NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
It was a bright moonlit night.
Ah, what a killing moon it is. I want to make a joke like that, but I’m in a situation where I could really die. I need to act as cautiously as possible.
I’ll be in the bridal chamber soon. Hmmm, does Murong Sang-a know about the Kang family’s situation? It’s reasonable to assume she does. Regardless of how they sent evidence to the Joseon court, there must be an independent communication network with Joseon.
If the news of the Kang family’s fall has reached me, it’s fair to assume Murong Sang-a knows too. Of course, if she doesn’t, I’ve thought ahead. I need to think quickly and escape as planned.
There was no one in front of the bridal chamber.
In Joseon, it’s customary to pierce through paper windows to look inside, but it seems that’s not the case here. Back in the day, I thought it was just a funny scene, but come to think of it, isn’t it like a Joseon version of adult streaming?
And it’s even a live broadcast with a virgin and a bachelor. If people from the time when there was no AV could see that, they wouldn’t be able to handle it.
If no one is around, escaping from the bridal chamber should be easy.
Cough cough!
I deliberately cleared my throat to announce my arrival at the bridal chamber.
No reaction. Should I just go in?
“I shall enter.”
Upon entering the bridal chamber, only small lamp lights illuminated the room. A pleasant scent wafted from the lamps, likely not ordinary oil but oil mixed with fragrances.
I sensed some movement on the bed. Cautiously approaching, I found Murong Sang-a lying there with her eyes closed.
The reflection of Murong Sang-a in the lamp light was truly enchanting.
Gulp.
I unconsciously swallowed my dry saliva. I had to remain composed in front of a woman, ready to welcome her husband, who is also called a celestial beauty.
If I want to live, I must endure. If I eat this, tomorrow’s meal will be in hell.
Quickly repeating that in my mind, I looked at Murong Sang-a again.
Is there truly a man in the world who can handle a woman as beautiful as Murong Sang-a? It must be unfortunate for her that such a man happens to be her brother and husband.
I found myself unconsciously caressing the cheek of Murong Sang-a, whose eyes were shut.
“Madam.”
Now she’s not just Miss Murong; she’s my wife. The problem is that there’s only about 30 minutes left.
Even softly calling her didn’t elicit a response. Given her irregular breathing, she was definitely awake.
I glanced past her face and examined the upper part of her body covered by the blanket. The softness of the blanket revealed her figure distinctly.
Even obscured by the blanket, her chest made its presence unmistakable as it rose and fell irregularly. And within the blanket, I could see definite outlines of her hand as well.
Something that shouldn’t be in the bridal chamber.
A sword.
So, you really plan to kill me.
My mind was racing. I’ve got to survive. This isn’t unexpected. It’s already an assumed situation. Why aren’t you just killing me right away? You’re hesitating. If you open your eyes, you’ll be thinking of killing me. But you don’t seem to want to. I’ll use that hesitation to my advantage.
“Madam.”
Murong Sang-a flinched.
“Please kill me.”
Those who seek death find life, and those who seek life find death. Thus, I began the biggest bluff of my life.
“Sang-gong!”
Murong Sang-a shot upright in surprise.
“You were awake.”
“What do you mean by asking me to kill you?”
Murong Sang-a subtly hid her knife as she spoke. What do you mean, what? Isn’t that what you originally intended?
“Have you heard any news about the Kang family?”
“……”
Murong Sang-a averted her eyes, her expression hardening.
“So you have heard. The Kang family was annihilated due to rebellion.”
“There must have been some misunderstandings. Rebellion, you say?”
That’s just a misunderstanding. The root of that misunderstanding is right in front of me. But I have to pretend and stimulate Murong Sang-a’s guilt as much as possible.
“My father committed numerous illegal acts to build his fortune. The ginseng smuggling was just the tip of the iceberg. He also turned a blind eye to many shady individuals to increase the family’s wealth. If one of them was involved in rebellion, surely our family would not be safe.”
Kang Yoon-ho believes the rebellion arose due to our family’s issues. Little does he know this is all part of Murong Sang-a’s scheme. And I made my appeal.
“If you look closely, you’d realize it was a frame-up. Don’t give up.”
“No. The fact that we were to have an alliance with the Murong family probably wasn’t well received by the Joseon court. I am likely to die if I return to Joseon.”
“Sang-gong. Even if you are implicated in rebellion, it doesn’t mean you will certainly die. If you return to Joseon, there will surely be a path for you.”
“My father has already been executed. All the relatives I knew have been beheaded, and the women of the family have become slaves. What could possibly be the way out?”
This is all your doing. I’m digging into Murong Sang-a’s guilt. Upon hearing that, she looked away from me, lowering her gaze to the floor.
By saying this much, there’s no way the real culprit could admit it’s herself.
“If you can gather the assets of the Kang family outside of Joseon, you’ll be able to rise again.”
“That wealth was possible because of the Kang family’s name in Joseon. Now that the name is gone, how could I possibly secure it?”
“Sang-gong, you must not give up.”
Of course, I won’t give up. Why should I care about it when it’s neither my wealth nor my family?
“It’s not giving up. I’ve resolved to save my wife, so how could I possibly give up?”
After delivering a shock therapy, it was time to speak my true intention.
“……”
Murong Sang-a looked at me with anxious eyes.
“Today, I must die for you.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“If I continue like this, you won’t be able to reclaim the Murong family. If we consummate tonight, you will become the wife of a traitor. If you are taken to Joseon, you’ll become a slave. Even if I run away or stay with the Murong family, you will be treated as an outsider and will never be acknowledged as a member of the family. But if I die today, that will all be nullified.”
“That’s no reason for you to die!”
Murong Sang-a protested.
Aren’t you the one who originally wanted to kill me? But it’s another thing to hear that from the one you want to kill.
I need to keep stimulating her guilt. I shook my head and continued speaking.
“No. It is a valid reason. Now, you are the only one left for me. After today, I won’t be able to protect you.”
I gently stroked Murong Sang-a’s cheek with affectionate eyes. So lovely. I need to express my love as much as possible.
“Sang-gong……”
Murong Sang-a’s eyes started to glisten with tears. Not yet. I still have many insurance policies laid down.
“Would you accept this?”
I pulled out an item from my pocket and showed it to Murong Sang-a.
“This is the Zhangbai Silver ring, isn’t it?”
“It’s my mother’s heirloom. In Joseon, a husband gifts a ring to be worn on the left hand’s fourth finger. When the husband is away, the wife thinks of him with this ring. Can you accept it?”
I’ve nearly got her, but I need to hand over the token of a legitimate spouse just in case.
I took Murong Sang-a’s left hand and moved it toward the ring. But she gently brushed my hand away.
“Sang-gong. I cannot accept this.”
Murong Sang-a lightly held her left hand with her right, looking distressed.
“I’m sorry. Yes… it wouldn’t be right to wear a husband’s ring just for today.”
“It’s not that. Sang-gong!! It’s because I am a sinner.”
Hey, don’t.
If you confess that in front of me, the situation gets complicated.
“I have to die? You have a father-in-law and family to protect, as well as your subordinates. Do not feel guilty for someone you’ve only known for a few days. The real sinners are my father and those who made my relatives involved in rebellion. They repay kindness with enmity. So, you absolutely don’t need to feel guilty.”
You’re the one I’m talking about.
Murong Sang-a’s eyes trembled uncontrollably.
Hey. You can’t speak the truth after saying this much, right?
Let’s wrap this up quickly.
“Now, kill me.”
I pretended to close my eyes, waiting for my neck to be severed.
I laid down the insurance, but you’re not going to kill me, right?
I’m getting a bit scared.
……
As I slightly squinted, I saw Murong Sang-a staring at me with a determined expression.
“I could never do that.”
Thank you. I—no, Murong Sang-a.
“Really, can’t you kill me?”
Murong Sang-a nodded her head vigorously.
“Well… then, it can’t be helped. I’ll have to find a way to save you in my own manner.”
I sighed and spoke as if there was no other choice.
“What is that?”
“Today, I will officially humiliate you.”
Being humiliated on the first night is a tremendous insult for a husband to deliver to his wife. It generally means the husband doesn’t like the wife and throws her out starting from the very first night. In this case, it would mean the groom gets into a fight with the bride and leaves the house temporarily.
“I’m not sure what you mean?”
“I thought it would be unreasonable to ask you to take my life, a soft lady. I’ll make a fuss everywhere, saying I think you’re not to my liking and that I officially humiliated you, bidding farewell to the Murong family.”
This way, it would be proven that Murong Sang-a wasn’t defiled, just as in the original story’s ending.
“If Murong Bi finds out that I was officially humiliated, she would likely be pleased. After all, the marriage has already happened, and it would only involve dishonoring you. I’ll just say I’ll spend the day outside and leave the Murong family. Then, I’ll head to Joseon, so please send the Spear Peak Band to kill me and send my body to Joseon.”
This way, I can maintain the flow of the original story.
“Sang-gong!”
“This is the best option. It absolutely must be done.”
I spoke in a firm tone.
“Sang-gong, Sang-gong, why would you do this for a woman like me?”
Well, if I don’t, you’ll kill me, right? I comforted the sobbing Murong Sang-a and spoke up.
“I swore everything to help you.”
I said the most affectionate words that could tickle Murong Sang-a’s heart.
“Sang-gong!”
Then, Murong Sang-a lunged at me.
What? Why? Our faces are so close.
Ugh!
What the heck.
Who, on their first kiss, immediately sticks their tongue in?
Where did you learn that?
Ohhh.
The kiss with Murong Sang-a was,
Completely raw, emotional, wild, and rough.