Side Story 53. Conflict (2)

Baek Sang-ye flinched in surprise.
What was Jin Li-yeon saying right now?
Baek Sang-ye had come to sincerely respect Jin Li-yeon.
It was not that she had been brainwashed by Yu Su-rin’s words that seemed to praise Jin Li-yeon.
Having actually met and lived with her, Jin Li-yeon truly was a Martial Aunt worthy of respect.

She was wise, composed, beautiful, and strong.
She was someone suited of the title Azure Forest Peony.
Baek Sang-ye might have respected Jin Li-yeon more than anyone except So-ryu.
The same was true during the process of preparing for the cooking competition.

She was clearly worrying about more things than the trio, yet she still poured a great deal of effort into the cooking competition.
At first, she couldn’t even distinguish salt from sugar, but in the previous match, she had splendidly carried out her role as Cheongho’s assistant.
One could tell how much effort she must have put in to reach that point.

And yet that very Jin Li-yeon was giving up, saying she ‘couldn’t do it.’

“You’re better at it than I am, aren’t you?”
“……”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Baek Sang-ye.

“It seems there is no problem with changing assistants midway. I checked.”

When had she even checked that?
Certainly, among the three, Baek Sang-ye was the most skilled at cooking.
She was even better than Cheongho.

“If you help Cheongho, Cheongho will also be able to prepare for the match with an easier mind. Right?”
“Yes.”

Even Cheongho nodded.
Then Tsering joined the conversation.

“I also think we can’t lose if Senior Sister Sang-ye helps.”

Baek Sang-ye looked back at Tsering in surprise.
In the previous match, Baek Sang-ye had shown a complete mess of herself.
She had ruined her dish by flustering over whether the Eastern Depot Eunuch might recognize her.
Perhaps if that mistake had not happened, the ones who won might have been Baek Sang-ye and Tsering, not Cheongho.
Tsering was also the type to be quite competitive.
After that, a slightly awkward air had lingered between her and Tsering, yet Tsering stepped forward like this.

In that case, Baek Sang-ye had no reason to hesitate any longer.

“I’ll do it.”

The match between Cheongho and Ahim. At that time, Baek Sang-ye would help Cheongho.
Jin Li-yeon and Tsering smiled brightly.
Baek Sang-ye felt burdened, but still tried to smile.

‘Right, let’s not back down. Let’s do my best.’

At first, it had been amusement, but not anymore.
Baek Sang-ye decided to give it her all.
Then her awkward smile became a little more natural.

“What are you going to prepare for the next match?”
“Not sure.”
“Is it Martial Uncle Baek Yi-gang’s secret dish this time too?”
“Probably.”

When she asked Cheongho, he answered that way.
Cheongho also seemed to have many concerns. That seemingly emotionless Senior Brother was surely taking the cooking competition seriously too.

“I’ll go to my lodging for a moment.”

Baek Sang-ye said that.
The spices she had bought at the marketplace last time were in her room.
It seemed good to show them all to Cheongho and see where they could be used.

She returned to her lodging with lighter steps.
Seok Family Manor had many residences for retainers, befitting its reputation.
The lodgings where masters of Qinghe, renowned personages, and retired officials would have stayed were now occupied by the competition participants.
She did not know where all those retainers had gone, but Baek Sang-ye had also taken an empty lodging.

The room, decorated with luxurious furnishings, was also cleaned regularly by servants.
Baek Sang-ye’s room, when she returned, was neatly arranged as well.
On the bed, a silk blanket was folded beautifully.

And on top of it, there was something.
Baek Sang-ye froze in place.
What lay on the blanket was a letter.
Who had sent her a letter?

On the outside of the letter was written, “For Ye’s Eyes Only.”
“Ye” was Baek Sang-ye’s pet name.
And there was only one person in the world who called her by that pet name.
So-ryu. It had to be a letter sent by So-ryu.

Baek Sang-ye’s heart began pounding.
She had heard from Namgung Shin that So-ryu was here.
Had she personally written the letter and left it in this room? Why would she go through such an inconvenient act?
No, it would be more reasonable to assume that she had ordered a servant who cleaned the room to deliver the letter.

If so, it meant So-ryu was in a position where she could order a servant of Seok Family Manor to do something.
Like Namgung Shin, she might be cooperating with Seok Family Manor for some reason.
But why?
So-ryu’s mission was according to an imperial command.
The Emperor had personally sent her out to protect his daughter, so why was she not carrying out that escort duty and instead cooperating with merchants here to catch things like Crimson Fighting Fiends?
Everything was a mystery.
And to resolve those questions, there was no way but to read the letter.
Baek Sang-ye did so.

Even the handwriting was indeed So-ryu’s.
Unfortunately, the contents of the letter were not very long.
It was just like So-ryu not to share what she was doing or offer any warm greetings.

‘Leave Seok Family Manor and return to the safe Azure Forest, then wait there.’

Baek Sang-ye’s face turned white.
Return to Azure Forest?

‘Do not waste time. Move immediately after seeing this letter. Do not mind the competition. It isn’t that important. Do not reveal the detailed family circumstances. If you tell your Martial Aunt, she will understand. Azure Forest Peony is a considerate person.’

It wasn’t telling her to return after the competition ended.
It was telling her to stop everything and leave right now. It also told her not to reveal her identity as an imperial princess.
Baek Sang-ye’s hands trembled as she read the letter.
There was no way she could do that.

Did So-ryu think Baek Sang-ye would obey immediately after seeing this letter?
Of course she would.
Baek Sang-ye was someone who knew what was important. If she had been the person she was several months ago, she would have obeyed So-ryu at once.

But now, she couldn’t.
As if predicting Baek Sang-ye’s heart, the letter ended with one sentence.

‘My will shall align with Father’s will.’

An imperial command.
Could the order to leave possibly be an imperial command?
For a moment, she thought that, but it was probably not the case.
Judging by the vague wording, the Emperor likely had not seen this situation and issued an imperial edict.
But the Emperor could’ve delegated responsibility and authority to So-ryu.

“……”

Rough ripples rose in Baek Sang-ye’s heart.
Her heart shook like a leaf caught in a storm.

She was being told to abandon everything.
Was she supposed to tell the Martial Aunt, Senior Brother, and Junior Sister who trusted her?
That she could not do this, so she would return to Azure Forest first.
So farewell, everyone.

“Never, that…”

But if so, she would have to disobey So-ryu’s instructions.
Or perhaps even defy the Emperor’s will.

Creeeak.

At the sound of the door opening, Baek Sang-ye roughly hid the letter.
When she turned her head, Tsering was looking at Baek Sang-ye with a flustered expression.

“…What are you doing?”

For some reason, Tsering had followed Baek Sang-ye.
With a pale face, Baek Sang-ye looked at her Junior Sister.

Jin Li-yeon pondered.
Not long ago, her request for support from the Murim Alliance had been rejected. The Alliance had not even given her detailed information.
In that case, the only thing she could rely on was her sect.
She requested support from Azure Forest.
Her sect promised support.
And as for who that reinforcement was, it was none other than Dam Hyun.

Not long ago, a crow had flown to Jin Li-yeon’s lodging in Seok Family Manor.
A letter was tied to the crow’s ankle. It was from Dam Hyun.
Dam Hyun seemed to be staying all the way in the North Sea.
Perhaps because he had been told that Cheongho was here, excitement could be felt from the handwriting of the letter itself.
He said he would drop everything and run here to Hangzhou.
The problem was…

‘It will take at least fifteen days.’

There were fifteen days left.
Fortunately, the final was fifteen days later.
If something happened, it would probably be after the winner was decided in the final.
Even so, it would be good if he could come just a little sooner.
Dam Hyun’s martial arts did not reach the Transcendent level.
But everyone in Azure Forest knew that he was a force greater than an Absolute master.

‘Until Senior Brother arrives, I have to take responsibility for the children.’

Jin Li-yeon firmly steeled her resolve.
She quietly turned her gaze.
Cheongho was sitting in a corner, basking in the sunlight.
Under the warm sunlight, Cheongho had raised his hand into the air.
She didn’t know what he was doing, but he was slowly moving his hand, making gestures as if weaving cloth.

“Cheongho.”

When she called him, Cheongho looked back.

“Senior Brother Dam Hyun says he is coming.”
“……”
“It will probably take about fifteen days.”

At that, a smile rose to Cheongho’s lips.
It was not often that Cheongho smiled like that.
If Dam Hyun saw it, he would probably be genuinely happy.

At that moment, Jin Li-yeon’s developed hearing caught the sound of a commotion.
It was from the direction of Baek Sang-ye’s room.
Tsering had gone there a little while ago, so what was happening?

“…I hear something.”

Cheongho had already risen from his seat.
Tsering and Baek Sang-ye’s voices could be faintly heard.
It even seemed as though they were shouting.

“Let’s go.”

Jin Li-yeon said that, and Cheongho followed.
The closer they got, the clearer the sounds became. They were clearly arguing.
When they opened the door and entered, Tsering was fuming with anger.

“That is too irresponsible!”
“…I said I can’t do it.”

Tsering glared at Baek Sang-ye, and Baek Sang-ye glared back with a deathly pale face.
The two often bickered, but this was the first time they had fought this seriously.

“Why are you suddenly acting like this now? You’ve been a little strange since the day before yesterday, Senior Sister. Did you know that?”
“Who are you to say whether I am strange or not?”
“Why are you talking like that?”
“You are the one being presumptuous.”
“…Ha!”

Tsering looked back at Jin Li-yeon and Cheongho.

“Senior Sister says she can’t be Senior Brother Cheongho’s assistant.”

Jin Li-yeon looked at Baek Sang-ye.
When their eyes met, Baek Sang-ye hesitated, then spoke.

“I don’t think I can do it. Please continue doing it, Martial Aunt.”
“……”

Jin Li-yeon quietly gazed at Baek Sang-ye.
Baek Sang-ye tried to meet her gaze steadfastly, but soon quietly avoided her eyes.
Seeing that, Jin Li-yeon nodded.

“I understand. I will do it.”
“Martial Aunt!”

Tsering cried out as if screaming, but Jin Li-yeon was firm.

“You cannot force someone who says they cannot do it.”
“…This is really unbelievable.”

Tsering dashed out.
Cheongho quietly tried to follow her, then stopped.
Instead of stopping Tsering, Jin Li-yeon looked at Baek Sang-ye.

“I don’t know what you are thinking, but you seem unwilling to talk about it, so I won’t ask.”

As Baek Sang-ye had expected, Jin Li-yeon didn’t question her.

“But you cannot keep saying nothing forever to the people who trust you.”

Jin Li-yeon said that and gave her a faint smile.
Then she left Baek Sang-ye’s room with Cheongho.

Baek Sang-ye stood blankly in her room for a long while.

‘…What did I just do?’

Would she listen to So-ryu and run away to Azure Forest?
Or would she disobey her and help Cheongho, carrying out the mission until the end?
What she had chosen was neither.

‘This is neither one nor the other.’

She would not run away to Azure Forest, but she had decided to run to the audience seats instead of participating in the match.
It had happened because Tsering had suddenly asked.
Chattering away about what kind of theme might come up in the next match and this and that.
To that Tsering, she had ended up saying she couldn’t be the assistant.

With a pale face, Baek Sang-ye clutched her chest.
The water was already spilled.

Time passed.
Four days later.
The day of the match between Ahim and Cheongho arrived.