The Results of the Outing (2)
After dinner and a short rest, I headed to Silver Dragon Hall, where my father was.
The escort warrior announced my arrival inside, and moments later, I entered.
"You're here. Have a seat."
I sat down at the low table in one corner of the office. My father personally brewed the tea and placed it before me.
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
As I sipped the tea my father had given me, I smiled inwardly.
It was a familiar taste.
This tea, with its sweet fruit aroma blooming sweetly on the tongue like floral nectar...
"How is it?"
"It's truly fine tea."
"It's Anxi Tieguanyin from Fujian Province."
Tieguanyin, which retains its flavor and aroma even after seven infusions, is best from spring harvests. But the autumn variety is also prized for its fragrance and called chuhyangcha.
In other words, it's an expensive, premium tea.
Only the kind grown in Anxi County is considered authentic Tieguanyin, so supply is limited.
That made it incredibly hard to obtain.
"Even Pavilion Master Yeon of Three Winds Pavilion is working tirelessly to secure direct shipments of this tea right now."
Tea is one of our merchant group's key items, but we get Anxi Tieguanyin through middlemen.
That meant slim margins and no defense against the middlemen's whims.
Pavilion Master Yeon had been pushing for direct supply, but we'd only started receiving it around the time I became a special apprentice at Three Winds Pavilion.
I need to resolve this issue soon.
Eating unnecessary losses doesn't sit well with me.
I set down my teacup and said,
"Good news will come soon enough."
"I hope so."
My father smiled as he set down his cup, then asked,
"What are your plans for this special leave?"
"Ah, that day... well..."
I'll roll around in bed all day sleeping—that's the plan.
But I couldn't say that outright. It felt a bit guilty.
My father and my eldest brother, who'd just been officially promoted to squad leader, didn't get special leave.
"I was thinking of catching up on some personal studies."
"I see."
My father nodded, then after a pause, asked again.
"In that case, may I ask a personal favor?"
"Of course, Father. I'm listening."
"During this special leave, I'd like you to take Chief Steward Yu out for a proper outing."
"...Pardon?"
I tried to grasp my father's true intent, but I couldn't fathom it.
His words were that unexpected.
"Um, you mean an outing like the kind I know?"
"Going out to eat, drink, and enjoy yourself—what else is an outing?"
My father continued.
"Actually, Chief Steward Yu tried to forfeit his special leave this time. But under my insistence, he had to approve his own vacation."
That explained why Chief Steward Yu had looked so downcast earlier, sighing heavily as he revised the approval documents.
"But that man works even at home."
I nodded in agreement.
Chief Steward Yu was the type utterly devoted to work.
As if he'd die without it.
"It turns out his leave coincides exactly with yours. So, I want you to help him truly rest... while also..."
"Keeping an eye on him, right?"
My father nodded at my words.
Suddenly, an image from my previous life flashed in my mind—my father weeping bitterly at Chief Steward Yu's funeral, overcome by grief from his overwork death.
"Understood, Father. I'll do as you ask."
"Thank you."
If sacrificing a bit of my rest could spare my father that sorrow, it was more than enough.
Chief Steward Yu should only die of old age.
Clack, clack.
The rhythmic sound of the carriage wheels filled the air.
The carriage carrying Chief Steward Yu and me was heading to a valley about half a si-jin from the Eunhae Merchant Group headquarters—for our outing.
Drinking tea and dining at the pavilion there was the main purpose.
Yet Chief Steward Yu's face had been deathly pale since earlier.
His attendant, sitting beside him, fidgeted anxiously as a result.
Aw, this is pitiful.
At this rate, I'd be the one clutching my neck, outing or not.
"Chief Steward Yu."
"Yes, Young Master? What is it?"
"Are you desperate for the privy?"
"...Pardon?"
Chief Steward Yu looked flustered at my words.
"You've had that constipated puppy look since earlier."
"Ahem, ahem."
"If not that, then maybe Father's order to go outing with me rubs you the wrong way?"
"..."
"Is it going with me that you dislike? Or the outing itself?"
The atmosphere inside the carriage turned icy in an instant.
Chief Steward Yu's attendant looked like he might faint.
Come to think of it, his attendant's always been a bit faint-hearted.
But I had my reasons for pressing like this.
To ensure Chief Steward Yu could genuinely enjoy the outing.
If he kept this up, nothing would work—not even an outing.
He might as well go back to Three Winds Pavilion and work.
At my blunt question, Chief Steward Yu sighed deeply.
"Why wouldn't I be pleased to go with you, Young Master?"
"Then it must be the outing you dislike."
"Yes."
Chief Steward Yu nodded vigorously and launched into a tirade.
"With all those piled-up documents waiting, an outing at a time like this!"
"Who's handling them now?"
"Pavilion Master Deputy would be."
"Then no problem, right?"
"But there are things only I can handle."
"Father will take care of those. That's why he forced you to take this outing, isn't it?"
"..."
"Since we're already on our way, please don't frown so much that even your attendant feels uncomfortable."
"Ah..."
Only then did Chief Steward Yu glance at his attendant, scratching his cheek at the man's ashen face.
"Sorry about that."
"N-no, it's fine. Haha."
Chief Steward Yu seemed somewhat mollified, but I decided to drive the point home once more.
"Honestly, your frowning won't change anything at this point."
"..."
"It really bothers me too."
At my words, realization dawned on Chief Steward Yu's face. He clasped his hands in a formal salute toward me.
Eh? What's this all of a sudden?
Chief Steward Yu spoke earnestly.
"My apologies. I didn't realize my behavior was inconveniencing others."
What?
"I'll be more mindful from now on."
"Yes. Looking forward to it."
I was a bit thrown by the sudden shift but smoothed it over.
Come to think of it, Chief Steward Yu's never been great with people.
His skills were top-notch, he had Father's full trust, and the other pavilion masters accommodated him, so he'd gotten by without issues.
But from what he just said, I could guess the problem.
He'd never learned how to get along with others.
They call people like this talented fools...
Maybe teaching him social skills comes before preventing his overwork death.
That would avoid needless conflicts and improve my work environment too.
But first, that stiff face needs fixing.
"Here, try copying me."
"Pardon?"
"Come on."
"Ah, yes."
"Smooth out those frown lines between your brows... haha!"
"Haha?"
"Yes. Smile like that."
Has this man never smiled for real? So awkward.
But you can't fill up on the first bite. He'll get better with practice.
.
.
.
A short while later,
we arrived at our destination.
"Whoa! What an amazing spot!"
Palgap shouted excitedly.
Thanks to recent rains, water flowed through the valley, and the mountains wore a fresh light-green garb.
Pink and yellow wildflowers bloomed here and there, adding to the charm.
Chief Steward Yu's attendant set up the seating, while Palgap arranged the food.
Meanwhile, squad leader Gu Ji-seong and the two Silver Wind Squad warriors stood guard around the perimeter.
"You must be hungry after the trip. Let's eat."
"Indeed."
At that moment, I held out my hand to stop Chief Steward Yu from starting.
"...?"
He looked at me questioningly, and I said,
"Everyone's hungry right now. If they're human."
"That's obvious."
"Those warriors are human too. They must be hungry."
"They're not children; they'll eat on their own."
"True. But a word can build loyalty."
With that, I approached squad leader Gu Ji-seong.
"Squad leader, join us for the meal with your men."
Gu Ji-seong hesitated, looking slightly flustered.
"We're fine. We can't drop our guard too much, but this isn't necessary."
"In that case... under stood. Thank you for your consideration, Young Master."
Gu Ji-seong signaled his two warriors, and they prepared their own spot.
I returned to my seat and said to Chief Steward Yu,
"There's a world of difference between saying a word like that and not. And from what I've heard, some places won't let their guards eat without the master's permission."
"..."
"Now, let's eat."
Palgap had prepared a lavish spread.
He'd gone all out since it was an outing.
Huh?
He even brought liquor.
I couldn't help but chuckle dryly and ask Palgap,
"What's this liquor?"
"Come on, Young Master! No outing is complete without a drink. Pair it with the scenery as an appetizer."
It was almost absurd.
"Attendants aren't allowed liquor."
Elsewhere maybe, but Eunhae Merchant Group attendants and maids never touched alcohol.
Their one chance was the monthly banquet hosted by the deputy pavilion master of Three Winds Pavilion.
"Of course I know that! It's for you to drink, Young Master."
I appreciated the thought, but I needed to avoid liquor now.
It didn't agree with my constitution.
Then Chief Steward Yu spoke up.
"It's been ages since I had a drink."
"Oh, will you?"
Palgap quickly prepared cups, and I poured for Chief Steward Yu.
One cup, two—the more he drank, the redder his face got, and the more he smiled.
Eh? What's this?
Did my advice lose to the booze?
No wonder they say moderate drinking is medicine.
Though excess is poison.
Suddenly, Chief Steward Yu recited a verse.
Even I, no poetry expert, found it beautiful.
But this poem... I've heard it before?
After racking my brain, I remembered.
In my previous life, when I visited the capital, a famous literati's poetry collection had sold like hotcakes.
He was a high official who'd retired and published his works.
The verse Chief Steward Yu just recited was from that collection.
Which was over a decade in the future from now. How could he know it?
"A wonderful poem. Just hearing it lifts the spirits."
"Thank you. Drinking here amid nature brought an old verse of mine to mind. Embarrassing as it is, I recited it."
"I see."
What?
His own poem?
"Have you recited this to anyone else besides me?"
"I'm not one to recite poetry in front of others."
Chief Steward Yu smiled wryly, shaking his head, then added as if remembering something,
"Ah, there was one person."
He looked like he was digging through memories.
"When I served in the court, I recited it to my superior."
"Do you remember his name?"
Not Chui Il-gong, surely.
"He was the Academic Director of the National Academy at the time—Chui Il-gong."
"..."
No way. Really?
My worst suspicions were confirmed.
Chui Il-gong's collection listed composition dates for each poem—far in the future from now.
Which meant he'd stolen Chief Steward Yu's poem and claimed it as his own.