Chapter 72
“Why are you saying nothing?”
Seol Jadan, after sipping his tea, was the first to speak. Seol Wonpyeong, with a sullen expression, simply glared at his son without answering.
“Would you rather hear the report later?”
“Because of you, the banquet ended early.”
With a sharp tone, Seol Wonpyeong slammed his teacup down onto the table.
“How is that my fault?”
“You took Yeong-ah away and never came back out. Of course the banquet had to end.”
“You liked banquets? That’s news to me. If you were so fond of them, why didn’t you host one sooner?”
Seol Jadan spoke calmly, deliberately scratching at his father’s temper. Though he knew why Seol Wonpyeong’s face was twisting more and more, he pretended not to notice.
The truth was, he was in an excellent mood. He had returned to the Seol household at just the right time, and Yun-yeong had appreciated the training ground he had prepared.
Even trading barbed words with his father like this wasn’t unpleasant. Their relationship, which had always been dry and rigid, was beginning to change little by little.
Seol Jadan liked this moment.
“Bah. Enough. That’s just how you are. Give me the report. What did the Alliance say?”
Knowing further bickering with Jadan was pointless, Seol Wonpyeong changed his expression and asked.
“I’ll report, my lord.”
Chief Steward Wi spoke up, looking at Seol Wonpyeong.
“Mm. Go on.”
Seol Wonpyeong turned from Jadan to face him.
“I met with a chief from the Murim Alliance’s central office. We agreed to provide the full supply of Seolhogo and Seolmion that we had brought.”
“Who from the office attended?”
Seol Wonpyeong’s gaze sharpened, the eyes of a consummate merchant.
“A lower steward named Du Gonghyo was present.”
“Click. I see.”
He had no real expectations of the Alliance anyway.
In this era of peace, they had long lost their sense of righteousness and honor. They existed only as a marketplace for bargaining interests.
The Seol household had kept its distance from the martial world, but that didn’t mean they were ignorant of its affairs. If it hadn’t been Yun-yeong’s suggestion, Seol Wonpyeong would have chosen another method, slower perhaps, but different.
But since the decision was made, pushing forward with it was also a sound path.
“They also showed interest in the prototype of the Snow-Purifying Water and the Snowfield Fasting Pill. We discussed including more of these items in the next trade shipment.”
“Hm. At least they know good goods when they see them.”
“Of course. What warrior wouldn’t be interested in such products?”
As Seol Wonpyeong’s expression softened with satisfaction, Chief Steward Wi chimed in.
“What about the merchant guilds’ reactions?”
“Both the Taeyoung Guild and the Songhwa Guild responded positively. Songhwa in particular, as they deal heavily in medicinal ingredients, showed great interest.”
“Click. As expected. Their intentions are obvious enough. They’ll certainly try to copy it. But for the sake of recognition, we’ll have to work with the guilds. No helping that.”
“Indeed.”
“What drew the most attention?”
“The Snowfield Fasting Pill.”
“As it should. A fasting pill that actually fills the stomach… Even I had never imagined such a thing.”
“Nor had I. Ha ha.”
Since the conversation inevitably circled back to praising Yun-yeong, Chief Steward Wi could only laugh heartily.
“You there, why are you laughing?”
“Ha ha. I’m a merchant, after all. Isn’t it only natural to be pleased when a fine product receives such a response?”
“Bah. Don’t think I don’t see your true feelings. When it’s about Yeong-ah, you’re the same as the rest of us.”
“She is remarkable, is she not?”
“That’s true.”
Though he scolded the steward, Seol Wonpyeong chuckled good-naturedly.
“How is the grain procurement proceeding?”
“That too is going smoothly. However, if we wish to increase the amount further, we may need to engage with the So-shang guild.”
“So-shang…”
The So-shang were a powerful merchant union based in Henan, dealing mainly in grain and silk.
It was no exaggeration to say that all the grain south of the Yangtze was in the hands of the So-shang and Dongjeong Guild.
If the Seol Merchant House wanted to grow larger, relations with these unions were essential. But suddenly expanding trade with such a major guild would certainly attract attention.
Seol Wonpyeong knew well that rushing matters often led to disaster.
“…I don’t feel inclined just yet. What do you both think?”
He turned his gaze to Chief Steward Wi and Seol Jadan.
“I agree with the Lord. Expanding grain reserves suddenly would draw suspicion.”
“Tampering with grain can easily arouse misunderstanding. I too agree.”
Both nodded.
The reason Seol Wonpyeong was paying such close attention to grain reserves was, of course, Yun-yeong.
‘Once Honganhyeon has more people coming and going, won’t we need more grain?’
The way she had said it, carefully but insistently, sounded like she was urging him to increase supplies.
Did she know something? He couldn’t tell. But his instincts as a merchant told him he should heed her words.
“Then let’s simply increase the amount we’re already receiving from the Wuhuan guilds.”
“As you command.”
“It shall be done.”
Both bowed their heads in agreement.
“Mm. There’s one more matter for you two to hear. Don’t be too shocked.”
Just as they were about to rise, Seol Wonpyeong spoke again.
“…What do you mean?”
Jadan asked with suspicion. It was rare for his father to speak so cautiously.
“We found a place where iron ore can be mined.”
“What?”
“Wait, what do you mean—”
Both Jadan and Chief Steward Wi raised their voices in shock.
“Lower your voices, I said. Didn’t I warn you not to be startled?”
“Father, what do you mean by this?”
“My lord, please explain.”
Seeing their urgent faces, Seol Wonpyeong suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
“Ho ho ho ho ho! Of course. Such a reaction is only natural.”
His eyes twinkled like a child’s as he stroked his beard.
“Father, please explain clearly.”
Now Jadan was urgent. Chief Steward Wi too looked like curiosity would consume him, which made Wonpyeong laugh again.
“Click. Impetuous men, both of you.”
Yet his gaze upon them was warm—just as merchants should react.
“You remember the stone mountain in Hyogamhyun that Yeong-ah asked us to buy? It seems iron can be found there.”
“What—”
He explained in detail what he had seen during the mountain trip.
But he did not mention that Yun-yeong had oddly led them as though she already knew of the iron’s presence. At the time, he himself had been too startled by the rust-red spring to suspect her. Only later, when retracing events, did he realize she had guided them there.
“Ho ho… So that happened. The young lady must have Heaven’s fortune.”
Chief Steward Wi gave an awkward laugh, summarizing the situation.
It was undeniably good news, yet strangely difficult to rejoice over fully.
There was an unspoken agreement among them: ever since Yun-yeong’s illness, they would not question the changes in her. They simply devoted themselves to supporting whatever she wished to do.
“So… will you develop the mine?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Of course. It isn’t something to decide rashly…”
The tone between father and son grew heavy.
“Shouldn’t we first confirm whether it truly is a mine, and whether it will be profitable?”
Chief Steward Wi gave his view, a little more objective than the two men.
A mine! The very thought set his blood racing as a merchant.
“It will surely draw attention. We should proceed in secret.”
“Exactly, exactly. The key will be finding prospectors who can work discreetly.”
“That’s true.”
Wonpyeong nodded.
“But the Seol family’s strength alone won’t be enough.”
At last, Jadan spoke the words all three of them knew but did not want to utter.
The Seol family’s strength was insufficient.
A heavy silence fell over the audience hall.
At the same time, a cold air settled over Yun-yeong’s residence at Yeonhong Garden.
“So…”
Yun-yeong’s sharp gaze bored into the one sitting before her. Her voice was icy.
“You’re telling me to forgive?”
Under the razor-sharp force of her presence, the figure shrank back. It was Seol Yohong, daughter of Seol Jacheong.
“…N-no, that’s not… what I meant…”
She stammered, shifting uncomfortably, clearly holding back her tears.
“What exactly?”
Yun-yeong had been in a good mood after visiting the Sobok Pavilion when the banquet ended.
But Yohong’s sudden arrival at Yeonhong Garden had soured it.
“T-the matter with me and Dopung… the things we did…”
Before she could finish, tears burst forth. Sobbing and hiccuping, she looked pitiable.
But Yun-yeong’s gaze remained cold.
“I let it go because you stayed quiet.”
She truly had. She had spared Seol Jacheong and his household.
She had told herself she was keeping her enemies close, but deep down she knew it was only because they were blood relatives.
And now, to show her face so brazenly…
Knowing Yohong’s nature, this was certainly not something she had done on her own.
“Who is it?”
Yohong did not answer.
“I asked, who sent you here?”
“Wh-what do you mean…”
“The one who told you to come to me.”
