How to Capture a Sapa Man
Yeongso had told him to come to Hwining-dang, the inner pavilion, "without letting anyone know." She likely wanted to ask him not to tell Banya about her encounter with Seo Jang-gyeong. Even if it was an accident, nothing good would come of it reaching Hwa Banya's ears. He understood that much.
But why am I so nervous? Ma Ryun, wondering at his own strange agitation, only realized the reason when he was sneaking into the inner courtyard, out of sight of others.
"The mistress secretly calling a subordinate behind her husband's back. And a male subordinate at that... I've seen this story somewhere before. And I've never seen it end well."
Ma Ryun froze in his tracks.
"Should I turn back now and report this to the Renju?"
But if he reported everything in detail to Banya, there was a chance Banya would find some absurd excuse to take offense at him ignoring the Renju-buin's request. It wasn't hard to picture Banya glaring at him with those furious eyes, barking, "I'm glad you reported it honestly, but did you just let my wife's words go in one ear and out the other? Are you disrespecting my wife right now?"
"Marriage ruins a man..."
His already foul temper had somehow grown even worse. If the pre-marriage Banya had been endlessly self-centered, the post-marriage Banya had become utterly unpredictable. Especially when it came to matters involving Yeongso; no matter how Ma Ryun handled them, he usually ended up getting cursed out by Banya.
"Even a blind man could see that the Renju-buin doesn't particularly care for the Renju... Can he not see it himself?"
Or did he just not care? Would the Renju still be happy even if his wife assassinated him? Ma Ryun stopped his train of thought there.
"No use overthinking this on my own. Let's hear her excuse first."
His host was Baekri Yeongso. Secretly summoning her husband's subordinate, looking at him with suggestive eyes, and asking for a favor was not her style. That was how a Sapa woman would behave. There was no way Baekri Yeongso, born of a prestigious orthodox family, would resort to such tricks. She might have called Ma Ryun to ensure his silence, but out of propriety, she would probably speak to him from behind a folding screen. Yes, that seemed highly likely.
"Renju-buin, it is Cheonsalseong."
"Come in."
Stepping inside, Ma Ryun debated whether to leave the door open by a crack, just in case. It would serve as proof that they weren't alone in a completely sealed room. He could easily block the sound of their conversation with his martial arts. But he quickly realized it was a futile gesture. It would be better to just listen quickly and leave.
Click. Closing the door, Ma Ryun went to bow to Yeongso, only to be flustered when he couldn't see her.
"Excuse me, but where are you?"
"Ah, just a moment...!"
Yeongso called out in a slightly flurried voice, then emerged from the study. Whatever she had been doing, a rosy flush dusted her cheeks, and her crimson-painted lips were glistening with moisture. For some reason, she also seemed out of breath. Her chest, wrapped in a deep red court robe, rose and fell rapidly in sync with her shallow breathing.
She looks... strangely sensual.
Having that thought unconsciously, Ma Ryun felt a chill of foreboding run down his spine.
Is this... a highly dangerous situation?
A sudden realization hit him: he had been set up. If Yeongso showing herself half-naked to Seo Jang-gyeong yesterday had been an accident, today she had intentionally made herself look disheveled before summoning Ma Ryun. She was trying to frame Ma Ryun with the same crime as Seo Jang-gyeong, to ensure he couldn't betray her.
Did the Renju get trapped like this too?
Was that why his master had gone completely mad? Because he had let his guard down and suffered something he couldn't even speak of to preserve his Sapa pride?
"I'm sorry. I look a complete mess, don't I?"
Yeongso patted her slightly untidy hair. Tucking a stray lock behind her ear, she offered an embarrassed smile.
"I've been a bit frantic since this morning. We had guests from the Nangja Sect... Normally, I would have freshened up before receiving Cheonsalseong, but I simply didn't have the time."
"It is fine."
The response slipped out of him, stiff and rigid.
"You said you had something to say to me. Please, speak quickly."
"Are you busy...?"
Yeongso's smile faltered. Her hesitant face, searching his expression, held not a single trace of malice.
"Ah... that was a foolish question. Cheonsalseong is the Vice Alliance Leader, after all. Of course you are busy. I am sorry for taking up your time by summoning you like this."
Yeongso bit her lower lip gently. She seemed deeply embarrassed by the topic she now had to bring up. Watching her, Ma Ryun felt his mind being thrown into utter chaos.
Was I just imagining things?
Perhaps the Renju-buin had simply been too busy performing her usual good deeds to tidy her appearance, and his own corrupt mind had jumped to wild conclusions. The thought briefly crossed his mind that this might indeed be the case.
"As Cheonsalseong has likely guessed, about yesterday... We had just finished our conjugal... dual cultivation, so I was in a very dazed state..."
Yeongso stammered out her explanation. No wonder her languid expression and loose clothing yesterday had seemed unusual; it was because she had just finished an intimate encounter. Ma Ryun tried his best not to recall the image of Yeongso from yesterday.
"Primarily, it was my fault. However, there are many people involved in this. If it reaches the Renju's ears, not only Young Master Seo, but also the guards who stepped away for a brief moment, the maids, and even the matron in charge of Hwining-dang... so many people will be hurt."
Yeongso pleaded with him, looking truly apologetic, asking if he could pretend he hadn't seen anything yesterday. She then apologized for asking Cheonsalseong to do something that went against his conscience.
Conscience? As if a Sapa martial artist who cuts people's throats for a living has such a thing.
Though his bond of trust with Banya was remarkably solid for a Sapa master and servant, Yeongso's concern for even the lowest servants was a thoroughly orthodox way of thinking. Ma Ryun decided that he had definitely been mistaken.
There is no way a person like this would use a honey trap on her husband's subordinate.
Not wanting to drag out the conversation, he gave a brief nod of agreement. Ma Ryun himself was the one who wanted to pretend yesterday had never happened. It was exactly as Yeongso said. If Banya found out, there was no telling what kind of rampage he would go on. He would undoubtedly reprimand Ma Ryun as well for not reporting it immediately.
He'd probably yell at me, asking why I just stood by and watched Seo Jang-gyeong stroll right into Hwining-dang.
Even though Banya was the one who had ordered him to merely observe whatever Jang-gyeong did, it was glaringly obvious that Banya would still find a way to blame him.
Indeed, a bad marriage ruins a man...
Ma Ryun was about to say he would take his leave if she had nothing more to say. But then, Yeongso stepped closer.
"I didn't expect you to agree to my request so easily. Thank you. I don't know how to express my gratitude."
Yeongso looked deeply moved. The problem was that as she drew near, a sweet, flesh-warm scent wafted over him. Ma Ryun recoiled as if threatened at knifepoint.
"Gratitude? I did not do this expecting anything in return."
"Then, is there something else you want...?"
Yeongso's voice trailed off as she took another step toward him. He felt as though his mind would go completely numb if he kept breathing in her scent.
"I am only doing this because I do not want to complicate matters either, so do not pay it any mind. I shall take my leave."
Ma Ryun bolted out of Hwining-dang without waiting for Yeongso's permission. Even if Yeongso resented him for his lack of manners despite him having brought her meals every day for three years out of pity, he couldn't help it. He had to escape that place before his thoughts strayed any further into dangerous territory.
"What on earth was that?"
Returning to his office, Ma Ryun downed a cup of tea. Emptying the cup in just two gulps, he poured himself another. Only then did he realize how parched his throat was.
"If she were a Sapa woman, this would undoubtedly be a honey trap meant to sow discord..."
Yeongso's innocent expression earlier had definitely not been fake. Yet, her slightly disheveled appearance and the sweet scent of her skin, lightly damp with sweat, thoroughly muddled Ma Ryun's judgment.
"Surely not... No, of course not. But what if...? No, it can't be."
Whichever it was, one thing was absolutely clear. He could never tell the Renju, Hwa Banya, about what happened today. For the first time in his life, Cheonsalseong Ma Ryun had a secret he would carry to his grave.
At the same time.
Yeongso gently stroked the cover of the book resting on her study desk.
Practical Techniques: How to Capture a Sapa Man
It was an embarrassing title, but it was undoubtedly an incredibly practical manual.
"It... actually worked."