Chapter 49
“A large dog? Yes, have you seen one by any chance?!”
Thud thud thud. The regular mortar sounds gradually stopped. Yanghui scraped the herbs with a pestle and put them in a small dish while speaking quietly.
“Actually… I’ve often seen a large wolf in the snowy field on the hill above. It appears around sunset, rests, and then leaves, but its body was too large and fierce-looking for me to approach closely.”
“…….”
“It might not be the animal you’re looking for, but I’m telling you with the heart of wanting to help.”
Yanghui unwrapped the cloth around Yuseol’s ankle and wiped away the herbs. Then she covered it with new herbs. Her touch tying it with cloth so the herbs wouldn’t fall was quite special. It seemed like she didn’t want to miss even aesthetic beauty.
Yuseol examined the prettily made knot with curiosity and opened her mouth.
“I’m glad you told me. I should go look as soon as my ankle heals.”
However, unlike her words of gladness, Yuseol’s face wasn’t bright. If the animal Yanghui saw was really Geon, he would have come looking for her instead of not climbing up the hill. Unless there was another reason…
Mu-yeong’s mockery rang in her ears.
“Regrettably, that dog hates you.”
No, that can’t be….
Confusion appeared on Yuseol’s face as she bit her lips tightly. Yanghui confirmed the knot was secure and asked carefully.
“How does your ankle feel?”
Yuseol nodded while erasing her dizzy emotions.
“Thanks to your careful treatment, it seems like it will heal soon. You’ve worked hard.”
Yanghui smiled brightly as if relieved and began organizing the utensils.
“I’m glad.”
Yuseol examined Yanghui’s attire. Unlike women who wore jeogori long like skirts, Yanghui wore a short jeogori like Yuseol.
“The people here have unique clothing, but yours is not like that.”
“Clothing?”
“Yes, the long jeogori.”
Yanghui nodded as if she understood what she meant.
“Ah. Most people here are from the Hongui tribe. They’re people with money overflowing even when making and wearing long jeogori.”
“Hongui tribe?”
“Yes. I heard from Myoyeon that they’re merchants who accumulated wealth by buying and selling goods a very long time ago.”
Yanghui answered while looking alternately at her and Yuseol’s clothes.
“I was also a bit surprised when I first came, but the people here seem to take wearing long jeogori for granted. Still, they value freedom enough to understand anything as long as you don’t commit theft or murder, so I’m also making and wearing clothes as I want.”
“…….”
“I heard that the head of the Choi family, who owns this Museolwon, commanded it to be so.”
Yuseol’s face, which had been focused on Yanghui’s words, became peaceful.
“Valuing freedom…. It’s like paradise.”
“I’m truly happy to be able to live here too.”
“Are you living with your parents?”
“No.”
“Then are you living alone after coming down here?”
Yanghui, who had been hesitating for a moment, carefully opened her lips.
“Actually… the outside lady that our family had served for generations was exiled here for the crime of receiving bribes from merchants in Pyeonghae. My family and I were also dragged along, and we lived together in a house at the entrance of Museolwon, but….”
“Ah….”
“Because the weather was cold and food was scarce, everyone died, and I was also dying. That’s when I met Myoyeon and came to this place. Now I’m living alone in an empty house I obtained in the lower village.”
Yanghui smiled composedly and stood up holding the tray.
“Then I’ll take my leave now. Please rest comfortably.”
Yuseol carefully stood up while taking Yeon out of the cage to give him some air.
“Thank you for telling me your circumstances. Next time I’ll tell you my story. Come visit often.”
Yanghui’s pupils, who was handing over the walking stick, sparkled prettily.
“Really… would that be alright?”
Expectation also appeared on Yuseol’s face. It was because she had always been with elderly court ladies in the palace.
“Yes. I’ll be waiting, so please come.”
She soon took the walking stick and stood at the threshold, gently releasing Yeon. Yeon flapped his white wings and flew up, then landed on a tree in the courtyard.
Yanghui looked up at Yuseol while putting on her shoes.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“I’m fine today, how about you?”
“This level of cold doesn’t bother me at all.”
Yuseol carefully sat on the wooden floor and put on her straw sandals. Then she suddenly glanced at Yanghui.
She wanted to ask about Sahwa even now, but her lips wouldn’t part. She was probably a yangban young lady from here. Wouldn’t it be strange and ridiculous to suddenly ask about someone she had never met?
Questions circled in her mind. Yanghui, who had been watching that closely, pulled her crescent eyebrows upward.
Yuseol slightly avoided the gaze they met, then gathered courage with difficulty.
“I…. while having a conversation with Lord Jiwoon earlier, I happened to hear about someone called Sahwa. Could you tell me what kind of person they are?”
Yanghui took a deep breath as if wanting to answer with her best effort and said.
“I also haven’t been here for more than a few months so I don’t know for certain, but from what I heard from Myoyeon… they have a deep connection with Lord Mu-yeong.”
“…….”
“But I heard they’re no longer in this world.”
Yuseol’s footsteps heading toward the camellia tree following the crow Yeon stopped abruptly.
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