Chapter 250
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: You Said "Anything," Right? (1)
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Has there ever been someone who reached adulthood without ever giving up on anything in life? What happens when they face the first situation where they must let go?
Maybe I'm witnessing the answer right now.
"Madam? How did you get in here..."
"I didn't see you last time, but this place is run by someone I'm quite close to. We're not strangers, so I decided to drop by often."
"...I see."
Over the past few days, Tang Hye-won and I had teamed up several times to fend off this woman—Madam Seong or whatever her name was—but she kept coming back relentlessly. Today, she'd finally extended her claws into a regular patient room.
"Whether there's something wrong with my body or not, who can complain if I'm just visiting a friend?"
"Of course not."
[It's not Madam Eun, it's Madam Eom... Her husband's a well-known landowner who's also involved in silkworm farming, and one of her relatives is an official in Zhujin Fortress...]
Tang Hye-won sent me a telepathic message, but pointing it out wouldn't make much difference.
Even with Madam Eom's husband—a major player—shaking in his boots and arm-in-arm with Madam Seong, speaking up would just invite them to throw up a soul shield around her.
"This is Madam Eun... no, Madam Eom, right? Ahem. Seeing the treatment she's receiving might spark an idea for something suitable for me."
"Madam Seong, forgive me, but Madam Eom is four months pregnant and in perfectly smooth condition. She's not undergoing any special treatment."
"Even better. I've been told there's nothing wrong with me either, so if I observe her treatment..."
My head was spinning. Just looking at this woman's face made my ears ring with hallucinations screaming "precious rain" or whatever nonsense.
Ju Yak-seon stood beside her, persistently explaining, but it was no use.
Yang Ha-jeong had given up ages ago. No matter what she said, the woman wouldn't listen—what could Yang Ha-jeong do?
<'Common sense' dictates she won't risk such a dangerous choice when she's already in favor. I have no way to persuade her.>
It didn't seem like overflowing trust in her concubine, but the result was the same anyway.
'The opponent's a MILF, a MILF... and a pretty, powerful one at that...'
Had I ever needed to exercise this much patience against a MILF? Especially one boasting such striking beauty?
No. Absolutely not. Even Mae So-hyang back when we'd just met and she was being a brat hadn't pushed me this far.
"You say I have to step out during the pulse diagnosis? Hmm...?"
"C-can't it be helped? M-Madame Seong is v-very close to me..."
Madam Eom, catching Madam Seong's glance, hurriedly stepped forward to plead with Ju Yak-seon. It was almost pitiful.
On the other hand, since Madam Eom was a major donor, Ju Yak-seon couldn't just rudely chase her away. And so...
"Thank you! I'll stay quiet in the corner and not get in the way."
Madam Seong smiled in satisfaction, successfully nesting here once again.
What a filthy world.
Kang Yun was already on the verge of losing it, but if he'd known what was in the Holy Flame Princess's head, even his barely controlled expression might have crumbled.
'Tsk tsk. You're still far too green to handle me.'
The Jianghu was a demon's den, but the government offices were lairs for even craftier foxes.
Unlike the Jianghu, where you could draw a sword if things went south, officials had to bend foes with nothing but political maneuvering from their three-inch tongues. How desperate could it get?
And to the Holy Flame Princess—who had dealt with officials fawning, tail-wagging, or scheming behind her back since childhood—Kang Yun's expression screamed "I'm pissed" as plainly as could be.
The reason she kept coming back here instead of other doctors was precisely this refreshing stiffness from Kang Yun and Ju Yak-seon.
Of course, they were polite. But even sensing she was a big shot, they never bowed more than necessary.
If Kang Yun knew, he'd probably have flopped down belly-up in submission by now, but alas, the Ascending Immortal Art offered no mind-reading.
"Nephew."
As the Holy Flame Princess inwardly celebrated her little victory and savored the pleasant mood, she locked eyes with Yang Ha-jeong, who called her with a grim face.
"It seems they've followed us."
"Hah... I clearly told them it would be fine..."
"Isn't that their job?"
Madam Eom, in the room with them, looked baffled by their exchange, but the Holy Flame Princess patted her shoulder and stood.
"I'll take my leave now. I'll visit again, so act like my friend in the meantime. Got it?"
"Y-yes... Safe travels, Your Highness..."
"Shh. What if someone hears?"
Leaving Madam Eom frantically clamping her own mouth, the Holy Flame Princess left the clinic and headed to her fully purchased estate.
The moment she entered and shut the door, six men prostrated before her.
"We greet Your Highness."
"...I left a letter saying I'd be with Madam Peng and there was no need to worry."
The Holy Flame Princess asked this, but she well knew why they'd followed.
Longtime ties aside, Yang Ha-jeong was just a Jianghu wanderer—someone unfit to guard the princess, skills unknown.
How could they blindly trust an unvetted woman?
The princess trusted Yang Ha-jeong, but lacking a way to convince others, she'd slipped out after leaving the note.
"We trust Madam Peng's skills. However, events beyond one person's handling can always arise."
"..."
"With our aid, Your Highness would be even safer. We humbly beg your forgiveness."
They bowed before her like this, but their orders to protect her came from the King—her father.
If she refused, they'd cling citing his command. Obvious as day.
"Rest easy. We will only appear in emergencies. Even ghosts won't notice, so please..."
"Auntie, tell me. Is it true, as they claim, that even ghosts won't detect them?"
At the princess's question, the men's gazes snapped to Yang Ha-jeong, standing behind them.
Mixed with resentment for sneaking the princess away, Yang Ha-jeong pondered briefly but chose honesty.
"I can't speak for the leader, but the rest would likely struggle. Young Master Kang would notice."
"What...? Our realm may be below Madam Peng's, but you're not taking our sect's secret stealth arts too lightly?"
"This is a conservative estimate. He might even spot the leader's hiding."
Not just Kang Yun—maybe Tang Hye-won too.
She wasn't known for outstanding martial arts in the Jianghu, yet she'd reached peak realm in no time.
"Ho... Quite the talent for one so young?"
"Yes, she definitely wasn't at that level before, but in less than a year..."
Yang Ha-jeong trailed off. She'd seen the princess's eyes crinkle.
"No wonder they keep locking eyes... I suspected, but you were on his side, Auntie?"
"N-no, it's not..."
The Holy Flame Princess cut off the flustered Yang Ha-jeong, waving it off casually.
Even if Yang Ha-jeong sided against them, the princess could guess it was for her sake, not agreement with them.
"Anyway, it's convenient since they're familiar with you from before. Can you pass a message?"
"...Your Highness, wouldn't it be best to heed the clinic's advice for treatment?"
"No, not that. Tell them it's fine if they come and go from the clinic—ask them to turn a blind eye."
"Your Highness! How can you stoop to those mere Jianghu folk...? Just command it!"
"And proclaim it to the world? That I, the Holy Flame Princess, am barren?"
The leader clamped his mouth shut, and the princess snorted before meeting Yang Ha-jeong's eyes again.
"They might be right. But you know I can't give up like this, Auntie."
"..."
"If they listen to you, great. But they won't, right? So..."
At the princess's request to handle this small issue, Yang Ha-jeong could only nod and head back to the clinic.
"...That's how it happened. Even if they enter the clinic, will it be a problem?"
Having my mental state shattered by Madam Seong's backstab, I was learning about the clinic's budget from Tang Hye-won when Yang Ha-jeong visited.
After Tang Hye-won excused herself, the bombshell from Yang Ha-jeong left me dumbfounded.
I didn't know whose lady this was, but now she was bringing escorts too?
"If they won't get caught by people anyway, I don't mind... But who the hell is she to get this level of pampering?"
Yang Ha-jeong alone was overkill for protection. Adding a peak expert leader and five first-rate escorts? Her status begged questions.
"Sorry. I can't say..."
Seeing such thorough secrecy, my unease grew.
She called her "niece," but their clear superior-subordinate dynamic sparked one guess.
'No way... royalty for real?'
Nah, couldn't be.
Why would healthy royalty crawl here demanding cures for nonexistent ills? And pick me of all people?
"Nah..."
"What was that?"
"N-nothing."
Snap.
Then Yang Ha-jeong reached out, wrapping my clenched fists in hers. Her soft fingertips tickled.
"Young master, I know your niece is being unreasonable. But she can't give up easily either."
"..."
"I'm not saying blindly follow her whims. Just let her stay until her mind eases. Is that too much?"
Truth be told, without Yang Ha-jeong, Madam Seong could camp here a month or ten years—no big deal. But I couldn't say that...
"I'm begging you. I'll do anything necessary..."
"Anything?"
At those words, my gaze magnetically dropped to Yang Ha-jeong's plump breasts. She noticed, releasing my hands in a fluster.
"Y-you... really..."
"Anything?"
I stretched out, yanking back her retreating hand.
Yang Ha-jeong inched closer reluctantly, trying to pull away, but without a trace of internal energy, she yielded helplessly.
"You said anything, right?"
"H-how can you twist my words like that..."
Twist? Please.
I gripped her shoulders now close enough, drawing her in slowly. She jolted at the feel of my hardness against her lower belly, trembling, but gave up under my firm hold.
"I-it's broad daylight... Th-this is too risky..."
"Everyone's busy—no one comes here. Tang heroine had somewhere to go too."
"St-still... Ah!"
"Just once. Say I threw a tantrum and you had to persuade me."
At my kneading hands on her rear, Yang Ha-jeong squirmed in my arms, then buried her face in my chest, whispering mosquito-soft.
"Just once..."
"Of course."
One turns to two, two to three.
Feeling my shaft stiffen in anticipation of savoring her ripe body after so long, I began untying Yang Ha-jeong's sash.