“Lure Kang Yoon-ho.”
Man Geum-jeon watched his granddaughter’s flustered expression as she pondered if her grandfather had misphrased something, recalling her conversation with Kang Yoon-ho.
“Did you sleep with my granddaughter?”
If you become my one and only successor, then please take a proper look at me as a person.
After agreeing to the audacious proposal, they sipped tea for a moment. Man Geum-jeon casually asked Kang Yoon-ho, who was caught off guard.
“Excuse me? Elder?”
Nothing happened between them, apparently. Man Geum-jeon quickly deduced the answer from Kang Yoon-ho’s astonished reaction.
“I’ve been living with my granddaughter for months now, and not a single desire has arisen?”
“Elder, how can a man and woman engage in such activities without being married?”
Caught off guard by Kang Yoon-ho’s unyielding and confident expression, Man Geum-jeon found himself speechless.
“Could it be that the gossipers were right after all?”
The most beautiful woman in Hubei Province has been sleeping in the next room every day, and he hasn’t felt any desire during that time?
Of course, a relationship between a man and a woman should naturally take place after marriage. But wasn’t she a match he had to consider? If a man and woman like each other, youthful vigor can lead to unexpected accidents.
From what he had heard about the idle gossip in the mansion, it seemed there had been no significant developments. But, perhaps something had happened at night, away from prying eyes. It seemed, indeed, the gossipers were speaking the truth.
“He looks like a guy who could easily steal the hearts of five or six women, yet he behaves like a lifelong bachelor who’s never even had a romantic relationship with a woman.”
Kang Yoon-ho smiled wryly at the oddly precise number, but in Man Geum-jeon’s eyes, it looked like a wholesome young man’s shy smile.
“This won’t do.”
Wasn’t there a pair of breathtaking beauties just beside him? And both of them were interested in Kang Yoon-ho.
In a situation where they could easily cross the line in youthful exuberance, why hadn’t they done so?
“Lady Tang, is it possible that his love for that girl is genuine?”
It must surely be because of his deep love for his fiancée.
In reality, it was a problem of Hao’s issues, mutual restraint, and alliances among women. There were numerous reasons, but it was something Man Geum-jeon could not fathom.
“You must lure Kang Yoon-ho.”
Man Geum-jeon reiterated to his granddaughter as if reconfirming.
——
“Kang Yoon-ho, you must ensure that you become his first.”
This didn’t mean to cross boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed. Man Geum-jeon quickly added to dispel any potential misunderstandings.
“I’m his first, you say?”
“As you know, that kid already has a fiancée. My childhood friend’s granddaughter. Apparently, she’s in the Sichuan Tang Family now due to an illness.”
“I heard it directly from Kang Gongja.”
How surprised she had been to hear that. Je갈향 nodded in agreement.
“They safeguarded the Baekga Bookstore that almost vanished and turned it into the current Da Seok Gak. They were two people who went through the hardest times together, so it would be difficult to wedge herself in between them.”
“Yeeess… I suppose that’s true….”
Je갈향’s shoulders drooped down.
“Don’t be discouraged!”
Man Geum-jeon roared at the discouraged granddaughter.
“Excuse me? Yes, yes, yes!”
“You’re my granddaughter and the youngest daughter of the Zhuge clan! Have some confidence!”
“But Grandpa…”
“I’m not saying you must be perfect. ”
Man Geum-jeon softened his stern expression and smiled gently.
“Yeees?”
“Kang Yoon-ho. She only needs to be at a level where he decides to marry you. You must be the one who could confidently go to the Zhuge clan and boldly ask for his hand.”
Man Geum-jeon didn’t necessarily hope for her to be Kang Yoon-ho’s heart’s completely perfect first. Just that it would be enough if he could willingly decide to marry her.
“But, even Kang Gongja may find that a little hard.”
There are elders in the family, after all, and her father is waiting. It wouldn’t be easy. Je갈향 imagined the scene of walking with Kang Yoon-ho to the Zhuge clan.
“If he decides to marry you, wouldn’t he? It will be the first marriage. How could a grown man idly wait for ten years? Fill the void left by his fiancée. If Kang Yoon-ho marries you and then in ten years takes a second wife, you two will live like sisters. Wouldn’t that work?”
Infatuation for her late friend’s son-in-law. Regardless of any excuses or how much consideration she had for her friend’s granddaughter, it was selfishness and a mistake at its core.
A sense of unbearable guilt flickered at the corners of Man Geum-jeon’s eyes.
“Ten years…”
“It’s tough, but it’s something you must accomplish. Can you do it?”
They were two people who had shared difficult times and risked their lives for love. Man Geum-jeon could create the conditions for his granddaughter but could not resolve matters of love for her.
It was up to his granddaughter to work this out. He hoped that Jang Noya would be the one to melt Kang Yoon-ho’s cold heart.
“…”
Je갈향 found it hard to respond.
“Can you do this?”
“Yesss…”
Je갈향 could only nod faintly under her grandfather’s strong insistence.
——
“W-what to do?”
Lure Kang Gongja? Je갈향 returned to the mansion without Ha-yeon and rolled around on her bed.
“How can I defeat his fiancée?”
When she was in alliance with Ha-yeon, they’d have some chance, but now that she was alone, it seemed impossible. Je갈향 buried her face in the bed in distress.
“Lure Kang Gongja?”
Je갈향 recalled the things she had heard about Kang Yoon-ho. His fiancée is a bold lady. Not to mention pretty and even more endowed than Ha-yeon, they said.
She brought her hand up to her chest.
She could seem somewhat similar to Ha-yeon when standing beside her, but Ha-yeon was much taller. In reality, Ha-yeon was somewhat taller. But to be taller than that Ha-yeon that was just too much.
Meaning she wasn’t even competing in looks.
“Hey, you’re my granddaughter, the youngest daughter of the Zhuge clan! Be confident.”
Her grandfather’s words echoed in Je갈향’s head as she began to spiral into despair.
He was right. She hadn’t spent her time idly.
“I’ve grown close to Kang Gongja recently. For instance, just the other day…”
“Exclusive top! Kang Gongja is the best! Exclusive is great! Thank you, Ha-yeon!”
“Not that!”
Every time she recalled, embarrassing memories stubbornly resurfaced. In her haste to recall, Je갈향 even remembered the first meeting she had with Kang Yoon-ho.
“What was with that box…?”
“Could you please step aside?”
“Starting out completely… I flopped!”
That first encounter had been with a box. Looking back, it was clear that she hadn’t even begun to exude the vibes of seduction.
Did she possess any feminine charm? In fact, she was probably failing in every aspect. Despair enveloped Je갈향 as she buried her head into the bed.
“Think of a woman worthy of catching Kang Gongja’s eye.”
Je갈향 shook off the despair and sat in front of her vanity.
Surely, her expressions make her seem strange, but if she maintained a blank face, she was undoubtedly a pure and pretty maiden.
Her mother also said, “Our daughter! She’s the prettiest among my daughters,” although she followed with, “But…” worrying afterward, but that wasn’t important now.
While her life had been devoid of any allure, she had begun conversing with Kang Gongja. That was significant progress. She might just reach the point of finding a marriage partner.
She had to be Kang Gongja’s first marriage partner. To entice him, she would want to overflow with charm.
“Yoohoo! I’m a charming woman!”
Je갈향 fanned herself and decided to play the part of a sultry woman.
“Uhh! Kang Gongja! How about dinner tonight? Shall we have a drink after we finish our work?”
Je갈향 winked at the mirror.
“Uwoo! Ah! My waist string just… loosened!”
As she went to loosen her waist string, she was struck by her reflection in the mirror and instantly sank down, bowing her head.
“I’m just a vulgar woman!”
She gave up immediately.
In the first place, the concept of a seductive woman was too broad. Within the realm of “The Rise of the Tang Family,” the gap between Sichuan’s first beauty and Hubei’s top courtesan was huge. She needed a specific model to emulate.
After some contemplation, Je갈향 thought of one person.
“Ha-yeon!”
She seemed like the perfect role model. Hadn’t she observed Ha-yeon closely? On top of that, Ha-yeon had even managed to win Kang Gongja’s heart.
Je갈향 sprang to her feet and began her dedication.
“I am Ha-yeon! Uhh, I become Ha-yeon. I like Kang Gongja, while acting all nonchalant! Hoohoo!”
Was it a successful model? Je갈향’s gaze took on some resemblance to Im Ha-yeon’s.
“Hmmm. Just how long are you going to keep my hand waiting?”
Je갈향 stretched her hand out into thin air. It was the natural way to get a man to hold her hand. She felt as if this could actually work.
“Hmmm. Darling. I’ll sneak in like a cat tonight. So, wait for me.”
With the idea of seduction, she started reconstructing her most memorable scenes.
“Didn’t you say you formed an alliance with Miss Zhuge?”
She awkwardly mimicked a male voice, deeply engrossed in her performance.
“Hmmm. Who cares? The early bird gets the worm after all.”
Success in seduction. Perfect!
“Wow! This feels perfect! I actually think I have a knack for this…? Huh?!”
In the mirror. To be precise, it was through the open doorway reflected in the mirror that Je갈향’s eyes met the gaze of someone just outside.
“Hahaha. Miss Zhuge.”
“Wh-when did you…?!”
When Je갈향 turned her head, she saw Kang Yoon-ho awkwardly smiling.
“I came because of what happened today and because I will be introduced in front of the ladies in a few days… I’ll be on my way shortly.”
“K-Kang Gongja! What, no! That’s not what…”
Kang Yoon-ho didn’t quite understand what was happening but smiled knowingly and disappeared.
Je갈향 was deeply grateful for Kang Yoon-ho’s consideration but found the current situation tearfully ridiculous.
——
“Miss Zhuge, I’ll be going in first.”
“Yesss.”
A few days later. In a gathering of Man Geum-jeon’s daughters, who were Je갈향’s aunts, Kang Yoon-ho was to be introduced. Je갈향 arrived at Man Geum-jeon’s mansion on time with Kang Yoon-ho.
“In the end, I’ve gotten nowhere.”
For days, Je갈향 had been too embarrassed to speak properly with Kang Yoon-ho. The most she managed was to hold onto his sleeve when he walked ahead, which was her utmost courage and a testament to her unwillingness to give up.
“Who’s this? Isn’t that Hyang? What brings you here?”
“Oh, hello!”
Upon entering the gathering spot, Je갈향 was greeted by her bewildered aunts. As they approached, she sought out the location that eased her anxiety the most.
“Didn’t you just return to your hometown? It’s been a while. Huh? Who’s this?”
As her aunts watched, Je갈향 stepped behind the waistband of a man, ignoring the presence he held.
“This is Kang Yoon-ho, who’s maintaining a good relationship with Miss Zhuge.”
Since the successor had yet to appear, it was a task for the lord himself to announce. Kang Yoon-ho only offered polite greetings with a warm smile.
“What?”
“Hyang? What’s going on? Are you dating this black-haired fella?”
“Ah, well… um…”
Je갈향 was weak against being surrounded by people. Overwhelmed by the demand for explanations, she felt the tension rise, making it hard to speak up.
“Wait a minute. Don’t tell me our father called us over today for this reason?”
One of Je갈향’s aunts opened her eyes wide, staring at Kang Yoon-ho.
“Why?”
“Because she was the only one among us with no successor candidate!”
They mentioned the name of Je갈향’s mother, who wasn’t in attendance.
“What?! Then this black-haired guy?!”
“We were invited here today by Lady Man Geum-jeon. Is it alright if we take a seat?”
Kang Yoon-ho stood protectively in front of Je갈향, subtly implying he wouldn’t be receiving any reckless remarks.
“Is your father losing his mind?! How can you bring a barbarian to this setting?!”
Yet, the women’s outrage was only just beginning.
“Didn’t we tell him to get that old geezer to stay in the back and let us handle things ourselves?!”
“Is Yong-yong out of his mind? To tie a barbarian to his daughter?!”
“Aunts, please calm down!”
Suddenly facing aggression, Je갈향 trembled. Kang Yoon-ho took her situation in stride, responding gently to the hostility.
“A lowly barbarian has no business being here!”
“Cunning little barbaric brats have been lurking in Wuhan for too long!”
“My goodness! Are they really suggesting we surrender Man Geum Battlefield to this barbarian?!”
All the women gathered were wives from illustrious families. In contrast, the man before them was a lowly black-haired barbarian scraping by in society’s lower stratum.
That black-haired barbarian was audaciously eyeing their resources. Man Geum-jeon’s daughters couldn’t easily suppress their indignation.
Kang Yoon-ho seemed too much like a familiar sight to them, smiling bitterly. Meanwhile, a woman with that same expression met his gaze, her eyes wavering.
“Kang Gongja…”
He was being looked down upon. Je갈향 found herself lost for words in the rapidly escalating situation.
Her head felt hot.
Why should Kang Gongja be subjected to this scorn? Suddenly, her thoughts went blank. Her head felt too hot.
“Miss Zhuge?”
Before she knew it, Je갈향 stood in front of Kang Yoon-ho.
When had she felt this way before? Yes. She had felt similar emotions when contending with Ha-yeon over the Tang family’s position. No, this felt worlds apart.
The anger surged from the crown of her head.
She couldn’t see the embarrassment that had just been within her heart.
Her head was ablaze with white fury, while an unknown courage surged from within her chest.
“Hey!!!”
Unintentionally summoning her inner strength, Je갈향 shouted at the women who were hurling insults at Kang Gongja.
“Hyang?!”
All eyes turned to Je갈향 at once. Oh no. Just as her feelings surged, she almost let them escape, but Je갈향 balled her fists tightly and bravely spoke up.
“Kang Gongja is my match! So, that means! I think you all shouldn’t be speaking so rashly…!”
