Free Web Novel
- You Reap What You Sow
I narrowed my eyes and glared at Tang Yeongho.
I didn’t know what they’d been talking about, but anyone who grabbed a guest by the collar in a banquet this crowded clearly wasn’t all there.
Watching Tang Yeongho’s behavior as a prime “what not to do” example made me reevaluate Namgung Hwi.
Hwi. For someone raised in a Great Clan, you actually turned out pretty decent. Please keep growing up that way.
“What sort of discourtesy is this, Clan Head Tang?”
The Zhuge Clan Head, his mouth covered by an iron fan, let out a fishy smile as he asked. Judging from his expression, the man who’d been grabbed by the collar was from the Zhuge Clan, and he clearly didn’t like it.
“......My apologies, Zhuge Clan Head. But let us not bare our fangs over a children’s quarrel.”
Tang Muheok’s forced apology sat sour on his face.
Arms folded, Tang Jung was already grimacing. If not for concerns about face, he looked like he’d have stormed over and smacked the back of Tang Yeongho’s head.
He’d been so furious about that blockhead being made Young Clan Head—seemed he truly hated Tang Yeongho.
“Tang Yeongho!”
Tang Muheok shouted again.
Tang Yeongho, who’d been glaring at his opponent like he meant to kill him, trembled and finally let go of the man’s collar.
“My apologies.”
Then he stomped out of the banquet hall.
Every gaze followed his retreating back.
Murmurs naturally followed, and Tang Muheok ground his teeth. He looked deeply ashamed of the situation.
Judging by how he treated me too, Tang Muheok seemed like someone who valued honor and reputation. Kind of funny that someone who valued honor so much went and had an illegitimate child, though.
The man left behind where Tang Yeongho had been simply straightened his rumpled robes as if nothing had happened. Watching him, the Zhuge Clan Head snapped his iron fan shut.
“Hyogang. Don’t go picking fights for no reason.”
The Zhuge Clan Head’s voice carried his displeasure. So the man’s name was Hyogang.
“Picking a fight? You misunderstand me, Uncle. I was merely discussing Laozi with the Young Clan Head of Tang.”
Zhuge Hyogang replied with oily nonchalance, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. At that attitude, Tang Muheok’s expression went cold.
“Zhuge young lord, your scholarly attainments must be impressive indeed. But they say, ‘He who conquers others has force; he who conquers himself is strong.’ Rather than courting trouble with your tongue, I would hope you show it with your actions.”
He who... what? What is he even saying.
The string of fancy characters sounded so learned my jaw dropped on its own. I genuinely didn’t understand a single word.
Honestly, I barely even remembered who Laozi was. Tao Te Ching was Laozi... I think.
......Or not?
Seeing that I clearly hadn’t understood, Namgung Hwi whispered quietly,
“He’s saying you should look at yourself before trying to beat others. A true strong man isn’t someone who pushes others down with power, but someone who overcomes his own emotions and greed.”
Our Young Clan Head is clever, huh. Thanks. I still don’t really know what you’re saying, though.
Despite Tang Muheok’s sharp tone, # Nоvеlight # Zhuge Hyogang didn’t so much as blink as he drawled back,
“I’ll keep Clan Head Tang’s lesson close to heart.”
Then he narrowed his eyes in a sly crescent and bowed to the crowd.
“I apologize for causing a disturbance. Please, pay me no mind and enjoy the banquet.”
After a polite fist-and-palm salute, he strolled out of the banquet hall at an unhurried pace.
You really planning to keep it in mind, kid? Judging by the atmosphere, it sounded more like: Don’t act up in someone else’s house. Yeah? Or what?
The Zhuge Clan Head watched Zhuge Hyogang with a displeased expression, then let out a long sigh.
Looked like that side’s nephew gave them headaches too.
They say the hardest farming is raising children, and judging from how every house’s kids were overflowing with “personality,” even the prestigious clans had just as hard a time with childrearing.
Or maybe they all just self-taught their parenting? fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Scratching my head, I looked around the banquet hall that had sunk into a lull. The earlier commotion seemed to have killed the mood; guests were standing up and leaving one by one.
Tang Muheok had his fists clenched inside his sleeves and kept sipping tea, as if clinging to his composure.
The Young Clan Head of the Tang Clan had just dumped a chamber pot over the banquet the Tang Clan had prepared. Of course his pride would be stinging.
Just wrap it up, Dad. I want to go lie down and rest.
Shuffling in place and grumbling internally, I met Tang Jung’s eyes. He sent a sound transmission, his face disapproving.
Trytohavesomedignity.Try to have some dignity.Trytohavesomedignity.
You’re sitting down, Grandfather. I’ve been on my feet this whole time.
When I stuck out my lower lip, Tang Jung snorted like he couldn’t believe me.
At that moment, Namgung Hwi, standing next to me, suddenly jumped like he’d heard a loud noise. He looked around, startled, like someone who’d just heard a voice out of nowhere.
“Hwi. What’s wrong?” ƒгeewёbnovel.com
“N-nothing, Father.”
Answering Namgung Sang awkwardly, Namgung Hwi rose carefully to his feet. Then he tugged at the hem of my robe.
“Where’s the privy around here? Take me.”
“Huh? Oh. This way, Young Clan Head.”
My lips twitched upward. It was a legitimate excuse to leave my post. I hurriedly led Namgung Hwi out of the banquet hall.
*****
“Young Clan Head. The privy’s that way, not this way...”
“No, I don’t actually need to go.”
He answered and strode forward with determined steps.
Judging by how he was just marching straight ahead, the privy had just been an excuse—he clearly just wanted out of the banquet hall.
Hey. You’re a guest. Do you even know where you’re going?
Grumbling, I trotted after him and hitched up my trailing skirts.
The maid’s outfit Madam Jin had put me in had one more layer of skirt than what I usually wore; it was hot and uncomfortable.
I fanned my hem to cool the sweat on my legs when Namgung Hwi glanced back to check if I was following and shrieked,
“Y-you...! What are you doing!”
“Huh? What about it?”
“Your ankles are showing! A grown young lady shouldn’t be so improper! Put it down, quick!”
The tips of his ears went red as he covered his face and jerked his head away.
......Huh? You grabbed my hand without a second thought when we first met, but my ankles are suddenly embarrassing?
Blinking, I lowered my skirt. I really had no idea what this guy’s standards were.
Hopping from foot to foot in agitation, Namgung Hwi jabbed a finger at me.
“You’ll get in serious trouble like that. You can’t do that. You’re not supposed to show your bare legs to anyone except your betrothed.”
“Really?”
“Really! Ahem, it’s a good thing it’s just the two of us here. What if someone else had seen? Be careful from now on.”
Watching him clear his throat and lecture me, I suddenly felt like teasing him.
I lowered my eyes like a tragic heroine and mumbled,
“So what you’re saying is... since no one saw what happened today, you’ll just pretend it never happened?”
“Huh? I, uh... uh?”
Namgung Hwi stammered, his mouth hanging open. His big eyes trembled; he looked thoroughly flustered.
“I mean, I... uh... hold on. So what I meant is...”
He opened and closed his mouth, sweating bullets.
If he said yes, he’d be contradicting what he’d just told me; if he said no, he’d be signing up for a sudden fiancée. No wonder he couldn’t answer lightly.
The look on his face made it impossible to hold in my laughter any longer. I broke into giggles and fanned myself.
Maybe it was because I’d just watched people like Tang Yeongho and Zhuge Hyogang, but by comparison the relatively innocent Namgung Hwi suddenly felt kind of adorable.
“Haha, I’m kidding, Young Clan Head.”
“What? You—you really...!”
Realizing he’d been played, Namgung Hwi’s face went red, then pale. Before he could actually get mad, I hurriedly waved my hands.
“We’re friends. We’re friends, right? Didn’t we agree to be friends? Friends are allowed to joke around a bit.”
At my excuse, he stuck his lower lip out and turned his back on me. Whoops, kid’s going to sulk.
I hurried to walk beside him and asked sweetly,
“So where are we going?”
“Where do you want to go? I just walked out. Poison King Elder told me to take you out for one double-hour.”
“Elder did?”
Namgung Hwi nodded up and down.
No wonder he’d suddenly jumped in the banquet hall—he must’ve been startled by the sound transmission.
Since Tang Jung couldn’t move himself, he’d pushed Namgung Hwi into service.
Grandfather, you’re the best. How did you know your granddaughter was silently cursing the world because her legs hurt? Your granddaughter is deeply grateful.
But I couldn’t think of anywhere in particular worth taking Namgung Hwi. Turning things over in my head, I suddenly remembered the rear garden behind the guest quarters.
“Um... Young Clan Head. Have you ever been to Clear-Grace Garden?”
“No. Where’s that?”
“It’s a rear garden they made for the guests staying in the guest quarters. There’s a little pavilion over a pond, and it’s decorated really nicely. I’ve only ever seen it from outside. Do you want to go?”
“Sure. Let’s go there.”
Namgung Hwi nodded readily.
*****
Namgung Hwi made an excellent walking entry pass.
Meaning, no one stopped us all the way to the rear garden.
The gatekeepers who usually snapped at me to show an entry pass opened the doors politely for Namgung Hwi.
Some people, because they’re maids, get chased out if they don’t have an entry pass; the Namgung Clan’s Young Clan Head had a face that was a free pass all on its own.
To be honest, it made my insides twist. Damn class-based society.
In any case, the rear garden of the guest quarters, which I was entering for the first time, was gorgeous.
Peach trees planted around the two-story pavilion were in full bloom, filling the air with the scent of peach blossoms, and under the pavilion, the pond was dotted with fresh green lotus leaves peeking out of the water.
“Wow...”
When Namgung Hwi reached out a hand in admiration, a pale pink petal floated down and settled lightly on his palm.
Staring at the petal, he murmured,
“They say ‘peach blossoms drift by as the water flows away into the distance’—it’s really like that.”
And that line is from... where, exactly? He really is smart.
We wandered between the peach trees and slowly climbed up to the pavilion.
The view of the garden from the second floor was even better. They’d clearly put a lot of thought into the landscaping; plants big and small were arranged in harmonious clusters.
“What’s that one? It looks strange.”
“I’m not sure. Jack-in-the-pulpit, maybe?”
The answer popped out of my mouth without much thought, and then I froze.
......Wait. Isn’t that something you don’t plant here? They use it when they make execution poison.
Who plants poisonous herbs in a garden where guests come to stroll? This house really has no concept of common sense.
Does he have any poison resistance? As long as he doesn’t touch it, it should be fine, right?
Sneaking a glance at Namgung Hwi, I pretended not to know anything and sat on the railing, letting my legs dangle between the balusters.
A pleasant breeze brushed my cheeks; it was fully spring now.
Maybe because we were far from the banquet hall, all my tension started to melt away.
I wouldn’t mind a nap right about now.
Just as I arched my back in a big yawn, one of my shoes slipped off and dropped from the pavilion.
Splash!
With a loud noise, it sank, then bobbed back up between the lotus leaves.
“Oh? My shoe!”
A sigh burst out of me at the sight of a lone shoe bobbing in the middle of the pond. I was doomed. How was I supposed to fish that out?
Right then, Namgung Hwi quickly kicked off his shoes and hopped lightly down from the pavilion.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he stepped straight into the pond.
