Chapter 11
“It’s been a long time, my lord.”
“Indeed it has. How many years has it been?”
“More than fifteen years.”
“Time flies so quickly.”
Zhang Rang sat down in the place prepared before Geum Danyo. Dongbaek received the tea set handed over by Housekeeper Wang and placed it one by one on the table. As he poured tea into the empty cups, steam rose gently.
Zhang Rang carefully observed how Dongbaek poured the tea. His posture was straight and proper. He was certainly of remarkable beauty, but beyond that, he possessed something that drew people’s attention.
Seeing how he had cleverly deflected his earlier words, he seemed not only intelligent but also bold. Good. Though it had been a brief time, Zhang Rang had already made up his mind to adopt him as his son.
Just as Zhang Rang was having these thoughts, Dongbaek caught his eye while pouring tea and smiled softly.
His black pupils stood out even more prominently against his gray irises. The three beauty marks below his left eye, which he hadn’t noticed at first glance earlier, now caught his attention. The three marks arranged beneath his long, luxuriant eyelashes were as perfectly placed as if courtesans had deliberately drawn them.
Though Dongbaek knew Zhang Rang was observing her, she maintained a composed demeanor. Of course, inwardly, she was trembling, scolding herself that a single mistake would be disastrous, but outwardly she showed no sign of this.
After pouring tea for everyone including herself, Dongbaek sat down. Zhang Rang took a sip of tea and got straight to the point.
“Not bad. I don’t know how much substance there is under that surface, but even to my eyes, there’s nothing to fault. Even if what I’ve seen is mere pretense, at least you know how to eat when the table is set.”
Zhang Rang’s words were sharp. Damn, how did he know it was pretense?
Still, Dongbaek smiled confidently as if nothing could faze her.
Geum Danyo smiled gently and said to Zhang Rang,
“Dongbaek is truly a brilliant child. You won’t regret taking him as your adopted son.”
“So it seems. I’d like to take him right away.”
“Then…”
“To take Dongbaek as my adopted son, you must first return as my concubine, Geum Danyo. You must have heard about this from Elder Hwang?”
“Of course.”
Geum Danyo’s expression darkened for a brief moment. Though Zhang Rang didn’t notice, Dongbaek, who was sitting beside her, caught how she was trying hard not to show it.
Under the table, Dongbaek’s fist clenched tight. This was the moment she had been waiting for.
Though she had acted calm, every word spoken before Zhang Rang had made her flesh tremble. But shouldn’t one fulfill their filial duties? Geum Danyo was not only taking in a homeless person like herself as a child but was even willing to enter under that eunuch Zhang Rang to support her.
Her sacrifice was already enough to qualify her as a true mother, even if not by birth.
Though Geum Danyo could never truly be her mother, she could be a maternal figure. She wasn’t the only one who had opened her heart during that brief month.
It was the first warmth given to her when she fell into this world. Because of that, childlike whims would occasionally surface, making her unconsciously act spoiled toward Geum Danyo, who had become Dongbaek’s shelter and sanctuary in this world.
Speaking up for such a person was nothing. Dongbaek opened her mouth with natural ease.
“To receive the honor of having a great person like Zhong Changshi Zhang Rang as a father is the greatest fortune for this humble one.”
“Your flattery already reaches the heavens.”
Zhang Rang snorted. At first, he thought he was someone with principles, but now he seemed no different from others. Though he knew it would be easier to handle someone like that, he couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Despite Zhang Rang’s disappointment, Dongbaek continued with a breezy smile.
“Originally, flattery is only used when one wants something.”
“So, you’re saying this isn’t flattery because you want nothing?”
“No, it is flattery because I wish to request one promise.”
Surprised by these unexpected words, Geum Danyo turned to look at Dongbaek in shock. What? Being taken as an adopted child and receiving support was already an enormous matter, yet she dared to ask for a promise on top of that?
But Dongbaek just kept smiling. The more anxious she felt, the deeper her smile became to hide her true feelings.
Geum Danyo wasn’t the only one taken aback by Dongbaek’s words. Zhang Rang had to retract his earlier assessment that she was no different from others. She was utterly shameless. Zhang Rang let out a bemused laugh.
“Hah, a promise? What position are you in to want anything more from me? You’ve already caught my eye. Whether you like it or not, you’re in no position to refuse since you’ve gained my favor. Do you understand that?”
“It’s nothing much. It’s not a promise that would disadvantage you, Zhong Changshi Zhang Rang.”
“Let’s hear it then.”
“Aren’t you bringing my mother back to your mansion to hide from your political rivals how important I am to you? To pass it off as simply taking in the child of a woman you’ve fallen for again… But Zhong Changshi Zhang Rang, isn’t that all there is to it?”
“That’s all?”
“Yes, that’s precisely it. Mother is merely being used as a cover for my existence. Isn’t that right?”
Dongbaek asked again. The casual smile had vanished from her face.
A chilling air settled over his expression. For a ten-year-old, the icy determination he exuded was startling. Though his cheeks still carried traces of youthful roundness, his sharp, slender eyes held a resolute glint.
‘Looking out for his mother, is he?’
Understanding what Dongbaek was getting at, Zhang Rang smiled and replied,
“Of course. You may not know this, but my household is full of women of exceptional beauty and talent. I have no particular reason to seek out Geum Danyo.”
“I’ll trust what you’ve just said.”
Only after getting direct confirmation from Zhang Rang did Dongbaek smile with satisfaction. Zhang Rang felt a touch of bitterness seeing how pleased she was at the assurance that Geum Danyo wouldn’t be bothered.
“However, you too must show proper filial piety to me as your father. Understood?”
“If I don’t serve you as my father, Zhong Changshi Zhang Rang, who else would I serve?”
Dongbaek spoke smoothly, as if honey coated her words. But Zhang Rang didn’t completely believe him.
If Geum Danyo opposed Zhang Rang’s actions, Dongbaek would undoubtedly take Geum Danyo’s side without a moment’s hesitation between them.
No matter how much money he showered on him, this precocious child would run to Geum Danyo, who had shown him brief moments of warmth.
‘I’ll have to do something about Geum Danyo. Either make an example of her to ensure she doesn’t defy me, persuade her, or…’
Zhang Rang shook his head internally at that thought. It was too early for such judgment. Geum Danyo wouldn’t dare oppose him. She knew well how much power he wielded.
And she also knew that Zhang Rang would never forgive someone who defied him, regardless of their status as heir or concubine.
Zhang Rang smiled softly, a smile of satisfaction. While both Dongbaek and Zhang Rang smiled, Geum Danyo, caught between them, couldn’t bring herself to smile. She could only force her lips into an awkward semblance of a smile.
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
Zhang Rang left, saying he would send a carriage the next day.
Dongbaek and Geum Danyo stood at the front gate seeing him off until his carriage disappeared from view. Once Zhang Rang’s carriage became a mere dot and vanished, Dongbaek closed the still-open gate and turned to Geum Danyo.
“The night wind is cold. Let’s go inside.”
“Yes.”
Dongbaek naturally offered her arm to Geum Danyo, supporting her as they walked back inside.
Dongbaek was quite tall for her age. Judging by how she wasn’t much shorter than the petite Geum Danyo, she must have been around 150 centimeters tall.
In fact, Dongbaek’s estimate of being around ten years old was based on her height. Her body showed quite regular growth patterns. Growing steadily 3-5 centimeters each year until age 18. By working backward, one could determine her approximate age.
Geum Danyo found Dongbaek’s supporting embrace reassuring. She leaned on Dongbaek all the way to her room.
Only after escorting Geum Danyo to her quarters did Dongbaek return to her own room.
Zhang Rang had stayed at Geum Danyo’s home until late in the evening, even having dinner there. Though he had stayed so long to evaluate her, it was somewhat unexpected. Despite the pretext of taking an heir, they hadn’t expected Zhang Rang to show this much interest.
‘Well, even with all his money, he can’t afford to throw it into a gutter.’
If his newly acquired heir were to be criticized or compared unfavorably to others, Zhang Rang’s high pride wouldn’t tolerate it.
In Dongbaek’s room, a couple of candles pre-lit by Housekeeper Wang cast their light. The room was dim as night had long fallen. The candlelight wavered slightly in the night breeze that slipped through the door crack. Dongbaek’s figure briefly appeared and disappeared beyond the faint flames that barely illuminated the surrounding objects.
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
Thank you for reading! ♡
