Chapter 54
- Moon Scent Pavilion
I swallowed hard, waiting for Dang Juyeop's next words.
It was hard to guess what kind of request he was holding back.
"You must come up to the pavilion with me and listen to my playing for an hour."
"Go up to the pavilion and listen to your playing... what?"
I, who had been muttering Dang Juyeop's condition with a serious expression, raised my head abruptly.
What kind of condition is that? Did I hear wrong?
Doubting my ears, I looked at Deokju. Deokju's eyebrows were slightly raised, so it seemed I had heard correctly.
Seeing our bewildered expressions, Dang Juyeop hesitated and mumbled.
"Is an hour too long? Then, even half an hour..."
"......"
At the same time, Dang-un's voice brushed past my ear.
'That child goes to the brothel because he needs someone to listen to his playing.'
I thought he was just saying it, but it was true.
Standing there with a blank expression, I nodded.
"Uh... let's do half an hour."
"Excellent choice, Sister."
Dang Juyeop's expression brightened.
Moon Scent Pavilion was located in a spot with a clear view of the entire Chengdu area.
It wasn't high enough to see over the Tang Clan's high walls, but it was enough to enjoy the scenery of the Jin River flowing through the center of Chengdu.
As we entered the ornate brothel entrance, the courtesans greeted us as if they had been waiting, fawning over us.
"Welcome, Young Master Dang."
"Young Master Dang, I have prepared some top-quality Dukang wine today. It was brought from Luoyang, so it will suit your taste."
"Young Master, will you play the ancient zither? I, Jageon, have been so excited at the thought of dancing to your playing that I couldn't sleep."
"Oh my, who is this beautiful young lady? Is this your first time at Moon Scent Pavilion? We are overjoyed to have you visit."
"Ah. Yes."
Judging by their flattering attitude as if they were treating a VIP, I could roughly guess how much money Dang Juyeop had spent at Moon Scent Pavilion.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this guy had built one of the brothel's pavilions.
Dang Juyeop calmly responded as if he were used to being treated like a VIP.
"Yes, Jageon. I came with my youngest sister today, so please take care of the food. Gokah, where is the Pavilion Lord?"
"Shall I inform the Pavilion Lord that Young Master Dang has arrived?"
"No. I'll go. I have something to discuss."
Dang Juyeop replied and smiled at me. He seemed to think that I would naturally want to meet the Pavilion Lord.
I didn't think there was a need to meet her, but there was no reason not to.
If I was lucky, I might have a chance to ask what Dang Juyeop usually did.
I couldn't shake the suspicion that our fourth brother was hiding something dark inside.
As we looked like we were going to see the Pavilion Lord, one of the courtesans approached gracefully.
"I will guide you to the Pavilion Lord."
"Would you?"
"It is my pleasure to be of assistance to you, Young Master."
Such lip service.
The courtesan, spouting insincere words, soon began to walk ahead.
After passing through several pavilions and buildings, we arrived at the main pavilion, a magnificent three-story building.
Passing through the red-painted pillars and entering through the wide-open door, the strong scent of face powder tickled my nose.
After passing through the crowd of women and guests, the courtesan led us to the second floor and knocked on a tightly closed door.
"Pavilion Lord, Pavilion Lord! Young Master Dang has arrived."
"Oh my? Young Master? Come in."
As the courtesan opened the door, I saw a woman sitting at a table with a gentle smile.
The Pavilion Lord of Moon Scent Pavilion was a glamorous beauty. Seeing that her beauty hadn't faded even after time had stolen her youth, I guessed that her beauty in her younger days must have been extraordinary.
"Welcome, Young Master Dang. What brings you to see this Hwahong?"
The Pavilion Lord, who had slowly risen, approached us with a relaxed gait. Dang Juyeop replied smoothly.
"The reason I would seek out the Pavilion Lord is obvious."
"Oh my. Perhaps one of our girls has disrespected you, Young Master? If so, this Hwahong will apologize on their behalf. Please be lenient for my sake."
Moon Scent Pavilion Lord, Hwahong's voice was sweet as she laughed.
"Of course not. Where would you find girls as kind and affectionate as Jageon and Gokah? I simply wanted to introduce my sister to the Pavilion Lord."
"I am relieved to hear you say so. I was wondering why you brought a companion, but it was your sister..."
The woman, who had been answering kindly, looked at me and her eyes widened. She had an expression as if she had seen something she shouldn't have.
Hwahong, whose lips were trembling, took a deep breath as if trying to calm herself.
Dang Juyeop seemed to find this situation amusing, smiling gleefully.
"Wow, it seems my little sister resembles her birth mother so much that the Pavilion Lord mistook her."
"Is it fun?"
"Of course. It's very fun. Where else would I get to see such a sight?"
Dang Juyeop replied without caring about my slip of the tongue. He was a bad-tempered guy anyway.
In the meantime, Hwahong, who had composed herself, greeted me.
"I am delighted that you have come to visit, Young Miss. I am Hwahong, the Pavilion Lord of Moon Scent Pavilion. I was a longtime friend of your birth mother."
"Yes. Hello."
Hwahong's eyes softened at my awkward greeting. Her eyes were filled with affection.
"You look a lot like your birth mother."
"Is that so?"
"Choryeon would be happy to see you grow up so beautifully."
I felt awkward at her kind voice.
I didn't know much about Choryeon.
That she was the most beautiful woman in Chengdu. That she was a courtesan at Moon Scent Pavilion. That she had a connection with Madam Jin. That was all.
I had never even seen a portrait of her, let alone heard her name mentioned a few times, so I didn't feel any emotion that she was my mother.
How could I feel longing or affection for someone I had never even seen?
But Hwahong didn't seem to feel that way. She treated me as if her dead friend had come back to life.
She gave us the entire five-story pavilion on the outskirts, which she wouldn't open unless a very special guest came.
Dang Juyeop's eyes sparkled as if he hadn't expected Hwahong to go this far.
"Hiyah. Thanks to my youngest sister, I get to come up to this expensive pavilion. The scenery is very nice."
That was true. The five-story pavilion was a scenic spot where you could see a landscape painting no matter which direction you looked.
I had only seen the high walls of the Tang Clan every day, so seeing the open scenery made me feel like my chest was opening up.
I could understand why Dang Juyeop kept going out of the house.
The scenery was good, it was good to play, and no one would say anything even if he didn't train.
For him, it was like going to a PC room or karaoke after school and hanging out.
Dang Juyeop, who had been grinning, sat on the railing of the pavilion and took out a flute.
"Well, then... shall we begin?"
The sight of fine hair and red silk fluttering in the wind was beautiful.
But when Dang Juyeop's flute playing was added to the scene, the beautiful scenery turned into something terrible.
If it were possible to destroy the world with an instrument, it would be Dang Juyeop's flute.
Half an hour? I can't even stand it for a quarter of an hour. Is he using Sound Art right now?
"Where is the restroom here?"
When I, unable to listen any longer, got up with the excuse of going to the restroom, Dang Juyeop, startled, put down his flute and ran over.
"I will escort you, Sister."
"No. That's a bit... I'll go on my own."
"I'm afraid you'll say you're going to the restroom and go home. Come this way."
...You've been through a lot.
As Dang Juyeop opened the door of the pavilion, the courtesans, who had been wearing soulless smiles, pulled something out of their ears with a pop.
It was a tightly packed wad of cotton.
No wonder they didn't seem to be having a hard time. I should ask if I can get one too.
As I was going down the stairs, contemplating how to wear earplugs without Dang Juyeop knowing, Dang Juyeop, who had put his head through the half-open door below, shouted brightly.
"Oh, isn't that Eldest Brother?"
Dang Young-ho? Dang Young-ho is here?
Dang Juyeop, who had greeted Dang Young-ho, opened the door wide.
Beyond the door frame, I could see Dang Young-ho leaning against a pillow, half-lying down and drinking alcohol.
"Close the door."
"Why are you keeping your feet down on such a sunny day? You should get some sunshine to change your mood, Brother."
"I told you to close it."
Dang Young-ho, annoyed, put down the bottle and turned his gaze to me.
"You're carrying around a pretty girl. A face I've never seen before. Is she a new courtesan?"
That's your sister. Look at the way you're thinking.
As interest flickered in his lifeless eyes, Dang Juyeop burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha, Eldest Brother is always the same."
Dang Young-ho's bodyguard, startled by his master's harsh words, quickly whispered to his master.
"Who is it?"
"It's the youngest Young Miss. The one who was registered this time..."
"Ah, is that so."
The interest that had flickered in Dang Young-ho's eyes disappeared in an instant.
He began to drink from the bottle again as if it were none of his business.
The bodyguard bowed to me, sweating profusely as if he was sorry. I lightly waved my hand to indicate that it was okay.
There are so many people in the Tang Clan who are suffering because they met the wrong master.
"Enjoy your meal, Brother. I'll be going now."
"Close the door when you leave."
Dang Young-ho replied with a bored face.
He didn't even look at me, so he didn't seem interested in me at all. It was fortunate for me.
There was quite an age difference, so as long as he didn't bother me, we could live as if we didn't exist.
As I was thinking that and turning around, Dang Young-ho shouted.
"Why is that girl here?"
At the same time, a large table was overturned.
Clang!
The shattered pieces of dishes and bottles flew in all directions. The complexion of the courtesan who had been serving beside him turned pale.
"Y-Young Patriarch. Calm down...!"
"Calm down? Calm down? How can I calm down right now? The girl who punched me is glaring at me with her eyes wide open! This time, I'm going to gouge out those unlucky eyes!"
Dang Young-ho, enraged, kicked over the overturned table.
One of the broken table legs rolled and stopped in front of my feet. I couldn't help but admire his nasty temper.
Wow. That crazy bastard is having a field day.
Why is he overturning an innocent table? That's why the maids say he's a terrible person.
The courtesan who had been trying to stop Dang Young-ho must have realized that it was no use, so she ran away.
Regardless, Dang Young-ho didn't pay attention to the courtesan. He was only interested in one thing.
"Bring that girl here right now."
Dang Young-ho, his face contorted, ordered in a hoarsely cracked voice.
I bit my lip.
Deokju was standing where Dang Young-ho's fingertip was pointing.
