TDLWFJ 13

Chapter 13

Gwang continued speaking with a heavy expression.

“It must be because you wandered around busily all night that you slept so deeply during the day, and you must have gone in and out of the gisaeng house to monitor the Qing people. Wearing yourself out like that, putting yourself in danger—how many have you saved?”

Gwang’s voice rose.

“Your Majesty….”

“Rescuing the people taken to Qing is not your responsibility. How many times have I told you? That is something the court must handle.”

He clenched the fist resting on his knee.

Even as he said this, what had he himself done to save the people captured by Qing?

Nothing. No—he had done nothing.

Gwang felt too ashamed to raise his head.

But as a king, no matter that the other was his younger brother, he did not bow his head for personal reasons.

Un had secretly spent his own wealth, created a strange organization called Punguibang, earned money, endured the night dew, and taken up a sword with hands that should have held a brush—all things that the king himself should have been doing.

Seeing Gwang’s hardened face, Un smiled.

“I understand your heart, Brother. You just don’t like seeing me suffer, right? But Brother, I do this because I want to. And besides, aren’t you facing a far greater enemy than I am?”

What Un faced were merely Qing merchants and warriors who exploited Joseon people, and wealthy Qing men who bought Joseon people as slaves.

But Gwang faced Qing itself.

The Qing emperor, officials backed by imperial authority, and Joseon politicians who seemed ready to sell out their country just to curry favor with them.

At the center of it all was the Left State Councillor, Jo Jajeom.

Jo Jajeom was so powerful that people said even a flying bird could be brought down by him, and that no one could hold office without his approval.

Gwang had chosen to become a “hidden dragon,” gathering strength to oppose Jo Jajeom, who had placed the previous king on the throne through a coup and now controlled the court.

Because of that, his younger siblings had suffered.

“If there is anything I can do to help, come to me anytime. And when you have time, go visit Seon-i.”

Lee Seon—the princess, and the only younger sister of the two.

And also the daughter-in-law of the Left State Councillor.

At the worry-laden tone, Un raised his eyebrows.

“Did something happen to Seon-i?”

As Un’s smile faded, the warmth in the room seemed to drop.

“It’s just that the letters she used to send regularly have stopped lately. You know how she always falls ill in spring. I’ll prepare some medicine for you to take on your way, so stop by and see her.”

“Understood. But Your Majesty, did you call for me not because you were curious about me, but because you’re worried about Seon-i? That’s a bit disappointing.”

As Un spoke in a sulky tone, Gwang opened and closed his mouth as if at a loss for words.

Then their gazes met, and without either prompting it, both relaxed their shoulders and laughed.

“Brother, since I granted your request, would you grant one of mine?”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Not now. I will tell you when the time comes.”

“Un, the way you say that makes me a bit uneasy. You’re not going to ask for my dear Wol-i, are you? That won’t do. Understood?”

Wol-i was the king’s pet dog.

Named Wol-i because it barked “wol-wol.”

“Would I dare covet Wol-i? You need not worry about that.”

For the first time in a while, Kangnyeongjeon was filled with laughter, and outside, smiles bloomed on the faces of the court ladies as well.

Four days had passed since Hari sent a letter to Nahee.

In that time, Hari had finished drafting the petition.

“You’re going to the Hanseong Office today? Lady Kim hasn’t replied yet. You said we could only win if we had her answer.”

“That’s true, but I don’t think we can delay any longer.”

As Hari stood up, Maldong quickly brought her veil.

“Why?”

“I think the Choi side has caught on. That Lady Kim is trying to divorce.”

“What? H-how? I’ve never even mentioned divorce!”

Maldong waved both hands frantically, even though no one had accused her.

“I know. It’s not your fault—it was my mistake.”

To be precise, it wasn’t really anyone’s mistake. The trail had simply grown too long and been stepped on.

It seemed someone had informed the Choi household that Maldong had been going in and out of gisaeng houses, digging into Choi Giman.

After hearing the explanation, Maldong slumped her shoulders.

“I was really careful….”

“I know. I overlooked how sensitive someone with many sins can be. Let’s hurry for now.”

Before the other side could make a move, they needed to submit the petition and set a trial date.

Hari headed toward the Hanseong Office as if flying.

At that same time, Nahee stood in an abandoned yard overgrown with weeds—the yard of the annex where Choi Gigu had stayed.

The annex, sealed off on the day of Choi Gigu’s death, had been completely forgotten, as few people ever went there to begin with.

Nahee looked at the gray dust piled like snow on the wooden porch and the yellowed paper windows.

Though she had never even seen her husband’s face, seeing his abandoned room stirred a desolate feeling in her heart.

Choi Gigu being forgotten was not a natural occurrence. Everyone in the household had tried to erase his memory.

Words she had once overheard from the servants rang clearly in her ears.

“Don’t even look toward the second young master’s annex. It’s bad luck. Dying before your parents is the worst kind of unfilial act. And you know—if the master or madam sees you, you’ll be in big trouble.”

Even though he had not chosen to die, the man was blamed even in death.

How pitiful.

Even the sympathy that should follow a tragic death was not allowed to Choi Gigu.

‘Though, if Attorney An asked for it, maybe it wasn’t a natural death.’

Hari had asked Nahee to bring a document that could confirm Choi Gigu’s handwriting.

A book, a diary, even a note beside a painting—it didn’t matter, as long as it bore his seal.

If his death had truly been from illness, why would such a thing be necessary?

Though Nahee had lived like an ornament in the Choi household, she was neither deaf nor blind.

She had always sensed it.

There was a secret in this house.

‘Attorney An will uncover it.’

If it was that woman who had climbed over the wall at dawn just to meet her, then she could do it.

Nahee trusted Hari completely.

With the porch feeling eerie and cold, Nahee took a deep breath and carefully stepped up.

Sneaking into the room of the dead made her heart pound wildly.

She tried to make as little noise as possible, but she couldn’t stop the creaking of the old wooden floor.

Freezing in place, Nahee darted her eyes around.

Everything remained silent.

‘I’m being too scared. Who would even care about this place? Let’s find it quickly and leave. Then I can escape this wretched house too.’

Gathering her courage, Nahee entered the room.

Without even noticing the stale air or the musty smell, she searched frantically.

Since the room had been cleared after Choi Gigu’s death, there weren’t many belongings left.

‘Anything! Just one thing!’

Not giving up, Nahee flung open every cabinet she could find. All were empty.

Only the desk drawer remained.

‘What if there’s nothing there either?’

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Nahee grabbed the drawer handle.

‘Please let it be there. Spirits of heaven and earth, please help me.’

Praying desperately, she pulled the small metal handle.

Her swallow sounded like thunder, and the creaking noise scraped against her ears—

And then she saw it.

A yellowed envelope visible through the opening!

Before she could even check its contents, Nahee hurriedly reached out—

“Our sister-in-law is busy so early in the morning.”

A vile voice came from behind.

It was Choi Giman.

Nahee’s face turned pale, and her entire body stiffened like stone.

Choi Giman slowly looked over her unmoving back.

The corner of his lips twisted.

“What are you searching for so eagerly? Missing the husband you never even saw?”

As he approached from behind, he felt like a grim reaper.

Nahee reflexively curled up and shut her eyes tightly.

If I get caught like this… what will happen to me?

Fear overwhelmed her.

“Mother has been quite worried lately. She says it seems our dear sister-in-law has gotten strange ideas. I told her that couldn’t be true. After all, I know you spent four years alone, praying every dawn at the shrine for my brother’s soul.”

“Y-yes. Everything you say is right. I… came because I missed my husband. I was lonely.”

Nahee bit her tongue so hard it hurt, realizing how absurd her excuse sounded.

Get a grip, Kim Nahee.

“I feel the same way. So, sister-in-law, let me see what you’ve found.”

Choi Giman reached out toward her shoulder.

At that moment, Nahee thought she was about to be caught—

“Stop right there!”

A voice rang loudly across the annex yard, halting Choi Giman.