay to let the people who are waiting come in now.”

“People who are waiting?”

Princess Gyeonghui chuckled at Son Bin’s question.

“Cheongranggeom Wi Gong [a skilled swordsman], and my noisy sister, Cheonghye Satae [a Buddhist nun], are waiting outside. They’ll probably be quite happy to see you’re back.”

Princess Gyeonghui said with a teasing smile.

“Or, were you perhaps going to leave after only seeing me?”

It was probably a mistake that the old tone came out. But Son Bin was happy to just let it go. The sight of Princess Gyeonghui, who had changed like this, was already surprising enough.

(Author’s words)

Princess Gyeonghui’s continental scale, surpassing the three wives and four concubines said by No-gun. For reference, although mentioned in the text, black veils or black clothes are different from the customs of the time. However, veils covering the face have been very common since ancient times.