Chapter 009: Yi Wol-ah
Mak-ri slowly withdrew her hand from the one that had been held and looked at Yi Wol-ah.
She was an intelligent woman. Soon, countless women under the lord would imitate her every gesture, countless men would pursue her, and even Han Sa-do himself would become a regular admirer.
“You are…”
After glancing at Mak-ri once, Yi Wol-ah quickly composed herself and asked,
“Miss, why have you come to see me?”
“I’ve been betrothed to Young, the eldest son of the Yang family, since childhood.”
At Mak-ri’s calm declaration, Yi Wol-ah blinked briefly before letting out a small, ironic laugh.
“What do you expect of me? I am a merchant, and I hold official connections. Surely you know that commerce only works when both parties’ intentions align. But since you came all this way to speak to me, is it enough if I simply refuse him?”
“You’ve misunderstood. I’m not asking you to reject Young.”
“Then…?”
Yi Wol-ah tilted her head, confused.
“Two days from now, the Sa household will hold a banquet. They’ll gather musicians and performers to entertain the guests. You should have your name on the guest list and attend as well.”
Mak-ri lowered her voice as she spoke, explaining a few details to Yi Wol-ah. The more Yi Wol-ah listened, the more bewildered she became.
“Why? Wouldn’t that… have the opposite effect?”
“Don’t ask why I do this. In any case, nothing I ask of you will bring you harm. If you follow my instructions, I will tell you the whereabouts of your younger brother.”
“Do you really know where So-seok-du is?”
Yi Wol-ah’s hand gripped her fan nervously as she glared at Mak-ri.
“I’ll tell you after everything is settled.”
Mak-ri’s calm reply made Yi Wol-ah’s eyes narrow.
“How could you know where So-seok-du is? And… how…”
There were still many questions burning in Yi Wol-ah’s mind, but seeing the icy expression on Mak-ri’s face, she swallowed her words.
Still, she stubbornly refused to leave the carriage. After a moment, Mak-ri sighed and confirmed,
“Your younger brother is doing well. I’ll give you the rest of the information in two days.”
“Alright. Then… we’ll meet in two days.”
Biting her lip, Yi Wol-ah rose to her feet.
As she stepped down from the carriage, Mak-ri whispered softly,
“What I told you today, tell no one.”
“And after it’s all settled?”
Yi Wol-ah suddenly turned to ask.
Mak-ri merely smiled quietly at her but said nothing.
Yi Wol-ah, having faced many of life’s challenges, prided herself on understanding the world to some degree. Yet the woman before her—where she came from and what lay within her mind—was so unfathomably deep that she seemed truly mysterious. Every word, every glance, could not be guessed lightly.
After Yi Wol-ah departed, A-seong appeared. Climbing onto the driver’s seat, he lifted the front curtain of the carriage and peered inside.
“Has the noble lady returned home now?”
“Yes. She’s going back home.”
Leaning against the carriage wall, Mak-ri answered softly.
A-seong glanced at her sharply. Mak-ri met his gaze briefly without flinching.
“There’s nothing I can say right now. You’ll understand in a few days.”
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the teal-colored curtains, shimmering across her lotus-like face. In that light, she appeared even more mysterious and alluring. A-seong narrowed his eyes, stared for a long moment, and finally drew the curtain down in silence. Then he grasped the reins and drove the carriage home.
Everything had been prepared, and even the east wind—the harbinger of hope—had come.
Inside the carriage, Mak-ri sat with her eyes lowered, her fingers twisting lightly at the sleeve’s edge, thinking how Mrs. Yang, who had once looked down on, slandered, and mocked her, might react now. The anticipation brought a faint, private smile to her lips.
It was the third day of June, the anniversary of Lady Sa.
Lady Sa had risen early, completed her morning preparations, and sent a servant to check on Mak-ri. The time of departure was approaching.
“This should be enough.”
Mak-ri fastened her jade bracelet one last time and checked her reflection.
The Sa household was no ordinary family; the guests attending the banquet were all of notable standing. As a merchant’s daughter, Mak-ri would need to show deference, not negligence. To plan for the future, she could afford no mistakes in her appearance today.
She smoothed the hem of her pale teal garment. It was a middle-grade gyeong-yong-sa from Jeongju, delicate in color and elegant, giving the impression of mist from afar. The harmony with her white jade dansaro-gun skirt—thin, transparent, soft, and luxurious—was excellent.
By memory, the most fashionable silks in the lord’s lands were Wu silk and amhwa-sa—thin, smooth silks with subtle patterns. While more ornate, they could not rival the understated elegance and softness of gyeong-yong-sa.
Her only regret was that her father had not brought such fabrics this time. Although gyeong-yong-sa would become very popular in the lord’s territory next summer, Mak-ri sighed internally.
“There’s still time, but gyeong-yong-sa is no cheaper than precious silks like neung-dan-geum. To buy in bulk for trade, our family finances are insufficient, and as for Han Sa-do…”
“Miss, is there nothing more to prepare?”
Mak-ri, lost in thought, was brought back by Hong-du’s voice. She smiled lightly, shook her head, and moved forward. Now was no time to be distracted. Today, she would enter the battlefield of the Sa household—and only she knew what events would unfold there.
“Unni, your outfit today is so pretty! Did uncle get this new fabric?”
On her way to Lady Sa’s quarters, Mak-ri met Seol-lim. The younger girl eagerly approached, lightly grasping the hem of Mak-ri’s garment, marveling at it.
“Are you on your way to see grandmother?”
Mak-ri gave a slight tug to her clothes and glanced at her.
“Yes. Unni said she’d be out today, so I’m just going to see her briefly.”
Seol-lim walked alongside Mak-ri, chattering energetically.
“I heard the Sa household has been powerful for generations. Even now, they have many officials and some with noble titles. Their children all enjoy studying, and the gardens are said to be even more beautiful than the royal gardens…”
“I’ve never heard such stories. Seems your news travels faster than mine. By the way, your brother came looking for you last night? Was something wrong?”
“Oh, nothing special. He just came to see me.”
Seol-lim lowered her gaze briefly but quickly masked it with a calm smile. She hesitated for a moment, then, holding onto Mak-ri’s sleeve, pleaded with a grin,
“Unni, can I come too? Just to watch… I’ll obey whatever you say from now on.”
“The Sa household invited grandmother to share old memories. I am merely accompanying her. Bringing someone along would be seen as impolite, don’t you think?”
Mak-ri smiled faintly and surveyed Seol-lim.
“But there will be other chances later, right? Giving a poor first impression is never wise. Isn’t that so?”
“You’re right, unni. I’ll do as you say.”
Seol-lim nodded brightly, showing no dissatisfaction.
Once she turned away toward the west annex, Mak-ri finally furrowed her brow slightly.
Hong-du, walking beside her, tilted his head.
“Why is Miss Pyo acting like this today? This has never happened before.”
“She’s fourteen now,” Mak-ri said calmly, continuing on.
Fourteen—a proper age for discussions of marriage to have already occurred. Yet, the Seol family’s decline had left matters unresolved until now. When the Yang family rejected the proposal, Lady Sa brought Mak-ri to the Sa household’s banquet, leading Seol-lim to think Mak-ri was seeking a new connection.
Mak-ri turned coldly and headed toward Lady Sa’s quarters. Though she had cared for Seol-lim after her mother’s death, she realized upon returning that her cousin was more calculating and composed than anyone expected.
If I hadn’t planned a stir at the Sa household today, taking Seol-lim along wouldn’t have been bad.
Seol-lim was beautiful enough to serve as a preemptive advantage, potentially cutting off one of Han Sa-do’s future supporters.
“Unni, when will you be back?”
As Mak-ri attempted to leave with Lady Sa, Mak-seol trailed behind, clutching her sleeve.
Mak-ri let go of Lady Sa’s arm, turned, and gently caressed Mak-seol’s chubby cheeks, soothing her softly.
“If you practice the twenty sheets of ten characters you learned before, I’ll almost be home by the time you finish.”
“I don’t want to practice alone at home. I want to come too.”
Mak-seol blinked her large eyes, speaking softly, her hands clasped in front of Lady Sa, looking up pleadingly.
“Grandmother, can Seol-ah come too?”
“Seol-ah, you must behave.”
Mrs. Joo quickly held Mak-seol’s hands, but Lady Sa suddenly smiled.
“Alright, this time Seol-ah shall come along as well.”
Mak-seol’s eyes shone with delight. Mrs. Joo glanced at her uneasily; the youngest daughter was still very young.
“Mother, is that… safe at the Sa household?”
“What difference does it make? She wanted to see my little granddaughter anyway. Today she can see her with us.”
Lady Sa instructed a servant to dress Mak-seol appropriately. Departure was imminent.
Though Mrs. Joo had yet to fully grasp her intentions, Mak-ri, watching closely, understood them clearly.
