Chapter 31
House Call
“What’s the matter?”
Gogyo poked her small head in and asked.
Just as Soyukrang was about to dispose of an item that shouldn’t exist, Gogyo came in and took the document from his hands.
“What is this? It looks like it has the government seal on it.”
Gogyo recalled the characters she had learned and traced the writing with her fingers as she read it aloud.
“Si (试). Is this… a test?”
“…Yes, it’s the current examination.”
That detestable dean had registered his name for this month’s current examination!
However, Soyukrang had no intention whatsoever of taking the exam.
“Did you apply for this yourself?”
Gogyo asked.
“No, the dean applied on my behalf,” Soyukrang said through gritted teeth.
Gogyo was astonished by this.
“Did he apply for all the students in the class?”
“Probably not.”
Since there was no mention of Gososun taking the exam either, his statement seemed accurate.
Soyukrang had been the notorious bottom student in the class, never ranking higher than third from last from admission through vacation. Yet, despite such abysmal grades, the dean didn’t give up and even registered him for the current exam. What a magnificent teacher!
In Gogyo’s mind, the dean’s presence suddenly grew immense.
“Master, I think we should go pay a visit to the dean with a gift as a greeting,” Gogyo said, eyes sparkling at the thought of bribing the dean. In her previous life, she had wanted to bribe teachers but no one had prepared a bribe for her, and her grades were too good to need one anyway.
But now, since Master’s grades were poor, it was urgent to establish a relationship with the dean.
“No,” Soyukrang refused, but seeing Gogyo’s disappointed expression, he awkwardly turned his head.
“It’s too far.”
Gogyo asked, “Where is he?”
Suppressing the urge to lie, Soyukrang honestly replied,
“He’s near the hot spring villa. We’ll have to leave the village.”
Gogyo completely forgot about what had just happened at the clinic.
“It’s not far! Not far at all! I’ll go tomorrow with Sosun, so Master, rest at home and continue your treatment!”
Soyukrang disliked the idea of Gogyo going to visit that sly old dean.
However, the proposal was approved by the decision of the entire family. After hearing Gogyo’s plan, his aunt nodded vigorously.
“Yes, of course we should go.”
Soyukrang returned to his room, carrying a sense of gloom.
Gogyo looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Tonight… are you going to sleep with me?”
Hearing this, Soyukrang suddenly panicked.
“…I took the wrong path.”
Gogyo raised her eyebrows and clasped her chest with both hands.
“We’ve lived together for half a year, and I’ve never taken the wrong path before. But now, after staying in my room for three days, you suddenly take the wrong path?”
Soyukrang’s throat tightened, and his ears reddened to the tips as he huffed.
“I said I took the wrong path!”
Gogyo responded calmly.
“Oh, I see.”
“…”
Gogyo was the type to follow instructions.
That night, she organized the bribe she intended to give to the dean.
The next morning, Gososun came to have breakfast. When he heard that his sister intended to take him to visit the dean near the hot spring villa, he got excited and shouted.
“I’ve never gone that far! My sister has never taken me out before!”
The truth was, if Gogyo hadn’t taken him along, Soyukrang wouldn’t have allowed her to go so far alone.
It was impossible to take a carriage all the way there. Carriages were too slow and they would have gotten lost on the road by nightfall. Moreover, all the carriage shops in town were closed, so hiring a carriage wasn’t an option.
After deliberation, Gogyo brought her younger brother to Hoichundang.
Upon seeing Gogyo arrive unexpectedly, the second young master wore an unreadable expression.
“Miss Gogyo, what brings you here?”
Gogyo, with a calm expression, said,
“After thinking it over, the hot spring villa isn’t that far. If we take a carriage, it will take just an hour. Let’s go! There should be a carriage available, right?”
‘She said she wouldn’t make house calls yesterday. What sudden whim changed overnight?’
The second young master, half doubtful, looked at the bundle she carried. He also saw Gososun holding a similarly large bundle, waiting outside.
“Why have you brought so many things? Are they all for treatment?”
Gogyo smiled and tilted her head.
“These are New Year’s gifts for the dean. I forgot to mention. The dean of the academy Master attends is also near the hot spring villa. After checking on a patient, we’ll visit the dean on our way.”
The second young master snorted. Meeting the dean was clearly the real purpose; she’s just using the patient as an excuse to get a free carriage ride! Doesn’t her conscience bother her?
Still, he eventually gave in.
The second young master, Gogyo, Gososun, and the old physician all boarded the carriage together.
The carriage was fast. In less than an hour, Gogyo and Gososun arrived at a mansion near the hot spring villa. A high plaque read “Ye’s Mansion (黎府).”
This was obviously the dean’s villa.
Originally, the dean held office in Gyeongseong, but when his mother fell gravely ill, he resigned and left the city. He later purchased this villa to care for her.
Gogyo, carrying Gososun, knocked on the closed gate. Shortly after, a servant opened it. Seeing two plainly dressed country folk, he didn’t show contempt but instead asked humbly,
“Where have you come from…?”
“My master and younger brother are students of Cheonhyang Academy. We’ve come to see the dean,” Gogyo replied.
The servant’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What is the matter?”
An aged voice came from the house, and the servant quickly turned to announce,
“Madam, students have come to visit!”
The elderly lady spoke in a frail voice,
“Why aren’t they brought inside immediately? It’s cold. Bring them in and serve them some warm tea.”
Although Gogyo had never met the dean, the attitude of his family and servants felt very welcoming.
The servant led them inside.
“You will be served tea in the tea room. Please wait there,” he said. He treated them with respect despite their low status, bringing tea and lighting the brazier to welcome them properly.
After sitting briefly, Gogyo realized the dean would not return soon. The elderly lady showed no sign of waking.
Eventually, Gogyo told the servant that she would go see the dean herself. The servant gave her directions—the fishing spot wasn’t far.
“I want to go too,” Gososun said. Gogyo gently said,
“If Madam wakes up and sees neither of us, she’ll think we’re rude.”
“I see,” Gososun obediently stayed behind in the mansion.
Gogyo left the mansion and boarded the second young master’s carriage.
“I thought it would take longer,” he said.
“The dean isn’t here. Where is the patient you mentioned?” Gogyo asked.
“Oh, he’s over there.”
Following the second young master’s pointed finger, a picturesque mansion appeared at the end of a small path through the green hills. It was the famous Jeonganhu’s hot spring villa.
The second young master didn’t provide many details about the patient, only mentioning he was the son of a marquis in Gyeongseong. Born prematurely, he had been weak since the womb and had seen many doctors over the years with little success.
“The young marquis is said to be about your age, Miss, not even fifteen years old,” the second young master said with sympathy.
“So he has only a year left?” Gogyo thought, as she was fourteen this year.
“Well, perhaps he won’t even make it to June,” the second young master sighed and nodded.
“Yes, the marquis’ mother must be heartbroken. She has only one son,” he added.
Although the young master had a twin sister, losing a son could never be fully compensated.
The second young master did not share irrelevant details about the boy’s condition with Gogyo.
As they spoke, the carriage arrived at the entrance of the hot spring villa.
There, a massive flying-eave paifang stood, with golden letters reading “Hot Spring Villa.” On the far right, in cursive script, it read “Jeonganhu Mansion (定安侯府).”
Gogyo, stepping down under the towering paifang, felt tiny, like a rabbit.
The grandeur reflected the marquis’ dignity. However, this villa was just one of his properties.
Although the second young master had passed this villa many times, it was his first time entering. He was honestly awed by the massive paifang. Gogyo, standing dazed, seemed equally overwhelmed.
However, what he didn’t know was that Gogyo wasn’t intimidated—she was contemplating whether the gold on the paifang was real.
Two guards stood under the paifang, looking different from typical wealthy town guards. They were burly, sharp-eyed, and carried long spears. Their posture suggested extensive training.
Having sent a message a few days ago, the second young master’s name was already registered, and the guards let him in.
He indicated to them, “This is the physician from Hoichundang and his medicine assistant,”
It was uncommon but not impossible for a woman to be a medicine assistant.
The guards said nothing but eyed Gogyo’s basket with suspicion.
“What’s inside?” one asked. Gogyo immediately showed the basket.
The guards rummaged through it. Seeing the produce and the old, tattered box inside, they returned the basket to her.
“Follow this path straight and pass the first pavilion; someone will greet you there,” the guards instructed.
The second young master thanked them and proceeded toward the pavilion, followed by Gogyo and the old physician.
After only a few steps, another carriage appeared outside the paifang. The second young master assumed it belonged to the villa and paid it no mind.
However, a commanding voice from the carriage called out to him.
“Are you the young master?”
Perplexed, he stopped and turned. Soon, a large man, seemingly close in age to the magistrate, strode forward.
