A Most Unwelcome Brother-in-Law
"Now that I think about it, you don't seem like a pure member of the Orthodox path either. You're a bit inconsistent. No, think about it. From the moment we married three years ago, I held you passionately almost every single day. Did I only embrace you in the bedroom? Of course not. The study, the bathhouse, the pavilion... I held you whenever and wherever I pleased. The scandalous rumors must have already spread back then."
Naturally, those rumors would have reached the Baekri Clan. As soon as he added that, Yeongso shook her head violently.
"Stop shaking your head. It's making me dizzy just watching you."
Banya helped his wife, who was in deep denial, to her feet. "Anyway, my point is, your brother won't look at you strangely. If anything, he'll just hate me even more."
"...I'm ruined."
"You're not ruined, and my joke earlier went too far. Are we good now?"
To think she actually managed to wring an apology out of Hwa Banya. Mumbling to himself, Banya led Yeongso to the bed.
Chocho, who had come to clean the room on the Alliance Leader's orders, gasped, her mouth hanging wide open. "Did a ball of yarn fly around on its own or something?"
Neither of the couple answered her. Judging by Yeongso's slightly teary eyes and a stray strand of disheveled hair, Chocho concluded that this was the couple's new form of "entertainment."
I don't know what they did with thread and a fan, but it must have been incredibly passionate!
When Banya first heard that his wife's brother was coming to visit, he hadn't paid it much mind. He simply assumed a somewhat annoying pest would be staying at Cheonsaryeon for a while before leaving.
Frankly, as far as the annex slave incident was concerned, Banya had already done his part. He had used someone else's hands to beat the thorn in his side, Hwa Mujin, and had personally demolished the Chunyangru Annex. Under the care of Yeongso and the physicians, the slaves' conditions were improving by the day.
It was about time to decide on their future accommodations, and since Yeongso suggested it would be best to seek help from her maiden family, he had left the matter entirely to her. Let's hand over the most boring and tedious tasks to the "good guys." That way, everyone gets a satisfying result.
He had intended to wash his hands of it so cleanly, but then Baekri Yeong-hyeok had arrived with Seo Jang-gyeong tagging along like a tail. Banya immediately bristled at the presence of his wife's former fiancé. How dare he shamelessly set foot in this place? Deciding he needed to know if the man was trying to make any moves on his wife, Banya had assigned his loyal right-hand man, Ma Ryun, to keep watch.
But why does it feel like, as time goes on... I'm keeping guard against the wrong person?
Banya's fingers, tapping against the armrest, grew increasingly irritated.
I never expected Baekri Yeong-hyeok to become the real thorn in my side...
Seo Jang-gyeong could not enter the inner quarters alone. But Baekri Yeong-hyeok could. Because he was the biological brother of the Alliance Leader's wife. Yes, he understood they were siblings. He also understood they had a lot to catch up on after being apart for so long. But there was a limit to everything. Wasn't staying glued to her side every waking moment a bit much?
Is he out of his mind?
Banya had hoped that the words he let slip during yesterday's dinner would have some effect on his brother-in-law. The remark about the Alliance Leader and his wife bathing together. It was indeed a highly private matter, enough to make Yeongso fly into a rage. And in Banya's common sense, anyone who heard such a thing should feel a bit embarrassed to look their younger sister in the eye the next day.
If Yeongso went out of her way to apologize for her husband's words, her brother should have said he didn't mind, while secretly feeling awkward as images of his sister and brother-in-law's private life lingered in his mind. Consequently, he should have gradually reduced his visits to the inner quarters.
It would have been ideal if the effect lasted until they left Cheonsaryeon, but Banya merely hoped that this eyesore of a brother-in-law would give his wife some space for just a few days. But what do you know? The man didn't budge an inch.
The only one feeling embarrassed was his wife, Yeongso. When a crimson-faced Yeongso even began to stammer as she brought up the events of yesterday's dinner, Yeong-hyeok merely smiled gently.
"You're the one who shouldn't worry about it. Your brother has already forgotten."
"But..."
"Baekri Yeongso, it's because you worry over such trivial things that you've grown so thin." Yeong-hyeok playfully tapped the tip of his sister's slender nose.
"I know you had a hard time observing the three-year mourning period, but you reclaimed your status as the Alliance Leader's wife the moment your husband returned. There should have been more than enough time for you to nourish yourself, but look at you. All the baby fat on your cheeks, which used to look like summer peaches, is completely gone."
"...My face just slimmed down because I got older, okay?"
"Ah, right. You did grow older in the meantime. So this year... you must be twelve."
"Immature."
Yeong-hyeok plucked a loose thread from his sister's sleeve. "If you really are twenty-three, then act like it. A married adult of three years doesn't walk on eggshells around her brother over something as trivial as yesterday's chatter."
Yeongso nodded slightly.
"Do you really understand?"
"Yes."
"Then you should brighten up that face." Yeong-hyeok mimed smoothing out the furrow between Yeongso's brows. At this, Yeongso let out a soft chuckle. "Pfft."
"Jang-gyeong had some other business to attend to, so he said he would be a bit late. Let's get started on our own first."
Yeongso offered her brother some warm tea. After taking a sip, Yeong-hyeok suddenly eyed his sister's attire and chided her for dressing so lightly.
"Should I bring a brazier? What about a blanket?"
"I'm fine. I'm not cold."
"You always say that and end up catching a cold." Yeong-hyeok insisted on finding a fur blanket and draped it over his sister's shoulders. "Do you think this is my first time seeing you act like this?"
All of this unfolded right before Banya's eyes. This was because he had followed Baekri Yeong-hyeok into the inner quarters. He had told them to ignore him and discuss things amongst themselves, but they had literally retreated into a world of their own.
What in the world is this novel brand of nonsense?
Though they were in the same room, Hwa Banya was utterly excluded.
No matter how much I think about it, I don't understand. Why is he touching his sister's nose?
Banya's expression gradually contorted.
Summer peaches...? Does he honestly think such an embarrassing expression is appropriate for describing his own sister's cheeks?
The siblings finally spread out the annex slave list and map, beginning their discussion on the relocation. Banya's gaze shifted sideways.
But my wife is just as strange. If she wants to call her brother, she can just say his name. Why is she gently grabbing his arm?
Every single detail grated on his nerves. After watching them for about half an hour, Banya realized that these siblings were naturally very physically affectionate. He felt he had stayed long enough.
"I shall head out to attend to official business now. Do not overexert yourself, my wife."
He skipped any greeting to Yeong-hyeok. Just as Banya tried to slip away with a half-hearted nod, the other man suddenly clasped his hands together and offered a formal bow.
A true member of the Orthodox path, indeed. He knew exactly how to get under someone's skin. By displaying such flawless etiquette, he was subtly implying that he was fundamentally different from a crude, unorthodox bastard.
The moment Banya returned to his office, he summoned his right-hand man, Ma Ryun.
"Forget about monitoring Seo Jang-gyeong for now. Something more important has come up."
"Speak, my Lord."
"Find out if Baekri Yeong-hyeok and my wife are actually biological siblings."
Ma Ryun looked as though he didn't even want to begin contemplating why his master was giving such an order. Without even asking for clarification this time, he immediately left to execute the command.
An hour later, Ma Ryun returned.
"They are definitely biological siblings. I've asked everyone I could possibly ask, both inside and outside Cheonsaryeon."
"I don't care about witnesses. Where is the proof?"
"Well, if you want me to bring the midwife who delivered them, that will take a bit more time." Since I would have to travel all the way to Hadongseong, at the very least.
Banya clicked his tongue at Ma Ryun's reply. "Even if it takes time, find out—no, wait. Even if my mother-in-law gave birth to both of them, they could have different fathers. Just like how that wretched Hwa Mujin and I were raised separately."
"...Half-siblings on the mother's side?" Ma Ryun wore a highly skeptical expression. "I don't know much about the members of the Baekri Clan, but your mother-in-law is not someone who would commit adultery. Everyone calls her Gang-ssi Buin for convenience, but she is none other than the famous 'First Spear of Cheonsan,' Gang Igyo."