152. How's Stepmother Doing?
‘The world turns into a mud pit with one misstep.’
He’d barely escaped the quagmire of the Bi Sword Sect, only to nearly get dragged into the filthy brawl between the Je Gal Clan and the Mo Yong Clan.
Won Seung reflected on himself. How long had it been since he’d resolved to live seriously? And here he was, acting so carelessly. He should’ve thought it through more carefully.
He etched it into his mind once more.
Step by step, heavy and heavier.
“To think it was under Lord Gwan’s jurisdiction…”
Won Seung sighed in lament, then extended his hand as if there was no helping it.
“I’m truly sorry my first assignment turned out this way.”
“……?”
“Since circumstances are what they are, I suppose I’ll have to take a withdrawal of cooperation document with me.”
Won Seung lived his days with utmost caution.
He rose at dawn, prepared meals, tended to Bi Sword Sect patients, then headed to work to handle miscellaneous cases. In the evening, he’d buy tasty treats from the outer city market and return home. He’d eat dinner with the eagerly waiting Im Cho-ye and the patients, then practice swordsmanship in the rear garden afterward.
Now he could wield the Bohu Sword Technique and Bohu Palm with proficiency. After that, he’d retreat to his room to link the Musanggyeol yin-yang corresponding acupoints while simultaneously interpreting the Bi Sword Sect’s Horizontal Heaven Sword Intent. Dividing his consciousness in two had become quite familiar. And past midnight, he’d drift off while circulating the Cheongmyeong Simgong.
His two subordinates knew their superior was remarkably composed and serious for his age, so they didn’t dare act out.
Mu Gi-an still couldn’t memorize the criminal code after days on end, so he hadn’t been assigned any cases. Yet he’d drop by Won Seung’s room whenever he had a chance, meddling in everything.
“I’m good at the practical stuff, though.”
Mu Gi-an tried teaching him fieldwork tips, but Won Seung let it go in one ear and out the other. If he wanted to play tricks, he could do it right over Mu Gi-an’s head. Every time the devilish whisper to scheme arose from within, Won Seung recited those four characters: step by step, heavy and heavier.
That day too, after practicing swordsmanship in the rear garden, he inspected the plum blossoms blooming on the hill behind the house. The white blossoms, surging toward their peak, illuminated the night’s darkness.
Im Cho-ye, passing by, saw Won Seung staring blankly at the plums and smiled.
“The plum blossoms have you enchanted, brother.”
“Yeah. I like flowers.”
Im Cho-ye stood beside him, gazing at the plums.
“They’re about to reach their peak soon. In two or three days, they’ll be in full bloom.”
“Waiting for them to fully bloom?”
“Someone I’ll meet when the plums hit their peak.”
“……?”
When Won Seung fell silent, Im Cho-ye asked.
“Who?”
“Someone.”
Im Cho-ye’s eyes narrowed in annoyance when he wouldn’t say who, and she stormed off.
Someone very close… though how close exactly, I’m not sure.
“You really won’t come? Plum blossoms bloom and fade in an instant.”
“Mother, I have a lot of work.”
“Your father wants the whole family to go…”
“Won Sochu and Stepmother aren’t going either.”
“That’s because Sochu has a cold. Stepmother has to look after him.”
Every early spring, when the plums reached their peak, Father would take the whole family to the inner city’s West Lake for flower viewing. Mother said it was Father’s way of reminiscing about his hometown, Soju. The lake supposedly resembled some lake there in scenery.
Won Seung had gone last year, but it wasn’t much fun. There were more people than plums. All he remembered was his feet getting stuck in the not-yet-thawed mud, leaving them cold and soggy.
The dried fruits newly stocked in the kitchen tempted him more. Playing with Seo Dong and eating dried fruits was way more fun.
“Mother, you go on ahead. Father’s waiting.”
And ten years later, he’d finally meet Mother. Now it was Father’s turn.
Meeting Father, Won Guksa, wasn’t as easy as he’d thought. In truth, it was simple—just knock on the Won Mansion gate and announce himself. Even after ten years, some servants would recognize him. But he didn’t want to alert Seong Wang or Stepmother Joo Gunju to his return.
That meant sneaking in, but the mansion was guarded by countless men. Getting caught as the long-lost son trying to infiltrate would be utterly humiliating. Going to his workplace was even harder—Won Guksa’s office was in the imperial palace.
Then he remembered Father’s plum blossom viewing.
The next day.
“Cough, cough!”
Won Seung, who’d come to work, started coughing from the morning. Investigator Yoo Seon watched with worried eyes before speaking up.
“Lord Joo, your face is flushed red. You should rest when you have a cough and fever.”
“I have a lot of work.”
“Health comes first. And colds are contagious, so the captain’s directive is to stay home.”
“Hmm… Is that so? No helping it, then.”
Won Seung staggered to his feet.
“Tell the Chief Investigator for me. I really need a few days off.”
Shortly after leaving the Ministry of Justice, Won Seung appeared at West Lake. He’d changed out of his official robes into something more casual. Meeting his father after ten years, he’d put extra care into his appearance. With a light disguise to alter his features, even Ministry folks would pass him by unrecognized.
Won Seung circled the area around Suru Pavilion, which overlooked West Lake—where Father would climb to view the plums.
He wouldn’t bring a horde of guards just because he’s a Guksa now, would he?
Father preferred blending into the crowd in plain clothes for flower viewing. Won Seung recalled him saying true scenery came from flowers mingling with people.
Bumping into him on the street would be awkward, though.
He couldn’t just flop into the melting mud on the road and say, “Your son has returned.”
As Won Seung scanned the surroundings, his eyes caught a painted pleasure boat drifting on the lake.
He went to the dock, rented one, and hung a flag with the Won character at the bow. Then he spent the whole day drifting back and forth below Suru Pavilion.
The first day was a bust. Won Seung checked into an inner city inn for the night and tried again the next day. Still nothing.
Does he not do flower viewing anymore?
By the third day, petals were starting to fall.
Time to change tactics, he thought—just then, someone at the lakeside beckoned.
“Hey, the boat with the Won family flag—come over here a moment.”
A sturdy man waved insistently, as if he had business. Won Seung directed the boatman to pull alongside.
The man stepped back, and a merchant-dressed figure appeared, boarding the boat.
Won Seung’s eyes widened in shock.
Father?
It was Father, Won Guksa.
“Step away for a bit, will you?”
Won Guksa glanced at Won Seung, then ordered the boatman. Sensing the man’s high status, the boatman obediently disembarked.
As Won Guksa entered the cabin, he said to Won Seung,
“Take us somewhere quiet.”
Won Seung rowed himself to a secluded spot under a low cliff, where few boats passed. He secured the oars and entered the cabin.
Won Guksa stood with hands behind his back, gazing out the window. He turned as Won Seung entered.
“Your son greets Father.”
Won Seung bowed formally and looked at him.
Smooth forehead, pale face, neatly trimmed beard… Father hadn’t changed a bit. Won Guksa looked him up and down.
“You’ve grown a lot.”
Hmm. No tearful embrace between father and son, sure—but this was too detached. It wasn’t like he’d gone on a casual trip. Was that the look for a son missing ten years? Way too calm.
“How did you know?”
“……”
Won Guksa didn’t answer, but his eyes said he’d known for a while.
“I heard today you were boating here. Wasn’t it you who called for me?”
“……”
Who’s been watching me? How else would Father hear about me?
No, wait… He knew I was in Huangdo and pretended not to notice all this time?
“Hmph, you’ve been stirring up quite the racket lately.”
“Ah…!”
Won Seung’s mouth gaped open as he stammered,
“Then you knew I nearly died? When those rioters came…”
“I heard about that.”
It sounded like ‘If you’d died, oh well.’
Won Seung pouted.
“I was dragged to this Jeokhyeolsan place and barely survived.”
“I see.”
“They’re real bastards. If you’d step in, Guksa…”
“That’s Jianghu business.”
“Give me a thousand cavalry, then…”
“No need for that.”
Hmm. Father’s still only interested in court faction politics, huh.
“Oh, right.”
Won Seung brought out the simple wine table he’d prepared in the cabin corner. Plum wine—Father’s favorite.
As he poured, the plum scent filled the cabin.
Plum blossoms outside the window, plum wine inside…
Father and son each took a sip.
“You’ve got a little sister now.”
“She must’ve grown a lot.”
“She’s growing up without enough sweets.”
“Too many will rot her teeth.”
Father-son talk really was awkward. Won Seung sighed inwardly.
“How’s Won Sochu?”
“He’ll take the spring civil service exams this year.”
“Oh ho, the youth exam, then.”
“Likely.”
Won Guksa sighed, looking at his eldest son.
“You always wandered outside since you were little… I should’ve known.”
Won Seung had loved roaming the streets as a kid.
Father’s worry made him feel good.
“You must’ve been really concerned.”
“When you were born, your maternal grandfather said you’d run off for ten years as a child—I thought it nonsense, but here it is.”
“Run off? I’m telling you, I’m innocent this time. Who’d expect to get sold while sleeping?”
Suddenly, Stepmother Joo Gunju came to mind.
“How’s Stepmother doing?”
“She’s well.”
“No illnesses or anything?”
“She’s very healthy. Why do you ask?”
Won Guksa frowned slightly at his son.
“You don’t think your stepmother abandoned you, do you?”
Why wouldn’t I?
Won Seung averted his eyes without answering. Won Guksa startled, alarmed.
“What are you thinking? Your stepmother dotes on you… She grieved the most when you vanished.”
“No way.”
“She even fought bitterly with her brother over it—they still haven’t spoken.”
“……?”
Won Seung stared blankly, incredulous. Won Guksa let out a deep sigh.
“It was her idea to register you under her name. That way, you could step forward as the legitimate eldest son. Why would she harm you? You were too young to grasp adult thinking—you must’ve misunderstood.”
Won Seung rummaged through his memories. Stepmother Joo Gunju hated Mother, didn’t she? And hated me too. Her inner quarters staff bullied ours.
Won Guksa clicked his tongue.
“You were a twisted kid back then. Always seeing things negatively—a total rebel. Know that?”
“Stepmother drove Mother to Soju.”
“Your mother wanted to go.”
Father seemed utterly deluded by Stepmother.
Won Seung stared in dismay. Won Guksa clicked his tongue again.
“It was Stepmother’s idea to take your mother as second wife, not concubine. Our family was harmonious—except for you and Sochu.”
Then Sochu’s prank? A five-year-old pulling that vicious stunt?
“Sochu cried a lot after you left. Thought it was his fault you ran away—became much more obedient. Dedicating himself to studies, on track for the youth exam… Hmm. Thanks to you, I suppose.”
What the hell? What was the truth? Won Seung wondered if he’d unknowingly taken a Soul Oblivion Pill, his memories wholesale altered.