Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 86

You know, it’s all your fault I’m turning into such a *kkondae* [꼰대, a Korean slang term for a condescending older person] .

Apparently, that group of young masters and scholars had called some courtesans while they were out having fun.

I couldn’t understand why those who claimed to enjoy *pungnyu* [풍류, a traditional Korean concept of refined enjoyment of arts and nature] couldn’t have fun without women, but given their social status and financial power, the courtesan had no choice but to feel intimidated and couldn’t properly resist.

“Hey, I’m offering to be your *seobang* [서방, a term for a husband or lover], what’s your problem?”

“I, I am…”

Not knowing what to say, the courtesan clutched the *gayageum* [a traditional Korean zither] in her arms like a lifeline, trying to get away from the man.

And as if the courtesan’s trembling was amusing, several of the young master’s peers joined in, and I could see the woman, still with a hint of youth, biting her lip to hold back tears.

What a great thing to do in broad daylight.

“Ah, young lady?”

Unable to watch any longer, I, or rather, Jeok-ah, stepped forward.

I hope you’re reading my mind, because you just don’t like the look of this, do you?

Me neither.

I stroked the mane of my trusty steed, who always understands my feelings.

“May I ask which family’s sons are harassing a *gisaeng* [Korean female entertainer, similar to a geisha] in the middle of the road like this?”

“!”

The men flinched at my words, and when they turned around and saw it was a child, their faces clearly showed relief. Then, perhaps embarrassed by their earlier hesitation, they scolded me in an even more assertive voice.

“What business does a child have interfering in adult matters?”

Who are you to speak informally to me when we’ve just met?

When I didn’t seem particularly intimidated, some of them glanced around and tried to stop their friends.

“She seems to be a young lady from a family of some standing, so leave her alone.”

“Then, would you mind telling me which family you’re from? You there.”

I spoke to the servants who were trailing behind their masters. To go out and play, they needed someone to do the chores, so they never traveled alone.

The servants, who never expected to be addressed, were startled and lowered their heads.

“Yes?”

“You must know your masters’ titles, right? Oh, and their official positions, of course.”

“Well, that…”

There was no way they wouldn’t know, since servants become even more arrogant when their masters’ prestige is high.

“His Majesty has recently lamented the behavior of young noblemen, and I’m curious to know which family’s sons are so engrossed in harassing women in the middle of the road.”

“My, isn’t this little tyke quite sharp-tongued. How dare you invoke His Majesty to intimidate us?”

What’s it to you if I mention my own father?

“Besides, you’re making too much of a fuss over playing with a lowly *gisaeng*. It’s not like I’ve harassed a commoner.”

“Hmph. I didn’t realize that harassing women in the street had become such an honorable thing to do.”

“What?”

The guys who noticed my shortened speech contorted their faces as if they were displeased.

“I wonder when Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] became a land where it’s okay to harass women in the street. And that’s coming from scholars who are supposed to be learning Confucianism. Or is it okay to harass *gisaengs* in the street? Why? Are *gisaengs* not women?”

“What… what’s wrong with that? You’re the one with the bad manners!”

Yeah, yeah.

“Besides, you seem to be from a *seowon* [private Confucian academy]. Is that what your teachers taught you?”

“How dare you insult my teacher!”

Insulting a teacher in this era is like *paedeurip* [패드립, a Korean slang term for insulting someone’s parents], but it’s a bit pathetic for you to be making a fuss about me insulting your teacher right now.

“The insult isn’t coming from me, but from you, the disciples, isn’t it? I can’t believe you scholars aren’t ashamed to brazenly take *gisaengs* out to play, and to top it off, you’re grabbing women’s wrists and harassing them in broad daylight. Everyone passing by is staring, you know?”

“!”

“If it’s really not such a shameful thing, then you should just proudly reveal who your fathers and teachers are.”

As if provoked by my words, the young master blurted out his background.

“My grandfather is a *jungchubudongjisa* [a high-ranking government position], my father is a *jeongrang* [another government position] in the Ministry of Personnel, and my teacher is…”

Wow, this guy has a lot to believe in, huh?

“That’s right. If you’re going to harass women in the street, you should proudly reveal your identity like that. That way, the other person will know if you’re even worth dealing with.”

“What, what’s wrong with that? This little acorn has been awfully presumptuous since earlier.”

Unlike the young master, who was huffing and puffing as if he was about to pounce on me, the guys around him seemed to sense that something was wrong and held him back.

They must have realized something was wrong when they heard the official titles he was rattling off, and the expressions on Gai’s and Seong-yoon’s faces, who were attending to me, didn’t change at all.

“No, no, calm down.”

“We don’t know which family’s young lady you are, but this friend of mine is a bit drunk and acting out, so please don’t take it to heart.”

“What? I’m not drunk!”

Sigh. You’re lucky you have such perceptive friends, you son of a b*tch.

I stroked Jeok-ah’s mane, who seemed to sense my hostility and was trying to *t’urejil* [투레질, a horse’s snorting or shaking its head], to calm him down.

Why does this guy hate violent scenes so much?

“Today’s party is canceled! Damn it! Go! Go! You ruined my mood, you weirdo!”

“Calm down. We’ve already gathered all the *gisaengs*, what are we going to do now, huh?”

The scholars and their servants rushed away, leaving only the *gisaengs* behind, looking bewildered and unsure of what to do. Seeing the *gisaeng*, who looked like she was about to cry because she thought she had ruined the party, made me feel sorry for her.

She’s probably about the same age as So-i.

I got off my horse and comforted the *gisaeng*. To others, it would only look like a child comforting an older sister.

“Are you okay? How can you be so faint-hearted?”

“No, no, I’m fine.”

Eventually, the troubled *gisaeng* burst into tears, and her fellow *gisaengs*, looking at her with complicated eyes, bowed to me and comforted the weeping woman.

“We’ve shown you an unsightly *moseup* [모습, appearance], young lady.”

“Those guys are the bad ones, it’s not your fault.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

As I comforted her, she became even more upset and started hiccupping. The head *gisaeng*, who seemed to be in charge, approached me and bowed.

“I’m sorry, the guests left because of me.”

“We’re fine, but we’re worried that you might get into trouble because of us.”

The face of the *haengsu* [행수, head] *gisaeng* was filled with various concerns, so I winked and smiled.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m from an even more impressive family.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. By the way, where were you originally planning to go today?”

“They called us, saying they needed music for a boat ride.”

“Hmm.”

I glanced at the *gisaengs* and their attendants, called Gai to confirm what was needed, and offered it to the *gisaengs*.

“Since you’re already out, how about going somewhere else to have fun? I’ll pay for it.”

“Pardon?”

The *gisaengs*, who were dumbfounded and gaping, soon regained their composure and bowed with a smile.

“If you invite us, young lady, how can we refuse?”

The *gisaengs*’ faces were filled with a sense of determination to earn at least a penny since they had already missed out on those guys. They also seemed curious about where such a young child would take them.

“Then follow me.”

I got back on Jeok-ah.

Gai, who was holding Jeok-ah’s reins, clutched his chest and grumbled.

“Young lady, I feel like my heart is about to drop.”

“That won’t do. If your heart drops, I’ll quickly catch it and put it back. Don’t worry.”

“Oh, young lady.”

“It’s worrying about the future of Joseon when those kinds of guys act all high and mighty, calling themselves *yusaeng* [Confucian students] and *yuhakja* [Confucian scholars]. I mean, why do I have to worry about this?”

“Young lady.”

Unlike Gai, who was only sighing, Seong-yoon was smiling the whole time.

“Aren’t you surprised, *ajeossi* [아저씨, a term for middle-aged man]?”

“What is there for me to be surprised about? I’m just relieved that you’re saying everything I wanted to say.”

As he said that, he clenched and unclenched his hands as if he was bored, so I guess he really didn’t like the look of it either.

I’m just glad it ended without any use of force.

“Oof.”

I had already arrived at my destination, and when I got off my horse and looked back, the *gisaengs* were all staring at the signboard with wide eyes.

“*Siyoungwon* [a place or establishment]…?”

“Come on in.”

The *gisaengs*, who are quick with rumors, couldn’t possibly not know where this was.

As I entered first, those who recognized me stopped what they were doing and greeted me with a smile.

“Oh, young lady *eonni* [언니, a term used by younger females to address older sisters or female friends]?”

“Have you arrived, young lady?”

“Ah, I brought something delicious… Who are these people behind you?”

And when they saw the glamorous group following behind me, they were all surprised and just stared with wide eyes.

Even Min Sang-gung, who had rushed out knowing I had arrived, looked flustered when she saw the unexpected people I had brought with me.

“Young lady, what’s going on?”

“Well, I’m sorry for the suddenness, but you don’t have any important schedules today, do you?”

“No, what important things would we have?”

“Then let’s all get together and have fun today.”

“Yes?”

I pointed to the *gisaengs* who were still standing outside the gate and said again.

“Since it’s a rare occasion, let’s all get together and have fun. The children don’t even know what a party is, do they?”

“Well, that’s… true, isn’t it?”

As soon as Min Sang-gung’s permission was given, the children’s eyes began to sparkle with anticipation.

“Today is a day for singing, dancing, and playing, got it?”

“Yes!”

“Yay!”

“Wow, young lady is the best!”

I covered my ears at the children’s screams of joy as they jumped up and down, and turned around to gesture for the *gisaengs* to come in quickly.

Having figured out the situation, they all entered the courtyard with indescribable expressions on their faces.

The *gisaengs* instructed the servants who had followed them with their luggage to clear the courtyard to make a stage, and the children and servants bustled about, clearing away the baskets and gourds they had been working with, laughing gleefully.

‘I’m glad they like it.’

The *gisaengs* entered the courtyard and twirled around, dancing among the children who were jumping around.

I sat on the veranda, listening to their laughter and healing.

“But really, what on earth is going on?”

“Well… that’s how it happened.”

Detailed explanation omitted.

Min Sang-gung and the other managing court ladies hurriedly arranged seats and were busy, while Jia and some of the children, who had come to ask me for an explanation of the situation, sighed at my answer, which omitted many details.

“I guess you were being you again, young lady.”

What kind of expression is that?

“Oh my, what on earth is going on?”

Turning around at the familiar voice, I saw Mae-hyang, who was coming out from behind the building holding the children’s hands, looking bewildered at the commotion in the courtyard.

Oh, why are you here?