Fake Concubine 71

“Ah! ​Come ​to ​think ​of it, I ​had ​heard ​a ​rumor ​that you took down ​a ​tiger with a ​single arrow, My ​Lord. ​I ​wasn’t ​aware ​of ​the full circumstances, ​but ​wow, ​so that’s how ​it happened. It feels ​as if ​I’m listening ​to a ​tale of ​a ​hero.”

“It ​was even more ​impressive in ​reality. It was a ​pitch-black night, and I ​couldn’t see an inch ​in front ​of ​me, yet My Lord struck the ​tiger from a great ​distance.”

“Ha, ​how ​bold. ​I ​am not that ​skilled with ​a ​bow, but even ​if ​I were an expert, I ​don’t think ​I ​could have brought ​myself ​to ​pull ​the ​bowstring in ​such ​a situation.”

“I ​feel the same.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok continued to express ​his admiration. Hae-min ​nodded along with ​him.

Thinking back, wasn’t it ​a level ​of decisiveness as ​impressive ​as the archery ​skill itself? If ​it had ​been ​him, he ​would ​have hesitated, ​fearing ​he might ​accidentally ​hit ​a person or ​needlessly ​provoke the ​tiger’s ​wrath.

Despite ​having ​achieved such a feat, Song Seol showed no sign of boasting.

“I didn’t catch it with a single arrow. It was a sword that ended its life.”

“That’s practically the same thing! The fact remains that you took down a tiger single-handedly.”

“It was possible because it was an old tiger.”

“My Lord, really, why are you so humble? In times like this, [visit our site][unauthorized copy]a little [visit our site]arrogance wouldn’t be a flaw.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok laughed heartily and gave Song Seol a light pat on the shoulder. Watching this from right in front, the hairs on Hae-min’s neck stood on end.

No matter how sociable one might be, to actually touch that blunt man… That level of friendliness was truly a formidable ability. In some sense, it even surpassed Song Seol’s decisiveness.

Regardless, he felt it was time to wrap up the small talk. Before starting the business at hand, Hae-min apologized for his previous rudeness.

“Young Master, I am sorry. Last time, I…”

“Ah, did something happen last time? I’m not quite sure.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok cut him off as soon as he started. There was no way he truly didn’t know; he was simply pretending not to. Moon Hae-min felt embarrassed yet deeply grateful for Yoon Seung-hyeok’s consideration.

On the other hand, he was curious. If it were him, he wouldn’t even want to exchange words with someone who had behaved so unsightly, so why go as far as wanting to collect his calligraphy? Perhaps if it were in the past, but Yoon Seung-hyeok hadn’t particularly seen his writing before now. He hadn’t even done any transcription this time.

Unable to overcome his curiosity, Hae-min asked cautiously.

“But how did you come to encounter my writing?”

“I saw it in some documents. Didn’t Young Master Hee-yul serve as Grand Prince Byeokran’s right hand and draft documents for a while?”

“…Right, there was such a thing.”

The past grievance resurfaced. He had been so frantically busy lately that he had completely forgotten. Moon Hae-min stole a glance at [Read on Read BL Novels]Song Seol, but the man [visit our site]continued to [stolen content]drink his tea as if nothing were wrong. He supposed one needed that level of brazenness to catch a tiger.

“So, what task would you like to entrust me with?”

“My grandfather’s seventieth birthday celebration is next month.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok spoke in a much calmer tone.

“My grandfather is the one who raised me with love in place of my parents, who passed away early. To the point where the elders around us worried that spoiling me too much would give me bad habits.”

“….”

“Since such a person is reaching his seventieth birthday, I want to give him a special gift. Therefore, I would like you, Young Master, to write a poem that my grandfather likes.”

Hae-min could not answer readily. Though the weather was still chilly, cold sweat rolled down his spine.

‘What should I do?’

He hadn’t realized it would be such an important request. If it was Yoon Seung-hyeok’s grandfather, wasn’t that Old Man Yoon, who was counted among the three wealthiest men in Songdo? Furthermore, he was famous for his hobby of collecting master calligraphers, buying any book or scroll that met his aesthetic standards regardless of the price.

To present his writing as a gift to such a man. It was true that he was quite skilled with a brush, but he didn’t know if it would be enough to satisfy Old Man Yoon.

Eventually, Moon Hae-min spoke in a troubled tone.

“You respect your grandfather very much. Your filial stolen contentpiety is truly beautiful. However… I hate to unauthorized copysay this, but would it not be better Read on Read BL Novelsto give another gift for the seventieth birthday?”

“I do plan to prepare other gifts as well… but why?”

“To be honest, I am worried that your grandfather might not find my writing to his liking, and I fear I might ruin the celebration.”

“Eh? Hahaha, you are so humble. They say couples grow to resemble each other, and it seems it’s true. You, too, could afford to be a little arrogant, Young Master.”

At the words he had brought up so seriously, Yoon Seung-hyeok burst into laughter. He even went so far as to refer to Song Seol and Moon Hae-min as a ‘couple.’

Hae-min gulped down his tea to cool his burning insides. However, the tea was lukewarm, so it had no effect. His anxiety would not fade.

“Are you truly sure? I am not a master calligrapher, but merely a scholar without even a humble government post.”

“Of course I am. Put those worries aside. My grandfather is similar to me. Or rather, in terms of sequence, I am the one who resembles my grandfather.”

“That is true.”

Song Seol, who had been silent the whole time, agreed for the first time.

“Yoon Seung-hyeok resembles my grandfather in everything from personality to taste. Therefore, if the writing is to Yoon Seung-hyeok’s liking, it will surely be to Old Man Yoon’s as well.”

“I-is that so?”

“Furthermore…”

Song Seol shifted his gaze back to his teacup. While maintaining an indifferent attitude as if he had no interest in the topic, he continued.

“Your writing is elegant. There is no reason he would dislike it simply because it is not famous.”

“….”

His face flushed hot. Was this also because he had drunk lukewarm tea? Hae-min aimlessly fiddled with his teacup.

Seeing how his heart fluttered as if he had received some grand recognition over those few words, he realized he still hadn’t come to his senses.

“Thank you for thinking well of my writing. Then, may I ask which poem your grandfather likes?”

“Of course.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok recited the poem clearly.

People love only the outward appearance of the flower

And truly fail to see how it became a flower

Only when one sees the principle of life within the flower

Can one truly see the flower as it is

“It is the ‘Song of Looking at Flowers’ (Kan-hwa-eum).”

“That is correct.”

“It seems your grandfather cherishes and loves flowers. The garden he tends himself was like a peach blossom spring.”

“Oh dear, you saw it as a peach blossom spring even though no flowers are blooming because it is winter? I must invite you again in the spring. It is even more beautiful then.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok glanced at Song Seol and quickly added.

“Please come visit with Grand Prince Byeokran.”

“I would love to.”

Hae-min replied with a smile.

He didn’t know yet how this would turn out, but he was relieved that things seemed to be unfolding smoothly so far.

Since he had taken on an important request, he decided he must complete a work that would please Yoon Seung-hyeok’s grandfather. Moon Hae-min burned with that determination.

“Whew.”

Hae-min let out a short breath. He hadn’t realized it, but he must have been holding his breath [stolen content]while [stolen content]writing. This often happened stolen contentwhen he focused intensely on something.

‘It’s done.’

Looking down at the paper, Hae-min wore a satisfied smile. As a piece written with more sincerity than any other, he could proudly say it was more beautiful than ever. He even felt that Old Man Yoon would be satisfied. Though he could never easily utter such thoughts aloud.

“Is it finished?”

A low voice drifted from the doorway. It was Song Seol.

Moon Hae-min wasn’t surprised. Since the request from Yoon Seung-hyeok, Song Seol often visited like this to watch Hae-min write. He suspected Song Seol was monitoring him, as his own reputation would be tarnished if Hae-min failed to do the job properly.

“Yes, it is finished.”

At that answer, Song Seol stepped into the room. The door had been left open to ventilate because the weather was nice, but Hae-min regretted it, thinking he should have kept it closed if he had known an uninvited guest would come.

Since Song Seol was standing and he was sitting, the already existing difference in their eye levels widened further. The gaze that felt as if it were looking down from the heavens was burdensome, but Hae-min intentionally ignored it and focused on his task.

“You’re about to press the seal.”

“…Yes.”

Moon Hae-min picked up the seal. It was a seal he had specially commissioned for this work. After applying the cinnabar ink and pressing it firmly onto the paper, three characters were neatly engraved.

Moon Hee-yul.

Seeing that name, a part of his heart trembled. He felt a bit—no, quite—upset. Hae-min harshly scolded himself for that feeling.

‘To still be dreaming foolish dreams.’

Even regardless of this matter, he was in a hopeless situation from the start. How could someone like him, who didn’t even have the qualification to take the civil service exam, make a name for himself in the world? Perhaps it was a relief that he could at least show off his talent in this way… probably.

Hae-min thought blankly. Song Seol looked down at him without even blinking.

“….”

The face of ‘Moon Hee-yul’ was like a thin crescent moon. It was shining, but the light was faint and pale. Just like the crescent moon on that night he had fallen off the cliff while being chased by a tiger.

Song Seol found such a Moon Hee-yul utterly absurd. It wasn’t as if someone had forced him; he was doing this by his own choice, so what was with that expression? He had accepted Yoon Seung-hyeok’s proposal, yet he had flatly rejected Song Seol’s.

Footnote:

1. A Han-si poem by Park Sang-hyeon (1629–1693), a scholar of the mid-Joseon period.