Chapter 31
31
- Night Market Commotion
I fell asleep as if fainting and woke up to morning.
I wanted to sleep in on my day off, but I was frustratingly clear-headed.
Before I knew it, I had adapted to the life of a Maid who wakes up at the first rooster's crow.
"Ugh..."
As I groaned and hugged the blanket, Songji, who was getting ready to leave, chuckled.
"Hey, I'm off. Make sure to eat breakfast."
"Okay. Have a good day, Unnie."
After seeing Songji off while still lying down, I enjoyed a state of oneness with the world.
Which meant I did nothing but breathe.
I lay still, staring at the ceiling, and only began to wiggle my fingers and toes when the red sunset light began to seep in.
If I wanted to go to the night market, I had to get up and get ready to go out.
I have to go. I have to go, but...
"Ah, I just want to lie down."
I groaned and rolled around on the bed. I couldn't be bothered with the night market or anything else.
"Get up, So-hye. Get up."
As I muttered and reached my arm towards the ceiling, the Jade bracelet slipped down. The milky white jade shone brilliantly.
It was the protective charm that Dang Jung had given me yesterday.
I wonder if this comes off. I wish I could take it off usually.
As I wondered and pulled at the bracelet, a Poison Needles shot out with a sharp sound.
...Eek.
I froze stiffly, still holding the bracelet. Cold sweat broke out as I watched the Poison Needles embedded in the ceiling quiver.
I shouldn't take it off carelessly.
"Hey. I'm back. The Young Patriarch Namgung has been waiting for you, shouldn't you hurry up and go?"
Songji's voice, which I heard just in time, made my heart drop.
You're not a tiger, why now of all times!
I jumped up from my spot and shouted.
"Songji Unnie? Wa, wait a minute. Don't come in."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong, so please wait outside for a moment!"
"Huh? Hey, what's wrong with you?"
"Just wait and don't come in!"
I yelled and jumped up and down towards the ceiling. But no matter how hard I stretched my arm, I couldn't reach the Poison Needles.
"Hey. What's going on? Are you almost ready?"
"I'm almost done. Just wait a little longer, Unnie."
"Aren't you going to be late? You said you were going to borrow clothes?"
"It's okay. I'll be done soon."
I mumbled and bit my lip, dragging a chair over. If I left it like that, poor Songji might get poisoned.
I climbed onto the chair and tilted my head back, widening my eyes. The area around the ceiling where the Poison Needles was embedded was turning black.
Elder, you said it was a mild Poison. This is a direct train to the afterlife.
I tried to wipe the stain off the ceiling, but the Poison only spread further and wouldn't come off.
I pretended not to see it and pulled out the Poison Needles, pushing it back into the hole in the bracelet.
Songji. Hang in there. You can do it.
...I'm worried, so I should give her the Antidote pill I got from the Chief Steward before I go.
"Can I come in now?"
"Yes. I'm done."
"Then I'm coming in?"
Songji, who had been pacing for a while, opened the door and tilted her head at me.
"What were you doing? Why is the chair out?"
"It's nothing. Unnie. Do you want to eat this?"
I took out the Antidote pill I had placed under the bed and handed her a handful, and Songji asked.
"What is this?"
"It's good for you."
Songji tossed the Antidote pill into her mouth without suspicion, then frowned, rubbing her lips wildly.
"Ugh. It's bitter."
"Candied fruit. I'll give you Candied fruit too. Wait here, Unnie."
"Oh my, look at you. You're doing things you wouldn't normally do because I'm lending you clothes? Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
Songji smiled brightly.
It's because I'm worried you'll get poisoned...
I smiled awkwardly and handed her the Candied fruit, and Songji opened the chest with her cheeks puffed out.
After rummaging through it for a while, she picked up a thin pink outfit.
"Bi aneun aiji mang i o gaengchang a."
"Pardon?"
"Gulp. It's not silk, but this outfit is okay. I think it would look good on you. Do you want to try this on?"
Songji asked, holding the clothes up to my body. I obediently put on the clothes that Songji had given me.
It wasn't quite the Long robe that the Tang Clan Members wore, but the long sleeves that hung down were fluttering at my fingertips.
Songji seemed pleased with my appearance, and her face was satisfied.
"It looks like it was originally your clothes. Pretty girls look good in anything."
"Ahaha."
"Come here. Let me fix your hair."
Songji, who had adjusted my clothes, gently brushed my hair. Then, she put in a silver hairpin.
"Unnie. Isn't this expensive?"
"I bought it to wear when I get married, but I'll lend it to you for one day. It's an important day, isn't it? Have a good time with the Young Patriarch."
"Pardon? Have a good time doing what?"
"Oh my. I thought you and the Young Patriarch were getting along? Weren't you going to follow him to Anhui? That's what everyone thought."
What are you talking about? Who started that rumor? Is it Sim-yang again?
I shook my head in horror.
"No. It's not like that. Where would I go?"
"Really? That's a relief then. It's good for you to marry into a good family, but I would have been a little sad if you had gone to Anhui without saying a word to me."
Songji said petulantly, as if complaining.
"It's a misunderstanding. A complete misunderstanding."
As if I would follow Namgung Hwi unless I was crazy. I was someone who knew how to cherish my Four limbs and meridians.
When I showed my disgust, Songji chuckled as if she understood.
"I understand, so don't make that face. Oh, right. The Seventh Elder told me to give this to you. He's right in front. It's the Elder's errand, right? Did he tell you to buy something?"
"Yes? Yes, that's right."
I'm grateful that you misunderstood on your own.
I nodded and accepted the silk pouch that Songji handed me.
Surprised by the heavy weight, I checked the contents and found that it contained a mix of copper coins and silver coins.
I grinned at the amount that made me laugh, and Songji glared at me.
"Are you happy because you're going out to play? You're going to be late. The Young Patriarch is waiting for you, so hurry up and go."
"Okay. Thank you for lending me the clothes, Unnie. I'll buy you some snacks."
"Okay. Buy something delicious. But can I eat one more Sugar cake?"
"Of course. Unnie. Eat a lot. You can eat all of this."
"Really? I'm going to eat it all? Don't say anything later?"
"Yes, yes. Eat it all. Here you go."
I handed Songji the entire bundle of Sugar cake and checked my appearance one last time.
I'm wearing clothes other than the Maid's uniform, I've got my access pass, and my pockets are full. Good. Shall we go?
"Unnie. I'm off!"
"Ung. Have a good time."
I greeted Songji, who was munching on snacks, and left the residence.
* * *
Namgung Hwi was standing with his back against the fortress wall. He seemed a little bored, as if he had been waiting for a long time, as Songji had said.
I tiptoed up and poked him on the shoulder, and Namgung Hwi, startled, raised his head.
"Who...! You're here?"
"You came out early? Have you been waiting long?"
"No. I just got here."
The guy who answered quickly straightened his posture.
Unlike his usual high ponytail, Namgung Hwi, who had a loose half-updo, was wearing a plain sky-blue Long robe without embroidery.
He seemed to have tried to look simple, but he still looked like a Young Master.
This was because he couldn't hide his unusually upright posture or his unique air of nobility.
Namgung Hwi blinked his big eyes as if he was unfamiliar with my appearance, which was not in a Maid's uniform.
"It suits you."
"Pardon?"
"Like a peach blossom."
"Really? Thank you. Shall we go then?"
I replied nonchalantly and left the fortress gate with Namgung Hwi.
The evening streets cast long shadows, signaling the approach of night.
Before I knew it, red Sky lantern were rising one by one in the darkening sky.
"It looks like they're launching Sky lantern at the night market."
Namgung Hwi's eyes sparkled as he pointed to the Sky lantern.
I chuckled at his excited voice, but only for a moment, as I had to run to catch up with Namgung Hwi, who was quickly moving away.
"Young Patriarch. Let's go together."
"Ah, okay."
When I urgently grabbed Namgung Hwi's sleeve, he flinched and slowed down.
Soon, the night market came into view in the distance.
The night market, which was open along the river, was as bright as day.
The streets were filled with stalls with lanterns twinkling, and there were also people selling goods from small boats.
The streets, where hawkers and customers were mixed together, were bustling with all kinds of people.
Mixed in with the crowd, we entered an alley selling snacks and saw all kinds of food.
From the Sugar cake I had only heard about, to the fried glutinous rice cake I had eaten last time, dumplings with steaming steam, and a strange-smelling lump.
...A strange-smelling lump? Is that Stinky tofu?
Wrinkling my nose at the pungent smell, I looked to the side and saw Namgung Hwi also covering his nose with his sleeve.
We exchanged glances and quickly escaped the Stinky tofu area.
The moment we entered a deserted corner to avoid the smell, Namgung Hwi stopped abruptly.
"Young Patriarch. What's wrong?"
"What's that?"
When I turned my head in the direction Namgung Hwi was pointing, I saw a stall with a lot of people gathered.
"I'm sure. The dice sound was different. Big, it's big."
"What do you mean big? Small, it's small!"
"Now, now, don't fight. Why don't you check it yourself? Let's open it."
A man with a sly look on his face calmed the crowd and lifted the overturned jar.
"It's big!"
"Ahaha! It's big! It's big!"
"Big! Okay, those who bet on big can get ten coins."
A man who kicked the ground grumbled and left the spot. It seemed like a small gambling game was going on.
Namgung Hwi's eyes were filled with curiosity.
The man holding the jar quickly spoke to the guy who looked like a rich family's son even though he was dressed plainly, as he was peeking around the stall.
"It's a game called Number fight, young master. Would you like to try it?"
"Number fight?"
"That's right, young master. It's a game where you guess whether the sum of two dice will be a big number or a small number.
If the sum is from one to six, it's small, and if it's from seven to twelve, it's big. It's a very easy game."
"Okay."
Namgung Hwi, who had fallen for the man's coaxing, answered and opened his pouch.
What do you mean okay. It's not okay.
I hurriedly stopped Namgung Hwi.
"Are you going to gamble?"
"Oh my, don't say such a terrible thing. It's not gambling, it's a game. Miss. It's just that if you win the game, you get a small gift."
The man looked dumbfounded, as if to say what are you talking about.
That's gambling.
While I was gaping at the absurd answer, Namgung Hwi was handing money to the man.
"Here. Ten coins."
"Haha, yes. Young master. You'll have a lot of fun."
My neck stiffened at Namgung Hwi's bright appearance.
Hey, hey. Don't do it. You idiot.
