Chapter 153. Plum Blossoms in Bloom: A Fortunate Meeting?
“Then who the hell sold me out? Was it Seong Wang?”
“We still don’t know.”
Won Guksa’s face hardened fiercely.
“I had more than a few political enemies back then. Any one of those bastards could’ve done it.”
“The servants in our inner quarters came from Seong Wang’s household. Maybe Seong Wang ordered them to...”
“It’s your life. You need to get the facts straight.”
Won Guksa cut off Won Seung with a raised hand.
“That’s when Jung-hyo died.”
“?”
Jung-hyo was a servant boy about Won Seung’s age. The two had been like friends.
“You both vanished at the same time. You didn’t come back even after dark, so I sent people to look for you, but they couldn’t find a trace. Then the next day, those bastards had the gall to leave a note pinned to the front gate. It said Suryujeong.”
Won Guksa gazed out the cabin window with a somber expression. There, atop the cliff, stood Suryujeong, surrounded by white plum blossoms.
“They knew I visited Suryujeong every year. We found Jung-hyo’s body right below it. At first, I thought it was you—he was wearing your clothes.”
Won Seung’s face drained of color. Jung-hyo... Jung-hyo died in my place?
—Young master, if I were you, I’d spend more time on the scriptures.
Though the same age, Jung-hyo had always acted like an older brother. Born into poverty, orphaned early, he’d matured faster than his peers.
That day came back to him more clearly now.
They’d snuck dried fruit from the kitchen, shared it, and swapped clothes. Won Seung often traded outfits with Jung-hyo when heading out. But he’d felt strangely drowsy. Jung-hyo lay down first, saying he was sleepy, and Won Seung followed suit for a quick nap... It might’ve been sleeping incense.
Won Seung spoke, his voice thick with grief.
“Whoever did this, they’ll die by my hand.”
“We gave Jung-hyo a proper funeral.”
Won Guksa continued.
“People from Seong Wang’s household know your face. They wouldn’t mistake him for you. That’s why I ruled them out at first. But then your stepmother went to Seong Wang’s place and caused a huge uproar. When I asked why, she wouldn’t say. After that, I’ve always been suspicious.”
Won Seung pondered.
Why kill Jung-hyo and spare me? They could’ve just killed a lowly servant boy too. Did they sell me to Jeokhyeolsan for a single silver tael?
“I sent people out quietly to search for you, but it was like a stone sinking in water—no trace at all. So I was about to file an official missing persons report and put out a warrant across the Central Plains through the authorities. That’s when your maternal grandfather sent a letter. He said you weren’t fated to die and would return in ten years, so don’t make a fuss and bury the matter.”
“......”
“Your grandfather’s skilled in divination. I was grasping at straws, honestly. So I kept searching discreetly while gagging the household servants. But strangely, word got out that you’d gone missing.”
Something clicked for Won Seung mid-story, and he asked,
“Last spring, did anyone from Sangyang come digging into my background?”
“?”
Won Seung still wondered how Hwa Cheon-un of Cheongsu Gate had figured out his identity. High officials kept their children’s affairs private for safety.
Won Guksa shook his head.
“Not Hwa Cheon-un. It was So Yeonggwan.”
“?”
“Now that you mention it, I remember. He was an inspector in the Ministry of Justice back then. He came to me asking if it was true you’d vanished—must’ve heard it somewhere. I couldn’t trust anyone, so I said you’d gone to Suzhou for health reasons. He didn’t seem convinced but left anyway.”
“What kind of man is So Yeonggwan?”
So Yeonggwan had claimed to hear about Won Seung from Hwa Cheon-un—a lie.
“He walks his own path. A lone wolf official who doesn’t form cliques. That’s why he got exiled to Sangyang—no backers. No reason he’d betray you. If he thought I’d sent you away, he’d keep his distance.”
“Is it true Seong Wang is plotting rebellion?”
“He’s an ambitious tyrant. Who knows what’s in his head.”
Won Guksa sighed.
“He has plenty of followers in the court and generals in the field. He’s quietly building power, making secret deals with the jianghu too. The rumors make sense given the signs.”
“You must be preparing defenses, Father.”
Won Guksa stared at Won Seung and said,
“Since you’ve gone into the jianghu, stay out of court affairs. Our family’s officials are me and Sochu—that’s enough.”
“What?”
Won Seung felt oddly cast aside, a pang of hurt rising.
Won Guksa gazed at his son for a long moment, then murmured softly,
“You’re not cut out to be an official.”
“What’s that supposed to mean about my personality?”
“You take after your mother.”
Won Seung thought of his mother. Not even a little.
“Parents don’t always know their kids best. Guess we were apart too long.”
“Hmph. Remember trying to burn the house down? Or poisoning the well? I haven’t forgotten.”
Ah, come on. Those were misunderstandings.
Won Seung’s eyes twitched upward, but his father sighed.
“I originally passed the exam hoping to serve as a county magistrate in some small town near Suzhou. My ambitions were modest. But I wrote my answers too thoroughly and topped the list—landed me here.”
“Hah...”
Even bragging can sound like this. Anyone else would’ve spat blood.
“You’re the spitting image of your mother as a girl. You’ll cause endless trouble ahead. A jianghu man can afford mishaps, but an official? One slip and your head rolls. You’d need ten lives.”
“Mother caused trouble?”
“She nearly breached the village dike once—total chaos. Almost drowned the whole lot.”
Won Seung tilted his head, picturing his mother.
“Hard to believe.”
Won Seung eyed him skeptically, so Won Guksa ran a hand over his head, revealing a scar.
“Your mother did this when we were kids. Smacked me with a brick.”
His parents had grown up neighbors, playing together since childhood. Won Guksa, from a poor family and orphaned young, had been looked after by her father, the interpreter.
Won Seung asked, paling,
“Why? What did you do wrong?”
“Wrong? ...”
Won Guksa sighed deeply.
“We studied the same at the village school. I remembered too well, so she said she’d crack my head open to peek inside. If I’d died then, no you.”
“Ah...”
Won Seung was speechless at his mother’s antics. Won Guksa looked at him and said,
“Seeing you brings it all back. I heard you became a Ministry investigator. Retire and head to Suzhou. I’ll call when the time’s right.”
“I can’t do that. I have my own business.”
Won Seung replied peevishly.
“Even without your help, I’ll crush Jeokhyeolsan. And find who killed Jung-hyo.”
“......”
Won Guksa stared, then said,
“You’re grown now—handle it yourself. If you listened, it wouldn’t be your mother’s blood in you.”
“How do you know my recent whereabouts so well? Got someone tailing me?”
Won Seung glanced around.
Won Guksa just chuckled silently—no answer.
“Then tell me this: What’s the connection between Dae Yeon-ui Geom and Bi Sword Sect?”
“He might hail from Bi Sword Sect. He retired long ago; I don’t know much. Even Seong Wang avoids the topic, so few in the capital know who he really is.”
Won Guksa stood.
“I’ve been out too long—gotta head back.”
He glanced at Suryujeong through the window. Framed by white plum blossoms, its beauty was breathtaking.
“Haven’t enjoyed the blossoms since. I won’t stop your revenge. But as a father...”
Won Guksa looked at his son.
“Whatever you do, live your life without regrets.”
Riding home slowly, Won Seung mulled it over. He’d hoped meeting his father would clarify his kidnapping, but it only deepened the confusion.
Stepmother, Sochu... not even Seong Wang?
Hearing of Jung-hyo’s death filled him with grief. Rage boiled deep inside, arrowing straight at Jeokhyeolsan.
You bastard sons of bitches... I’ll kill you all.
Back home, Im Cho-ye lit into him.
“Plum blossoms in bloom, met the right person, huh? How good was it that you didn’t come home for two days?”
“Yeah.”
He brushed it off, but a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
A chill ran through him.
She’s misunderstanding something... Better set the line straight before it digs deeper.
Won Seung lectured gravely.
“Cho-ye. This big brother sees you as a little sister. A very cute one. I get you’re leaning on me since I saved you. But I told you—I have a scary girlfriend.”
“Hmph!”
Im Cho-ye snorted and stormed to her room.
Gi Seung-gyo emerged from the kitchen just then, ladle in hand from cooking.
He eyed Won Seung and said flatly,
“Don’t make Miss Cho-ye cry.”
Ah, damn it...
Won Seung decided he needed to send the Bi Sword Sect folks packing ASAP.
After dinner, he approached Gi Seung-gyo and Jin Eok-so. Though badly wounded, as masters, they’d recovered enough to move.
“I don’t wanna ask or hear anything. Just leave once you’re healed.”
“......”
The stoic pair just stared silently.
“Might sound harsh, but it’s best for you. Sticking with me drags you into trouble. Take Cho-ye and head home.”
“Understood.”
Jin Eok-so replied curtly.
Days later, returning from work, the house was empty—save a note.
I'll repay the debt in time.
That was it. No word on where they’d gone or thanks for the stay.
“Man, just ghosted... Left a note and bounced? What characters.”
Won Seung worried how these socially awkward Bi Sword Sect disciples would manage caring for Cho-ye in the world.
Sigh. Worry about yourself first, Won Seung.
The plum blossoms fell, and Samjil Day loomed.
The day the kids gathered.