Chapter 387: Pondering the Proposal
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 387: Pondering the Proposal
"I... I never said I’d be your woman..."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke in a blunt, slightly embarrassed voice.
"So, do you hate the idea?"
".........It’s not that I hate it, but..."
Tang Seo-yoon trailed off, her voice hesitant.
"Then let’s go."
Sun-woo reached out his hand toward her.
"You’ve waited a long time. I don’t want to make you wait any longer."
Hearing his words, Tang Seo-yoon’s face flushed crimson. She reached out and took Sun-woo’s hand, lacing her fingers with his.
Seeing this, Sun-woo let out a small smile.
*
"Big... Sister."
Neung So-hwa spoke, her face burning red. She had never imagined a day would come when she would call someone "Sister."
"Well done."
Hearing her, Ok-ryeong gave a bright, delighted smile.
"This is... awkward."
Neung So-hwa continued, her expression thick with embarrassment.
"It’s alright. You’ll get used to it in time," Ok-ryeong replied soothingly.
She looked at Neung So-hwa with pride. In truth, Ok-ryeong hadn't expected Neung So-hwa to address her as "Sister" so easily. Given her exalted status as a Commandery Princess, the idea of her addressing someone with such familiarity seemed impossible.
Yet, she had set aside her status as royalty for a moment to show proper etiquette as one of Sun-woo’s women. The sight was so endearing that Ok-ryeong couldn't help but chuckle.
"Kyahaha! Call me 'Sister' too! Go on, try it!"
Yorang, who was standing nearby, burst into laughter and chimed in mischievously.
"Are you not one of Sun-woo’s women?" Neung So-hwa countered immediately.
How could someone who wasn't even one of Sun-woo’s women demand to be called "Sister"?
"But I’m Sun-woo’s friend!"
"One does not use the term 'Sister' for a friend."
"Ugh... you stingy brat."
"Stingy?! I am not someone lacking in generosity!"
"You’re being stingy with the word 'Sister'!"
"That is a completely different matter!"
Neung So-hwa and Yorang continued their bickering. They were a pair that seemed mismatched, yet somehow fit perfectly together.
Creeeeak—
As the two were arguing, the door to the inner guest room suddenly opened, and two figures appeared. It was Sun-woo and Tang Seo-yoon, who had stepped out earlier.
"Sun-woo! Seo-yoon!"
Yorang raised her voice in greeting, looking pleased to see them.
"You’re back?" Ok-ryeong added with a warm smile.
"Yeah..."
Sun-woo nodded, acknowledging their greetings. Tang Seo-yoon, looking bashful, entered the room with her head bowed.
"Wait a second. What’s with the hands?"
Geum Jeok-hwa, who had been quiet until then, pointed toward Sun-woo and Tang Seo-yoon’s joined hands, her voice filled with suspicion.
".........."
Sun-woo fell silent, feeling a wave of awkwardness. He had intended to officially announce his relationship with Tang Seo-yoon, but now that the moment was here, the words felt heavy on his tongue.
"It seems things were resolved well?"
Ok-ryeong spoke up, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She seemed to have already guessed the nature of their relationship.
"I’m glad. I would always welcome a woman like Lady Tang."
She drove the point home on Sun-woo’s behalf.
"........Sun-woo.. what on earth is this.."
Neung So-hwa looked utterly bewildered. She hadn't imagined Sun-woo would add yet another woman to his circle so soon. She had learned through Sun-woo that his engagement to Tang Seo-yoon had been a sham. To see him suddenly radiating such a romantic aura with that same woman left her stunned.
".......That’s how it turned out."
Sun-woo spoke, his face flushing with sheepishness.
"..........."
Meanwhile, Madam Tang wore a deeply complicated expression. She never dreamed she would end up sharing a man with Tang Seo-yoon, who was the younger sister of her former husband. It was a strange feeling—a mix of something erotic and a lingering sense of immorality.
"Everyone... I have something to say. It’s a bit awkward to say this after getting scolded earlier... but I didn't want to make Seo-yoon wait any longer."
Sun-woo took a small step forward.
"I intend to take Tang Seo-yoon as my partner."
He looked around at everyone, his face filled with conviction. The women reacted with a variety of expressions. Ok-ryeong wore a pleased "I knew it" smile, while a rosy flush crept onto Madam Tang’s fair skin as she wore a suggestive look.
Neung So-hwa, however, looked absolutely aghast, as if she couldn't comprehend the situation. How could he add a lover as quickly as one fries beans in a lightning flash?
Seeing her reaction, Sun-woo realized he would need to give Neung So-hwa a proper explanation.
"I’ve always had feelings for Seo-yoon. She was like a savior to me, staying by my side and giving me strength during my most difficult and painful times. But I didn't let those feelings develop further because I didn't want to lose a friend."
Sun-woo looked everyone in the eye as he continued.
"But today, I heard something completely unexpected. The unbelievable news that Tang Seo-yoon likes me back. The moment I heard those words, I felt happy enough to fly. I realized it wasn't just a one-sided crush."
Sun-woo raised Tang Seo-yoon’s hand, which he was still holding.
"And I intend to be honest with my feelings. I’m going to take Tang Seo-yoon as my partner. Not as a fake like before, but as a true lover."
The women watched him in silence. After a long moment, Ok-ryeong was the first to speak.
"I told you before. As long as the hierarchy is established and the love is equal, I have no complaints."
"The same goes for me," Madam Tang added.
"............."
Neung So-hwa kept her mouth shut. She was torn between understanding and disbelief. However, she eventually gave a small nod. Since Ok-ryeong, the primary wife, had given her permission, Neung So-hwa felt it wasn't her place to object.
"I... I look forward to being with you all."
Once their permission was granted, Tang Seo-yoon spoke, her voice trembling with shyness. Sensing her embarrassment, Ok-ryeong walked over and gently pulled her into an embrace. Feeling the other woman’s warmth, Tang Seo-yoon’s eyes began to well up.
"Thank you... truly... thank you..."
She wept freely, expressing her gratitude. Ok-ryeong patted her shoulder, comforting her. She clearly empathized with Seo-yoon’s long-held sorrow and her desire to be loved. The two women remained in an embrace until Tang Seo-yoon’s tears finally subsided.
*
"And there’s one more thing I need to tell you."
Once Tang Seo-yoon had calmed down, Sun-woo addressed the women again.
Flinch.
Every woman in the room visibly shuddered. Sun-woo had been dropping one bombshell after another. First, that he had taken Princess Gyeonghwa and the Ice Palace Master as his lovers. Then, that the Ice Palace Master was pregnant. And now, that Tang Seo-yoon was his partner as well.
Each revelation was more shocking than the last. Hearing that he had one more thing to say filled them with an instinctive sense of dread. What could it possibly be this time?
"You all know about this. It’s regarding Lee Ye-seol..."
The women watched Sun-woo’s lips with tense gazes.
"Lee Ye-seol?!"
"Not Lee Ye-seol!"
"Since when were you with her?!"
The moment Sun-woo mentioned her name, the women erupted in protest.
"No... just listen for a second..."
Sun-woo looked flustered. He hadn't even finished his sentence before they overreacted.
"I’m telling you now, I won't allow her. She’s Lee Jae-won’s daughter!"
"Exactly! Besides, she’s the woman who hurt Lady Yorang and the Young Lady! How could we ever accept such a woman?!"
"I’m against it too. Grudges aside, I don't like the man behind her, Lee Jae-won."
The women voiced their opposition in unison. They seemed terrified that Sun-woo was about to announce Lee Ye-seol as his next lover.
Am I really that untrustworthy?
Sun-woo couldn't help but reflect on himself. He hadn't expected such a fierce backlash just from mentioning a woman’s name.
"No, listen... I have no intention of making her my partner."
Sun-woo spoke quickly to clear up the misunderstanding. Partner? Not in a million years. His first impression of Lee Ye-seol was so bad that he still felt like giving her a good flick on the forehead. Why would he ever take a woman like that as a lover?
"Then why did you mention her name?" Ok-ryeong asked, her expression filled with doubt.
"She made me a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"A proposal?!"
The women repeated the word, their faces full of questions. They were curious. What kind of proposal could a woman held as a hostage possibly make?
"She said that the Cheonmu Alliance will soon hold a competition to select a successor."
Sun-woo continued in a calm tone.
"It’s true. The Tang Clan has already received a formal request for cooperation from my sister," Tang Seo-yoon added, as if remembering.
"Then you all roughly know the details?"
"Yes. I heard the most important factor in this competition is the quality of the talents under one's command, and that those talents will be competing against each other."
Tang Seo-yoon calmly shared what she knew. She was well aware of the succession struggle thanks to Tang Jin-seol’s official documents.
"Lee Ye-seol proposed that I stand behind her during this succession competition."
".........Wh-what?!"
Tang Seo-yoon looked at Sun-woo as if he had lost his mind. What kind of absurd nonsense was this? How could she ask for cooperation from Sun-woo, whose public identity was the disciple of the Poison King?
"And I’m viewing that proposal positively."
Sun-woo expressed his opinion while looking at the wide-eyed Seo-yoon.
"That’s impossible!"
Geum Jeok-hwa, who was standing next to Tang Seo-yoon, shouted in a raised voice. She couldn't understand Sun-woo’s statement at all.
"Sun-woo, your public identity is the disciple of the Poison King, isn't it? You are part of the Tang Clan’s power. How can you even think about siding with Lee Ye-seol instead of Tang Jin-seol?"
She looked at him as if he were speaking madness.
"I feel the same way. The Tang Clan has received countless benefits through my sister. Thanks to her, the clan has enjoyed great prosperity! We can't just overturn that now!" Tang Seo-yoon added, her voice rising in agreement.
Sun-woo listened to them calmly. Then, he spoke slowly.
"Seo-yoon."
"Speak."
"Can you kill Lee Ye-seol right now?"
".........."
"What about Joo So-yang?"
"........."
Tang Seo-yoon fell silent. She realized it was impossible. In terms of pure martial strength, killing the two women wasn't difficult. Lee Ye-seol was fragile enough that Seo-yoon could kill her with her own hands, and if Sun-woo stepped in, Joo So-yang could be dealt with easily.
But they couldn't kill them. Behind those women stood the massive power of the Cheonmu Alliance, and more importantly, Lee Jae-won—a man far more dangerous than the Alliance itself.
"Right now, the Tang Clan is like a candle in the wind because of the massive variables that are Lee Ye-seol and Joo So-yang. They hold an enormous grudge against us. And behind them stands the World’s Greatest Martial Artist, Lee Jae-won."
Sun-woo’s expression turned grave.
"We’re suppressing them by force for now, but if they ever reveal the fact that they were held hostage and the circumstances behind it to Lee Jae-won, the Tang Clan might be exterminated."
"............"
Tang Seo-yoon bit her lip. Sun-woo wasn't wrong. As he said, those two women were like time bombs—massive bombs that could plunge the Tang Clan into the abyss of destruction. Whether it was Lee Ye-seol or Joo So-yang, the moment they told Lee Jae-won about their grudge against the Tang Clan, the clan would be finished. It didn't matter how much Sun-woo had transcended his realm and grown stronger.
"In a situation where the very survival of the Tang Clan is uncertain, I believe it’s right to choose pragmatism over loyalty to Tang Jin-seol."
Sun-woo continued in a level voice.
"Lee Ye-seol made an offer. If we stand behind her this time, she will forget all past grudges. Not only that, she promised to provide the Tang Clan with benefits equal to, or even greater than, what Tang Jin-seol provides."
Sun-woo looked at Tang Seo-yoon with a serious gaze.
"Isn't it tempting? Don't you think it’s worth considering seriously?"
".......I won't deny that it’s an attractive proposal," Tang Seo-yoon answered with effort.
It was certainly not a bad offer. In fact, it was an incredibly good one. They could clear a grudge that threatened their very existence and receive enormous benefits to boot.
However, there was one thing bothering her.
"But how can we trust her?"
It was a matter of trust.