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Chapter 31
Before the issue of the engagement tied to the Mukok Badge came to the surface, Yeongwon’s plans had been simple.
She had intended to take over the business of the Geom (黔) family, which her father had been running on their behalf.
Of course, she would have to be evaluated by the Geom family’s inspectors to see if she was capable of doing so.
But the moment she entered Jeojado, all her plans went awry.
She was so busy just keeping up with the circumstances that she couldn’t think about anything else.
It wasn’t until several days after arriving at the Geom household that she even thought to look at what she had at hand.
“Tomorrow, I should go out to the market.”
“The market? Are you serious, Lady?”
Since arriving at the Geom household, the only places she had been were the ruined Seonangdang and the Yeongyeongdang, which looked more like a haunted house, so Sorae’s eyes lit up brightly.
“Yes. But I’m not going for fun. I’m going to think of ways to earn silver coins.”
“Silver coins? Then should we weave straw shoes and sell them? Lady, do you remember how to make them?”
Sorae immediately thought of straw shoes.
It was because, among the skills they could currently display, making straw shoes was the only one that could earn money.
“Hm… With practice, it should work.”
Yeongwon looked down at her exceptionally soft hands and replied.
To earn money, one needs capital, and right now, gathering straw seemed easiest.
If they first twisted the straw to make shoes and sold them, they would earn a few coins.
With those coins as capital, they could make and sell tofu or rice cakes, or try selling things she had read about in books, like dyed thread or items using white wax.
Excited by the thought of increasing her silver coins, Yeongwon asked Sorae to bring ink and brushes and wrote down several practical pieces of knowledge she remembered on a sheet of white paper.
“Lady, what is this you’ve written?”
“It’s how to identify fake honey.”
“Identify fake honey?”
“Yes. There should be honey sellers in Jeojado too. Perhaps someone would buy my knowledge.”
“Wow, that’s amazing, Lady! You really are the best!”
Sorae widened her single-lidded eyes and clapped repeatedly, making Yeongwon’s rarely smiling lips lift in response.
“The method is simple. If you dip a chopstick heated red-hot into the honey, if it smells, it’s real; if it smokes, it’s fake.”
“Smokes? From honey?”
“Yes. That’s what the book I read said.”
“Then shouldn’t we check this method ourselves before selling it to the honey merchants?”
“Of course. And there’s also a way to dye thread.”
Yeongwon took out various knowledge she had only kept in her mind and wrote it down diligently with her brush.
Time passed, and night had deepened. Sorae, who had been assisting Yeongwon with her writing, began to yawn repeatedly.
Yeongwon looked at the moon hanging high in the sky through the half-open window and slowly put down her brush.
“That’s enough for today. You should go rest.”
“I’ll clean this up first.”
“No need. We’ll use it again tomorrow.”
Yeongwon folded the paper she had worked on and set her brush on the inkstone.
“Are you really going to rest?”
“Yes. What else would I do if I don’t rest at this hour?”
“Lady, are you sure you’ll be alright alone? Should I stay here?”
As Yeongwon tidied the desk, Sorae’s concern reminded her of the nightmare she had had the previous night.
Honey again today?
Yeongwon’s once lively face grew heavy.
She wanted to see her living father and mother and the Ha household family in her dreams—not her father and mother being executed and burned.
Seeing Yeongwon’s expression darken, Sorae felt uneasy, thinking she had spoken unnecessarily.
“No. You go to the next room and sleep comfortably. I’m fine.”
“But Lady—”
“It’s okay.”
Yeongwon deliberately nudged Sorae out and left only a small lamp in the room, sitting on the chair by the window.
Although she said so, the fear of being trapped in a dream like yesterday lingered.
Resting her chin on her hands placed on the window sill, Yeongwon sighed deeply and gazed outside.
The courtyard was quiet, and the moon hung high and round.
The deep silence and stillness surrounded her, and after a while, her eyelids began to droop.
But Yeongwon didn’t want to sleep and shook her head to stay awake.
Of course, this attempt didn’t last long.
Soon, her head dropped heavily, and she was pulled into a dream.
“Ugh…”
Before her eyes, she saw a tall castle wall, and inside the wide-open gate, hair fluttering wildly atop a high tower.
Father…!
Yeongwon’s tightly furrowed brows twisted just then.
“Ha Nangja!”
At the clear, resonant voice in her head, the wall that had blocked her view blurred for a moment.
“Ha Nangja, open your eyes!”
Startled, Yeongwon opened her eyes.
Outside the window, she saw the white hem of a robe.
Following it with her gaze, she saw a familiar ghost standing there.
Frightened, Yeongwon swallowed a scream and stepped back.
No matter how familiar, a ghost is still a ghost!
“Ha Nangja!”
Seeing her frozen, the ghost called her urgently.
Her heart pounded, but she tried to stay calm.
This ghost was someone she had seen several times next to Ishin, and who had also informed her about the darkness.
“Did… did you come for me?”
Yeongwon asked in confusion.
The young male ghost, dressed in a white robe and holding a fan, nodded.
“You must come with me now.”
“Eh? Where…?”
“To Yeongyeongdang.”
Yeongwon was bewildered by the ghost suddenly leading her into her yard.
“What’s happening at Yeongyeongdang?”
Yeongwon frowned, recalling Ishin, who had teased her with a mischievous smile.
“Pull the master… Ishin… out of the dream.”
The adult man in the white robe said earnestly, his face almost on the verge of tears.
Following the man who introduced himself as Unjeong, Yeongwon took some time to move.
It was because she clearly remembered Ishin’s “advice”:
If you want to survive in Jeojado, don’t wander around at night. No matter how much someone offers you candy, don’t follow thoughtlessly and cause trouble.
Even if she had seen Unjeong beside Ishin, could she really follow him so easily?
What if this ghost intended harm?
It was nighttime, and he wanted her to go to Ishin.
In a way, it was like a test.
When she hesitated, Unjeong’s calm, gentle face twisted frighteningly.
“There’s no time! Ishin might fall into a nightmare!”
As Unjeong shouted, Yeongwon’s window rattled as if shaken by the wind.
Startled, she saw the worry on his face and nodded.
Before Sorae went to the next room, Yeongwon had changed into her silk white jeogori and skirt.
Even though it was summer, the night air was chilly, but she had no energy to care.
Leaving the main building, Yeongwon followed Unjeong and ran past the side gate of Jigaekdang.
