Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 112

I was born the daughter of a low-ranking concubine. 112

This also meant there would be no increase in the number of slaves.

Power holders usually wanted to increase the number of slaves, so the *Sadaebu* [aristocratic scholar-officials] were not very happy about it either. However, some plotted rebellion by gathering private slaves, so they couldn’t stop the king from setting various regulations on slave ownership.

Perhaps that’s why, strangely, many people offered slaves to me, or rather, Siyoungwon [my title/position].

After much deliberation, I decided to accept them. I thought it would be better for me to take care of them than for them to go elsewhere.

‘Seriously. What are they going to do with so many…….’

“Did you find out the transaction location too?”

“Of course. We clearly saw people being held captive with our own eyes, though we don’t know the exact number.”

Wow, why are you so competent?

Isn’t it a waste of manpower to use a *Sung Gyum Sabok* [member of the Royal Guard] as my personal guard? Wouldn’t it be better to have him working for the country, as he is?

While I was briefly caught up in efficiency, the *Sung Gyum Sabok*, oblivious to my thoughts about his potential, asked,

“Shall we report it to the authorities?”

“Hmm…….”

But if it gets out that I investigated this, it would seem like an overreach of authority and become a headache.

“Can’t we let the information reach the authorities naturally?”

I’m sure there’s someone eager to make a contribution.

Wouldn’t it be possible to secretly pass the information to that person? It would be good if they could make a contribution naturally.

“Are you not going to inform His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Hmm. He seems busy these days, and I don’t want him to know that I’m involved in something dangerous.”

“That’s, well, true.”

He’ll probably associate it with me coming home late that day.

‘Actually, it wasn’t like I wasn’t in any danger at all.’

If I talk about it, he’ll probably find out all the details, and I might accidentally say something wrong.

“Then… I’ll secretly pass it on to former *Gyum Saboks* assigned to the police. I know a few friends who are quite motivated.”

“Wow, *Sung Gyum Sabok* is so competent.”

“I am quite competent.”

He really seems like a talent needed by the country…….

‘He said he wanted to rest, so I thought I couldn’t help it, but he seems to be enjoying it?’

I put aside my personal feelings, and the work proceeded that way.

Actually, it’s strange for me to be doing something like this.

So, the *Sung Gyum Sabok* and some former *Chetamin* [members of the lowest class] quietly passed the information to the police.

Wanting to see what would happen, they even followed the police to raid the meeting place on the day they were supposed to trade.

But there was nothing there.

“Is that true?”

“I am sorry.”

They found traces of people being held captive there, so they weren’t misunderstood as making a false report, but as a result, it was a wasted effort.

Considering that they couldn’t erase the traces and that there wasn’t much time to report to the police and raid the scene, there was a high possibility that there was a collaborator within the police.

The *Sung Gyum Sabok* was also flustered and said he would go back to the place where they had made contact and search again, but it didn’t seem easy.

‘What should I do?’

Since the items they are trading are people, they will never easily give up the transaction.

It’s hard to gather them, and it’s hard to take them around. Besides, even if they are slaves, they wouldn’t starve them to death unless they had a good reason.

‘But… what if they killed them to get rid of the evidence?’

While I was getting anxious, Youngsun unexpectedly came to find me at Saga [my residence].

It was rare for Youngsun to come to Saga to find me; if Youngsun did come, the message was supposed to be conveyed through my *Jimil Na-in* [personal attendant].

Soi, who brought Youngsun’s letter, asked as if curious.

“Did something happen?”

“It’s not like that, but I think I need to go out once.”

“Yes? But how long has it been since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was so angry?”

“Seeing that Maehyang sent someone to Saga saying she had something she had to tell me today, it seems to be related to that day’s events.”

“!”

I hope Maehyang didn’t do anything dangerous for nothing.

“Won’t it be dangerous?”

“I’m just going to meet Maehyang and listen to what she has to say. I can’t be sure if I can trust anyone else.”

“But…….”

While Soi was wondering how to stop me, unexpected news came from outside.

“Ongju [Princess], Moon Sang-gung [Court Lady] from Donggungjeon [Crown Prince’s residence] has arrived.”

“?”

I’m still in a cold war with the Crown Prince?

I was bringing snacks to the Crown Prince, but we weren’t talking.

And Moon Sang-gung, who came to find me, said that the Crown Prince would take some time out later to come and find me.

“Why suddenly?”

“I am just following the orders of my superiors.”

Saying that, Moon Sang-gung smiled awkwardly and bowed her head.

What. I have to go out.

Shortly after, as predicted, the Crown Prince came to my residence.

I told Soi to prepare to go out in secret, so I hope he doesn’t stay long.

Well, the Crown Prince is originally a busy person, so I don’t have to worry about that, right?

“What brings you here, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Are you still angry?”

“How could I be angry with Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who is like the sky? You are mistaken.”

“Stop it…….”

The Crown Prince looked sad when I kept using honorifics.

I can’t let him get away with that pitiful face.

For a while, it was better to keep my distance from the Crown Prince because it would be annoying if he came to visit.

I have to go out today, but he came and tied me down.

‘No, since slave trading is a serious matter, shouldn’t I tell the Crown Prince now? But the police have already stepped in, so the Crown Prince must have already been informed, and there’s no need to let him know that I’m involved and make things complicated.’

While I was pondering, Song Naegwan [eunuch] discreetly dismissed the others, and the Crown Prince hesitantly approached and awkwardly apologized.

“So, I was too much that day.”

“No. Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince can do that as much as you want.”

“I told you to stop. Ahem. T, take this.”

The Crown Prince said that and held out something wrapped in a silk cloth in front of me.

Judging by the size, it’s probably a book?

“?”

“I got it with difficulty.”

What? What is it?

Before I could check what the contents were, the Crown Prince jumped up and left.

“Now we’re even! Got it?”

“??”

I was briefly confused by the Crown Prince, who disappeared in a hurry before I could even catch him, and then I unfolded the cloth that the Crown Prince had left behind.

Could this be?

“No, this…… where did he get it?”

As expected, it was a translated version of the flower shadow that the Crown Prince had torn.

Even more, when I turned the cover, there was a signature in Sehwa’s handwriting.

This must be out of stock?

While I was blankly blinking in surprise at the unexpected situation, the Donggungjeon *Na-ins* [palace maids] brought in a small table and put it on the floor, then quickly disappeared again.

The contents were mainly my favorite snacks.

“Ugh.”

He’s busy, but when did he get this? What is that again?

‘No, he didn’t get it himself; he ordered his subordinates to get it, right? He’s the Crown Prince, after all.’

As I was thinking that, Song Naegwan suddenly came back to my residence alone.

“Song Naegwan? What’s going on?”

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince told me to check on Ongju’s mood.”

“Why is he suddenly so concerned about me?”

When I showed a lukewarm reaction, Song Naegwan looked around, approached me, and whispered in a small voice.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince even went to the market in disguise to get that book.”

“Huh?”

“It’s true.”

“No, why go so far.”

“He was very sorry for damaging Ongju’s precious item.”

Ugh.

“Weren’t you always good siblings? This is the first time Ongju has been angry for so long, so His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t seem to be comfortable either. There were days when he couldn’t sleep well and the lights were on in his room until late at night.”

There was a bit of a reason for that…….

But what’s with not being able to sleep just because he fought with his younger sister? This is a big deal, really.

No, isn’t Song Naegwan making up stories at this point?

Song Naegwan, who had no way of knowing my suspicion, was soothing me with fluent words.

“Who else does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have to confide in besides Ongju? Please be considerate, Ongju.”

“Then he should get a Crown Princess soon.”

Perhaps my words were unexpected, the face of Song Naegwan, who had been rattling on as if he had oiled his tongue, was filled with embarrassment.

“Oh, Ongju.”

“Song Naegwan. Tell me honestly.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really not have anyone in mind?”

“I wish he did…….”

I could feel sincere lamentation in Song Naegwan’s voice, but I raised one suspicion.

“Or maybe His Royal Highness the Crown Prince…….”

“Maybe……?”

“Does he hate women? Could it be that he likes men?”

“No, th, there were no such signs.”

“Hmm, really?”

I thought maybe the genre had changed without me knowing.

Maybe there’s another person who has been reincarnated besides me, so maybe that person is the female lead or the male lead(?), something like that.

Perhaps my question was too shocking, Song Naegwan’s eyes were still wandering in the air.

Sorry, the world is so chaotic these days…….

These days, genres are mixed up and stuff. I was just wondering, but it seems like I made an innocent person confused.

Since he’s someone who knows almost everything about the Crown Prince, if Song Naegwan didn’t notice anything at all, then that must be right.

Okay, it’s good enough to avoid that.

“I understand. You can go now.”

“I am sorry. Has Ongju’s anger subsided a little…….”

“I will be angry for a few more days, so know that.”

“No, Ongju.”

“Didn’t I tell you to know that?”

When I said that and chuckled, Song Naegwan finally smiled brightly as if relieved and disappeared.

Oh, what a hard time.