Chapter 49

Chapter 49 — Yeoni and Yeong (3)

"Father, did you sleep well last night? Your daughter has come to pay her morning respects."

"......?"

Seo Myeongjin wondered if he was seeing things first thing in the morning.

Children might grow quickly, but why was his precious only daughter, who had been whining like a spoiled child until yesterday, suddenly pretending to be a demure young lady?

Still, it didn't take him long to guess what had caused the change.

Don't tell me... it's because of that young scholar Jeongjae brought with him?

Seo Myeongjin decided to test her.

"Haha. Yes. Perhaps because such welcome guests arrived, I slept very comfortably last night."

"Oh my, did you really? This daughter is so relieved! But... I do have one concern."

"...What concern?"

An ominous feeling came over Seo Myeongjin.

Seo Ayoung raised her fan to cover her face and pretended to cry.

"If Father returns to the capital again... I don't think this daughter could bear the sorrow of being unable to see you!"

"......?"

His illness had not even improved yet, and his daughter was already trying to send him back to Hanyang.

Seo Myeongjin was dumbfounded by the sheer lack of filial piety.

"When you return to the capital..."

"Would you please take this daughter with you...?"

I should tear that fan to pieces.

When a scholar-official from the provinces traveled to the capital for government service, it was usually impossible to move his entire household.

He would either go alone or take only his wife and children with him.

Seo Myeongjin himself had gone to Hanyang alone during his time in office.

So Ayoung was asking that, if he returned to government service, he take her with him.

"If Father goes back to the capital alone again, this daughter won't be able to endure the sadness..."

"Where in the world did you learn to speak like that...?"

"...No. Never mind."

Seo Myeongjin slowly shook his head.

The reason Seo Ayoung, who normally ruled the household like an emperor while eating and playing to her heart's content, suddenly wanted to go to Hanyang was painfully obvious.

You've taken an interest in that boy.

"When this matter is finished, where will that young man go?"

"I heard Cheongheon plans to take him into his household and properly nurture him."

Once the business in Daegu was over, Doyul would travel to Hanyang and stay at Kim Jiseok's residence.

Ayoung clearly intended to follow him.

Seo Myeongjin was speechless.

My condition hasn't even improved yet...

There was nothing strange about a daughter of marriageable age becoming interested in a man.

The problem was the speed.

Ridiculous.

You've barely met him, and you're already trying to use your sick father as an excuse to go to Hanyang after him?

Seo Myeongjin found his daughter's ambition both outrageous and strangely hurtful.

"Father... please understand this daughter's filial heart..."

How can someone be this shameless?

Seo Myeongjin felt his insides burn.

"......Go back inside for now."

After sending his daughter away, Seo Myeongjin called for a servant.

"Is anyone there?"

"Yes, my lord."

"I'll be dining with the guests, so prepare accordingly."

"And..."

"Yes, my lord?"

Seo Myeongjin sighed.

"My chest feels terribly stifled."

"Bring me a bowl of cold water before the meal."

"..."

"...?"

Doyul felt as though Seo Myeongjin's piercing gaze might bore a hole through his face.

"......"

Did I do something wrong?

The staring was so obvious that Doyul couldn't simply pretend not to notice.

After hesitating, he cautiously spoke.

"Is there something you wish to say to me?"

"While I was talking with Jeongjae, I heard that you admonished my daughter."

Both Choi Sihyeon and Doyul immediately stiffened.

Y-You brat! What in the world did you do?!

...T-This is bad.

"......"

Seo Myeongjin picked at his food with a displeased expression.

The atmosphere instantly became unbearably tense.

Choi Sihyeon nudged Doyul with his elbow and signaled him with his eyes.

Doyul hurriedly tried to explain.

"W-Well... I wouldn't say I admonished her."

"I merely conveyed my thoughts on the matter, but in the process, perhaps it came across somewhat differently from what I intended."

"Of course, I do not mean to make excuses."

"My judgment was lacking."

"I apologize for the discourtesy..."

Seo Myeongjin shook his head.

"...No."

"I've already heard the full story."

"I was told that Yeong was the one who first made an unreasonable request of you."

"And not a single thing you said was wrong. Everyone who heard you agreed with your reasoning."

"So how could I blame you?"

"If anyone owes an apology, it is I, for allowing my daughter to trouble a guest."

Doyul looked confused.

...If he knows all that, why has he been glaring at me?

The reason Seo Myeongjin was upset was simple.

He had raised his precious daughter like a jewel, and she completely ignored almost everything he said.

Yet when some unfamiliar young man spoke to her for the first time, she had meekly nodded along without arguing once.

That was all.

He was aggrieved.

Baffled.

And deeply annoyed.

Doyul, however, was still too young to understand the complicated feelings of a father.

"...Enough! I am! Truly! Sorry!"

"...Haha."

Choi Sihyeon had already grasped the situation.

He's jealous.

Well, considering how much Hyung adores Yeong, I suppose that's understandable.

Fortunately, Doyul hadn't actually done anything wrong.

But leaving the atmosphere like this could become awkward, so Choi Sihyeon smoothly changed the subject.

"Come to think of it, I think it's about time we went to greet the governor."

"Is that so?"

Seo Myeongjin thought for a moment.

"You'll need a cart."

"I'll have one brought out immediately."

Choi Sihyeon and Doyul both looked puzzled.

Seo Myeongjin had assumed the cart loaded with Doyul's wealth was a token of sincerity meant for the governor.

So his offer made perfect sense to him.

"Hyung, what do you mean by bringing out a cart?"

"Hm? Are you planning to carry everything to the provincial office by hand?"

"Wasn't that why you brought the cart in the first place?"

Doyul cautiously spoke.

"Elder, forgive me, but that cart and everything on it belong to me."

"What?"

"All of that is yours?"

"Then what did you prepare...?"

Seo Myeongjin quickly closed his mouth.

...Ghh. It seems they came here without knowing what sort of man the governor is.

Seo Myeongjin had naturally assumed that because Choi Sihyeon was visiting the governor with a cart full of wealth, the goods were intended as a gift.

But as a government official himself, he couldn't exactly say outright that anyone seeking a private audience with the governor needed to bring a bribe.

After a moment of awkwardness, he changed the subject.

"No. Never mind."

"I must have misunderstood something."

"...I understand."

If they went empty-handed, they would almost certainly be cursed at and sent away.

Still, rather than advise them to prepare a bribe in advance, it seemed better to let them learn from the governor's reaction and offer a subtle hint afterward.

So Seo Myeongjin kept quiet.

Still...

He looked at Doyul again with fresh eyes.

"...Is there something else you wish to say?"

"......No."

All of that wealth was earned by this boy?

I heard he had no guardian and lived on his own...

How did someone his age accumulate that much money?

A scholar-official shouldn't be obsessed with wealth.

But seeing a boy so young dragging around a fortune that would take an ordinary household several generations to build naturally made Seo Myeongjin look at Doyul more favorably.

Then...

...Hah! What am I thinking?!

His eyes widened.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing!"

Realizing that he had unconsciously begun approving of Doyul only made Seo Myeongjin even more annoyed.

So he sulked again.

That afternoon, Doyul and Choi Sihyeon arrived at the provincial office.

However, only Choi Sihyeon entered the inner office.

"Hmm. Wait here for a moment."

"I'll greet the governor first and tell him that I brought you."

"Yes. Understood."

Since Jo Jinkyung already disliked Kim Jiseok, Choi Sihyeon was worried that bringing Doyul in without warning might provoke the governor into saying something unpleasant.

It was a small consideration on his part.

"I greet the Governor."

Jo Jinkyung stopped reviewing his documents and silently looked Choi Sihyeon up and down.

"......"

"......?"

Then anger surged through him.

This idiot!

He's so oblivious that even when I put food directly into his mouth, he doesn't know how to swallow it!

The reason was obvious.

Choi Sihyeon had brought no bribe.

Seo Gyeongsik, the Gyeongsang Dosa, read the governor's displeasure and quickly stepped in.

"A-Ahem! Magistrate Choi."

"Could I speak with you outside for a moment?"

"The governor happens to be occupied with urgent work."

"...Yes. Of course."

Seo Gyeongsik led Choi Sihyeon outside and let out a long sigh.

This is troublesome...

He struggled for a moment with how to bring up the subject of a bribe.

Then a convenient excuse came to mind.

"Ahem. Magistrate Choi."

"I've heard you're very close with the Eunggyo of the Office of Special Advisors."

Eunggyo? He means Hyung.

Why is the Dosa asking about Hyung...? Ah.

Choi Sihyeon suddenly remembered that Seo Gyeongsik shared the same surname as Seo Myeongjin.

"Yes. I've received a great deal of help from him."

"May I ask how you know Hyung?"

Seo Gyeongsik immediately seized the opening.

"Haha. After I was appointed to Daegu, he told me that it was rare to have a member of the same clan serving nearby."

"He has treated me almost like a younger brother ever since."

"...Ah, I see."

"Forgive me for not greeting you properly sooner."

If the two were truly that close, Seo Myeongjin would have mentioned it beforehand.

So Choi Sihyeon knew Seo Gyeongsik was exaggerating.

Still, he also understood that the man was deliberately creating a connection so he could raise an uncomfortable subject more naturally.

So he let it pass.

Ghh. He's even started speaking down to me already.

Seo Gyeongsik drew out his words as though troubled.

"Haha... considering the elder I respect like an older brother, I can't simply pretend not to notice this..."

Choi Sihyeon immediately played along.

"Oh, Dosa. Please speak freely!"

"I'm worried I may have done something that reflects poorly on Hyung!"

"...Ahem. I'm only saying this difficult thing for his sake, so don't take it the wrong way."

After a pause, Seo Gyeongsik carefully continued.

"My friend..."

"Didn't you come to see the governor a little too casually?"

"I heard the governor entrusted you with this matter because he wished to look after you."

"Yet it seems you disappointed him..."

Seo Gyeongsik paused just long enough before dropping the hint.

"Your hands were far too light."

"The governor seemed rather taken aback."

"......!"

Seo Gyeongsik sighed repeatedly.

"I'm sure you understand what I mean."

"You should return for today."

"It was not a lie when I said the governor was busy."

"For the time being, even if you show your sincerity, it may not change much."

"Since things have already turned out this way, perhaps it would be better to prepare more carefully before your next visit."

Flustered, Choi Sihyeon hurriedly asked,

"Th-Then when would be a good time for me to return?"

"Well..."

Seo Gyeongsik trailed off.

That depends on when those thieves arrive. How would I know? Tsk.

At the moment, Jo Jinkyung's entire attention was focused on Hong Gil.

"Wouldn't the governor finally be able to breathe once the matter involving the wicked thief who humiliated Hyung has been dealt with?"

"What do you mean?"

"A thief humiliated Hyung?"

"...Hm?"

Choi Sihyeon was startled.

How is this matter connected to Hyung?

Seo Gyeongsik looked at him in confusion.

"You..."

"Did the Eunggyo truly tell you nothing?"

"That foolish thief currently locked in the prison..."

"He went to Hyung's residence and dared point a blade at him!"