Time flows equally for everyone.
For the barbarian worrying about today’s meal and the widow living to die, time flows the same.
In a month, it will have been a year since the tragedy of the Murong Family’s wedding.
The news that Murong Sang-a had been so desperate to know had finally arrived.
“Is it about the person sent to Joseon?”
Murong Sang-a secretly ordered the Great Lord of Spear Peak to send someone to Joseon.
The purpose was to learn about the people of the Kang family involved in treason and the deceased Kang Yoon-ho.
“Yes. That news arrived a short while ago.”
The Great Lord looked at Murong Sang-a with worried eyes.
The changed lord.
He thought his lord needed to change to become the head of the family, but he did not wish for such coldness.
Almost a year has passed since that day. Why did it change this much? Now he knows the reason.
Kang Yoon-ho.
The immense guilt she felt for that rascal had changed her. No, it wasn’t just guilt. In that short time, the blazing emotions of the man and woman may have pushed her into an irreversible state.
“It’s news we’ve been waiting for a long time. Report quickly.”
The Great Lord thought, it’s better to report. Whatever shock may come from this news, it was something that the lord wanted to know.
The Great Lord opened his mouth to report.
“As known, all the men of the Kang family were executed for treason.”
The repercussions of the Kang family’s involvement in treason did not end with just the head of the family.
All the relatives were involved in the Kang family business, and the Joseon court proceeded with the logic that they all participated in the treason.
If they were not truly related but merely suggested as such, all the men of the Kang family had their heads cut off.
The extermination of the family.
What was once called the clan village of the Kang family was now a village left in ruins.
“……. What about the women of the Kang family who have become slaves?”
It was too soon to give up.
Murong Sang-a, holding back the urge to close her eyes at the dreadful results of her actions, inquired about the news of the female relatives of the Kang family.
It may not be a small atonement for their mistakes, but she wanted to care for the remaining family of that person. For that, she secretly ordered those sent to Joseon to bring back the family members of that person who had become slaves.
“There aren’t many survivors.”
“What do you mean? Didn’t the women avoid execution?”
“The Kang family has always been a family of few hands. Also, with the hardships from the family’s treason, many women with physical and mental shock chose to take their own lives rather than suffer the humiliation of becoming slaves or being dragged off to the countryside.”
“B-but surely, there must be some who survived.”
“Fortunately, the distant relatives of Master Kang Yoon-ho did not suffer much and are alive, but upon hearing that they would be served by the Murong family, they all refused to help.”
Murong Sang-a’s treachery report.
Whether the Kang family’s treason was true or false, there were no women from the Kang family willing to accept help from their enemy.
“Who are the people sent to Joseon? Talking about the Murong family’s name, do they have any sense?”
She questioned the Great Lord, who still bore the unacceptable report with a faint anger.
“I’m sorry. It was my oversight.”
Murong Sang-a suppressed her anger as she looked at the bowing Great Lord.
She was not in a position to be angry at anyone.
Everything happened because of her sin; who could she blame?
An incompetent wretch. The one above has given immeasurable grace, yet she has not even managed to care for the remaining family.
Murong Sang-a pushed back the sticky helplessness trying to devour her mind and took a moment to contemplate other ways to care for the above’s family.
“……. There must be people who owe great favors to the Kang family. Let’s establish a separate business entity in Joseon with those people, and have them rescue the women of the Kang family who have become slaves.”
If the dirty hands of a sinner are rejected, then they can help without being seen.
Surely, if those indebted to the Kang family care for the enslaved women, they will definitely treat them with utmost care.
“I will execute it right away.”
“No matter the cost, even if it takes an enormous sum of money. Do whatever it takes to bring them and take care of them thoroughly.”
It might only be trivial self-comfort.
She knew better than anyone that no amount of gold or treasure could fill the hole in the heart of a woman who lost her loved one. But that didn’t mean she could ignore the family of the above.
Even if it’s the hypocrisy of a sinner, she must do everything she can.
Murong Sang-a discussed deeply with the Great Lord how to take care of the remaining family of the above.
“Yes. Then I will do as you say.”
“You must have been told to find out one more thing from those sent to Joseon. How did that go?”
If they brought today’s news, they certainly would have brought that news as well.
The two reasons for sending someone to Joseon.
Murong Sang-a sometimes urged the Great Lord for news of those sent to Joseon.
She tried to calm her trembling heart as she feigned calmness and awaited the other story the Great Lord was about to bring up.
“Are you asking where Master Kang Yoon-ho has been buried?”
The Great Lord looked up at the lord, who was impatiently waiting for the report.
He could feel that the lord’s emotions were already disturbed by the news about the Kang family. Should he convey this news too?
“Yes, you ordered to find out where he was buried.”
Just like a strong punch might hurt less after receiving a weak one first.
The Great Lord hoped the previous news would lessen the shock for the lord as he began to speak.
“Originally, Master Kang was buried in the family grave.”
The fake corpse of Kang Yoon-ho, who died in Yodong Province, was deliberately left unembalmed as planned, so when it arrived in Joseon, it had already begun to rot.
The court official dispatched to confirm his identity wrinkled his face in disgust and merely checked to see if the face matched before permitting his burial in the family grave.
“If he was buried there, does that mean he’s not anymore?”
A sinister premonition crossed Murong Sang-a’s mind.
Her previously feigned composure began to shift to anxious eyes.
The Great Lord, unable to bear the emotions of the lord following the report, avoided her gaze and spoke.
“Recently, it’s been said that he was subjected to dismemberment.”
“D-d-dismemberment? Why would he be dismembered!”
Murong Sang-a asked the Great Lord in shock.
Dismemberment.
The punishment of digging up a grave and cutting the corpse into pieces.
Touching a corpse is a very severe punishment even in Confucian states, indicating that one must have committed a tremendous crime to be punished even after death.
Though Kang Yoon-ho should have died for treason, there should have been no reason for dismemberment.
“It’s said that the Joseon court discussed whether the punishment for the traitor Kang Yoon-ho was too lenient. Eventually, while investigating additional crimes, another charge was added, leading to the disinterment and dismemberment of the already decayed corpse.”
“What on earth kind of crime did he commit to have his corpse tampered with?”
“It’s a charge of treason. He was accused of wanting to involve foreign clans in rebellion through marriage.”
The crime of treachery, secretly plotting rebellion with another nation. It is classified as one of the ten evil crimes in Joseon, one of the worst crimes.
The Kang family was said to have instigated treason. Moreover, the man Kang Yoon-ho was accused of directly trying to involve foreign powers.
Though the Murong family received a reward for reporting the man’s treason, that did not erase Kang Yoon-ho’s crimes. He deserved punishment.
Thus concluded the crimes against Kang Yoon-ho.
In addition to the crimes of rebellion and treason, the further charge of foreign conspiracy was added.
That was why Kang Yoon-ho was subjected to dismemberment.
“I-I’m the reason, aren’t I?”
“The dismembered corpse was not collected by anyone due to fears of being implicated in treason, but one night, someone came and took the corpse away.”
The Great Lord could not affirm Murong Sang-a’s trembling words. He spoke unemotionally to finish the remaining facts.
“Even in death, even in death……. Because of me….”
Drip A value as significant as saving a woman in danger is hard to measure.
The heroic figures risking their lives for her.
In life, losing her life to the very wicked woman he was trying to save,
In death, even the pure intentions of the one above became sullied.
The grave where the deceased could find rest was uprooted, and the corpse was dismembered with no trace left.
Because of her.
Everything was indeed because of her.
Murong Sang-a’s mind momentarily faded.
“Miss! Miss! Please stay conscious! Doctor!!! Where are you!!!”
