Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Jang Geum's Eyes Died
-----------------------------------------------------------------
At King Seonjo's sudden royal decree, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and entered the hall known as the Pentagon—Pyeonjeon.
"Stick close behind Father."
"Yes, Father."
Having heard the full story from the herald and fuming with rage, Father strode forward with a stern face, cutting through the crowd.
I scurried after him to his assigned seat. Just before the upcoming event match was set to unfold, the Easterners and Westerners—split to either side—launched into fierce trash talk to hype up the Pentagon's atmosphere.
"Tsk tsk, what pathetic lot they are. How utterly incompetent must they be to drag a mere five-year-old child into court with their slanders?"
"Exactly. The petitions they've submitted are a sight to behold. They lost market share because of their own shortcomings, failed the exams—yet they vent their frustrations on the wrong target."
"The real issue is those fools who submitted such nonsense. I knew they had no shame, but I never imagined their judgment could be this impaired."
The Easterners' sharp jabs!
"Shameless? That's you lot. How can men of the scholar class collude with merchants and chase after profits!"
"Heh heh, isn't that how they amassed enough to become millionaires? Looks like the Heo family's fortune was built the same way."
"The evidence is plain as day that they're exploiting a five-year-old's talent for gain—yet they accuse us of poor judgment? Right."
The Westerners' immediate counter!
"They can't even distinguish between earning and receiving bribes. Word is, they took a hefty cut from merchant guilds across the eight provinces. Bribery recipients lecturing on illicit gains—should I laugh or cry?"
"Kekeke, as the saying goes: the dog with shit on its fur mocks the one with frost."
"Precisely. Wagging their tails for pocket change fits the metaphor perfectly. Almost reminds me of our house mutt."
The Easterners' cross-counter to the Westerners' counter!
"How do you even raise your kids that a five-year-old brings up women? These are the end times."
"Your mug's so plain, you probably have no experience. In families like the Heos with good looks, they start sharing affections earlier. Though with that busted face, you've probably never had a proper romance."
"Busted?! Mind your words, my lord!"
"Just amazed, that's all. How did you even get married and have heirs with a face like that? Utterly bizarre."
"Kekeke, that's why your wedding was so late. Your son takes after you—better prepare early~"
"Hey!! Don't drag family into this?!"
"Hey? Who're you calling informally, you punk! And who started with family? You're the ones who dragged a five-year-old to court—what makes you so superior?!"
Family insults, looks-bashing, personal attacks, outright character assassination—a full-on dogfight.
Haha, total chaos.
I was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle from behind Father when a voice announcing the event's start echoed from afar.
"His Majesty arrives!"
I bowed my head alongside Father, sneaking a sidelong glance toward the voice.
A man in a crimson dragon robe approached with bold strides, hands clasped behind his back.
"Oh."
In my past life's dramas and novels, he always came off as a dimwit, so I'd underestimated him. But in person, he had real presence.
His eyes were piercingly sharp, unmatched in judging talent—as the rumors said. Broad shoulders and a sturdy build made sense of his record-breaking speed from Hanyang to Uiju.
The one dubbed the Fastest Sovereign, King Seonjo.
The king of this land drew near and spoke in a grave tone.
"This the child?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. My third son, Heo Gyun."
"I see... Boy, did you bring the next volume?"
"Yes, here it is."
I pulled the book from my robes and offered it with both hands. Seonjo snatched it up eagerly.
"All judgments will come after I've finished reading. Ministers, withdraw and wait in the outer hall."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Sangseon, head to the royal kitchen now and fetch some sweets."
"Pardon? Ah... Yes, Your Majesty."
With those orders given, Seonjo bounded excitedly to the throne and flipped open the first page of Culinary Duel: Jang Geum's latter volume.
"My lord, it's time to rise. The sun is already high in the sky."
"Ahh, Jang Geum. Your face shines like the sun—I didn't notice dawn. Your warmth felt like sunlight, so I thought day lingered all night."
"Pfft~ Silly. Get up and eat. I've prepared breakfast."
"Haha, alright. Your cooking gets tastier by the day—I'm gaining weight without realizing."
Min Jeong-ho's praise was no mere flattery. Jang Geum now stood at the top of the tournament alongside Siwoo of Maduri-do, Tang Hwaryeong of the Sichuan Tang family, and Otari of the dual-wield style—a prime contender for Gourmet Unicorn.
Sharing meals to learn Ming cuisine, researching dishes overnight to delight him more—as her bond with Min Jeong-ho deepened, Jang Geum drew ever closer to Gourmet Unicorn status.
Though it was but a fleeting spring dream.
"Hoo..."
Watching their spring-breeze romance, Seonjo let out a sigh.
After awakening from the sweet dream, harsh reality would descend like a nightmare.
"A single spring dream..."
Unable to hide his regret, Seonjo turned the page.
And the nightmare began.
"What? Not content with whoring, gambling—now you've shacked up with some no-name wench?"
"W-well... According to Gapbok, she's not entirely without roots. She's famous in Joseon's culinary world... even holds the title Great Jang Geum..."
"Shut it. Do you think I delayed Jeong-ho's marriage to pair him with a mere cook? Noble daughters are lining up to join this house—how dare you pick such a lowborn!! Get out and investigate that wench now!!"
Min Jeong-ho's mother, who had monitored his every move during his Ming studies, discovered Jang Geum. She immediately dispatched men for a background check, soon unearthing the hidden truth.
Decades ago, a woman named Okbun fled to Samgaksan. The infant she raised there: Jang Geum.
The timing was too coincidental, the name too suspicious.
When the Seo clan rebelled, the escaped slave woman's name was indeed Okbun. A girl from the Seo household who slipped away would now be the age of this Jang Geum wench.
Having heard all the reports, Min Jeong-ho's mother, An Jeong-suk, declared:
"I'll go to the Ming myself. You arrive in Beijing first and bring that wench to me without Jeong-ho knowing. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And soon after, An Jeong-suk met Great Jang Geum at a teahouse in Beijing..."
"How can this be!!"
Seonjo gasped loudly at what followed.
"Hello. I'm Jang Geum."
At Jang Geum's demure greeting, An Jeong-suk splashed the iced water before her onto the girl's face and spat venomously.
"Ah... Mother! Kyaa!!"
"Mother? Who said I'm your mother, you insolent wretch! No need for more words—take this and vanish from my son's life. It's wealth you'd never earn cooking a lifetime. I warn you: don't cling to him weeping. This isn't a request; it's my final mercy. My patience weighs less than this gold."
How could a nobleman's daughter be so ruthless and cruel?
Splashing cold water in the face of a potential daughter-in-law, then trying to buy her off with money.
"I can't do that. I truly love my lord. No amount of money can tear us apart!!"
"Knew you'd say that. Not enough gold? With your greed, you brazenly approached my son despite your face. Seo clan wench. Let me ask one thing: you grew up in Samgaksan with a stepmother named Okbun?"
"Yes, but... why do you ask..."
"Twenty years ago, I exposed and exterminated a traitorous clan named Seo. The slave who fled was named Okbun. Coincidental, don't you think?"
"W-what do you mean?"
"Exactly that. Think hard on why I oppose you. And once you do, never approach Jeong-ho again."
"N-no way!!"
"So it comes to this..."
Jang Geum bowed her head in silent realization, while An Jeong-suk rose as if done with her.
At the stark contrast, Seonjo tremblingly turned the page with shaking hands.
Jang Geum wandered the streets after leaving the teahouse, walking endlessly. Soaked by pouring rain, her clothes clung sodden; her feet swelled, blood seeping from her shoes. Her face paled, blue-tinged lips quivering faintly.
Her eyes reflected nothing. Her gaze wandered lost in distant voids, serene yet devoid of emotion or turmoil.
How much time passed? The fragile flame in Jang Geum's pupils finally extinguished. Her eyes died.
"Such... She's forsaken life."
What followed was a string of defeats.
"Hey, Great Jang Geum. Something wrong? Your food's all over the place."
Jang Geum could no longer infuse life into her dishes.
"Hm, thought you were on the right path—quite disappointing."
Jang Geum could no longer infuse essence.
"Can't watch anymore. Keep this up, quit cooking."
Jang Geum could no longer infuse love.
The Gourmet Unicorn contest ended. One match remained.
Jang Geum's current rank: 12th.