Chapter 7: Before the Banquet (1)
The curtain rose to reveal Mistress Ok, a delicate beauty with high-swept hair, cradling a one-year-old girl. Alongside her was Gyonyang, Liu Chang’s young daughter. Following Madam Chi’s new decree, Ok-a offered a graceful greeting to the legal wife, Moran.
“I have always wished to pay my respects, Young Mistress,” Ok-a said softly, “but I feared being an intrusion.”
The two official concubines, Byeok-o and Ok-a, shared a mutual distaste, fueled by the fact that Byeok-o had birthed the only son while Ok-a had “only” produced a daughter. When news arrived that the Liu men would not return for dinner, the women served Madam Chi in silence before departing.
However, Madam Chi pulled Moran aside one last time.
“Danniang, wait. Your courtyard is too poorly staffed. I shall grant you a senior nanny and a maid, Nanjie, to serve you.”
Moran sighed inwardly. Her days of quiet seclusion were officially over.
At the sunset hour, Moran returned to her quarters, exhausted. Her parrot, Solsol, greeted her with cries of “Moran is the prettiest!” while Nanny Im fretted over the new arrivals sent by the main house.
“Why would the Madam suddenly send people now?” Nanny Im asked, suspicious. They had ignored Moran’s needs for months; this sudden “generosity” felt like a trap.
Moran tried to remain stoic. “We cannot refuse. Besides, with more hands, the work will be easier.”
To soothe the worried nanny, Uha shared the “good news”: the concubines were now required to bow to Moran every morning, and a Royal Physician was coming to check her health. Nanny Im’s face lit up with joy.
“Young Mistress, you are regaining your authority! You must seize this chance and conceive a legitimate heir immediately.”
Moran nearly choked on her rice. She quickly finished her meal and went to bed, knowing she needed every bit of strength for the trials ahead.
In the main house, Madam Chi spoke privately with Nanny Ju. The nanny questioned why Moran was suddenly being elevated. Madam Chi’s expression turned icy.
“This is for the survival of this family. If we allow Liu Chang and Princess Qinghua to continue their reckless affair, we will make an enemy of the Ha family. If the truth of last autumn comes out, my husband’s reputation and my son’s future are finished. We will be branded as ingrates and driven from the capital.”
Madam Chi explained that while Moran was gentle and would only “hide and cry” when hurt, the high-born Princess Qinghua would bring chaos. “Our family does not have the fortune to handle such a high-status woman,” she remarked.
The next morning, Moran was jolted awake by a cacophony. Byeok-o was scolding maids, children were wailing, and Ok-a was trying to play peacemaker. It was the first “morning greeting,” and it was a disaster.
Moran threw on a silk robe and walked out with her hair disheveled, sitting at her dressing table with a sharp look.
“I haven’t forgotten Mother’s words, but it seems others have forgotten how to behave with decorum.”
Byeok-o smirked. “The Young Mistress isn’t even dressed yet. I worry we shall be late to greet the Madam.”
Ok-a, ever the diplomat, stepped forward to take the washbasin from a maid to serve Moran personally. Moran stared at her, findind the sudden intimacy of the concubines unsettling.
“Enough,” Moran said, leaning over to wash her face.
“It takes time to prepare. Byeok-o, if you are in such a hurry, do not wait for me. Go ahead and serve the Madam first.”
