Chapter 46
46
A moment later, I held a slender brush in my hand.
Watching the ink seep into the brush tip, I hesitantly asked, "Are you really going to draw?"
"Of course. I even ground the ink for you. Hurry up and draw."
Dang Seho raised his voice as if asking what I was talking about now.
I stared down at Dang Juyeop's face. A crooked mustache was drawn on his bluish face.
Swallowing a sigh, I dotted a spot on Dang Juyeop's eye, and Dang Seho chuckled, drawing a line on the other eye.
"Hahaha, look at this. I drew well, right?"
"...Yeah. You drew well."
Don't pursue a career in art.
I put down the brush after replying. Watching him scribble on someone else's face with sparkling eyes, I was dumbfounded.
Is he really fifteen? His mental age seems to be five. Unlike his large build, he acts like a complete child.
Putting down the brush, I asked awkwardly, "But is this okay? He's a patient."
"What does it matter? My brother poisoned you, right? He's also done something wrong, so he can't say anything."
...Is he using me as a shield by bringing me here?
He calmly dipped the brush in ink and said, "If things go wrong, you can just say you did it."
Would that work? The people from the Medicine Hall all saw you bringing the inkstone and brush.
"Just do that much. If Brother wakes up, you're in trouble."
Dang Seho, who had been playful, turned serious at my words and snapped, "It's not 'Brother,' it's 'Older Brother.' I'm older than you, you know?"
I don't even know my own birthday, how would you know?
I glared at Dang Seho and asked, "When is your birthday?"
"February."
"What about mine?"
"What? Why are you asking me that? It's probably later than mine."
...Was he just guessing? What if I was born in January?
"Yes, yes, Older Brother. Your brushstrokes are amazing. So amazing that even Zhuge Liang would cry."
"Yeah. Zhuge Liang would... What? You insulted me!"
Dang Seho, who had been nodding, belatedly realized that I was being sarcastic and pointed his finger at me. I muttered quietly, "Definitely Tang Clan blood."
Seeing how much he resembled Dang Young-ho, it was clear that they were brothers from the same womb.
The fuming Dang Seho put down the brush, crossed his arms, and glared at me.
"Don't get cocky just because you've been registered into the family. I'm the youngest in this family."
"But you told me to call you Older Brother?"
"I'm your Older Brother because my birthday is earlier than yours."
"But how can you be the youngest?"
"I don't know! Anyway, I'm the youngest!"
Ah. So what?
He wants to be treated like an Older Brother but also wants to enjoy the privileges of being the youngest?
I replied in an annoyed voice, "Are you stupid? Either be an Older Brother or be the youngest, pick one."
"What? I'm not stupid! ...Wait. Let me think about it."
Then, he frowned and began to seriously consider which one to choose.
I lowered my guard against Dang Seho.
He was a bit lacking and so transparent that he didn't seem difficult to deal with.
He's so fixated on being called Older Brother that he doesn't even realize I'm speaking informally.
At that moment, Dang Juyeop trembled like someone having a nightmare. It seemed like he was slowly regaining consciousness.
"Ah, he's moving. Dang Jung...!"
Before I could call the Chief of Medicine Hall, Dang Seho covered my mouth.
"Not yet. I haven't drawn his eyebrows yet."
"Mmph, mmph."
I understand, so let go. It's salty. And gross.
When I glared fiercely, Dang Seho flinched and slightly removed his hand. I rubbed my lips vigorously.
Ugh, ptui, ptui. I swallowed ink.
Dang Seho, watching my reaction, put down the brush and said as if doing me a favor, "I've decided. You be the youngest. I'll be the Older Brother."
"Okay. Older Brother."
It's not like it's wearing me down to call him that.
He puffed out his chest triumphantly, seemingly pleased with me calling him Older Brother.
I casually brought up a topic.
"Then, since I'm your younger sibling, shouldn't I get something?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Ju-hee Unni is the youngest, so she got a lot of clothes. These clothes were also given to me by Ju-hee Unni."
"Ju-hee Nuna gave them to you, so that's enough. Do I have to give you something too?"
"Of course. I'm your younger sibling. Older siblings take care of their younger siblings."
"Uhh...?"
Dang Seho's face was filled with worry as he took my nonsense seriously.
I held back my laughter and waited for his reaction. He's easy to handle.
After hesitating for a while, he took out a small jar and looked at me cautiously.
"Um... Should I give you this?"
"What is it?"
"My pet scorpion. I really cherish it. I've been raising it for four years."
...Why would you give me that?
"No. I don't need it. You keep it."
"Don't call me 'you'! Call me Older Brother, okay?"
"Yes, yes. Older Brother, keep raising your scorpions."
I frowned and moved away from Dang Seho.
One person applies poison, another feeds poison, and now someone is giving poison as a gift.
These brothers are all enemies.
* * *
Even when Dang Jung was away, the day went on the same.
In the morning, I trained with Dang Geunmyeong instead of Dang Jung, and in the afternoon, I studied with Dang-un.
Instead, I had to go to Dang-un's residence myself. There was no one to carry Dang-un out like Grandfather.
Dang-un's residence was in a secluded place inside the inner compound.
The Lady of the House had personally built the pavilion so that he could rest comfortably, and as a result, it had a cozy atmosphere like a villa in the woods.
Passing through the fence surrounded by lush trees and opening the door, I saw a small gazebo. On top of the gazebo was an old Ancient Zither.
Passing the gazebo and standing in front of the door, I called out softly, "Ahem, Dang-un Older Brother. Are you inside?"
"..."
"Older Brother? Is no one there?"
"He seems to be sleeping."
Deokju, who had been checking for signs of life inside the building, whispered softly. I also whispered back.
"Older Brother must be tired, so don't wake him. Let's just go back today."
"That's not possible, Young Miss. The Elder will be angry if he finds out."
Tch. It's not working.
I clicked my tongue at her voice, which was so firm that you couldn't draw a drop of blood even if you pricked her with a needle.
She was a friend who was always far from being flexible.
"Older Brother. I'm coming in."
Carefully opening the door, I saw Dang-un sleeping in a chair by the window.
His brown hair, with patches of wheat color, sparkled in the sunlight.
It seemed like he had fallen asleep while reading a book, as there was a book spread out on his lap.
Seeing him sleeping soundly, I felt sorry for waking him up under the pretense of studying. Maybe I should let him sleep a little longer.
This is because I'm worried about Dang-un's health. It's definitely not because I don't want to study.
After rationalizing, I tiptoed inside.
The neatly arranged reception room didn't feel lived-in.
Most of the shelves were empty, and here and there, there was a single pot of beautiful Zalan Orchid.
Having only the bare necessities, it felt like looking at an artificially decorated model house.
The moment I touched the orchid on the shelf, a soft voice was heard.
"It's a Zalan Orchid. I started growing it because boiling the roots and drinking it is good for coughs, but before I knew it, it bloomed. Do you like it? Would you like one?"
Oh, goodness, you startled me. I almost bit my tongue.
I turned around and waved awkwardly.
"You're awake?"
"You should have woken me up when you arrived."
"I thought you might be tired. Haha. Older Brother, your residence is very clean. How do you keep it so clean?"
Then, Dang-un smiled with his eyes.
"What would someone who is leaving do with material possessions? I don't want to bother others unnecessarily, so that's why."
At the returned answer, I wanted to slap my mouth for saying that without thinking.
He meant that he was cleaning up in advance because he didn't know when he would die.
I shut my mouth and looked at the ceiling. I didn't know how to react whenever Dang-un acted like someone who had a death sentence.
He is someone who has a death sentence, but still. A little.
Unlike me, who was flustered, Dang-un didn't seem to think much of it.
"You don't have to worry about it. Sit over here. Shall I get you some tea? I had the Maid bring ice today. It seems like So-hye likes cold tea."
"Yes. That would be nice."
Dang-un, who slowly got up, soon brought a cup of tea with ice floating in it and two cups of warm tea.
"Here. Deokju, have a cup too."
"Thank you, Young Master."
Deokju, who would normally decline, seemed to find it difficult to refuse Dang-un's kindness and quietly accepted the cup.
What should I do about this solemn atmosphere?
I glanced around and put ice in my mouth.
Dang-un, who was sitting across from me with a satisfied smile, said with a twinkle in his eyes, "Today, we will read Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica."
"Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica?"
For some reason, it sounds like a name with all sorts of herbs written all over it.
Dang-un, who laughed at my sullen expression, asked, "Haha, do you dislike it that much?"
"Of course I disli... It's not that I dislike it! It's just that there's too much to memorize."
Dang-un, who nodded at my poor excuse, swept back his hair.
"I understand. I also hated studying when I was So-hye's age. But what can we do? We are the ones who have inherited Shennong's spirit, so we must also inherit his knowledge, right?"
"Who is Shennong?"
"He is the god of medicine. He is a famous doctor who distinguished between medicinal herbs and poisonous herbs by eating all kinds of plants himself and informing people."
...He definitely inherited it correctly. Picking poisonous herbs to eat to find out their effects, the Tang Clan spirit of constantly eating poison must have come from Shennong.
When I frowned, Dang-un drooped his shoulders with a pitiful expression.
"Of course, I have no intention of forcing you. Grandfather may be angry that he didn't even look after the youngest's studies, but I can't force So-hye to do something she doesn't want to do."
"No. I didn't say I wouldn't do it..."
"He might cough up blood again, crushed by the force of Grandfather's anger, but what can I do? It's all because this Older Brother is incompetent... Cough, cough! Keheok!"
Dang-un, who was coughing as if to show off, covered his mouth with a handkerchief. I understand. I understand.
"Okay, okay! Older Brother. I'll memorize it. I'll just memorize it."
"Our So-hye is so kind."
Dang-un smiled and removed the handkerchief. The pure white handkerchief was clean without a single drop of blood.
"..."
I swallowed a hollow laugh and opened the book.
Dang-un must have completely figured out how to handle me.
