Chapter : 70
“This is absurd…!”
The meeting to formally acknowledge the position of young head of the family had not even been convened yet.
And yet, everything had ended before it could even begin.
The faces of the Great Elder’s faction stiffened. Those who had even signed the joint petition stared at Yeonhwa with blank, stunned eyes.
‘She settled everything the moment she arrived… in one sweep.’
Though she stood in the middle of the chaos, Yeonhwa herself was excessively calm. That composure clashed strangely with the scene around her, creating an eerie sense of dissonance.
“Are you all right?”
Yu Geonmyeong, who had been standing back since this was an internal family matter, approached her. Only in the moment when he wiped Yeonhwa’s hands clean with a white cloth did she seem to briefly return to her true age.
Leaving herself to his touch, Yeonhwa turned her head in search of the head steward. When her eyes met his, she spoke evenly.
“There’s an empty room now.”
Head Steward Hong Gyemun, who could not possibly misunderstand her meaning, bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the ground.
“I-I will prepare the Patriarch’s Residence at once! P-Please wait just a moment!”
He practically fled inside through the main gate.
The victor was ruthless—and did not forget to claim the spoils.
“We did not receive a joint petition from the Eldest Young Master either.”
At Seong Yeontaek’s awkward report, Yeonhwa waved a hand dismissively.
It would be best to retrieve the petition now, but if that was impossible, it could wait. There were more urgent matters.
“Let’s clean this up. Causing such a scene in front of the main gate—rumors will spread in every direction. We must settle this quietly, without leaving grounds for trouble.”
The issue with Danli Escort Agency was still dragging on; they could not afford to pile another incident on top of it.
Yeonhwa, who had to remain the pillar, headed toward the Patriarch’s Residence, leaving the remaining responsibilities to Seong Yeontaek.
“Father…”
Seong Haram still looked dazed at how quickly everything had unfolded.
“The young lady… she truly is remarkable.”
Clicking his tongue, Seong Yeontaek looked at the fallen Great Elder and at Namgung Hyechan, whose arms were bound while he hurled curses at anyone within earshot.
“Look at them. If people like that had become the pillars of the Namgung Family’s future, it would send chills down one’s spine. How could anyone have thought to side with such men?”
His words were also directed at those with whom he had never been on good terms.
“Deputy Head of External Affairs—”
“Please, hear us out—”
“We were dragged into it by the Great Elder!”
Excuses poured out, but Seong Yeontaek ignored them. Instead, he gave orders to the warriors of the Seong family and the External Affairs Hall.
“Seal their acupoints as quickly as possible and imprison them. Don’t forget to administer a mild dispersal poison to scatter their internal energy.”
The fight was already over; the other side had lost. Some cast uneasy glances, wondering if such harsh treatment toward members of their own family was excessive.
But Seong Yeontaek did not waver.
‘If we don’t completely strip them of their strength now, it will lead to greater bloodshed later.’
At the moment, they were merely dazed by defeat. But if they regained their senses and attempted rebellion…
In numbers and political power within the family, Seong and his daughter—along with the moderates—would not be able to handle it.
If the young lady stepped forward, she could crush them, but the damage from an all-out confrontation would be immense.
That was the terror of internal strife.
Whether you won or lost, there was no such thing as a one-sided victory.
In time, the front of the main gate was thoroughly cleaned. The soil had been overturned to erase the bloodstains and smell, but whenever the wind blew, faint traces still lingered.
“This will take time.”
“Shall we sprinkle water mixed with incense?”
“That might only make it worse.”
“Oh—then we won’t.”
Seong Haram agreed at once.
With the outside cleaned up, the Seong father and daughter stepped inside, glancing back at the main gate.
Creeeak—
The gate, which had always remained open, slowly closed.
Thud.
From inside, even the crossbar was firmly set in place.
“Won’t this cause more rumors? That something terrible happened and the Namgung Family has shut its gates?”
“It might. But for now, it will keep things quiet. The Namgung Family once dominated Anhui, and that reputation still lingers. With the gates barred, people will hesitate to wag their tongues carelessly.”
Once things settled, they intended to send word to trustworthy parties and shape favorable rumors to stabilize their reputation.
Seong Haram understood and did not argue.
Seong Yeontaek continued.
“Next, we must sift out those who sided with the Great Elder but escaped arrest—and those who were about to defect before we arrived.”
It would be the most troublesome task.
“We’ll do as much as we can, and leave the rest to the young lady’s judgment.”
“Yes, that would be best.”
After informing their close aides of their decision, they headed toward the External Affairs Hall.
The attitudes of those they encountered along the way were markedly different from before.
“Deputy Head of External Affairs!”
“Greetings, Deputy Commander Changyeong!”
“Is there anything we can assist with?”
Even those who had never been close approached to pay their respects.
The Seong father and daughter exchanged faint smiles.
They had merely stood behind the young lady and lent a little support, yet the atmosphere of the family had already changed.
“Choosing the right person to follow is also a talent,” Seong Haram said.
Seong Yeontaek nodded.
“Indeed. My daughter truly is clever.”
They declined the crowd and continued on. Surely some rotten roots were mixed among them—but for now, they could only let them lie buried.
Upon arriving at the Patriarch’s Residence, Yeonhwa silently surveyed the building—lavish on the outside, but a mess within. Signs of careless eating and drinking were everywhere.
“It seems the Eldest Young Master’s doing,” Yu Geonmyeong said, unable to hide his astonishment.
Having long discarded any sense of dignity or decorum, Namgung Hyechan’s conduct grew more appalling by the day.
Yeonhwa proceeded to the Patriarch’s office. Unlike the rest, it showed signs of use but had not been trashed.
Yu Geonmyeong entered first to inspect the room before calling Yeonhwa in to sit. Then he stepped outside and ordered tea to be prepared.
In truth, the person he stopped was merely someone passing by—not even a servant. Yet pressed by Yu Geonmyeong’s bearing and natural authority, the man obeyed as though it were only natural.
Soon, Yu Geonmyeong returned with refreshments and arranged them neatly.
“Why do you always like feeding me?” Yeonhwa asked.
It was always like this.
He shrugged.
“I don’t know. When I eat something delicious alone, next time I want to eat it with you. And when you eat something and enjoy it, I find myself wanting to seek out something even better for you next time. I simply act as I feel.”
Yeonhwa did not respond. She sipped her tea and picked up a few pastries.
“Is it good?”
“It’s not as good as what we had at Daejeong Pavilion.”
True to herself, she did not tell a lie merely to please him.
After finishing urgent matters, the Seong father and daughter arrived outside the office. With Yeonhwa’s permission, Seong Yeontaek entered.
“As you can see, aside from this room, the Patriarch’s Residence is a complete mess. It seems you will have to sleep here as well.”
Though Yeonhwa spoke without particular emotion, sparks flashed in Seong Yeontaek’s eyes.
“The Patriarch’s authority has fallen to the ground. Namgung Hyechan—that wretch cannot be forgiven.”
“Father, it’s over now,” Seong Haram soothed him.
He let out a long sigh and nodded.
Then Yeonhwa spoke.
“Deputy Head of External Affairs, you must build your own people. Place them in the positions left vacant by the Great Elder’s faction.”
“Even if we gather everyone we know, it won’t be enough. Competent individuals who can properly handle their duties are even rarer.”
“Recommend those who were overlooked in the family based solely on ability. I will promote lower-ranking officials, warriors, and collateral-line members in large numbers. It does not matter if they have no ties to you. As long as they have no entanglement with the Great Elder’s side, that is enough.”
First, they would stabilize the family this way, then gradually nurture them into key figures and create harmony.
“It will take a long time.”
“That’s fine.”
Her answer was firm.
Without hesitation, she continued.
“The main house has always stayed one step removed from the Alliance’s struggles over interests. As long as we do not step forward and cause trouble first, there is little danger in Anhui.”
She excluded the Danli Escort Agency matter—she intended to resolve that this time.
In the future Yeonhwa envisioned, there was no trace of the old Namgung Manor or the old Namgung Family.
“As long as we can endure, Namgung Manor will assist in maintaining things. It, too, will now focus on strengthening its foundations. We must reinforce our ties with the main house.”
Finally, she drove the point home.
“We will live in a new era.”
At that declaration, not only Seong Yeontaek, but Seong Haram and Yu Geonmyeong as well, had their gazes transformed.
With a single sentence, she determined the family’s future.
That fact was clear—to Yeonhwa herself and to all who stood watching.
Such intense conviction stirred the hearts of people.
And that resonance would not easily be forgotten.
