Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 229

“But even if the restaurant doesn’t do well… wouldn’t it be possible to operate with just the courtesans and gambling?”

Everyone seemed worried that even if I opened a restaurant across the street, it wouldn’t significantly impact them.

“If we build it to that scale and customers don’t come, it’s a loss anyway. People tend to feel like they’ve lost money when they stop receiving the income they used to get. Plus, fewer customers will reduce the influx into the gambling den.”

You can’t keep squeezing the existing gamblers to increase revenue.

“You don’t have to worry about that yet. I’m not pouring money into this just to ruin them.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

Even if I impulsively bought the building, I can’t run a business based on feelings. Besides, I used some of Gae’s money this time.

I was trying not to touch that if possible.

“My primary goal is to prevent our kids from going into the gambling den.”

“……But haven’t you already achieved that?”

Jia’s words made others nod in agreement.

If there’s a competitor run by our house right across the street, it’s hard to go there without feeling awkward…….

Besides, most of the staff will be recruited from Siyoungwon [orphanage/support organization].

If they’ve known each other for a long time in Siyoungwon, someone will recognize them, and they might be called a traitor if they’re caught going to the shop across the street.

“Actually, if we put in a little effort, we might be able to ferret out illegal gamblers.”

“Yes. I think that’s possible.”

Since it’s so close, we could monitor who goes in and out 24 hours a day if we wanted to.

“Actually, I’d like to keep an eye on the gambling den. We don’t know what they’re doing in there.”

“Ah, then I’ll continue…….”

Jia volunteered and raised her hand at my words.

“It’s dangerous.”

“If I don’t do anything dangerous like last time and just observe the atmosphere of the gambling den, it won’t be that dangerous. Besides, I’m also concerned about the condition of the courtesans there. I want to see how they’re being treated.”

“Hmm…….”

I haven’t gone into detail yet, but it seemed like Jia had learned something about the courtesans.

If we delve too deeply into the story of the courtesans, everyone will have a hard time talking to me.

Judging by their reactions, it wasn’t hard to guess that they were running an unhealthy business there.

But why are you hiding that from me…….

‘Is my appearance the problem?’

I don’t think my age in this era is one where I shouldn’t know anything…….

However, since I look young, it can’t be helped that they feel reluctant.

I was also concerned about the courtesans, so I couldn’t just dismiss Jia’s words. In fact, it seemed better to leave it to Jia than to entrust it to someone else.

After a moment of consideration, I told Jia.

“You can’t go alone.”

“Yes.”

“You have to tell me if you need anything.”

“Yes.”

“And don’t do anything dangerous like last time.”

“I’ll be careful. But there were gains this time too.”

“Hmm…….”

I couldn’t ask properly because it was too open of a space, but she must have found something out.

I left only Jia and a few others and had the rest guard the outside of the room.

“Make sure no one else comes in while we’re talking.”

“Yes, Ongju-jaga [Princess’s residence/title].”

After confirming that they had closed the door and left, I motioned for Jia to come closer.

“Did you find something out inside?”

“Yes. Fortunately, I overheard an important conversation.”

Jia told me the story of how she infiltrated in order.

“No, that was really dangerous! What if there hadn’t been anyone causing a ruckus inside?”

“I would have hidden until night and climbed over the wall. That’s not the important thing.”

It is important, okay?

But I thought it would only make the conversation longer, so I listened to Jia’s story first.

Jia told me in detail about the conversation she had heard there.

“……Me and Oraboni [term of endearment for older brother/male friend]?”

“Yes. They definitely said that.”

I frowned without realizing it because I felt like things were getting complicated.

‘They’re trying to drive a wedge between me and the Crown Prince…….’

I’d rather they were just money-crazed bastards trying to rip off Siyoungwon.

“Fortunately, they didn’t seem to know that we failed to steal the money in the bank, and they said that now that things have come to this, they would talk to Ongju-jaga about the gambling debts of the Siyoungwon children to gain favor.”

“Ah. Is that why they came up to me to say hello earlier?”

I ignored them because I was annoyed.

They’re shameless for teaching gambling to innocent kids from other people’s houses, extorting money, and even encouraging theft.

Well, that’s why they commit crimes.

“They’re trying to drag me in?”

“Yes. That’s what I heard.”

“They’re thinking of using the Siyoungwon children as hostages to use me to their advantage.”

Soi, noticing that I was uncomfortable, tried to smooth things over.

“Isn’t it because Ongju-jaga is so popular?”

“Hmm…… I’ve become someone who can’t be ignored these days.”

No, it’s never easy to ignore an Ongju.

“But don’t infiltrate places like that because it’s dangerous.”

“However, if we stand by and do nothing when it’s a matter involving Ongju-jaga, how can we hold our heads up?”

At Jia’s words, everyone nodded as if it were obvious.

I mumbled sullenly.

“……Who did they take after to be so disobedient?”

“……Who else could they take after?”

The heavy atmosphere of the conversation ended appropriately with Soi’s lament.

“Well, then take a break and go back. Or, I don’t know if it’s okay to sleep over.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah. There are many rooms, so what.”

I have to go back, though.

Jia, who was about to leave the room with a brightened face and greeted me, glared at Chunho next to me and muttered.

“Traitor……!”

“……I think you’re misunderstanding, but I’m Ongju-jaga’s close aide, so this isn’t betrayal, okay?”

Jia looked like she wanted to hit Chunho for his excuse, but she left behind a look that seemed to say she was enduring it because of me and obediently retreated.

After Jia left like that, Chunho, who had been brazen the whole time, mumbled with a slightly sullen face.

“I think it’s a good thing in the end…….”

Jia is being too harsh on a child who is still young.

Not only Jia but also others were subtly glaring at him, so it wasn’t a welcome thing for him, considering he would have to go in and out of Siyoungwon in the future.

‘He knew this would happen, but he did it anyway.’

Chunho isn’t stupid, so he knew that he might be excluded from such secret conversations now.

Still, he must have thought it was better to tell me.

I reached out and stroked Chunho’s head because he looked a little cute when he was so dejected.

“Yeah, yeah. You did well, you did well.”

“Haa.”

“You’ve been through a lot, so let’s eat something delicious. I told Youngsun to bring it out when people come.”

“Yesh…….”

Chunho had a complicated face, but he didn’t refuse.

In fact, after listening to Jia’s story, it was a fortunate thing in the end, as Chunho said.

‘I’m glad I arrived late. No, if I had gone a little earlier, there wouldn’t have been anything dangerous.’

However, it took quite a while to inform Siyoungwon that I would officially appear there, and to prepare a palanquin and people to come out.

I guess it’s because I don’t usually do that.

It’s a good thing Jia was safe. If things had gone slightly wrong, she could have been caught there.

‘If they had the intention of dragging me in, they might not have done anything excessive the moment they knew she was a Siyoungwon child…… but you never know. They’re daring to touch royalty.’

By the way, the other side must know that they can’t drag me in anymore, right?

‘How are they going to come out now?’

Now their choices were either to bow down to me or to try to undermine me.

‘Today, I practically declared that I would crush you head-on.’

They can’t ignore me even if they want to.

They must have just gotten their business off the ground, so it would be difficult to move to another location right away.

Now and then, location is important for business. Judging by what the kids were saying, they put a lot of effort into the food and even the courtesans, so can they abandon their current location now?

‘Especially since there’s a gambling den.’

You can’t think the same way as in modern times, saying it’s okay to just move.

In this era, transportation is inadequate, and communication is out of the question. After moving, there’s no guarantee that the customers they’ve secured will be able to find them.

‘Who told them to mess with the Siyoungwon kids.’

It wasn’t like the kids went there on their own, they deliberately dragged them in, so I couldn’t just let it go.

If what Jia said was true, it meant they deliberately messed with the children to drag me in.

What good would it do to separate the Crown Prince and me…….

Surprisingly, there seems to be a fool who thinks that the Crown Prince unconditionally follows my words and carries out policies, but there aren’t that many people who are that lacking.

Usually, like in the conversation between those unknown old men that Jia told me, more people think that I follow the Crown Prince.

“Those bastards are targeting me…….”

Clatter-

Youngsun, who had come in and was preparing tea and snacks, seemed startled when she heard me muttering and spilled a little tea.

“Oh? Are you okay? Did you get burned?”

“I’m fine, Ongju-jaga.”

“I guess Youngsun was surprised because I was saying scary things.”

“I’m sorry.”

Youngsun bowed her head and calmly poured the tea again this time.

“Everyone must have been surprised that I brought so many people suddenly.”

“It’s a house where it wouldn’t be strange to have many guests, but it’s been too quiet until now.”

Youngsun said that and placed the tea and snacks in front of me.

“What about the Siyoungwon people?”

“I’ve instructed them to bring out cool drinks and snacks.”

“Yeah. Good job. Would cool things have been better for the two of you?”

I asked Soi and Chunho, who had been by my side the whole time.

“I’m more used to warm tea.”

“Anything is fine with me.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

Anyway, I felt relieved that I had overcome the dangerous situation today, so I relaxed, and the warmth permeated my body as I drank the warm tea.

‘Oh dear, it’s not good to be so nervous.’

I don’t think I’d be this nervous even if Seong Gyeom-sabok infiltrated somewhere, but I can’t help but worry so much because Jia is in danger.

Is this parental love…….

I wonder if Seong Gyeom-sabok is doing well.