Chapter 47
However, the people from the Miao family were not here yet. It seemed they had not arrived.
Bing Yuhua bowed politely.
“I am Bing Yuhua, head of the Namgung family’s medicinal hall. These children are my own—Baek, Heuk, and Jeok.”
“This year, Master Namgung Baek has come as well!”
At this, Namgung Baek quietly raised his fist in greeting.
“…I am Namgung Baek.”
“Namgung Heuk, greetings to our seniors!”
Quick-witted Namgung Heuk followed his elder brother and immediately bowed.
“Heh heh, these young masters still look so bright and intelligent.”
“By the way, where is the youngest master…?”
The remark was about Hongseol, whose bangs were thick and heavy.
Distracted by searching for her mother among the people, Hongseol was a beat late in bowing.
“I… I am Namgung Jeok! G-greetings to our seniors!”
Peeking out from under her fallen bangs, Hongseol assessed the atmosphere.
‘M-my identity hasn’t b-been discovered, right?’
Just as she tried to reassure herself, a puzzled voice rang out.
“Huh, but Master Namgung Jeok seems different from before.”
Master Yuseong stroked his long beard and tilted his head in curiosity.
“M-me?”
Hongseol’s eyes went wide as she asked back. Outwardly, she tried to appear normal, but inside, her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
‘H-how did he… know?’
She had practiced so meticulously that even her voice was perfectly disguised.
The old man was like a ghost!
With Master Yuseong’s narrow eyes scrutinizing her, Hongseol felt her mouth go dry.
At that moment, a composed elderly lady sitting nearby gently intervened.
“Heh heh, it’s not surprising that children change a little each year, is it?”
“That may be so, but…”
Then, a loud shout came from the pavilion guard stationed by the corridor.
“Guests from the Miao family have arrived!”
Master Yuseong, who had been staring at Hongseol without letting her go, suddenly turned his gaze toward the main gate.
“Oh, I must go welcome the new guests. I heard Lady Jegal from the Miao family is coming?”
Lady Jegal.
At that word, Hongseol’s heart started pounding wildly.
‘It’s Mom!’
Just thinking about that word made her eyes well up uncontrollably. Her heart was pounding like a drum, beyond her control.
Clutching her own clothes with small hands out of helplessness, Hongseol reminded herself:
‘I’m here representing the Namgung family, disguised as Jeok. So…’
I must not cry here.
She forced herself to compose her thoughts, staring blankly at Master Yuseong’s back as he went to welcome the guests.
But she couldn’t control the trembling of her fists.
Thump, thump.
Thump, thump.
Hongseol’s heartbeat matched the approaching footsteps.
The heavy steps that began at the end of the long corridor finally stopped in front of the pavilion.
“So, everyone is gathered here.”
‘That voice… isn’t Mom?’
Hongseol raised her head sharply to inspect the speaker. A vague male figure was seen.
Who is that?
However, with her bangs hanging over her face, she couldn’t see clearly. Frustrated, she pushed her hair out of the way.
Then she saw a familiar man’s face. Hongseol swallowed hard.
‘Uncle!’
It was Miao Jung-san, cousin of Miao Weehun, head of the Miao family, and father of Geum-myeong and Eun-myeong.
His chubby cheeks were flanked by his own children.
Then a proud voice echoed through the pavilion.
“I am Miao Jung-san of the Miao family.”
“You have arrived.”
“It’s been a long time.”
Though the Miao family was powerful, his arrival was far too late. Everyone else was already seated.
Naturally, the reception was not warm.
“Why are you so late? And didn’t you say Lady Jegal of the Miao family would come?”
Someone lightly scolded him. Miao Jung-san replied:
“Lady Jegal’s health suddenly worsened. That is why I had to bring my children in haste, which caused the delay.”
“Lady Jegal is unwell?”
Mom? Why?
Hongseol perked up and stared at Miao Jung-san intently.
“As you all know, one of our family’s children recently went missing.”
One child…?
All eyes turned to Miao Jung-san.
“She was an eight-year-old girl, unable to learn martial arts, so she was confined inside the house.”
Hongseol, tilting her head in confusion, suddenly covered her mouth in shock.
‘That’s me!’
But how was that related to her mother being ill?
“After the child went missing, Lady Jegal searched day and night.”
Hearing that, Hongseol felt as if a boulder had hit her head.
‘M-mom… was looking for me…?’
A small hope flickered in the otherwise crushed child’s mind.
‘Maybe I misunderstood everything?’
Perhaps Mom never intended to abandon her.
Miao Jung-san’s following words reinforced Hongseol’s thoughts.
“Lady Jegal even offered a huge sum to the Gaebang to find the child. And she requested it through Hoo-Gae!”
Everyone was impressed.
Hoo-Gae, the second-in-command of the Gaebang, an organization of beggars and spies. The next leader of the Gaebang.
“The Miao family’s influence is indeed different. They even requested Hoo-Gae to find the child!”
“Nothing special. It was just a small connection through Lady Jegal’s family.”
It was a clear ruse, pretending to be modest and emphasizing the relationship with the Jegal family.
But young Hongseol was more focused on the fact that her mother was spending a fortune to find her.
Swallow.
Summoning courage, Hongseol asked:
“Th-then… how is Lady Jegal’s health?”
“Jeok! It is not proper to interrupt adults.”
Bing Yuhua scolded her firmly. Still, Hongseol could not stop.
“I’m sorry, but I’m worried…”
Seeing this, Miao Jung-san twisted his lips into a smile.
“It’s surprising that the Namgung family worries about the Miao family. Actually, we recently received word from the Gaebang that the child had been found.”
“What?”
Hongseol’s eyes widened.
‘That can’t be…!’
“But when we went to see her, it wasn’t the child.”
Phew.
Hongseol exhaled deeply.
“Because of this, Lady Jegal was so disappointed that she fell ill. The doctors say it was due to extreme stress.”
“Ah… I pray for Lady Jegal’s recovery.”
“I hope the child is found soon.”
“We have some medicinal herbs good for shock; we’ll send them through the Sibi.”
Miao Jung-san bowed as everyone offered words of sympathy.
Though people spoke one by one, Bing Yuhua sat upright, silently observing.
“Now that the head of the Namgung medicinal hall is here, it would be nice to show some goodwill toward the Miao family…”
“They say the two families are unfriendly. Seems it’s true.”
Some whispered, but Yuhua remained silent.
“From the North Sea Bing Palace, yet your heart is as cold as the north wind.”
Those whisperings, meant to sound kind, were shut down by none other than Miao Jung-san.
“Why all this fuss? It’s kind of you to show goodwill, but that’s for the Namgung family to decide.”
“Goodness, the Miao family is really broad-minded.”
Miao Jung-san secretly laughed.
In reality, the story that Lady Jegal had fallen ill after losing the child was a complete lie.
It was fabricated by Miao Jung-san and Lady Jegal to gain favor with the martial families gathered at <Anhui Doha>.
Everything was going according to plan, and he was extremely satisfied.
At that moment, the Sibi brought out steaming plates of fish dishes.
“Oh! Isn’t this Yangtze Knife Fish?”
“To serve such precious fish, Master Yuseong’s generosity is extraordinary.”
The atmosphere became lively again.
Only Hongseol, in her Jeok disguise, remained with a worried expression.
‘Mom fell ill looking for me…’
Though confused, a small flicker of hope arose in her heart.
‘Maybe it was all just a misunderstanding.’
Even though thinking carefully, it seemed impossible.
The little girl, who always longed for her mother, couldn’t help but be drawn in by the story.
Bing Yuhua quietly observed Hongseol’s confused expression.
She then called Master Yuseong to change the mood.
“Master, shall we begin now?”
Master Yuseong nodded.
“Ah, yes. Everyone is gathered, so let’s begin the entertainment.”
At that, Hongseol’s gaze turned toward him.
“At <Anhui Doha>, children compete annually in various events. Today, our Yuseong Hall has prepared the following event…”
