HLCOB C49

Chapter 49

“…….”

At those words, Yuan Shao paused. To say to take control of the Yuan family of Runan was to say to become the clan head.

But Yuan Shao was an illegitimate son, not even recognized fully by his family. So to be called clan head made him laugh. He was not foolish enough to believe such empty talk.

“Yirang.”

So Yuan Shao replied,

“…Don’t you think this is a terrible joke?”

His eyes darkened, looking down on Im Jaheon. Yet Jaheon calmly asked back,

“What is a joke?”

“Hah.”

Yuan Shao murmured to Jaheon’s question.

“To say what cannot be done is possible—is that not a joke?

When there is hope, one can at least dream, but once one realizes that hope is an illusion, even dreaming becomes impossible. And to tell one who cannot even dream to have hope—”

Yuan Shao’s teeth clenched.

At that answer, Jaheon smiled lightly.

“You say it cannot be….”

Tilting his head, he asked,

“…What is the clear reason that an illegitimate son cannot become clan head?”

Jaheon nonchalantly pointed out Yuan Shao’s flaw.

“Can you answer?”

“…?”

But strangely, Yuan Shao could not reply.

“It is what people around me say, what I have learned, what I believe.”

Before him, the beautiful one was shaking the deep-rooted thoughts within Yuan Shao.

“What reason is there for it to be impossible?”

No, it was not shaking thoughts,

Jaheon was speaking aloud doubts that Yuan Shao had secretly harbored for long.

Since the day he was forcibly registered in the Runan Yuan clan, it had filled the young Yuan Shao’s mind:

Why must it not be me?

Feeling Yuan Shao’s recognition, Jaheon stepped closer and asked,

“Isn’t it you yourself who is making the reasons that an illegitimate son should not be clan head?”

At Jaheon’s words, the corner of Yuan Shao’s mouth twisted. His polished face and polite demeanor shattered.

Yuan Shao could bear no more.

“Then, what do you suggest I do?”

So much had happened since Jaheon came to Luoyang, making Yuan Shao miserable.

“I am not you.”

Why had young Yuan Shao tried to suppress that thought? He could not change the world. Though born into better circumstances than Jaheon, Yuan Shao had failed. So he could not silently listen to Jaheon.

“It is only those fit to live in this Han who must think like that.”

If only he could reach out now to silence that brash mouth. Yuan Shao clenched his fist.

Jaheon reached out his hand.

“…That is why.”

“…?”

His warm hand touched Yuan Shao’s scarred one.

The scars were from grabbing bamboo slips amid servants’ insults, and had not healed.

At that warmth, Yuan Shao slowly opened his hand.

“….”

Revealing the red fresh skin of the wounds, Jaheon said indifferently, as he wrapped the hand in a cloth,

“Yirang, you hold doubts about this Han House, do you not?”

That was a wound still open.

That imposing sight of Im Jaheon gently caring so affected Yuan Shao he had never before heard such words.

It began from the moment he gained memory.

Young Yuan Shao realized that no one welcomed his birth—not even his parents.

It was a forgotten truth.

“Yuan Feng perhaps did not even consider Yirang Yuan for appointment.”

And Jaheon reminded him of that.

“Boncho, won’t you ask?”

Thanks to that, Yuan Shao saw reality clearly, realizing how meaningless his clinging had been.

Then an old lady’s face frowned before Yuan Shao.

“Can’t you hear me now?”

It was his grandmother, the elderly matriarch of the Yuan clan.

“You seemed to grow wise since you became a lady, but why punish the servants to such a pitiful state? Many cannot even stand.”

But Yuan Shao said nothing.

“…I repent.”

Any answer would have only upset her.

“….”

At Yuan Shao’s formal response, the grandmother fidgeted with her lips before raising the cane.

“Since you made friends with eunuchs’ children, know that you have insulted our clan…”

Her rod began to fall.

Whack!

But the cane did not fall on Yuan Shao; instead it struck a female servant called along with Yuan Shao.

Thwack!

That was Yuan Shao’s punishment.

The servant took the beating without complaint, her light brown hair disheveled.

“You baseborn! Taking away Gongro’s place…”

Smashing her frustration into the servant, the grandmother struck harder.

Her words echoed as Yuan Feng entered.

“Mother.”

At his call, the flurry ceased. The grandmother looked upon her beloved son Yuan Feng and threw down the cane.

She put on her lips tightly and ordered the servants,

“Take this away and clean up.”

Bloodied, the servant was led from the room supported by others.

“What is the matter?”

Yuan Feng replied quietly,

“I came to ask Boncho’s opinion.”

“…?”

The grandmother twitched her brows.

“Boncho has not yet been taught.”

She sneered at Yuan Shao.

“You seemed to come to your senses after becoming a lady but behave arrogantly, refusing the marriage arranged by the family, did you not?”

Yet Yuan Feng could not ignore the old lady.

She was no ordinary matriarch—she had raised a cousin and put him in the clan head’s seat.

“Mother, Boncho has entered the court.”

Yuan Feng soothed the grandmother, mentioning Yuan Shu.

“We need Boncho’s help to deal with the Cao faction that spread rumors about Gongro.”

“….”

The grandmother eyed Yuan Shao long and then sneered,

“Take him away.”

With the matriarch’s approval, Yuan Shao left the room.

Upon leaving, Yuan Feng immediately asked,

“Did you meet Im Jaheon?”

The words to a son met after a long time were not a greeting, but a question.

“Yes.”

Yuan Shao answered as if used to the treatment.

“Well then, what do you think?”

“….”

“What choice should we make for the clan, given the current situation?”

Since becoming Wang Yun’s adopted son, Jaheon was the face of the Qingliu faction. There were even rumors the powerful Yingchuan Xun clan supported him. So Jaheon’s wishes were treated as Qingliu’s.

Yuan Shao chuckled bitterly.

“So you will simply exploit me.”

The situation flowing as Jaheon said amused him.

“Before I forget, there’s something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Jaheon made an offer to me.”

“Jaheon made an offer to you?”

Yuan Feng turned and looked at Yuan Shao.

“What offer?”

Usually turning his back, today Yuan Feng faced him.

“If you cooperate with the investiture of Lady He as Empress, he will recommend you to Captain of the Cavalry.”

Like addressing the heir Yuan Shu.

“To Boncho, you?”

Yuan Feng, suspecting Qingliu’s involvement in recent events, wore a puzzled look.

Though illegitimate, Yuan Shao was part of the powerful Yingnan Yuan clan. If the rumors of Qingliu spreading the news were correct, Qingliu had no reason to promote Yuan Shao as Captain of the Cavalry.

Rather, it was better to bring the Yuan clan fully under control.

“….”

The situation in court was more complex than Yuan Feng thought.

That was an opportunity.

The domain head of Yingnan Yuan was not in a position to feud openly with the Cao clan, since eunuchs had fallen from power. Yuan Feng was why Yuan Shu’s recommendation could not advance. The rumors and scandals hanging over Yuan Shu made his nomination a political expression of the Yingnan Yuan clan.

But Yuan Shao was different.

He was a longtime friend of Cao Cao.

“Yuan Feng will have no choice but to support Yirang Yuan.”

It could not be called outright hostility to the Cao clan.

“Really, will you help me rise to Captain of the Cavalry?”

“Yes.”

In short, with little knowledge of details, Yuan Feng’s move was the best option and beneficial to Yuan Shao—for asserting his presence.

“Why this?”

But Jaheon seemed to gain nothing.

“Didn’t I say?”

Thus Yuan Shao could not understand Jaheon.

“I merely want Yirang Yuan within the Yingnan Yuan clan.”

Perhaps that had been from the day they first met.