When the Black Moon Rises - Side Story 5
Side Story 5
She continued in a respectful tone,
“Yes. He also told me to periodically wet the soil to keep it soft, so anyone who fell in wouldn’t be able to climb out easily. And if someone fell in, I was to cover the pit with a lid, or pour oil or water into the covered pit to maximize their fear.”
“Is such a coincidence possible? Were you sure he wasn’t one of them?”
“I suspected that at first, but he left immediately and hasn't returned, so I don't think he was. He seemed to have followed those villains after seeing them climb over the wall in the middle of the night, wondering if they were causing trouble. Thanks to his advice, I've been able to manage the residence well.”
“I'm glad you're safe, but you should have called the officials if you experienced such a thing. You must have been through a lot.”
“Not at all. Your Majesty also looked after me. Those who targeted me from outside couldn't burn down this residence solely because Your Majesty showed me such concern.”
“That was only natural. In any case, it must be difficult to protect the residence with these few people. I’ll send some officials when I return. It will be helpful. And don’t ever put yourself in harm’s way again.”
“No. I am eternally grateful for your concern, but please don’t. You might be unfairly blamed.” Jung Chihwa hurriedly stopped Seong Ik-gwon and added, “Besides, I have nothing more to do in the capital. Once my father’s body arrives and the rites are performed, I intend to leave for another place.”
“Leave?! Where to?”
“I haven't decided yet, but surely there’s a place in this vast land for me to rest. So, this commotion will soon be over, please give me some time.”
“Where do you intend to go, alone as a woman? Your father also met his end after leaving the capital. Even though the situation has improved, it’s still not safe outside.”
“Don’t worry. Even though I may not look it, I’ve lived alone outside for over a year before. I managed fine then, so I’ll be fine in the future as well.”
“Over a year? How did that happen?”
“Um, well…”
“Well?”
“Well, you see… there were… circumstances…”
“What circumstances?”
‘I can’t not answer His Majesty’s question. What am I supposed to do…’
Feeling a chill run down her neck, she answered cautiously,
“Well, the truth is…”
“The truth is?”
“The truth is… my father arranged a marriage for me, and I… I disobediently defied his order…”
“Hmm? Who was this arranged marriage with that required you to leave home?”
“Well… Lord Yoon Jung-il’s family.”
“Huh? Did that family have another son? His two grown sons are already married.”
“...”
“Did you perhaps misspeak?”
“No. The marriage proposal wasn’t for his two sons, but directly with him…”
“What?!”
“So… my father intended me to become his… concubine…”
“No… why would the Minister of Rites…? He didn’t have a son, so wouldn’t taking in a son-in-law have been better?”
“That's not it. My father intended to take another concubine and have a legitimate son. He arranged for me to become Lord Yoon's concubine, promising that if I bore a son, the inheritance would go to my child, not to his two sons…”
As Jung Chihwa trailed off, unable to continue, the dumbfounded Seong Ik-gwon let out a small laugh.
‘No wonder she left home. I knew Minister Jung was greedy, but I didn't know he would go so far as to use his only daughter like that.’
“But then, where did you live? It wouldn't have been easy for a woman to live alone in the capital.”
“I dressed as a man, so it was alright.”
“And lodging? Did you manage with money you took from home?”
“No. I didn’t take a single penny from home. I made a living… drawing… pictures.”
“Drawing pictures? You must be quite talented.”
“I-It’s nothing special.”
“That can’t be true. If you have any remaining pictures, show me sometime.”
‘…Remaining pictures?’
The shop owner where she had sold her paintings had told the authorities everything.
About her disguising herself as a man, about secretly hiring well diggers and buying up grain.
So, if Seong Ik-gwon showed even a little more interest and investigated, he would soon learn that she had made a living drawing erotic paintings.
‘What if I really end up showing His Majesty my erotic paintings?’
Jung Chihwa’s face paled at the thought and she shook her head.
‘I’m such an idiot. Why did I mention drawing pictures?’
“Oh, no. I’ve already sold them all; I don't think there are any left. Later… though my skills are humble, if Your Majesty would accept it, I will draw one and present it to you.”
“Alright. I’m curious about your skills, so be sure to send me one as a gift later.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Has the Left State Councillor contacted you since then?”
“No. There’s been no further contact since I rejected his offer to adopt me.”
“I see. That’s what I wanted to know.”
Seong Ik-gwon added, without admitting that involving the Left State Councillor had been his mistake,
“I initially thought it would be a good solution, but I can’t force you to do something you don’t want to. So, if he continues to pressure you unreasonably, feel free to ask for my help.”
“No, Your Majesty. I wouldn't dare trouble you with such a trivial matter. I’m grateful for your kind words.”
Jung Chihwa quickly declined.
Even though he was showing concern for her now, was it entirely for her sake?
‘It must be because he’s wary of the celestial power Sehwa possesses.’
“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. There’s no problem.”
‘Besides, there’s also that man…’
She had told Seong Ik-gwon that the man who saved her seemed unconnected to the attackers, but after all she had seen and experienced, she couldn’t blindly trust such unexplained kindness.
Moreover, it was no ordinary patrolling officer. A skilled martial artist just happened to spot suspicious individuals, followed them, and…
…just happened to be there when they attacked the Minister of Rites' residence, defeated them all in an instant, and vanished without a trace?
Chihwa frowned.
‘Does that even make sense?’
His face had been obscured by his hat, but he had seemed quite handsome. And his martial skills against multiple opponents had been extraordinary.
“If tearing down this garden saves your life, your mother would surely applaud you. She might even be the first to dig the pits herself.”
Until he had said those words, she had been unsure whether he was genuinely trying to help her.
That is, until she had secretly followed him and witnessed him meeting with large men similar to the intruders.
‘Pretending to save me from danger to gain my favor. How preposterous.’
She felt foolish for even momentarily thinking, ‘Could he be serious?’
Chihwa’s frown deepened as she thought about the man.
She knew that after her connection to the celestials became known, there were those who envied her, those who were jealous of her, and those who wanted to use her.
But there was one thing they didn’t know.
‘You all think I’ll just cry helplessly like I did back then, but you’re mistaken.’
If she couldn’t even handle this much on her own, how could she call herself Sehwa's friend?
Fortunately, that ridiculous charade seemed intended to gain her favor rather than harm her.
‘He definitely said he’d come again if I was in danger.’
Acting as if he genuinely cared for her, despite being one of them.
He had even given her nonsensical advice, saying that digging pits under the wall would buy her time in a critical situation.
‘Alright. I’ve pretended to follow your advice to make you lower your guard, so come back if you dare.’
Jung Chihwa’s expression naturally hardened.
Seeing her resolute demeanor, Seong Ik-gwon had nothing more to say.
He could only offer the obvious advice—to immediately report to the authorities and seek protection—before rising from his seat.
Even as he turned and made his way back to the palace, he felt uneasy.
If the Left State Councillor had any sense, he wouldn’t act directly.
‘But when greed takes over, people can become reckless. It’s best to be prepared.’
With that in mind, Seong Ik-gwon ordered Head Eunuch Hong to select men, including the Captain of the Royal Guard, to protect the residence as soon as they returned.
Now that the disaster was over, he wouldn’t tolerate a single further act of violence.
“His Majesty visited?”
The Left State Councillor’s eyes narrowed. His confidant bowed and replied,
“Yes. He visited late at night, accompanied only by Head Eunuch Hong.”
“Did he seem to suspect anything?”
“I don’t think so. I called off everyone who was watching the residence, just in case, after realizing it was His Majesty.”
“In any case, since His Majesty seems concerned for that child, we can’t drag this out. If he sends officials to protect her, it will complicate things. We’ll begin tomorrow without further delay.”
“Yes, Lord Left State Councillor. But, um…”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Um… about the reward you mentioned… when will I…”
“...”
“Th-Those lowly scoundrels are causing a ruckus, asking when they can receive the reward you promised.”
“You dare ask me such a thing, when you can’t even handle those insignificant wretches?! What if I decide never to give it to them? What will you do then?! Or are those words not theirs, but your own?”
“N-No, absolutely not. I was just… that deathly energy from back then… no. Never mind. I misspoke. I’ll go and carry out your orders.”
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Never mind. You may go.”
“…Yes.”
As his confidant closed the door and left, the Left State Councillor clicked his tongue.
‘I'll have to kill him soon, too.’
He should be content with money, but those lowly creatures had started desiring something precious, so how could he possibly let him live?
However, he had no intention of replacing him just before such an important undertaking, so he decided to offer him a temporary incentive.
He had been about to tell his confidant to wait a little longer, that while he couldn’t give them the deathly energy they desired as a reward, he would distribute Minister Jung’s wealth to them once it was in his hands.
‘But I don’t know how much that greedy Minister Jung is worth, so it's not something to mention prematurely. Besides, what’s the point of all this trouble when I can just kill them all after the deed is done?’
‘What should I do once Minister Jung’s assets are in my hands? And once that child becomes my adopted daughter?’
As the Left State Councillor contemplated the future, his hand rested on a small wooden box nestled in his arms.
He had carefully obtained this wooden box, which occasionally emitted black smoke as if something were burning inside.
It was a fragment, a piece of the Black Dragon that had fallen from it as it writhed in pain during that last rain ritual.
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