SYM 34
by EmerlynNamgung Juwon looked at Eun-hyeon with a complicated expression before biting his lip hard.
“Eun-hyeon, didn’t you nearly meet with disaster again when you went outside the clan? The clan is your greatest shield and the cradle that protects you. I will ensure that no one can harm you within these walls.”
Though he wasn’t unaware of what Eun-hyeon was trying to say, Namgung Juwon had absolutely no intention of letting him leave.
Eun-hyeon held up the teapot that still retained its warmth.
Seeing this, Namgung Juwon’s face contorted.
“Father. I’m not trying to leave right now. I need time too. So please think about it slowly as well. Even if I cannot become a sword that protects Namgung, should I become its burden?”
“Who says you’re a burden!”
Namgung Juwon shouted explosively.
Each of Eun-hyeon’s words felt like a dagger piercing his heart.
“You are the Namgung young master. No matter what anyone says, you are Namgung’s young master! For you to say you’re a burden, what nonsense is this? If anyone thinks you’re a burden, I will cut them all down.”
“Father, the very fact that these incidents occur is proof. Proof that my very existence is a burden to Namgung.”
Namgung Juwon looked at Eun-hyeon before turning away.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand what Eun-hyeon was saying. But it was something Namgung Juwon absolutely could not accept.
Namgung Juwon drew in a rough breath. His breathing was labored as if he had just been in a fierce battle.
“Huu, I, I will resolve this. You don’t need to worry about anything.”
Namgung Juwon deliberately avoided Eun-hyeon’s eyes. Right now, facing Eun-hyeon was more terrifying than anything else in the world.
Namgung Juwon hurriedly left Eun-hyeon’s room. The past he had pretended not to see was now approaching as an irreversible reality before his eyes.
Outside, Namgung Juwon’s face hardened.
He knew well himself that there was nothing wrong with what Eun-hyeon had said. After all, Namgung Juwon too had no intention of making Eun-hyeon the clan head. He only wished for Eun-hyeon to stand beside Namgung Eung-wang.
Had that been too great a greed?
Eventually, he would have to remove the title of young master from Eun-hyeon, but that time wasn’t now.
No, at least Namgung Juwon believed it wasn’t.
* * *
After Namgung Juwon’s visit, Eun-hyeon felt like he was in the eye of a typhoon.
While nothing particularly happened to Eun-hyeon himself, everything around him was in turmoil as if hit by a typhoon.
The first to cause an uproar in the Namgung clan was Danmok Sageuk.
Danmok Sageuk came to the Namgung clan to collect the bodies of his son and nephew. Upon seeing the corpses, he immediately began wailing and breaking things.
Though the Namgung clan had no direct responsibility for the Danmok brothers’ deaths, they had to endure Danmok Sageuk’s outburst because the two had been guests of the Namgung clan.
Danmok Sageuk also shouted accusations at Madam Hwang, claiming this tragedy occurred because she had invited them to Hefei.
Though it was unfair from Madam Hwang’s perspective, there was no way to reason with a father who had lost his rationality to grief over losing his child.
In the end, this incident severely strained relations between Madam Hwang and the Danmok clan.
After Danmok Sageuk left, another uncomfortable visitor arrived.
It was Inspector Jang from the Imperial Guards.
The Chuihwa Pavilion incident had nothing to do with the Namgung clan. It was unclear why Inspector Jang had come to the Namgung clan at all.
Inspector Jang spoke with Namgung Juwon for quite a long time before leaving.
While all this commotion occurred in the Namgung clan, Eun-hyeon remained quietly in his quarters.
In truth, strictly speaking, Eun-hyeon’s quarters were also in turmoil. This was because all the workers had been changed.
When moving to the inner court, there had been several attendants besides Soseo, but by Namgung Juwon’s order, they were all replaced with new people.
Namgung Juwon had left only Soseo by Eun-hyeon’s side.
Perhaps he had left her thinking Eun-hyeon cherished her as an attendant who had been with him since the outer court. Or perhaps he calculated that the new attendants could more than handle someone like Soseo.
I’ll translate while maintaining the precise structure and carefully handling the nuances:
The newly arrived attendants were all women of outstanding beauty and impeccable refinement, leading Eun-hyeon to suspect they belonged to the clan head’s personal guard. Even their movements were extraordinary, suggesting they were at least first-class masters.
In their midst, Soseo was thoroughly intimidated, quietly hiding in corners of the inner court unless Eun-hyeon called for her.
Eun-hyeon neither called for nor helped Soseo. Convinced that she had been poisoning his meals, he intended to observe her actions.
After taking Ha Yeo-un’s medicine daily for a week while practicing qi circulation, Eun-hyeon noticed his health had improved significantly compared to before.
Previously, even after a full night’s sleep, he had needed to nap for hours during the day, but now that was no longer necessary.
Rather, his body was restless with the desire to go outside for a walk.
“Why don’t you go out for a walk then?”
One attendant approached and suggested, seeing Eun-hyeon peering out the window.
“Would that be alright?”
“Of course! Spring seems to be approaching, and the weather is quite warm. As long as you dress warmly, a walk should be fine.”
“Then I’ll go for a walk. Staying inside all the time makes my body stiff.”
“If you’re feeling unwell, shall I give you a massage? I spent some time in the medical hall and am quite skilled at massage.”
The attendant approached with an outer garment as Eun-hyeon mentioned walking.
These attendants sent by Namgung Juwon served incomparably more perfectly than Soseo. They had everything prepared before Eun-hyeon could even give instructions.
“Young Master, have you been to the pond in front? We call it the Lotus Pond because many lotus flowers bloom there, and it’s worth seeing even without flowers. It’s not too large, perfect for a light stroll. In winter, the bare lotus stems fill the pond, creating a picturesque scene.”
The attendant spoke while draping a white fox fur coat over Eun-hyeon.
Eun-hyeon nodded lightly.
“I don’t know where it is, so please guide me.”
“There’s a small pavilion in front of the Lotus Pond. Shall I prepare some light refreshments?”
“Hmm. I don’t want to eat cold food in a cold place.”
The attendant smiled gently at Eun-hyeon’s words.
“Don’t worry. I’ll prepare some warm tea then.”
Could she mean to heat the water with her inner force?
Just as Eun-hyeon nodded and was about to step out, the attendant pushed him behind her.
“Huh?”
While Eun-hyeon blinked in confusion, other attendants blocked his front.
They appeared to be protecting him.
“Madam Hwang has arrived.”
As Eun-hyeon’s door opened, the elegantly dressed Madam Hwang gracefully stepped over the threshold.
Namgung Eung-wang followed behind her.
“Young Master, I heard you were unwell. Are you feeling better now? This mother was worried and personally prepared medicine for you.”
At Madam Hwang’s gesture, an attendant behind her approached with a medicinal bowl.
It created quite an odd scene, with Eun-hyeon’s attendants blocking the space between him and Madam Hwang.
“Step aside. What is this behavior when a mother has come to see her son?”
Though Madam Hwang frowned, the attendants blocking Eun-hyeon didn’t move.
“We apologize, but the Young Master cannot take any medicine at present.”
The tone was firm.
“What do you mean? Are you suggesting that I, his mother, would give something harmful to my son?”
“The Young Master’s liver has been strained from taking medicine for a long period, and he must wait for it to recover without taking any medicine for now. If you give us the medicine you’ve prepared, we will carefully brew it later for the Young Master.”
Madam Hwang’s face contorted at the attendant’s words.
“What is your name? Such impudent behavior!”
Namgung Eung-wang stepped forward and shouted as Madam Hwang showed her displeasure.
“This humble one is called Hwahong. The clan head entrusted me with matters concerning the Young Master’s health, hence my presumptuous intervention.”
Attendant Hwahong spoke quietly, not even blinking at Namgung Eung-wang’s shout.
“That’s enough, Eung-wang. Stop. This child is only concerned for her master, how can we fault that?”
“But, Mother, isn’t her attitude disrespectful?”
“That’s enough. Everyone is just worried about the Young Master, what need is there to raise our voices? Young Master, how is your health lately?”
“Thanks to your concern, I’m much better.”
Eun-hyeon smiled gently as he faced Madam Hwang.
Madam Hwang’s eyes narrowed as she looked at such an Eun-hyeon.