Chapter 9: Exit
Gye-gu froze as he threw punches on the pleasure boat.
Amidst the noisy, jostling crowd, he couldn’t tell where the rats were, and his fine hair stood on end.
“Stay away from me!” he shouted.
But the Gok brothers ignored him, and the servants were flustered, failing to disperse even a little.
Most of the people on the pleasure boat had gathered in one spot. Amid the chaos, someone spotted a large rat and shrieked sharply.
Gye-gu, already screaming as if his head would burst, felt as though the rat had climbed up his trousers, pressed against his neck, and bitten his ears with its teeth…
Terrified, he mustered every ounce of strength he had left from his childhood, shoved the people aside, and leapt straight into the water.
Splash…
The people on the boat were stunned. It was as if the night wind had swept away the traces of their drunkenness—everyone suddenly snapped to attention.
Seeing Gye-gu thrash in the water, Gok-ho swallowed hard, turned to the servant, and said sharply:
“Get in and save him, quickly!”
After saying this, Gok-ho jumped into the water with a stern expression.
“One… two… three…”
Serang counted aloud, flicking his tongue in disbelief.
“Four… five… Looks like dumplings! They’re jumping in on their own.”
On-yeon said, “If we only pull Gye-gu out soaking wet, we won’t be able to report it to the household, so we’ll have to jump in together.”
Even if jumping didn’t explain much, at least the marks of their hearty punches on Gye-gu’s body remained.
As the commotion grew, a nearby boat approached. On-yeon quietly instructed the boatman to leave.
It was their turn to make an exit after having stirred up trouble.
If anyone else caught them, it could be disastrous.
Serang, reluctantly leaving, waited until the boat was out of sight before turning his gaze away.
When the small boat reached the shore, Serang handed money to the boatman.
The boatman pointed at his own throat.
Daring to act against people of the Sunpyeong Baekbu household—those before him were certainly not of a trivial status.
Especially this handsome man, who spoke like anyone else but whose presence was almost unbelievable if he weren’t standing right there.
It was better to avoid unnecessary actions. The one who couldn’t speak did well by remaining silent.
Once they left the dock, everything returned to normal. No one at the lake seemed to know that anyone had fallen into the water.
On-yeon returned to Heewon.
Serang praised Heukdan-a as he held her, and her eyelids lazily opened.
“I’ll give you fish tomorrow,” Serang said.
Heukdan-a stretched her neck and purred, showing she was pleased.
Serang laughed at the sight—it was remarkable. This black cat truly was a spirit.
Well-rested, On-yeon went to Jangsu-dang feeling refreshed.
Seated, Gye No-bu-in turned to Mrs. Jo and asked:
“Second Young Master didn’t have official duties today, right? Why did he go to the government office first thing in the morning?”
Jo’s husband, On Ja-bo, On-yeon’s second uncle, had been serving as a local official in Im-an for several years.
Though his rank was only Jeong 5-pum, Im-an, as a former capital, still held some prestige for its administrators.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Jo smiled slightly, with a trace of amusement, and quickly composed herself.
“Last night, the Gye family’s Guga-a and the Gok brothers went to the lake and got into a fight, falling into the water. Sunpyeong Baekbu, angry, insisted on imprisoning their nephews, so my husband went to the government office.”
Gye No-bu-in raised her eyebrows in surprise.
On-yeon feigned shock as well. “They really only pick the worst things to do!”
Internally, Gye No-bu-in chuckled, but outwardly remained composed.
“Our Junganhou residence must remain wary of the Sunpyeong Baekbu.”
Those seated nodded in agreement.
Everyone in the On family wanted to witness the chaos Sunpyeong Baekbu had caused firsthand.
Understanding that Gye No-bu-in did not wish to intervene herself, Mrs. Jo sent Ho Mama to the dock to check how badly the troublemakers had fared when they emerged from the water, intending to report back later.
Yet something seemed off.
The gatekeeper at the northwest gate had whispered to Ho Mama that Sunpyeong Baekbu’s people had asked if their household’s Gonang had left through that gate yesterday.
“The gatekeeper said no,” Ho Mama reported.
“Still, I don’t know why they would ask,” she added.
Jo couldn’t understand either. “Why would they need to know our Gonang’s comings and goings? What nonsense!”
Late that evening, once On Ja-bo returned, Jo finally understood the reason.
Sunpyeong Baekbu insisted on imprisoning the Gok brothers, but the Im-an government couldn’t just detain anyone.
Gok-ho claimed it was a misunderstanding by Gye-gu, and Gye-gu insisted that the message had come from Ah-hwan disguised as a boy. The authorities decided to visit the pleasure boat where the ‘promised meeting’ had occurred.
The female boatman recalled and drew a portrait of On Samgo-nang’s Ah-hwan.
The authorities needed the portrait to identify the person.
On Ja-bo showed the portrait to Gye No-bu-in and Mrs. Jo.
“Of course, they ranted recklessly, but see for yourselves, Mother and Madam. It really does resemble the Ah-hwan next to Yeon-jeo-a.”
Jo studied it carefully, unsure if it truly resembled him.
Gye No-bu-in glanced sideways and snorted.
“What resemblance? Two eyes, one mouth, the Ah-hwan of that age. Faces without distinguishing features all look the same when disguised as boys.”
Jo swallowed the words “It looks alike” and firmly replied, “You’re right, No-bu-in!”
On-yeon and Serang fed Heukdan-a fish in Heewon’s courtyard.
The small fish, not even the size of a palm, was devoured entirely by Heukdan-a, who mewed continuously at them.
“There’s only one,” Serang said.
Heukdan-a licked her claws and hissed in displeasure.
Serang hesitated. “The Madam liked it, so Third Master sent it from the coast of Mingzhou. Otherwise, where would the kitchen get one?”
Heukdan-a, perhaps understanding, wagged her tail and jumped over the wall.
Watching this, Hwang Mama laughed. She noticed a young Ah-hwan peeking at the door and asked:
“What is it?”
The child quickly smiled. “Ino-ya has returned and summoned Samgo-nang and Sister Serang to Jangsu-dang.”
Hwang Mama frowned. “Didn’t Ino-ya deal with the Sunpyeong Baekbu’s sons’ fight today? Why look for our Gonang? And why Serang?”
Of course, the child didn’t know the whole story, so he just looked at On-yeon.
On-yeon stood and said:
“They’re looking for me, so I should wash my hands before going.”
As Serang helped On-yeon wash, he whispered:
“Could the news have leaked?”
“Why be afraid?” On-yeon replied lightly with a smile.
“It’s something neither you nor I know. Would my uncle really drag us to the government office? Even if On Ja-bo wanted to, Gye No-bu-in would never allow it. She would never abandon me.”
Upon arriving at Jangsu-dang with Serang and Hwang Mama, On-yeon greeted the elders politely.
Previously, On Ja-bo couldn’t stare directly at Ah-hwan, but now he gave a faint look. Earlier, when asked by Gye No-bu-in and Mrs. Jo, he claimed he remembered wrongly, observing Serang closely.
She truly resembled the person in the portrait.
“Yeon-jeo-a, I will ask a few questions as an official to resolve the matter. Speak frankly, right or wrong. We are all family, so I am on your side,” On Ja-bo said kindly.
On-yeon smiled and twinkled her eyes. “That is the duty of an official. I understand.”
On Ja-bo stroked his beard. Though originally angry at Baekbu, he had a soft spot for a child from his own family. Seeing On-yeon so composed and obedient, he increasingly realized the Gye family had spread nonsense.
Even if others didn’t know, the On family certainly did.
That foolish Gye-gu had caused harm to On-jang and On-min by falling for On-yeon!
On-yeon answered formally as On Ja-bo questioned her warmly. Having spent time in the palace, Serang knew when to step forward and when to step back.
In short, they had never gone out without knowing what was happening.
They also called the northwest gatekeeper, whose records clearly showed no recent comings or goings by anyone around Heewon, On-hye, or On-jeong.
Other gates confirmed the same.
Once their discussion ended, Gye No-bu-in said:
“Rest assured. No matter what Baekbu does, they cannot pin it on us.”
On Ja-bo nodded in agreement. At this age, all Ah-hwan boys in disguise looked similar.
Just as he was about to speak, a gatekeeper outside arrived and reported that Ino-ya had instructed officials to bring Samgo-nang and Serang to Sunpyeong Baekbu and explain the matter.
On Ja-bo’s smile vanished instantly.
“Why does Yeon-jeo-a have to go to Baekbu? What kind of law is this?”
Jo blurted out unconsciously, then froze at Gye No-bu-in’s dark expression.
“I won’t go,” On-yeon said, leaning coquettishly on Gye No-bu-in.
“Last time you invited me, I didn’t go, so now you’ve changed the method? From now on, families wanting to meet me will send summons through the government, not invitations to banquets. This baseless slander, I will address sincerely.”
Her words angered Gye No-bu-in, provoking her to speak harshly, a rare occurrence.
“Honestly, are they harassing us because our household has fallen? Second Young Master, our Yeon-jeo-a cannot go! I will not tolerate our magistrate pandering to Sunpyeong Baekbu!”
On Ja-bo also restrained his anger.
The eldest, a former exemplary son-in-law of Ha Tae-bu, lived far in Gyeongseong, but as his elder brother, On Ja-bo received great courtesy even in office.
Last year’s incident had not affected his post, but caused minor discomfort. He had tolerated and yielded in all matters. Yet this time, he would be forced to present On-yeon to Sunpyeong Baekbu without evidence. Anyone could then climb over him in the future.
After a brief consultation with Gye No-bu-in, they instructed the gatekeeper to inform the government official:
If someone wanted to meet the household, Sunpyeong Baekbu must issue the invitation herself. The government may accompany but should not make a fuss.
After all, neither the one shouting about imprisonment nor those imprisoned bore the On surname!
Gye No-bu-in sent On-yeon inside the protective wall. Gonang didn’t need to intervene. She then silently regarded the visitor.
“First at dawn, now at midnight,” Gye No-bu-in said with a smile.
“Our two households’ relationship is not what it once was.”
So-baek-ya Bu-in looked visibly embarrassed, forcing herself to speak politely first.
Beside her stood the long-faced gatekeeper who had insulted Gye No-bu-in before On-hye and her sister.
“Even hiding Samgo-nang from Madam was improper,” said the gatekeeper.
Gye No-bu-in straightened and ignored the gatekeeper, speaking only to So-baek-ya Bu-in.
“I truly worried about Guga-a falling into the water. They fought on the boat for no reason, right? The authorities said Guga-a realized he had been tricked by the Gok brothers’ voices. Young people are headstrong. Even if a fight broke out in your household, leaving it be is common. Why drag our family into it? Perhaps someone else claimed to be Yeon-jeo-a’s Ah-hwan?”
As she spoke, Gye No-bu-in gestured at Mrs. Jo.
Understanding, Mrs. Jo continued.
“Now that you’ve come this far, you cannot simply return. Let’s do this: I will summon someone to attend Yeon-jeo-a. Please take a look.”
So-baek-ya Bu-in felt as if sitting on a bed of nails.
Gye No-bu-in smiled faintly. Her remark about it being ‘common’ referred to Gok-ho striking the On-jang brothers without their faces being revealed.
Even if understood, there was nothing she could do.
