Chapter 3
Sure enough, morning dawned. Though the world was the same as yesterday, the morning felt completely different.
A noisy, restless village atmosphere.
Throughout the night, gossip had spread like wildfire, slipping into every household.
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“A man dressed like a beggar showed up, claiming to be Mun Haesang and caused a scene.”
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“The trial is being held today in front of the villagers.”
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“Lady Lee Yeon will attend too!”
From noble scholars to courtesans, from hunched old men to snot-nosed children—the entire village was abuzz with excitement.
There had been imposters claiming to be Mun Haesang before, but never a trial where the entire village was invited to witness.
So, everyone rushed, hoping to sit in the front row at the district office courtyard to get a good view of this unusual spectacle.
Yesterday’s banquet guests had reassembled today in front of the magistrate’s office.
“So many people… It’s like a festival.”
“But is this one the real deal?”
People surrounding the courthouse were focused, each in their own way.
Rumors about the man had already spread far and wide.
Most believed it was another fake, another scene for attention.
They scoffed at the fact that he appeared in beggar’s rags.
To them, the Mun Haesang they remembered before age twenty-two was a shy, quiet man who hid inside silken robes.
So much so that some even whispered he should’ve been born a noble lady, not a man.
He always wore a face that seemed uninterested in worldly things, constantly scolded by his father, Mun Seongsik, a respected official.
Cornered without a trace of masculine pride, he used to look pitiful—pale and frightened.
The idea that such a man could now be causing a stir at the government office was unimaginable.
“Same old trick. They say he’s practically insane—boldly claiming to be Mun Haesang.”
“Still, why would he come to the magistrate himself…? Something about this feels real.”
“Yeah… if you ignore the clothes, he does resemble the eldest son that passed away.”
Surprisingly, more people began to agree with that opinion. Some even hoped—what if this time, it was truly him?
“If we go by looks alone… He’s better looking than that Jin-sang. He actually looks like the deceased eldest son, if you ask me.”
“Haha, right? That family’s third son never looked like a Mun anyway.”
“Shhh! Keep your voice down!”
As the murmurs continued, Governor Seo-hoon of Guryong Village sat in the center of the dais, exuding solemnity.
He didn’t hide his displeasure. Trials involving noblemen were a headache and best avoided.
Especially when they involved men like Jin-sang—wealthy, with powerful connections.
The easiest way to settle this would be to declare the beggar an imposter.
What punishment the imposter received wasn’t his concern. That was Jin-sang’s problem.
But if the man turned out to be the real Mun Haesang… then it would be a nightmare.
If Jin-sang disliked the verdict, he might take it up with the governor, or even the royal inspectorate.
Worse, he could appeal directly to the King.
The governor would be hounded about his original ruling the entire time.
The officials and guards flanking the governor shared the same grim expressions.
In their minds, the verdict was already decided.
“A trial with a pre-set answer.”
Yet, the energy in the courthouse was oddly tense.
Not just from the villagers’ curiosity—but because of the beggar seated in the center of the courtyard, staring boldly at the governor.
He was far too composed, almost brazen. His resolve and strength were palpable—rare to witness.
Like autumn sunlight, warm and cold at once, the atmosphere illuminated every face present.
Creak…
The loud swing of the gate interrupted the tension. An officer announced:
“Lord Mun Jin-sang has arrived!”
But he didn’t arrive alone. His entourage followed.
To his right was Yoon Chi-byeong—one of the most notorious moneylenders in the region.
To his left, Won Sul-yong, a shrewd and expensive legal adviser, banned officially but widely used in the shadows.
Jin-sang used them to spin magic that multiplied his wealth.
Behind him followed several henchmen.
From the moment they arrived, they dominated the scene.
Whish! Clap!
Jin-sang took his seat with a dramatic swirl of his robe, not a trace of unease on his face—just a faint, smug smile.
“Milady… are you all right? Breathe deeply and exhale slowly.”
“Phew…”
So-hwa’s guidance helped Lee Yeon control her breathing. Her expression remained tight with nerves.
How absurd.
Her first formal outing in years was for a trial to determine her husband’s identity.
She had arrived at the district office well in advance and now awaited entry into the court.
As the hour approached, her heart constricted.
She rarely left home—only for dawn prayers at the temple.
Not even for village festivals had she shown her face.
She always avoided scandal.
Lee Yeon looked up at the golden ginkgo tree.
Sunlight scattered through the leaves, making it hard to open her eyes. Her tension refused to fade.
It wasn’t just the trial. The mysterious arrow shot into her residence the previous night still haunted her.
Each time she closed her eyes, she imagined the arrow piercing her heart.
She clenched her jaw. Her lips, delicately tinted with safflower, trembled slightly.
“We must go to the courtyard now… Please try not to worry.”
So-hwa and Madam Jang followed her.
The moment Lee Yeon stepped into the courtyard through the side door, it wasn’t just sunlight that greeted her.
The sun hit the sheer veil covering her face, making it shimmer. A strange feeling washed over her.
‘I’ve lived hidden behind layered palace walls… but now, only this thin veil separates me.’
She didn’t want anyone to see her expression, but the veil was so sheer that traces of her emotion slipped through.
All eyes turned to her.
It was rare enough for a noblewoman to appear in court—but to appear in person without sending a servant or legal representative?
It was unthinkable.
Her veil only added to the mystique.
Some lucky villagers remembered her delicate face from her wedding nine years ago.
But most were seeing her this close for the first time.
Their murmurs brimmed with admiration and curiosity.
Except Jin-sang and his men. Their eyes were full of open hostility.
To them, he looked powerful. Even here at the magistrate’s office, he seemed in control.
That oppressive aura made Lee Yeon feel a wave of humiliation.
His arrogant expression reminded her of what he’d said yesterday—likening her to a useless cow.
She also recalled her sister-in-law Hyeon-ae’s manipulative gaze.
She needed to stay sharp.
Everyone—Jin-sang, the governor, the crowd, and the beggar claiming to be her husband—was watching her.
She glanced at the beggar. His hat was worn, his clothes patched, and yet he wore an oddly confident expression.
He looked like the least compatible person in this whole scene.
She suddenly thought: every step she took now might be like walking on blades.
For some reason, she felt her fate was entangled in this trial.
The toe of her silk shoes caught a glint of sunlight.
Perhaps distracted by that glimmer…
Lee Yeon stumbled.
A murmur rose from the crowd.
The beggar instantly rose and rushed toward her.
Their eyes met, sharp and intense, like blades clashing.
The guards quickly forced him back into his seat while So-hwa and Madam Jang rushed to support her.
All eyes remained on Lee Yeon as she walked to her seat.
Under the autumn sun and the scorching stares, Lee Yeon suddenly felt utterly exposed.
“Silence!”
The officer refocused attention to the governor, who stroked his beard and began:
“This trial shall now begin! We will determine the truth of whether this man is Mun Haesang, the second son of Lord Mun Seongsik, who disappeared nine years ago.”
He fixed his eyes on the beggar, voice firm with authority.
Then he turned to Lee Yeon.
Even he could not treat her without respect.
“You, Madam, are the final and most important witness. Your testimony today will be crucial in determining the verdict. Please clearly state your name and identity for the record, and be mindful of your responsibility.”
How strange.
‘For nine years, my life was a shell. And now, here, I’m the most important person.’
Lee Yeon remembered how the man had rushed to her aid—instinctively, without hesitation.
That strength was so unlike her timid husband Haesang.
‘But who knows… maybe he went through something unimaginable during those years.’
Regardless of who he truly was, part of her wished he really were her husband.
But it was a fleeting thought, passing too quickly to fully grasp.
She bit her lower lip.
Then slowly opened her mouth to speak.
“I am…”
Everyone leaned in.
Most of them were hearing Lee Yeon’s voice for the first time.
With a clear, elegant yet strong voice, she declared:
“I am Lady Gong Lee Yeon, wife of Mun Haesang, second son of Lord Mun Seongsik, and daughter of Lord Gong Seong-ung.”
