A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 469

469. Evening at Pungwol Pavilion

Concealing his face with a jade fan, Son Bin stepped out into the hallway. Hyo-seol, the madam of Pungwol Pavilion [a high-end courtesan house], followed behind him, and a maid carefully closed the door of the private room from the outside.

Thud.

With that sound, Son Bin folded his jade fan. He then began to walk along the hallway. Hyo-seol, with her head bowed demurely, followed behind him.

“Hmm.”

Step, step.

As he walked down the hallway, Son Bin let out a soft groan. An awkward expression flickered across his face as he passed through the ornate yet somewhat antique hallway.

“Perhaps, we shouldn’t have fired the cannons?”

Click.

The door of the room next to the one Son Bin and Hyo-seol had just passed opened, and a group of people came out into the hallway. However, Son Bin didn’t turn around. Hyo-seol, who was walking directly behind Son Bin, didn’t either.

“Hehe, what’s wrong with that?”

Hyo-seol replied with a smile. The people who came out of the next room also naturally fell in behind Son Bin and Hyo-seol as they walked down the hallway.

“We were going to shoot them anyway. And didn’t you say you were originally going to go even bigger?”

“That’s right.”

The answer came from among those who had come out of the next room, walking behind Hyo-seol. Sarasvati spoke as she moved with an elegant demeanor.

“A show of force should never be half-hearted. If we had blown up the merchant guild branch and logistics warehouse on the southern coast as originally planned, the effect would have been much more certain.”

Son Bin gave a bitter smile. That wasn’t the original plan, but rather a suggestion from No-gun and Sarasvati. Although he had refused, saying it was absurd even if there were no casualties.

“…Then.”

Dang Wora, who was walking next to Sarasvati and had also come out of the next room, said quietly.

“Should I have destroyed something with my iron pellets too? I only made them fly around…”

“Destroy what?”

No-gun said bluntly. Having come out of the next room with the others, No-gun was now walking next to Son Bin with his hands behind his back.

“There’s no need to see blood when everyone is already pale with fear. If you smash someone’s head just to show off your strength, you’ll only create unnecessary grudges.”

Son Bin gave an awkward smile. It seemed that what Dang Wora should have destroyed had somehow been decided as someone’s head.

“I also thought that Lady Wora’s iron pellets were enough just now.”

“But I still feel a bit disappointed about the cannons.”

Sa Su-yeon said with a slightly disappointed expression.

“The cannons I saw in Tianzhu [ancient Chinese name for India] made a very strong impression, but what we saw just now felt somewhat lacking.”

“It couldn’t be helped.”

No-gun replied with an indifferent expression.

“That was just a test firing to see if the cannons the Imperial Navy received were up to par. There’s no point in paying the price if the cannons we secured for research are defective.”

Sarasvati had handed over several of the Imperial cannons she possessed to the Imperial family as research material. In return, Sarasvati was able to obtain the permits and various authorities she desired.

“Defective? The Empire’s cannons are the best in the world.”

Sarasvati interjected as if she couldn’t let it pass.

“Moreover, they are the Empire’s strongest cannons for actual combat use on the latest warships.”

“That would only be the case if they were backed by trained soldiers, skilled technicians, and the Empire’s gunpowder.”

Princess Gyeonghui, who was walking next to her, said. Princess Gyeonghui was the one who had received the Imperial cannons and handed them over to the Imperial family.

“But the Empire’s cannons are worth studying. That’s why the Imperial family was willing to make the deal.”

Even the Empire’s strongest cannons couldn’t just be deployed to the Imperial Army. However, if they were properly studied, they could significantly advance the Imperial family’s cannon manufacturing technology. The test firing of those cannons was the reason for the cannon fire heard a little while ago.

Of course, the fact that the timing and location were today, here at the Nanjing Naval Shipyard, was due to the arrangement of Princess Gyeonghui and Sarasvati.

“Well, those guys were so surprised by the sound of the cannons that they turned pale. Hehehe.”

“I wasn’t surprised!”

Seo-rin jumped up and approached Son Bin as No-gun laughed.

“But I was a little cold. Su-yeon was angry.”

“Angry?”

Son Bin asked back with a surprised expression. In fact, he had already guessed that Sa Su-yeon was involved. He knew that he had felt her chill earlier, and that Sa Su-yeon’s aura had subtly suppressed the group of merchants. But he never thought it was because she was angry.

When Son Bin turned around, Sa Su-yeon was slightly embarrassed. She shyly avoided Son Bin’s gaze and said.

“Ah, well… I thought those people were being a little rude to Young Master Son…”

Sa Su-yeon was embarrassed, but a smile was spreading across Son Bin’s face.

“Was that so? I didn’t notice…”

Son Bin said to Sa Su-yeon with a warm and gentle smile.

“Thank you for your concern, Lady Su-yeon.”

It was a gentle voice, but Sa Su-yeon couldn’t raise her head even more. Seeing her face turning red, Hyo-seol, the madam of Pungwol Pavilion, smiled.

“Now that the work is done, why don’t you take a break for a while? Nanjing cuisine made by the best chefs is prepared.”

“Wow! Food!”

Seo-rin immediately cheered, and Dang Wora’s eyes lit up. Sa Su-yeon, Sarasvati, and even Princess Gyeonghui’s eyes sparkled. No-gun also chuckled, and Son Bin smiled. Son Bin said to Hyo-seol.

“Thank you. I will gladly do so.”

Hyo-seol smiled.

“Come this way.”

Hyo-seol, the madam of Pungwol Pavilion, took the lead. Son Bin and his group moved with light steps, following her guidance.

***

The heads of the merchant guilds and their parties, who had remained in the private room, stood there for a long time even after Son Bin, holding the jade fan, and Hyo-seol had left. Their faces were hardened and silent, and their minds were more complicated than ever with their own calculations and judgments.

“Hoo.”

Thud.

Yang Won-jo, who was obese, sat down first. Following him, the other merchant guild leaders and their parties also slumped into their respective seats.

Yang Won-jo reached out, picked up a teacup, and gulped it down. Then he slammed it roughly on the table.

Clang.

“Who the hell joined hands with Gongson Geuk?”

At those words, Wang Gang, the head of Jae-bu Merchant Guild, immediately frowned.

“Let me tell you, it wasn’t me. Don’t go trying to frame an innocent person.”

Jae-bu Merchant Guild had been maintaining a cooperative relationship with the Gongson family until recently. They were bound to be the first to be suspected.

“But you have been with the Gongson family…”

“Is that important now?”

Clatter.

Jin-rim, the head of Ma-un Merchant Guild, put down his teacup and said irritably. The gaunt man looked around at the other merchant guild leaders with a sharp gaze.

“Isn’t the more serious issue who that young scholar is, and who is behind him?”

Jin-rim deliberately avoided mentioning Son Bin’s name. The title was ambiguous, but from the jade fan that concealed his face to the words ‘I hope we never meet again,’ there was an atmosphere that forbade speaking carelessly.

The other merchant guild leaders also groaned at Jin-rim’s words. The identity of the young scholar, Son Bin, was completely elusive. At first, they thought he was someone related to the Imperial family, but he exerted influence over the Bukhae Ice Palace, not to mention the elders of the Four Great Sects and even the Black Serpent Society, a demonic faction?

“Do you think there’s someone else behind him? He didn’t seem like he was acting on behalf of someone?”

Ho Geum-heun, the head of Hoi-yang Merchant Guild, asked. The young scholar was too proactive to be seen as someone’s agent. He made his own judgments and decisions, and he didn’t seem to be representing the will of someone else.

Jin-rim, who was gaunt, frowned slightly and recalled the young scholar from earlier.

“…He certainly didn’t seem like just an agent. But isn’t he too young? Besides, the way he speaks is quite idealistic, like a young scholar.”

As Jin-rim said, the young scholar was too young to be seen as the center of a huge conspiracy encompassing the Imperial family, the Bukhae Ice Palace, and the Murim [martial arts world].

And the things he rebuked the merchant guild leaders for were all idealistic. Things like ‘investments that look to the future’ or ‘social values worthy of respect.’

And at least the young scholar, perhaps just for show, didn’t demand any direct benefits at all.

“Who knows? Maybe it’s a stepping stone for something bigger.”

Yang Won-jo, who was obese, muttered. If so, that in itself would be even more frightening.

“Anyway, it’s right to see that there is a specific group behind him rather than him alone. And he is probably a member of that group.”

The other merchant guild leaders nodded at Jin-rim’s words. If the young scholar was not a simple agent but a formal member of the group, his actions would be understandable.

“…Perhaps His Majesty is trying to do something.”

Yang Won-jo said in a low voice. The expressions of the other merchant guild leaders also hardened at those words.

The old Emperor’s schemes were unfathomably deep. It would not be strange if the Emperor, who had completely grasped the Imperial family and the court, was now trying to take control of the Murim and the merchant world.

“Don’t jump to conclusions.”

Jin-rim, who was gaunt, said with a fierce look. Yang Won-jo smiled bitterly with his narrow eyes and lightly raised his hand to pretend he understood.

“I was just saying. Whatever the identity of the person behind him, we have no choice but to be careful since the one with the power is watching. To them, we are just money bags anyway.”

It was a somewhat self-deprecating remark. No matter how great the Five Great Merchant Guilds were, they were ultimately just playing the role of someone’s money bag.

“Tsk. I wonder when we’ll ever get out of this situation…”

Wang Gang, the head of Jae-bu Merchant Guild, clicked his tongue. People envied and resented them as the Five Great Merchant Guilds, but the more they did, the greater the sense of humiliation and insult they felt in the face of power.

‘Money bags…’

Ho Geum-heun quietly repeated Yang Won-jo’s words in his mind. He thought that perhaps his words were right. Not in a sense of belittlement or self-deprecation, but sincerely.

“Well, I only have the talent to make money anyway.”

Clatter.

Ho Geum-heun said as he put down his teacup.

“I guess I have to pretend to listen to what they say from above.”

Money is used according to the will of the one who holds it. Whether they are good or evil, money doesn’t care.

Similarly, if the one with the power told him to do so, Ho Geum-heun, as the head of the merchant guild, had no choice but to follow.

Of course, the question of who the real owner of the money bag was remained, but such complicated things were not something Ho Geum-heun should think about. It wasn’t a profitable business anyway.

The other merchant guild leaders also sighed slightly at Ho Geum-heun’s words. The conclusion was not much different for them either.

Deung Su-myeong, who always had a gentle expression, muttered with a bitter face as he picked up his teacup.

“It’s going to be busy for a while.”

“It will be busy.”

Wang Gang, who pretended to be a gentleman, also said as he raised his teacup. It would have to be busy. Even if a solution was guaranteed, they would have to go directly or take follow-up measures.

“To the point where we won’t be able to come near Pungwol Pavilion for a while.”

Ho Geum-heun gave a bitter smile at Wang Gang’s words. That much was too obvious a lie.

Everyone clearly remembered that Hyo-seol, the madam of Pungwol Pavilion, called that young scholar ‘Master.’ Moreover, the young scholar, or the group behind him, had called the heads of the Five Great Merchant Guilds to this Pungwol Pavilion.

Perhaps the merchant guild leaders would have to be even more careful of Madam Hyo-seol’s eyes in the future. Of course, they couldn’t even dream of asking for favors, but the importance of Pungwol Pavilion had increased even more than before.

Thinking about the information and appropriate gifts to hand over to Pungwol Pavilion right away, Ho Geum-heun sighed softly.

He fiddled with the empty teacup, but the young scholar who had poured the tea had already left the room long ago.

***

The place where Madam Hyo-seol guided Son Bin and his party was an elegant pavilion set up on one side of the back garden.

Although the sun was already setting, the pavilions of Nanjing, seen between the lanterns lit here and there and the sunset, created a different kind of charm.

“Wow, this is delicious!”

Seo-rin was immersed in the charm of Nanjing cuisine. Sa Su-yeon smiled and handed Seo-rin some food.

“Then eat this too.”

“Thank you, Su-yeon!”

Sa Su-yeon smiled as Seo-rin’s eyes sparkled. But Dang Wora, who was sitting next to her, secured her own food and continued to eat without wavering.

“As expected, Nanjing is the place for duck dishes.”

No-gun praised the Nanjing duck dish, but Shin-ui didn’t seem very impressed. Shin-ui thought that it was enough to eat well no matter what it was.

“The cuisine here is very different from Seowon. It’s quite unique.”

Sarasvati, who was new to Nanjing and this region itself, was also impressed. Her bodyguard, Rahman, and Princess Gyeonghui’s party were also present.

“That means that the food culture has developed in a variety of ways. Even the Empire wouldn’t be like this, would it?”

Princess Gyeonghui said as she raised her teacup. Sarasvati’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but she didn’t say anything because Princess Gyeonghui’s words were correct, at least when it came to cuisine.

“I’m glad everyone is satisfied.”

Hyo-seol said with a smile. Son Bin also looked back at his party with a pleased expression. As expected of Pungwol Pavilion, famous in Gangbuk, the scenery, the food, and the atmosphere were all good, but the biggest reason this place was enjoyable was because he was with good people.

“Thank you, Madam.”

Hyo-seol smiled at Son Bin’s gratitude.

“You’re welcome, Master.”

‘Ugh.’

Son Bin flinched. It wasn’t just his imagination that the surroundings had become quiet for a moment.

“…Um, that title…”

“Now that I think about it, this is your first time at Pungwol Pavilion. May I offer you a drink?”

‘A girl, she says.’

Son Bin gave a bitter smile at Hyo-seol’s words. First of all, it was excessive modesty, and Hyo-seol was the same age as Hwa-wol of Wonju Hwa-wol or Bi-yeon of Cheongmyeong Pavilion. In other words, she was definitely older than Son Bin. So this was definitely her prank. Just like she did in the private room earlier.

“No, I’m fine with alcohol.”

Son Bin firmly refused the alcohol for now. As No-gun had said before, her cup, as the vice-director of Yewon [a powerful female organization] and the madam of Pungwol Pavilion, might contain a very difficult meaning. No, it almost certainly would.

“Is that so? That’s too bad.”

Hyo-seol said, slightly rolling her eyes.

“If Hwa-wol or Bi-yeon heard that you accepted my cup, they would have had quite a reaction.”

“Reaction?”

Hyo-seol laughed at the unintentional question. She was the madam of Pungwol Pavilion, but she was also the vice-director of Yewon.

“It’s always been fun to see them panic. Hwa-wol would probably get angry, saying that I made things difficult for you, and Bi-yeon would silently glare at me.”

Hyo-seol, who was continuing to speak cheerfully, suddenly looked at Son Bin. And she quietly got up from her seat.

“Since you won’t accept my cup, I have no choice but to do this.”

Rustle.

Hyo-seol lowered her head. And she knelt on one knee on the floor and paid her respects to Son Bin.

“Madam!”

Son Bin jumped up and tried to stop Hyo-seol. But there was nowhere to put his hands.

“Thank you.”

Hyo-seol said, looking up at Son Bin.

“Hwa-wol and Bi-yeon are my longtime friends. We were taken into Yewon together when we were young, and we grew up rolling around together. Even when Bi-yeon turned her back on Hwa-wol, I couldn’t do anything. Both of them were so precious to me.”

The lanterns sparkled in her moist eyes. Hyo-seol continued to speak in a slightly trembling voice.

“Thanks to you, the two of them have returned to the way they used to be. How can I say that one big bow is enough for the person who returned my lifelong friends to me? I sincerely thank you.”

Rustle.

Hyo-seol bowed her head to Son Bin. Son Bin looked down at her for a moment and said in a soft voice.

“Please get up.”

At those words, Hyo-seol quietly stood up. Son Bin put his hands together and bowed to her.

“I am the one who is grateful for your help. It would have been more difficult to talk to the heads of the Five Great Merchant Guilds without you, Madam.”

Hyo-seol smiled. Certainly, her existence had a great influence on the merchant guild leaders.

“By the way, is that really going to be okay with what we did earlier?”

Son Bin turned his head at No-gun’s voice. No-gun frowned and continued to speak.

“In the end, we don’t know which merchant guild joined hands with that Bi-geom guy. We don’t know where the riots will happen either.”

“That’s…”

It was when Son Bin was about to answer.

“Please wait a moment.”

Hyo-seol said to No-gun with a smile.

“In a little while, letters will probably pour in from each merchant guild. Since they think there are too many places that come to mind, they will try to report the other party first before the other merchant guilds stab them in the back.”

Son Bin gave a bitter smile. Even though it wasn’t intended that way, he could tell that it would be as Hyo-seol said without having to see it.

“So why don’t you rest here for a while? It’s not a boast, but there are many things here at Pungwol Pavilion that will make you happy.”

At those words, Seo-rin’s eyes lit up. She seemed to be thinking about the endless supply of delicious food.

“Thank you for your offer, but there is a place I have to go.”

Son Bin politely declined Hyo-seol’s offer. Seo-rin’s sigh flowed out from behind, but now was not the time to spend time here.

“Is that so?”

Hyo-seol sighed as if she was disappointed. She put her hand slightly to her chin and muttered.

“…I should have grabbed his neck and dragged him to Pungwol Pavilion back then.”

Son Bin’s eyes widened. ‘Back then’ must have been the time of the Twelve Constellation Assembly. At that time, Hyo-seol, who was impressed by Son Bin’s Seven String Zither, had actively encouraged him to come to Pungwol Pavilion.

“I’m just kidding.”

Hyo-seol laughed as she saw Son Bin’s surprised expression, but Son Bin was convinced that she wasn’t kidding. As expected, Hyo-seol was a more free-spirited and confident woman than she appeared.

“Please be sure to stop by before you leave Gangbuk. I’ll treat you even better then.”

Son Bin gave an awkward smile. Even now, he was being treated more than enough.

“I’ve heard that no store that says they’ll treat you better next time ever really does…”

No-gun muttered from behind. Hyo-seol glared at him slightly, but No-gun pretended not to notice and turned his eyes back to the duck meat.

(Author’s words)

Hyo-seol presented the women in Son Bin’s party with cosmetics separately, which received a very good response.