Gong Son Wu closely examined Na Rin’s face.

‘Come to think of it, the Ju family is the imperial family of Ming.’

No. That’s too far-fetched a thought.

Even if Ju is an imperial surname, it’s not that rare.

How many Ju families are there with no connection to the imperial family? Na Rin glanced at Gong Son Wu, who was staring at her face, as if looking at a strange person and asked.

“What is it?”

“Do you happen to remember anything about your parents?”

“My parents?”

Na Rin rolled her eyes and then quickly shook her head.

“Nothing at all?”

“Nothing at all.”

Even so, it would be strange to suddenly reveal ‘Your only relative is my father!’ here.

If asked how I knew, I wouldn’t have anything to say either.

‘She doesn’t know much about her mother either.’

For Na Rin, the existence of her mother Ju Wol Yeong was not something motherly represented by a warm embrace.

By the time Na Rin was old enough to understand, she was already buried in the grave.

She really knew nothing about Wol Yeong except that she gave birth to her and named her Na Rin.

“I’m just an orphan.”

Na Rin’s attitude as she said this seemed somehow detached.

As if she was unbound by anything, or conversely, unable to form attachments anywhere.

‘A child like a duckweed.’

Gong Son Wu set aside his suspicions about Na Rin.

He was convinced that Na Rin had no backing whatsoever.

Right. What big secret could a child who lived only three or four years have?

Even if by chance her lineage was extraordinary, how could that be Na Rin’s fault?

‘I just need to embrace her.’

“Na Rin.”

“Yes?”

Gong Son Wu momentarily stopped the words that were about to slip out of his mouth.

“…Ah. When the day to go to Myeonggung is decided, send a message to Chilseongwon. Tell Elder Chil in advance.”

“Yes.”

Judging that the conversation with Gong Son Wu was over, Na Rin gave a quick bow and left the room.

From a distance, the sound of Na Rin greeting the Sun and Moon Goddess could be faintly heard.

“…”

Gong Son Wu mulled over the words he was about to say to Na Rin but stopped.

“Would you like to become my adopted daughter?”

‘How absurd.’

Even he thought it was an incredibly sudden proposal. There’s no way Na Rin would accept.

Yet Gong Son Wu couldn’t help but smile.

‘I haven’t grown up at all.’

Surprisingly, this wasn’t the first time Gong Son Wu had made a similar abrupt proposal.

Decades ago, when Gong Son Wu was a child of about ten, he had said the same thing to Dokgo Cheon, who was also about ten years old.

“Acheon! Won’t you become my brother?”

To which Dokgo Cheon had replied with an expression that suggested it was nonsense:

“Au-ya. Don’t you know you’re still the younger one?”

Gong Son Wu chuckled as he recalled the childhood memory.

‘Back then, I used to make so many silly jokes.’

Now he had become a doll that didn’t even know what laughter was.

Gong Son Wu’s heart sank painfully as he thought of Dokgo Cheon.

“…Don’t worry, Acheon. I’ll definitely fix you.”

Gong Son Wu stood up with a determined look on his face.

[This is the timeline separator]

Several days passed.

Jang Geum’s words that it wasn’t a harmful mushroom weren’t entirely wrong, as Bi Cha’s condition improved noticeably.

At first, he had indeed hallucinated due to the poisonous mushroom, but afterwards, the cause of his delusions was nervous exhaustion from believing that the ghost he saw was real.

“I’ll prescribe some medicine to boost your energy, so rest sufficiently and stay calm.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

Of course, Geumwol Trading Company paid all the expenses needed for Bi Cha’s treatment.

Dae Heung, who had come to visit, tried to cheer up the dejected Bi Cha by smiling and saying:

“That’s why you should be more reasonable when haggling prices. How bad must it have been for a regular customer to think of poisoning you?”

“Don’t tease me. I’m dying here.”

As Bi Cha groaned and turned over, Ma Jung handed him a book and said:

“Don’t be like that and take this. I’m giving it to you with the meaning not to be swayed by strange powers, rebellions, and ghosts.”

The book Ma Jung handed over was “The Analects.”

He had brought it with the “Shulerpyeon” in mind, which states that Confucius did not speak of strange powers, rebellions, and ghosts.

“Do you know that there’s something called Confucianism in the Central Plains?”

“Pfft, hahaha! Stop being so funny!”

“You crazy bastards…”

A faint smile finally appeared on Bi Cha’s lips.

Dae Heung, as if suddenly remembering, asked:

“By the way, where did Lady Jung Hee go? I thought she would naturally be here nursing you.”

“What nursing?”

Ma Jung snorted and said:

“Lady Jung Hee has more important things to do than nursing this good-for-nothing.”

“What could that be?”

“None of your business, man.”

Bi Cha’s sharp grumbling left only the clueless Dae Heung puzzled.

Meanwhile, Jung Hee was having her pulse checked by the doctor who had just finished treating Bi Cha.

“The child is very healthy.”

“I’m so relieved. Thank you, doctor.”

“No need. You knew what was harmful to the fetus in your womb and restrained yourself, so this is the natural result. You’ll be a good mother.”

Jung Hee’s face turned slightly red.

It felt like her worries about being shamed for carrying a child before marriage were being washed away.

“However, if you’re planning to hold the wedding before your belly shows, preparations will be busy. It’s important not to overexert yourself. Try to get help from as many people as possible.”

“If that’s the case!”

The doctor and Jung Hee’s heads turned to one side.

A small child had boldly kicked open the gate and entered.

“I think I could help with that?”

It was Na Rin, completely unaware that her actions closely resembled those of Gong Son Wu.

“Na Rin?”

“Young lady, what brings you here?”

“I stopped by after school ended. More importantly, look at this.”

Na Rin proudly pulled out a children’s abacus from her sleeve.

She had just learned to use an abacus at school.

Her maple leaf-like fingers nimbly clicked the beads.

“How’s this estimate for the wedding?”

Jung Hee’s face clouded over as she looked at the abacus.

“Na Rin, I appreciate your thought, but even Bi’s family isn’t in such a comfortable financial situation. We can’t hold a wedding that costs this much.”

“Don’t worry about that. Geumwol Trading Company will pay for it.”

Jung Hee tilted her head in confusion, but the doctor cleared his throat, dispelling her doubts.

“They’re doing it because they’ve committed a wrong, so you needn’t feel burdened, my lady.”

“But didn’t Geumwol Trading Company already pay for Bi’s treatment costs?”

“Ha! As if that’s enough to wash away their sin.”

Na Rin snorted as if that was ridiculous and said:

“Think about it. What if your unnie had shared tea with Bi ajussi? How would the baby have been affected?”

“That’s…!”

Jung Hee instinctively protected her lower abdomen with her hand.

“Geumwol Trading Company almost ruined the happiness of ajussi, unnie, and the baby. So of course, they should pay for the happiness of ajussi, unnie, and the baby to make things right!”

“Is, is that so?”

“That’s right.”

In reality, the compensation Na Rin demanded from Geumwol Trading Company was enormous.

She claimed not only Bi Cha’s treatment costs, but also the fees for a midwife to assist with Jung Hee’s delivery, the wages for two maids to serve for a year after the birth, as well as all expenses for the wedding and the cost of preparing a new home for the newlyweds.

‘Even so, considering the scale of Geumwol Trading Company, it’s not that much money.’

Jang Wol, who had firmly established himself as the head of Geumwol Trading Company, seemed to think the same, as he sent gifts to Na Rin separately from the claimed items.

Although the amount of silk sent, which couldn’t even fit on one cart, felt a bit like he was trying to get rid of excess inventory. But still, it’s appreciated.

“So unnie, don’t worry about money and just be happy. Okay?”

Jung Hee smiled happily, feeling so grateful that her voice became a bit choked up as she said:

“I will. Thank you so much, Na Rin.”

“Hehe. It’s nothing.”

Na Rin stood up lightly, as if her job was done.

“Aren’t you going to see Bi before you leave?”

“It’s bad for sick people to receive greetings. And I have to go to work right away.”

“My, how admirable at such a young age.”

“Gotta eat to live, right?”

While the words made sense, they didn’t seem fitting coming from a child’s mouth.

Jung Hee smiled slightly, thinking that Na Rin must have picked up such speech habits from being surrounded by adults.

“If you need anything, let me know. I feel awkward just receiving without giving anything in return.”

“I will.”

Na Rin briefly greeted Jung Hee and the doctor before leaving for Ilwolmun.

She had to prepare to go to Myeonggung, where Cult Leader Dokgo Cheon resided.

[This is the timeline separator]

“You want me to make new clothes again?”

To Na Rin’s question, the Sun and Moon Goddess and Gong Son Wu looked at her as if asking why she was asking such an obvious thing.

“Are you planning to go to Myeonggung stark naked?”

“That’s not what I mean. Can’t I just wear the clothes I wore when I went to Hyeolwangjeon?”

“Those clothes are dirty now.”

“…? Can’t we just wash and wear them?”

“If we make new clothes, we don’t need to wash them.”

“…?”

What’s this? Why does the conversation keep going off track?

‘Ah! Could it be!’

Na Rin suddenly realized.

She had never seen Gong Son Wu or the Sun and Moon Goddess wear the same clothes twice.

‘They don’t even have the concept of washing clothes and wearing them again!’

Na Rin freshly felt that the two people in front of her were living in the clouds.

Right. I’m the only shabby one here. Sigh. My fate.

Na Rin felt somewhat dejected as she imagined Gong Son Wu and the Sun and Moon Goddess saying, ‘Washing dirty clothes to wear them again? How innovative!’

“Do as you please.”

“Last time I noticed the sleeves were loose, so this time let’s take precise measurements and make pretty clothes that fit you perfectly.”

“Yes. Yes.”

The Sun and Moon Goddess’s maids led Na Rin to an inner room.

‘They’re making so many clothes even though I’ll grow out of them anyway.’

It’s only 15 years at most in a child’s body.

Na Rin thought it was wasteful, but she let the maids with measuring tapes do their work.

It’s not like I’m paying for it, so let them do as they want.

‘Come to think of it, what should I do with my silk?’

It might seem impossible for someone to have no use for silk, but Na Rin was exactly that case.

As you can see, Gong Son Wu and the Sun and Moon Goddess take care of everything she wears, so she doesn’t need more. Blankets and other daily necessities are provided by Chilseongwon.

Hmm. It seems like keeping it would just be a waste.

“Miss, we’ve finished taking your measurements.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Hoho. It’s my job. Now, Miss, you need to take a bath. Will two maids be enough to assist you?”

The maid smiled politely as she bowed, holding the sewing basket.

Seeing this, a new question arose in Na Rin’s mind.

‘I’m a day laborer doing odd jobs, and this person is a regular maid. Isn’t she higher-ranked than me?’

Then why is Na Rin being called ‘Miss’ and being served by this person?

‘There must be some misunderstanding.’

Na Rin thought she should clear up the misunderstanding before it became a bigger issue.

“Um… Excuse me.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Who do you think I am?”