TMTISTBH CH 20

Chapter 20

“How old are you?”

“Sixteen.”

“My goodness, only that? You’re so tall I thought you were older.”

“How is the work at Inyeondang?”

“Yes, they treat me with much consideration, so it’s manageable.”

“Sounds like the work suits you. Everyone knows there are many difficult guests among His Highness the Prince’s visitors.”

“That’s right. You’ve got a knack for handling things. No wonder the Chief Steward praised you so highly — I can see why.”

The palace staff were processing and sorting peony root, astragalus, kudzu root, licorice, angelica — medicinal herbs commonly used in prescriptions — so they could be stored long-term. It was a routine done together before the onset of winter.

Those sitting nearby first gave Inho a demonstration of how it was done. Watching his awkward but focused attempts to imitate them, one person murmured as if to themself,

“Hwalwon Palace has produced another fine-looking one.”

“Indeed. Doesn’t he rival Lord Gyeon Jaun?”

“Oh, come now, hardly. At his age he’s still young, not yet fully matured. Lord Gyeon, on the other hand, is like a peony in full bloom.”

“What shameless talk is this? To be saying such things right in front of the person?”

At the woman’s scolding, those who had been adding to the exchange scratched their heads with embarrassed expressions, mumbling excuses.

“It was a compliment, a compliment.”

It truly was a strange thing. Gyeon Jaun had a good reputation among the people. He was indeed beautiful, yet to Inho’s mind not the sort of man to inspire liking.

‘If you value your lowly life, keep your head down. Please.’

Recalling that chilling voice — which he had thought at the time was only a dream — Inho shook the thought away and lifted the basket of materials.

“But you don’t resemble your sister Seol at all. I suppose the two of you split your parents’ looks between you.”

“At this rate, our Hwalwon Palace will be first among the Twelve Palaces of Taeseong in beauty.”

“That wouldn’t be strange. His Highness himself was renowned for being both handsome and dignified during his days as a prince. If anything, it’s overdue.”

“You see? I told you so.”

“Well, I disagree. No matter how many handsome people there are, Jin-gu here will drive down the average enough to spoil it for everyone.”

“Chun-seok, you—!”

“Hahahaha! Enough bickering, get back to work, all of you. Or else we’ll be here until sunset.”

So it went — idle chatter mixed with laughter — as Inho quietly trimmed the herbs. Unlike the initial attention paid to him, once he simply focused on helping, bits and pieces of conversation began to flow to his ears. He listened without a word.

“Is it true Pungwhan Palace had a poor harvest this time? The people from there looked rather grim.”

“They tried to hide it, but such things can’t be hidden.”

“One bad harvest isn’t much of an issue. Don’t they say Pungwhan’s granaries hold enough grain for three years even without the new crop?”

“I hear the Black Wolf Troop is starting preparations for winter training. The last visitors from Gwangya Palace brought weapons.”

“Lady Seo-jeong is certainly throwing herself into it. I thought it was just a passing whim.”

“Quite so. Even if there’s no call to draw blades, it’s reassuring to have them here, don’t you think?”

“Haha, indeed. Oh, did you hear? Mistress Seon-gyeong’s daughter…”

This, then, was why Inho had dragged himself out to do day labor under the pretext of helping.

If he could not buy information, he would earn it with his own hands and ears — and the rumors flowing through people’s conversations were as quick and sprawling as expected.

By the time he had finished trimming the contents of three baskets, he had gathered far more than he had anticipated: details of the daily life of Hwalwon’s staff, the situations of other palaces, talk about Prince Eunhun and the Bun family.

From what he’d heard today, there were clearly many ways to leave Hwalwon Palace — through trade, military deployment, courier duty, and so forth. But being deep in rugged mountains and on roads to the capital that were dangerous when snow piled up, travel in and out slowed sharply in the winter.

So, he would have to wait until spring came…

“Inho, come here and help count this stock.”

The voice of a physician calling him brought him to the storage room. Within its neatly organized sections lay the processed herbs. Quill in hand, Inho followed the physician, writing down in the ledger the quantities of materials being stored. It was an easy job — so easy that, though his hands moved quickly, his mind could wander freely.

“…And this lot here makes twenty-three seok¹.”

“Yes. Is that the last of it?”

“You’re done already?”

Nodding, Inho handed over the ledger. While the physician checked it, one of the assisting attendants clapped him on the shoulder.

“I hear it’s your day off, yet here you are working — it’s a lot of trouble you’ve taken. Take some meat home with your sister tonight; we’ve boiled a whole pot of pork.”

After agreeing, Inho went to fetch Seol from where she was playing inside the Pharmaceutical Hall and headed toward Wupungwon². It seemed work had been needed not only there but in other quarters, too, judging by the massive scale of the feast Hwalwon Palace was hosting before winter set in.

“W–wow…”

Seol, eyes wide at the sight of the glistening, steaming meat, quickly remembered that she mustn’t let her eagerness show, and shut her mouth tight.

Though she was used to more plentiful meals since coming to Hwalwon, a hunk of meat that large was clearly too much temptation.

Smiling faintly, Inho patted her head before receiving two portions of food.

During the feast, Bun Seongsu and his two children visited Wupungwon as well, offering thanks and praises to the staff for their hard work. Inho watched them silently.

Bun Seo-jeong — eldest child of Bun Seongsu, captain of the Black Wolf Troop, and notably skilled in martial arts. Bold and open-handed, not petty, widely respected among the staff, and a capable leader of the Troop — though prone to letting her temper get the better of her, and seemingly uninterested in the governance of the palace.

In contrast, her sibling just a year younger, Bun Gajin, was sharp-eyed and intelligent; his gift for calculation and quick wits were things Inho valued. But his cunning was shallow — almost petty — and ill-suited to the current Hwalwon Palace.

If he’d been in Mokryeon Palace, he would have thrived far more.

Whether because he did not know how to win people’s trust, or knew but saw no need, Gajin was not the favorite here. The people of Hwalwon, enriched by medicine and herbs, preferred someone genial and similar in temperament to Prince Eunhun — like Bun Seo-jeong — over someone who would focus narrowly on swelling the storehouses.

But the seongsu Bun Seo-jeong would serve was not the current Prince Eunhun — it would be the next generation’s imperial prince. If that prince turned out to be someone like Tae Yul — a useless wastrel fit for nothing but indulgence — it could be disastrous.

The siblings had their respective strengths and weaknesses; Inho could well imagine the nature of Bun Seongsu’s worry.

He would have left before they arrived, but Seol, asking if she could have more meat, kept him seated — so he could not slip away. In the end, Bun Seongsu spotted him and approached with a friendly expression.

“I hear you helped with the day’s work. And on your rare day off, why not rest?”

“With everyone gathered preparing for winter, how could I rest alone? It’s only right to help.”

Looking satisfied at the polite answer, Bun Seongsu seemed to recall something.

“If you’re free tonight, would you look after Gasari? His Highness went to inspect the village down below and will return tomorrow. All I need is for you to check whether Gasari’s been fed — I figure he’d be more likely to eat if it’s you who gives it.”

“Yes, understood. I go to His Highness’ quarters for that?”

“That’s right.”

At the answer, Inho smiled inwardly.

To be told to go to the master’s quarters unattended — what a golden opportunity. Like setting a haunch of meat before a hungry wolf.

Apologizing silently to Gasari, who might have to wait for his supper, Inho went straight to the prince’s main audience chamber and study instead.

By the light of a single small lamp, he examined whatever came to hand — records of the palace’s finances, correspondence with other princes, plans relating to the imperial court. It was a vast amount of material, but Inho knew well the classification systems used by both the court and the palaces, allowing him to work efficiently.

An hour passed in what felt like an instant. Though far from finished, he decided that would be enough for today, and set the volume he’d been holding back in its place.

Had he felt this satisfied recently, with anything else? Probably not.

He quietly closed the door and stepped out — only for a hand to seize the back of his neck.

“My, my… you really are no better than a little rat, aren’t you?”

Footnotes:

1. Seok (석, 石) — A traditional East Asian unit of volume used for grain, approximately equivalent to 180 liters, though varying by historical period and region.

2. Wupungwon (우풍원) — Likely a hall or courtyard within Hwalwon Palace; the name suggests a pavilion or open space for gatherings.