Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 103

I was born as the daughter of a low-ranking concubine. Chapter 103

Hanyang [the old name for Seoul] had a high population density, so there were quite a few courtesans.

Probably.

The reason I say ‘probably’ is that I grew up sheltered in the palace and don’t know much about that kind of thing.

But I’ve heard that they are mostly near Yukjo Street, Byeokjang-dong, and Dabang-gol (Da-dong).

‘Back then, they definitely said Dabang-gol was a… *gibang* [a traditional Korean house of courtesans].’

Location-wise, it makes some sense. Yukjo Street goes without saying, and Byeokjang-dong isn’t far from the east of Gwanghwamun, so they might want to be a little psychologically distant.

Dabang-gol might not be far either, since many officials frequent those places, but it’s more of a feeling thing.

Originally, *gibangs* were frequented more by lower-level officials and military officers than high-ranking officials, and the higher-ups mainly called the courtesans to their homes. In historical dramas, it’s often depicted as a place where high-ranking officials meet, so perhaps the setting here is adjusted to that.

The only reason I know a little about *gibangs* is because I have acquaintances like Maehyang and Songhwa.

I don’t know exactly which *gibang* it is, but I heard that there aren’t many places that are large enough to be called a ‘*gibang*.’

But it’s fortunate that they specified the area.

‘Should I go there once…?’

I’m a little worried about whether it’s okay for me to go there.

And as soon as I brought it up, I was met with opposition, of course.

Not only from the Sung bodyguards, but also from Soi, whose opposition was considerable. Youngsun, who was originally a noble lady, was at a loss for words at the mention of a *gibang*.

“No, Ongju [a princess or high-ranking royal daughter], it is not a place for Ongju to go.”

“If I just dress a little more plainly, no one will look at me strangely.”

“That’s not the problem.”

“Are you worried they’ll see me as a *donggi* [a young, apprentice courtesan]?”

“Th-that is…”

“I’m just going to go during the day and see how many *gibangs* there are in Dabang-gol and where they are. Who knows? There might be more clues.”

“Oh dear, Ongju.”

I insisted, and eventually, I ended up going to Dabang-gol with Soi and the two Sung bodyguards.

Youngsun looked like she wanted to come along, but if it got too late, returning to the palace would take precedence, so Youngsun might have to return to my private residence alone, so I had her stay home.

Just in case something happened, we also needed someone to relay the news to others.

‘Hmm… Dabang-gol is across the Cheonggyecheon Stream near Bosingak. Originally, or in modern times, was that Da-dong or Mugyo-dong? I think there were a lot of restaurants there.’

It seems to be a gathering place for people, both now and then. Anyway, I feel a bit strange every time I pass by Cheonggyecheon.

Anyway, I decided to focus on the present rather than the future that has become the past.

It was relatively ordinary, considering I had imagined an unhealthy neighborhood. There were some music and singing sounds, though.

‘Come to think of it, I heard Maehyang is also in Dabang-gol.’

If I say I’m going to a *gibang*, everyone will jump up and down, so I need an excuse. Should I say I’m going to see Maehyang?

And then I learned a shocking(?) fact.

“There’s only one *gibang* here?”

“Ah, this country… ahem. The only place in Dabang-gol that can be called a *gibang* is the famous Dabang-gol Gibang where Maehyang is.”

I just asked for directions, but thanks to the man who praised Maehyang as the best singer and no less than the Songdo courtesans, I had to listen to stories about famous courtesans in other provinces.

‘He’s like an idol otaku [a person with obsessive interests, particularly in anime and manga] bragging about his home base.’

I pretended not to hear and clung to Soi.

It seemed that there weren’t many large *gibangs* with many courtesans, like the ones I saw in historical dramas.

“I don’t know what’s going on…”

“I don’t either…”

“Me neither…”

When I tilted my head, Soi and the two Sung bodyguards all looked puzzled, just like me.

I looked around and pulled on the sleeves of the two people, telling them to go to the Dabang-gol Gibang that the man we just talked to had pointed out.

Even though there was only one *gibang*, there were quite a few people walking around during the day to go to work, so we didn’t look that strange. It seemed that there were many people in this neighborhood who worked in the *gibang* or were errand-running servants.

Of course, there were also customers who came to the *gibang* early in the day.

I looked around and spotted a familiar face.

“Ah?”

“What is it?”

“Shh.”

I pulled on Soi’s sleeve and hid behind a wall, carefully observing the man passing by.

Soi also seemed to have noticed something and followed me, hiding and communicating with gestures.

‘It’s the kidnapper from back then.’

Despite our sudden actions, the Sung bodyguard didn’t change his behavior as if nothing had happened, but his gaze was directed at the same place as ours.

It was easy to see where the man was going.

The building was particularly large and ornate on this street, decorated with colorful lanterns. It was undoubtedly the *gibang* we were looking for.

Seeing the kidnapper entering the *gibang*, I felt a bit wronged and wanted to shout.

‘Ah, he said the nineteenth!’

Thinking about it calmly, the schedule could change at any time. Besides, I only heard bits and pieces, so I couldn’t be sure I heard correctly.

I wondered why the date was so far off.

In fact, something might have happened that day that caused him to miss me, so it was really lucky that I saw him here today.

I can’t miss this opportunity.

“I have to go inside the *gibang*.”

“Th-that’s not allowed…!”

Just as Soi grabbed me to stop me from trying to follow him in,

“Hahahaha.”

A group of men came rushing in with loud laughter. And the person in the middle was someone I knew.

“Huh?”

It was Eunhwa-gun, the son of Heunghwa-gun, who had appeared in the conversation with the Crown Prince a while ago.

‘I hid in a hurry, but why is that person here?’

His wife was pregnant, wasn’t she? Could it be?

I stared at Eunhwa-gun with jaded eyes, having lost faith in humanity.

The people around him were all bowing and trying to please Eunhwa-gun.

“You must be so happy that your wife is pregnant.”

“Surely Eunhwa-gun will be treating us today?”

Judging from the conversation, I could imagine what was going on…

‘Hmm.’

If it’s a treat for something good, he could have gone to the restaurant I’m running, but he had to come to a *gibang*. They were dark-hearted bastards.

Of course, that place has become a bit expensive and difficult to book.

‘Should I open a new restaurant for the common people?’

Should I open another branch in another neighborhood? I was thinking about something completely unrelated when I broke away from Soi.

“I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Yes?”

Heunghwa-gun is my uncle, so Eunhwa-gun is in the same generation as me.

So the appropriate title is…

“Orabi [older brother/male friend]!”

“?”

Whether Eunhwa-gun, who doesn’t have a younger sister, was surprised or not, I grabbed Eunhwa-gun and waved my hand as if I was happy to see him.

“Haha, you’ve mistaken me for someone else…?! Huh??”

“Why are you here, Orabi?”

“W-w-w-why are you here?”

Eunhwa-gun recognized me, but he couldn’t find a word to call me outside, so he stammered and skipped the title.

In fact, my appearance hasn’t changed for years, so unless I don’t recognize myself, it’s not easy for the royal family to not recognize me at this close distance.

The people around him, who were with Eunhwa-gun, asked, puzzled by Eunhwa-gun’s strange reaction.

“What’s going on?”

“A… relative… younger sister.”

Eunhwa-gun barely recited a hastily made-up excuse with a sour look on his face.

And he asked me with trembling eyes.

“Why… are you… in a place like this…?”

It was a valid question, but I smiled innocently as if I didn’t know anything and pulled on Eunhwa-gun’s sleeve.

“I followed you because I saw Orabi. Are you here to play?”

“Y-yes, I guess?”

“Is it fun to play here?”

“Huh? W-well, there’s a singer who sings very well!”

“I see! Then Uncle knows you’re here to play, Orabi??”

“……”

Suddenly, the men in the group all became solemn.

Even if it wasn’t a strict family, it was normal to be careful when your wife was pregnant.

Moreover, it was still early in the pregnancy, a time when she needed to rest.

Besides, he made such an excuse to a young child, so he was responsible for cleaning up the mess.

“If it’s fun, I want to go too.”

“Hahaha. It’s not a place for a young miss to go.”

“Y-yes, it’s not a place to go.”

Eunhwa-gun habitually tried to use honorifics to me, but he checked his surroundings and barely trailed off.

“Then is it okay if I tell Uncle?”

“……”

“Well, what’s wrong with that? It’s not like we’re going to do anything bad.”

“Ahem. That’s right. We’re just going to listen to music and have a conversation.”

“I want to listen to music too.”

“Um… well… okay… well, I’m not going to do anything embarrassing. Am I?”

Eunhwa-gun, who couldn’t meet my eyes for a while, finally made up his mind and said that, scanning the people around him.

It meant that if they did anything embarrassing, he wouldn’t let them get away with it.

“Ahem, ahem.”

“Since it’s still bright, we can leave before it gets too late. There won’t be many people now, so there won’t be any drunks.”

That’s how the rationalization ended.

While everyone was making complex and subtle expressions at the thought of taking a piece of luggage with them, Eunhwa-gun nodded with a surprisingly bright expression.

“Hmm. Then everyone agrees to take this… child with us.”

“Since Eunhwa-gun wants to do that, what can we do?”

“Ahem.”

It seemed that everyone was watching Eunhwa-gun because he was the one paying.

“But is it okay to take her inside the *gibang*?”

“I think they’ll turn us away at the entrance.”

“Hmm, she’s such a small child. She won’t even be visible if she’s in the middle of us.”

“Is that so? Well, this is my first time experiencing something like this.”

They murmured like that, and then, as if they had planned it, they put me in the middle and subtly formed a group so that I wouldn’t be visible from the outside, and went inside.

Seeing me following them into the *gibang* like that, the Sung bodyguard and Soi had bewildered expressions, but what could they do?

I gestured for them to wait a bit and clung to Eunhwa-gun’s sleeve and entered the *gibang*.

Because I was hidden by the robe, it seemed that the others didn’t even know I was there.

When I entered the *gibang*, I was a little impressed because the interior was quite large.

Of course, from my perspective, having lived in the palace, it couldn’t be said to be big.

Anyway, whether they had made a reservation or not, Eunhwa-gun’s group was immediately guided to a separate building in the back.