Fake Concubine 5

“Look ​at ​how ​scrawny ​he is,” and ​“You ​really ​need ​to ​eat better,” the comments ​continued. ​It was warm-hearted ​meddling. Feeling both ​grateful ​and ​embarrassed, ​Hae-min ​changed ​the subject.

“By the ​way, ​does ​this sort of ​thing happen often?”

“What? Public ​executions?”

“……Yes.”

“Oh, it ​happens occasionally. ​His Highness ​the Grand ​Prince ​kills ​any scoundrel who ​does something ​wicked on the spot.”

“It’s ​no exaggeration. He literally ​puts them to death!”

Everyone ​seemed to ​find ​it satisfying. However, Moon Hae-min felt ​a bit uneasy.

It wasn’t ​that ​he ​sympathized ​with ​the criminal. If ​one unauthorized copy[visit our site]committed ​a ​capital offense, they ​deserved ​to die. However, wasn’t it ​a problem ​to ​kill someone [stolen content]for ​a ​crime ​that ​didn’t ​necessarily warrant ​death?

‘Normally, ​a charge ​like that wouldn’t lead to a public ​execution.’

As far as ​Moon Hae-min knew, ​officials who committed corruption ​were typically ​flogged and then ​faced ​a salary cut ​or dismissal. Besides, ​wasn’t manipulating ​ledgers ​to pocket ​bribes ​a common ​occurrence? ​While it ​couldn’t ​be ​called a good ​deed, ​the reality ​was ​that ​it ​wasn’t exceptionally heinous. Yet, to publicly execute the district magistrate meant…

“His Highness the Grand Prince seems to have a very strict nature.”

Everyone agreed with Hae-min’s remark.

“Indeed, he does.”

“He never forgives those who sin. No matter how high the criminal’s status may be.”

“He is as upright as a bamboo stalk.”

Hearing this, Hae-min didn’t know why he felt a sudden chill. He wasn’t even a criminal.

However, Moon Hae-min soon realized that he was currently committing unauthorized copya crime. stolen contentPretending to be Moon Hee-yul to deceive Read on Read BL NovelsGrand Prince Byeokran—if this wasn’t a crime, what was? He was a sinner.

‘……He wouldn’t forgive me either.’

If he were caught, it would undoubtedly lead to a disaster. He could only hope that Song Seol would send ‘Moon Hee-yul’ back to Hanseong before that happened.

Today, the atmosphere at the Songdo Government Office was like walking on thin ice. This was because Grand Prince Byeokran was in an extremely foul mood.

To think that a man in the position of district magistrate would manipulate ledgers to satisfy his own greed. That act was despicable enough, but the fact that no one had noticed until things reached this point was even more irritating.

Whether there truly was no one who noticed the magistrate’s corruption, or whether they knew and kept quiet, remained to be seen. The latter was a more severe offense, but the former was no less problematic. If that were the case, it meant they were incompetent. And in Song Seol’s opinion, there was more than one such incompetent fool.

There was a complete lack of talent. Talented individuals who possessed both an upright character and outstanding skill.

No, in truth, Song Seol didn’t even hope for that much. Even if their character was somewhat lacking, it was enough if they handled their assigned duties well. Yet lately, even such people were hard to find. In particular, there were far too many officials who were dull in the study of mathematics.

What was the point of being well-versed in literature? Whenever the units of numbers grew larger, they made mistake after mistake. They were soon to exchange tribute goods as a gesture of peace with the Geumo Kingdom, and at this rate, he didn’t know if the task of verifying the quantities could be completed on time.

‘Why on earth is Songdo so full of people, yet so devoid of talent?’

As Song Seol fell into these thoughts, a wrathful Chromatic Scent leaked from him. The yang-person officials, noticing this, acted with extreme caution. Even the ordinary person officials, who could not smell the Chromatic Scent, were not devoid of intuition and remained as silent as mice.

Just then, a man’s voice drifted in through the window.

“Is it not a truly masterful hand?”

“It is. Still, calling it masterful just because it’s some miscellaneous text is a bit…”

“No, why does the content matter when the form of the calligraphy is what’s important?”

“……Is the content not important as well?”

“I told you it isn’t! This handwriting surpasses the calligraphy albums of any renowned master.”

The man raised his voice.

“Since it is said that handwriting reveals [stolen content]a person’s character, this transcriber must unauthorized copysurely possess a wonderful nature. Furthermore, do you know how [stolen content]exquisitely he writes the annotations?”

“How should I know.”

“He must be a man of deep learning. I can tell just by looking at the writing.”

As the conversation dragged on, only the innocent officials grew restless. They were busy cursing the man in their heads.

‘Yoon Seung-hyeok, that calligraphy-obsessed lunatic finally did it!’

‘What’s the point of knowing how to spot a master’s hand if he has zero tact?’

‘What if Grand Prince Byeokran becomes even more enraged because of him?’

Sure enough, Grand Prince Byeokran spoke.

“Nak-hui.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Bring Yoon Seung-hyeok here.”

“I understand.”

Grand Prince Byeokran’s adjutant, Kim Nak-hui, thought as he left the office that the Grand Prince would likely reprimand Yoon Seung-hyeok for his careless behavior. It would be an unfortunate turn of events for Yoon Seung-hyeok, but then again, why on earth would he make such a racket inside the government office?

However, Kim Nak-hui’s expectation was completely wrong. Instead of scolding Yoon Seung-hyeok, Grand Prince Byeokran abruptly asked:

“Tell me about that transcriber.”

“Your Highness is also deeply interested in masterful calligraphy!”

The somewhat tactless Yoon Seung-hyeok brightened and began his story.

“It was fifteen days ago. I happened to discover some truly exquisite writing at a rental bookstore I visited. Wanting to possess such mastery, I asked if the scroll was for sale, but they said it was not. So, out of regret, I borrowed every single book transcribed by that person.”

“Is that the book in your hand?”

“Yes. Would you like to see it?”

Yoon Seung-hyeok presented the book.

Flip. Song Seol turned the pages.

“…….”

The paper was worn, as if it had passed through many hands. However, the characters written upon it were exquisite.

Though it seemed to have been written without hesitation, it was neat and the lines were graceful. It was indeed handwriting that a calligraphy collector like Yoon Seung-hyeok would covet.

“This is not the writing of a mere transcriber.”

“He does not seem to be an ordinary person,” Yoon Seung-hyeok said, his tone becoming more serious.

“The bookstore owner said that this man teaches children how to read and write without taking a single Read on Read BL Novelspenny. Seeing stolen contentthat, he seems to have no greed for wealth, yet they say he is sharp with calculations. They say he is so good at addition and subtraction, it’s as if he has an abacus in his head.”

“…….”

“Oh, and I heard he is a beautiful man, fair as white jade, but I haven’t seen his face yet, so I don’t know for sure.”

The last piece of information was useless. Regardless, Song Seol felt an interest in the transcriber. He returned the book to Yoon Seung-hyeok and asked:

“Where is that rental bookstore?”

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

The weather was bitterly cold. He had felt it was cold when he first arrived in Songdo, but to think it could get even colder. It was a truly harsh winter.

‘Once I save up some money, I need to get some padded clothes first. Something very thick.’

Moon Hae-min did have a coat. However, it was insufficient to block the piercing wind. He felt he would only be able to survive if he wore a coat like a cotton quilt, pulled a winter cap low over his head, and wrapped a scarf around his neck.

Hae-min did the math in his head. If [Read on Read BL Novels][stolen content]he added the money he earned from transcribing to the money he [unauthorized copy]already had, he should be able to afford one set of padded clothes.

‘Though I have to pay back what I borrowed first.’

The brushes, ink, and paper he had borrowed from Song Seol remained a burden on Hae-min’s mind. Until he lifted that burden, he couldn’t buy a single pair of socks, let alone padded clothes.

“Uuuu……”

The wind gusted again. This wind was exceptionally fierce. Moon Hae-min hurried his pace and made a decision.

Even if he had to spend all of his emergency funds, he would buy the brushes, ink, and paper first and then get the padded clothes. Otherwise, he didn’t have the confidence to endure the winter, which still had a long way to go.

‘Fortunately, I’m earning a decent amount of money…’

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this was all thanks to the rental bookstore owner. Feeling grateful once again to the man who paid him generously for transcriptions, Hae-min opened the door to the bookstore.

“Hello—”

Moon Hae-min froze mid-greeting.

A rental bookstore filled with books on all sides. A space smelling of musty ink with dust floating in the air. In the center stood a man as imposing as a high minister.

It was Song Seol.

“…….”

Just as Moon Hae-min recognized Song Seol, Song Seol also recognized Moon Hae-min. Deep eyes, as if drawn with a brush, scanned Moon Hae-min.

“……Greetings, Your Highness.”

Hae-min, hurriedly composing himself, offered his greetings. Then, a voice responded from the corner.

“Y-Your Highness…?”

Turning his head to see who it was, it was none other than the bookstore owner. He had an expression that was a mix of bewilderment and fear. He likely hadn’t known that this customer was Grand Prince Byeokran.

‘I’m not sure if he came as a… customer, though.’

Hae-min had a feeling that Song Seol’s visit to the bookstore was not unrelated to himself. His body trembled just as it had when he hit the cold wind, but Moon Hae-min tried his best to ask calmly.

“Your Highness, for what reason have you come here?”

“There is someone I am looking for.”

“And who is that?”

Song Seol’s gaze shifted. Hae-min realized that he was staring at his hand—no, at the book held in his hand.

“A certain transcriber.”

“…….”

“Give it to me.”

Song Seol held out his hand. Moon Hae-min stared silently visit our siteat the large hand revealed between [unauthorized copy]unauthorized copythe folds of the deep green robe.

He didn’t want to. He really didn’t want to, but… there was no way he could refuse.

“……Here it is.”

Moon Hae-min handed over two books to Song Seol. One was borrowed from this bookstore, and the other was one he had transcribed himself.