Chapter 64 — The Cost Of Survival
Night had already settled over Hanshen Ge.
The usual liveliness of the day had dulled into something quieter, heavier—like the entire building was holding its breath.
A knock sounded softly at Minhwa's door. "Dinner is ready," a voice called from outside.
The sound stirred her from sleep.
By the time Minhwa opened her eyes and sat up, the footsteps outside were already fading into the distance.
She blinked, still a little dazed, then turned her head slightly—And paused.
The space beside her felt… wrong.
Jianhe's belongings, which had been scattered there before, were gone.
Completely gone. Only emptiness remained.
Host… did your roommate run away? Vira asked, unable to hide her curiosity.
"I don't know," Minhwa replied quietly.
Before she could think further— Her stomach growled loudly, cutting off any deeper thought.
She frowned slightly. She hadn't eaten anything since morning, and this body… was far too young to endure hunger for long.
Host, quickly get up, clean yourself, and go eat, Vira urged. You must be starving.
"Mmm."
Minhwa didn't argue.
She got up, washed quickly, and changed before heading straight toward the dining hall.
When she arrived, she slowed her steps. The dining room was unusually full.
Girls gathered in clusters, whispering among themselves, their voices low but restless. The tension from the day had not disappeared—it had only shifted.
Still, Minhwa walked forward calmly.
She took a plate, scooped some food—steamed rice, braised vegetables, a bit of shredded meat—and looked around.
Finding an empty spot, she sat down. Without distraction, she began to eat.
One bite two bites three bites
Halfway through her meal— Someone sat down across from her.
Minhwa paused and looked up.
It was Dunluo.
"Minhwa, I hope you don't mind if I sit here," she said with a bright smile.
"Mmm, I don't mind," Minhwa replied simply.
"Good," Dunluo said cheerfully.
For a moment, they ate in silence.
Then—
"Do you know that Yunluo fell into the well?" Dunluo asked casually.
"Mmm," Minhwa replied, not looking up from her food. "It caused quite a commotion. It would be strange if I said I didn't know."
"That's true," Dunluo said, nodding.
Another pause. "I hope they catch the killer soon," Minhwa added calmly.
Dunluo blinked— Then suddenly laughed.
"What are you saying? There are no killers."
Minhwa's chopsticks stilled slightly. "No killers?" she repeated.
"Yes," Dunluo said, still smiling. "No killers. Yunluo was just careless. She didn't watch where she was going and fell into the well."
She waved her hand lightly, as if dismissing the entire matter. "The case was already closed this afternoon."
Silence. For a brief moment, the sounds of the dining hall seemed distant.
How can that be? Vira's voice cut in, sharp with disbelief. There were clear signs—strangulation… and abuse…
The image flashed in Minhwa's mind—Yunluo, then Jianhe.
Jianhe's flustered reaction. The nail marks on her hands.
The fear in her eyes.
Minhwa lowered her gaze slightly, her expression calm as ever.
It's been covered up, she answered inwardly.
Someone powerful needs it to stay hidden.
She picked up another bite of food, as if nothing had changed.
Both girls fell quiet again, returning to their meals.
The soft clinking of chopsticks against bowls blended into the low murmur of the dining hall.
For a while, nothing was said.
Then— Dunluo spoke again.
"What do you think about your roommate… now that she's officially a full gisaeng?"
Minhwa's chopsticks paused mid-air.
"Mmm?" she let out softly, a hint of surprise slipping through.
Dunluo blinked at her.
"Didn't you know? I thought you already heard." She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "She was reinstated this evening. Now she's the youngest gisaeng in the house."
Mmm," Minhwa responded quietly.
But her thoughts were no longer calm. Then, after a brief pause, she looked up at Dunluo.
"Isn't she too young to be a gisaeng?" Minhwa asked. "She hasn't even had her first woman's flow yet."
Dunluo's expression shifted slightly.
"I heard it was a special order," she said, her tone dropping further. "Apparently… her client prefers them young."
A faint shiver ran through her.
Wow, Host… your roommate didn't get caught, Vira said, sounding both impressed and unsettled. If anything, she got promoted.
"Poor girl," Dunluo muttered. "I hope I'm never that unlucky."
She straightened a little, as if trying to shake off the discomfort.
"Oh—and by now, she should've moved out of your room," Dunluo added. "I heard she's been given her own space in Hanshen Ge. Special treatment."
"Yes," Minhwa replied calmly.
As she thought back to the empty space. The absence.
"She has."
"Tch," Dunluo clicked her tongue. "You're quite lucky, you know. It's only your third day here, and now you have a room all to yourself."
She smiled teasingly.
"I heard Hanshen Ge doesn't change room arrangements easily. So for a while—days, months… maybe even years—you'll be roommate-less."
"Mmm," Minhwa hummed.
Luck. Was that what this was?
Dunluo suddenly leaned forward again, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Do you know what would be even funnier?"
Minhwa glanced up slightly. "What?"
"What if tomorrow morning, they assign you a new roommate… and it's someone exactly like Jianhe again?"
For a second— There was silence.
Then— "Hey—don't jinx it for me," Minhwa replied.
Dunluo burst into laughter. And unexpectedly— Minhwa let out a small laugh too.
The sound was soft, unfamiliar, but real. For a brief moment, the tension that had lingered all day seemed to loosen.
Between her laughter, Dunluo wiped at her eyes and said,
"I swear… this is the most I've ever heard you talk."
Minhwa didn't respond. But the faint curve at the corner of her lips lingered just a little longer than before.
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Meanwhile upstairs, above the dining hall— Hidden within the dim shadows of the balcony— Jianhe stood quietly.
Below her, laughter rang out. Light. Carefree.
As if nothing had happened.
Her eyes lingered on the two girls seated together—Minhwa and Dunluo. She watched them for a long moment, her expression unreadable, before slowly turning away.
Without a sound, she walked back into the corridor.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Her new room was nothing like the one she had shared before.
Larger. Quieter.
Too quiet.
At its center sat a specially designed kang bed, neatly arranged, untouched.
Jianhe stepped inside. The door closed behind her.
And just like that— The silence swallowed her whole.
She walked slowly to the bed, sat down, then curled into herself, her arms wrapping tightly around her knees.
The moment she was alone— Her composure shattered. Her shoulders trembled as tears slipped down, her breathing turning uneven.
Everything that had happened that day— Everything that was about to happen— Pressed down on her all at once.
Fear. Shame.
Helplessness.
She bit her lip to keep from making a sound.But the tears would not stop.
Her mind drifted back—to earlier that day. To the moment everything changed.
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.
.
.
.
Four hours earlier…
Jianhe had been lying in the room she shared with Minhwa when a knock came at the door.
"Madam summons you," a guard said from outside. Her body stiffened instantly.
Without a word, she rose and followed, leaving the sleeping Minhwa behind.
At Madam's office.The door slid open. She was allowed inside.
"Sit," Madam instructed.
Jianhe obeyed immediately, lowering herself onto the seat.
Then—Silence.
Heavy. Oppressive.
Ten full minutes passed.
No sound except the faint crackle of a distant lamp.
Jianhe's hands tightened in her lap. Her breathing grew uneven. Every second stretched longer than the last.
Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure it could be heard.
Then— Madam finally spoke.
"What happened last night?"
Her voice was calm. Too calm.
Jianhe froze.
"What did you and Yunluo do," Madam continued, "that led to her death… and caused you to be specially requested by the Third Prince?"
The words struck like lightning.
Jianhe's head snapped up. "Requested…?" she whispered.
Then her face drained of color. Her body began to shake.
"No—" she choked out, panic flooding her voice. "No, Madam, I refuse—I don't want to—please—please don't send me to him!"
Her voice broke completely as tears streamed down her face.
"I don't want to go to that madman… please—please don't agree—!"
"Enough."
Madam's voice cut through her cries like a blade. "Who do you think you are to reject the Third Prince?"
Jianhe flinched, her words dying instantly.
"Speak," Madam said coldly. "Tell me exactly what happened. How did you get yourselves into this mess?"
Jianhe trembled. There was no escape.
Slowly, her voice came out, broken and uneven.
"Last night… Yunluo, Minke, and I… we were heading to the dining hall…"
Her fingers curled tightly into her sleeves.
"On the way… we met a man." She swallowed hard.
"He was drunk. Very drunk."
Her breathing grew shaky.
"When he saw us… he came toward us. He… he wasn't in his right mind."
Her voice dropped.
"We tried to run… but he grabbed Yunluo and me."
A pause. Her body shook harder.
"Minke… she managed to escape."
Silence filled the room again.
Jianhe's voice trembled as she forced the next words out.
"Yunluo told him who she was… that she was the Prime Minister's daughter… but he didn't care."
Her lips trembled.
"He said… he said he was the Third Prince. That… no one could touch him."
The room felt colder.
"And then…" Jianhe's voice broke, "he—"
She couldn't finish it. Tears fell freely now. Her hands clenched tighter.
"After he was done and to prove it… he strangled Yunluo…"
The words barely came out. A long silence followed.
Then—
"He told me…" Jianhe continued, her voice hollow, "to throw her body into the well."
Her shoulders shook. "So he would have something against me."
Her fingers trembled violently.
"I… I had no choice…" Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"So I did it."
Silence.
Madam's gaze remained fixed on her as she thought deeply, no expression showed.
"Was Yunluo already dead when you threw her in?" she asked.
Jianhe froze. For a moment— She said nothing.
Then—
"Y-yes…" she stammered.
"She… she was already dead…"
Her eyes lowered, unable to meet Madam's gaze. Her sleeves shifted slightly as she tried to cover the marks on her hands—
But the tremble in her fingers gave her away.
A faint glint passed through Madam's eyes.
Sharp. Fleeting.
Gone before it could be caught.
If she noticed Jianhe's hesitation… the way her answer came too quickly, too stiffly— She said nothing.
Her expression remained calm, unreadable, after a few minutes of silence.
"Listen carefully," Madam said at last, her voice even.
Jianhe stiffened.
"If anyone asks you what happened last night… you know nothing." Her tone did not rise, yet it carried absolute authority.
"If they ask about Yunluo—say nothing. If they ask about the Third Prince—deny everything."
A pause.
"Whatever the question is… your answer is the same."
Jianhe's fingers tightened in her lap. "…I understand," she whispered.
Madam studied her for a moment longer.
Then— "You have no choice in this matter," she added coldly. "From this moment on… you belong to the Third Prince."
The words fell heavily. Like chains.
Jianhe's breathing hitched, but she did not dare protest again.
"Go back," Madam continued. "Pack your things. A new room has already been prepared for you."
Silence. "Leave."
Jianhe rose slowly, her legs unsteady, and bowed before turning to leave.
The door closed behind her.
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.
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.
.
Back to the present.
Jianhe remained curled on the kang bed, her body trembling slightly.
The room was quiet.Too quiet.
Her tears had not stopped.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry, Yunluo…"
Her fingers clutched tightly at her sleeves.
"You knew I had no choice…"
Her breathing grew uneven, shallow.
"It was either… you die and I live…" Her voice cracked completely.
"Or… I let you live and I die…"
More tears fell. "I'm sorry…"
The words repeated, softer each time. But no matter how many times she said it— It changed nothing.
And then— A voice.
Faint. Distant. But unmistakable.
"Jianhe... no...…"
Her body froze. Her eyes widened.
"Please... I beg you... don't..."
Jianhe's breath caught in her throat. She shook her head violently, squeezing her eyes shut.
"No… no…" she muttered, her voice trembling.
But the voice didn't stop.
" Don't kill me..."
Her hands flew to her ears as if she could block it out. Her body curled tighter into itself, as though she could disappear.
"I didn't want to—!" she choked out. "I didn't—!"
But the memory— the voice— or the guilt— Clung to her.
Refusing to let go.
In the silence of the room, with no one to hear her— Jianhe broke completely.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Inside Madams office.
Madam sat quietly behind her desk. The room had long returned to stillness.
The noise from earlier—the chaos, the voices, the hurried footsteps—had all faded, leaving behind only silence and the faint flicker of lamplight.
Her fingers rested lightly on the surface of the desk as her thoughts moved, slow and deliberate.
One by one, she went through the events of the day.
Li Ming. The yamen officials. The arrival of the palace guards. The Queen.
And then— Jianhe.
Her eyes lowered slightly.
Jianhe… The name lingered in her mind.
The girl who had sat before her—trembling, desperate… and lying. A faint, almost imperceptible shift passed through Madam's gaze.
She had seen it. The hesitation. The way Jianhe avoided her eyes.
The stammer. The hands trying too quickly to hide something.
She had noticed everything.
Threatened? Perhaps. That part, she did not doubt.
But— Yunluo had not been dead. Not yet, she was sure of it.
Jianhe's answer had come too fast.
Too uncertain. Too convenient.
Which meant— Jianhe had thrown her into the well while she was still alive.
Madam's expression did not change. If anything, it grew even calmer.
There was no anger or shock. Only quiet understanding.
It was the only choice given to her, the only choice she could make.
Her fingers tapped once against the desk.
Soft. Measured.
Whether it had been fear… or survival— It did not matter.
In this world, those who hesitated died.
Those who chose—lived. And Jianhe had chosen.
Madam leaned back slightly. Her gaze lifted, steady and unreadable.
Whether Jianhe became the Third Prince's woman…
Whether she was kept, used, or discarded— That was not Madam's concern.
Power could do as it wished.
But— There was one thing that did matter.
A faint sharpness entered her eyes.
Loyalty.
Jianhe could belong to the Third Prince in name— But her roots were still here.
Hanshen Ge.
And that could not change. Would not be allowed to change.
Madam's fingers stilled completely.
She must remain loyal.
Not to the Prince. Not to anyone.
But to Hanshen Ge.
Only then… would she remain useful.
Only then…
would she be allowed to survive.
The flame of the lamp flickered softly, casting shifting shadows across Madam's face.
And in that quiet room— Her decision settled, cold and absolute.