“It may be impolite, but Baekgeumgak is not a place just anyone can enter.”The Headquarters martial artist spoke with an awkward smile.“I know. Only those who have received a token from the Anguk Merchant Group may enter, yes?”Sohwa curved her lips and offered the excuse she had prepared.“When the fire broke out at the Hubei Branch, I caused the Anguk Merchant Group’s Little Clan Head some trouble. I intend to stop by to give thanks; even if I cannot enter, it is fine. I only need to leave my greetings.”“Ah, I heard that when the Hubei Branch caught fire, the Anguk Merchant Group lent a hand.”The Headquarters martial artist nodded and asked no further.He finished a brief set of instructions and left.The retainers went into the lodging, and just as Sohwa was about to enter the room that she, the Divine Physician, and Tang Hae-han would use as a Medical Division chamber—“There is no need for you to personally go to offer thanks.”The Clan Head, who had kept his mouth shut all along, spoke coldly.“I understand the intent to be courteous, but that person acted out of concern for the Hubei Branch, not to save you; therefore, there is no reason for the Clan Head’s daughter to go herself. Sending someone is enough.”He drew a line by objecting outright.After confirming that only she and Tang Min remained nearby, Sohwa answered quietly.“In truth, it is because I want to go.”“Why?”Tang Ji-ha asked, his expression hardening even colder than before.“I’ve heard a lot about the Little Clan Head. They say he’s a great beauty. But he is regarded by the Zhuge Family as the match for Zhuge Cheonyu, so do not let your heart be swayed needlessly.”“…?”Sohwa was at a loss for words.He seemed to think she was going because she had fallen for the Little Clan Head.It didn’t feel good to be seen that way, yet soon she understood Tang Ji-ha’s reaction. It was because what she had done at the Federation of Great Families before coming to Hubei came to mind.Had she not acted as if she were smitten with Namgung Hyun and ended up dragging around strange rumors?Sohwa gently closed the mouth she had opened.In truth, there was one way to persuade the Clan Head.He would probably have no choice but to let her go… but it left her feeling quite uneasy.Still, if the Clan Head did not permit it, she could not go out; thus, Sohwa had no choice but to speak again.“I am aware that a marriage talk is circulating between the Little Clan Head and Zhuge Cheonyu.”“Yes. So do not act rashly.”“I am not going because I fancy the Little Clan Head. In truth, I want to see Baekgeumgak, and used the Little Clan Head as a pretext.”Sohwa hesitated on purpose and then moved her lips.“The Little Clan Head said this: the most precious things come to Baekgeumgak, and of the ornaments that come in there, the most precious ones are bought by Zhuge Cheonyu.”Sohwa’s voice was somehow somber. But perhaps because she had never sounded particularly cheerful to begin with, no one realized she had begun acting.“At the Federation of Great Families, I often heard people comparing me to Zhuge Cheonyu. I had never once doubted my own eye for things, but when they kept saying I was lacking, I found myself doubting me as well.”Saying so, Sohwa rubbed her bracelet with her hand.It was one of the ornaments Madam Jang had bought in heaps while preparing for the Federation of Great Families.“They say Baekgeumgak gathers the finest of the goods traded in the Central Plains, so I am curious. Truthfully, the Little Clan Head said I must not speak of this, but if I happen to visit, he would take special care so that I can enter Baekgeumgak; so if Father has no objection, I would like to go too.”Tang Ji-ha closed his mouth.Because Sohwa had voiced what he cared about most, he had nothing to say.All the more so because, throughout the Federation of Great Families, he # Nоvеlight # had watched the Zhuge Clan Head bring up Zhuge Cheonyu again and again to run Sohwa down; the instant he heard that name, his temper flared.Feigning watchfulness, Sohwa pointlessly brushed her skirt with a flick.“However, if Father does not permit it, I will not go. Truthfully, I did feel a bit hesitant. The Little Clan Head belongs to Zhuge Cheonyu, and Baekgeumgak is said to be the place Zhuge Cheonyu frequents; I feel as if I am coveting something that does not suit me…”“Go and come back.”Tang Ji-ha cut her off and granted permission.Zhuge Cheonyu goes, and yet Tang Sohwa cannot—how could that make sense? And “does not suit you”? How could she say such a thing.Tang Ji-ha’s expression darkened. He began to regret having taken her to the Federation of Great Families. He could not understand what she had heard to cut her once-solid self-regard in half.He had already heard enough of his two daughters, Yehwa and Yuhwa, pestering him to buy this and that; thus, Sohwa’s reaction struck him all the more keenly.Far from pestering to buy anything, she had always been indifferent even to things brought to her; now, after the Federation of Great Families, she seemed almost “awakened.”Tang Ji-ha regretted mentioning Zhuge at all, and cursed the hateful Zhuge Clan Head.Knowing what Tang Ji-ha was thinking, Sohwa lowered her gaze.At this age, she had not wanted to use this kind of method.When the child next door is used for comparison and one throws a tantrum asking to be bought something, what can a parent do but give in.It may be easy to ignore one’s own belittlement, but watching one’s child shrink from comparisons is painful.She recalled the stories of the Namgung family’s ladies that she had heard while the Namgung were embroidering for her. Whether all parents’ hearts were the same, Tang Ji-ha’s face, too, looked just as displeased as theirs had been.Sohwa easily obtained the Clan Head’s permission and, what’s more, was quietly called to the Clan Head’s room and given one nyang of silver.She was not soft-hearted enough for her conscience to be pricked by a lie, but this was an uncomfortably sour lie.***“What is there at Baekgeumgak?”As she descended the stairs, Tang Min, who was standing on the landing, asked.He uncrossed his arms and scratched his ear. He tossed the question as if casually, but it seemed one he had put quite a bit of thought into.“For a girl who can’t bear to say even a slightly uncomfortable thing to her father to poke the Clan Head’s sorest spot—there must be something very important.”“It is important. They say Baekgeumgak’s goods cannot be obtained elsewhere.”“Since when did you start caring about ornaments?”Tang Min let out a small snort.“At the Federation of Great Families and now, it’s the same sight of you draping a few ornaments over something that might as well be a gunny sack.”“…A gunny sack? If someone hears that, they’ll be offended.”“Judging from how the Chief Steward has cursed for days on end behind the scenes, what you bought wasn’t just that bit of cloth; and yet, on your first day at Headquarters, you throw on that kind of thing and what…”Tang Min clicked his tongue as he raked his gaze over Sohwa’s clothes.“Ji-ha reared you showering you with everything, and yet I don’t know why he looks at you like someone who’s committed a crime, all nerves this way and that. The moment you get compared, why must he tremble and flare up. Obvious as day this sly thing is lying, and yet.”Hands clasped behind his back, Tang Min descended the stairs while fixing his eyes on Sohwa. The old man’s eyes scrutinized Sohwa’s face inch by inch.“I cannot send you to your death without knowing the reason, so speak.”“The only one who would call Baekgeumgak a death ground is you, Grand Elder. Unless Hubei has a culture where one must stake one’s life to buy an ornament.”Expressionless, Sohwa replied evenly.But Tang Min did not retreat so easily.“Then let me go with you.”“No.”“Oh? From the way you talk back, something is off.”“…Nothing is off. I have always talked back to you a lot, Grand Elder.”“Tsk, what’s there to brag about having a foul tongue toward your elders.”“I am grateful for your worry and the care you show me, but I will be fine.”“Do not slip away by cutting the words short. I said I am going too.”“I am far too old to walk the marketplace holding Grandfather’s hand.”Sohwa let out a small laugh. And, meeting Tang Min’s gaze as he stepped close, she said,“Please trust me.”Sohwa shed her smile and spoke plainly.“As you always have, let it pass appropriately and watch over me. I will not be hurt, and if any problem arises, I will tell you first.”“…”“I am a crafty person, not someone who naively stretches out her neck. If I had judged it dangerous for me, I would not go anywhere; I would stick close, pestering Father and the Grand Elder, so you need not worry.”Tang Min let out a sigh.He was not like Tang Ji-ha, who wrapped his children up for safety. He believed that one had to go through what one should go through to grow strong, and that becoming strong was the true path to becoming safe.Spoken like that, he could not stop Sohwa.It simply felt ominous.Whether it was an old man’s intuition or he had been startled by that child’s eccentricities—Contemplating, taking Sohwa in with his eyes, Tang Min studied her tranquil expression and sighed.“Buy a good piece of cloth for tying your hair.”“I’ll buy the most expensive hairpin.”“Good grief, knowing nothing of the ways of the world. Do you think you can buy the most expensive hairpin at Baekgeumgak, which is counted among the top even in Guseongtonggu (the place where nine provinces connect; refers to Hubei, the center of the Central Plains)?”Tak.Tang Min threw something, and Sohwa, caught off guard, received it in her hands.Carefully opening her hand, Sohwa saw that one nyang of gold lay in her palm. For pocket money, it was an excessive amount—unless she meant to buy a house at Baekgeumgak.“Don’t spend it; if anyone dares look down on you, show it to them on the sly. Anyone carrying that much cash will be treated well.”Speaking as if it were nothing, Tang Min was already climbing the stairs.Taking in with her eyes the figure of the youthful old man with hands clasped behind his back, Sohwa held the gold dear in her hand and left the pavilion.

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