Chapter 26
26
- As you sow, so shall you reap.
I stared at Dang Young-ho with clouded eyes.
I didn't know what kind of conversation they had, but grabbing a guest by the collar at a banquet with so many people meant he wasn't right in the head.
Dang Young-ho's behavior, serving as a negative example, made me re-evaluate Namgung Hwi.
Hwi, you've grown up well for someone from a prestigious family. Keep growing up well.
"What is this rudeness, Tang Clan Lord?"
The Jegal Clan Lord, his mouth hidden behind an Iron fan, asked with a sardonic smile. He seemed displeased that the person being collared was from the Jegal Clan.
"...I apologize. Jegal Clan Lord. But let's not make such a fuss over a children's quarrel."
Dang Mu-hyeok's expression was awkward as he forced an apology.
Dang Jung, with his arms crossed, was already making all sorts of faces. If it weren't for appearances, he looked like he would have rushed out and smacked Dang Young-ho upside the head.
He was so angry that a blockhead had been made the Young Patriarch; Dang Jung seemed to genuinely dislike Dang Young-ho.
"Dang Young-ho!"
Dang Mu-hyeok shouted again.
Dang Young-ho, who had been glaring as if he would kill the other man, trembled and released his grip on the collar.
"I apologize."
Then, stomping his feet, he stormed out of the banquet hall.
Everyone's eyes followed Dang Young-ho's retreating figure.
The murmurs that naturally followed made Dang Mu-hyeok grit his teeth. He seemed to feel ashamed of the situation.
The way he treats me, too; Dang Mu-hyeok seems to value honor and appearances. I wonder why a guy who values honor so much gave birth to me.
The man left alone in Dang Young-ho's wake calmly straightened his disheveled clothes. Watching him, the Jegal Clan Lord snapped his Iron fan shut.
"Hyo-gang, don't go picking a fight for no reason."
The Jegal Clan Lord said in a displeased voice. The man's name seemed to be Hyo-gang.
"Picking a fight? You misunderstand, Uncle. I was merely discussing Lao Tzu with the Young Patriarch."
Jegal Hyo-gang shrugged, replying nonchalantly. Dang Mu-hyeok's expression turned cold at his attitude.
"It seems Jegal Gongzi's academic achievements are outstanding. But it is said, 'One who conquers others has force; one who conquers himself is strong.' I hope you will show it with actions, not words that invite disaster."
One who conquers...? What? What is he talking about.
The string of words, as if he had eaten ink, made my mouth hang open involuntarily. I really couldn't understand a single word.
In fact, I couldn't even remember who Lao Tzu was. The Tao Te Ching was Lao Tzu, probably.
...Wasn't it?
Seeing that I didn't understand, Namgung Hwi whispered softly.
"It means to look back at yourself before trying to conquer others. A true strong person is not one who suppresses others with force, but one who overcomes his own emotions and desires."
Our Young Patriarch is smart. Thanks. But I still don't know what he's talking about.
Even with Dang Mu-hyeok's sharp attitude, Jegal Hyo-gang didn't bat an eye and replied smoothly.
"I will remember the Tang Clan Lord's teachings well."
Then, he curved his narrow eyes slyly and greeted the crowd.
"I apologize for the disturbance. Please don't mind me and enjoy the banquet."
After politely clasping his hands in a bow, he left the banquet hall with leisurely steps.
Are you really going to remember it? Judging by the atmosphere, it's more like, 'Don't act up in someone else's house.' 'Yeah, so what.'
The Jegal Clan Lord, who had been looking at Jegal Hyo-gang with a displeased face, sighed deeply.
It seems he's also having a hard time with his nephew.
They say the most difficult farming is raising children; seeing how each family has so much individuality, it seems even prestigious families have a hard time raising kids.
Or did they all study home education on their own?
Scratching my head, I looked around the banquet hall, where the atmosphere had cooled down. As if the fun had been spoiled, guests were leaving one by one.
Dang Mu-hyeok, with his fist clenched inside his sleeve, kept drinking tea as if trying to maintain his composure.
The Tang Clan had prepared the banquet, and the Tang Clan's Young Patriarch had poured dung on it, so he must have been hurt in his pride.
Dad, let's just call it a day. I want to lie down on my bed and rest now.
While grumbling and shuffling in place, I met eyes with Dang Jung. He sent a Telepathic transmission with a displeased face.
[Behave yourself.]
Elder, you're sitting down. I've been standing the whole time. When I pouted, Dang Jung snorted as if he was dumbfounded.
At that moment, Namgung Hwi, who was next to me, jumped up. He looked around in confusion, as if he had heard a hallucination.
"Hwi, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Father."
Namgung Hwi, awkwardly answering Namgung Sang's question, carefully got up from his seat. Then, he tugged at my sleeve.
"Where's the restroom here? Show me."
"Yes? Yes. This way, please."
A chance to leave the place legally made the corners of my lips twitch upwards. I took Namgung Hwi and slipped out of the banquet hall in a roundabout way.
* * *
"Young Patriarch, the restroom is that way, not this way..."
"No. I don't need to go to the restroom."
Namgung Hwi replied and strode forward.
Judging by the way he was just walking straight ahead, the restroom was just an excuse, and he just wanted to get out of the banquet hall.
Hey, you're a guest. Do you even know where you're going?
Grumbling and trotting behind him, I lifted up my long skirt.
The Maid's clothes that Madam Jin had put on me had one more layer of skirt than the clothes I usually wore, so it was hot and uncomfortable.
As I fanned the hem of my skirt to cool the sweat on my legs, Namgung Hwi, who had turned back to see if I was following, shouted.
"You, you...! What are you doing!"
"Yes? What is it?"
"Your ankles are showing! A grown Young Miss acting so unseemly! Put it down quickly!"
Namgung Hwi, his ears turning red, covered his face and turned his head away.
...Huh? He grabbed my hands without hesitation at our first meeting, but why is he embarrassed about my ankles?
I blinked and lowered my skirt. He was a guy whose standards were impossible to understand.
Namgung Hwi, stamping his feet and not knowing what to do, pointed at me.
"You'll be in big trouble if you do that. You can't do that. You can't show your bare legs to anyone but your betrothed."
"Is that so?"
"Yes! Ahem, it's fortunate that it's just the two of us, what would have happened if there was someone else? Be careful in the future."
Seeing Namgung Hwi clearing his throat and lecturing me, I suddenly wanted to play a prank.
I lowered my eyes as if I was feeling pathetic and mumbled.
"Does that mean... since no one saw what happened today, you're going to pretend you didn't see it?"
"Huh? Uh... uh-oh?"
Namgung Hwi stammered and opened his mouth wide. His big eyes were trembling, showing that he was quite flustered.
"That's, I, uh... wait a minute. So..."
He licked his lips, sweating.
If he said yes, it would be like denying what he had just said, and if he said no, he would suddenly have a wife, so he couldn't open his mouth carelessly.
It was hard to hold back my laughter at his troubled face. I laughed and fanned myself with my hand.
Maybe it's because I saw guys like Dang Young-ho and Jegal Hyo-gang, but the relatively innocent Namgung Hwi felt quite cute.
"Haha, I'm just kidding, Young Patriarch."
"What? You really...!"
Only then did Namgung Hwi realize that he had been teased, and his face turned red and blue. I quickly waved my hand before Namgung Hwi could get angry.
"We're friends, friends! Didn't we agree to be friends? Friends can joke around, right?"
At my excuse, he stuck out his lips and turned his back. Oh dear, he's going to sulk.
I followed behind Namgung Hwi and asked kindly.
"But where are you going?"
"Where am I going? I just came out. Poison King Elder told me to take you out for an hour."
"Elder?"
Namgung Hwi nodded his head up and down.
No wonder he suddenly jumped up at the banquet hall; he was surprised to hear the Telepathic transmission.
It seemed Dang Jung couldn't move directly, so he used Namgung Hwi.
Grandfather is the best. How did he know I was cursing the world because my legs hurt? This granddaughter is grateful.
But I couldn't think of a good place to take Namgung Hwi. As I racked my brain, I remembered the back garden behind the guest quarters.
"Uh... Young Patriarch. Have you ever been to Ho Garden?"
"No. I haven't been there. Where is that?"
"It's a back garden made for guests staying in the guest quarters. There's a small pond and a pavilion, and it's decorated beautifully. I've only seen it from the outside, though. Would you like to go there?"
"Okay. Let's go there."
Namgung Hwi nodded readily.
* * *
Namgung Hwi played the role of a walking access pass perfectly.
That meant no one blocked our way until we arrived at the back garden.
The Gatekeepers, who usually yelled at me to show my access pass, politely opened the door for Namgung Hwi.
Some people are Maids and get kicked out if they don't have an access pass, but the Namgung Family's Young Patriarch's face was a free pass.
To be honest, I was annoyed. Damn class-based society.
Anyway, the back garden of the guest quarters, which I was entering for the first time, was splendid and beautiful.
The peach trees surrounding the two-story pavilion were in full bloom, filling the air with the scent of peach blossoms, and young lotus leaves were peeking out from the pond below the pavilion.
"Wow..."
As Namgung Hwi reached out his hand, a light pink petal gently landed on his palm.
Namgung Hwi, looking at the petal, murmured.
"Peach blossoms flow, disappearing into the distance; it's true."
Where does that phrase come from? He's so smart.
Wandering through the peach blossoms, we slowly climbed up to the pavilion.
The garden looked even better from the second floor. It seemed a lot of attention had been paid to the landscaping, with large and small plants arranged harmoniously.
"What's that? It looks strange."
"I don't know. Arisaema, maybe?"
I flinched as I replied without much thought.
...Wait a minute. Shouldn't there be Arisaema here? It's an ingredient used to make poison.
Who plants poisonous plants in a back garden where guests take walks? This family has no common sense.
Does he have poison resistance? It'll be okay if I don't touch it, right?
I glanced at Namgung Hwi and sat down on the railing, pretending not to know anything.
It was full spring, with a pleasant breeze gently caressing my cheeks.
Perhaps because I was far away from the banquet hall, the tension melted away.
It would be nice to take a nap like this.
As I yawned widely and leaned back, a shoe fell down below the pavilion.
Splash!
With a loud noise, the shoe sank and floated back up among the lotus leaves.
"Oh? My shoe!"
A sigh burst out involuntarily at the sight of one shoe floating in the middle of the pond. I'm doomed. How am I going to get that back?
At that moment, Namgung Hwi quickly took off his shoes and lightly jumped down below the pavilion.
Then, without hesitation, he put his feet in the pond.
