TMTISTBH CH 6

Chapter 6

Five days before an esteemed guest was to arrive at Master Bae’s estate, Bae Honyoung’s close friend Kim Namwon came to Jamsongol, saying he wished to study together while staying for a few days. Master Bae and his wife, thinking simply, were overjoyed to hear that their son’s diligent friend was visiting. However, Inho knew well that his true intention was not as it seemed. He was clearly trying to establish a connection with the soon-to-arrive important guest.

Kim Namwon had also accompanied Bae Honyoung in the past when they went to take the Sogwa exam1. Thanks to Master Bae’s network, they had been able to stay comfortably in a spacious residence and received generous hospitality. Yet, only Kim Namwon passed the exam while Bae Honyoung failed, bringing about no small embarrassment.

Inho glanced at Kim Namwon, who was acting overly friendly toward Bae Honyoung. Was he always this cunning?

Having been thoroughly seasoned in the imperial court, Inho could not remember every small detail about life in Jamsongol. In any case, now that he had to serve not just one, but two people who needed to be escorted daily to Seungwon-ri, things had become tiresome—making Kim Namwon’s presence all the more unwelcome.

As he sat beside Bae Honyoung preparing the ink, Kim Namwon called out to him.

“Grind some ink for me as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

Just then, he had finished grinding ink for Bae Honyoung and was taking out another inkstone to place beside them when Kim Namwon smiled and gestured with his hand.

“Come here and grind it.”

“I’ll have it ready quickly, sir.”

“How would a mere servant like you know how much ink I prefer? I’ll determine the consistency myself, so come here and grind it beside me.”

With such insistence, Inho found no further room for refusal. He gathered the inkstick and inkstone and walked over to his side.

Despite his earlier annoyance, Kim Namwon became wordlessly focused on solving problems. Since becoming a prince, Inho had often ground ink for the Third Prince Taeseon, so he was used to it. Yet the tedious task still allowed plenty of time for idle thoughts.

Without meaning to, his eyes wandered over Kim Namwon.

His penmanship is bold and clear, but there’s hesitation in his writing—he’s not a true prodigy. As for his answers… he knows exactly what the Imperial Academy expects. Was he tipped off in advance? If he figured it out on his own, then he’s certainly shrewd.

Perhaps in small places like Jamsongol or Seungwon-ri, he might appear impressive, but he was not a particularly outstanding talent.

Losing interest, Inho turned his gaze back to the inkstone.

“It’s done.”

When he placed the ink down, Kim Namwon glanced over and looked satisfied.

“Very good. Do you know how to write poetry?”

“I do not.”

“I thought you seemed capable when I saw you writing before. Can you only copy? Shall I teach you?”

“No need, sir. How could I dare take up the valuable study time of a young master like yourself?”

Inho hid his icy gaze beneath his lowered eyelashes as he replied.

While he stood there silently, enduring the openly fixed gaze on his face, Bae Honyoung suddenly shouted from behind with irritation.

“Inho! My ink’s all used up!”

“Go on to Honyoung,” said Kim Namwon, patting his arm with a strangely lingering touch.

Kim Namwon… this man…

Even after turning away, the unpleasant feeling remained. Inho stood still for a while, lost in thought.

What would soon grow into bothersome and persistent harassment started as low-level lechery. Unlike before—when he had known nothing—now he had to anticipate hundreds, even thousands of possibilities from the slightest hint.

“I’ll make you my concubine.”

He couldn’t let such a thing happen again.

The moment he noticed something strange in Kim Namwon’s gaze, and even realized that Bae Honyoung wasn’t the only one, Inho began to pack his belongings. He couldn’t wait for winter—he needed to be ready to leave within a few days.

But an entirely unexpected problem arose.

“Brother! Look at this! Master Bae said I could go to the village school! I’m going to attend with Seonju—Seonju Lady—from four days from now!”

Behind Seol, who was bouncing around in excitement, stood Bae Honyoung with a proud smile on his face.

“She’s always said she wanted to learn, so I made a special request to my father.”

Inho barely managed to hold back a curse that had risen to his tongue.

What a useless thing to do…

Why was he suddenly doing things he’d never done before? It was beyond baffling. And that overbearing expression of pride made it worse.

Suppressing his rising irritation, Inho clenched his fist under his sleeve.

If Bae Honyoung had chosen Yeoseol as the person to impress, then she would also likely become the target of his rage should things not go his way after Inho escaped.

This only confirmed Inho’s suspicions, while simultaneously giving him a reason why he couldn’t flee so easily now.

…Is it fortunate that Bae Honyoung has not yet realized his own feelings?

“Why are you silent?”

“…Thank you.”

The differences in behavior from the past created variables, but none were critical—at least not yet.

Bae Honyoung had not even taken the Sogwa exam and was completely convinced he would enter the Imperial Academy. In such a state, it was unlikely he would commit to anything as reckless as taking a male concubine. Inho only had to endure in silence and wait for an opportunity to escape.

However, being summoned daily to assist with their studies and enduring Kim Namwon’s lewd remarks proved to be more revolting than he’d expected.

“Now that I look closely, your skin is remarkably fair.”

“That’s because I’ve kept him well since he was young,” Bae Honyoung replied, pointing at Inho’s hand with his chin as the boy laid out fresh paper. “He’s never done rough work, so his hands aren’t calloused at all.”

As Bae Honyoung spoke, Kim Namwon grabbed Inho’s wrist. His long eyelashes trembled slightly as he maintained a neutral expression.

The sensation of the man’s fingers tracing the inside of his wrist was like a snake slithering across his skin.

Not even in the royal palace, where decorum was strictly maintained, had Inho experienced such direct advances.

“Please let go.”

“There’s ink on the inside of your wrist.”

An unpleasant side of Inho’s personality threatened to rear its head.

He wanted to slap the man right across the face, but reminded himself—once again—that for now, doing nothing was the wisest course. Bowing was the best strategy.

“I must have gotten it on me while transcribing before dawn today… I’ll go clean it off now, so please release me.”

As soon as the grip on his wrist loosened, Inho quietly stepped back. Kim Namwon, watching him with amused interest, turned to Bae Honyoung.

“He still does your transcriptions, does he? I envy you. If I’d known, I would’ve found a literate servant myself.”

“Haha, don’t worry. I’ll lend you my copy. Or better yet, Inho is quick with his hands. Inho, copy the remaining texts in duplicate from now on.”

“Understood.”

“Ah, it’s already this late. I’ll be heading off. Inho, wash the brushes for me.”

“Inho, take care of mine as well.”

Carrying both their brushes and inkstones, Inho headed to the well beside the study hall.

As he soaked the brushes in the water-filled basin, the ink quickly spread like a dark cloud, and he fell deep into thought.

Kim Namwon is the real problem. He’s encouraging Bae Honyoung.

The thin bamboo shaft in his hand snapped with a sharp crack.

Frustrated, he hurled the brush aside. Just then, he sensed someone’s presence behind him. Momentarily tense, thinking it might be Bae Honyoung or Kim Namwon, Inho turned to the sound of a calm, quiet voice.

“What are you doing over there?”

Seeing Myeon Yuwon approaching the well, Inho lowered his head.

“I was cleaning the brushes.”

“You mean the one broken in two over there?”

“………”

“Please, carry on.”

Myeon Yuwon didn’t leave, instead taking a seat on the steps nearby. Glancing at him briefly, Inho resumed cleaning the inkstone with a straw scrubber.

By the time most of the ink had washed away, Inho leaned the inkstone carefully to let the water drain and bent to pick up the brush lying on the dirt floor.

“Saweehyeon2 is far from here. Seungwon-ri is a small village—what brings you all the way out here?”

Apparently surprised to be questioned, Myeon Yuwon’s eyes widened.

“You’re talking to me?”

“Is there anyone else here besides the Young Master Myeon?”

“Well, that’s true. I came for my younger sibling’s treatment.”

Inho paused while attempting to piece together the broken brush and turned to look at him.

He has a younger sibling?

When he had once planned to destroy the Myeon family, Inho had investigated them thoroughly. While he hadn’t gone into the deepest secrets, he’d still known exactly how many household members there were, how much land they owned, and which noble families were closely tied to them. Myeon Hyeonseung only had two children—Myeon Yuhun and Myeon Yuwon.

“I didn’t know you had a younger sibling.”

“A much younger one. Very affectionate and cute, so our parents dote on them dearly. They love playing outdoors, but unfortunately they’ve been bedridden lately.”

Even though he was only talking about his sibling, Myeon Yuwon began speaking animatedly and answered unasked questions. He clearly adored his younger sibling—it was written all over his face.

Inho was suddenly reminded of Seol. He opened his mouth, about to ask something more, but stopped and pressed his lips together.

If a sibling who exists now is no longer alive ten years from now, the situation is obvious.

“There must’ve been a complicated reason for you to come such a long way.”

Unaware of Inho’s thoughts, Myeon Yuwon, feeling oddly comfortable around the servant, continued to speak openly.

“We tried everything back home, but there was no improvement. Recently, we came into contact with a renowned physician and brought him in. However, treatment wasn’t feasible in Saweehyeon. They said Seungwon-ri was quiet and ideal for finding medicinal herbs, so we came here. At first, I doubted it—this village seemed too small. But now I’m able to easily find herbs that were nearly impossible to get even in Sumil Palace.”

“That’s fortunate. I hope there’s improvement.”

Even though he already knew how it would end, Inho still felt a twinge of guilt saying those words.

After silently trying to reattach the broken brush, Inho finally gave up on the futile effort, packed up his things, and left the well.

Footnotes

Sogwa (소과) – The lower-level civil service examination in the Joseon Dynasty, which candidates had to pass before taking the higher-level Daegwa.

Saweehyeon (사위현) – A fictional or archaic name for a district or region, presumably more developed or noble than the rural Seungwon-ri.