Chapter 57 - The First Clash
As soon as Madam's footsteps faded, the girl on the mat sprang to her feet and hurried toward Minhwa.
"Hi! My name is Jianhe. What's your name?" she asked brightly, her tone sweet and eager.
"Jian… He," Minhwa whispered softly.
"Yes," Jianhe replied with a grin. "That's me. What's yours?"
"Minhwa," she answered simply.
Without another word, she sidestepped Jianhe and walked further into the room.
Jianhe blinked.
"This is my side," she said quickly, pointing toward the inner corner.
"That place over there will be your side."
Minhwa did not respond.
"Since we're roommates, let's become the bestest of friends, okay?" Jianhe continued cheerfully.
"Whatever," Minhwa replied flatly.
She picked up a spare mat leaning against the wall, spread it neatly on the empty side, and lay down without ceremony.
Turning slightly away, she closed her eyes as if ready to sleep.
Jianhe stood there, stunned. A moment passed.
Then she stomped her foot lightly.
"Tch. Who does she think she is?" she muttered under her breath.
"She's just ordinary. Why is she acting so tough? I even tried being nice and cute… Mmm. Fine. I don't care anymore."
Grumbling, she returned to her side of the room, lay down, and shut her eyes dramatically.
Within minutes, her snores filled the quiet space.
What Jianhe did not know—Minhwa had heard every word.
The moment Jianhe turned away, Minhwa's eyes opened.
A faint smirk touched her lips.
Then she closed them again and slipped into a deep, quiet sleep.
.
.
.
.
.
The next morning arrived quickly.
A loud knock suddenly echoed against the wooden door, followed by a harsh voice.
"Get up! Get up! It's time for breakfast!"
The knocking repeated twice before the voice moved on, rousing the others down the corridor.
Minhwa and Jianhe both stirred.
Without speaking, they rose and began folding their mats, placing them neatly against the wall. After washing and straightening their clothes, they prepared to head out.
But Jianhe, as expected, moved toward Minhwa again.
"Minhwa," she began, lowering her voice slightly, "since it's your first day, let me explain how things work in Hanshen Ge."
Minhwa glanced at her but said nothing.
"It's simple," Jianhe continued proudly. "After breakfast, we attend dance class for three hours. Then we're allowed to return and rest for one hour.
After that, we go back for another four hours of dance practice. Then we eat dinner and go to bed."
She paused.
"There's no lunch."
"Mmm," Minhwa responded.
Jianhe frowned slightly but pressed on.
"I'm telling you this because I like you," she said. "But with the way you're acting… this cool attitude won't help you here. You have to be cute. Sweet. Lovable. That way, you'll be assigned quickly."
Minhwa remained quiet.
"If you keep acting like this," Jianhe added, lowering her voice, "forget being assigned. You might not even last here."
"Mmm," Minhwa replied again, her tone flat.
Jianhe stared at her in disbelief.
"Oh my God, why are you so frustrating?" she huffed. "Listen carefully. When you're of age, you'll be assigned to someone. I'll be assigned soon too.
So you need to work hard. Maybe we'll even be assigned at the same time."
"Assigned?" Minhwa finally asked, her voice calm. "At what age?"
Jianhe's eyes widened slightly.
"Tch. Now you want to talk to me?" she teased. "Fine. Because I'm lovely and cute, I'll answer you."
She straightened proudly.
"You have to be thirteen. And you must pass Level Seven in dance class."
"What level are you in?" Minhwa asked.
"Level Six," Jianhe replied smugly. "Impressive, right? It's such a pity you were just brought in. Otherwise…" She tilted her chin up. "You'll start at Level One. By the time you reach Level Seven, I'll probably already be a full-time gisaeng."
"Mmm. I understand," Minhwa said, her expression unreadable.
Jianhe's lips twitched.
"You know what? I've decided I don't like you anymore!" she declared, stomping her foot lightly before turning away in exaggerated offense.
Minhwa watched her retreat without comment.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
After Jianhe left, silence returned to the room.
Minhwa stood still for a moment, her expression unreadable. But her eyes were thoughtful.
Level Seven. Thirteen years old. Assigned.
She filed the information away quietly.
Slowly, a memory surfaced.
In her past life, when she was fourteen, she had already reached Level Eight in dance.
Yet she was never assigned to anyone.
Not at fourteen. Not at fifteen.
Not even at sixteen.
While others were chosen and given away one by one, she remained in Hanshen Ge.
Untouched. Unclaimed.
It was not until she turned seventeen—when she chose to throw herself into the storm to save the Crown Prince—that her fate finally shifted.
But before that…
Why had she not been assigned?
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
At the time, she had believed it was coincidence. Perhaps she was different, special. Perhaps she was the most beloved since she brought in more customers than the others with her dance.
But now, remembering everything clearly—that made no sense.
Level Eight at fourteen.
With her face, her skill, her reputation—there was no reason for her to remain unassigned.
Unless…
It was intentional.
Minhwa's gaze darkened slightly.
Who would want her to remain a virgin in a gisaeng house?
And more importantly—
Why?
.
.
.
.
.
Lost in thought, Minhwa's stomach suddenly growled, loud enough to break her concentration.
She blinked.
Right. This body was still young.
She exhaled slowly, calming herself.
Whatever mysteries surrounded her past life could wait. When the time came, she would uncover everything.
But for now, she needed food.
Turning on her heel, she left the room and headed toward the dining hall where breakfast was being served.
Once there, she took a bowl of steamed rice and selected a few simple dishes to accompany it—stir-fried bok choy with garlic, braised tofu in soy sauce, shredded chicken with ginger, sweet-and-sour cabbage, and a small portion of pickled radish.
Nothing extravagant. Just enough.
Carrying her tray, she found an empty seat and sat down quietly, preparing to eat.
She had barely lifted her chopsticks when footsteps approached.
Three girls stopped in front of her.
Minhwa looked up.
Two of the girls were slim and sharp-faced, while the one in the middle was noticeably larger than the others, her round cheeks flushed with indignation. She stood at the front, clearly the leader.
Minhwa's gaze shifted slightly.
On the right side of the larger girl stood someone familiar.
Jianhe.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jianhe looked uneasy. She tugged lightly at the bigger girl's sleeve, as if trying to pull her back, but the girl shrugged her off.
The larger girl suddenly slammed her fist onto the table.
The bowls rattled, and some of Minhwa's soup spilled over the edge.
"How dare you be mean to our Jianhe?" she demanded loudly. "She was just trying to be nice to you! Who do you think you are?"
A few nearby girls turned to watch. Minhwa looked down at the spilled soup.
Then she sighed softly.
Without a word, she placed her chopsticks neatly on the table.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze. Her eyes met the larger girl's directly.
Calm. Steady.
"Do I know you?" she asked.
Hearing Minhwa's question, the larger girl stiffened, flustered.
"My name is Min Ke," she said. "She's Yun Luo." She pointed to the slim girl on her left, then turned to her right. "And you already know her. That's Jianhe."
Minhwa's expression did not change.
"Now that you know us," Min Ke continued, folding her arms, "tell me why you were mean to our Jianhe."
"I was mean to her?" Minhwa asked calmly. "Did she tell you that?"
She turned to Jianhe.
"Was I mean to you?"
Jianhe hesitated.
"No… you weren't. Min Ke, it's enough. Let's just go."
"You heard her," Minhwa said. "I was never mean."
"But she said you kept answering her indifferently," Min Ke insisted. "And when she asked to be friends, you ignored her. Why?"
"Mmm," Minhwa replied. "But I answered, didn't I?"
"That's not the point—"
"And when she asked to be friends," Minhwa continued evenly, "I didn't agree because I didn't want to. Is that a crime?"
Jianhe stiffened. Min Ke's face darkened.
"So you admit you bullied her?"
Minhwa's gaze sharpened.
"So because I didn't entertain her chatter and didn't accept her friendship, that means I bullied her?"
She paused.
"Your logic is lacking."
A ripple of quiet whispers spread across the hall.
"If I truly wanted to bully her," Minhwa added softly, "there would already be marks on her."
She sighed lightly.
"I'm tired of this nonsense. Can you leave and let me eat in peace?"
Min Ke scoffed loudly.
"Now I understand why Jianhe was crying this morning. You really are mean. Who do you think you are? What are you acting so high and mighty for?"
Without warning, she reached forward—intending to shove Minhwa's head toward the food on the table.
Minhwa tilted her head slightly, avoiding Min Ke's reaching hand effortlessly. She rose smoothly to her feet.
The dining hall grew quiet.
For a brief moment, Min Ke thought the girl had finally become afraid. Then Minhwa reached for the bowl on the table.
Min Ke frowned.
"What are you—"
Clang!
The metal bowl slammed squarely into her face. The sharp metallic sound rang through the dining hall.
Rice, vegetables, and soup exploded across her cheeks and hair.
Min Ke staggered backward in shock, slipping on the spilled food before crashing heavily onto the floor.
Yun Luo gasped and quickly retreated. Jianhe froze, eyes wide.
Minhwa stood there calmly, the empty bowl still in her hand.
Then—
"What is going on here?"
The cold, commanding voice echoed from the entrance.
Every girl stiffened.
Madam stood at the doorway, her expression dark.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The four girls found themselves standing stiffly inside Madam's office.
The door had barely closed when the silence began to suffocate them.
The room was neat, orderly — a low desk at the center, scrolls stacked precisely, incense smoke curling slowly into the air. Everything about it spoke of authority.
Madam sat behind her desk, her gaze sharp and unreadable.
"Well?" she asked calmly. "What happened?"
Immediately, Minke, Yunluo, and Jianhe began speaking at once.
"She started it—"
"She was rude first—"
"She smashed the bowl—"
"It wasn't my fault—"
Their voices overlapped in desperation, each trying to push blame onto another.
While Minhwa said nothing.
Madam's brows drew together.
"Enough."
Her voice was not loud. But it left no room.
Silence fell instantly.
Madam's eyes shifted toward Minhwa.
"You, new girl" she said. "Explain."
Minhwa stepped forward slightly, hands folded neatly before her.
"I was alone, eating," she said evenly. "They approached me and claimed I bullied Jianhe."
Min Ke could not hold herself back.
"She did!" she burst out. "She treated Jianhe coldly and ignored her when she offered to be friends!"
Minhwa turned her head slightly toward Min Ke.
"So," she asked calmly, "If someone asks me to laugh, must I laugh?".
No one answered.
"And if someone is angry…" her gaze settled meaningfully on Min Ke, "…must I also behave madly?"
The implication hung in the air. Min Ke's face flushed.
"Who are you calling mad?!" she demanded.
Minhwa did not blink.
"Whoever feels addressed," she replied.
Min Ke stepped forward, anger flaring again.
"You—!"
Yun Luo quietly stepped aside.
Before Minke could act Madam's hand slammed onto the desk.
"Enough."
The sound echoed sharply within the enclosed space.
Min Ke froze mid-step.
Madam's expression was now openly displeased.
Her gaze moved first to Minhwa.
"You just got here," she said coldly. "And yet on your first morning, you are already fighting."
Minhwa lowered her head slightly. "I did not seek conflict, they brought it to me Madam."
Madam studied her for a long moment. Then she spoke.
"Since this is your first offense, I will overlook it."
Min Ke looked up in disbelief.
Madam continued, "You will go downstairs and tell the kitchen I ordered them to prepare you another meal. After you eat, you will report directly to dance class. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Minhwa answered calmly.
Then Madam's gaze shifted to the other three.
"As for you girls." The air grew heavier.
"It appears you have more than enough energy to waste food and cause disturbances." The girls stiffened. "The spilled meal will be your last for today."
Their faces paled.
"You will attend dance class on empty stomachs. Afterward, you will report to Matron Chen and inform her that I have ordered ten strokes each."
Min Ke's lips trembled.
"Do you understand?" Madam asked.
The girls hesitated. Madam's eyes hardened.
"I asked—do you understand?"
"We understand," they answered quickly, bowing their heads.
"Good," Madam said now satisfied.
"You are dismissed."
The three girls hurried out first, their earlier bravado completely gone.
Minhwa bowed slightly.
Then she turned and walked out calmly, closing the office door softly behind her.
.
.
.
.
.
Outside Madam's office, the corridor felt unusually quiet.
Min Ke and Yun Luo walked ahead, their steps quick and stiff with suppressed frustration.
Behind them, Jianhe slowed.
Then stopped.
Min Ke noticed after a few steps and turned around.
"What are you doing? Hurry up," she snapped in a hushed voice. "Do you want to be late for dance class too?"
Jianhe hesitated, glancing back toward Madam's closed office door.
"I… I'm not coming yet," she said softly.
Yun Luo frowned. "What do you mean?"
Jianhe clasped her hands together nervously.
"I want to apologize to Minhwa."
Both girls stared at her.
"Apologize?" Min Ke repeated incredulously. "For what?"
"For dragging her into this," Jianhe said quietly. "If you hadn't misunderstood this morning, none of this would've happened."
Min Ke scoffed loudly.
"You're unbelievable."
"She smashed a bowl into my face!" Min Ke continued, pointing at the faint redness still visible on her cheek. "And you want to apologize to her?"
Jianhe looked down.
"She wouldn't have done that if things hadn't escalated," she murmured. "And… she wasn't actually mean to me."
Min Ke stared at her as if she had lost her mind.
"You're too nice for your own good," she said bluntly. "Girls like her? They'll eat you alive."
Yun Luo shifted uncomfortably but said nothing. Min Ke stepped closer to Jianhe, lowering her voice.
"That cold attitude? That sharp tongue? She thinks she's better than everyone. One day, you'll get hurt because of her. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Jianhe bit her lip. But she did not move.
Min Ke studied her for a moment longer, then threw up her hands in exasperation.
"Fine. Do whatever you want," she muttered. "When you cry next time, don't come looking for me."
With that, she turned and strode off.
Yun Luo lingered a second, glancing between Jianhe and the office door, then hurried after Min Ke.
Left alone in the corridor, Jianhe took a quiet breath.
Then she turned back and headed towards the path leading to the dinning room to wait for Minhwa.