“Is it all a misunderstanding?”
“Yes, part of it is true, but mostly it’s the doing of Lord Man Geum who acted unilaterally.”
There’s no need to cause more unrest due to the Tang Family.
“I’m his son. If you’re thinking of breaking off the engagement, consider it again. It was announced before everyone.”
While my father-in-law was deliberating whether to give his permission, we can’t let things get complicated with the Tang Family causing a ruckus. To clear up the misunderstanding, I explained the matters that the Chief of the Medical Department had mentioned.
“You mean to say this was done to make you the successor without seeking the Zhuge Family’s consent?”
“Well, that’s about the gist of it.”
I know it’s hard to believe. What kind of father-in-law allows his son-in-law to cohabit with his granddaughter without permission?
I nodded along with a wry smile.
“And taking your Tea Bookstore by force and making you go on a blind date?”
“As soon as they learned that Hwa-rin needed long-term care, that was the order of Lord Man Geum.”
“Is it true that the next volume of The Rise of the Tang Family hasn’t been released?”
“Since the Tea Bookstore was taken, we couldn’t publish The Rise of the Tang Family either.”
Due to the adults’ circumstances, the rights got tangled with the official release, animation, and game adaptations falling apart in a day or two.
I was also quite busy with business when I went to Wuhan, and it was only later, because of Im Ha-yeon and Miss Zhuge, that I could barely find time to write Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“And being dragged against your will to write a novel for the Zhuge Family?”
“Since I cohabited with the Zhuge Family in secret, I needed to get marriage permission, right?”
“So, in the end, is all this really Lord Man Geum’s fault?”
Exactly. I nodded.
“Jang Noya has such a peculiar personality.”
While he initially acted with good intentions towards me, he’s simply a merchant who doesn’t care about the means to achieve his goals.
“Everything was approved by the matriarch of the Zhuge Family too, right?”
“That’s…”
“So this ultimately falls on the Zhuge Family.”
The Chief of the Medical Department cut me off as if he expected this response.
“Chief, I keep telling you…”
This guy, seriously. I felt it from the moment we met. Isn’t he being a bit too stubborn?
“I understand what you’re saying. There would certainly have been misunderstandings in the Tang Family as you said.”
“Yes, that’s exactly my point. Rather than the Zhuge Family’s problem, it’s a personal…”
“But that’s also your misunderstanding.”
With a stern expression, the Chief of the Medical Department told me.
“My misunderstanding?”
“Kang Yoon-ho. You’re viewing this matter too personally right now.”
“Personally?”
I’m saying it’s Lord Man Geum’s fault. It’s not a scheme by the Zhuge Family. If you want to argue, let’s go visit the patients lying in bed.
I also hope to see Jang Noya startled awake by a single poisoned dart from the Tang Family.
“You’re thinking about Lord Man Geum and Madam Jang separately, aren’t you?”
“Of course not!”
The Chief of the Medical Department shook his head.
“No. They’re different. Those two are ultimately the father-in-law of the Zhuge Family and the wife of the Zhuge Family.”
“Chief.”
Are we going to be this frustrating?
“If a blood relative of the Tang Family is killed by someone, the Tang Family won’t forget and will seek revenge. Conversely, if a blood relative of the Tang Family commits a grave error, do you think it will be considered a personal fault?”
“That’s…”
Only then did I grasp what the Chief was saying.
If it’s something done by someone of the Zhuge Family, it can’t be classified as merely a personal mistake. Especially since it involves the matriarch and the father-in-law.
“Just because someone claims ignorance, the responsibility isn’t absolved. Of course, there are ways to draw the line by cutting ties with the wrongdoer. But did the Zhuge Family do that?”
“No, they did not.”
“It’s the actions of a wife and a father-in-law. As a husband, a son-in-law, and the head of the family, the Zhuge Family implicitly acknowledged it as a familial fault.”
“….”
Now I understand why my father-in-law was hesitant to break up the meeting after much deliberation.
The Zhuge Family can’t be seen as completely innocent. Since it was actions taken by both the wife and the father-in-law, the head of the family himself must fully bear the responsibility.
Moreover, I had my own problems. I needed to buy some time.
“Because you haven’t yet established your own family, it might be a misunderstanding you can have. But once you become a member of the family, you’ll understand what it means to take responsibility.”
“Don’t suggest that we sneak back to the Tang Family.”
“Ho ho. You caught on, huh?”
Finally, the hard expression on the Chief’s face softened into a gentle smile as he watched me with pride.
“Does it really need to be about family versus family?”
If the issues between the Zhuge Family and Sichuan Tang Family escalate, it will ultimately be me who suffers. I couldn’t hide my frustration and was earnest in my expression.
“It’s an order from the Tang Family Head.”
The Chief of the Medical Department spoke to me with an unwavering attitude.
“Chief…”
“But there was another order too.”
“Huh? What order is that?”
With a smile that resembled a father’s looking at his accomplished son, the Chief opened his mouth to speak.
“Whatever happens, Kang Yoon-ho, you are our top priority.”
“….”
“Since the top priority is urging to refrain from conflict, it’s best to keep our voices down until the chaotic situation settles.”
I just got knocked down a peg.
Beyond the Chief’s expression, I could see a father’s worry for his lost son.
“Thank you.”
“I’m really glad you’re safe.”
In the end, was the purpose of the Chief and his group to ensure my well-being?
From Sichuan Province to Hubei Province. After a difficult journey, the Chief seemed to have finally relaxed and leaned back against his chair.
“While it was tough, it wasn’t entirely without reward.”
What happened after leaving the Tang Family? Im Ha-yeon, Hao-mun, the Tea Bookstore, Joseon Person Association, Miss Zhuge, the successor of Man Geum Battlefield, Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, and Zhuge Seolrok. Truly, there were countless events.
“It seems like a lot happened during this time.”
The Chief noticed my proud expression and chuckled.
“I can’t believe it either. You became friends with that guy.”
As the Tang Pae nodded towards me, I could sense that the guy listening quietly to the story was taken aback.
Gil-san, why do you look like you’re sitting on a bed of nails? Was the shock from almost getting thrashed by Tang Pae too much for you?
“That guy. He may look like that, but he’s a decent sort.”
Our Gil-san has changed.
Now Gil-san is appropriately called Gil-san_Final_Version_Really_Final_Version. He has taken quite a few mental repair punches.
He’s someone I can truly call a friend in this world. How else would I have shared my birth secret and the story about Hwa-rin with him?
As I added a few words to actively defend him, Gil-san took it as an opportunity to pound his chest.
“My brother-in-law is right. Despite my looks, I’m a real good guy. I’m almost at chicken stock level good.”
“Was that the guy who threatened Master Kang? What did you just say?!”
“Eek! I’m sorry!”
Why’s this guy trying to hide behind me? I opened my mouth, laughing bitterly.
“Gil-san, it’s not chicken stock, rather it’s beef seaweed soup level good.”
“Hey, bro! Kang Yoon-ho! No! Brother-in-law! That sounded a bit hurtful!”
What’s wrong with beef seaweed soup? It’s a rice thief when paired with some sausage and rolls.
“Let’s chat more. There must be a lot we’ve both got to say.”
The Chief chuckled at our banter and continued the conversation.
———
“Hwa-rin is…”
While I was casually talking about recent events, I cautiously opened my mouth.
“Hmm?”
“Is Hwa-rin doing okay?”
It’d be less nerve-racking than checking university acceptance results. I asked with a nervous heart.
“….”
Why is there no response?
“Um, is she really not okay?”
“When that happens again, you should write to me beforehand.”
With a face full of things to say but holding back, the Chief spoke to me.
“Huh?”
“Huuhhhh.”
The Chief let out a deep sigh. Just what happened? Tell me.
“Master Kang.”
“Is that Tang Pae?”
Turning my head, I saw Tang Pae staring at me with a troubled expression.
What on earth happened?
“Do you know the power of an enraged Poison Empress?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know what it feels like when everything you learned from the Tang Family gets negated in front of an enraged Poison Empress?”
Tang Pae murmured with a troubled and gloomy expression.
“Is Hwa-rin in trouble?”
“She tried to escape from the Tang Family. After reading your letter.”
The Chief calmly told me the whole story.
“….”
“We had to stop her.”
“Haha….”
Hwa-rin, you must be really mad.
“Are you laughing?”
“Tang Pae?”
Of course, it’s my fault too, but why do you look at me with such a scary face?
“The Tang Family has mobilized their siege tactics. Do you know what the angry lady Hwa-rin said to us?”
“What, what did she say?”
“If you step aside now, you might make it to the outhouse in time.”
“The outhouse? No way, did she use Seven Steps Poison?”
The Seven Steps Poison. A toxin that could kill within seven steps. It was a poison Hwa-rin would occasionally use on troublesome guests when she was at the Tea Bookstore.
Did she use it on the Tang Family people?
“Do you think the martial artist of the Tang Family would fall to mere Seven Steps Poison? But… but…!”
Tang Pae’s eyes began to glisten.
“Hwa-rin’s Seven Steps Poison was different.”
“No matter how much I beat the guys who went first, they wouldn’t come out.”
“What?”
“It was just a plank! Do you know how it feels when the inside and outside feel like heaven and hell? Just a little hesitation! Just a little more sense of duty! Do you know what it feels like when human dignity is trampled in an instant because of a moment’s pause?”
“Tang Pae, could it be…”
“Heuhuhuh. At this age! At my age!!!”
I really can’t believe it.
“… It was a good thing the Poison Empress showed up later.”
As I patted the back of the sorrowful Tang Pae, the Chief calmly shared the sequel.
“The Poison Empress?”
“She’s a skilled master of the Tang Family’s previous generation. She’s Hwa-rin’s teacher.”
“Oh! I think I saw that in Hwa-rin’s letter.”
Tang Pae wrote a letter to Hwa-rin on the way back to the Tang Family. I remember a response saying she had become a disciple of a famous master.
“We barely managed to calm her down and get her to come with us. If the Poison Empress hadn’t been there, the one in front of your eyes would not have been me, but an enraged Hwa-rin.”
“….”
“Heuheuh. She really wanted to see what the women who enchanted my man looked like.”
Hwa-rin, you’re not a fox. You’re more like a cat or a penguin at worst.
“Hey. Kang Yoon-ho. You almost got killed.”
I totally agreed with Gil-san’s statement.
I haven’t even seen the Poison Empress’s face yet.
Thank you so much.
“Kang Yoon-ho had a meeting with the martial artists of the Tang Family.”
“Already?! Then what happens now?!”
The time Kang Yoon-ho met with the Chief of the Medical Department, all the elders of the Zhuge Family gathered in the Elders’ Council, discussing matters with serious expressions.
“How would I know?!”
“In this situation, what can we say?”
“What on earth are we supposed to do about this?!”
“Everyone, say something!”
“Yeah. Speak up, without holding back!”
The reason the Elders’ Council had gathered early in the morning was for one sole purpose.
“We can’t let Ho Pil be taken by those Tang Family bastards!!!”
