Chapter 22
Even the most delicate and unwavering black complex sword dance was perfectly executed. Like a camellia blooming on snow, countless flowers bloomed at the tip of the sword that had camellia as its branch.
How long had Dongbaek been out there like this? The sound of applause disrupted her concentration. Clap, clap, clap—at the slow meeting of palms, Dongbaek stopped the sword dance and looked in that direction. It was Zhang Rang.
“You’re working hard even on this cold day.”
“It’s freezing. Why did you come out instead of staying inside?”
As Dongbaek spoke, white breath flowed from her mouth. Though Dongbaek’s tone might have sounded cold at first listen, Zhang Rang just laughed heartily, clearly sensing the concern hidden within it.
At Zhang Rang’s laughter, Dongbaek slightly pouted her lips in a way no one could see. He seems quite pleased now that Cao Teng is dead. Zhang Rang, who usually only showed slight sneering smiles, could actually laugh out loud like this.
These days, Zhang Rang frequently sought out Dongbaek. Previously, he would just say “do whatever you want” and leave him alone, but now he had begun to take a slight interest in what Dongbaek was doing. He even started calling them to drinking sessions once or twice, and lately it had become almost daily.
Dongbaek sheathed her sword and approached Zhang Rang. It had been over half a year since coming to Zhang Rang’s house. During these two seasons, Dongbaek, who had been in the early 150cm range, had grown about 6cm taller. Dongbaek took off her coat and draped it over Zhang Rang.
“It might smell of sweat, but please wear it for now. Where did you leave all those furs overflowing in your room to come out dressed so thinly?”
“Hehe, your nagging is worse than Elder Hwang’s!”
Of course, Dongbaek’s coat didn’t smell of sweat. Today’s weather was too cold to even break a sweat, so there wouldn’t have been time for sweat to seep into the coat. Knowing this, Dongbaek urged Zhang Rang along. Zhang Rang moved his feet, laughing at Dongbaek’s urging.
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
With Cao Deng, who had been keeping Cao Cao in Yuzhou, now dead, everyone believed without doubt that Cao Cao would return to Luoyang immediately. However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Cao Cao expressed his intention to stay in Yuzhou for a while longer.
Of course, he hadn’t said so directly, but the fact that he had taken Lady Ding and Lady Bian as wives in Yuzhou meant exactly that.
Meanwhile, Zhang Rang frequently sought Dongbaek’s company as a drinking companion. The term “drinking companion,” however, was misleading—it only entailed Dongbaek refilling Zhang Rang’s cup and engaging him in conversation.
However, his usual drinking companions had been his concubines. As his visits to his concubines decreased and his meetings with Dongbaek increased, some perceptive people whispered that perhaps what Zhang Rang truly cherished wasn’t Geum Danyo, but Dongbaek.
“Aren’t you calling for me too often these days? If you show such obvious care for me, all your political opponents will target me now.”
“Bah! Who said I favor you so much? You’re just pouring me drinks, yet you’re getting full of yourself!”
Though he said this, his glare at Dongbaek wasn’t as fierce as before. Dongbaek grumbled while pouring a little wine into Zhang Rang’s empty cup.
“Even so, choosing me over my mother so often has some servants whispering that Zhang Rang might have fallen into male love. Allow me to congratulate you on adding such depravity to your list of indulgences.”
Taking a sip from the cup filled to a proper level with swishing wine, Zhang Rang sneered.
“I don’t know who it is, but they’re getting bold. Find out who’s saying such things. I’ll have to take out their swollen liver and make it into a side dish.”
Seeing Zhang Rang, who was already reasonably drunk and whose already scarce mercy had hit rock bottom, Dongbaek placed the wine bottle on the table. Seeing Dongbaek not pouring more, Zhang Rang glanced at them, then reached out himself to snatch the bottle and fill his own cup.
“I haven’t grown tired enough of women yet to turn to male love.”
“Ah yes, how could I forget. The whole of Luoyang knows how much Zhang Rang loves women. Perhaps you should go to your concubines’ chambers instead. Drinking too much will harm your body.”
Calling for Dongbaek frequently meant drinking frequently. Since Cao Teng’s death, Zhang Rang had been spending almost every day with alcohol.
Dongbaek clicked her tongue at this melancholic version of Zhang Rang, wondering where the loud laughter had gone that he’d shown when first hearing the news of Cao Deng’s death.
Despite being political opponents, they had faced each other growling for decades. This wasn’t mourning for Cao Deng. He would still be laughing at Cao Deng who went first. That was the kind of person Zhang Rang was.
However, he was clearly depressed by the thought that even the mighty Cao Teng couldn’t overcome age and fell like that, perhaps wondering about himself. Maybe he’d realized there was no guarantee he would live long either, when even the persistent Cao Teng had gone so suddenly.
That was probably why he’d been seeking out Dongbaek so often lately. Though an adopted son, Dongbaek was Zhang Rang’s successor. The person who would inherit Zhang Rang’s achievements and who needed to protect more firmly the wealth he had accumulated. Zhang Rang felt relatively closer to Dongbaek because Dongbaek would be the one to raise his name even higher after his death.
Dongbaek quickly snatched the wine bottle from Zhang Rang’s hand as he emptied his cup and tried to fill a new one, saying firmly.
“That’s really enough now. You’ve had too much. If you want to go to court tomorrow, you need to sleep now to avoid being tired.”
“Tsk, it’s unbecoming for a child to nag so much.”
Though Zhang Rang grumbled, he obediently rose at Dongbaek’s firm restraint. Dongbaek supported the stumbling Zhang Rang to his bed. Taking Zhang Rang’s outer garments, Dongbaek folded them neatly and placed them beside the bed. With his puffy outer clothes removed and wearing only sleepwear, Zhang Rang’s already thin body looked even more gaunt.
“Look how thin you’ve become. With all your wealth, why haven’t you taken even one proper tonic until now to end up so thin?”
“You think someone with so much money wouldn’t have taken any tonics? Everyone gets like this with age.”
Zhang Rang replied while lying down on the bed. Dongbaek responded indifferently while spreading and tucking the blanket around Zhang Rang.
“Yes, yes. Well then, I’ll turn off the light and leave.”
Dongbaek approached the candlestick. With a gentle whoosh, her breath extinguished the candle flame. Through the quietly fallen darkness, it seemed she could hear the sound of snow falling. In the darkened room, Dongbaek tried to make her way out using the faint moonlight filtering through the window.
At that moment, Zhang Rang’s barely audible whispering voice drew Dongbaek back.
“…Start preparing for the official appointment.”
A chill ran down her spine for a moment. Dongbaek looked back at Zhang Rang, wondering if she had heard wrong. But Zhang Rang said nothing more, lying like a corpse with his mouth shut. How long had he stayed like that? Though aware of Dongbaek’s presence, Zhang Rang soon began snoring softly, fast asleep.
What did I just hear? Official appointment? Was it the same official appointment I knew of…? To prepare to take up an official position?
Dongbaek’s feet refused to move, and her fingers wouldn’t so much as twitch. Zhang Rang’s words had shaken her to her core.
An official appointment for me, who’s barely turning 11? Is he serious? Unable to grasp Zhang Rang’s true intentions, Dongbaek could only stand there rooted to the spot for a while.
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
The snow that had fallen all winter melted away, and green buds sprouted to fill the tree branches. The morning sun rose over the magnificent imperial palace. Rising earlier than in winter, the sun illuminated the palace.
As always, Zhang Rang entered the palace at dawn, but waited to request an audience to match the emperor’s usual late-rising schedule.
“Your Majesty, Zhong Changshi Zhang Rang is here.”
“Oh, come in, come in.”
The emperor, later known as Emperor Ling, rose from his seat with delight at the mention of Zhang Rang. At the emperor’s response, Zhang Rang entered the room with his head bowed in respect.
Unlike usual, someone else followed Zhang Rang into the room. It was a young boy. The boy’s face wasn’t clearly visible as he too was bowing in respect. However, unusually, the boy’s hair was ash-colored. The rare light grayish-brown hair caught Emperor Ling’s interest.
Zhang Rang’s ability to read the emperor’s mind was exactly why the emperor favored him. Reading Emperor Ling’s curiosity, Zhang Rang got straight to the point without hesitation.
“I have brought a new attendant for Prince Bian. He is my adopted son, skilled in both literary and martial arts. His age is appropriate, so he should be suitable as a companion for the prince.”
At Zhang Rang’s gesture, the boy stepped forward. It was Dongbaek, looking very fitting in the formal court attire. Unlike her usual appearance with light brown hair loosely falling over her shoulders, she had neatly tied it up under an official hat, giving a more disciplined impression than usual.
“Raise your head.”
Emperor Ling stretched his neck, looking at Dongbaek with curious eyes. At the emperor’s words, Dongbaek slowly raised her head with dignity.
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
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