🌹 What Family Means
Even though the courtyard was bathed in lantern light and heavy with jasmine, Tian Ke's eyes never left the assassin's blade pressed against Yun Yuhua's throat. Danger crackled between them like a live wire.
"What do you want?" Tian Ke demanded in flawless Joseon. Qian'ai stiffened beside him, knuckles whitening. Yun Yuhua's gaze burned as she stared down the sword's owner.
The man's lips curved into a mocking smile. "We came for this commoner, not you," he said, voice like silk over steel. Yun Yuhua's fists clenched; she could taste blood at the thought of him harming Ae‑shim. Tian Ke watched her coolly, giving no sign of concern for anyone else.
"Take her—leave my sister alone!" Tian Ke thundered, stepping forward. Yun Yuhua and Qian'ai froze, stunned by his command. Abandon Ae‑shim?
"Ke Gege, what are you doing?!" Yun Yuhua's fury cut through the air. Qian'ai's protest fell silent in the tension.
Tian Ke leaned close, lowered his voice in Ming, "She's never been family. I swore to protect only you and Yun Yuhua… not outsiders."
Qian'ai's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I promised her protection, too!" Qian'ai erupted. In the same heartbeat, Yun Yuhua surged forward, snatching the assassin's sword by its tip—halting everyone mid‑breath.
"Yuyu!" Tian Ke gasped.
"If you won't defend her, I will!" Yun Yuhua snapped. She drove her knee into the assassin's ribs; he twisted, laughing as he threatened Ae‑shim. Yun Yuhua's foot lashed out, snapping his wrist and sending the blade skittering across the stones. Qian'ai leapt in, yanking Ae‑shim behind him as the assassin reeled.
Just then, Seo Ju moved with lethal grace, his own sword sliding free. In one fluid motion, he stepped between Yun Yuhua and her foe, steel pressing to the man's throat.
The assassin's grin faltered. "I thought you'd just stand there and watch…" he hissed, cracking as Seo Ju's blade caught the lantern light. Yun Yuhua's anger flared. She shoved Seo Ju aside, but he caught her wrist and pulled her back.
"Let go!"
"You're bleeding," Seo Ju said, voice taut. "That's enough."
She wrenched free, eyes blazing. "If they want to take her, they'll have to kill me first!"
The words hung in the air like a gauntlet thrown. Seo Ju froze, caught off guard. Tian Ke said nothing, his jaw tight, his thoughts a locked vault. Beside them, Qian'ai stood unmoving, gazing hard. If Yun Yuhua was willing to bleed for Ae-shim—then so was he.
Seo Ju said nothing, but his blade didn't waver, pressed steadily against the assassin's neck.
Footsteps echoed across the courtyard. Officers strode in, swords drawn. At their lead was Do-hae. His sharp eyes scanned the scene, then locked on the four men who had threatened Ae-shim.
"Arrest them," he ordered coldly.
The officers didn't hesitate. They seized the three already wounded by Yun Yuhua's fury. The last man—the one who had held the blade to her throat—simply smirked. Meeting Seo Ju's eyes, then Yun Yuhua's, he let his sword slip from his fingers as if surrendering were a choice.
As the officers dragged him away, Yun Yuhua's gaze shifted to Seo Ju. Why did he step in at all, she wondered, when he seemed like the kind of man who would've stayed in the shadows? Seo Ju met her eyes, silent. He didn't understand her—not really. Why would she put herself between death and someone who wasn't even family?
Yun Yuhua walked away with her brothers and Ae-shim, not sparing Seo Ju a single glance. He watched her go, frustration twisting inside him. He didn't understand her. Maybe he never would.
"How do I pull you in…?" he whispered.
The officers led the thugs away to jail. The assassin, however, was quietly freed—someone had paid his bond, and with a final look at Seo Ju and Yun Yuhua, he slipped into the shadows.
Back at the inn, Yun Yuhua kept her distance from Tian Ke. So did Qian'ai. Neither spoke to him. The silence between them was louder than any argument. They were disappointed—too disappointed to express how, or when, they might forgive him.
Later, in the inn's quiet garden, Tian Ke stood alone, the night breeze brushing past. He exhaled sharply, caught between the weight of a promise to their father and the sting of his siblings turning away from him.
Ae-shim approached quietly.
"Mister Tian Ke?" she called softly.
He turned, eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean—"
"I know you love your brother and sister," Ae-shim interrupted gently. "If I had younger siblings like Yun Yuhua, I'd do the same—especially if a stranger was near them."
Tian Ke's frown lingered, but he said nothing.
"You don't need to apologize," Ae-shim continued. "But… have you ever thought that Yun Yuhua is simply kind by nature? That she sees people clearly?"
He froze. "Sees people clearly?"
Ae-shim gave a faint smile. "She reads people better than anyone I've met. Her trust runs deep. Even when I was a stranger, she was kind to me. And because of that—I'd risk anything to protect her, just like she did for me."
She paused, then added quietly, "That man… she doesn't trust him. No matter what you say. She keeps her distance. If you look into her eyes, you'll see it too. Just how much she could see in him that we don't."
Tian Ke didn't respond right away. He stood in thoughtful silence, Ae-shim's words echoing in his mind. For once, it felt like someone outside of his siblings could see the truth—see what was tearing at him from the inside. A small breath escaped him, part relief, part exhaustion.
He turned to Ae-shim. Then, without hesitation, he bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry," he said. "For how I treated you. And… thank you. For helping me see things more clearly."
Ae-shim blinked, caught off guard. Then she smiled—genuine and bright—as if she had just been acknowledged by someone she had long looked up to.
"Yuyu has two amazing brothers," she replied softly.
Tian Ke nodded, a little sheepish now. "Ae-shim… I also saw what you did earlier. You shielded her. You got hurt."
His voice softened. "Thank you… for protecting her."
Ae-shim's eyes welled up at the memory. The fear, the pain—and Yun Yuhua's courage.
"Anyone would've done the same for someone like her," she murmured, tears slipping free. "She's… she's selfless. And I'm glad she came from a family like yours. I'm really thankful you let me stay."
She wiped her eyes, smiling even as she cried.
Just then, footsteps came racing toward them.
"Ae-shim?!" Qian'ai's voice broke through, sharp and panicked. He skidded to a stop, seeing her wiping tears. His gaze locked on Tian Ke, full of suspicion.
"What did you say to her?! Why are you making her cry again?!"
Ae-shim and Tian Ke turned toward him, both startled.
"I—" Tian Ke began. Qian'ai stepped in front of Ae-shim like a shield.
"She's already been through enough! You're always so mean—can't you just leave her alone?! Come on, Ae-shim! Don't listen to him!"
He grabbed her wrist to pull her away, but Ae-shim resisted.
"Li'ai, wait!" she cried, flustered. "He didn't do anything wrong!"
Qian'ai froze, frowning. "You don't have to lie for him."
"I'm not lying!" Ae-shim insisted, gently pulling her hand back. "I was the one who came to talk to him. He apologized. He even thanked me."
Qian'ai stared at her in disbelief, his mouth slightly open.
Tian Ke crossed his arms, exhaling with a wry chuckle. "I told you—I wasn't bullying her."
Ae-shim let out a teary laugh through her smile. "Don't be mean to your brother, okay?"
Qian'ai blinked at her, then at Tian Ke. He looked utterly lost, like his brain couldn't keep up with the emotional whiplash.
"…Huh?"
Ae-shim's laughter broke the silence, light and genuine, easing the tension that had hung between them. For a brief moment, it felt like the weight of everything had lifted, leaving nothing but the warmth of her smile. Qian'ai exhaled deeply, relieved to see that spark still in Ae-shim's eyes despite all she'd been through.
He shared a quiet look with Tian Ke, a brief acknowledgment passing between them—a silent recognition that they'd both made mistakes. But in the end, it was Ae-shim's laughter that had calmed the storm. It wasn't just joy, it was a sign of her strength.
They stayed there for a while, in the calm of the garden, the air cool against their skin. Their conversation was easy now, the heaviness gone. They spoke in simple, quiet tones about the night—the danger, the unexpected kindness—and for the first time in what felt like forever, it was just them, sharing the moment.
When it was time to go to bed, they did so with a sense of peace that hadn't been there before. As they parted ways, a quiet understanding settled between them. Things were still complicated, but for now—they had each other. And maybe that was enough to carry them forward.
The morning sun spilled gently through the inn's windows. Yun Yuhua woke without pain in her hand, a welcome relief. Her first thought was Ae-shim. She rose to check on her, but before she could even leave her room, she found Tian Ke waiting in the corridor. She stopped in her tracks. Her expression darkened. She turned on her heel to leave.
"Yuyu," Tian Ke called softly. Though her back was to him, she paused—reluctantly turning just enough to let him see the edge of her profile.
"Leave me alone," she said coldly.
He sighed. "I know you're mad. You have every right to be. But… I wanted to talk. I already apologized to Ae-shim last night. I thanked her too. Now I want to make things right with you."
She faced him fully now, arms crossed. "You're not just saying that to get out of trouble, are you?" Her tone was sharp, but her eyes searched his face.
Tian Ke smiled, a little sheepishly. "No. I mean it. I was selfish. I didn't see Ae-shim as one of us… but I do now. She's been with us through everything. That has to mean something."
Yun Yuhua's pout deepened. "She's not just part of our life, Tian Ke. She is family. She always will be."
He nodded, the weight of her words settling in. "Yes," he said, voice low. "Always."
At that, her stern expression cracked. A smile tugged at her lips before she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. He didn't hesitate to return the hug.
"Good!" she said brightly.
Tian Ke chuckled, ruffling her hair. "You always win. No matter how hard I try, I can never win against you."
Yun Yuhua grinned up at him. "That's because I'm right most of the time."
They both laughed—and just like that, the distance between them melted.
The inn, once quiet and dim, now glowed with warmth and laughter. The gentle hum of joy drifted through the air, mingling with the rich scent of simmering broth and fresh rice. Passersby paused, drawn in not just by the promise of a good meal, but by something deeper—something that felt like home. It wasn't the food alone that made them stay. It was the feeling of family.
Meanwhile, in Ming, Jinji pressed on in his search for Li Zhiyong. His path led him to a crumbling home on the edge of a long-forgotten village, one left in ruin after a brutal raid decades ago. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he stepped through the threshold. This wasn't just any place—it was the first village struck when Joseon and Ming supposedly forged a secret pact. A pact cloaked in shadows, whispered only among Joseon's royal family. A lie built to cover a darker truth—one that revolved around the disappearance of the Missing Crown Princess.