Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 87

“Why do you keep coming here?”

“It’s the only way I can hear the young lady’s songs.”

As if she had been waiting for me, Maehyang’s face lit up with a welcoming smile.

She wasn’t dressed as flamboyantly as a courtesan like last time, but in relatively plain attire, though still recognizable.

“When did I ever sing?”

“I heard you were teaching the children songs.”

“I wasn’t.”

It just spread from me humming to myself.

Ignoring my denial, Maehyang smiled brightly.

“So they’re learning from the children.”

“Maehyang unnie! Are you going to sing too?”

“Well, what should I do? Do you want to hear unnie sing?”

“Yes!”

I didn’t know when she had become so close to the children, but they were all calling her ‘unnie’ [older sister or respected female figure] and following her around familiarly.

What is this feeling of alienation?

“Maehyang unnie?”

And the courtesans who had just arrived at Siyeongwon also seemed to know Maehyang, as they flocked around her.

“Songhwa? No, what brings you all here?”

“We heard you’ve been going out a lot lately, unnie. Is this where you’ve been? Today, because you weren’t there, those rude bast… the noblemen were really giving us a hard time!”

You don’t have to worry about my reaction to you cursing those guys out… Or maybe you should, since there are children here? Though, I doubt they don’t already know those words.

Anyway, without someone influential around, those guys are getting bolder and only harassing the young ones.

Only then did Maehyang realize that many of the people busily moving around the yard were familiar faces, and she looked puzzled. Well, it wouldn’t be a common sight here.

“But what are you all doing here?”

“I unintentionally disrupted their business, so I agreed to pay the *jeondu* (纏頭) [compensation fee paid to courtesans] as compensation.”

“Business? You mean the young lady?”

“Yes. The young lady said she would pay the *jeondu*, so we followed her, wondering what she was thinking, but we never expected to end up in a place like this.”

“Well, aren’t you all excited.”

“Of course! Today, we only need songs and dances, right? Isn’t that right, young lady?”

“If you want to do more, you can watch the kids…”

As I said that, weakly swayed by the children tugging at my sleeve, Songhwa laughed, thinking it was a joke.

“Of course! The children are much cuter than those guys who are only interested in flirting and nothing else!”

“Hmm.”

I was a little worried that they might not like singing in front of noisy children, but surprisingly, none of them seemed to mind.

“The children might not know much about songs and dances. Are you sure it’ll be okay? It might be noisy.”

At my words, Songhwa and Maehyang smiled faintly.

“How often do noblemen who call for courtesans see us as mere entertainers?”

“Is that… so?”

It sounds and looks bad.

“Unnie! Maehyang unnie! Please come here for a moment! Songhwa, you too!”

“Yes, unnie!”

“Ugh, I came here to rest today.”

Since when did this place become your resort?

Even while grumbling, Maehyang headed towards the courtesans with Songhwa.

Some of the courtesans gathered around Maehyang, seeking advice, and began a serious conversation.

The young children of Siyeongwon were fascinated by the courtesans’ colorful clothes, following the women’s skirts and giggling.

Still, thanks to the strict upbringing by Court Lady Min since they were young, none of the older children acted rudely.

Of course, the younger children who didn’t know any better just followed them around, only to be caught by their older siblings and burst into tears.

Some of the courtesans seemed to dislike children, but the children were like ghosts, never approaching those women.

‘Since the courtesans are sticking to Maehyang, I should talk to Court Lady Min in the meantime.’

I also need to explain why I suddenly created this festive atmosphere today.

Even though the people of Siyeongwon follow my orders without complaint, it’s not good to proceed without consulting the person in charge.

Of course, Court Lady Min nodded without any complaints to my words.

“I understand the reason. Everyone will be fine even if they take a day off, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

“That’s a relief.”

“But the children who went out today will be disappointed.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, Jia wasn’t at Siyeongwon right now either.

Should I set a new date and call them again? As I was pondering this, Court Lady Min asked, as if curious.

“But why are you being so considerate of the courtesans?”

“Courtesans are people too. Do you think they like being harassed by those scoundrels?”

“The Ongju (Princess) is truly a person of great depth.”

I just hate sexual harassment offenders.

“Court Lady Min, go out and enjoy the music and dance for a while. I shouldn’t be the one saying this, since I keep bringing work.”

“Yes. Thanks to the Ongju, I get to see such a sight for the first time in a long time.”

Court Lady Min must have seen court banquets when she was in the palace, but she probably didn’t have the chance to see such things after leaving the palace.

Hmm. It seems like the lack of leisure is just my fault.

I went outside and saw them singing and dancing without any formality. Well, it’s probably because the preparations aren’t complete yet, but since there are children playing instruments, it’s a complete free-for-all.

Since there’s not much social distance, everyone seemed comfortable.

Besides, they had brought food to eat, so they were setting it out.

The children were eager to try the food they had never seen before, making a fuss.

“Quiet! I’ll distribute the food little by little, so don’t touch it!”

However, when Court Lady Min, unable to bear the commotion, scolded them, the children who had gathered scattered.

It seemed that she was stressed by the fact that the children she was responsible for teaching were too disorganized in front of people.

Well, it’s something that wouldn’t be allowed in the palace. It’s been several years, so everyone seems to have relaxed a bit.

On the other hand, the *chetamins* (spies) looked amazed and didn’t know what to do when the courtesans and musicians came.

‘I’ve been making them work too much…’

I should have let them have some cultural experiences and healing from time to time. Those people have a lot of money but have lived so innocently that they’re amazed by courtesans.

I felt like an exploitative employer.

But when I thought about it carefully, it didn’t seem wrong…

‘Since I only come out occasionally, I don’t know exactly how their work system is set up.’

I should ask Court Lady Min later.

Originally, startups don’t have a system for the first few years.

While I was lost in thought, the preparations were completed, and the courtesans’ performance began.

The children, who only knew how to dance and sing as they pleased, all began to stare in awe.

“Wow!!”

The courtesans and musicians all seemed happy, as there were no people throwing suggestive glances and the audience was enthusiastically cheering.

Of course, the children were the most excited.

‘There are already many children who don’t like studying, so I’m worried that they’ll want to learn too.’

It would be different if it were an era where artists could succeed, but in this era, it’s very difficult for courtesans, clowns, and musicians to rise to a decent level of treatment.

Besides, that field already has its own established system.

“How is it, young lady? Do you like it?”

“Yes.”

Maehyang, who I thought would be with her fellow courtesans, was watching the performance with me and asked, so I nodded honestly.

You might think that I’ve seen court banquets, but in reality, there were so many things that happened after I was born… When I was young, I was quite sickly and too young to see them, and when I grew up, the atmosphere in the palace wasn’t often conducive to holding banquets.

‘The Crown Princess, the Crown Prince, my birth mother, Grand Prince Gyeongeon, the Queen Dowager… They all passed away one after another. Thinking about it, it’s a bit too much.’

Even now, we’re still in mourning. Honestly, a three-year mourning period is a bit too much.

“You know them?”

“Yes, some of them are children I taught. Songhwa, whom you saved, is one of them.”

“She still looks a bit young.”

“But she’s still a courtesan.”

It was a bit funny that I, who looked younger than Songhwa, was calling her young, but from a certain perspective, it was right for me to worry about Songhwa.

“What do you all do when there are so many strange guys?”

“We have to avoid them as best we can. What can powerless people do? How wonderful would it be if we were as lucky as Songhwa meeting you today, every day?”

Her voice contained a heavy emotion that was difficult for me to handle.

“But that child is lucky, isn’t she? Who else would step in like you in such a situation? The scholars who recite Confucius and Mencius are the very people who harass us. The madams of noble families despise us, but how would they step in to help?”

“Um…”

That’s only because I have a unique status. In this era, status is everything.

As I couldn’t find anything to say, Maehyang smiled awkwardly.

Just then, Songhwa’s song ended, and everyone was applauding.

“I didn’t mean to insult the noblemen in front of you. As an apology and a thank you, I will sing a verse, though it may be inadequate.”

“Maehyang, aren’t you expensive?”

“So you won’t begrudge the *jeondu*, will you?”

“I’m going to be cleaned out soon.”

How much is she planning to receive?

As I spoke weakly, Maehyang laughed and stepped forward.

Amidst the commotion of the courtesans, as it wasn’t a scheduled performance, the children were all excited by the unexpected appearance and cheered.

You come here often, but you don’t sing for us? The reaction is enthusiastic.

Soon, Maehyang began to sing.

Holding a fan and singing to the sound of the *janggu* (Korean drum), I could understand why everyone was admiring her.

‘I don’t know much about the music of this era yet, but anyone can tell when someone is singing well.’

The voice of a master singer is different even after just one verse.

With admiration, the song ended, and once again, thunderous applause erupted.

Almost everyone in Siyeongwon had gathered, so I thought it would be noisy, but somehow the sound could be heard from afar. Turning my head in the direction of the sound, I saw people gathering outside the fence as well.

‘Ah, it’s a spectacle that can be seen much closer than a noble family’s party.’

Maehyang, who gracefully bowed in response to the applause, seemed to gesture to the children of Siyeongwon behind her, and the children brought out their instruments as if they had been waiting.

Soon, a familiar melody flowed out, and I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Seriously.”

She’s now singing the song I used to sing, with lyrics freely added, based on how she completed it through the children.

As expected, it would be impossible to become a master singer with ordinary determination. I felt like I should admit defeat, but since it’s not my copyright, I can’t.

But listening to that familiar and nostalgic melody wasn’t actually unpleasant.

‘It’s a bit sad to be the only one who knows it.’

It was a little lonely that there was no one I could share what I knew with.

So, it was also welcome to hear someone else singing my song from my past life.

‘If it weren’t for the copyright.’

But it seems too late to protect the copyright of this song now…

Wouldn’t the countless people listening outside the fence soon be humming this song?

This song is now public domain…

I should be grateful that at least the copyright of the lyrics is protected.

Maehyang, who is singing, winks at me.

Don’t do that, I’ll get attached.