The Villainess Eats Malatang
In Sichuan, the residence of Prince Deokhyeon stood like an immovable mountain. He was a chinwang, after all—the Emperor’s own younger brother. Though the prince had never shown his face in public, the head of the Tang Clan, Sichuan’s foremost noble house, had paid his respects during every major holiday for years.
That very Prince Deokhyeon now opened the door to the family head’s hall and stepped inside.
What in the world has that crazy daughter of mine been doing out there?
A daughter was a daughter, and a prince was a prince. Tang Tujuk had been halfway to the floor in a deep bow when Prince Jayu smiled and raised a finger to his lips. The Tang family head froze mid-motion in an absurd half-crouch, looking like he was about to dive into a lake.
“Dad? What’s wrong?”
The problem child in question then proceeded to speak in the most casual, disrespectful tone imaginable right in front of the honored guests.
It was the eternal regret of Tang Tujuk’s life that he had never properly disciplined his beloved youngest daughter simply because she was so pretty. In the end, the fault was his.
“Ahem. Ahem. It’s nothing. Someone told me this posture is excellent for the body.”
Tang Tujuk awkwardly crossed his legs and sat down. The seat felt incredibly uncomfortable.
In truth, relations between the royal residence and the Tang Clan had never been warm. For generations, Sichuan had belonged to the Tangs. Even before the prince’s household suddenly appeared and claimed most of Chengdu’s prime land, the tension had existed. Everyone expected a fierce behind-the-scenes struggle for power, but the royal side had withdrawn first. Since then, they had been steadily chipping away at the Tang Clan’s interests.
Yet Tang Tujuk’s mind spun at blinding speed. Why would the prince visit in secret like this? The man had lived like a ghost for over a decade. Had their hidden cornerstone mine been discovered? And of all people, why did it have to involve his ill-mannered daughter?
Then, like a bolt from the blue, realization struck him.
Ah. Of course.
The prince was also a man.
A chinwang made for an extraordinarily high-value marriage candidate. Beyond his imperial bloodline, his character was upright, compassionate, and averse to conflict—a true gentleman. Tang Tujuk’s demeanor immediately relaxed. Perhaps his troublesome daughter might actually prove useful for once.
The Tang family head continued greeting the guests with practiced composure.
“Ah, our honored guests. Oh. You are the named disciple of the Grand Matriarch? Is the Sword Empress in good health? I see.”
The named disciple of the Grand Matriarch—Seomun Cheong. With his level of martial prowess, Tang Tujuk had no trouble seeing through the veil. His hopes crumbled instantly.
As expected. For his daughter, who had nothing to offer but her face, to become a princess consort? That idea had been ridiculous from the start. Still, the prince was a man, after all.
“Ah, you must be the elder. I see. Understood.”
Just the old man who attended Seomun Cheong.
“So it’s Choryeo. How could I forget? Yes, we met at Elder Moyong’s seventieth birthday banquet. Is that Paeng fellow doing well? What? His cultivation rose? Don’t tell me that bastard only swings his saber after eating.”
Paeng Cho-ryo. Beyond the Five Great Families and even among the Ten Great Families—now the Nine, since the Jinju Eon Clan had vanished—no family head could fail to recognize her. Her massive frame alone was unforgettable, but once you heard the name “Pretty Sparrow” attached to that giant body, it was permanently seared into your brain. Even the Paeng family head had admitted he never expected her to grow that big, joking that if he had known, he would have named her Taesan or Taebung.
Finally, it was the prince’s turn.
“And this handsome young master here is…?”
“Dad, he’s fine. Just an extra weakling who got tagged along.”
“An extra weakling who got tagged along. Also known as Jayu.”
“Ah… Yes. Well, you are most welcome.”
Tang Tujuk nodded with the enlightened expression of a man who had achieved nirvana.
----
Tang Tujuk had two wives and eight children. Concubines were another matter. Seven sons had come in succession from his two wives, until at last a single ray of light arrived—the birth of their beloved youngest daughter.
With seven older brothers, both mothers—exhausted by their sons’ indifference—along with every elder, direct descendant, and collateral relative in the clan, would squeal with delight at the mere sight of her. Objectively speaking, she possessed beauty worthy of the Five Flowers of Murim.
Did anyone really need an explanation of how she had been raised? She was the undisputed number one in the Tang family hierarchy, the greatest little villain the clan had ever produced. The only reason she hadn’t become a complete terror was the strict traditions of the Tang Clan. At least when scolded by adults she would obediently kneel, cry, and reflect. The child wasn’t entirely rotten.
And that little villain had summoned all seven of her older brothers before dinner.
“Do you know how much humiliation I suffered from that veiled bitch? I can’t endure this! I won’t endure it!”
Dang Nan-a panted with rage.
The eldest, Dang Jin-cheol, wore a troubled expression. “Aya, no matter what, that woman holds a position comparable to a senior of the Daoist faction. It’s fortunate we’re one of the great families. Otherwise she’d rank alongside a retired clan head.”
“What?! Big brother, your little sister Nan-a suffered that kind of disgrace! In front of all those people, she made me kneel and apologize!”
“Still, to use poison on such an esteemed guest…”
“I cried and begged in front of everyone! Are you really my brother? How can you be so heartless?!”
“Elder brother, Aya isn’t wrong. No matter her status in the Daoist faction, is there any justification for forcing a direct descendant of the Tang Clan to kneel in the middle of the street?”
“It’s not like we’re using anything serious. Just something to give her a stomachache. The seventh and I can pretend to have the same problem and pace around at dawn. If even the direct line is suffering from bad food, who would dare investigate?”
“Ugh, elder brother. Me too?”
“As expected of Brother Hyun! Only Brother Jin understands me! Hmph, whose side are you even on, eldest brother?”
“No, Aya, I was just—”
“If that’s how it is, eldest brother can just pretend he heard nothing. Third brother, fourth brother, and the youngest will handle the poisoning. A fourfold compound poison couldn’t be cured even by an immortal.”
“Ugh, elder brother, do I have to administer the poison…?”
“While we’re at it, let’s rip that veil clean off! I want to see exactly how ugly her face is.”
“The seventh can pretend to stumble and snatch it away.”
“Elder brother? Why does it have to be me again…?”
“Keep disturbing her meal! Talk loudly beside her, spray saliva everywhere, and laugh while sprinkling half-chewed food on top as garnish!”
“Isn’t that the seventh’s specialty? If he sits next to the young lady, the problem solves itself.”
“That’s… I have my dignity too…”
“Good. Then it’s decided. But remember this, everyone—since Jincheol is the young clan head, he heard absolutely nothing.”
“Brothers…? Does anyone care about my opinion…? Hello…? Can you even hear me?”
“Hehe! My brothers really are the best! Except for the eldest one.”
The Tang Clan’s despicable conspiracy was growing deeper by the second.
However.
The reason Seomun Cheong wore the veil had three parts. First, the old man fussed about it to an extreme degree. Second, it wasn’t particularly inconvenient. Among the Demonic Cult’s many income streams, trade goods from the exotic-skinned foreigners beyond the mountains held a prominent place. Choe Ri-ong had visited the Sichuan branch of the Cult’s secretariat and simply appropriated the most precious veil they had. It was originally meant as tribute for the princess in Kaifeng, but it had mysteriously vanished. The merchant who learned of this had foamed at the mouth, but that was none of Cheong’s concern.
From the outside it revealed nothing, yet the view from within was perfectly clear. A true treasure indeed. When eating, she simply folded it once and tucked it under her nose. Other than when sleeping, she wore it constantly and felt almost no discomfort.
There was also a third reason. At first the fluttering fabric had been slightly annoying, but once she grew accustomed to it, nothing could be more comfortable. Hadn’t the ancient Han people also covered their lower faces with masks to find peace of mind before going out? Physical discomfort fades with familiarity, but mental comfort settles in like a necessity and refuses to leave.
Still, once the reason for wearing it disappeared, there was no need to continue. The third reason was that Cheong, fully aware of her own standing, had entered a great family. She no longer needed to worry about others’ opinions or chase after peace of mind.
The second reason: not being uncomfortable did not mean her body felt entirely at ease.
And the first reason: Choe Ri-ong had also felt his stomach twist with annoyance upon seeing the Understanding Poison Flower. In his eyes, whether she was called the Understanding Poison Flower or the greatest beauty of Sichuan, she didn’t even reach the tip of Cheong’s toes. Even ordinary cats, if pretty, were carried around the neighborhood for bragging rights. (Though it must be difficult for such territorial animals.)
Thus, Jayu could only blink.
“……?”
“What? Did you see something you shouldn’t have?”
“My friend?”
“Why? Does seeing my bare face feel strange?”
Jayu had suddenly remembered a past conversation. He had asked without thinking whether she never felt jealous seeing women prettier than herself. The answer that came back—“Why would I get jealous?”—he had interpreted however he pleased. Since the Understanding Poison Flower wasn’t prettier than her, there was naturally no reason for jealousy.
“Was it truly necessary to hide such beauty?”
“Miss. Beauty this, beauty that. Spare me.”
Goosebumps rising, Cheong smacked Jayu’s arm repeatedly.
“Ow, ow, stop, stop! It hurts! It really hurts!”
Jayu rubbed his arm frantically and shrank away. He instinctively knew he would wake up to a nasty bruise.
“Can you manage your speech at all? It feels like you’re putting in less and less effort.”
“Ahem. It’s become a habit, so I can’t help it.”
“Whatever. Let’s go eat some duck. Seriously, I’m going to starve to death. What time is it already?”
And so Seomun Cheong descended upon the Tang Clan’s banquet hall.
Paeng Cho-ryo, who had been studying Cheong’s figure intently, recognized her identity instantly.
“Oh! Cheong, you took the veil off? What the hell? Why were you hiding such a pretty face? This bastard—what? You said you wouldn’t look at her face? Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
The first to move was the fourth son of the Tang family. As he smoothly slid into position, the seventh and youngest stared in panic.
“Uh, older brother? That’s my seat…”
“Hehe. How dare you covet the seat beside your sister-in-law?”
“No, suddenly—”
“Move. Ugh.”
Another hand smacked the back of his head.
“You should be the one moving. There’s order even when drinking cold water—how dare you try to marry before your older brother?”
In the end, the second brother claimed the youngest’s seat and sat there wriggling with a solemn expression, barely containing his grin.
Dang Nan-a’s lips curved into a venomous smile.
Second older brother is making his move personally!
Sure, she had been slightly flustered because the girl was prettier than expected, but now she would get what was coming to her.
Of course, things were unlikely to go that smoothly.