Chapter 6

Beyond Jingogae Pass lay Namchon, the village of the ttalkakbari scholars, where people said, “Even if the rice jar is empty, the bookshelves are full.”

There, however, stood Punguibang, a place that had emptied its bookshelves and filled its rice jars instead.

Among rows of small, weathered tile-roofed houses, Punguibang was also modest in size, consisting of a men’s quarters, a detached guest house, the main residence, and servants’ quarters.

But only on the outside.

The moment one stepped into the sarangchae, where Punguibang’s master stayed, or the byeolchae, where guests were received, an entirely different world unfolded.

The room carried the faint fragrance of musk and was decorated in shades of black, crimson, and gold.

Colored glass lamps hanging from the ceiling caught the sunlight, scattering vibrant hues across the rosewood table at the center of the room.

Where the scholars of Namchon would normally have kept bookshelves stood display cabinets instead, filled with priceless treasures—from white porcelain and celadon to Qing Dynasty five-colored ceramics.

Among them, what drew the eye most were the Western-style alarm clock and the telescope placed proudly at the center of the table.

And beside those priceless objects, whose prices were whatever the seller wished to ask, stood the master of Punguibang—

Lee Un.

As dazzling as the room was, nothing inside shone brighter than Un himself. Before his striking beauty, even gold and precious jewels lost their brilliance.

“Young Master… did you buy another one?”

The court eunuch Gong Chilbok sighed heavily, his hands trembling so much that he couldn’t even bring himself to pick up the telescope.

“This?” Un asked, casually lifting it. “Why do you ask? It’s already been over a month since I bought it. You’re reacting as if you’ve never seen it before.”

“Young Master! Punguibang is operating at a loss this month—a loss!”

“And do you think that’s because of this telescope? We spent that money building homes for those displaced by the Cheonggyecheon flood. Siyeong, tell him. Am I wrong?”

Behind Un, standing like his shadow, his bodyguard Siyoung answered calmly.

“The Young Master’s words are correct.”

With even Siyoung taking Un’s side, Chilbok tightly shut his mouth.

Even so, he couldn’t stop himself from muttering,

“…Still, if you hadn’t bought that thing, we wouldn’t be in the red.”

Un let out a quiet chuckle.

“I bought this with my personal funds.”

Chilbok rolled his eyes before awkwardly clearing his throat.

“…You should’ve said that earlier.”

“What? Do I need your permission every time I spend my own money?”

Un deliberately spoke in a scolding tone.

Immediately, Chilbok grabbed his waist and cried out dramatically.

“Oh dear! I must’ve hurt my back lifting those roof beams. Every bone in my body aches!”

Shaking his head at Chilbok’s theatrics, Un gently set the telescope down and opened Punguibang’s account book.

In an instant, the expression on his face became serious.

The lighthearted atmosphere that had filled the room disappeared without a trace, replaced by the quiet dignity of an orchid that never lost its fragrance even while growing in muddy water.

Until last month, the list of commissions had been packed full.

This month, it was practically empty.

“At this rate, we won’t be able to help the common people survive the winter.”

On the surface, Punguibang accepted requests and earned money carrying them out—something akin to a detective agency or errand service in modern Korea.

But in reality, it was much more than that.

The money they earned was used to aid poor and destitute commoners.

And beneath even that noble purpose…

“Is anyone here?”

A voice from outside interrupted Un’s thoughts.

He looked up and met Chilbok’s eyes.

“It looks like we have a customer!”

Chilbok beamed and hurried outside.

Meanwhile, Siyoung tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword, becoming even more vigilant.

Soon, noisy chatter could be heard outside the door.

Why had they come?

Where were they from?

Did they have an appointment?

Who had recommended them?

There was only one reason Chilbok bombarded every visitor with unnecessary questions.

To establish dominance.

By overwhelming them with questions, he hoped to intimidate them into paying a higher commission fee.

“It sounds like someone from a wealthy household has arrived,” Un remarked. “Judging by how excited Chilbok is.”

He should have been smiling at the arrival of another profitable client.

Instead, the corners of his lips twisted.

“I wonder which nobleman has come today to satisfy his own selfish interests.”

Not a single wealthy client who had ever visited Punguibang had requested something for the benefit of others.

The sages had always taught people to put the public good before personal gain.

Yet those with power, much like government officials, cared only about filling their own bellies.

Or indulging in their private pleasures.

A bitter taste spread across Un’s mouth.

“So… whose selfishness will leave me disgusted this time?”

The fire reflected in his dark, gleaming eyes slowly faded.

“The guest is coming in!”

Along with Chilbok’s excited announcement, the door opened.

The moment Un saw who entered—

The extinguished flame in his eyes crackled…

…and burst back to life.

Pouring tea with practiced elegance, Un extended the cup.

“Please, have some.”

Hari, who had been carefully observing Un’s large hands, slowly raised her head.

A gentle smile rested on Un’s face as he looked directly at her.

“Hmm…”

Hari let out a long breath inwardly before narrowing her eyes.

“Why is he so ridiculously handsome? He’s making this transmigrator’s heart stop.”

The man was so handsome that even someone as bold as Hari found herself momentarily speechless.

His skin was so flawless that even dust would feel too honored to remain upon it.

His nose and jawline were as graceful as brushstrokes in a painting.

His black eyes, polished like jade, were deeper than the purest spring hidden within the mountains.

His well-defined crimson lips reminded one of ripe fruit.

And despite the musk filling the room, there was also the subtle scent of plum blossoms drifting from the man himself.

“That’s the male lead’s signature scent!”

If possible, Hari wanted nothing to do with the male protagonist.

Especially in novels set during the Joseon era.

Those male leads constantly encountered assassins, became entangled in vicious political struggles, suffered endlessly…

…and eventually ascended the throne.

“What if he falls in love with me?”

Hari had absolutely no intention of spending the rest of her life trapped inside the royal palace.

Besides…

She was a firm pessimist when it came to marriage.

“I can’t exactly be the one to end the royal bloodline.”

While imagining such an absurd future by herself, Hari suddenly remembered the contents of Eunwon.

“The male lead in Eunwon was a farmhand, wasn’t he?”

She had lost count of how many scenes featured him chopping firewood with his shirt off.

The author had described his beast-like physique with such painstaking detail that she could picture it as vividly as if she had seen it herself.

The man before her, however, possessed an elegance completely unsuited to the handle of a woodcutting axe.

Rather than an axe, he looked like someone who belonged with a long, graceful sword.

Without realizing it, Hari imagined him standing in a bamboo grove, the hem of his softly colored robe fluttering in the breeze as he swung his blade.

It was a breathtaking sight.

“What brings you here today?”

The man asked.

Snapping back to reality, Hari wrapped her fingers around her teacup.

“Before I make my request, I’d like to ask you one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“You’ve never chopped firewood before, have you?”

One of Un’s eyebrows rose.

“Is your request related to chopping firewood?”

“No… but…”

“I’ve never done it before,” he replied confidently, “but I’m sure I could. There’s nothing involving physical work that I can’t do.”

Only after hearing that answer did Hari finally relax.

He was unbelievably handsome…

But apparently he wasn’t the male protagonist.

The tension left her shoulders, and the stiffness in her face eased.

Seeing the sudden change in her expression, Un narrowed his eyes.

Although the season of apricot blossoms had long passed, it felt as though pale pink petals were suddenly drifting down like a spring shower.

She was completely different from what he had heard.

Before realizing it, Un had already spoken.

“So then… what is it that the young lady of the Daesagan household wishes to request of me?”

“You know who I am?”

Only after seeing Hari’s smile disappear did Un realize his mistake.

“Ah…”

He gave an awkward cough.

“Ahem.”

Taking the cue, Chilbok stepped forward.

“Well… you’re rather famous, aren’t you? We’ve heard you’re working as an oejibu.”

Un nodded.

“That’s right. I’ve heard those rumors as well.”

It was an answer that cleverly mixed truth with falsehood.

It was true that Un had heard about Hari.

But what he had received had not been rumors.

It had been a report.

“Find out everything about the woman from the Daesagan household.”

That had been the order Un gave Chilbok seven days earlier.

And that command originated from a meeting ten days ago between Un and his elder brother,

Anjong Lee Gwang.

The conversation they had shared naturally resurfaced in his mind.

“I had intended to play matchmaker for you.”

“You, Brother? I appreciate the thought, but I am still too immature to take a wife.”

“Hahaha. You’re drinking kimchi soup before anyone has even offered you rice cakes. Before I could even mention your name, the other party had already refused.”

“…Excuse me? Me? Who exactly rejected me?”

Although he had no intention of marrying yet, Un had always believed he would make an excellent husband.

His face?

Handsome enough.

From childhood, he had mastered archery, horseback riding, swordsmanship, and many other martial skills.

His physical abilities were beyond question.

He belonged to the royal family, so his lineage was impeccable.

To make matters even better, he enjoyed an excellent relationship with his elder brother, leaving no chance of being dragged into rebellion or treason.

Yet…

He had already been rejected.

His pride had been quietly wounded, and his curiosity only grew.

“Who was this woman… who rejected me without a second thought? And why?”

At that moment, Lee Gwang’s answer echoed once more in his ears.

“An Hari.”

Un quietly whispered Hari’s name.

The woman who had given him the pain of his very first rejection…

Without ever meeting him…

Was now sitting directly before him.