Chapter 86 Yeo Il leaned her head forward and stared closely at Go Sangbaek's face. Hm. With her eyes closed, she could not properly confirm his features.
"Wh-why do you look at me so? Is there something on my cheek…?"
"Even if there were, I would not see it. But Young Master Go, is it truly wise to tell me such things?"
"Did you not ask, Namgung Soyo?"
"That is true. But Red Dragon Black Blade is one of the Three Calamities. A notorious enemy of the martial world whose name makes people shudder. There is no benefit in letting the world know you share a connection. If anyone asks about him again, pretend you do not know."
She extended her hand in warning.
"You said you had an ornament for me?"
Before long, a cold object was placed upon her palm. An earring.
"…It may be rude to say this, but Namgung Soyo sometimes seems like someone whose eyes function perfectly."
"I hear that often. What is this earring useful for?"
Go Sangbaek fell silent briefly, then smiled awkwardly.
"It serves no purpose. It is simply my gift."
It seemed he found handing over only a letter insufficient. Yeo Il rolled the ornament in her hand, roughly discerning its shape, and nodded.
"I always receive and never give. I am sorry. Thank you, Young Master Go."
"Think nothing of it."
After hesitating, he spoke carefully.
"Namgung Soyo. I asked earlier as well—what exactly are you?"
"What do you mean? I am simply Namgung Soyo. A blind illegitimate daughter of the Namgung Clan who cannot step beyond the gates without her brothers' permission."
A disbelieving laugh escaped Go Sangbaek. There was not a shred of faith in his reaction.
"Will we meet again?"
"Perhaps."
"I see. Then… I will wait for the day we meet again, Namgung Soyo."
After the guest departed.
Left alone at last, Yeo Il unfolded the letter Go Sangbaek had left behind.
Sweet osmanthus above the pond. The scene formed vividly in her mind. It was the place where she had met Nanny Jang.
He worries about my situation.
Was it merely concern over Danli Mukran's excessive ambition? Or perhaps Red Dragon Black Blade had told him something regarding Namgung Pae.
Smiling faintly, Yeo Il folded the letter neatly and placed it into a small box.
It was, somehow, a poem she rather liked.
Jin Cheong-ak was nowhere to be seen.
He had appeared only intermittently of late, and in the end did not show himself even at the moment of departure for Hangryong.
Though he roamed as he pleased, he always returned at crucial times. Now nearly three days had passed without word. Even Yeo Il could not help but be concerned.
Perhaps I should remind him again.
Who his master is.
Tap, tap.
Her neatly trimmed nails slowly tapped against a small pentagonal black box.
Inside it slept the Yin Gu that allowed her to control at will the Yang Gu implanted within Jin Cheong-ak.
It had been a long while since she had faced such deliberation. Should she use the Yin Gu to rein in Jin Cheong-ak's decaying mind once more, or not…?
"My lady, preparations are complete. It is time to depart."
"Let us go."
Yeo Il took the pentagonal black box and left her bedchamber.
"My lady, are you certain it is fine that I do not accompany you? The companions are unsettling enough as it is. And at such a time, even Brother Ak is nowhere to be seen."
Though Seol-yeong's presence would not be of great practical help, Yeo Il was not so heartless as to voice that thought while facing his sincere concern.
"If you simply wish to see Seol Seorin, I can tell Namgung Jeok-myeong even now to bring you along, Seol-yeong."
"What? Have you lost your mind? If I see her, I will only be beaten again!"
Ignoring his outrage, Yeo Il turned to the young maid who hurried after her.
"Chang-a."
"Yes!"
There was pride in Chang-a's bright eyes—more so than before.
It was likely because of the pear-blossom hairpin now pinned in Yeo Il's hair—one she had wrested from Danli Mukran's maids after physical and verbal skirmishes.
Looking down at the girl, who had grown noticeably taller with the cooling weather, Yeo Il said,
"You will soon learn who my mother is."
Indeed.
Namgung Soyo's biological mother could, with high probability, be identified through Jin Cheong-ak. If he returned, she could fulfill her promise to Chang-a at once.
The problem was the Killing Register.
But if even that could be resolved by obtaining useful information about Namgung Pae from the Gate Master of Hangryong.
Within fifteen days, everything would be concluded. In theory.
Chang-a looked up at her in confusion.
"My lady? Your mother? That is wonderful news… Ah."
Realization dawned late upon her face.
"Th-that means… you will no longer remain in the clan…?"
"Yes."
"But… only one season has just passed. How can you already find your mother so soon…?"
"I have the means."
"I-I know that! That is not what I meant—ahh—huuuuu—"
She was crying.
This was troublesome.
Walking beside them, Seol-yeong shot Yeo Il a reproachful look.
"What sort of cruelty is that to a child? Of course she would not like hearing such things at a time like this."
Yeo Il did not know how to soothe a child. More precisely, she had never needed to.
"Huuuu—"
"..."
"Huuu—huuuu—"
"..."
"Sniff—huuuu—"
"..."
In the end, Yeo Il carried the sobbing Chang-a on her back for the remainder of the walk.
Namgung Jeok-myeong, who had entered the west reception hall to escort her, froze at the sight, then let out a laugh.
"Ha ha. To be carried upon your mistress's back—what a wicked little maid. Enough tears now and come down. I worry Soyo's body may suffer."
Chang-a slid down with a pout.
From the way she muttered softly, "Our lady is far stronger and sturdier than you think… foolish Sogaju (Clan Heir) who knows nothing…," it seemed she had learned rather more than expected from Seol Seorin.
"Then have a safe journey, Namgung Soyo. Please return without incident. Please."
"Have a safe journey…"
No sooner had the two small figures vanished from sight than Namgung Jeok-myeong lifted Yeo Il into his arms. She looked at him in confusion.
"You carried your maid this far. Allow me to carry you as much in return."
She swallowed the words, How unnecessary.
After setting her down, Namgung Jeok-myeong joined Namgung Pae, who had been waiting.
"We will travel by carriage for three days, then walk for two or three more."
"Yes."
It was a long and arduous journey, nearly half a month including the return.
Before boarding the carriage behind Namgung Jeok-myeong, Namgung Pae remarked lightly,
"You can barely manage your own body. Can you carry that much baggage?"
It was only a small bundle containing a few items. Yeo Il held it out as though humoring him.
"Will you carry it for me, Uncle?"
"If you do not mind it being discarded midway, I shall personally assist."
"No, thank you. I will manage. Just do not steal and throw it away."
"Now you pique my curiosity."
Ignoring his tone—which did not sound curious at all—Yeo Il boarded the carriage.
Three days later.
The carriage of the Namgung Clan, which had raced without pause, reached the midpoint of their journey.
It was around that time that news of the long-silent Jin Cheong-ak finally arrived.
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