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chapter 31
“…M-me? In the kitchen…?”
Only then did Go Jang-nam recall collapsing on the kitchen floor with violent stomach pain right after drinking the tea.
Hye-gwang showed him the tea leaves as well and explained that the tea he drank contained a laxative ingredient.
The moment the head cook saw the tea dregs, he instantly realized who was responsible and grew enraged.
“…That assistant cook!”
Go Jang-nam tried to get up, but his body had no strength at all. He failed to rise and fell helplessly backward again.
A monk brought over a bowl of medicine he had been simmering.
“This will neutralize the effects. Drink every drop. Then lie down for a while. The drug’s lingering in your system, so don’t push yourself.”
“Yes, monk.”
Go Jang-nam downed the medicine in one gulp, but as he set down the bowl, he spotted the moon outside the window and his face turned pale.
“W-w-wait! M-monk!! Wh-what time is it now?! The m-meals for the guests!!”
Seeing him panic, Deputy Chief Yi Jeong-ah gave him a warm smile and soothed him.
“Don’t worry. The guests have already arrived, and they were served well.”
Hearing this, color returned to Go Jang-nam’s face.
“Th-that’s a relief. Looks like the assistant cook handled things properly after all.”
At his assumption, Yi Jeong-ah’s expression instantly turned icy.
“…The assistant cook. He wasn’t the one who handled it.”
She spoke through gritted teeth.
“Wh-what? If not the assistant cook, then who?”
“What is the meaning of this?!”
Everyone present turned to Yi Jeong-ah.
“When I stopped him from cooking pork—which is forbidden among the merchants—the assistant cook threw down his tools and walked out. He never showed his face again.”
Hearing this, Go Jang-nam clenched his jaw tightly.
“The assistant cook Dok-su! He was clearly planted by the Chief Secretary to sabotage Hyeumwon’s operations! Otherwise, why would he flee at such a crucial moment?!”
He raged as if ready to burst, then suddenly froze.
“Th-then who cooked the meal for the guests? D-don’t tell me… Deputy Chief, was it you…?”
Everyone looked at Yi Jeong-ah with horror in their eyes.
Deputy Chief Yi Jeong-ah. A woman praised as being blessed by the heavens in every way—except one.
Her cooking.
Her culinary skills were so terrible that even her own father, the village headman, was rumored to flee in fear of her food.
Worse yet, the deputy chief herself was completely unaware of this fact.
“Are you saying the taste preferences of the Great Western Empire differ so drastically from Goryeo’s? That they actually enjoyed such bizarre dishes…? How strange…”
Still muddled from the medicine, Go Jang-nam let his thoughts spill out without realizing it.
“…Head cook? What… did you just say? Bi-zarre~?”
Go Jang-nam shrank back at the terrifying expression on Yi Jeong-ah’s face.
She was about to lash out at him, but seeing his pale complexion, she forced down her anger.
“…Unfortunately, I have never cooked Western Empire cuisine before. My apologies.”
Not unfortunate at all!!
Everyone silently sighed in relief.
“Then who cooked those dishes earlier?”
Everyone pressed her for answers.
With an embarrassed look, Yi Jeong-ah confessed.
“…There is that acolyte who took first place in the exam. I heard the child knew how to cook Western Empire cuisine, so I entrusted it to her.”
“Acolyte Oh Seorin?!”
Hye-gwang exclaimed.
“What? The top student made those dishes?!”
Jun-gyeong blurted out, shocked.
Eun-cheon was equally surprised, though the shock soon hardened into something else.
“…So you entrusted the entire kitchen to a mere acolyte. Including all responsibility.”
Yi Jeong-ah flinched at his cold remark.
“T-there was no other choice. But in the end, it was an excellent decision. The child… was truly incredible. Not only the cooking—her thoughtfulness toward the guests as well.”
She went on to recount everything Seorin had done:
How she’d known about the concept of halal and prevented pork from being served, how she’d expertly prepared Western Empire dishes, how she’d prepared brazier heaters in advance for the cold guests, even how she’d borrowed Nak-gyeong to perfectly set up a prayer room.
Those listening were left speechless.
“…What the hell, the top student. She’s even more impressive than we thought.”
Everyone found themselves nodding.
“Indeed. I dread to imagine what would have happened without her.”
“…”
Eun-cheon suddenly recalled the night before—how Seorin had flailed helplessly, unable to escape even a shallow pond.
And yet she pulled off something this extraordinary…?
He felt both proud and infuriated.
It turned out well, but she nearly shouldered all the responsibility alone. Without fear.
The head cook, hearing everything, snorted angrily.
“…Master Eun-cheon, please allow me to handle the punishment for Dok-su.”
Eun-cheon nodded.
“Do so.”
“Yes, sir… I have no excuse.”
Dok-su was under his supervision, after all. Go Jang-nam hung his head in shame.
“Don’t worry about the rest. Focus on recovering first.”
“I’m fine. The medicine helped. I can return to the kitchen tomorrow.”
Hye-gwang nodded, indicating it wouldn’t be a problem.
“…Very well.”
Eun-cheon paused for a moment, then spoke.
“Since reward and punishment must be clear… If we punish, then we must also give due reward.”
* * *
After finishing their prayers, the merchants returned to Bohwagak, where the guest rooms were located.
Remembering that he had removed his shoes before entering the pavilion, Nashim neatly placed his shoes on the stepping stone and opened the door to his room.
The moment he crossed the threshold, he sensed a level of luxury far beyond any lodging he had experienced before.
[…Oh.]
Black-lacquered mother-of-pearl cabinets covering an entire wall, an elegant incense burner sending up a faint wisp of sandalwood, bedding made of the finest silk, a folding screen painted with landscapes, and celadon glazed in deep jade.
Every item was clearly precious. This lavish space reserved for a chosen few more than lived up to Bohwagak’s name—Pavilion of Treasured Splendor.
Surprised by the refinement, Nashim soon noticed how warm the air felt.
He looked around.
[There’s no brazier here… how?]
There had been one in the dining hall, but none here.
And then the mystery solved itself. As soon as he stepped further inside, he felt it—the floor itself was warm beneath his feet.
Overwhelmed by the pleasant heat rising through the soles of his feet, Nashim instinctively lowered himself, lying down flat on the warm floor.
[Oooohhh…]
A satisfied groan escaped him.
[W-what is this…?]
The warmth radiating from the heated stone floor seeped into his travel-weary body, loosening tight muscles.
Staring at the ceiling, Nashim thought about the day.
[…Hmm. This caravanserai… is impressive.]
Compared to the caravanserais he’d stayed in throughout many countries on his journey to Goryeo, Hyeumwon was not inferior—no, it was better.
And the people of Hyeumwon moved with perfect coordination. The moment he arrived, workers had rushed forward, taking his horse and wagon and organizing everything in mere moments.
Turning his head, he saw that his belongings had already been neatly arranged.
Nashim retrieved a pillow from the bedding and hugged it to his chest.
Perhaps… that woman prepared this?
He squeezed the pillow tightly.
For some reason… it smelled nice.
