Chapter 16
“You’re doing very well. Your energy has stabilized greatly.”
“Is that so? Thank you, thank you. You’ve worked hard, Physician Son.”
Seol Won-pyeong said this as he patted Physician Son on the back.
A broad smile blossomed on his face. Seeing Seol Won-pyeong smile like that for the first time made Unyeong’s eyes widen.
“Thank you. Truly, you’ve done a great job, Physician Son.”
“Thank you, Doctor Son.”
Seol Ja-dan also expressed her gratitude with the same expression as Seol Won-pyeong, and next was Seol Do-jin.
With a sulky expression, Unyeong turned her head toward the sound of their voices and observed their expressions.
They were all smiling the same way. Seeing such similar faces smiling together felt both heartwarming and strangely awkward.
‘What did that clueless doctor even do?! I did all the hard work! It was me who endured the pain and circulated my energy without forming a dantian! Do you know how hard that was?!’
And that was the truth.
All Physician Son did was check Unyeong’s pulse daily and prescribe her tonics and digestive medicine.
But since he was the only physician currently staying at the Seol household, he was now considered an unmatched medical genius.
“I didn’t do anything special. It was only possible because the young lady had such strong willpower.”
A perfect answer.
There were times when Physician Son would hit the nail right on the head like this, and whenever he did, Unyeong felt a little guilty inside.
“Um, Physician, may I ask you something?”
“Yes, young lady. Please go ahead.”
Physician Son flinched whenever Unyeong addressed him like this.
Oh no, what is she going to ask now?
He still remembered the incident with the meat. Her innocent-looking expression was unnerving.
Who told her it was okay to eat meat? And that much, even?
But despite eating so much meat, she hadn’t gotten sick—on the contrary, her health had improved.
“Then, can I start learning martial arts now?”
“Young lady, you wish to learn martial arts?”
“Yes, Physician.”
“Hmm. It should be possible. Tonap (吐納: energy breathing) is excellent for health. Training that moves the body is also beneficial.”
“Thank you, Physician.”
“But you must not overdo it. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Physician Son emphasized multiple times that she absolutely must not push herself.
He feared what this delicate and lovely young lady might do next. If she worsened her condition from overexertion, what then?
His palms had grown sweaty without him realizing it.
“Is that truly enough?”
Seol Won-pyeong took a sip of perfectly brewed tea and looked at Unyeong for a long while before asking.
He was referring to how she had handled Seol Ja-cheong’s situation.
Unyeong had said that banishing them to the inner residence was sufficient.
Seol Ja-cheong had already lost his position as vice chief of the Seol Escort Agency and was demoted to a regular escort.
Seol Ja-cheong had never properly learned martial arts. How could someone like that perform his duties as an escort properly?
Everyone in the Seol household knew he had fallen out of favor with the head of the house. From now on, the one to be cast out in Gyeongwon would likely be Seol Ja-cheong and his family.
“Yes, Grandfather. It’s enough.”
“How… how can you be so soft-hearted…?”
But that wasn’t it—not at all.
Seol Won-pyeong had asked if they should be expelled entirely from the household, but that wasn’t something Unyeong would allow.
Didn’t they say, “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”?
Seol Ja-cheong had to stay somewhere Unyeong could see him. That made him easier to monitor.
Given his nature, there was no way he acted alone.
‘There’s either a spy already here, or one will come. The Cheongung people never act without follow-through. If I keep my uncle nearby, I can sniff out the spy.’
Seol Ja-cheong would make a fine bait. And if Seol Won-pyeong misunderstood her intentions like this, that wasn’t a bad thing for Unyeong either…
‘I should start showing my true colors soon… If he keeps seeing me as sweet and innocent, it’s just too awkward.’
Unyeong simply smiled.
She had learned through experience that smiling was the best way to hide discomfort.
Some were frightened by her smile, but that was their problem, not hers.
“Chief Wi. What’s the status of finding a martial arts teacher for Yeong-ah?”
“For now, I suggest letting her start with one of our top martial artists at the manor to build a foundation, while we search for a proper teacher.”
“Hmm… not a bad idea. Yeong-ah, what do you think?”
“Yes, I like that idea.”
Unyeong nodded. She didn’t care who they brought in, as long as she could start quickly. She smiled at Chief Wi.
Chief Wi was indeed quick-witted. From her conversation with Physician Son, he had sensed that she was eager to move quickly and came prepared with a solution.
He was clearly a capable man.
‘He’s competent and, more importantly, loyal to the Seol family. He’s both principled and devoted…’
Chief Wi Jeong-gon had stayed faithfully by Seol Ja-dan’s side until the end when she became the family head.
Seol Won-pyeong hadn’t appointed the young Wi Jeong-gon as internal chief without reason.
Recognizing people and investing in the future—
Unyeong liked that aspect of Seol Won-pyeong’s leadership.
“Grandfather. Also, I’ve been thinking…”
“Yes, let’s hear it.”
“What if we spread word in the area that I’m looking for a martial arts teacher?”
“And why would we do that?”
“Well… um… Dopung—I mean, Seol Do-pung…”
“What about that brat?”
“He kept bragging. That he had hired a famous martial arts teacher. I want a reputable teacher too. Is that… not okay?”
“Ahem. What wouldn’t be okay? I’ll find one for you. I’ll get you the best in Hubei.”
“Wow, thank you, Grandfather!”
Unyeong even clapped her hands in joy. Seeing the corners of Seol Won-pyeong’s mouth rise, she figured she could push it a little further.
“Oh, and Chief Wi.”
“Yes, young lady?”
“When martial arts teachers come to Seol Manor, may I meet with them first?”
“Pardon? Why is that?”
“Um… I haven’t had many chances to meet guests from outside. So…”
Unyeong was about to continue explaining, but Seol Won-pyeong cut her off.
“That’s enough. Chief Wi, let it be done.”
“As you command.”
She thought she’d need to explain more, but it was resolved so easily. Once again, Unyeong felt how wonderful power truly was.
‘How could I not want to be the best household under the heavens when it’s like this?’
There was no need to justify anything.
No need to explain or persuade.
That was power—and power was strength.
The matter with Seol Ja-cheong had happened so suddenly, without a concrete plan. She had more or less acted on instinct.
But seeing how Seol Won-pyeong was now coming to her so openly, she thought it had all been worth it. She had gained so much from this incident.
Most importantly, Seol Won-pyeong now treated her without any reservations.
He was keeping the promise he had made that night to the sleeping Unyeong.
In the past, Unyeong had believed he didn’t like her. But the Seol Won-pyeong she had met since returning to the past had eyes that were different from what she remembered.
When she was sick, she heard his voice—scolding, yet filled with worry. Since then, he had visited occasionally, and though he spoke curtly, his eyes always carried concern.
That was what it meant to live life—to grow older.
With time came experience. Experience gave you the ability to see things you hadn’t understood before.
Her younger self hadn’t seen it, but the Unyeong who had lived thirty more years could see it now—and knew how to.
Her family had always been precious, even in the past. But she hadn’t known how to protect what was precious. Her childish wounds had made her believe that distancing herself was the answer.
She would no longer make that mistake.
Precious things must be protected from close by—closer than anyone else.
At first, the closeness with her family had felt awkward, but she was getting used to it.
She was simply happy now. She hoped this happiness would last a long time.
Smiling at her family, Unyeong sipped her tea and fell into thought.
‘Sogyo should be finishing the task soon. Let’s see… It should take that old man about fifteen days to arrive after getting the message, right?’
The reason she had asked to meet martial arts teacher candidates first wasn’t without purpose.
The item she had told Sogyo to deliver to Manggeumjeonjang (Gold Coin Pavilion) was a letter for Elder Deung Noya. It was a plan she had carefully thought out to summon him to the Seol household.
It was important to her, and thus she had chosen her methods carefully.
‘That quick-witted old man… I wonder how he’ll respond. In any case, meeting him is key…’
She had summoned him partly because she needed his help, but mostly because she wanted to help him.
She didn’t want the great void that remained in the heart of her benefactor to grow deeper.
Unyeong wanted to help her loved ones protect what was precious to them. Just as she was happy now, she wished happiness upon her people as well.
‘I hope I’m not too late…’
