Chapter 31
"Even if they didn't offer a single apology or ask if I was okay after I got beaten by Grandfather, I'll set that aside for now."
Instead, it was only Baek Ri-yeon who had turned pale as if she herself might faint, fretting over her.
"But after Grandfather and Little Uncle left the room, for them to swing at Baek Ri-yeon right in front of me!"
Baek Ri-myeong fumed, her voice rising in outrage.
"If Grandfather had come back then, he would've blamed me again! If they don't hold a grudge against me, shouldn't they at least hold off in front of me?"
"Th-there was... such an incident?"
"Yes! They don't care if I get beaten to death by Grandfather since it's not them taking the blows!"
In her anger, Baek Ri-myeong unwittingly clenched her fist and groaned, collapsing forward. Startled, Baek Ri-muk checked her hand.
"Father wouldn't really beat you to death..."
But even Baek Ri-muk's words trailed off weaker and weaker.
Tears welled in Baek Ri-myeong's eyes from the pain as she continued. "Ri-yeon is too kind to tell anyone, so even Father doesn't know. If word got to Grandfather about So U-ak grabbing her by the collar..."
"......"
Baek Ri-muk found himself at a loss for words.
"And when I scolded them that they shouldn't do that, do you know what they said? That Baek Ri-yeon knew Young Master Namgung was there and deliberately lured me into a trap!"
"What nonsense is that? You said you were hiding your face when you met Namgung Wan."
"Yes."
"Besides, even the physician didn't know Namgung Wan was coming, so how could Baek Ri-yeon, who's barely been in the Baek family estate, possibly recognize him?"
"Exactly! It's absurd! Even the gatekeepers didn't recognize him, and Little Uncle had no idea the Namgung young master was visiting!"
Baek Ri-myeong swallowed the urge to say their heads must be addled.
"Calm down for now. It's not good for your wounds."
Baek Ri-muk soothed his fuming daughter.
"Father, my only full-blooded sibling is Ri-ri."
"Of course."
"To me, Baek Ri-pyo and So U-ak are no different from Baek Ri-yeon—just cousins."
Baek Ri-muk cried out in surprise. "Myeong-ah! How can you equate them?"
She understood why her father, born of the same womb as her aunt, felt closer to her than to Little Uncle. But she herself hadn't shared a womb with Baek Ri-pyo or So U-ak, had she? In that sense, Baek Ri-yeon, Baek Ri-pyo, and So U-ak were all equally her cousins.
"Father, think about it again."
Baek Ri-myeong met her father's eyes squarely.
"Honestly, compared to Aunt, who only causes trouble and lacks talent, Little Uncle is far more helpful to me—with his superior martial arts, high reputation, and lack of greed."
Baek Ri-myeong had spent years observing her father by his side. He'd spent his life cleaning up after her aunt's messes. He'd faced crises multiple times covering for her scandals, been scolded by Grandfather countless times. Even after repeated scoldings and coaxing to behave, it never lasted. Just when things seemed peaceful, she'd stir up trouble again. Without her aunt, Father would have been recognized as young clan leader by Grandfather much more easily.
"Little Uncle is wise in worldly affairs and fair-minded. He's not the type to discriminate based on bloodlines."
"......"
"And Baek Ri-yeon too."
Their situations were entirely different from hers and her father's.
"Baek Ri-yeon, Little Uncle's only daughter, has a ruined dantian. No matter how promising she seems, she's just a girl who can't cultivate—likely to receive some favor from Grandfather and marry into a good family, that's all."
Baek Ri-gang threatened Baek Ri-muk's position simply by existing with his superior martial prowess, but Baek Ri-yeon was different. As a qi cripple, she posed no threat. Though Baek Ri-gang desperately tried to heal her, no one truly believed it possible. To Baek Ri-myeong, it was a waste to even guard against such a young girl who couldn't even grip a sword properly.
"......You."
It was then, as the silent Baek Ri-muk finally opened his mouth, that a presence stirred outside. The servant at the door announced,
"Young master, young lady. The Fourth Young Master has sent medicinal herbs."
"......The physician?"
Baek Ri-muk echoed suspiciously after a brief pause.
"Yes. This servant doesn't recall the names, but they were said to reduce swelling and ease pain. What shall we do?"
Baek Ri-myeong shot her father a look that said, See?
Even at this late hour, the residence of the Baek clan's matron blazed with light, a sign that its occupants could not sleep.
Hurrying with a lantern in hand, Baek Ri-muk halted upon seeing the woman before the door.
"Dear wife?"
It was Sim So-cheong, Lady Sim.
"Why are you standing outside instead of going in?"
Lady Sim at the door gazed toward the room's interior. Baek Ri-muk heard the muffled sobs emanating from within and sighed.
"Mother, it's me."
"Come in."
Baek Ri-muk entered with his wife. As expected, the source of the weeping was Baek Ri-ran.
"Mother, Mother... I can't go. I can't be separated from my children. Please save us. Right? Mother..."
Baek Ri-ran clung to the old matron's knee, sobbing.
Watching this, Baek Ri-muk asked, "Where are Pyo and Ak?"
"They cried themselves to exhaustion; I put them to sleep in the side room."
"Brother?"
Only then did Baek Ri-ran notice Baek Ri-muk's presence and turn. Her flushed face was a mess of tears.
Pounding the floor, Baek Ri-ran shouted, "You're too much, Brother! How could you... how could you not say a word to Father!"
Baek Ri-muk's expression grew complicated.
"What could I have done there...?"
"So you just stand by? How can you! Ah, right, I get it! It's because it's not about you!"
"Yi-ran!"
"Everyone, be quiet!"
At the matron's sharp command, Baek Ri-ran and Baek Ri-muk fell silent. The matron, her face weary, glanced at Lady Sim beside her son.
"What brings you here? If it's not urgent, come back later."
Lady Sim, who had kept her head bowed in silence, spoke cautiously. "Mother, Myeong-i's welts are badly swollen, so the herbs are to ease the pain..."
Listening, Baek Ri-ran burst out. "Sister-in-law, so what if it's just a few palm strikes? We'll talk later! My children are about to be thrown out!"
At Baek Ri-ran's words, Lady Sim clutched her chest in shock. Baek Ri-muk grabbed his wife and yelled,
"Yi-ran, what are you saying!"
Baek Ri-ran collapsed again, wailing anew.
"Enough, enough! Yi-muk, don't shout."
The matron pressed her forehead as if her head throbbed. "Why provoke Yi-ran? Just take the herbs as needed. Can't you handle that much on your own?"
As Baek Ri-muk opened his mouth to retort, Lady Sim tugged his sleeve. Pale-faced, she bowed politely.
"Yes. Then I'll take my leave."
Watching his wife depart listlessly, Baek Ri-muk clenched his fist without realizing it.
I couldn't stick around to see what choice my aunt made or how she left the clan. I had to prepare for the journey to the Namgung clan right away.
Preparations didn't take long. I'd thought of Un-du as a reliable retainer, loyal to Father, but he exceeded that. Diligent and meticulous, he handled the work of ten men. It was impressive.
Of course, our group was small. Father and I, one carriage loaded with luggage for me to ride in, and a single horse—that was it. We'd borrow hands from Namgung Wan's people as needed.
I need to minimize the number of people who know about Manshin-ui.
Un-du would stay behind to manage the residence. We'd left it to the Baek clan's servants before, but after recent events, Father no longer trusted the household staff.
With such a minimal group, Baek Ri-muk had tried to assign someone for safety but failed. While Un-du busied himself with preparations, what was I doing...?
In the fragrant ancestral hall of the Baek clan estate, I bowed to the ancestors until I felt dizzy. I also greeted the clan elders from the main hall.
I was introduced as a proud member of the Baek clan. My name was in the family registry, but honestly, it hardly felt like true acceptance.
Just added because of Father's stubbornness?
Most of these elders were strangers to me. In my previous life, they'd treated me like air.
They wouldn't even acknowledge me without Father.
With Grandfather at my side now, though, they spoke to me as if I were a cherished niece. After having Grandfather arrange these greetings, he departed again to finish subjugating the bandits.
And just before boarding the carriage, an unexpected person came to see us off.