Chapter 407 – What’s Wrong with Her? (1)
Kkokkak
Namgoong Hye tensed up and examined Hwa Un-yeong’s face with a worried expression.
Was she about to deliver bad news with her cautious expression? Was she trembling with anxiety because she had become a mother for the first time and was holding her child?
After a moment, Hwa Un-yeong let go of Namgoong Hye’s wrist, and Namgoong Hye breathed a long sigh of relief, lightly pressing her chest.
“Sister… How is it?”
“Don’t worry. There’s nothing wrong with the mother or the baby.”
“Really? Thank goodness…”
As Namgoong Hye breathed a sigh of relief, Hwa Un-yeong stroked her swollen belly and said, “It might have surprised you a little because it’s different from other people, but it’s not a bad thing. It’s actually a good thing.”
“A good thing?”
“Yes, because…”
Knock, knock.
The conversation stopped abruptly at the sudden sound of knocking, and if Kang Yoon had seen it, he would have pointed out that knocking wasn’t done like that as the door opened immediately.
“Oh my? Was today the day Hye-a was getting her veins checked?”
“Sohyang unni, you’re here? I’m just…”
“Oh, you came because of yesterday’s conversation? Un-yeong, will you come back later?”
“No, it’s all over now. Please sit there.”
As Hwa Un-yeong pointed, Ma So-hyang, who had also become bloated like Namgoong Hye, sat on the chair, carefully supporting her belly with her hand.
“How is it? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, there’s nothing wrong.”
“Thank goodness. Actually, I was a little worried too.”
“You said it would be okay yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Is this kid a doctor? I just told you to relax.”
“If you eat a more substantial meal and take some herbal medicine to take care of your body, you’ll be fine. Namgoong So-jeo will write a prescription for you, so just make the medicine as it is.”
“Yes… But, Hwa Un-yeong unni, please feel free to speak. And I… I’m not So-jeo anymore.”
“Ah…”
Hwa Un-yeong awkwardly laughed. She realized that it was rather ridiculous to call a woman who had just given birth a So-jeo, when she herself had never even had a child.
But it was also strange to treat her like a younger sister. Hwa Un-yeong still couldn’t fully grasp the fact that she had become one of many women who lived with one husband, including these two women.
Namgoong Hye, with her elegant and fresh atmosphere, and Ma So-hyang, with her glamorous and confident atmosphere.
Compared to these two women, who could be called the most beautiful women in the world, she felt like she was a woman who was far from enough.
‘Ah, I want to see him soon…’
Chapter 407 – What’s Wrong with Her? (1)
Kkokkak
Namgoong Hye tensed up and examined Hwa Un-yeong’s face with a worried expression.
Was she about to deliver bad news with her cautious expression? Was she trembling with anxiety because she had become a mother for the first time and was holding her child?
After a moment, Hwa Un-yeong let go of Namgoong Hye’s wrist, and Namgoong Hye breathed a long sigh of relief, lightly pressing her chest.
“Sister… How is it?”
“Don’t worry. There’s nothing wrong with the mother or the baby.”
“Really? Thank goodness…”
As Namgoong Hye breathed a sigh of relief, Hwa Un-yeong stroked her swollen belly and said, “It might have surprised you a little because it’s different from other people, but it’s not a bad thing. It’s actually a good thing.”
“A good thing?”
“Yes, because…”
Knock, knock.
The conversation stopped abruptly at the sudden sound of knocking, and if Kang Yoon had seen it, he would have pointed out that knocking wasn’t done like that as the door opened immediately.
“Oh my? Was today the day Hye-a was getting her veins checked?”
“Sohyang unni, you’re here? I’m just…”
“Oh, you came because of yesterday’s conversation? Un-yeong, will you come back later?”
“No, it’s all over now. Please sit there.”
As Hwa Un-yeong pointed, Ma So-hyang, who had also become bloated like Namgoong Hye, sat on the chair, carefully supporting her belly with her hand.
“How is it? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, there’s nothing wrong.”
“Thank goodness. Actually, I was a little worried too.”
“You said it would be okay yesterday, didn’t you?”
“If you eat a more substantial meal and take some herbal medicine to take care of your body, you’ll be fine. Namgoong So-jeo will write a prescription for you, so just make the medicine as it is.”
“Yes… But, Hwa Un-yeong unni, please feel free to speak. And I… I’m not So-jeo anymore.”
“Ah…”
Hwa Un-yeong awkwardly laughed. She realized that it was rather ridiculous to call a woman who had just given birth a So-jeo, when she herself had never even had a child.
But it was also strange to treat her like a younger sister. Hwa Un-yeong still couldn’t fully grasp the fact that she had become one of many women who lived with one husband, including these two women.
Namgoong Hye, with her elegant and fresh atmosphere, and Ma So-hyang, with her glamorous and confident atmosphere.
Compared to these two women, who could be called the most beautiful women in the world, she felt like she was a woman who was far from enough.
‘Ah, I want to see him soon…’
In reality, Hwa Un-yeong was also a beauty with a mysterious charm that was not inferior to these women who had left the palace, but she felt like she could only have her husband back if he returned quickly, whom she had not seen for over a month.
Ma So-hyang didn’t know about Hwa Un-yeong’s inner thoughts, but since there was no urgent matter to press, she naturally changed the subject.
“By the way, did you hear that a letter came from Hwangbo Se-ga?”
“Hwangbo Se-ga?”
“Yes, it seems like they’re gathering people who are highly anticipated among the post-ranking index… Was it the Mu-rim Guardian? They’re gathering people to join there?”
“If they’re gathering people through Hwangbo Se-ga… It seems like Hwangbo Kang So-hyeop is in charge of the leadership.”
“Since our beloved husband has left us, it’s natural that he will take charge, right?”
It was an inevitable event, as one of the two people who were competing for the highest rank among the post-ranking index had dropped out.
“But didn’t Gagga already refuse that offer? Why did they send a letter again?”
As Namgoong Hye spoke with a skeptical expression, Ma So-hyang suddenly remembered something.
Come to think of it, didn’t Namgoong Hye already have a marriage proposal from one of Hwangbo Se-ga’s men? Although it was canceled before the first night, it was still a memory that she should have remembered, even the child in her womb was conceived at that time.
Feeling guilty for accidentally poking Namgoong Hye’s sore spot while trying to consider Hwa Un-yeong’s feelings, Ma So-hyang hesitated to speak.
“Hwangbo Se-ga… It might not be a good memory for you, right?”
“What? So-hyang unni,don’t worry about it. It’s not like I have any lingering feelings for that man.”
Namgoong Hye replied with a calm expression, but her eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions.
She remembered the man who had proposed to her, who had called her a virgin and a slut in the same breath, who had left a hickey on her neck and thrust into her roughly, making her cum multiple times.
She remembered the man who had left her alone in the morning, without even saying goodbye, and who had later sent her a letter saying that he had found someone better than her.
She remembered the man who had made her feel both pleasure and pain, who had awakened her carnal desires and left her feeling vulgar and ashamed.
But most of all, she remembered the man who had made her feel alive, who had given her a taste of forbidden pleasure and made her crave for more.
She remembered the man who had made her realize that she was not just a pretty face, but a woman with her own desires and needs.
And she wondered if she would ever meet someone like him again.
“Hye-a, are you okay?”
Ma So-hyang’s worried voice brought Namgoong Hye back to reality, and she quickly composed herself.
“I’m fine. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
“I see. Well, if you don’t want to join Hwangbo Se-ga, you don’t have to. But if you change your mind, let me know. I have some connections there.”
“Thank you, So-hyang unni. I’ll keep that in mind.”
As the three women chatted about various topics, Hwa Un-yeong couldn’t help but feel a sense of envy and longing.
She envied Namgoong Hye and Ma So-hyang for their beauty and confidence, for their ability to attract men and hold their own in a world dominated by men.
She longed for a man who would love her for who she was, who would see her as more than just a vessel for his pleasure, who would make her feel like a woman and not just a wife.
But most of all, she longed for a man who would come back to her, who would hold her in his arms and tell her that he missed her, who would make her feel like she was the only woman in the world.
And she wondered if she would ever find such a man.
“Ah…!”
Nam Gung-hye quickly realized what Ma So-hyang had misunderstood and clapped her hands.
“No, I’m not thinking about anything. It’s okay, unni.”
“So…? But your expression earlier…”
“It’s okay.”
Nam Gung-hye smiled widely and raised her head.
Although she couldn’t understand why Ma So-hyang was so sharp with Paeng Yeon-hwa or Jeon Ga-ryeong, Nam Gung-hye didn’t think badly of her because Ma So-hyang was generally considerate.
Besides, in fact, there was someone who came to mind before Hwang Bo-sega and Kang Yoon when Nam Gung-hye tried to connect Hwang Bo-sega and Kang Yoon, so she didn’t have a good expression.
‘If I don’t go to Hwang Bo-sega, I won’t have a chance to meet Geomsung Dae-hyeop anyway…?’
If she were caught by Geomsung after revealing her martial arts skills, she would have to worry about survival. Only Nam Gung-hye knew that Kang Yoon’s master was a bloodthirsty horse named Ijaseong, which only some women knew, so she was worried.
She heard that she could tell others that she learned it from someone else, but would a person like Cheon-woo Samjon just let it go easily? It was definitely safer not to go at all.
“Nam Gung-so… Oh, no, Hye, what happened with Hwang Bo-sega?”
When Kang Ho asked, Ma So-hyang briefly explained the situation to Hwa Un-yeong, who nodded as if she understood.
However, perhaps because it was too brief due to Hwang Bo-jun’s unfortunate accident, Hwa Un-yeong had a misunderstanding.
“If Kang So-hyeop finds Hwang Bo-sega, he might meet Hwang Bo-gang So-hyeop, who is the person involved…”
“Oh, no, not Hwang Bo-gang So-hyeop, but his younger brother, Hwang Bo-jun So-hyeop…”
“What? That’s strange. Even among the three bongs in the world, it’s rare for a younger son to get married before the eldest son.”
“Well, I’m not sure…”
Nam Gung-hye awkwardly smiled because she lacked the audacity to gild her own face in response to those words.
Ma So-hyang shook her head next to her.
“Where do children go as they please? Even Hwi-yeon is at the age to look for a marriage partner, but she says she doesn’t want to… I heard that Hwang Bo-gang is a martial arts maniac, so maybe he’s thinking of practicing during that time.”
Although it was said to be a leading marriage in the family, the main trend of the current parents’ generation was that they couldn’t push hard if the person who was supposed to get married refused because of the fear of bloodthirsty horses, which was an unproven horror, and the parents themselves couldn’t refuse a marriage that they didn’t want because of the pressure.
It was one of those cases and Ma So-hyang, who thought of her daughter, Nung Hwi-yeon, next to her, glanced at Nam Gung-hye.
‘Although there is already one precedent…’
“Why did it have to be Saekma-il who impregnated Nung Hwi-yeon, the only man who treated her differently from others?”
As a mother, Ma So-hyang wanted to hide the truth of Nung Hwi-yeon’s pain, but she had already cut off her attachment to the Hwasan faction, except for her children.
Hwasan would come looking for her, and she didn’t know when that would be, but the moment to face the truth would come.
However, the difference between Ma So-hyang and Paeng Yeon-hwa, who was already secretly worrying about something similar, was that Ma So-hyang had already learned from her son, Nung Pung-yeon, about the fact that parents couldn’t take responsibility for everything their children did.
At the time when Nung Hwi-yeon might have been interested in a man like Kang Yoon, Ma So-hyang was already deeply involved in a despicable scheme that was happening out of sight of others.
The man had claimed it wasn’t intentional, but now that Ma So-hyang was carrying his child, she couldn’t just back away.
So the choice was entirely up to Nung Hwi-yeon.
Whether she would feel disillusioned with the man and look for another healthy man, or whether the mother and daughter would accept the man as a husband, it was an unknown event, so Ma So-hyang could only wait for the outcome.
Even if another wife were added, it wouldn’t be a big problem.
“Hmm? Why are so many people gathered here? Did you call all the midwives, but the lady hasn’t heard yet?”
“Your Highness, I don’t think that’s the case.”
From the Hwang clan of Daemyeong to the Gamu of Habukpaengga.
Anyway, it was certain that they would bring in such a twisted woman somewhere, so would it make a big difference if her daughter was added to the mix?
For now, she couldn’t do anything foolish as long as she was by the side of the pregnant So-gyoju, but once she left her side, she was sure that such behavior would repeat itself.
Of course, in reality, even the So-gyoju of Magyo was not much different in front of the man, but she didn’t know about that situation.
Hmm, what is this?
I was trying to look down at the teacup where the steam was rising as naturally as possible, avoiding the gaze of the person sitting across from me.
Since arriving at the top of the Un’ga Sangdan, things had generally been going well for me.
I had taken care of Mong-a, and I had given medicine to No Hee-bang, so I would be able to take care of him soon, and Hwang Bo-hyo-seon was slow, but I could feel that she was making steady progress.
“Those weird guys from Yongun Sangdan or whatever briefly interfered and caused some trouble, but other than that, things have been going smoothly.”
But thanks to the help of Gaebang, I was able to safely wrap things up.
Plus, I even got a clue to bring down No Hee-bang by exposing his Yangsan dog and his face, so in a way, it was a blessing in disguise.
But what is this?
“So-hyeong, is there a problem with the tea?”
“Oh, no. It’s just that I’m not used to drinking tea…”
“Is that so? But it’s okay. I don’t know much about it either, so even if So-hyeong is a little clumsy, I won’t be able to tell.”
“Ha, haha…”
I was sitting across from No Hee-bang, drinking tea at an inappropriate time.
No, I hadn’t even taken a sip yet, so would it be appropriate to say that I was trying not to drink the tea?
“I didn’t originally enjoy tea, but after hearing So Gyo-ju recommend it, it’s definitely good. It soothes the mind and relieves fatigue…”
As No Hee-bang began to speak about the benefits of tea, I nodded my head, but I didn’t let my guard down.
In fact, the reason I was sipping the tea like this instead of drinking it naturally if he had recommended it earlier was because No Hee-bang’s expression was suspicious.
Every time I saw his eyes flicker with a faint madness, I felt the hair on my arms stand up.
‘Why is he acting like this?’
For the past few days, No Hee-bang had clearly been avoiding me.
It was only natural. He must have seen Mong-a and me having sex somewhere, and he had heard about the fabricated story that Mong-a had relayed.
Even if it was something that couldn’t be helped, it’s not human to not feel hesitant about it.
But today, he suddenly changed his attitude and brought me here, awkwardly urging me to drink tea, which he himself wasn’t familiar with. It made me think of one possibility.
‘Did this woman put something in the tea?’
It wouldn’t be strange for No Hee-bang to do something like that, but if he did, would he be so blatantly obvious about it? He was the leader of an information organization…
If she did suspect something and started digging, it wasn’t my style, but in the worst case scenario, I might have to subdue her by force while continuing to face off against No Hee-bang.
