Chapter 81 The Namgung Clan, having returned, was strangely peaceful for something that had been entirely entrusted to Namgung Pae and Danli Mukran.
There was, however, one distinct change.
"If you occasionally feel pain in your eyes, warm this medicinal herb and place it over them. It should ease the pain somewhat."
Go Sangbaek of the Go Family.
He comes without fail every single day. How tiresome.
The young man Danli Mukran had brought to remain by Namgung Soyo's side.
She had assumed he would return to his home while they were away from the Namgung Clan. Unexpectedly, he endured far longer than anticipated.
And the moment Yeo Il returned, he began visiting her annex every afternoon.
"This umbrella was obtained through my younger sister. It is not for rain, but best used when the sunlight is strong. The color may feel somewhat dark and deep for a young lady's use, yet there will be nothing better for enduring the height of midsummer outdoors."
On the first day, it was an umbrella.
"These shoes have slightly thick and firm toes. Even if you collide with a wall, they will suffer less damage and lessen the impact on your feet."
On the second day, shoes.
"A lovely yet sturdy cane suited for a lady's use…"
"Tea leaves good for drinking when unexplained headaches arise…"
"A book praised for its descriptions so vivid it unfolds like a painting before one's eyes…"
And on the sixth day, today, medicinal herbs.
Anyone not a fool would notice that Go Sangbaek's barrage of gifts shared one common trait.
"It seems you are quite concerned about the fact that I cannot see."
Were they not all items for the blind?
Even their individual purposes were remarkably meticulous.
The umbrella was meant to help Namgung Soyo, who was blind, endure beneath the blazing midsummer sun should she be unable to move due to an unforeseen accident. The thick-toed shoes were likewise intended for cases when she might collide with a wall.
Go Sangbaek, who had been wafting the scent of the medicinal herbs toward her with a light fanning motion, smiled awkwardly.
"Haha… Did it feel that way? I suppose I made it a bit too obvious."
Were these items chosen by Danli Mukran?
For that to be the case, Go Sangbaek's explanations were far too detailed. If he had prepared these himself, then contrary to appearances, he was a man of considerable ambition.
Go Sangbaek was the sort of person who would not have seemed strange even if he had distanced himself long ago from Yeo Il's temperament, yet—
Rustle.
A leaf suddenly drifted through the wide-open window and brushed against Yeo Il's fingertips. She naturally ran her thumb along the end of the stem, which was clearly torn by hand rather than carried in by the wind.
Go Sangbaek… he has brought something peculiar with him again today.
It was a presence that had not existed before she departed for the Murim Alliance.
Whether Go Sangbaek was aware of its owner or was being monitored in ignorance, she could not tell.
What concerned Yeo Il was not merely that 'that presence' followed after Go Sangbaek.
An infiltration and stealth technique so close to perfection that one could slip into the Namgung Clan without ever being detected.
And on top of that, the leaves that fell one by one each time, as though testing her.
What could the purpose be?
Though following Go Sangbaek, for what intention did they approach Yeo Il and continually probe her?
As she investigated Go Sangbaek day after day, their meetings became one day, then two, then six.
"Though I am blind, I am not so blind as to fail to recognize Young Master Go's kindness."
Go Sangbaek hastily shook his head.
"I have never thought so. One can tell after speaking only a few times that Namgung Soyo is exceedingly wise. Do they not say that when one cannot see, one senses more? …My younger sister also cannot see, so I know this well."
Your younger sister?
So the source of the gifts was none other than his sister.
An unexpected answer.
"You mentioned before that you had a younger sister…"
"Yes, as I told you previously, she is around the same age as Namgung Soyo, yet her behavior is no different from that of a child—quite the troublemaker. She lost her sight in an accident when she was young."
"Oh my."
"I briefly returned home recently to see her… and when that child heard about Namgung Soyo, she prepared these various items. Especially these medicinal herbs—my sister also saw great effect from them, so they will surely help you as well."
The Go Family had long been sparse in heirs compared even to the Namgung Clan. Aside from the ailing Family Head, who seemed on the brink of death, the only direct descendants were Go Sangbaek and his younger sister.
This was also the greatest reason Danli Mukran sought to connect Go Sangbaek with Yeo Il. Though the Go Family lacked members to divide its influence, it possessed no small amount of wealth accumulated diligently since their ancestors' time.
"It is a gift containing even your sister's sincerity. I will keep it well."
A pleased laugh was heard.
"…Namgung Soyo. I know this may be quite burdensome to hear."
The faint sound of fingers stroking a teacup reached her ears. It was a gesture heavy with deliberation.
After a long hesitation, Go Sangbaek spoke.
"I hope Namgung Soyo will regard our meetings in a favorable light."
"…."
"It may sound like presumptuous interference, but if I do not meet your approval, it may be good for you to actively seek a new connection. In any case, toward the direction of marrying quickly. It is time for you as well."
For a moment it seemed as though he would confess his heart. But upon reflection, it was not 'marry me,' but rather 'you should marry.'
As expected, something is strange.
At first she thought him merely one of Danli Mukran's people, yet as time passed, his suspicious aspects only grew more pronounced.
"Do you believe I am unsuited to the Namgung Clan?"
"No, please do not misunderstand. That is not at all what I meant. I merely—"
At that moment, Chang-a quietly entered the room.
"Young Master Go, a guest from the Go Family has arrived. Lady Danli Mukran requests that you receive them at once."
"Ah, thank you."
"A guest? Has your younger sister come?"
Go Sangbaek slowly rose and let out a small sigh.
"No, it must be Nanny Jang. She has cared for my sister and me since childhood."
"It seems Aunt has a deep connection with Nanny Jang."
"Rather, the First Madam has recently taken interest in fortune-telling."
"Fortune-telling?"
"She was once a Heavenly Diviner so renowned in her youth that even figures from the palace sought her out. I thought it unlikely, yet it seems they have summoned her even to the Namgung Clan. She is quite old now, and her health is poor…"
After murmuring regretfully, he promised to return the next day and left the room.
Chang-a, who had been peering curiously at the seat Go Sangbaek had vacated, approached Yeo Il and asked,
"They say she reads the stars to tell fortunes. Do you think she is truly accurate?"
"Who knows. If Aunt has summoned her directly to the clan, whether coincidence or not, it must mean her readings have proven true before."
Astronomy, observation of heavenly phenomena, the study of fate. Even in Salmak she had been endlessly entangled with such matters, yet she had never once taken genuine interest in them.
That night.
Seol-yeong brought a piece of confidential news.
"It seems Namgung Pae plans to leave the clan for about ten days. He says he will personally retrieve medicine to alleviate the Patriarch's condition, though no one seems to know where he is going."
She had wondered why she had crossed paths with him so little these past days. So he had been making separate plans.
What are you plotting?
At an hour when hazy gray clouds obscured the moon, Yeo Il went out for a walk, her face clouded with thought. Drawing in air as dim as the weather, she stood before the pond and closed her eyes.
A dilemma.
Should she abduct and torture one of Namgung Pae's close aides to learn the destination?
Or should she send Jin Cheong-ak to quietly tail him?
The latter might take longer than expected, since only Jin Cheong-ak would be moving. But it would be best to confirm the Killing Register as quickly as possible…
[Found you.]
The sudden echo of that day's voice surfaced, souring Yeo Il's mood.
From the day she returned from the Murim Alliance, she had slowly organized her thoughts.
I should not remain in the Namgung Clan much longer.
r.
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