Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 106

Born as the Daughter of a Lowly Concubine 106

‘If you’re not a bad guy, let’s meet again.’

With those words, the small girl, held in the arms of a dark-skinned man who seemed to be her companion, disappeared.

‘Just who is that man?’

He hadn’t encountered many who could so easily parry his sword. Coming to Hanyang [the capital city of Joseon dynasty] was proving to be different.

Returning to the gibang [traditional Korean house of entertainment] by scaling the wall once more, he found his uncle waiting for Chunho with a frown, indicating their conversation had concluded.

“What on earth were you doing all this time?”

“Ah, Uncle. Are you finished?”

“Tsk. It was a waste of time. But what were you up to? Even after coming to Hanyang, you’re still chasing after young girls?”

At his uncle’s accusation, Chunho denied it earnestly.

“No, please don’t spread such misunderstandings. What’s wrong with helping children in need? And you say ‘still,’ but back then, they were mostly kids my age, regardless of gender.”

“A huge guy calling tiny kids his age… tsk, tsk.”

It was as if being large for his age was a crime.

Frustrated, Chunho watched his uncle gesture for him to follow, turning away. Even without being told, he knew the gibang wasn’t a place for a young boy.

“And I can’t stand seeing people bullying kids.”

“Hmph. There’s human trash everywhere. What, did you witness someone bullying a child here?”

“I wouldn’t say I didn’t.”

Chunho frowned, recalling the story he’d just overheard.

Whatever his uncle was planning, it seemed best to avoid getting too involved.

Of course, this eccentric uncle of his, though gruff, had raised him after he lost his parents at a young age, so he likely wouldn’t collaborate with kidnappers.

“Kidnappers?”

“Yes. I didn’t get all the details, but I heard that scammers kidnapped a child while fleeing, so they must be part of a scammer gang.”

After ensuring they were a good distance from the gibang, he revealed that they were criminals who had kidnapped a child. As expected, his uncle cursed and spat.

And the blame quickly shifted.

“And you, without a shred of fear, just jump into things like that?”

“No, I just thought I could catch them since a child was kidnapped.”

“Aigo, you crazy bastard. No. I’m the crazy one for raising such a nephew.”

Sighing, his uncle suddenly asked, as if struck by a thought.

“Was the kidnapped girl perhaps from a noble family?”

“Yes? Yes, probably. Why?”

“Since you were young, whenever you saw young ladies from noble families dressed nicely, you would stare at them, wouldn’t you?”

“……”

“I thought you had a girl you liked, but you’re still doing that.”

Unable to find a suitable response, Chunho quietly followed behind him without arguing.

He was aware of his own reasons for doing so.

Perhaps it was because of that little girl from long ago, who told him to run away, saying, ‘What fault is there in you, young one?’

***

“But how did Sung Gyeom-sabok find out and come?”

Being carried by Sung-yoon, I voiced my biggest question.

Since the back of the gibang had many trees and the path wasn’t smooth, this was the fastest way to travel.

“I was worried when you went into the gibang alone, so I secretly followed you. How could I let Young Miss [term of respect for a young noble lady] go alone, wondering if something might happen?”

“Strictly speaking, I wasn’t alone, but…”

“Was that person earlier a member of the royal family?”

“Yeah. So-yi probably knows… or does she?”

So-yi has had a few encounters with the royal family by my side, but I can’t be sure she remembers them all.

“Fortunately, Court Lady Hang-a recognized him, and didn’t Young Miss call him ‘older brother’? I assumed he was a member of the royal family.”

“Hmm. That’s a relief.”

‘Well, logically, that’s how it would be,’ I nodded, but Sung Gyeom-sabok grumbled with a look of dismay.

“Seriously. I was worried, so I sneaked in, but Young Miss was having a grand time at the gibang… so I looked around, and in the meantime, you were gone.”

Hmm. He saw me enjoying myself.

“Sorry, I played around a bit… it would have been strange to come out right away.”

“It’s alright. That’s better than something dangerous.”

I felt a bit guilty.

I decided to save my words.

“But what on earth happened? And what happened to your clothes?”

“There were some familiar faces among the gisaengs [female entertainers], so I got some help.”

“So that’s why your clothes changed?”

“Yeah.”

Ah, now that I think about it, I have to return these clothes.

I also have to tell Maehyang and Songhwa that I returned safely.

“I was looking around the gibang to find Young Miss, and then I saw a thief carrying Young Miss, so I immediately chased after him. Who was that guy?”

“I told you earlier. He’s not a thief… Ah, did you check the building where I was originally? I saw the criminals who kidnapped me there.”

“!”

As we arrived at the alley in front of the gibang where we had parted ways earlier, So-yi was waiting for us.

Sung Gyeom-sabok listened to my descriptions of those people and handed me over to So-yi.

“I will go in and confirm their faces, so please return, Young Miss.”

“Do you know the signal?”

“Yes.”

“If you are mistaken for a suspicious person or get caught, say that Young Miss Siyeongwon came because she had something to tell Maehyang and got lost. Do you know Maehyang and Songhwa’s faces?”

“Of course.”

“Don’t do anything dangerous. Got it?”

At my words, Sung Gyeom-sabok smiled.

“I understand, Young Miss.”

Then he disappeared back the way he came.

‘I wonder if those guys are still there.’

Not much time has passed, so they probably haven’t finished talking and left.

After all, secret talks are usually held at night.

And the story I heard earlier didn’t seem to be the main point.

That’s that, and first, dealing with So-yi, who is sighing in front of me, was the priority.

“Young Miss, please don’t suddenly disappear.”

“Hmm. Sorry. There was no time to explain. But So-yi, what are you holding?”

So-yi was holding a small bundle that I hadn’t seen before.

“Earlier, Songhwa came out to the front door and looked for me, then handed me this through a maid, saying it was Young Miss’s clothes.”

“Oh dear. How thoughtful.”

She didn’t need to do that much for me.

I whispered the situation to So-yi, and So-yi sighed and checked my condition.

“Ah?”

“What’s wrong?”

When So-yi, who was examining me, suddenly exclaimed, I turned my head and saw her face looking tearful.

“Why?”

“Young Miss, your skirt is torn… Oh my goodness!”

“?”

Looking down, I saw a red scratch mark through the torn skirt.

‘Ah… was it when I fell earlier?’

The situation at the time was chaotic, and I had been in a state of tension ever since, so I didn’t even realize it hurt.

“Oh, right. I got a little hurt.”

“No, Young Miss. ‘Oh, right’? Isn’t there blood?”

“It’s not a big wound.”

This level of injury is nothing. Now that I’ve grown up being cherished, it wouldn’t have been such a shocking thing in my past life. Of course, based on seven years old.

Besides, the wound is relatively small, so it didn’t seem like I was seriously injured.

But So-yi didn’t see it that way.

“If the superiors find out, I’m a dead woman.”

No, they’re not that harsh… but it must be scary for So-yi.

But why would the superiors see my bare legs?

‘No. Ga-i will scold me even if she finds out.’

To So-yi, Ga-i was both an older sister and a strict superior.

“The Hyeminseo [Joseon Dynasty medical institution for the common people] is nearby, so let’s get some simple treatment there before we go.”

“Sure.”

“Oh dear. Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Hmm. It’s fine if you don’t touch it.”

My registered age is now sixteen, so would they make a fuss over this level of injury?

Everyone sees me as a child, but I can’t help it.

Comforting So-yi, who looked full of worries, we headed to the Hyeminseo.

I was a little worried about Sung Gyeom-sabok, but unless the gibang was entirely their den, it seemed unlikely that they could secretly deal with Sung-yoon, who had experienced all sorts of hardships, unlike a child like me.

If the gibang was their den, Maehyang wouldn’t have been completely unaware and would have stopped me from the beginning.

***

“Young Miss? What brings you here at this late hour?”

The female doctor who saw me entering the Hyeminseo looked puzzled, as I always came early.

She still looks busy, and I wondered if it was okay to bother her with just a scratch, but So-yi was confident.

“Young Miss is a little hurt.”

“Yes? Please, come inside.”

Unlike me, who was a little embarrassed, everyone was serious and took me inside.

It wasn’t a place where patients stayed, but a space where female doctors stayed, so there was no one else besides some female doctors who were resting.

“Oh my, Young Miss. Are you hurt?”

“I just got scratched.”

Even the female doctors who were sitting comfortably and chatting all rushed over and fussed over me, which was a little embarrassing.

“Did you get caught on something like a tree branch? Even your clothes are torn. But your outfit is a bit light today.”

“Ah, I was out playing.”

Come to think of it, I borrowed these clothes, but they got torn. Do I have to buy her a new set?

After guiding me to a seat, one of the female doctors soon brought clean water and cotton cloth.

“It will sting a little.”

“Okay.”

I got scratched quite a bit, but since I’m a child, won’t it heal without a scar?

It doesn’t matter to me if I get some scars.

‘There’s not much chance of being caught by anyone other than the court ladies.’