Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 267

“Hmm. Is it alright to write this honestly?”

“But hasn’t the newspaper always been made honestly?”

That’s true.

The tiger intrusion incident that happened in the palace a while ago quickly spread throughout the capital.

It happened in the palace, but there were so many witnesses, and it was not something that could be hidden.

So, I also received manuscripts about the incident appropriately, went through censorship, and distributed the newspaper as usual.

‘Since I can’t go outside, it might be a good way to spread news,’ I thought.

Cheonho told me that since I couldn’t go out, everyone was worried that something had happened to me.

‘So, it would be good to let them know about my recent situation in big letters like this.’

Anyway, people in the capital already know that I shot a tiger with an arrow.

‘I’m glad I hit it…….’

It would have been embarrassing if I had missed.

Of course, if I had failed then, embarrassment wouldn’t have been the only problem.

Anyway, now that it’s like this, it was better to spread accurate information if possible.

Thanks to the rumors spreading, letters asking about my well-being poured in from everywhere, so I was busy reading them. Instead of replying to each one, I should publish an article and properly report my survival.

After all, most of what I do in the palace is the newspaper business.

Recently, that alone has been busy enough.

‘I want to go meet the people who served the deceased Crown Prince Seongwon.’

I felt a little uneasy because it didn’t seem like it would be easily resolved anytime soon.

Cheonho told me without hesitation what the Crown Prince had been hiding from me.

“So, you’re saying someone might have deliberately planned it?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

“The palace is connected to the mountains geographically, so it is not impossible for a tiger to enter, but who would risk their life to do such a thing?”

“I guess…….”

I heard that traces of someone, such as torn clothes, were found and they are searching, but I don’t know. It’s all so uncertain.

In fact, the back of the palace is Baegaksan Mountain (白岳山, now called Bukaksan Mountain), so you wouldn’t know even if one or two tigers were hiding there.

I thought it would be okay since we hunt periodically, but is that not enough?

I sighed, and Cheonho asked, surprised, “But… is it alright for you to be out here again?”

“It’s been several days already. Besides, once something like that happens, they’ll be more thorough with security than before.”

“That’s true, but…….”

I reassured Cheonho appropriately.

Actually, how would I know how the palace security is? Cheonho, who probably knows better than me these days, said it was good, so it must be good.

After saving me and catching the tiger during the tiger intrusion incident last time, Cheonho was receiving tremendous trust from everyone.

Thanks to that, he was staying in the palace except when he went out on errands for me.

On the other hand, I was half-confined.

‘I might die if I don’t even take a walk.’

No matter how worried they are about me, isn’t it a bit too much? I was thinking that when I was walking with Cheonho.

Just then, a familiar crow approached.

Caw- Caw-

And it started cawing loudly at a distance that seemed to tease people, almost catching it but not.

“That guy again…….”

“Please be patient. You’re the one who shot and hit a tiger.”

“I know. I’m enduring it because it was helpful when there was a tiger…….”

I don’t know if it’s the same crow as before, but…

“Maybe they’re not afraid because they’re confident they can escape without being caught. Birds are fearless.”

“Just a mouthful…….”

“I don’t think tigers would eat them unless they’re really hungry because there’s not much to eat.”

If it’s not a sparrow, wouldn’t there be something to eat if it’s a crow?

‘When I think about it, humans are more cruel because they even catch and grill sparrows even when they’re not hungry.’

Cheonho either retorted appropriately to my words or just nodded.

While taking a walk like that, Cheonho opened his mouth.

“By the way, it seems my uncle is getting promoted because of this incident.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

I heard that Cheonho’s uncle landed the final blow… no, the decisive blow to catch the second tiger that day.

Cheonho and his uncle both have the physique to catch tigers, so it must be genetic.

They don’t resemble each other in anything else.

“He caught the Crown Prince’s eye, so he might be successful.”

“Cheonho, you could be successful too.”

Cheonho smiled subtly at my words.

“Hmm. I’m still young, so… for now?”

For now?

‘Well, of course, he’s young.’

Now that the year has changed, Cheonho is also seventeen.

‘I can get away with saying he’s still young, but he’s proven his abilities too much.’

At this point, it was strange that the Crown Prince was staying still. He’s not thinking of taking him and using him appropriately.

Is it because he thinks it’s better for me to take care of him and protect him for a while?

If Cheonho were to stop guarding me and follow the Crown Prince, it would be a lie to say I wouldn’t be sad.

‘It doesn’t seem like the king or the Crown Prince would miss out on such a talent.’

Both of them subtly appealed to me about Cheonho when they met me.

But if I had to say who would take Cheonho between the King and the Crown Prince, it would definitely be the Crown Prince.

“Ongju, someone has been sent from the Ikwisa [a military unit] to ask if they can take Cheonho.”

“Okay. Cheonho, you can go now.”

After that day, the Ikwisa called Cheonho out much more frequently.

For the first few days, they seemed to leave him alone because of his injuries.

“Ongju’s walk hasn’t ended yet, so I will escort you to your residence before going.”

“……Then do that. But I’m going to work outside?”

“You’ll catch a cold in the middle of winter.”

“It’s okay sometimes. I’m wearing warm clothes too.”

It’s just that my palace maids are sometimes cold. In many ways.

“Cheonho, is your injury okay?”

“I feel a little tightness sometimes, but I’m okay.”

Now that there are many people, it should be okay, but Cheonho was still taking care of my safety.

‘Come to think of it, he used to hate being called by the Ikwisa, but now it seems like he’s happy to go.’

Did he have a change of heart?

Well, after encountering two tigers and risking his life, he must have felt something.

Like he needs to train his skills more.

‘I feel strangely like I’m being taken away.’

I’m always working anyway, so I can’t even play with Cheonho, so I feel sorry.

“Nyaang-”

I was about to sit down and look at news related to the newspaper business when Kkoma, the chubby cat who has now completely grown up, came and clung to me. I don’t know when he started following me.

I don’t know why he always comes to me when I’m working and asks me to play with him.

I hugged him appropriately to soothe him and then sat him on my lap.

“You’re so heavy now that it’s hard to hold you.”

“Nyaaaang-”

Kkoma protested on my lap, but unfortunately, I didn’t have enough energy to accept him.

Knowing that I wouldn’t play with him, Kkoma quickly gave up and headed to Cheonho.

But unfortunately, Cheonho didn’t play with Kkoma properly today either.

“I can’t play with you today, so go to Ongju.”

“Waang.”

Kkoma was so angry that he bared his claws at Cheonho.

“!”

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to have much impact on Cheonho due to the difference in arm length, but he had a slightly depressed face at the fact that the child who had been getting along well suddenly got angry.

“Why is he doing this? Does he still smell the tiger on me…….”

“Puhuut. If it smells on Cheonho, it would smell on me too, huh?”

“Why do you say that?”

When I pointed to one of Cheonho’s arms, Cheonho’s face also frowned when he saw it.

“This is…….”

“It seems like crow or… animal droppings…….”

It was winter, so he didn’t notice properly because his clothes were thick.

“Did they take revenge right away for saying something?”

Is it true that birds are smart…….

“Cheonho, go change your clothes and head to the Ikwisa.”

“Ah… then I’ll be on my way. I’ll take this guy with me too.”

“Hmm. Should I check if it’s because of the smell?”

“Yes.”

“Be careful not to get your wound infected.”

“Yes.”

I had a palace maid take clothes for Cheonho to change into.

Kkoma wanted to come to me, but he resisted fiercely because he didn’t like being dragged away, but he disappeared from my sight while being held and swayed by Cheonho.

“I don’t feel motivated today for some reason.”

“Is there something uncomfortable?”

“It’s not that, hmm. Should I go in early?”

At Songbi’s words, I shook my head while dangling my legs.

It’s better not to do it when you don’t feel like it.

“Let’s rest a little today.”

“Yes. Shall I prepare some snacks?”

“Yeah. I’m craving sweet glutinous rice pancake today.”

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

Songbi nodded to me with a happy smile.

And around that evening, an unexpected visitor came.

“Ongju, it has been a while.”

“Seong Gyeom Sabok! It’s been a long time. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Of course not.”

It was Seong Gyeom Sabok, who had left for Gangwon-do and hadn’t been seen for several months.

Letters occasionally came and went through the Siyeongwon branch, but it was different from meeting in person.

He looked thinner than before he left, but he looked healthier than I had worried.

“Ongju, are you okay? I also heard rumors about what happened in the palace.”

“Ah.”

Oh dear, he knows. Well, the rumors are widespread in the capital, so from the moment he arrived near Hanyang, rumors about me and the tiger would have poured out.

“Do you know how surprised I was? A tiger!”

“Hmm. I was surprised too…….”

I had to reassure Seong Gyeom Sabok with a chuckle that I was not hurt, sick, or anything.

“It’s a shame that such a thing happened while I was away…….”

“Still, Cheonho worked hard in Seong Gyeom Sabok’s place.”

“I feel the reward of tormenting that guy.”

You tormented him……. No wonder he hated it.

Just as Songbi brought tea and sweet glutinous rice pancake, Seong Gyeom Sabok received it politely with a somewhat moved look.

“?”

“Haa. I don’t know how much I wanted to eat this.”

“Hmm, that’s good.”

Seong Gyeom Sabok devoured the tea and refreshments like a crab and had a happy face.

“By the way, did you report to your brother?”

“Other guys must be doing it instead of me.”

“No, you can’t do that.”

You went to investigate something important.

You’re a completely important role in the future development.

But Seong Gyeom Sabok was already very twisted.

Of course, people tend to relax a bit when they come into a warm room from the cold and exhaustion.

But Seong Gyeom Sabok’s dissatisfaction was not just that problem.

“Ongju, I’m going to retire this time…….”

“Oh dear, I know how you feel, but you’ll get caught if you do that…….”

“I don’t want to.”

“Don’t do that and go report to your brother first…….”

“……”