Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 249

“Actually, no matter how great that master is, how could a slave be clean? Above all, such a beautiful woman. Yet, if I say I’ll take such a woman, no matter the reason, she should be grateful to me for life. Isn’t that right?”

“Of course. So, you’re not taking her as a wife, but as a concubine?”

“Even if I wanted to take her as a wife, how could that be possible? It’s just that I treat her a little better, and she acts as if she’s still a noble lady, which is really… She doesn’t even know her place.”

Moon-won clicked his tongue and took another drink.

“Hahaha. Women are all like that.”

“But since she’s talented, favored by her master, and earns good money, wouldn’t it be better to have her continue working there, extracting information and earning money?”

“It would be good to have her as both a confidante and a source of income.”

The man smiled and poured more liquor. Both of them were already slurring their words.

“Well, since she was originally intended to be my wife, I don’t want to treat her too harshly. I’ll be kind to her for now, and when I bring in a new, pure virgin as my wife later, she’ll naturally understand her position. Just because I take her doesn’t mean her master changes. Since I’m her husband, wouldn’t she speak well of me to her master and help me earn money?”

“Of course.”

“That’s right. Isn’t doing everything for her husband and his children the virtue of a woman? No matter how many books a woman reads or how smart she pretends to be, how could she possibly understand loyalty or friendship? What could be more important to a woman than her husband? Isn’t there a reason for the Three Obediences [a Confucian principle dictating a woman’s obedience to her father, husband, and son]?”

“These days, arrogant women are increasing because of that Si-young-won [a government office that promoted female education and employment], which is a headache. So, unless he’s a spineless man, who would marry a Si-young-won woman?”

“They say they earn good money and have backing, but they’re just women. If you coax them well, it’ll work out, but everyone’s too stupid.”

“Do you think it’s common to find someone as capable as you, who can deceive women to succeed?”

At the man’s words, Moon-won bristled and raised his voice.

“No, isn’t the reason I work so hard to earn money not just for my own benefit?”

“Yes, you’re right.”

The two men laughed heartily, exchanging cups of liquor as if they were having a great time.

“Um….”

When Young-sun didn’t move, the workers who had followed out of curiosity and happened to overhear the conversation were at a loss, their faces hardening.

With a tired face, Young-sun barely managed to say a word.

“…Let’s go back.”

“Y, yes, that would be good.”

Sensing that they wouldn’t even get a bowl of noodles or a cup of makgeolli [Korean rice wine], the workers quietly turned around, carrying the heavy load they had brought, their steps heavier than before.

Looking at what would happen next from a third party’s perspective might be quite interesting, but if it was going to happen in front of your own house, or rather, inside your own house, you couldn’t help but be a little worried.

Moreover, the voices of the two men coming from behind were clearly revealing their ambition to deceive and take advantage of their master.

The workers hadn’t seen her often, but that made her an even better master. Seeing those arrogant and shameless guys trying to scam Ongju Jaga [a high-ranking female title, often a princess or noblewoman], they felt like punching them.

If Ongju Jaga was scammed and lost money, it was clear that they would be the ones who would suffer the most.

‘But right now, we need to prioritize Young-sun’s feelings, who was almost tricked into marriage.’

‘We are men with common sense and manners.’

But what will happen to this marriage?

Many people already know about it, so will she be too embarrassed to break it off in front of everyone?

‘How can we tell Ongju Jaga, who even gave us gifts, that she was almost scammed?’

‘If it were me, I wouldn’t have let it go, but she’s so gentle, probably because she’s originally a noble lady.’

That’s what one of the workers who was quietly following Young-sun thought when it happened.

Young-sun, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped.

Then, she turned around and strode back.

“Eek.”

“Ah.”

And before they could stop her, she went back into the tavern.

Of course, they didn’t intend to stop her, but they could have at least pretended to stop her, which was a pity.

The man, drunk on alcohol, lifted his head with a blank face when the woman stood before him, and made a dazed sound when he saw Young-sun.

“Huh?”

Slap!!

And Young-sun’s powerful slap followed.

The man, who was drunk, collapsed powerlessly, overturning the table.

“Oh my, what’s going on!”

The tavern owner, who had been in the kitchen and came out after hearing the commotion, rushed out, but Young-sun simply dusted off her hands and left the tavern.

The two workers silently raised their thumbs at Young-sun.

A momentary smile flickered across Young-sun’s hardened face.

There was no hesitation in her steps as she returned.

The reason Young-sun went and gave him a beating wasn’t for any other reason.

‘Ongju Jaga said, ‘If the guy you’re going to marry seems like a no-good, give him a beating and come back quickly. I’ll protect you, so don’t worry.’’

Perhaps thanks to that, she was angry, but not scared.

But the real scary thing was actually inside the house.

***

“A broken engagement! After all this, after deciding to get married, what on earth are you saying?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like, Mother. He didn’t want to live with me; he just wanted to use me to get close to Ongju Jaga and make money.”

The next morning, Young-sun, who hadn’t slept well, explained what happened yesterday to her mother.

At first, she tried to soften the blow as much as possible.

But since there was no sign of her understanding, Young-sun eventually gave up and had to tell her mother the truth directly.

But her mother’s answer was always the same.

“Isn’t this happening because you are lacking something? Go and apologize to Scholar Jung Moon-won. Huh?”

“I have no reason to apologize to that man, Mother.”

“Then how will you ever marry a nobleman again!”

“Excuse me?”

Young-sun couldn’t run away and just turned pale as she saw her mother, who was said to be weak and without energy, screaming.

“It’s natural to be treated like a concubine since you’re not a noble! Still, still, being a nobleman’s concubine is better than marrying a commoner!”

“Mother!”

“How old are you! Where are you going to meet a man like that! Where else can you find someone like him!”

“What’s so great about that man! If you take away his status, he doesn’t even have a proper job! He’s old!”

Young-sun also shouted back, not backing down from her hysterically screaming mother.

Yesterday, Jung Moon-won said that Young-sun was old, but in fact, he was older than Young-sun, so it wasn’t wrong to say he was old.

The admirable desire to do anything for her sick mother had disappeared somewhere along the way.

“You just need to do well! It depends on the woman! Even if you’re taken as a concubine, if you act like the tongue in his mouth, he might think he can’t live without you and decide to make you his wife!”

Young-sun scoffed at her mother’s absurd words.

“Why couldn’t you do that, Mother, so Father took a mistress and went to the gisaeng house [a house where female entertainers reside]!”

“W, what? How can you say such things to your mother…! You, you unfilial thing! How did I raise you! I lived looking only at you; how can you be so outrageous to your mother!”

Was her illness a lie too? Young-sun wanted to collapse in disbelief at the sight of her mother screaming so vigorously.

She was the one who was most shocked right now, but why did she feel like she was the perpetrator and her mother was the victim?

She apologized to the other slaves she worked with, but they all said it was okay with expressions that seemed to understand.

The problem was that this wasn’t the end.

“Hey, wouldn’t it be better to let Ongju Jaga know?”

“I’m sorry. My mother is causing a commotion.”

“No. I’m not trying to say anything. I just thought it would be better to tell Ongju Jaga if you want to sort things out quickly.”

“I’m sorry to bother her again… I can’t bring myself to ask….”

“Oh dear….”

If she sent a letter to Ongju Jaga, who was in the palace, she would come and sort everything out at once, but she didn’t have the courage to rely on Ongju Jaga.

And the additional blow that targeted Young-sun arrived that evening, after the sun had set.

Since it was dangerous to go out at a dark time, they decided to talk right outside the mansion’s fence.

She tried to dissuade some of them who were worried that it would be dangerous to go alone and tried to follow with clubs.

But in fact, Jung Moon-won wasn’t alone.

“Young-sun-ah.”

“…Father?”

She didn’t even remember when she had last seen him properly, but it was definitely her father.

“Yes, it’s me. Have you been well? How is your mother?”

“…She’s doing well.”

She hadn’t looked well all this time, but seeing her screaming this morning, she seemed healthy.

“I heard the story. You… rejected Scholar Jung.”

“Yes.”

“The people who saved this father of yours need your help; how can you be so heartless? You unfilial thing.”

“…If it weren’t for Ongju Jaga, my mother and I wouldn’t be where we are now; how can I repay kindness with enmity?”

“I was falsely accused of being a traitor even though I’m not a traitor; aren’t you upset?”

“Is that what Ongju Jaga did? Is that what His Majesty did?”

“How would I know? I was suddenly dragged away, tortured severely, and told to admit my guilt.”

“How did you get involved in treason?”

“I was just doing a favor for an acquaintance… and now my family has been completely destroyed so unjustly. The people who saved me from suffering were Scholar Jung’s acquaintances. They will help us in the future.”

Her father attempted an emotional and persuasive appeal, but it didn’t work on Young-sun now.

“So, all you’re doing is using a woman to scam Ongju Jaga? Aren’t you plotting a rebellion or something?”

“What? How dare you ignore your father’s words like this. You, you impudent thing!”

Like husband and wife should be. How could the couple be so alike?

Instead of closing her eyes when she saw her father’s hand raised as if he was about to hit her, Young-sun opened her eyes wide.

Thwack!