Namgung Ryeo first realized the immense anger seething within her own heart when she met Danmokbi. Until then, she had resigned herself and suppressed her strength due to the lack of power, but it wasn’t because she was good-hearted and enduring.
“And Danmokbi-nim gave me strength.”
Not only did she give her strength, but Danmokbi was also the one who, albeit clumsily, taught her letters and revealed the mastermind behind her father’s death.
From her position receiving the cold shoulder in Siga, without Danmokbi lending her support, concocting such a scheme would have been impossible.
“Fortunately, he must have died in agony. He deliberately fed him such poison.”
Remembering her father shivering in pain, Namgung Ryeo smiled. She felt neither pity nor guilt.
Young Namgung Ryeo, too, had often suffered from hunger at Sinsan, resorting to stripping tree roots for food. There were times when she ate poisonous mushrooms and suffered abdominal pain for days. The ginseng she consumed to become stronger was equally bitter.
“It’s the reward for my actions.”
That’s what Namgung Ryeo thought. As she was contemplating this, she noticed a familiar face leaning against the wall as she walked. It was Danmokbi.
With a cold expression, Danmokbi asked her, “How does it feel to be back home?”
Whether he expected warm and affectionate feelings, Namgung Ryeo smirked and replied. The words that came out were as harsh as her smile was vividly unpleasant.
“I hope it collapses soon. I wish every pillar and root crumbled without a trace.”
“He’s from a prestigious family; that’s not possible. Even if you manage to bring it down, it will gradually decline.”
“What kind of prestigious family is this nonsense?”
Danmokbi could fully agree with that opinion. Whenever Danmoksu mentioned to Danmokbi that he would be the son to revive the family, she wanted to spit on his face.
‘What’s so important about the family?’
Although she didn’t know what honor a family that protected it at the cost of tormenting its children held, Danmokbi clearly considered it useless.
It was when Danmokbi was sneering with a sarcastic laugh. Namgung Ryeo scratched her cheek with her finger and opened her mouth.
“But, you know, I might have an idea. The reason why Danmokbi-nim hesitated and wavered before not being able to defeat the leader of the Blood Sect. You couldn’t possibly do it in front of Yeon, right? Seeing those eyes looking at me like I’m a good person makes me want to become a good person for no reason.”
“Hmph.”
Danmokbi snorted and turned his head abruptly. Though she seemed impudent, Namgung Ryeo knew from the expression that he was embarrassed. And while the laughter was still prickly, she mumbled with a smile.
“It’s strange. When others say such flattering things, I want to beat them up, but in front of Yeon, it just feels good. I hope she pities me even more.”
The emotion she felt was exactly the same as what Danmokbi felt. Danmokbi knew why Yeon’s sympathy didn’t make him feel bad.
“Because she’s sincere.”
It wasn’t just temporary empathy to feel superior, but rather, the genuine concern she showed him made the empathy a source of joy. Both Danmokbi and Namgung Ryeo had never been treated sincerely by anyone around them.
Nodding her head in agreement, Danmokbi, who had been emotionally resonating for a moment, suddenly hardened her face and said, “Even so, stop asking me to make various things. Do you know how much effort it takes?”
Cooking doesn’t just end with cooking; preparation and cleaning up are also quite demanding. Danmokbi knew this fact from spending her childhood with Yeon, where a day passed just doing household chores.
‘Who would want to make food for someone who wants to keep their fingers clean, especially for that kid?’
It was when Danmokbi cut off Namgung Ryeo’s whining with a stern tone. Instead, Namgung Ryeo shouted.
“Danmokbi, be honest! In the end, you really hate the food Danmokbi eats, don’t you?”
“Well, that’s…”
Danmokbi was left speechless. What was impossible to laugh off was what Jegal Yeon had said on the way.
‘Did she really think I was just hindering her from entering the kitchen for no reason?’
To Danmokbi, who had blocked Jegal Yeon’s suffering, it was an unjust misunderstanding.
Even though she tried not to show it, her face was wrinkled. Namgung Ryeo smirked and pushed Danmokbi’s back.
“Yeon is resting alone in the lodge right now. Go quickly and have a conversation with her. I’ll go in slowly.”
“Got it.”
When Danmokbi nodded, indicating that she would step back, Namgung Ryeo bowed her waist in gratitude, explaining where Danmokbi’s quarters were.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I could think about revenge.”
Danmokbi frowned at Namgung Ryeo’s thanks.
“You don’t have to be thankful for that.”
“But still, gratitude is gratitude. If it weren’t for you, I would have endlessly waited on that mountain for someone to rescue me. In fact, the only one who can save me is myself.”
Namgung Ryeo spoke with a bitter tone, then slowly lifted her head.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
