Chapter 4 – Patience
Although the Old Madam and Onyeon exchanged kindness and filial devotion every morning and evening, never once bringing up the matter of the uncle, Onhye’s patience finally ran out. She came to Huiyuan.
Getting straight to the point, Onhye asked,
“Do you really have no interest in Uncle?”
Onyeon nodded.
Seeing the sincerity on her face, Onhye grew both genuinely curious and slightly offended, as if she were being made a fool of, and pressed further,
“Gye-gu is a decent person. Do you really not like him at all?”
“If someone is decent, does that mean I must like him?” Onyeon replied.
“I’ve even seen princes before.”
Onhye fell silent.
Could she dare say that a prince was lacking?
Of course not.
She quickly changed the subject.
“What on earth is Grandmother thinking?”
“How would I know what Grandmother is thinking?” Onyeon said.
“I already told her I dislike the match and that I’m unsuitable, and that she should recommend you instead. I’ve done everything I could.”
Onhye frowned. Onyeon was right—she had done all she could. All that remained now was to wait.
But the waiting made her uneasy. She couldn’t trouble their grandmother, so she came to Onyeon to say a few words instead.
The two had never been particularly close, even in Onyeon’s previous life, and they still spoke rather perfunctorily now. Yet, somehow, the sight of them sitting face to face carried a faint hint of sisterly warmth.
At that moment, Onhye’s maid, Cheongchi, peeked in from outside.
“What is it?” Onhye asked.
Cheongchi replied,
“The Second Miss of the Sunpyeong Count’s household has sent an invitation, asking the Third Miss to visit the Count’s residence the day after tomorrow.”
The gloom on Onhye’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a radiant smile.
“Really?”
If Madam Baek had not permitted it, the daughters of the Count’s household would never dare send an invitation on their own. There was clearly hope.
Onyeon asked,
“The Third Miss?”
“Our young lady, the Third Miss, and the Fourth Miss,” Cheongchi answered.
Onyeon frowned.
The fact that she was still in mourning was the best reason for the Old Madam to refuse this marriage. If the Count’s household understood propriety, they would not have invited someone dressed in mourning to a gathering.
This sudden invitation was undoubtedly a scheme carefully devised by Old Madam Gye.
Delays could bring change. Rather than wait for Gwak Ihyo, who might or might not appear in two years, it was better to seize the opportunity with the Sunpyeong Count’s family right in front of them.
Old Madam Gye was a very calculating person.
Excited, Onhye was about to head to Jangsu Hall to look at the invitation. But halfway there, she noticed no one following behind her. Startled, she turned back to the east wing.
Onyeon was still sitting on the daybed, unmoving.
Puzzled, Onhye asked,
“Aren’t you going to see Grandmother?”
“I’m not,” Onyeon replied.
“And I’m not going to the Count’s residence either.”
Onhye’s confusion deepened.
“Why not? They invited us with good intentions. How can you refuse?”
Looking at her, Onyeon sighed inwardly.
In recent years, the Marquis household had been currying favor with the Sunpyeong Count’s family. Old Madam Gye and Madam Jo frequently arranged for Onhye and Onjeong to associate with the Gye family’s daughters, so the idea of not going simply did not exist in Onhye’s mind.
This wasn’t Onhye’s fault.
More importantly, since she liked Gye-gu, she would never refuse.
Rising to her feet, Onyeon asked,
“Why do you think they invited us?”
Though she didn’t understand the intent behind the question, Onhye answered honestly,
“For a marriage proposal.”
“Then who do you think they actually want to see?” Onyeon asked again.
Onhye opened her mouth but could not answer. She began to understand.
Although the invitation named three people, in truth, it was meant for Onyeon alone.
Madam Baek had met Onhye and Onjeong before, but she had never seen Onyeon. And the reason she had changed her attitude after previously slighting Old Madam Gye was also because of Onyeon.
Realizing this, jealousy flickered across Onhye’s face as she said stiffly,
“If they invited you, then you should go. If you don’t go, how can the rest of us…?”
Onyeon took a couple of leisurely steps and stood by the window, speaking frankly,
“We’re family. You truly like Gye-gu—how could I deceive you?”
Onhye listened in silence.
With a faint smile, Onyeon continued,
“I lived in the palace for five years. I learned court etiquette there—how to walk, how to stand—everything was personally taught by Her Highness. Compare yourself to me. If I go to the Count’s residence, what do you think will happen? It may not be pleasant to hear, but I’ll say it clearly: if you take me there and display me before others, people will compare us. You’ll blame me, and we’ll end up damaging our relationship for no reason.”
Onhye’s face flushed red and then pale.
It was indeed unpleasant to hear. Girls their age especially hated admitting they were inferior to others.
But in this case…
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Onyeon’s refined features. Her upright posture and every graceful movement radiated elegance. No matter how much Onhye wanted to deny it, she couldn’t.
“C-Can’t you just pretend?” Onhye asked, pouting.
Onyeon shook her head.
“Pretending ignorance would disgrace the dignity of a princess. I can’t do that.”
Onhye nodded slowly, deep in thought, and after a long pause, let out a sigh.
“But I really want to go…”
“Then go with Fourth Sister,” Onyeon said.
“I’m in mourning, so it would be improper for me to visit another household. Go and see how the Gye family treats you. If they’re truly good people, they won’t make things difficult for you. But if they treat you poorly just because the person they really invited isn’t there, would you still think well of them?”
Onhye clenched her handkerchief tightly.
She truly liked Gye-gu, but after what had happened to their grandmother last time, she already had her suspicions. These past few days had merely rekindled a faint hope.
Onyeon’s words extinguished that hope in an instant.
Sniffling, Onhye said,
“I’ll go and see for myself. Even if I like him, I’m not that foolish.”
Onyeon smiled.
“I’ll speak to Grandmother. It’s best if you come to your own realization.”
After seeing Onhye off, Onyeon returned to sit on the daybed.
Serang poured her tea and remarked,
“You were very patient today, speaking so much with Second Miss.”
Onyeon took a sip of the warm tea.
Tempered by her previous life, she knew well that while one should be ruthless toward enemies, one should be generous and leave a way out for those who were not.
Gaining a friend was far better than gaining an enemy.
In both her past and present life, she held no grudge against Onhye. There was no need to become enemies.
Moreover, if she wanted to prevent Old Madam Gye from scheming to send her to the Count’s residence, she needed Onhye as a shield.
“I just didn’t want her to suffer losses out of carelessness,” Onyeon said.
“I hope she truly listens,” Serang replied.
Just then, Nanny Hwang, who had entered from outside, overheard and laughed.
“If not, then it’s simply fate. Miss has already done her best.”
Onyeon smiled as well.
“Indeed. Only the Buddha knows the ties of fate—what can an ordinary person like me do?”
That evening, at Jangsu Hall, Onyeon spoke with a troubled expression,
“Grandmother, I cannot go to the Count’s residence.”
The Old Madam pulled her close.
“They’ve already sent an invitation—how can you refuse?”
“Look at me. I’m in mourning. I cannot visit another household like this,” Onyeon said, tugging at her sleeve.
“They invited all three of us out of courtesy, but I know my situation well. If I stand among my well-dressed sisters, I’ll stand out too much. But others cannot be expected to dress plainly either.”
The Old Madam glanced at her sleeve.
Onyeon had already laid out all the rules, propriety, and consequences. She couldn’t ask Onyeon to dress extravagantly, nor could she ask the others to lower themselves to match her.
If all three young ladies went to the Count’s residence with one dressed in mourning…
It would look less like a visit and more like a funeral.
Madam Baek might even faint from anger on the spot.
Though Old Madam Gye dearly wished to see Madam Baek displeased, this was not the way. If rumors spread, the reputation of the Marquis household would suffer.
“Very well, we’ll do as you wish,” the Old Madam said gently.
“I’ll have Hyeje deliver your apology in your stead. Later, when we invite the Count’s daughters in return, you can go and pay your respects then.”
Onyeon naturally agreed to everything.
In truth, she knew Madam Baek well from her previous life. Onhye would surely be slighted, so there would be no occasion for a return invitation.
Since it was something that would never happen, agreeing now cost her nothing.
Although her plan had been disrupted, the Old Madam’s displeasure faded upon seeing her obedient granddaughter, and her affection for Onyeon deepened.
As expected, that morning Onhye left the house smiling with Onjeong, only to return before noon.
The moment she arrived at Jangsu Hall, she threw herself before the Old Madam and burst into tears.
Startled, Lady An dropped the massage rod she had been using on the Old Madam’s legs.
Glancing at it briefly, the Old Madam patted Onhye’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong? Tell me slowly. You rushed in crying and startled your Third Aunt.”
Sniffling, Onhye turned toward Lady An.
“Aunt, I…”
“Don’t rush,” the Old Madam said, turning her head back.
“How can your aunt resolve your grievance? Calm down and stop crying.”
Only then did Lady An pick up the rod again, offering a comforting smile.
By the time Madam Jo hurried over after hearing the news, Onhye had calmed down, though one eye was still red. The sight pained her.
“Hyeje,” Madam Jo called softly.
“What happened at the Count’s residence?”
At the mention of it, Onhye pouted and said indignantly,
“A-yeon was right about everything. That household is truly too much!”
Not only the Old Madam but Madam Jo as well was taken aback.
“A-yeon” referred to Onyeon.
Since when had Onhye become so close to her?
When Onyeon had first arrived in the capital, Onhye hadn’t liked her much. Onyeon later moved away, and though they had no conflict, they weren’t close either.
Yet now, after only a few days, Onhye was already calling her “A-yeon.”
The Old Madam asked,
“What did you talk about with Yeonje?”
Onhye then recounted everything Onyeon had told her, just as if she were pouring out beans from a sack.
After hearing it all, Madam Jo fell silent for a long while.
As her mother, she knew Onhye’s temperament well. For her to grow this close in just a few days—Onyeon was truly skilled.
But then again, it was obvious that Onyeon was far more cunning than Onhye. Onhye was naive and needed proper guidance.
It had been a good thing that Onhye listened to her.
As long as Onyeon didn’t set a trap for her, there was nothing to worry about.
