IRTBACIWLATCP CH 05

Chapter 5. Spread the Rumors

Property prices in Xiao Kingdom were still relatively low.

Ji-ui paid two hundred nyang of silver and completed the contract with the previous owner.

After going to the authorities to transfer the title deed into her name, she finally gave Madam Son another two nyang as a service fee.

Madam Son was so delighted that she could hardly contain herself and praised her enthusiastically.

“Miss Song truly has an extraordinary bearing. Anyone who is this generous with money must certainly be no ordinary person!”

“Still, this house isn’t exactly small. Won’t you feel rather lonely living here all by yourself?”

Ji-ui lowered her eyes and smiled.

“I’m only coming to Gyeongseong first to look around and settle in. My parents and the rest of my family will be coming up soon.”

She had lived in the firewood room for the past two years.

However, the Song family could no longer treat her carelessly as they had before.

After all, she had become the main source of income for the family.

Now that my marriage to Lu Hyeong-un has been called off, there’s no reason for the Song family to come all the way to Gyeongseong.

Madam Son smiled.

“I’m sure your family members must have the same extraordinary bearing as you, Miss.”

Ji-ui merely smiled without answering.

Madam Son clasped her hands respectfully and hesitated as she looked at Ji-ui, as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t bring herself to.

Seeing her expression, Ji-ui asked,

“Is there something else you wanted to say?”

Madam Son nervously spoke up.

“Miss, it seems you don’t have anyone to serve you. It must be quite exhausting to sweep and clean such a large courtyard all by yourself.”

“I have a fourteen-year-old granddaughter. She’s very strong and can handle most household chores.”

Ji-ui frowned slightly but did not answer immediately.

In truth, she had already been thinking about hiring a few more people.

There would be plenty of places that needed extra hands in the future, whether it was her business or her household.

The only problem was that she had no idea whether Madam Son’s granddaughter was actually hardworking and reliable.

Seeing Ji-ui remain silent, Madam Son hurriedly added,

“If you’re willing to take her in, all you need to do is provide her with food and a place to sleep. You don’t even have to pay her wages!”

Ji-ui asked in confusion,

“Why not?”

Madam Son looked a little embarrassed.

“A-hye eats quite a lot. It’s becoming difficult for our family to support her.”

“Oh, but that doesn’t mean I can marry off a child this young. I’m just trying to find her somewhere she can work.”

Miss Song is generous and broad-minded, and her house isn’t too far from ours. It would be perfect if she agreed to take A-hye in.

It would be much better to leave A-hye with Miss Song than send her to some other household.

At Madam Son’s words, Ji-ui finally became interested.

“Then let’s do this. Bring the girl over when you have time. I’ll take a look at her first.”

“A-hye is at my shop right now. If you wait just a little, I’ll bring her over immediately!”

I can’t let the young lady change her mind. I have to bring her quickly.

Madam Son hurriedly rushed outside.

Not long afterward, she returned with a plump young girl.

The girl had her hair divided into two braids and was dressed in simple but clean clothes.

Around her neck hung a shiny silver lock ornament. Its craftsmanship was rather rough, but it was obvious that the girl was deeply cherished by her family.

When the plump girl ran up to Ji-ui, the little bell on the silver lock gave a clear, tinkling sound.

“Miss, I promise I’ll serve you with all my heart!”

Ji-ui fell silent for a moment.

Should I really take this girl in?

However, both grandmother and granddaughter were looking at her with identical expressions of hopeful anticipation.

But the truth is, I really do need more help. I might as well give her a try.

In the end, Ji-ui nodded.

“Let’s give it a try for now.”

The two of them were overjoyed and repeatedly thanked her.

“Thank you, Miss Song!”

That afternoon, Ji-ui took A-hye into town to buy household necessities.

They needed everything from quilts and tea utensils to a set of kitchen tools, as well as firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

A-hye really was as strong as Madam Son had said.

Perhaps because she ate so much, she was tall and sturdy, and seemed capable of doing the work of three people all by herself.

Watching A-hye hurry back and forth, efficiently loading the goods onto the carriage, Ji-ui made a decision on the spot.

“Good. As long as you listen to me from now on, I’ll not only make sure you’re well fed and warmly clothed, I’ll also give you one nyang of silver every month.”

“Thank you, Miss! I’ll listen to you and serve you well from now on!”

One nyang of silver is even more than what Grandmother earns at the real estate agency!

A-hye was so happy that she tried to bow deeply to Ji-ui, but Ji-ui caught her.

“I don’t care much for formalities. You don’t have to bow every time. Just do your job well.”

A-hye’s eyes lit up brightly as she looked at Ji-ui with a respectful expression.

“I’ll remember every single word you say, Miss!”

Seeing A-hye’s cute and lovable appearance, Ji-ui couldn’t help but feel pleased as well.

She reached out to pat A-hye on the head and tried to help her carry the things.

But A-hye had no intention of letting Ji-ui do such menial work.

She darted back and forth, completing everything quickly, neatly, and efficiently.

By the time they finished everything, evening had already arrived.

Ji-ui and A-hye sat at the stone table in the courtyard, drinking tea.

Just then, a carriage with a blue canopy stopped in front of the gate.

At the same time, at the Marquis of Anjing’s residence—

Hyeong-un was practicing the Five Animal Frolics in the courtyard, enduring the pain and discomfort as sweat poured down his entire body.

Knowing that Ji-ui had taught him all of this left him with complicated feelings.

The old Ji-ui was always so kind and considerate toward me. Why has she changed now?

Is she really acting this way just because I refused to give her the position of primary wife for the sake of the greater good?

As Hyeong-un’s thoughts became increasingly tangled, both of his legs began to ache faintly.

Just then, the steward hurried in to report.

“Young Master, Second Young Master has arrived.”

Hyeong-un raised his head, and sure enough, Lu Chen appeared before him.

Lu Chen was dressed in the Dragon-Scale Guard’s specially made silk robe, and a warm smile rested on his face.

“Brother, I heard that you’ve returned. Are you feeling any better?”

Hyeong-un took a deep breath and stood up as though nothing was wrong.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“I wanted to visit you sooner, but there was simply too much work at the palace. I couldn’t get away.”

“Since you hold an official position in the palace, naturally you should put your duties there first.”

Hyeong-un asked indifferently,

“I heard an assassin entered the palace last night. Did you catch him?”

Lu Chen had risen to the position of Commander of the Dragon-Scale Guard largely because the Emperor had taken the Lu family ancestors into consideration.

Lu Chen’s father was the second uncle who had been expelled from the family.

He was not particularly important within the clan, and Lu Chen himself was a son of the collateral branch.

He had always been somewhat sinister and had never been particularly close to Hyeong-un.

An ambitious man from an expelled collateral branch.

And he even wants to rise higher than me?

What an arrogant fool who doesn’t know his place.

Lu Chen smiled lightly.

“The assassin was extremely cunning. He took advantage of a moment when we let our guard down and managed to escape. However, I met a very interesting woman at an inn last night.”

Hyeong-un asked without thinking,

“Who?”

Lu Chen became increasingly certain of his guess.

“Miss Song Ji-ui, the woman you have feelings for.”

“What happened to her?”

Hyeong-un’s heart began pounding.

But he quickly hardened his expression and defended himself.

“That woman and I have nothing to do with each other. Chen, don’t speak carelessly.”

Lu Chen looked at him suspiciously.

“Nothing to do with each other? Then why did she claim that she was the woman you cared about and that she would soon become your wife?”

A hint of amusement flashed beneath Hyeong-un’s eyes before disappearing just as quickly.

“Don’t talk nonsense. With her status, how could she possibly become my primary wife?”

Lu Chen did not miss the fleeting expression in Hyeong-un’s eyes.

A trace of mockery flashed deep within his gaze.

“I see. So Brother intends to pretend he doesn’t know that woman now?”

“No wonder Miss Song looked so dejected last night.”

Hyeong-un frowned and said in a low voice,

“My marriage to Miss Yeop is imminent. Such rumors will only hurt the feelings between Cheong-sa and me.”

“I spoke out of turn. I’ll remember your advice, Brother.”

Lu Chen smiled helplessly, then placed the gifts he had brought down before bidding farewell.

After he left, Hyeong-un slowly exhaled and straightened his previously hunched back even further.

“Judging by the time, the Song family should have arrived by now.”

Ji-ui still has feelings for me.

She even proudly told people outside that I was the man she cared about.

Even yesterday, when she demanded money and said she wanted to sever ties, she was ultimately just throwing a tantrum to make me give in.

Once the Song family arrives, naturally they’ll comfort her.

The moment Lu Chen left the Marquis of Anjing’s residence, the smile vanished completely from his face.

A sly expression spread across his eyes.

He swiftly turned around, mounted his horse, and instructed his servant,

“Find a way to inform Miss Yeop that Hyeong-un intends to take a village girl as his primary wife.”

Chang’an Street.

“Father, Mother, is this our new house?”

Four people climbed out of the carriage one after another.

The first to step down was a young and innocent-looking boy dressed in bluish-white robes.

A middle-aged couple followed him, and finally, a young girl wearing a pink skirt stepped down.

Ji-ui’s eyelid twitched.

She placed her teacup down with a stiff expression.

The Song family!

Why are they here?

How did they even find me?

“Second Sister? Is this our new house?”

Song Ji-ha happily ran over and looked around with curiosity.

But when he saw Ji-ui’s cold expression, he immediately stopped and stood quietly.

Dressed in a blue robe, Song Cheong-san happily stepped inside.

He looked around the small courtyard with satisfaction.

“Good, very good. The courtyard is much larger than the one at our old house, and I like how it’s been decorated.”

Then he turned to Ji-ui and asked,

“Second daughter, property in Gyeongseong must be expensive, right?”

Ji-ui frowned.

“Father, Mother, how did you get here?”

She had never sent anyone to bring the Song family over, nor had she told them the address of her newly purchased house.

Since they had come directly to find her, Hyeong-un must have arranged it behind the scenes.

“I heard you were about to marry Young Master Lu. How could we possibly not come?”

Madam Na walked in carrying a bundle and complained unhappily,

“Or were you planning to marry into the Marquis of Anjing’s residence by yourself, enjoy wealth and prosperity, and forget all about the rest of us?”

Song Ji-shim gently tugged at Madam Na’s sleeve and soothed her.

“Mother, why are you saying such things? Ji-ui is filial and sensible. She would never do that.”

She wore a bright pink long skirt, and her face was as delicate and beautiful as a peach blossom.

After saying that, Song Ji-shim smiled brightly and looked at Ji-ui.

“Ji-ui, isn’t that right?”

“Since you’ve already come, I won’t throw you out.”

Ji-ui’s voice was clear and cold.

“But the marriage between Lu Hyeong-un and me has already been called off, so don’t mention him again from now on.”

“What?”

Madam Na raised her voice in disbelief.

“What kind of family is the Marquis of Anjing’s residence? You think you can simply refuse to marry into such a family and walk away? Have you lost your mind?”

Ji-ui’s brows drew together slightly, and a cold light flashed through her dark, lacquer-black eyes.