Chapter 53
53
However, being able to communicate well was different from being listened to.
Ju-ryeong absolutely refused to listen to anything he didn't want to hear. Or rather, he pretended not to understand at all.
"Ju-ryeong. I told you not to dig up the ground. Why do you keep digging like a mole?"
"Kyu?"
Looking at the innocent tilt of his head, a headache washed over me. It was maddening how he only pretended not to know when it was disadvantageous to him.
I pressed hard on my throbbing temples.
"Forget it. What am I even saying to you?"
"Kiee."
"No lunch until you restore it. Kyung-ah. Don't feed him."
"Kyooo! Kyooo!"
Ju-ryeong, who had been screaming at the mention of no lunch, hurriedly began to cover the hole.
That gangster ferret.
What was most troublesome was Ju-ryeong's gluttony.
I had suspected it from the moment he started tearing apart centipedes raw, but our house's fur ball ate everything well.
He didn't discriminate against the types of dishes people ate, and he even nibbled on the poisonous plants planted in the garden like snacks.
Songji even fainted when she saw him gulping down a snake he had stolen from somewhere, so it seemed he ate everything except what he couldn't eat.
Ah, except for Grain-avoidance pill.
The problem was that he also coveted food from outside.
Dang Seho was fuming, saying that some flying squirrel had taken his snack pouch, so I brushed it off as just some strange occurrence, only to find a strange jerky pouch in Ju-ryeong's nest.
His fur reeked of alcohol, and upon closer inspection, Dang Young-ho's liquor bottle was rolling around.
He must have been sneaking into the kitchen, as he was carrying around snacks in his front paws that I had never even seen before.
It was a habit that could easily get me mistaken for a thief.
What am I going to do with him? I need to correct his habits, but I couldn't think of a suitable method.
As I scratched my head in worry, Dang Ju-hee, who was passing by, waved her hand.
"Little one, would you like to try this? I mixed arsenic with toad poison."
"Oh, hello, Sister. Have a good day."
I waved back, brushing it off appropriately. I knew now that Dang Ju-hee's "Want to eat poison?" was like saying "Have you eaten?"
At that moment, Ju-ryeong darted out, drooling, and snatched the bottle Dang Ju-hee was holding.
"Oh my. What's this ferret?"
"I'm sorry, Sister. He's my ferret, and he likes poison... Hey! Spit it out! Spit it out!"
Before I could stop him, Ju-ryeong had gulped down the poison and licked his lips contentedly. Frustrated, I slapped Ju-ryeong.
"Kii! Kiee!"
"Hey! I told you not to pick up just anything and eat it, why did you eat that? Are you a beggar? Are you a beggar! If you're going to act like a beggar, join the Beggars' Union!"
"Kuluk..."
At my shout, Ju-ryeong lowered his tail, looking contrite. If I get sick from frustration, it's all Ju-ryeong's fault.
...Oh. Is this how Grandfather felt?
Unlike me, who was burning up with frustration, Dang Ju-hee looked like she had discovered a new toy.
"This is quite strong poison, but he's fine?"
Dang Ju-hee narrowed her eyes as if it was nothing special, scanned Ju-ryeong up and down, and then raised the corner of her lips.
"You eat well. I like you. Want to eat more poison?"
"Kiee!"
Ju-ryeong, excited by Dang Ju-hee's offer, spun around her. Dang Ju-hee, equally excited, sat down on the floor with a thud and began rummaging through her sleeves.
"What would be good...? Ah, do you like this? This is called Flower Essence Powder. I made it to put in my powder compact, but its effectiveness is still weak. I'm still improving it. Here. Try it."
When Dang Ju-hee took out a fancy mother-of-pearl powder compact and held it out, Ju-ryeong buried his nose in the compact and licked up the poison powder.
The sight of the ferret with his pink nose and snout covered in white powder was strangely charming.
...He seems to be intoxicated by that strange powder.
Ju-ryeong, feeling good from the poison Qi, smiled brightly, and Dang Ju-hee took out a new bottle of her own.
"You eat well. You're quite something? Want to try White Lotus Snake poison too? It's from the White Lotus Snake, so the effect is guaranteed. It'll be much better than what you just ate."
Why are you saying it like that? It really sounds weird.
"Sister, you can stop giving him now. I'll feed him. Weren't you on your way somewhere?"
I tried to dissuade her, sensing the increasingly strange atmosphere, but Dang Ju-hee shrugged as if there was no problem.
"It's okay. I have plenty of time."
"It's not you, it's me..."
"Wow, you eat well. You're quite something? Let's try Crane Top Red too!"
"Kiee!"
"Next... I have the neurotoxin of the Poison Horned Flower and the necrotic poison of the Blood-spotted Butterfly. Which one do you want to eat first?"
"Kyooo!"
Before I knew it, the two of them, one person and one ferret, had fallen into their own world, taking turns drinking poison.
Anyone who saw them would think they were sharing a good wine, the atmosphere was so pleasant. Except that the drinking partner was a ferret.
I was so dumbfounded that I didn't even feel like interfering. I crossed my arms and watched the surprise poison tasting session.
"Is this not enough?"
"Kiee."
"This too?"
"Kiee."
"Hmm. It seems you need something stronger, but even I can't get my hands on the Eight Deadly Poisons. You can only take them out with the Poison King Clan's permission. Things like Noon Heart Burn or Soul Snatching Water are also difficult to make. But I have something that imitates Auspicious Scale Blue Shadow, would you like to try it?"
"Kyooo..."
Ju-ryeong, who had received the blue poison, staggered and drank it down, hiccuping repeatedly.
The image of a red-nosed, drunken old man overlapped with the small ferret.
He gets drunk if he eats too much poison too. Alcohol addiction, no, drug addiction.
Ju-ryeong, who had been licking his tongue while dazed, finally couldn't overcome the poison and collapsed with a thud. His short legs trembled.
"Oh my. Did he already collapse? I thought he would last longer."
Dang Ju-hee pressed Ju-ryeong's nose as if she was disappointed. She looked at me with regretful eyes.
"Little one. Can't you lend me that ferret for seven days and nights?"
"No. Grandfather gave it to me, so don't even think about touching it."
"Too bad. Give him to me if you don't need him anymore."
What are you planning to do? Anyone but you.
"I'll think about it. Sister, I'm leaving."
"Okay. Bring him next time you come to visit. I'll feed him more."
I definitely can't bring him.
I picked up the limp Ju-ryeong, pretending not to hear.
* * *
Ju-ryeong didn't wake up until half an hour had passed.
"Kiee..."
"What."
"Kyooo..."
He groaned like someone suffering from a hangover, then scratched the floor with his front paws. It seemed he was thirsty.
I'm now taking care of a poison-eating ferret.
I scoffed and poured water into a small teacup and handed it to him.
"That's a good thing to do. I told you not to pick up just anything and eat it, didn't I?"
"Kuoong... Chomp chomp chomp."
Ju-ryeong, who had buried his head in the teacup and was drinking water, flipped over with unfocused eyes.
"S, squirrel... Are you okay...?"
Kyung-ah, who had been boiling clear meatball soup in the meantime, cooled the broth by blowing on it.
"H, here... Try this..."
Kyung-ah scooped up the broth with a spoon and held it in front of Ju-ryeong's snout. Ju-ryeong, whose nostrils were twitching at the delicious smell, licked his tongue.
Lying down and receiving hangover soup. His life is truly the best life.
Seeing him eating properly, it seemed there was no need to watch him any longer. I lifted my heavy butt.
"Kyung-ah. Take care of Ju-ryeong. I'm going to study."
"Y, yes... Young Miss... D, don't worry..."
Kyung-ah clenched her fist with a determined look.
I left the hopeless fur ball to Kyung-ah and headed to Dang-un's residence.
"It's been a while, Little Sister. I hope you've been well."
That's what I intended to do. Until that fox-like brother of mine blocked me.
Dang Juyeop was dressed in a fancy outfit, as if he was about to go out.
He was wearing a red Long robe and a golden crown. The large red jade earrings were particularly noticeable.
When I stared intently at the earrings, Dang Juyeop smiled.
"Do you like the earrings? They are made by solidifying the poison of the Seven-Colored Lotus Temple. If you wish, I will make a new one as a gift."
What poison is in the earrings? Stop it. You poison-crazed people.
"I don't need... No, it's okay. What brings you here?"
Dang Juyeop didn't lose his smile even at my reluctant question. He answered, curving his long, narrow eyes.
"I heard from Second Brother that you wanted to go to Moon Scent Pavilion?"
"Ah."
Brother Un must have told him. He's so considerate.
When I nodded, Dang Juyeop gave an unpleasant smile.
"I understand. You're at an age where you want to feel even a trace of your birth mother."
What is he talking about. I've eaten at least ten more bowls of rice cake soup than you.
I stared at Dang Juyeop silently.
It didn't seem like he would show me kindness for no reason. No, I doubted whether it was even kindness to begin with.
According to Dang Ju-hee, Father seemed to hate his children going to Moon Scent Pavilion.
Even if his beloved children went, wouldn't he try to get me kicked out?
Dang Juyeop made a nasal sound, as if he could see my expression clearly.
"Hmm. Your position won't collapse just by visiting Moon Scent Pavilion. Because you don't even have a position to begin with."
"Ah, yes."
"Besides, your entry was made under pressure from the Council of Elders. Father can't undo it alone. You don't have to worry about being kicked out."
That's true, but it's still unpleasant.
Dang Juyeop, who had been chuckling, waved his hand as if to say not to worry.
"If you don't trust me, trust Second Brother."
No. That's a bit... Dang-un let you feed me poison because he said I wouldn't get addicted anyway.
"It's not difficult to take you to Moon Scent Pavilion. I'm friends with the Pavilion Lord, so if you're curious about the room your birth mother used, I'll ask him to show it to you. Of course, another courtesan is using it now."
Dang Juyeop, who had been chattering as if he was doing me a favor, held out his slender hand in a melodious voice.
"But there's a condition."
The atmosphere changed in an instant. An indescribable eeriness made the hairs on my body stand on end.
Deokju also sensed the strange atmosphere and made a sound. It was a warning not to act rashly because there was someone watching.
"Oh my, how scary. You won't even let me speak. Such a loyal Bodyguard. It pales in comparison to my Bodyguard."
"Just tell me the condition."
"I like how straightforward you are. I knew I would be able to communicate well with Little Sister."
Dang Juyeop's thin lips twisted into a vile smile.
"My condition is..."
