Jeonju Yi Clan -3- "Can't You Stop Crying? I'm Not Dead Yet"
"Can't you stop crying now that I'm not dead?"
I couldn't help but doubt if the woman bawling her eyes out in front of me was really Yi Bang-won, the one who'd spark Joseon's first literary purge. Hadn't she been cold-blooded from childhood, killing even her own siblings without batting an eye?
"What a disgraceful spectacle this morning. A daughter of the Jeonju Yi clan shouldn't cry out loud like that—it's utterly lacking in dignity, siwayo."
I turned toward the voice at the same time as Yi Bang-ul. Long blonde braids whipped dramatically in the wind. A woman who looked every bit the stereotypical blonde villainess noble lady was smirking behind her fan as she gazed our way. It was Yi Bang-an, the one who'd ignite the Second Prince's Rebellion down the line.
"Fourth Sis, quit picking fights and just go on your way."
"I came to pay my respects since you fell off your horse, but your words are too harsh, siwayo. Is your condition all right, siwayo?"
Yi Bang-an glided lightly up onto the pavilion, breezing past Yi Bang-ul to approach me. She pressed a hand to my forehead, frowned in puzzlement, then touched her own. Then back to mine, palm flat against my skin.
"No fever—thank goodness, siwayo. Does the back of your head still hurt? It's a relief it wasn't serious, siwayo. When you came home yesterday, Third Sis Bang-ik really thought you were dead, siwayo. If Eldest Sis hadn't ridden off to fetch the physician right away, who knows what might've happened—it's terrifying just to imagine, siwayo. Don't get hurt again, siwayo..."
Yi Bang-an continued in a gentle tone, her face soft and kind. Yi Bang-ul, sitting beside me, hung her head and stared at the floor. Yi Bang-an turned to her with axe-sharp eyes and a smiling face.
"So why'd you let him fall, siwayo? Did you hate Bang-yeon that much, siwayo? Even if he talks rough sometimes, you can't just do that, right, siwayo?"
Yi Bang-ul stared holes into the wooden floor, unable to respond.
"If you've got a mouth, say something, siwayo. You usually can't shut up—why so quiet today, siwayo? Were you planning to cut ties with the family while heading to Seonggyun-gwan, siwayo? If so, this lady can help you out, siwayo."
Under the relentless scolding, Yi Bang-ul's tears began falling again in fat drops.
"Sis, enough already. Second Sis didn't do it on purpose—why go so hard on her?"
"Hmph. In matters like this, you need to give a firm warning, siwayo. She knows how dangerous falling from a horse is, yet she galloped so recklessly—it's something deserving a thousand scoldings and still not enough, siwayo."
Yi Bang-an snapped her fan open with a crack and covered her lower face again. It was the naive act of someone who thought no one could see the sly sneer behind it, pretending to be solemn like the others.
"If she pulls this undignified nonsense in Gaegyeong and tarnishes our house's reputation, we can't have that—so this time, we'll drill proper etiquette into her for sure, siwayo. Starting with respect for elders and deference to sisters..."
Yi Bang-un, passing by, lightly smacked Yi Bang-an on the head. Yi Bang-an whipped around, ready to snap, but saw who it was and just grumbled in annoyance.
"I'm in the middle of important instruction—what do you think you're doing, siwayo!"
"Learn some respect yourself before you talk. It's ridiculous hearing some punk who won't even use honorifics with her own sister lecture on etiquette first thing in the morning."
Deep blue eyes darker than the sea, long golden blonde hair like threads of gold, a high-bridged nose. A smile that felt confident rather than arrogant. Less like the eldest daughter of the Jeonju Yi clan and more like the eldest of her mother's Han clan from Cheongju and Cheongmyeong—Yi Bang-un.
"Hey. Head feeling okay now? After seeing your state yesterday, I was torn between heading to the Yeom family shrine or the apothecary—glad you're fine. Why's Bang-ul crying again?"
"'Cause Bang-an Sis is chewing her out."
"What do you mean chewing out, siwayo! I was just advising her as a senior in life on how to conduct herself—"
Yi Bang-un smacked Yi Bang-an again. Yi Bang-an clutched her head. Tears welled in her blue eyes. She let out a wolfish whine and glared at Yi Bang-un.
Yi Bang-un chuckled.
"You don't even listen to me, so what etiquette are you teaching? Quit wasting time here and go help polish the bows."
Yi Bang-un shut Yi Bang-an down effortlessly. Yi Bang-an pouted and slunk away. Yi Bang-ul looked up at Yi Bang-un with teary eyes.
Yi Bang-un draped her arms over the railing and said, "You, stop crying too! What's with dragging this out over something done and over with? He's fine now—that's what matters, right?"
Yi Bang-ul gazed up at her with watery eyes. Yi Bang-un grinned. Yi Bang-ul, sniffling, stepped down from the pavilion and threw herself into Yi Bang-un's arms, sobbing pitifully. Yi Bang-un hugged her back, patting her shoulders. As Yi Bang-ul's heaving sobs quieted, Yi Bang-un released her with a bright smile.
"So when are you heading up to Gaegyeong? I've got our whole itinerary planned out. We can hit the Palgwan Festival at Heungwangsa together, grab some trinkets at the twin flower shops. So much to do, just us two."
Yi Bang-ul wiped her nose and tears on her sleeve between hiccups and replied, "Next next week."
"Yeah? Got all your stuff packed? No more crying. You've got such a pretty face—crying just makes it ugly."
Yi Bang-un gently wiped the tears from under Yi Bang-ul's eyes with her index finger. It felt like I was watching a movie from a first-person observer's view. While they giggled together, I slipped away quietly. Better to head back to my room and catch some sleep.
As I trudged back, a sliding door right next to me suddenly rattled open. Someone crawled out from the dark room on all fours. Unkempt long black hair curling at the ends, a somewhat dumb-looking face with red eyes, and ridiculously huge breasts. The freeloading third sister, Yi Bang-ik.
"Oh, perfect timing. Fetch some water."
"Do it yourself, slave."
"Quit your bullshit and hurry up. Oh, right—swing by the kitchen on the way back and grab some dried persimmons too. If there's honey or rice cakes, bring both."
I shot her a pitiful, scolding look. But it had zero effect on Yi Bang-ik. She flashed the lazy gaze of a fat house cat annoyed by everything and urged me to hurry.
"What're you waiting for?"
Yi Bang-ik tilted her head to the left. If she weren't my sister, I'd have beaten her till she dropped dead.
"What're you staring at?"
"I'm going. Why the bitch fit?"
"Whatever."
"Crazy bitch..."
I ransacked every reachable spot in the kitchen, but there wasn't even malt syrup, let alone honey. Some lunatic in the house must've scarfed down every sweet in sight and hidden the rest. She told me water, but if I brought just water, she'd bitch anyway—so I ladled some rice porridge and headed out.
Right as I left the kitchen, Yi Bang-un emerged from the sarangbang. She spotted me and spoke first.
"Oh, what's with the porridge? If it's for you, share some."
"Bang-ik Sis wanted it."
"Yeah? She always picks on you instead of Bang-ul or Bang-an. You got some dirt on her or what?"
"Nah, I'm just the easiest target. Who else is she gonna boss around? Bang-ul Sis is awkward for her, and Bang-an Sis don't get along with her."
"True..."
Before I knew it, we were at the door. Yi Bang-un bounded up the steps without hesitation and flung open Yi Bang-ik's door.
"You too lazy to go yourself, so you send your much-younger brother on errands?"
Yi Bang-ik, rolling around reading a novel, jolted upright. She flailed for a second, then saw the shadow at the door wasn't Mother and relaxed back down.
"Thought you were Mom. How many times do I gotta tell you to knock?!"
Yi Bang-ik spotted me behind the door and crawled over on all fours, shoving past Yi Bang-un to poke her head out. Yi Bang-un looked exasperated. Yi Bang-ik snatched the bowl from my hands, peered at the contents, and pulled a sour face.
"I said water—why porridge?"
"You'd bitch if I brought just water too."
Yi Bang-ik gulped it down greedily. Then shoved the empty bowl back into my hands.
"Now scram."
"Ha..."
Yi Bang-ik started crawling back in, but Yi Bang-un blocked her with a foot.
"What the hell's wrong with you, making your much-younger brother run errands while you lounge around reading trash novels year after year? Your own sister Bang-ul passed the Jinsa exam—don't you wanna prep for the gwageo or something?"
"Nope. Done talking? Can I go now?"
"Not yet. Mother wants both you and Bang-yeon. Come to the sarangbang in an hour once the guests leave."
At the word "Mother," Yi Bang-ik's face drained white. Her eyes met mine. No words needed—we both knew.
We're fucked...