Jeagal Seon has now been at the Fourth Lady's villa for one week. During this time, Chwi has personally brought her meals and voluntarily taken on part of her care.
Of course, Seon does not allow herself to become a burden to anyone. With a motion resembling wiping the floor, she rolls the iron sphere forward and moves about, even taking her own dishes to the kitchen.
The head of the guards, Yeon, and the villa's cook—despite her being from the Jeagal clan—all treat her well. The head of the guards even carries her iron sphere and allows her to walk in the villa courtyard (though he claims he does this for training purposes).
Today is the first day Seon is to teach Lan and Zhan. With Midwife Chwi present, she must begin instruction, and the important question for Seon is: What exactly am I supposed to teach these kids?
Lan, who was sitting on the floor, noticed Seon's hesitation and tried to help her:
"How fortunate that you know how to read and write."
Zhan attempted to cooperate with Lan:
"Madam Chwi taught us counting, but reading seems harder."
"I taught you?"
Mathematics is a universal concept and flows through nature. The mathematics of this world is backward, so there's no need to spend time on it. We need reading and writing.
"Alright then."
"Let's do it."
Lan and Zhan: "Hmm."
"First, preparing the ink."
In times like these, you miss ballpoint pens.
After one day, Lan and Zhan could write their own names and had learned the process of preparing ink and how to write with a brush. Of course, they were careful to adjust their learning speed so that the midwife wouldn't become suspicious.
Jeagal Seon was from the renowned Jeagal clan, and this level of learning within the Jeagal clan was rare but not unusual.
This situation reminded Seon of her own first days of learning. She too had been at this age when she began learning to read and write, and from that young age, she had been among the promising talents of the Jeagal clan.
"I think that's enough for today."
"Tomorrow you'll learn writing rules."
"We'll proceed slowly."
Lan understood that when a great clan entrusts a child with teaching their own children, it means that child is not ordinary. After basic instruction, she could potentially learn the secrets of this world. And the fact that the midwife must accompany them to the sessions meant only one thing: they don't fully trust that girl.
"Okay, teacher."
"Okay, teacher."
"See you later, teacher."
"See you later, teacher."
"They seem very eager."
---
A man exits through the gates of the Outer Palace. Usually, staff depart without issue, and the man heads toward the market.
Along his route, a beggar rises from his place and observes his movements from a suitable distance.
The man takes a seat in a small, crowded restaurant, squeezing in beside several other men. Perhaps outwardly everything appears ordinary, but the beggar's perspective sees otherwise.
The beggar sits across from the restaurant and begins begging.
"Since when have people become so kind as to let someone cling to them like this?"
"They asked us to observe the movements of those without rank in the sect who leave between sunrise and sunset."
"And this guy is suspicious."
"Why would he come here to eat lunch when the sect provides meals?"
"Maybe the food here is good. And it's crowded too."
Amidst the murmur and noise of the crowd in the restaurant, the man—a hand-cart porter between the Outer and Inner Palaces—begins to murmur.
Others might think he's talking to himself, but no sound comes out.
The man across from him watches his lips, and after a few moments, rises and leaves. The beggar watches the entire scene.
"Was that lip-reading?"
"I won't follow him. I'll just tell the representative he's a suspicious character."
"Not worth the risk."
"I think the list of suspicious people is getting shorter."
The porter also leaves the table after a while.
---
In one of the Hao faction's brothels (also called the Hao Clan), on one of the private floors, the Hao faction's representative in Tai'an is located.
They inform the representative that someone has arrived.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, sir."
"Leave us alone."
When the room empties, they sit facing each other:
"What news from the palace?"
"The Fourth Lady is continuing her cooperation, but she says she needs regular information about the Second Concubine."
"What news from the Second Concubine's villa?"
"The maid says the child is growing, and people from the sect keep visiting, but she can't identify their identities."
"The Heavenly Demon has also visited them several times, though his presence usually isn't felt."
The Murim Alliance wants to slowly begin its role, but they don't give me much information—they just want me to place pieces in specific positions.
Yujin Hak... could all of this be your plan?
"There's no harm in it. Give the Fourth Lady the information."