“Ha ha. Was there ever anything about you that I didn’t know?”
Biyeong, looking down at Yeon Woo who reached just about his shoulder, noticed her delicate, button-like nose and cherry-red lips.
She had been the younger sister he had carefully cared for in place of the sibling he lost.
Until three years ago, when he left to prepare for the military exams, Yeon Woo still had baby fat on her face, appearing much like a child.
But now, the childlike Yeon Woo was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a mature and graceful young woman.
“It’s been three years, hasn’t it? You’ve become even more beautiful.”
Yeon Woo, lifting her gaze from the ground, looked up at Biyeong, who was a head taller than her.
Typically, one would imagine a rough, sunburnt skin, a large and square jaw, and a beard-covered face for a warrior.
However, Biyeong was the perfect example to shatter such stereotypes.
His skin was so fair and smooth that it seemed unbelievable for a warrior.
His jawline and nose were so sharp that it seemed as if they could glide through the air.
His red lips and deep, dark brown eyes created a harmonious warmth that could easily melt the hearts of women.
Biyeong was undeniably handsome, fitting the term perfectly.
Tall and broad-shouldered, his appearance, lineage, and gentle personality left nothing to be desired.
Unsurprisingly, many women secretly adored him, and he was well-liked by people of all ages and genders.
Yeon Woo, seeing Biyeong return even more reliable and robust, asked him.
“Brother, you’ve become even more handsome. How did the military exams go?”
Biyeong, with a sheepish smile, silently extended a talisman with an alcohol seal.
Yeon Woo slowly read the name on the talisman.
“Ryu Biyeong… Drillmaster?!”
Yeon Woo looked at Biyeong with surprised, wide eyes.
“Did you pass with high honors?!”
“Yes, I was selected as a Drillmaster.”
“Then you must be the top graduate! That’s really great news!”
Yeon Woo clapped her hands and jumped for joy, as if it were her own achievement.
Seeing Yeon Woo’s childlike happiness, Biyeong smiled warmly.
Yeon Woo, her eyes full of curiosity, looked at Biyeong.
“How is your job? Isn’t it tough?”
“Don’t even mention it. Recently, there was a royal decree to urgently replenish the troops.”
Tiredness was evident on Biyeong’s face.
“There’s a great need for soldiers, but we’re drastically short. Lord Gwanghogyun mentioned that the threshold for the military exam would be significantly lowered this time. Soon, a flood of new soldiers will be coming for training.”
“Wait, did you say Lord Gwanghogyun?”
When Yeon Woo exclaimed at the mention of Gwanghogyun, Biyeong looked puzzled.
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Isn’t Lord Gwanghogyun known as a tyrant?!”
“It seems such rumors are circulating.”
“Isn’t he the one banished to the military for causing too much trouble, earning the nickname ‘Crazy Tiger’ from ‘gwang’ for madness and ‘ho’ for tiger?”
“Shh! It’s dangerous to speak so freely about the royal family. Where did you hear such stories?”
Biyeong put his finger to his lips, lowering his voice.
Yeon Woo whispered even more quietly.
“I heard it while frequenting the pharmacy. Anyway, be careful. I heard even the king considers him an outcast.”
“I’m not sure about that. If he’s an outcast by the king, why would he be given a military command?”
“I was initially overjoyed to hear you passed, but now I’m worried.”
Yeon Woo, her gaze dropping to the ground, couldn’t hide her worried demeanor for Biyeong.
Biyeong looked at her with a soft gaze.
“Don’t worry. Do I look like someone who’d get into trouble?”
Yeon Woo raised her head to meet Biyeong’s gaze.
His deep, mysterious black eyes instilled a sense of trust, as if he could handle anything.
Indeed, Biyeong had always been adept at handling his affairs since childhood.
“True. You’re Biyeong brother, after all. Who am I to worry? It’s not my place.”
“And how about you? I’ve heard enough about me. I want to hear about you, Yeon Woo.”
Biyeong’s question made Yeon Woo pause in thought.
There was nothing in Yeon Woo’s life as praiseworthy as Biyeong’s achievements.
Her days were spent foraging for herbs in the mountains, hunting, and seeking sewing work just to get by.
The only other noteworthy event was her impending forced marriage to an old man.
“…….”
Suddenly confronted by the harsh reality, Yeon Woo’s life felt incredibly pitiful.
Telling Biyeong about her situation would likely prompt him to offer help, but she didn’t want to dampen the mood of their long-awaited reunion with such gloomy stories.
As Yeon Woo’s expression visibly darkened, a concerned Biyeong gently asked.
“……Do you have any worries?”
At Biyeong’s call, Yeon Woo regained her composure.
Not wanting to worry him, Yeon Woo tried to appear cheerful, showing the rabbit she caught that morning.
“I’m just living as usual, nothing special. But look at this!”
“A rabbit, isn’t it? Did you catch it?”
“Yes! What do you think of my archery skills?”
Biyeong, who had taught Yeon Woo how to shoot, teased her.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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