“That’s our Eunhae Merchant Group’s Beijing branch over there.”
By the carriage, I heard Escort Guard Seo Wu’s voice.
We had left Shandong and returned to Beijing.
Of course, we could have gone straight to the Eunhae Merchant Group’s main branch in Hubei, but we had to wrap up our business in Beijing first.
And my parents needed a bit of rest too.
Even if traveling by carriage is comfortable, the act of traveling itself is tiring work.
“It’s pretty big.”
“Wow…”
“It’s insanely huge.”
After Captain Yong Eung–wan’s exclamation, I heard the others marveling as well.
Captain Yong had brought nearly fifty people with him.
It looked like a lot, but if you think about all the roles needed to sail a big ship, it’s actually not that many.
To operate a large vessel, you needed just as many hands.
And it’s not like we’re only going to be running one ship.
Among the people Captain Yong brought this time, there was also a sailor, the one who had talked Captain Yong into coming.
His name was Song Juk.
The moment I saw him, I was secretly startled.
Because in my previous life, he had worked as Captain Yong’s right–hand navigator.
His specialty was reading the stars.
He could read the stars to set our course and even predict the weather.
Anyway, the Eunhae Merchant Group’s sea trade was off to a smooth start right from the beginning.
“Welcome.”
When we arrived at the Beijing branch, the branch manager came out to greet us.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Thank you for your efforts.”
At our words, he clasped his fists and bowed his head.
“You’re too kind. Please, come inside.”
So we went into the Beijing branch and asked them to prepare lodgings for Captain Yong and his group.
“Deputy Merchant Lord.”
At that moment, a young woman approached me.
Lady Jaryeong – no, Lady Seohyang.
“Did you have a good trip?”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’m glad. You don’t look all that tired.”
At her question, I nodded.
A trip of this level isn’t enough to wear me out anymore.
But I really shouldn’t have nodded just now.
That was a mistake.
“In that case…”
I realized too late, but it was already too late to take it back.
“Please head over now and review and sign the piled–up documents.”
Behind Lady Seohyang, Deputy Chief Yeo Chang-ui of the Virtuous Wind Department clenched his fist, cheering with his expression.
I asked with my last shred of hope.
“Do I have to go right now?”
“Of course, it pains me that the Deputy Merchant Lord has to work the moment you get back from such a long journey, but I also think there are times when there’s simply no helping it.”
“And this is one of those times you can’t help, right?”
“Yes.”
So firm.
“Young master, you’d better go quickly.”
I looked at Palgap with a wounded expression, but…
“What can you do, sir? That’s what being the one in charge means, doesn’t it?”
I had nothing to say to that.
.
.
.
By the time I finished reviewing and approving all the backlogged paperwork, the sun had already set.
“All that’s left now is…”
The letters that had arrived in the meantime.
I went through the letters, and…
“Huh?”
There was one letter I had to read right away.
It was from the Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou.
I quickly broke the seal on the letter.
[I’ll be going to Beijing for a regular report to the Imperial Palace. I expect to arrive in the beginning of the 12th Month.]
The beginning of the 12th Month? But today is the first day of the 12th Month.
Which meant the Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou would be here any moment now. In that case…
I lifted my head and looked at Lady Seohyang.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s a letter from the Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou.”
“…!”
Lady Seohyang’s eyes widened.
“It seems he’ll be visiting soon.”
At my words, her eyes gently turned milky white.
“Then snow will be falling soon.”
Looks like she just saw a future related to this.
.
.
.
After dinner, I headed to my father’s office.
The Beijing branch also had an office prepared for the Merchant Lord.
“Father, it’s Seo-ho.”
“Come in.”
I went into my father’s office and greeted him.
“So, what is it?”
“It seems the Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou will be visiting soon.”
“The Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou…”
My father asked.
“Does Lady Seohyang know about this?”
“Yes. I told her.”
“I see.”
After thinking for a moment, my father spoke.
“There’s a place nearby where others can’t eavesdrop. Escort the Lord Commissioner there for a short outing. It would be good if you went with your deputy.”
My father’s words were full of consideration for the two of them.
.
.
.
A few days later, a letter arrived.
It said the Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou had arrived in Beijing.
I handed over the reply I had written in advance and said,
“Please, I hope the Lord Commissioner will not refuse this humble merchant’s request.”
“Yes, I will convey it as such.”
And the answer to my reply arrived that evening.
After reading it, I called for Lady Seohyang.
“Deputy Gwak.”
“Yes, Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll be meeting the Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou for a short talk. You’ll be accompanying me.”
“Understood.”
Her voice was full of excitement as she answered.
The next morning.
We took a carriage toward a nearby mountain.
More precisely, it was the foot of a mountain, with a little path leading in and a nice view – a good place for a walk.
It was also a spot my father had recommended.
As we approached, I saw soldiers standing guard around the area.
The Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou held a high rank, and on top of that, he was a member of the imperial family.
Even taking that into account, the security felt a bit over the top…
Thinking that, I glanced at Lady Seohyang beside me and then nodded.
Of course he’d want his meeting with his daughter not to be disturbed.
After getting out of the carriage, we walked toward the entrance.
“Welcome.”
“We meet again. Have you been well?”
Yeon Gyeok, the White Tiger, who was in charge of the Commissioner’s protection, greeted us.
“Yes. And the person beside you is?”
Right now Lady Seohyang was wearing a veiled hat, so Yeon Gyeok didn’t recognize her.
“My deputy. I asked in my letter for permission to bring my deputy along.”
Hearing that permission had been granted, he allowed Lady Seohyang inside.
She silently followed after me.
As we walked, I stole a glance back.
There’s no way he noticed, right?
After we walked a bit more, a pavilion came into view, and a middle–aged man was standing there.
It was the Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou.
We headed over, and I politely offered my greeting.
“This humble merchant, Eun Seo-ho, greets the Lord Commissioner.”
“Yes. It’s good to see you.”
I glanced to the side and gave a slight nod, and she lifted her veil just a little.
The Commissioner’s eyes grew red when he saw that face.
They didn’t exchange any words, but the deep feeling between father and daughter came through just fine.
Ah, now my eyes were stinging for no reason too.
“Ahem… sit down.”
“Thank you.”
We sat across from each other with a low table between us on the pavilion.
The Commissioner lifted the kettle he’d been warming over a brazier and personally poured us tea.
He hadn’t even brought in a maid, just in case.
“So, have you been doing well?”
“Yes.”
“But… a deputy?”
His gaze narrowed slightly. Looked like he’d heard what was said at the entrance.
Yikes. I have to choose my words carefully here.
“About that…”
“I was the one who asked first.”
Lady Seohyang spoke up for me from the side.
“I decided that would be the best way to dispel any suspicion around us.”
“Hmm, that makes sense.”
The Commissioner nodded, convinced.
Thank goodness.
I bowed my head slightly toward Lady Seohyang to thank her.
“Setting that aside… you look much healthier than before, so I’m relieved.”
“Is the household at peace?”
“Yes. Everything is very peaceful.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
While we sipped tea and chatted about this and that, the Commissioner spoke up.
“It’s a good place for a walk around here.”
“So I’ve heard. Have you been here before?”
He looked out into the distance as he replied.
“Back when I came to Beijing, I often walked here with my older brothers.”
“So it’s a place full of happy memories for you.”
“That too, but more than anything, it’s a place that’s hard for outsiders to approach carelessly.”
So that’s why Father recommended it.
“Well then, shall we take a little walk?”
“Yes.”
We rose from our seats and started walking along the path.
As we quietly walked down the trail…
Hm?
I felt my Qi stir in a strangely lively way…
Tap.
Something cold touched the bridge of my nose.
“Oh? It’s snow.”
“So it is. Snow is falling.”
Snow was coming down from the sky.
The first snowfall of the year.
“Lady Seohyang, it’s snowing.”
“So this… this is the snow that falls from the sky.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
The snowflakes that had been falling one by one soon began to pour down thickly.
In no time at all, the surroundings began to turn white.
It was beautiful.
Lady Seohyang happily let the falling snow wash over her entire body.
“Only now… has that child’s wish truly come true.”
“Come to think of it, her real wish was to watch snow falling from the sky.”
“That’s right.”
He took out a handkerchief and wiped away his tears.
“She may have lost her name, but… the fact she regained her health and her wish came true is all thanks to you.”
I suddenly felt awkward.
“She’ll be able to reclaim her lost name before long.”
“Even so, by then she’ll already be past the usual age for marriage.”
“…”
“Which is why… I have a request for you.”
“Sir?”
All of a sudden, I had a bad feeling…
“Please marry my daughter.”
Why are bad premonitions never wrong?
“That’s a bit too much of a joke, Lord Commissioner.”
“I’m not joking.”
His expression was firm.
But from my position, I had no choice but to try my best to persuade him.
“But there are plenty of high officials’ sons besides me. Shouldn’t you find someone whose status matches hers?”
“With that child’s current status, the best marriage she could hope for with them would be as a concubine.”
“…”
That was the reality.
Right now, she wasn’t the Commissioner’s imperial–blooded daughter, just my deputy.
“I can’t accept that. My daughter, someone’s concubine?”
“I trust you’re not trying to push that main–wife position onto me just for that.”
“Of course not.”
He nodded.
“The place of a main wife is important as well. But more important than that is what kind of man he is. From what I’ve seen, you’re more outstanding than any man I know.”
In other words, he was praising me…
How troublesome.
Right now, I’m really not in a position to get married.
I still have a goal – to take revenge on the Murim Alliance and the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
And I couldn’t drag my future wife down that harsh road for the sake of that goal.
Just then, Lady Seohyang, who had been watching the falling snow in the distance, turned to look at me.
She gave me a faint, unreadable smile.
As if she’d seen this exact troubled expression on my face before.
In a situation like this, I couldn’t very well flat–out refuse.
I let out a sigh and postponed the decision.
“I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll be waiting for a positive answer.”
The Commissioner of Land Affairs of Guizhou, Dong Hui, returned to his lodging.
There was a residence in Beijing where he could stay.
“Phew…”
He let out a relieved sigh.
His daughter was doing much better than he’d feared. That alone put his mind at ease.
Eun Seo-ho was protecting her splendidly, just as he’d asked.
He didn’t like that she was being worked as a deputy, but the reason his daughter had given herself was valid.
Anyway, when he’d asked Eun Seo-ho to marry his daughter, he had meant every word.
From what he could see, the safest place for his daughter to live was by Eun Seo-ho’s side.
So if she wasn’t to be separated from him, the best way was to be bound to him by marriage.
People would gossip about a member of the imperial clan marrying a merchant, but that was a problem for later.
Right now, his daughter was nothing more than someone from a humble family and Eun Seo-ho’s deputy.
And if his daughter could live safely and happily, what did others’ eyes matter?
He suddenly recalled his daughter, joyfully standing in the falling snow earlier.
‘I wonder if that child foresaw this too?’
There was no way to know.
“My lord, it’s Yeon Gyeok.”
At that, Commissioner Dong Hui straightened his posture and spoke.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Yeon Gyeok, who was in charge of his protection, entered.
“Did you call for me?”
“Yes. I want to push back our departure date by a few days.”
“Understood. Then when do you plan to leave?”
“Let’s delay it by about two days.”
“Yes. I will follow your order.”
.
.
.
Leaving the Commissioner’s room, Yeon Gyeok smiled.
That confirmed his guess.
The Commissioner had finished his business here, so there was no reason for him to stay any longer.
And yet he was setting aside as much as two extra days.
When Eun Seo-ho and his deputy had been heading to see the Commissioner earlier, Yeon Gyeok had seen the woman called Deputy Gwak walking and had doubted his own eyes.
Because that back was unmistakably Dong Jaryeong’s.
‘I don’t know what happened, but she wasn’t dead after all. What a relief. Truly…’
As soon as I returned to the Beijing branch, I went straight to see my father.
“So, did you meet with the Lord Commissioner without issue?”
“Yes.”
“I’m curious what you two talked about.”
At that, I picked up my teacup and took a drink.
My throat was dry.
“Oh, just this and that. And… he asked me to marry Lady Seohyang.”
“Pffft!”
–TL Notes–
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