Chapter 25
Until Dongbaek could meet Dong Zhuo in person, she couldn’t be certain of anything. As such, she didn’t want to choose the option of killing Xie right now because of that uncertainty. Variables meant danger. Since Dongbaek’s own survival was the top priority, she couldn’t put her life on the scale for Bian’s sake.
However, she couldn’t be certain if she would feel the same way five years from now. She would surely be different then. Her relationships with the two could deepen, or they could grow completely apart.
‘The latter would be fortunate, but if it’s the former…’
Dongbaek let out a regretful sigh. She shouldn’t have gotten involved. She should have refused when Zhang Rang said he would send her to the imperial palace…. But the water was already spilled, and she couldn’t have refused in the first place.
Yet she couldn’t forcibly distance herself from them either. Various intertwined benefits constrained her.
The best thing would be to think ahead about ways to save them from Dong Zhuo if necessary, although the prospect seemed overwhelming.
‘Well, is there any need to think about it now? If I grow apart from them before then, all this worry will have been pointless.’
Though Dongbaek tried to think positively, she couldn’t help but slump her shoulders at the uncertain future. What unnecessary worries these were when it was hard enough just to keep herself alive…
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Bidan walked slowly, matching Dongbaek’s footsteps.
Jao, who had been walking ahead, turned to look at Dongbaek and quickly flew over to peck at her crown with its beak.
“Why are you so down again? Are you worrying about useless things again?”
“Ouch! Hey, can you read my mind?”
“Ever think that you’re the one showing it? How obvious must your thoughts be? This won’t do. Stop thinking useless thoughts and go clear your head. Go browse some goods at the market or something.”
“You’re right… Shopping is indeed the best way to lift one’s mood.”
Dongbaek nodded at Jao’s suggestion. She needed to get out of this gloomy mood. So Dongbaek led Bidan and headed toward the market.
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Though the marketplace was usually bustling, it was particularly noisy today. People were crowded around one spot. From the center of the commotion, a clumsy attempt at speaking Han Chinese could be heard. Dongbaek stopped in his tracks and looked toward the source.
Among the people, there was a man in strange attire who clearly wasn’t from Central Plains, with a mat spread out before him. On the mat were laid out precious items: a golden elephant statue decorated with real ivory pieces, pottery adorned with sparkling jewels of various colors, and intricately woven carpets with elaborate patterns. There were also strangely curved precious swords, accessories that would appeal to women, oddly shaped jars, see-through flowing fabric, and jars containing strange-looking beans, among other things.
It seemed today was the day when precious goods from the Western Regions arrived. Even Dongbaek couldn’t help but be drawn to the items that strongly carried the essence of West Asia and India.
However, since she had Bidan with her, she couldn’t push through the crowd to get a closer look at the goods.
‘Can’t be helped.’
It would be foolish to leave Bidan behind just to look at some goods, and leading Bidan into the throng, threatening passersby, was even more foolish.
As Dongbaek turned around with regret, she caught sight of a familiar face. It was Lily, the girl who she had gifted the silk shoes.
This time, she wasn’t alone—beside her was a middle-aged woman, and behind her were two men who appeared to be guards. Unfortunately, the guards didn’t seem particularly skilled.
Though the foreign goods must have been fascinating, Lily seemed distracted, constantly glancing elsewhere. She appeared to be looking for something.
Dongbaek wasn’t the only one who spotted Lily. Jao quickly approached Dongbaek and whispered.
“That’s her from before, right?”
“Yes. She’s not alone this time.”
“Disappointed?”
“Huh? I’m relieved—why would I be disappointed? Sometimes you say such incomprehensible things… It’s good that you can speak human language, but please say things humans can understand.”
Dongbaek reprimanded Jao, but Jao just giggled, unbothered.
“But you just had that look like you wanted to go talk to her.”
Annoyed at this ridiculous teasing about getting involved with Lily, Dongbaek frowned.
“That kind of teasing isn’t funny.”
“It might not be funny to you. But it is to me!”
Jao continued to prod. Though Dongbaek was mischievous, Jao, who had lived with her, was no pushover either. With stubbornness in unexpected places, Jao continued to get under Dongbaek’s skin until the very end.
“Well then, this troublemaker will disappear for a moment!”
“Oh, this damn bird…”
Dongbaek quickly reached out to grab Jao’s tail feathers, but Jao was faster. Rising to a height just beyond Dongbaek’s reach, Jao flew off somewhere. Dumbfounded, Dongbaek muttered while watching Jao leisurely disappear.
“What on earth is that bird thinking?”
What thoughts indeed. Probably nothing special. Just excited to have found something to tease about. Dongbaek clicked her tongue and turned back to where Lily was. As it happened, Lily had also coincidentally turned her head toward Dongbaek. Their eyes met through the crowd.
Lily’s already large eyes grew even wider upon discovering Dongbaek. Her small lips parted briefly before pressing together again as she fidgeted with them. As the young girl’s still-chubby cheeks turned peach-colored, Dongbaek recalled what Jao had said before.
“Come to think of it, that little girl earlier—she’s totally smitten with you.”
At the time, she’d been too preoccupied to think about it and dismissed it as nonsense, but seeing Lily’s flushed expression now, she could tell Jao’s words weren’t entirely baseless.
Lily suddenly jumped up and hurriedly tottered toward Dongbaek. Her unexpected action startled the woman beside her and the guards, who quickly followed behind.
But Lily seemed to have eyes only for Dongbaek. She desperately pushed through the crowd as if afraid Dongbaek might leave. Naturally, it wasn’t easy for her small body to get through the crowd. Dongbaek couldn’t help but laugh softly at the sight of her, like a seashell being tossed by waves.
Finally, Lily reached Dongbaek. When she got there, she opened her mouth to say something but couldn’t get any words out, seemingly too flustered. Being considerate of Lily’s state, Dongbaek smiled slightly and spoke first.
“It’s been a while, Young Lady Dam.”
When Dongbaek spoke, Lily’s face turned even redder as she stammered:
“I-it’s been a while, Young Master So.”
“My lady, what is this sudden behavior! How can a proper young lady approach an unfamiliar man so abruptly! Haven’t I told you countless times that this is not proper!”
Just as Lily finished her greeting, her nanny, who had hurriedly followed, shouted while blocking the space between Lily and Dongbaek. The way she glared fiercely at Dongbaek suggested she was treating her like a common ruffian.
The woman’s behavior reminded Dongbaek of Housekeeper Wang at Geumhwa-dang. As Geum Dongbaek’s nanny, she would constantly nag out of concern for Geum Dongbaek.
It seems nannies are the same everywhere. Undeterred by the nanny’s wariness, she addressed Lily warmly.
“You didn’t come out alone today. That’s good.”
“Wh-what do you mean alone? My lady, c-could this young master be from that time…!”
The nanny’s eyes widened as she looked at Lily.
The Dam family treasured Lily like a precious jewel and strictly forbade her from going out. Finding this stifling, Lily had snuck out alone, and when the Dam household later discovered her absence, they were thrown into chaos. Just as they were about to gather people to search all of Luoyang, suspecting kidnapping, someone knocked on the Dam family’s gate. It was Lily, whom they had been so desperately searching for.
Everyone had jumped in alarm upon hearing that Lily had nearly met with misfortune after sneaking out. They were fortunate that an unknown young man had saved her, otherwise, the Dam household would now be filled with nothing but sorrowful cries.
Lily shyly nodded at the nanny’s wide-eyed gaze. Finally having the chance to examine the person before her, the nanny carefully looked over the youth.
He was handsome. Though his features were smooth, they weren’t so feminine as to mistake him for a woman. His light grayish-brown hair and eyes revealed that he wasn’t native to this continent. He couldn’t be from a prestigious family, as they wouldn’t randomly mix blood.
However, his posture was too dignified and elegant, and his clothes were of such fine quality that it was difficult to judge. Even the black horse whose reins he held was clearly a fine steed, evident even to the nanny who knew little about horses.
Suppressing her unease, the nanny cautiously asked,
“I thank you on behalf of my master for saving the young lady. If it’s not too presumptuous, might I ask about your family background?”
Dongbaek could easily read the nanny’s intentions. She could clearly see the nanny’s gaze sizing up her appearance to gauge her status. Was she planning to withhold proper treatment if Dongbaek’s status wasn’t high enough?
Though it was a situation that warranted anger, Dongbaek instead showed a relaxed smile. While casually stroking Silk’s back, she answered calmly.
“Though it’s not a particularly prestigious family… For now, I serve Zhong Changshi Zhang Rang as my father.”
At Dongbaek’s words, Lily’s nanny stepped back. She had heard rumors. About how Zhong Changshi Zhang Rang had taken a wife at over sixty years of age and brought along an adopted son nearly 50 years his junior.
Come to think of it, that ‘adopted son’ had distinctive features too. A youth with unusually light hair and eyes for a Central Plains person, and three tear-shaped moles lined up near his eye. The youth before her matched all the rumored characteristics.
And with the boy’s face came a reputation, his personality was said to be just as cunning and unpredictable as his adoptive father’s.
‘There’s no way someone like that would have saved the young lady out of pure goodwill! He must have an ulterior motive. Come to think of it, I’ve heard there are groups among Luoyang’s ruffians who pretend to save young ladies from danger to gain favor. He must be one of those!’
How dare this person of unknown origin, backed by a eunuch, try to get close to the Dam family’s young lady! Fire sparked in the nanny’s eyes.
As long as she had her two eyes wide open, she wouldn’t stand by and watch a wolf approach her young lady.
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Thank you for reading! ♡
