Chapter 178: Those Who Live in Darkness (1)
The biggest festival since the founding of the So Dynasty was held.
There were endless banquet tables spread out on the wide main road that stretched from the center of Janganseong Fortress to the palace. It was a place where anyone could come and eat and have fun.
Residents, government officials, and gunners from Guard Battalion were all mixed together and couldn’t stop laughing. All the orphans from Snow Flower Garden gathered around and tilted their headed.
“Can I just eat this?”
“Well then! Everything is free today, so eat until you”re full!”
Merchants supply unlimited food and charge double the price. It was an opportunity to increase one month’s sales in one day.
More than 1,000 auxiliary workers were hired to help with the event. They work only half a day and receive five days’ worth of wages.
All aspects were being carried out under the management of Taewoongbang, but they were also merely intermediaries who carried out the work for a fee.
It was all with Yeonseonghwa’s personal funds. An astronomical amount of money was being spent, but she did not blink an eye.
“It”s been a while since I ate my fill!”
It was Il-gwang mixed with the Wolf Fang members. In his left hand was a plump chicken leg.
“Eat it slowly, brother. Then you”ll feel sick.”
“Why are you eating so aggressively? Could it be that the captain went first and got a stomachache?”
Il-gwang’s movements as he brought the chicken leg to his mouth stopped. He looked at Hyeonjeong and Cheong-hae next to him and asked subtly.
“Whose turn do you think will be next?”
“””well?”
“I don”t think it will be around for a while.”
At that moment, Il-gwang”s impression solidified. His tightly closed mouth did not know how to open again.
“””.”
Il-gwang seemed to have lost his appetite and put down the chicken leg again.
Toouk-!
Hyeonjeong whispered in Cheong-hae’s ear with a strange look in her eyes.
“Brother Il-gwang, why are you doing that?”
“That”s right. Something is strange, death.”
Suddenly there was silence and the atmosphere was about to turn strange. Suddenly, a small head like a sparrow appeared between Hyeonjeong and Cheong-hae.
So-so’s mouth gaped and he spat out a single word.
“Next is Uncle Il-gwang”s turn!”
It was then.
Isn”t the dying face of Il-gwang suddenly opening up like a sunflower?
“Hahaha! Yes, as expected, my nephew has the best sense of sight!”
“Hehe.”
Il-gwang, who quickly felt better, was already clutching a wide bowl.
“Come on, let”s drink!”
Hyeonjeong and Cheong-hae smiled and raised their glasses. From between them, So-so was holding a bowl and holding out his short arm. Of course, there was milk in it.
“Drink!”
“Emptying everything at once!”
They clinked their glasses once and drank at the same time.
“Ugh!”
“Wow! It”s good.”
“delicious!”
So-so also said a word and wiped the milk off his lips with his sleeve.
When the atmosphere became friendly, Il-gwang stretched out his finger and shouted.
“So-so, your mom is coming out!”
Everyone’s headed turned to Jujak-ro.
A woman wearing a bright robe was walking step by step toward the podium on the silk road.
Although her face was covered with a red veil, everyone could not take their eyes off her. The magical charm radiating from every step seemed to suck the souls of the guests.
“and””.”
“How can even walking be beautiful?”
“I think I can feel the scent of flowers all the way from here.”
The noisy noise of the main road gradually died down, and an unknown grandeur dominated everyone’s hearts.
So-mu was waiting on the podium. And surprisingly, Jang Yang was officiating the wedding in front of him.
Although he claimed to be a civil servant, he was a person on an equal footing with the emperors of other countries. He personally officiates the wedding of his subjects.
Something unimaginable was unfolding before my eyes. The people and officials of the State of Su, who were silently watching the scene, were trembled.
After declaring their marriage, Jang Yang stopped for a moment and looked around. It seemed like he was looking for someone.
Il-gwang, who sensed his intention, gently patted his nephew’s back and said.
“So-so, you want to come out.”
“Um, me?”
“Yes, go out quickly.”
So-so, who was embarrassed, was pushed by her uncles and moved forward.
The guests who found the child laughed and applauded.
“Haha. I guess it”s my daughter. She looks cute.”
“I”ve seen that kid before. He was in the rescue team.”
“I also saw a performance while riding a tiger.”
Was it because everyone’s eyes were focused on him? So-so blushed as if he was embarrassed.
“Hahaha! Congratulations, kid!”
“Spread your shoulders proudly!”
So-so, who was walking to the podium, turned around and lowered his upper body once.
“Thank you~”
After a while, So-mu and Seolhwa stopped their daughter in the middle and held his hand.
So-so smiled brightly as if she was happy. A happy smile appeared on Jang Yang’s face as he looked at the family.
“I, Mingong of the State of Shao, Jang Yang, attend as witnesses and command you. You are already family, and that will never change forever. I command you not to let go of the hand you have firmly held no matter what difficult and difficult circumstances may come in the future. I command you to love each other and protect each other until the end.”
Jang Yang nodded and smiled at the So-mu family.
So-mu bowed sincerely to him and hugged his wife and child. Although it wasn’t my intention, I couldn’t help but be thankful for everyone’s unexpected hospitality. A warm time passed and all ceremonies were completed.
“Thank you.”
“Rather, I should be grateful. Look around. Everyone is smiling. From now on, I”m going to have a good time with them. Hehehe.”
Jang Yang chuckled and headed towards the place where the guests were.
As soon as he sat down in one place, the people gathered around him like a swarm of bees.
“Now, let”s all drink happily.”
It was Jang Yang who did not even drink alcohol. Even the officials who were closest to him, assisting him, saw him holding a glass of wine for the first time.
“Drinking with your Majesty, it feels like a dream.”
“Your Majesty, that”s not even fair. I didn”t say I was just a civil servant devoted to you. Now, please eat now.”
Jang Yang raised his glass and drank it down in one go. Then, a true scene unfolded where all the people around them took action together.
Perhaps because he didn’t drink alcohol, a blush quickly appeared on his face.
He picked up chicken feet as a snack and started eating them deliciously.
“Hehe. This tastes good. You should try it quickly.”
The easy-going smile was no different from that of a commonly seen local elderly person.
A middle-aged man next to me put her hands together and asked cautiously.
“Sorry, but can I ask you one thing?”
“Go ahead. I will answer as much as I can.”
“I once heard a rumor that the Emperor of the Song Dynasty would provide four different types of snacks for each drink. But how is it possible for Mingong to enjoy the delicious chicken feet that only we eat here without eating sura?”
The moment he finished speaking, the soldiers guarding Jang Yang approached. It was a rude question, so it was meant to stop him. However, Jang Yang waved both hands and pushed them back.
“Before answering that, let me ask you one question. Imagine if your son worked hard all day to earn money for you, who is physically challenged. Would it be delicious if you used that money to buy expensive steamed carp for yourself? Or would it be more delicious to share a bowl of somen with your son?”
“How could my son eat steamed carp with the money he worked so hard to earn? I feel sick while eating it. Of course, it tastes better to share a bowl of somen.”
Jang Yang burst into laughter and picked up a chicken foot.
“Heh, me too. These chicken feet were the most delicious I”ve ever had. That”s because I”m eating them with you all.”
A few people who understood the meaning nodded and admired it, but those who didn’t understand the meaning picked up the chicken feet one by one and began to taste it.
Jang Yang, who was looking at them with a kind smile, raised his drink once again.
“The first cup is for the general who protected our family and this country. And this second cup is for you all.”
“Thank you!”
“Come on, everyone, listen!”
The wedding ended early, but the festivities continued until late at night.
Clowns took to the streets and performed, and soldiers made firecrackers out of bamboo to create a spectacle.
Jang Yang, who had been drinking for a long time, went home early and took a rest. The majority were like that.
Compared to the daytime, the heat had cooled down somewhat, but there were people who enjoyed the entertainment until late at night, as if they were sad that the day was over.
“Dalong, let”s go over there!”
So-so came out riding the mountain army. He had a huge bundle of dumplings diagonally draped around his shoulder.
It was to be distributed to beggars who could not attend. Although a large group of beggars, including Gyeongjae, attended, those who heard the news late and came from far away were unable to eat.
“You guys take it!”
Papapot-!
The dumplings sent by So-so landed exactly on the beggars’ rice bowls. They tried to say thank you, but So-so was already riding the Mountain Lord and moving to another place.
The Mountain Lord had dressed the residents in a clown costume to prevent them from being frightened, and was wearing a specially made muzzle.
It had not been long since I had wandered around the castle grounds of Changan. The moment I turned the corner, an old man with a pitiful appearance was blocking my path.
“Grandma, where does it hurt?”
It was an old woman with her face covered with a bandana. I couldn’t make out his face in detail, but he looked pitiful. Because he had no arm. Moreover, his right leg seemed to be uncomfortable and he was supporting his body with a cane.
“Sweetheart, can you take grandma home?”
So-so tilted his head. Her long bangs covered half of her face, but I felt like I had seen her somewhere before.
“Grandma, have we never seen each other before?”
“No, this is my first time seeing you. Please get down and help me.”
At that moment, the Mountain Lord, who had been quiet, suddenly lowered his upper body and growled. The specially made mouth cap was torn off at once, revealing sharp teeth.
Crumbling!
It was a strange behavior I had never seen before.
“Dalong, you can”t do that. You”re a sick grandmother.”
No matter how much I said, it was the same. The mountain army was making preparations as if it were about to pounce on its prey.
So-so tried to get down from his broad back, but he couldn’t. This was because a sudden, goosebump-like feeling tightened my entire body.
Surprisingly, that was what the mountains were emitting. It was choking So-so, as if telling him to stay still and not move.
“Ugh!”
So-so’s whole body was frozen and he couldn’t move. And the Mountain Lord and the grandmother were staring into each other’s eyes.
At some point, the grandmother’s brow furrowed. It looked like he was annoyed because So-so was hesitating. Moreover, he even screamed loudly.
“Can”t you come here right now!”
The way he opened one eye and frowned, he looked like a devil.
So-so suddenly became scared, and his face hardened.
As the old woman picked up her cane and took a step closer, the Mountain Lord pulled out his sharp claws.
There was a suffocating tension all around.
When the tension reached its peak, I suddenly heard a familiar voice from behind me.
“My pretty niece, what are you doing here!? Hiccup! Yellowy is here too~”
I turned my head and saw Uncle Il-gwang, who was drunk. Wolf Fang Squad’s other uncles were also walking shoulder to shoulder.
Everyone seemed to be drunk and stumbling around. If I wanted to, I could have blown away the intoxication all at once with my inner energy, but it seemed like I let it go on purpose.
At that time, Uncle Cheoldu, with a twisted tongue, gestured towards So-so.
“Come on, So-so, let”s go to the guest house with your uncles! Let”s have some fun tonight!”
Is it because I met a reliable ally? So-so, relaxed, looked forward again. However, the grandmother who had been glaring at her with one eye just now had disappeared everywhere.
“Uh, where did you go? Uncles, have you seen grandma who was here?”
Wolf Fang Squad’s uncles shook their headed and continued on.
“Huh? What?”
“What grandma?”
“If you don”t follow, the uncles will go first~”
It seemed like no one saw it. To disappear so quickly in a split second. It was a situation I couldn”t understand.
So-so grabbed Darong”s reins and looked around. The new house we moved into was not far away.
“I”m scared, Darong. Let”s go home quickly. I have to go and hide from my father.”