Chapter 15
Even before Geum Danyo arrived at the mansion, there was unrest in Zhang Rang’s estate. Not only was the expelled Geum Danyo returning, but Zhang Rang had given her the most valuable and luxurious separate quarters after the main house.
Moreover, he personally named it Geumhwa-dang (Golden Flower Hall [錦花堂]). Given this blatant reference to Geum Danyo’s name in the building’s title, people whispered that late-life passion was indeed fearsome, and that Zhang Rang had been thoroughly bewitched by Geum Danyo this time.
Geumhwa-dang was filled with the nation’s finest silk, fur, jewelry, and furniture. The other concubines were jealous and angry at this unprecedented level of favor.
Unable to make a sound in front of Zhang Rang, they would all gather to speak ill of Geum Danyo.
“But isn’t it strange? Has the master ever set foot in Geumhwa-dang at night since Geum Danyo moved in?”
“In the end, it’s all empty show. I don’t know how she captured the master’s heart, but it won’t last long.”
The concubines, who knew intimate details of Zhang Rang’s bedroom habits, looked down on Geum Danyo. Moreover, Geum Danyo appeared docile and quiet on the surface, making her an easy target. Insulting her was effortless. They would stand along her path and mockingly ridicule her relationship with Dongbaek, the adopted son.
At their vulgar insults, Geum Danyo would tremble with her face flushed red. The old Geum Danyo would have sought revenge for such humiliation.
But not anymore. She had Dongbaek now… In reality, Zhang Rang wasn’t truly favoring her, and these women were his cherished ones. She didn’t want to risk falling out of Zhang Rang’s favor and becoming a burden to Dongbaek. Knowing she needed to be extremely careful with her conduct, she suppressed her rising anger at the insults.
Of course, this period of endurance didn’t last long. When Geum Danyo showed no reaction to their insults, Zhang Rang’s emboldened concubines began mentioning her relationship with Dongbaek even in front of Dongbaek himself.
“Did you see how she huffed and puffed indignantly at the slightest comment?”
“Yes, her eyes would well up with tears.”
“And yet she couldn’t make a peep. Surely it’s because she can’t deny the truth? After all, you can’t hide the sky with your palm.”
“Sleeping with her foster son, how utterly shameless.”
Their goal of making Dongbaek hear these comments was achieved. When Dongbaek heard their words questioning her relationship with Geum Danyo, she stared at them intently, but they paid no mind and raised their voices even louder.
“Doesn’t it make you wonder how a woman who’s lost all her charm managed to return here?”
“Of course it does!”
“Since she couldn’t rely on her allure anymore, she must’ve used another tactic.”
“Are you suggesting…? Oh my, no way. That’s not something a virtuous woman would do, is it? That’s no better than a brothel madam.”
Their voices, directed at Dongbaek, were filled with malicious pleasure. After spewing their venom, they turned to leave.
But they couldn’t.
Dongbaek grabbed their hair and threw them to the ground. There wasn’t a moment’s hesitation in his grip. Their elaborately styled hair was ruined, and dirt soiled their colorful silk clothes.
But it didn’t end there.
Dongbaek grabbed the hair of five or six concubines with both hands and dragged them toward Geumhwa-dang.
They became covered in dirt and got scratches all over their bodies. Their scalps felt like their scalps aching as if their hair might be torn out, the concubines struggled against him. But despite being just a boy, Dongbaek didn’t budge an inch.
Passing servants were horrified at the sight, but no one dared to block the boy’s path.
Dongbaek reached Geumhwadang. Hearing the commotion outside, Housekeeper Wang and Geum Danyo stepped out, their eyes widening in shock at the sight.
What on earth was this?
Dongbaek, standing in the garden of Geumhwa-dang, finally let go of the women’s hair.
Having been dragged all the way there, the women’s clothes were filthy, their faces streaked with tears and dirt, and their hair disheveled beyond repair. One of them had even lost a shoe and was crying barefoot.
As the women wept in shame and anger, Dongbaek spoke in a chillingly cold voice.
“Huffing and puffing indignantly? Eyes brimming with tears? How does it feel now? Isn’t it your own appearances that are the very embodiment of such a spectacle?”
His icy voice sent shivers down their spines, caused one of them to hiccup in fear. The once loud and boisterous group now fell silent. Growing irritated with their lack of response, Dongbaek added irritably.
“Why do you think I brought you all here? Do I really need to spell it out for you?”
Among them, the quickest to catch on stood up and rushed toward Geum Danyo. Staggering forward, she prostrated herself at Geum Danyo’s feet and began crying.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…! I was wrong…!”
Following her almost hysterical apology, the others began approaching Geum Danyo one by one to beg for forgiveness. Geum Danyo looked uncomfortable at this sudden turn of events. In contrast, Madam Wang was delighted and flashed a grin at Dongbaek.
However, the most malicious of Zhang Rang’s concubines who had been insulting Geum Danyo didn’t budge.
Young and beautiful, she had been Zhang Rang’s most favored before Geum Danyo’s return. Everyone had tiptoed around her. But with Geum Danyo’s appearance, everything vanished like bubbles.
Not only had she suddenly lost her position, but now to suffer such humiliation over mere words! Her beautiful face contorted with rage as she ground her teeth.
Dongbaek approached her, looking down at her as he asked,
“Do you feel wronged?”
She raised her head and shot Dongbaek a venomous glare. Dongbaek continued with a sneer.
“They say the mouth is an ax that hurts people, and words are swords that cut the tongue. Your humiliation was brought about by your own tongue, so what is there to feel wronged about?”
“By rank, I am practically the young master’s mother. Where is your filial piety?”
The concubine criticized Dongbaek through clenched teeth. But Dongbaek wasn’t concerned at all. He replied cheerfully and without hesitation.
“Geum Danyo is my only mother.”
“Young master seems ignorant of inner court matters, having come from outside. Since you’ve become the lord’s son, it’s proper to show respect to his concubines! To show such unfilial behavior toward your stepmother—I will report this clearly to my lord!”
Zhang Rang’s concubine declared haughtily. Zhang Rang was possessive. Even if Dongbaek was Geum Danyo’s child, treating Zhang Rang’s concubine disrespectfully was like spitting in Zhang Rang’s face. Zhang Rang wasn’t a man who would tolerate such upstart behavior.
The concubine expected Dongbaek to tremble at Zhang Rang’s name. But he didn’t. Stepping back from her, Dongbaek’s face remained completely composed without the slightest crack.
“If your claim to being my mother stems solely from being one of my father’s concubines, then that can easily be remedied—by ensuring you are no longer his concubine.”
“What are you saying!”
“Let’s make a bet.”
Dongbaek paused briefly and smiled. The upturned corners of his mouth showed not his usual refreshing demeanor but rather a sticky cruelty.
“When you report today’s events to Father, let’s bet on whether he gets angry at me or not. If he gets angry, you win, and I’ll treat you properly as a mother from now on. We can even make it official before the ancestral tablets if you’d like.”
“Wait, you—!”
Just as the concubine tried to wave her hands in panic, Dongbaek’s hand gripped the handle of the sword at his waist. A quick draw. The sword cut through the air. The sharp blade plunging downward at high speed reflected in the concubine’s eyes. She could only stare blankly at the sight.
Everyone was shocked by Dongbaek’s action. The murmuring voices of people around filled the woman’s ears. For a moment, time seemed to stop for her. Or rather, she thought it had stopped.
Swoosh.
Long, glossy black hair floated down to the ground. The ebony hair she had been so proud of was no longer hers.
“Today, I’ll take your hair instead of your head.”
Dongbaek said, kneeling on one knee and gathering the scattered hair from the ground. Meanwhile, the woman, too stunned to move, trembled uncontrollably, a dark stain spreading across her skirt where she had wet herself.
Dongbaek, paying no attention to her, wrapped the woman’s hair in a white handkerchief from his chest and handed it to Housekeeper Wang as he stood up.
“The rest… I’ll take when I win the bet.”
He smiled brightly as he delivered one final, chilling remark.
“So make sure to tell father about today’s events. Don’t forget. If Father doesn’t get angry, I win… I’m really looking forward to the results of our bet.”
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
Thank you for reading! ♡
