YCHW Ch 16

Sinpung County was said to be a place with few people, but for some reason, it was bustling. Puzzled, Yoonso soon noticed a procession ahead and let out a gasp.

A man dressed in blue ceremonial robes was leading a group carrying gift boxes, heading somewhere. The attire resembled what Wongyeong had worn during his wedding, suggesting a ceremony was taking place nearby.

The crowd was large and chaotic, and not wanting to draw attention, Yoonso prepared to dismount and walk. Hwi followed suit, dismounting as well.

“Stay on the horse. I’ll clear the way.”

“No need. This will be faster.”

It was indeed faster than pushing through the crowd on horseback, but they soon hit a blockage in front of the house where the wedding was taking place. People gathered to watch the ceremony, others hoping to snag some food, and those involved in the event mingled in a disorderly mess.

Then, the sound of musical instruments being played caught Yoonso’s ear, and he turned his head. Through the wide-open gate, he saw the groom and bride standing face-to-face. The ceremony seemed about to begin. The groom tried to suppress his emotions, but a smile lingered on his lips. Seeing them, the corners of Yoonso’s mouth lifted naturally.

In truth, this was his first time witnessing a wedding. He hadn’t been able to attend his brother Wongyeong’s wedding. With many guests coming and going to the family estate, his father had ordered him to stay in the inner quarters, not stepping out even on the wedding day, for safety’s sake.

Deeply disappointed, Yoonso had wanted to convey his congratulations, so he asked Yeondeok to call Wongyeong. Standing at the doorway, Yoonso shyly offered a gift box.

‘Hyung, congratulations. May you and your wife live happily for a hundred years.’

Inside the box were a jade ornament, bought by Yeondeok with dragon coins Yoonso had begged from his mother, and a poem with a painting he had written and drawn himself. Unable to choose or buy the gift himself, he felt regret but wanted to express his feelings this way.

Wongyeong took the box, glanced at it, and spoke indifferently.

‘Don’t even show your face tomorrow. Stay put. You can manage that, can’t you?’

As Wongyeong turned away, contempt was clear on his face, and Yoonso watched his brother’s retreating figure in a daze. He even saw Wongyeong toss the box to an approaching servant as if discarding it.

The box, polished to a shine to avoid even a speck of dust, was handed to someone else without ever being opened. It looked so pitiful.

Determined not to disappoint his brother, Yoonso resolved to stay quietly in the inner quarters. All he glimpsed was Wongyeong in his ceremonial robes passing by through the narrow gap of a closed door. Though he was the center of the wedding, Wongyeong’s reserved nature showed no outward emotion.

Then again, who knows? Perhaps he smiled brightly in front of his bride during the ceremony.

Recalling that day, Yoonso’s smile slowly faded. Emerging from his thoughts, he glanced at Hwi standing beside him.

Had Hwi been married? He seemed well past his mid-twenties but not yet thirty. Given his age, it would be natural for him to be married. Moreover, holding a significant position in a merchant guild, those around him likely wouldn’t have let him stay single.

If so, he must have had a wedding. Did he seem as indifferent as Wongyeong hyung, or did he smile like the groom here? A sudden pang stirred in Yoonso’s chest, and he furrowed his brow, blurting out a remark.

“It looks nice. To love someone freely and marry them is a great blessing.”

“Does it look like they’re freely sharing their love?”

“Isn’t it?”

Hwi looked at Yoonso with a sour expression and pointed to a stack of gift boxes.

“The boxes are large, engraved with orchids and bamboo used by scholars, looking refined, but the porters carried them lightly. Silk, millet, and valuables are often displayed for show, but what’s in those boxes is merely a few bolts of silk.”

“Oh… It seems the groom’s family isn’t well-off.”

“Yet the ceremony is overly extravagant, with the gates wide open for all to see, flaunting their status, but no food is prepared for guests. The parents’ attire is lavish but lacks refinement, typical of a nouveau riche family.”

So, the groom’s family lacked lineage or wealth, while the bride’s family had wealth but no honor.

“Even so, we don’t know if their hearts aligned to bear fruit.”

“Even if their hearts aligned, all relationships come with interests entangled.”

Yoonso mulled over Hwi’s words blankly, then frowned. Hwi wasn’t one to care much about others’ affairs or make such pointed remarks, so why was he acting this way?

“Why say such things?”

“You seemed envious. What, did I shatter your innocence?”

Yoonso couldn’t hide his incredulity and studied Hwi’s face. He didn’t know the reason, but it was a spiteful tone. Had he somehow upset Hwi? Reflecting on their earlier topic, Yoonso wondered if Hwi had been in an arranged marriage.

“My lord… Did you marry someone chosen by your family?”

“No. But in the end, I’ll likely marry someone chosen.”

Hwi’s response was calm, his usual indifference intact. He hadn’t married yet but seemed to imply he’d eventually have an arranged marriage. Yoonso nodded slowly.

Though some among the gentry looked down on commerce and merchants, someone like Hwi could surely marry a highborn lady. A bitter taste filled Yoonso’s mouth, and he brushed his tongue against the inside of his cheek.

As the wedding ceremony showed signs of concluding, the crowd began to thin. The two men pushed through and headed to the inn.

Perhaps because it was past lunchtime, the inn was relatively quiet. Waiting for the tea to cool, Yoonso reflected on his earlier conversation with Hwi.

Most people get betrothed before coming of age, and unless something unusual happens, they marry within a year or two after their coming-of-age ceremony. By that measure, Hwi was somewhat late. Was there a special reason for delaying marriage? Did “someone chosen” mean he already had a betrothed?

“Hey, want to hear some interesting news?”

“Nah, I don’t trust you anymore. Your stories are never fun.”

“This time it’s real. Keep it to yourself.”

Hwi wasn’t talkative, and Yoonso stayed silent, so the voices of the men sitting behind them carried clearly. They likely thought they were speaking softly, but their conversation came through easily.

“Recently, I heard a Yeong Chunhwa ran away.”

Yoonso nearly dropped the teacup he was lifting. Barely gripping the base tightly, he strained to hear the conversation behind him.

“A Yeong Chunhwa? How?”

“Well, I don’t know the details. They say it’s the son of a noble family. That household’s sent people to search everywhere. A friend of mine’s involved, and I heard it straight from him, so it’s certain.”

Yoonso’s lower lip trembled slightly. He covered his mouth with the teacup. The rising steam warmed his lips, but his insides turned ice-cold.

“What? Born and raised in a good family, headed to the palace where most people never set foot—what could be lacking to make him run away?”

Taking a sip of tea, Yoonso set the cup down calmly. It was something he’d expected, so there was no reason to be shocked. In fact, encountering the news later than anticipated was fortunate, wasn’t it? Comforting himself, he heard the man behind scoff.

“Probably too pampered. A spoiled young master from a noble house might feel his pride wounded at having to submit to Yongrin.”

“Hmph, it’s not like Yongrin are all men. If women threw themselves at him, he’d probably welcome it.”

“Exactly. Still, I’m curious. How great must he be for Yongrin to go crazy over him?”

The men chuckled slyly. They went on, saying a Yeong Chunhwa who forgot their duty and abandoned their role deserved death, then stood to leave. Just then, a server brought the ordered food, arranged it on the round table, and left.

Yoonso picked up his chopsticks, but his appetite was gone. He glanced at Hwi, who was sipping tea despite the food’s arrival.

With his heart pounding, Yoonso wondered and feared what Hwi was thinking. In a situation like this, he couldn’t figure out how he should react. Wouldn’t it seem odd to act oblivious after hearing such shocking news?

As anxiety spread like wildfire, he reached a point where he couldn’t hold back without saying something. Forcing a smile, Yoonso spoke.

“A Yeong Chunhwa running away. What a blasphemous act. How could such a thing happen…?”

“You’d want to run too.”

“…What?”

Hwi set down his teacup and turned to look out the window. Following his gaze, Yoonso saw nothing there.

“Being conscripted to the palace at a young age, against your will—wouldn’t you want to escape if it were you?”