Chapter 34 A few days later.
Namgung Hui-myeong came to see Yeo Il with unexpected business.
"Lunch three days from now?"
At her question, the third son nodded, his face noticeably leaner than before.
"Yeah. Everyone except the Clan Head will be there, so you should attend if you can."
The Namgung Assembly.
Once a year, relatives scattered across the country gathered here, at the Namgung Clan in Anhui Province.
Especially at a time like this, with the Martial Alliance Tournament just around the corner, even more relatives would attend. Yeo Il had only recently learned this from Changa, but she had not expected that Namgung Soyo would be summoned as well.
"It must be an important—"
Cutting her off, Namgung Hui-myeong said,
"If it's important, then yes. Hey, I'd rather tell you to rest if possible. But they're asking you to come for your own sake."
He gulped down the tea Changa brought as if it were cold water and added defensively,
"You barely know anyone in the Namgung Clan besides us brothers and Uncle. Everyone already knows your throat is injured, so if anyone speaks to you, just nod or shake your head."
"How many guests?"
"Not that many. Maybe around thirty? Well… if anyone spouts nonsense, I'll filter it out. Don't worry too much."
"So that means nonsense may—"
He cut her off again.
"When thirty people gather, you think there won't be a single fool? And you don't need to speak long sentences to me. Just combine a few words. Didn't they tell you to conserve your speech?"
She had wondered why he kept interrupting her. It was out of concern for her health.
In truth, the wound would heal in a day. But Namgung Chu-myeong came again that morning, so she inflicted a third injury.
Perhaps I should wound myself once more before the Namgung Assembly.
When Yeo Il nodded in agreement, Namgung Hui-myeong's expression eased.
Recalling Jin Cheong-ak, who had been pestered by Namgung Hui-myeong earlier that morning, she shifted the topic.
"The Martial Alliance Tournament preparations."
"Hey, don't worry about that. My brother and I are preparing just fine."
"Good."
"Hmph. Not good—of course we are. Let those bastards who talk about us wait and see. Brother Jeok-myeong will smash their noses in!"
Though Namgung Jeok-myeong had returned to the clan recently and was active again, he had not once sought out Yeo Il.
Even in such a vast estate, it would take only minutes to cross paths. Yet Yeo Il did not go looking for him either.
At this point, she could guess his intention in keeping his distance.
Taming.
Alternating between offering favor and maintaining distance was an effective way to seize initiative in a relationship. It was an irritating tactic, but Yeo Il paid it no mind.
The time had come.
"Why does that blasted crow keep cawing? It's driving me mad."
After clicking his tongue at the sky beyond the window, Namgung Hui-myeong returned to Dongcheong.
"Seol-yeong."
At the brief call, Seol-yeong, who had been standing outside, stepped in swiftly. Yeo Il, gazing toward the window, whispered,
"Time. Go."
"…Drive it away?"
She shook her head and added a single noun.
"Hangryong Gate."
"…Ah! Understood. I'll be back shortly."
After Seol-yeong left, perhaps the time it took to brew tea passed. The crow's cawing, which had filled the sky, abruptly ceased.
The crow was one of dozens of communication methods used by Hangryong Gate. It signaled Yeo Il that the requested information was ready, and now it seemed to have successfully made contact with Seol-yeong.
In the meantime, Changa arrived and recited the information she gathered from the clan's maids.
"I didn't even have to ask subtly—they picked out the key figures and told me first. Maybe they're afraid that if I make a mistake, it'll come back on them?"
"Excellent."
"Excellent? Thank you for the praise, Miss!"
Changa left to gather more useful information just in case, but she returned in less than a quarter of an hour, breathless.
"M-Miss! Something terrible has happened! I think something happened to Lady Seol-yeong!"
"Something?"
"N-Namgung… Namgung Chu-myeong! He's dragging Lady Seol-yeong into the clan like a criminal under escort! They'll be here any moment!"
A criminal.
After calmly assessing the situation, Yeo Il first woke Jin Cheong-ak, who had been dozing upright in a chair.
Scratching his head, he blinked groggily.
"…Mm?"
"Get up."
"Mm?"
"Leave the room at once and wait nearby."
"Mm?"
She shoved the bewildered man out the window and quickly lay back down on the bed.
Soon, the sound of several footsteps echoed down the corridor and halted before the paper sliding door.
"M-Miss…."
Changa clutched her hand in fear just as the door opened.
The ones who entered were the false Namgung Chu-myeong and Namgung Pae.
Namgung Chu-myeong walked in with a trace of urgency and stopped before Yeo Il's bed.
"Are you well, Soyo? I'm sorry to trouble you again after you coughed blood today. But I had urgent news to deliver."
"What?"
Soon, men who appeared to be his guards stepped forward, Seol-yeong's wrists restrained between them.
"This servant—she is the one you brought, is she not?"
Yeo Il nodded, picturing Seol-yeong standing there in silent indignation.
"Sigh… I happened to see this servant earlier in the marketplace, transacting with someone suspicious."
"..."
"Was it at your instruction?"
Namgung Chu-myeong's voice was dark.
She assumed he placed watchers not only on her but also on Changa and Seol-yeong.
But she had not expected them to be discovered during contact with Hangryong Gate. Their exchanges were always subtle—merely passing off messages in fleeting moments.
Which meant—
He recognized the signal as soon as he saw the crow and immediately followed.
Hangryong Gate would never have leaked their meeting. It seemed the false Namgung Chu-myeong had been trading with Hangryong Gate for quite some time himself.
Feigning a headache, Yeo Il covered her face and sensed Namgung Pae's silent presence behind Namgung Chu-myeong. She shook her head.
At that moment, as Namgung Chu-myeong turned a stern gaze toward Seol-yeong—
"Brother Chu-myeong! What is the meaning of this?"
The corridor grew noisy again. Namgung Jeok-myeong and Namgung Hui-myeong arrived behind the first two.
Seeing Seol-yeong restrained, Namgung Hui-myeong looked startled, then turned to Namgung Chu-myeong.
"What is this? Bringing four armed men into the room of a sick girl?"
"Namgung Hui-myeong. There is reason for this. Lower your voice."
After stopping him, Namgung Chu-myeong inclined his head slightly toward the Sogaju (Clan Heir).
"You are home unusually early today, Brother."
There was a faint barb in his greeting.
Namgung Jeok-myeong, who had not appeared for some time, looked composed and at ease.
The way he regarded Namgung Chu-myeong was as steady and reliable as ever—like an elder brother addressing a trusted younger sibling. No sign of inner turmoil showed.
"Haha. With the tournament so near, an elder brother must help his younger brother practice. But what is this commotion in broad daylight, Chu-myeong? Has Soyo not been startled?"
Only Yeo Il perceived it.
The subtle disgust and anger woven into his unhurried voice.
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