I came to ask my father-in-law for his beloved daughter, yet I must also secure permission to marry another woman.
This is quite the predicament.
Let’s do what I can. I’ll have others make the excuses, and I’ll disguise myself in a protective suit that fits my status.
I won’t make excuses. This is my responsibility.
I won’t utter any excuses myself, so I’ll present myself proudly as a man. And then I will say,
“Please give me your daughter.”
The silence was long. Not just my father-in-law, but the entire Head Family’s Hall was enveloped in a heavy stillness.
Was my father’s decision an acceptance? Or a rejection?
“…I will end this meeting.”
The words from my father-in-law were unexpected.
“Father?!”
“Ah, Dad?!”
“Hyang, you must remain in your room for a while. Reflect on this!”
To end the meeting without any decision at all. Even Miss Zhuge was taken aback and called out to my father-in-law, but his stance was firm.
“Head of Family! Are you really going to end the meeting here without saying anything?”
“Of course. Is this really the time to declare whether or not someone will be taken as a son-in-law?”
“Even so…”
How terrifying. As my father-in-law displayed his anger, even the Elders’ Council had no choice but to take a step back.
“The martial artists of the Tang Family should relax. The misunderstanding runs deep, and it seems this cannot be resolved in just a day or two.”
“If Lord Zhuge says so, then I understand.”
The Chief of the Medical Department seemed to gauge my father-in-law’s mood and responded with a retreating manner.
“Kang Yoon-ho.”
“Father…”
The gaze of my father-in-law upon me was difficult to articulate.
It seemed a blend of anger. Perhaps disappointment. Amidst that, a hint of sorrow and a lingering attachment could also be seen.
Father-in-law, please don’t hesitate and acknowledge my declaration of a harem while standing here like a man! It wasn’t the kind of look that could open his mouth.
“Today, I will end the meeting.”
With those final words, my father-in-law stood up.
—
“Well done.”
I never imagined I wouldn’t hear any sort of response.
As my father-in-law stood up and the Elders’ Council looked to the Tang Family before leaving, someone spoke to me with a tone of admiration while I remained in a daze.
“Mother?”
“It’s Master Kang!”
My mother-in-law and Miss Zhuge approached me.
“Miss Zhuge, the situation has gotten convoluted.”
“What, what should we do?! Since it has come to this, we must escape with endless love…!”
Is that plausible? I regained my composure with a smile at Miss Zhuge’s reaction.
“Mom told you not to do anything reckless.”
“Ugh!”
My mother-in-law warned Miss Zhuge and spoke to me with a gentle smile.
“Our son-in-law. You did very well. I was honestly worried about a big mess. But our son-in-law handled it splendidly.”
“In the end, I didn’t get permission.”
Ultimately, I didn’t hear either a rejection or an acceptance. A lingering, unpleasant feeling washed over me.
“Then, right here, let’s bring in another girl from another house as a wife. Did you think I would permit that?”
“Honestly, I was a little confident.”
I thought it was worth a shot, but I couldn’t hide my disappointment even with my mother-in-law’s teasing encouragement.
Does she think I am disheartened? My mother-in-law smiled and replied,
“Didn’t he say he would never allow a marriage?”
“No.”
“Or did he drive her out from the family, saying he could never bear to see her?”
“No.”
“He didn’t say it was impossible even at the moment of greatest anger. He merely said he would end the meeting.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“It means he needs time to think. Time to collect his emotions and see things clearly. For our husband to need time while desperately holding back his anger isn’t a bad sign at all.”
“Y-yeah. Master Kang, you were truly impressive. Stay strong.”
“Miss Zhuge.”
The encouragement from Miss Zhuge and my mother-in-law lifted my faltering spirits.
Right. It was shock-inducing. Even if he is my father-in-law, it isn’t something that can be decided immediately. And it’s better than a straightforward rejection.
The logic was perfect. The conduct was perfect.
My father-in-law couldn’t just reject outright. As a father of a daughter, he couldn’t approve either. He must have postponed the decision.
Let’s stay positive.
“Of course, it’s a situation where a spark could ignite at any moment. So I can’t let my guard down.”
Mother-in-law. When you say that, it feels like the renewed spirit might fall again.
“So it truly isn’t a situation to be at ease. Hmm?”
Hearing a strange noise, I looked over to see Miss Zhuge covering her mouth and making strange sounds.
“Ugh! Ughh!”
“Hyang, what are you doing?”
“I’m practicing the puking act to present before Dad as a final resort…!”
“…”
“…”
“Is, is that a no?”
“Yes, Dad. If you want to see me collapse, then go ahead.”
“I also want to return, holding hands with Miss Zhuge while being perfectly fine.”
That’s a statement that could lead to instant death. If I really said that, my father-in-law might shout for me to split in half.
“Ugh, ughh!”
Of course, that might not be a bad idea for a last resort in a critical moment.
“Why are the both of you just standing there?!”
Father-in-law. Are you still here? I heard my father’s angry voice coming from the door.
“Ah! I guess I really have to go and be scolded for a bit.”
“Mother-in-law.”
“I’ll go calm him down from the side. Trust me. Let’s go, Hyang.”
“Master Kang! I’m grounded, so please don’t worry. I’ll find a way to escape somehow!”
Miss Zhuge. Grounding is for reflection. There’s no need to clench your fists with resolve to escape.
“This kid again! Son-in-law. Don’t just worry about everything. I’m happy I got to see a new side of you today. Let’s talk more next time.”
—
“Well, I survived!”
In any case, I got through the major crisis. My father-in-law needed time to think, and I have my mother-in-law as reinforcement.
As soon as I returned to the lodging, I collapsed onto the bed, letting go of all tension.
“Honestly, you’re not a dull guy to have around.”
“Gil-san…”
Turning my head, I saw Gil-san, chewing on squid and staring at me.
“What kind of madman comes to ask for marriage permission while hiding another fiancée? Especially at the Zhuge Family?”
“…”
“Surviving is quite impressive.”
“I’m just glad I wasn’t thrown out.”
Thinking back, my mother-in-law was indeed right. It worked out quite well considering my father-in-law didn’t shout “Get out of my house, Tang scum!!!”
“That’s enough. Why the long face?”
“Then why wouldn’t I be worried?”
“Our Tang Family young master seems to worry about trivial matters.”
I was wondering when he would mention it. When Gil-san brought up today’s discovery, I adjusted my expression and sat on the bed.
“…I am Kang Yoon-ho. The Black-haired Kang Yoon-ho.”
A man with many stories replied, drawing a line with the past.
“So that’s even more impressive. My dad often suggests cutting ties, yet you’re the one trying to cling to him, right?”
“No…”
Gil-san. What kind of treatment do you receive at home?
“What happened? Is it hard to explain?”
Upon hearing Gil-san’s question, I looked at his face. Kang Yoon-ho is the son of the Tang Family Head. This is something I have no intention of publicizing, but Gil-san is a bit different.
The setting that I am the son of the Tang Family Head is already known to both Miss Hayeon and Miss Zhuge. There’s no need to hide it from a rival.
“Squid.”
“Hmm?”
“Give me one of those butter-grilled squids.”
“Cheap for what it’s worth as a conversation starter.”
—
“I knew something was off.”
There was no need for the story to be long. My mother is a trainee gisaeng who got involved with the young master of the Tang Family and was abandoned.
By chance, I had the opportunity to meet and confirm the misunderstanding. I returned after asking my biological father for treatment on my fiancée as a form of reparation. I summarized briefly.
“What do you mean?”
“When I first met, the martial artists of the Tang Family were incredibly angry.”
“That’s right. You did see them.”
My first meeting with Gil-san was in Yichang. The people from the Tang Family intervened because of an issue I was having. It was indeed terrifying.
“Are you planning to live your whole life without seeing your father?”
“When I heard later, I realized there was a misunderstanding. We exchanged some words, but in the end, what does it matter? We both go our separate ways.”
I answered calmly. Truthfully, we separated because it would become a big deal if the truth came out. It’s a story hard to share with anyone.
Kang Yoon-ho, the man. A man walking his own path without clinging to his father.
“Hey, our young master. Seems you’ve received quite a bit of help from the Tang Family for not such serious matters.”
“…”
I couldn’t argue against Gil-san’s sarcastic tone.
“Cough!”
“I did receive it while maintaining boundaries.”
Both at Seocheon Post Office and the things related to the Tang Family’s incognito, I did receive a fair bit of help. Admittedly, I had maintained boundaries while receiving it, though.
As I made excuses, I felt warmth rising to my face.
“Now that I think about it! Then you, you rascal!”
“What?”
“Rescuing Miss Hayeon was actually a desire stemming from a longing for maternal love due to your mother passing early and seeing your mother interwoven with your lover’s situation…!”
“What the heck are you saying?”
I saved the heroine from the original work.
“I’d like to believe it’s better than saying, ‘I wanted to help a girl who was pretty enough to make my head spin while dropping her off at the Tang Family’s door.’”
“…Let’s just say it’s because I overlapped her with my mother.”
Gil-san sure has a knack for picking his words. Yeah, that sounds like a decent excuse. I’ll have to use that later.
“Speaking of which, what are you going to do about Miss Hayeon? Certainly obtaining her permission is the immediate priority.”
“That…”
There are indeed many weddings requiring father-in-law’s permission.
My father-in-law is currently in a grave, critical dilemma, but he will surely be an incredibly open-minded person.
Surely he’ll overlook the marriage to Hwa-rin and the one already done. The issue remains with Miss Hayeon and Miss So-hee.
“What about that?”
In the end, the answer is one.
“After showing the grandkids to my father-in-law…”
“Master Hwa Hwa is unparalleled.”
That’s a plain way of saying I’m a hopeless flirt.
“Hey! Is this really the best option? How will I explain that I have another fiancée in this situation?”
Technically, there are two more!
“Thief.”
“Ugh!”
“Swindler.”
“Ughh!”
“Blessed man.”
“That seems right.”
“You’re trying to snag two women that would keep you up at night just by calling their names. Yeah, what can you do? It’s not easy to get permission once. It might be easier the second time.”
“At least five times…”
“What?!”
“No, just no.”
I’m sorry. That was a hasty remark. Just in case, I need to prepare to count with my left hand too, not just my right.
“Master Kang.”
While discussing things that happened today with Gil-san, an issue came up.
“What is it?”
“They asked to relay a letter from the Sichuan Tang Family.”
“A letter? If there’s something to say, they can just come directly.”
The people from the Tang Family also returned to their lodgings. I told them to send someone tomorrow if there was something. Did they want to meet right away?
“Actually… it’s said to be a letter from Lady Tang.”
“Who?!”
—
“I will convey that I delivered it.”
“I’ll step aside.”
I couldn’t even say goodbye to Gil-san as he left the room, only able to stare blankly at the letter.
“A letter from Hwa-rin.”
Not long after Miss Hayeon left, I wrote a letter to Hwa-rin about what had happened while taking the successor examination at Man Geum Battlefield.
I had been pushing aside the hearts of both Miss Hayeon and Miss Zhuge. But unbeknownst to me, a corner of my heart was occupied by their siege.
I promised to stay by your side until the end.
Da-seo-gak. The Joseon Person Association. Haowon. Even to Man Geum Battlefield. I had penned the circumstances and my feelings in a letter.
I wonder how Hwa-rin read it. How did she respond?
With a tense heart, I took a deep breath and tore open the envelope.
As soon as I opened Hwa-rin’s letter, what appeared were just three characters.
“I’m doomed…”
