On the Way to Beijing (3)
I couldn't help tilting my head at the Pojeongsa Lord's sudden change in expression.
But he didn't say anything more about it.
"Well then, let's eat."
"Ah, yes."
I picked up my chopsticks again.
"Um, Lord Pojeongsa."
"Speak."
"I'm thinking of expanding the scale of our Eunhae Merchant Group's Guizhou branch a bit."
"Enough to mention it to me specifically?"
"We're planning to expand it to around ten thousand pyeong or maybe fifteen thousand pyeong."
"That's quite a sizable expansion."
"Yes. With all the increased dealings we'll be handling in Guizhou Province..."
I added another reason.
"It'll also make it more comfortable for Deputy Officer Gwak to stay there. We're planning to build separate quarters for him at the Guizhou branch."
"Hm... you."
"Yes."
"Do you think I'd just go along with that if you tried to negotiate with me over it?"
Gulp.
I swallowed, waiting for what he'd say next.
"In that case, you'd be right."
"Pardon?"
"Heh heh heh. This much isn't abusing my power."
I gave an awkward laugh.
Embarrassing to have gotten so worked up over nothing.
"It's worth skipping the hassle of negotiating with other merchant groups."
"Thank you for saying so."
Time passed like that, and soon it was time for us to head out.
"Take care of yourself."
"Yes. Please stay well."
Seo-hyang Sojeo's mother approached me then and took my hand.
"Thank you."
I bowed lightly at her sincere words.
With that, our long-overdue reunion came to an end, and we headed back to the inn.
Pojeongsa Dong-hwi watched the departing figures of Eun Seo-ho and his group with a satisfied expression.
'Just as I thought.'
He knew all about Eun Seo-ho, having investigated him from every angle.
How meticulous and thorough the man was.
But connections like this couldn't be blocked by such things.
And he, more than anyone, knew that well.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
"Doesn't it suit them well?"
His wife nodded with a smile at his question.
"Yes. It does."
She approved of the match between them too.
She knew full well that no place was safer than by Eun Seo-ho's side.
Earlier, when he'd grilled Eun Seo-ho and then softened his gaze—it had been for his daughter's sake.
A pearl hairpin adorned her hair.
An expensive item she couldn't have obtained on her own.
Eun Seo-ho must have gifted it. He'd mentioned going to Haenamdo for pearl dealings.
Pearls were meant to protect the wearer and bring good fortune.
And in Dong-hwi's family, a pearl given by a man to a woman carried deep meaning.
"You are my woman."
Dong-hwi stroked his chin.
'There's no way that girl doesn't know that, yet she wore it anyway. That means she has feelings for the young branch leader too.'
The next morning, my group and I left the inn.
Our next destination was the Eunhae Merchant Group's main headquarters in Hubei Province.
We had plenty to discuss.
Thanks to the Zhuqiang horses again, we arrived quickly.
"Gasp! Young Branch Leader!"
"Has the Third Young Branch Leader arrived?"
As we entered the Eunhae Merchant Group's carriage yard, everyone greeted us with surprise and joy.
"It's been a while, everyone."
"We heard you accomplished something tremendous at the recent Murim Grand Assembly."
I scratched my head at the accountant's words and replied.
"I just got lucky."
"Come on! You can't call that just luck!"
"Exactly. Only the Third Young Branch Leader could pull it off."
I smiled sheepishly and changed the subject.
"Brother Jin-ho had some impressive results too."
Everyone nodded at my words.
"Of course. He trained at the practice grounds whenever he had time."
Ah...
I could feel the sticky awkwardness now.
Everyone had seen Brother Jin-ho's efforts, so it was taken for granted, but my results exceeded expectations, hence the reaction.
I said seriously.
"Could I ask a favor of you all?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"When Brother Jin-ho returns, please tell him he did well, that he worked hard, that you're proud of him, that he's the pride of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Pardon?"
"No effort is ever a given. Nor are the results of that effort."
"You're right."
The voice belonged to my father.
Father approached us with a smile.
"No effort is a given, just as you say. Nor are any results."
"Father!"
"Good to see you made it back safely. Go wash up first. Looks like you timed it just right—I've got no plans this evening."
"Yes. I'll clean up and come see you shortly."
I headed to my quarters.
Whoa...
Mun-gok-dang. It's really been ages.
The servants and maids of Mun-gok-dang, whom I hadn't seen in so long, greeted me warmly.
Even on this unannounced return, everything was spotless—they must clean diligently as usual.
After washing and changing into fresh robes, I went to the dining hall and had dinner with Father.
"I see things went well on your Haenamdo trip too."
"Yes, better than expected."
I'd already sent a letter via Jin-ryeong about the Haenamdo matters.
It involved establishing a Eunhae Merchant Group ship docking site on Haenamdo, and Father was the group's leader.
"So now, Crown Prince Hall is personally handling the cleanup there."
"You managed to slip away unscathed."
"Yes."
I nodded.
"Not only do I need to discuss things with you, Father, but there are several matters requiring Eunwol-gak's input, so I stopped by."
I pulled out the prepared documents and handed them over.
A fairly thick scroll.
Father unrolled it, read through, and nodded.
"Yes, I've been pondering these issues myself. But... I'm worried you'll have to handle all of them yourself."
And rightly so—they were matters I'd started and tied to me personally.
If I handed them off here, things might not proceed smoothly.
"Don't worry. I've got the stamina for it."
"True enough."
"I try to get at least three sichen of sleep a day."
Otherwise, Master would surely visit again and knock me out with extreme measures.
As Father and I finished dinner, Mother and the family returned home.
It was late, so I only greeted Grandfather and Mother.
The next day, I rose as usual and performed my breathing exercises.
Doing them in Mun-gok-dang after so long felt strangely nostalgic.
No sooner had I finished than a welcome figure entered the pavilion.
"Master!"
"It's been a while."
"Yes, it has. How did you know I was here?"
"You'll find out later."
Master asked.
"Have you grasped any insights into the Snow Frost Swordsmanship yet?"
I shook my head.
"I've been pondering it, but I still don't understand what you meant by 'a sword not confined to form and stance.'"
I recalled the arrangement from the investigator at the Zhu-yong Palace last time.
"In truth, the Snow Frost Swordsmanship isn't swordsmanship at all."
"Pardon?"
"Since it's not a sword confined to form and stance. You'll probably realize that far in the future. Hm, I've made arrangements for it, so you'll encounter it someday."
"......"
"And if you master the Extreme Ice Sword I'm teaching you now, you'll get one step closer."
I'd learned the Extreme Ice Sword from the investigator, but I still didn't grasp the subtlety.
"Do you know, Master?"
"A little... I think so."
"Really?"
As expected of Master.
At some point, our relationship had shifted from me unilaterally learning martial arts from him to us jointly researching the Seol-pung Palace techniques.
But I didn't mind.
It meant I could help Master too.
"Then, draw your sword."
"Yes."
And as always, we began sparring, swinging our swords at each other.
A moment later, I lay sprawled in the pavilion courtyard, panting.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo."
Master stood there, breathing steady.
How strong is he, exactly?
Still, it was good that he let me go all out.
"We'll end here for today."
At Master's words, I rose and clasped my fists in salute.
"Thank you for the instruction."
Master returned the salute and said.
"I'm departing on escort duty again this afternoon. I'm glad I could teach you before leaving."
"Me too."
I continued.
"I thought I wouldn't see you again before the year ended."
Master chuckled softly.
Huh?
Master showing expression was a rare sight.
"Take this."
With that, something flew from Master, and I caught it reflexively.
Opening my hand, it was a small turtle carved from stone.
"What is this?"
"Wasn't it your birthday recently? A birthday gift. I carved it from stone myself."
"Uh..."
For a moment, I couldn't think of what to say.
It wasn't an artifact, not gold—just a stone-carved turtle.
But made by Master's own hand.
Turtles symbolize wealth, longevity.
My chest warmed at the sentiment in this turtle.
"It's embarrassing since it's not gold."
"No."
I shook my head.
"A gift from you, Master—how could it not be precious?"
"I'm glad you think so."
"Thank you for the valuable gift."
As I bowed with clasped fists and looked up, Master was already gone.
I gazed at the turtle in admiration.
How did he carve such an intricate turtle?
That day, the Eunwol-gak meeting was convened.
"It's been a while."
"Yes, it has."
Aside from High Il-pyeong, the outer steward I'd seen at the last Murim Grand Assembly, it had been ages since seeing Yu So-ak, inner steward and Jae-gyeong Pavilion Lord, Jeok Byeong-cheol of Se-pung Pavilion, and Yeon Da-mi of Sang-yu Pavilion.
"Your twenty-fourth birthday was recent, right? Congratulations."
"Happy birthday."
"Hahaha. Thank you."
I exchanged pleasantries with a smile.
"Oh, right—you probably don't know yet."
Yeon Da-mi Pavilion Lord said to me.
"Inner Steward Yu So-ak is getting married next spring."
"Oh, finally set the date?"
She nodded with a smile at my question.
"Congratulations."
Yu So-ak inner steward replied with a bashful look.
"Ahem, thank you."
"When's the date?"
"Early March next year. Just when the plum blossoms are blooming."
"I see."
Early March, when plums bloom...
Perfect timing.
The alcohol ban would be lifted by then, allowing a grand feast.
Then Father and Jeong-ho hyung entered, and the meeting began.
It dragged on quite a while.
We had a lot to discuss, after all.
"Then we'll proceed like this."
"Yes."
The main focus was the ship docking site on Haenamdo.
Best to push forward while favor with the Eunhae Merchant Group and me was at its peak.
We decided to dispatch experts from headquarters for speed and efficiency.
Next, the major expansion of the Luoyang branch.
Construction to start once the site was secured.
The martial hall construction was proceeding smoothly...
Everyone in Eunwol-gak approved making Beijing a sub-headquarters.
Jeong-ho hyung agreed too.
"I was already悩ing over going to Beijing every time for silk deliveries."
Thus, Beijing branch becomes sub-headquarters, with Jeong-ho hyung stationed there.
Like how the Crown Prince heads to Nanjing.
Not at all to exploit him in my absence.
Though if he helps, what can I do?
The Guizhou branch expansion was finalized here too.
"Oh, right—our merchant ships should be arriving in Nanjing soon."
"Yes."
I nodded.
"Seo-ho, you'll have to handle it again this time."
"Of course. And I'll go to Nanjing with Brother Jin-ho in Beijing, then have him sail back to headquarters."
"Good idea."
The meeting ended, and it was already lunchtime.
Hm, what's for lunch today?
I returned to Mun-gok-dang with some anticipation.
"Waaah!"
Huh? A baby's cry?
Entering the pavilion, Palgap was fidgeting anxiously.
"What happened?"
"You're back now."
"Ah! Sister-in-law."
My second sister-in-law was in my pavilion, cradling a child who was bawling pitifully.
Hong-ryeo, Brother Jin-ho's daughter.
She'd be turning one soon.
"Why's Hong-ryeo crying?"
I asked Palgap, who replied with a dejected expression.
He looked just like a bear with drooping ears.
"I just greeted Lady Hong-ryeo, that's all. But the moment she saw my face, she started crying like that."
"Really? Why?"
I tilted my head and approached Hong-ryeo to greet her.
"Hey, Hong-ryeo. Why the tears?"
"......"
The instant she saw my face, Hong-ryeo stopped crying.
She reached out to me with a beaming smile, as if she'd never been upset.
"Gah! Ga!"
Palgap muttered, looking hurt.
"Even babies discriminate by looks... what a cruel world..."
Hm...
This situation feels familiar somehow?