Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 211

“Find out where those kids (around 20 years old) were gambling. If it’s a shady place, we need to know in advance.”

“Yes, Little Miss.”

“I trust you’ll handle it well, but if you fall into gambling, it’s hard to get out on your own. If they can’t quit, tell them to lock them up in a remote mountain village until they’re cured.”

“Yes.”

Everyone nodded silently, as I rarely got angry.

And then silence fell.

‘Oh dear. I don’t like this atmosphere, but I got angry without realizing it.’

“The gambling talk is over, was there anything else?”

“Ah, yes.”

As my expression softened a little, the children seemed relieved and began to chat lively again.

‘Did I speak that scary?’

I still sometimes found it hard to adjust to the fact that everyone in this hierarchical society reacted more sensitively than I thought.

But if I let them be too comfortable, I don’t know what mistakes they might make later.

Listening to the children’s stories was fun because I could see how the world was turning, so I didn’t realize how much time had passed until Soi gave me a look, and then I hurriedly got up.

“Oh dear. I should get going.”

“Oh my, are you leaving already?”

“I was thinking of stopping by my house for a bit today.”

My house meant my private residence, not the palace.

“By the way, I heard about the siblings who recently entrusted themselves to Siyoungwon [a type of organization or institution]. Does anyone know anything about them?”

“Ah. Are you talking about the people who work at Siwolgak [likely a specific location or department within Siyoungwon]? The ones taking classes at the academy.”

“Yes, that’s right. It seems like their situation isn’t good, so I was hoping someone could keep an eye on them for a while.”

Along with the story about the siblings, I also separately told them about the existence of their cousin who ran away with the money.

“Oh my. That family is in a tough spot.”

“People who are new to Siyoungwon are usually watched and cared for by those around them for a while. Don’t worry too much.”

“But if they still trust their cousin, it’ll be hard for those around them to do anything.”

Everyone had seen so many terrible things while living their lives that they had a nonchalant reaction, like, ‘Oh dear, that’s awful,’ but I didn’t think they would forget what I asked them to do.

“And about the scholarship, I told you before about managing the money.”

“Ah, we heard about that. You mean the bank?”

“Yes. So, it’s not just about keeping the money safe, but……”

“……Little Miss, at this rate, you won’t be able to go home!”

When I brought up work again, Soi shouted with a fierce look. And the children chuckled and agreed.

“Kids, let’s put Little Miss on Jeok-ah’s back!”

“I’ll grab this side.”

“Wow, you’ve really gotten heavier!”

The children seemed happy as they picked me up.

“No, can’t you put me down?”

“Yes, we’ll put you down soon, so don’t move.”

Unintentionally on the saddle, I sighed and looked down at the children.

“You need to go back and rest so you can grow up quickly.”

“It’s dangerous to doze off on horseback.”

“……Alright.”

Since the kids were saying it out of concern, I had no choice but to put myself on Jeok-ah and nod.

‘Hmm. Now that I think about it, I felt like something else was coming to mind.’

There are still times when my head is foggy because of sleepiness, and the children may have noticed it during the conversation.

Cheonho asked as if to confirm, as I still looked a little dazed.

“Are you going back like this?”

“No, let’s go to the private residence as planned.”

I was planning to stop by anyway, but since I heard about the gambling, there was something I needed to tell them there too.

Since there were people who had been sold by their families due to gambling debts, they would be heartbroken just hearing the words gambling or gambling, but it would be better to know.

At the time, those who sold their families due to gambling debts were all punished, but that didn’t mean it was safe now.

‘There must still be many who harbor resentment.’

At least there was no one daring enough to sneak into Princess Ongju’s private residence and try to do something.

Thinking about it, I remembered that I had glossed over it earlier, but the newly opened gambling house was a bit of a concern.

‘Come to think of it…….’

I spoke out the thought that had been vaguely coming to mind since earlier.

“That newly opened restaurant, you said it had a different atmosphere from our store, right?”

“Yes? Yes.”

When I said something out of the blue and was lost in thought, Soi urged me with an anxious face.

“Little Miss. I’m only saying this just in case, but don’t try to check it out just because you think something is suspicious.”

“No. I don’t do reckless things like that, do I?”

“Yes, Little Miss…….”

Despite my protest, Soi glared at me with distrust.

“What do you take me for!”

“I see you as Little Miss.”

When I glared back without giving in, Cheonho, who had been quiet until just now, unexpectedly joined in.

“Yes, Little Miss is the one who dangerously disguised herself as a child prostitute and infiltrated a gibang [traditional Korean house of entertainment] to track down human traffickers.”

“…….”

“You were even kidnapped by human traffickers and almost sold.”

“…….”

Damn it, hitting me with facts…….

“The situation is a little different from then…….”

“We hope so too.”

I didn’t really have any intention of doing anything dangerous.

Everyone is misunderstanding, but I’m not really the type to enjoy thrills.

The thrill I enjoy is at most a 360-degree roller coaster with reliable safety devices, not the kind of thing where I jump into something that really puts my life on the line.

‘Everyone seems to be misunderstanding me.’

But it seems like the past years are a bit too much to clear up that misunderstanding……. It was eventful.

“By the way, how are the Jongchin [royal relatives] these days?”

“The Jongchin……. I heard that everyone is still cautious, so there are hardly any people coming in and out of their houses. Since there are people living inside, supplies are coming and going.”

“Hmm.”

“It seems that His Highness the Crown Prince is also using people……. It won’t be easy to move secretly because the people of Siyoungwon are also constantly passing by and watching.”

“When the local branches open soon, the daughters of each family will become members of Siyoungwon, so they won’t act rashly.”

The Jongchin young ladies who take on the local branches not only strengthen their relationship with me, but also mean that their daughters are in my hands.

The people of Siyoungwon, especially those who are sent to the provinces and are trusted by me, were undeniably my people.

So, no matter how close the Jongchin are to the people of Siyoungwon, they cannot be superior to my orders.

‘It’s a bit strange to be thinking like this…….’

Maybe it’s because I’m sleepy, but I’m thinking strange things while I’m a little dazed.

“I’m sleepy, so shall we take a little walk around Saga before we go?”

“Please do so. Be careful not to fall.”

“Yeah.”

Cheonho and Soi followed my words without any objections. It was something that happened occasionally these days because of sleepiness.

“Oh, who’s over there?”

“That’s right. But isn’t that……. Youngsun?”

“It seems so…….”

In a slightly secluded place near the private residence, Youngsun was talking to a man.

‘Hmm. The story that Youngsun is meeting a man was true.’

I only heard about it at the time and couldn’t confirm it.

From our position, we can hardly see his face and only see the back of his head, but judging from his appearance, he certainly seems to be a man from a noble family.

We’re still far away, so we can’t hear the conversation, but the two of them aren’t fighting, but there’s something of a squabble going on. At least it doesn’t seem threatening, but…….

“……Should we get involved there now?”

“Either way, Little Miss, Youngsun will be able to see you. It’s hard not to notice Jeok-ah when he’s this big.”

“Ah. That’s true.”

Our kid is a bit big.

As Youngsun paused as if she had found us, the man also glanced back and seemed to flinch in embarrassment.

And the man hesitated for a moment and then ran away.

‘How can he be so spineless…….’

Did he commit some kind of crime? Why is he running away when he sees me?

‘I don’t really like it.’

Maybe it wasn’t Youngsun’s boyfriend, but really a thug.

Unfortunately, the sad reality was that there was no guarantee that the guys who pretended to be noble were normal.

Youngsun, who sighed while giving a brief glance to the fleeing man, came to my side and bowed her head.

“Have you come, Princess Ongju?”

“Yeah. Has Youngsun been well?”

“Yes.”

“But who was that person just now? Do you know him?”

I pretended not to know and asked.

Youngsun shook her head and denied my question.

“No, it’s not. He is a antique dealer who has been visiting recently, and he was insisting that he had something he wanted to sell to Princess Ongju, so I was in trouble.”

“Hmm. But why did he run away?”

If he had heard my rumors, just the fact that a child riding a horse was near Princess Suyeong’s private residence would be enough to give him hope.

I go around here and there, so it seems easy to meet me, but I go around so irregularly, and places like Siyoungwon and Siwolgak are surprisingly heavily guarded, so it’s not easy to approach me recklessly.

‘Actually, the most sure way to see me is to wait near my Saga for about a month?’

If you’re lucky, you can see it right away, but if you’re unlucky, you may not come at all for a couple of months.

“He, he must not have had the courage to see such a noble person.”

“He has the courage to sell?”

“How would I know?”

Unlike Youngsun, who was always calm, her voice was a little……. a little embarrassed.

I guess she’s meeting a man.

“Hmm. Youngsun seems more embarrassed.”

“I’m sorry. Um. But why did you come to such a remote place?”

“I was thinking of taking a little walk for exercise. Jeok-ah also wants to move around a little more sometimes. Right?”

Heeheeing-

“Huhu. I see.”

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes.”

I stroked Jeok-ah’s mane, who was purring as if he knew we were talking about him, and turned around.

I met Youngsun, so the walk was over.

‘Jeok-ah wants to run a little, but he’s picky about who he puts on his back.’

Cheonho allows it somehow, but I heard that he didn’t like it after trying to ride him and run before.

Perhaps he didn’t like something about suddenly trying to run with something big and heavy on his back when he usually only carries small and light me.

‘The Crown Prince lets him ride……. Of course, the Crown Prince has never ridden Jeok-ah and run.’

I wonder if I can let him run when I grow up a little more.