Schemes Under the Veil and a Hidden Motive

Perhaps because an official envoy had been dispatched directly from the Imperial Court, my eldest brother, as expected, failed to attend our luncheon.

No, to put it with absolute precision, it was a matter of him being entirely unable to attend.

Although both my brother and father were completely missing from the dining table, a few cherished members of my family had fortunately stepped forward to answer my luncheon invitation.

“Yul-ah, hurry and try a piece of this.”

Accepting the tender meat my older sister carefully placed onto my plate, I smoothly swept the morsel into my mouth.

“It’s truly delicious, Sister.”

“Right? I possessed absolute certainty that this specific dish would suit your taste.”

“You should indulge as well, Sister. Here.”

The exact moment I picked up a choice side dish with my chopsticks to return the favor, my sister rapidly slid her rice bowl forward with a radiant smile. The split-second the meat settled over her grains, she happily took a large bite. Watching her eat with such content filled my chest with a profound sense of pride.

Meeting my gaze, my sister’s eyes crinkled into beautiful, affectionate crescents. Returning her smile, I was preparing to resume my own meal when my mother’s gentle voice drifted across from the adjacent seat.

“Watching the two of you get along so beautifully leaves this mother with absolutely no lingering regrets in life.”

“Please do not say such dramatic things, Mother. You will be seeing the two of us together constantly moving forward. Isn’t that right, youngest?”

“Yes, Mother. You are going to see us every single day, and entirely too frequently. Please eat up as well. Allow me to serve you.”

Folding my eyes into a soft, affectionate expression as I delivered the words, my mother’s features instantly melted into a profoundly tender smile.

“Of course. Since my precious baby is personally serving me, I shall happily devour absolutely anything you offer.”

“Mother, I shall ensure your plate remains perfectly full as well!”

“Yes, yes.”

The moment my sister chimed in, a massive, brilliant smile permanently etched itself across our mother’s face. Watching her display such pure happiness, I immediately put my words into absolute execution.

Throughout the duration of the meal, I focused my entire energy on meticulously taking care of both my mother and sister, and before I knew it, my own stomach had grown exceptionally full.

“You aren’t going to have a few more bites, Yul-ah?”

“I am at my absolute physical limit; I cannot manage another morsel.”

“We are going to have to aggressively expand your stomach capacity moving forward, Yul-ah.”

“I shall certainly put forth the effort.”

While I highly doubted this fundamentally fragile constitution of mine would actually cooperate with such an endeavor, offering the effort itself wasn’t a difficult task at all.

The moment I gave a firm nod of assent, my sister completely cleared the remaining contents of her bowl and smoothly set her chopsticks down.

Signaling for the table to be cleared, my mother watched as the attendants waiting along the perimeter rapidly closed the distance, whisking away the empty ceramic plates with absolute efficiency.

Staring blankly at the polished, pristine surface of the cleared table, I raised my eyes the exact split-second my mother softly called out to me.

“Yes, Mother. Please speak freely.”

“Have you chanced upon the recent news?”

“Ah, are you referring to the announcement that His Imperial Highness is arriving?”

“Indeed.”

“Honestly, I find myself wondering if it’s even worth harboring a single shred of anxiety over.”

Even if that royal entity aggressively attempted to direct his attention toward my form upon his arrival, the overarching narrative dictated that the 18th Prince’s romantic focus would ultimately slide entirely toward Yeon Ji-oh.

“Exactly, Mother! Our Yul-ah has always been an exceptionally brilliant child who manages his affairs flawlessly, so you possess absolutely zero reason to worry.”

“…While that is undeniably true, the absolute magnitude of the guest’s political status makes it entirely impossible for this mother to completely banish her anxiety.”

Locking my eyes with my mother, who was visibly struggling to conceal the deep worry lining her face, I offered a reassuring response.

“Please put your mind at absolute ease, Mother. Even if that individual somehow goes so far as to deliver a grand romantic confession to me, I shall remain completely unmoved. My home exists right here in this exact estate, and I have never once entertained the notion of departing for another region.”

Abandoning such an incredibly loving family to vanish to some far-off province was an absolute impossibility.

The exact split-second the words left my lips, a soft, profound smile painted the features of both women.

In particular, looking at my sister—who had been continuously stroking our mother’s hand to soothe her—a deep wave of absolute relief washed over her face, confirming that she, too, had been harboring immense anxiety over the political variable.

In absolute, objective terms, if the Imperial Court issued a direct royal decree ordering a marriage, an ordinary citizen was legally forced to comply. However, I possessed absolute certainty that a royal concubine selection or imperial mandate would never target my head.

Letting out a soft, mocking chuckle, I quietly muttered under my breath.

“The current state of the rumors is truly spectacular.”

“Mmh?”

“Whatever do you mean by rumors, Yul-ah?”

I had fully intended to keep the observation completely internal, but it appeared the volume of my voice had slipped. Meeting the puzzled, inquiring gazes of the two women, I offered a sheepish, embarrassed smile.

“Surely both of you have chanced upon the gossip? The massive rumor sweeping through Hefei regarding the endless wave of travelers who recently swarmed the city desperately seeking a pregnancy blessing.”

“…That matter.”

Because the topic was fundamentally anchored to Namgung Hwi, the expressions of both my mother and sister instantly turned incredibly dim.

However, explicitly voicing the reality was the only definitive method to completely set their minds at ease. Adopting a highly mischievous, playful smirk, I pressed on.

“Though absolutely zero reality existed behind that ridiculous pregnancy narrative, because the rumor has saturated the public consciousness to this extreme degree, the Imperial Court won’t be capable of easily orchestrating a marriage alliance with my name. Furthermore, the immense backing supporting my flank is none other than Mangeum Bank itself, is it not?”

“Ah, I see your point.”

“However, actively weaponizing such scandalous gossip sits somewhat heavily upon my conscience, Yul-ah. If the authorities happen to discover that the rumor is an absolute fabrication…”

I grasped the precise nature of my mother’s political anxiety. However, during this critical juncture, there was absolutely no weapon more lethal than this specific piece of gossip.

“We simply need to ensure that our estate never explicitly delivers a verbal confirmation or denial regarding the event.”

Yes, as long as we maintained absolute silence while subtly, cleverly manipulating the narrative from the shadows, the catastrophic scenario my mother was worrying about would never materialize in reality.

Even if the imperial investigators somehow caught a whiff of the truth later on, if we simply locked our jaws and feigned absolute ignorance, there would be zero leverage for them to prosecute our family.

The more my mind mapped out the strategy, the more I realized it was an exceptionally brilliant blueprint, prompting me to nod my head in absolute satisfaction.

When I had first encountered that preposterous rumor upon my return, I had been thoroughly dumbfounded by its absurdity, but who could have possibly calculated that the gossip would transform into such a spectacular shield?

Even if the 18th Prince’s heart somehow warped from the original plot line and he desperately desired to claim me as his partner, the Imperial Court itself would launch an absolute, uncompromising opposition against the match.

Setting aside the absolute veracity of the pregnancy, the mere reality that such a scandalous, bizarre rumor had thoroughly saturated the public domain would be viewed as an unpardonable stain by the high aristocracy.

To summarize the situation, even if the 18th Prince executed an action completely detached from the original novel, my permanent residence right here in Hefei alongside Mangeum Bank remained entirely secure.

Reaffirming the absolute brilliant logic of my plan, a wide, confident grin broke across my features.

The deep night of the exact same day we received the announcement regarding the 18th Prince’s arrival.

Despite our evening dinner having completely concluded and the remaining family members vacating the hall, one specific individual manifested zero intention of rising from his seat.

Quietly observing my eldest brother as he slowly sipped his hot tea, I decided to break the silence first.

“Brother.”

“Mmh?”

Lifting his eyes from his ceramic cup at my call, my brother cast an inquiring glance toward my position. I locked my eyes with his and spoke up.

“You harbor a specific matter you wish to discuss with me, do you not?”

“…Ah, yes. That is correct.”

“Please, go ahead and speak freely. You have endured an immense amount of grueling labor today, so you must return to your quarters to claim some absolute rest as quickly as possible.”

“So you have already caught wind of the situation.”

“Yes.”

The exact split-second I offered a firm nod of confirmation, a heavy, somber shadow violently swept across my brother’s features.

“Have you also been informed regarding the precise date of the 18th Prince’s arrival?”

“No, that specific detail has not reached my ears yet.”

Receiving my reply, my brother gave a slow nod of understanding. Mirroring his gesture, I immediately pressed forward.

“After all, I must discover the exact timeline of his arrival to ensure I can formulate the proper countermeasures.”

“Countermeasures?”

My brother’s brows knit together in absolute confusion at my phrasing. Then again, tossing out such an unexpected word in this context was bound to leave him bewildered. Leaning my weight significantly closer to the side table, I delivered the words in a highly conspiratorial, hushed tone.

“Well… perhaps something along the lines of feigning a sudden, catastrophic illness to avoid royal audiences. That specific brand of countermeasure.”

“Haha!”

Waving my joke wrapped in a heavy layer of absolute truth, a massive burst of genuine laughter exploded from my brother’s chest.

Wrenching himself free from his lingering tension, his features softened into an immensely comfortable expression as he stared down at me with deep affection.

“Are you genuinely prepared to stage a full theatrical performance if the situation demands it, Yul-ah?”

“If the tactical necessity arises, I shall execute it without a shred of hesitation.”

“Discovering that your mind is anchored with this specific level of resolve injects an immense amount of absolute relief into my chest.”

“However, Brother…”

“Go ahead.”

“Would it be permissible for me to inquire regarding the precise objective behind the 18th Prince’s sudden visit?”

“In truth, I was precisely preparing to map out the details for you, calculated on the reality that it is a matter you absolutely must comprehend.”

The sheer gravity laced within his statement was substantial enough to send a chill down my spine.

Swallowing down a thick lump of dry saliva, I stared intently at my brother as his fingers traced the rim of his teacup, breaking the silence with absolute solemnity.

“At present, a severe, unmitigated drought has completely devastated the Sichuan province. Because the crisis has escalated to a catastrophic degree, the Imperial Court desperately requires the financial mobilization of Mangeum Bank—prompting His Imperial Highness to personally make the journey down to negotiate the terms.”

For the situation to degenerate to a point where the Imperial Court was openly begging a merchant bank for salvation meant the crisis was genuinely apocalyptic. Recalling the structural blueprint of the imperial government as detailed within the novel, a wave of profound complexity washed across my features.

“While I am perfectly aware that the financial monopoly of Mangeum Bank commands immense power, has the geopolitical landscape truly degraded to a level where the crown must openly solicit our aid?”

Based on my absolute knowledge of this novel, the Imperial Court was framed as the ultimate vertex of absolute authority, wielding a terrifyingly centralized monopoly on violence and power.

For an entity that already commanded every single resource in the realm to utilize an explicit expression like ‘soliciting aid’ from a private banking institution was entirely illogical.

“Indeed. The exact second those specific terms left the envoy’s mouth, an intense sensation of profound suspicion immediately locked up my thoughts as well.”

“…Is it not highly probable that an entirely hidden agenda is driving his arrival?”

If a subterranean motive didn’t exist, the high aristocracy of the Imperial Court would never stoop low enough to utilize such a grandiose, humiliating narrative of seeking ‘aid’ from merchants.

“The exact split-second the 18th Prince sets foot within our borders, I shall personally extract the absolute truth behind their narrative during our formal audience.”

“Would it be permissible for me to personally attend that specific meeting alongside you, Brother?”

“That matter is…”

My sudden request forced my brother’s jaw to lock, plunging his mind into a deep, prolonged deliberation. Maintaining absolute, respectful silence as I waited for his verdict, he finally delivered a firm nod of assent.

“We shall monitor the fluidity of the political atmosphere as his arrival closes in before rendering a definitive decision.”

“Understood, Brother.”

Deconstructing the conversation, I could now sketch out a reasonably accurate blueprint of the current crisis. The Imperial Court had undoubtedly dispatched an envoy to unilaterally deliver a royal command disguised as a notification.

I desperately prayed that the entire affair would conclude smoothly, limited to granting them royal lodging for a few days and acceding to a reasonable percentage of their financial demands. While I was letting out a soft sigh, my brother suddenly broke my train of thought.

“Yes, Brother?”

Lifting my lowered gaze to lock eyes with him, I watched as his eyes slowly swept over my entire frame from head to toe, before he suddenly delivered an entirely unprompted statement.

“Setting aside the geopolitical variables, we must immediately commission a brand-new wardrobe for you to wear during the 18th Prince’s stay.”

“Uh, well… would it not be infinitely more prudent for me to simply throw on any ordinary robe currently resting in my quarters?”

The sheer volume of luxurious garments cluttering my personal closets was already more than enough to last a lifetime. Though I explicitly broadcasted my desire to decline the luxury, my brother’s mind was clearly operating on an entirely separate track.

“We shall meticulously prepare a selection of robes that are exceptionally ordinary—garments specifically engineered to ensure you remain completely invisible and fail to attract a single eye.”

Ah, so that was his tactical angle.

If that was the core objective behind the wardrobe change, absolutely zero objection existed on my part.

In fact, realizing that the garments would carry zero social pressure, I immediately nodded my head in absolute agreement, prompting a responsive nod from my brother.

“I shall personally dispatch the master tailors to your courtyard tomorrow morning to initiate the measurements.”

“Understood.”

“Naturally, every single member of our family shall have matching garments commissioned. Robes that possess absolutely zero ostentatious luxury, explicitly designed to blend entirely into the background.”

For the tailors to alter the wardrobe of the entire family rather than restricting the change to my form felt uniquely strange.

Was there a specific, critical piece of data my brother was intentionally withholding from my knowledge out of fear that I would spiral into panic?

The desire to aggressively interrogate him surged within my chest, but analyzing the absolute finality written across his features, I calculated that pressing him further tonight would yield zero results.

Since a reasonable buffer of time still separated the 18th Prince from his actual arrival in Hefei, I would simply utilize that window to cleverly coax the information out of him later.

Relinquishing the interrogation, I gave a calm nod of assent, prompting my brother to smile warmly as he pushed himself fully up from his seat.

Escorting his form all the way to the exterior threshold of my courtyard, I turned on my heel to re-enter the reception hall. Collapsing onto a wooden chair, I crossed my legs loosely, propping my arm against the side table as I allowed my thoughts to drift into the silent night.