Episode 49. The Four Great Families of Xiangyang
The local gentry are far more cunning and ruthless than the central government officials. These landowners cozy up to the local magistrates, push their own kin into positions among the Central Government Officials, and, using that power, have built up wealth and authority that they pass down through generations.
Central officials, at least, have to worry about the Emperor or the Inspection Agency watching them. The local gentry? Not so much. They act like kings in their own domains.
Even the Emperor can't easily punish a local lord. If he tries to make an example of one, the officials and scholars rise up like a swarm of bees, submitting petitions and staging protests.
Given that, it's no wonder the heads of these families are as sly as a den of snakes.
Woo Gukseon's question just now might have sounded casual, but it was clearly meant to test me.
‘What are these people after?’
Not just the family heads, but even So Yeong-gwan was watching Won Seung closely, the atmosphere tense and strange.
They wouldn’t have gathered here for nothing. So Yeong-gwan inviting him to this meeting was no coincidence either.
Something was definitely up.
“The mood in the capital is always heavily influenced by the palace. Since His Majesty is so full of vigor and ambition, it seems the young people naturally follow his example.”
Won Seung answered diplomatically.
Jong Ji-ji chimed in.
“Ambition is good, but if you go too far, it can lead to unexpected consequences. Please, be careful how you conduct yourself.”
His words were gentle, but his eyes were cold and sharp. He was probably referring to the incident with Jong Won-bo.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Won Seung replied calmly.
Seeing the malice in Jong Ji-ji’s eyes, Won Seung knew things wouldn’t end peacefully. This was a man who would seek revenge.
After all, he’d put a hole in the man’s son’s neck. For the sake of his own reputation, Jong Bu would have to do something. Otherwise, the other families would see him as weak. In this world, the law of the jungle rules—show weakness, and you’ll be devoured.
Won Seung had already steeled himself when he heard the news about Jong Won-bo from Ohgu.
Honestly, he preferred someone like Jong Ji-ji, who showed his intentions openly. The other family heads just sat there chuckling like old men at a feast—those were the truly dangerous ones.
So Yeong-gwan sensed the strange tension between Won Seung and Jong Ji-ji. He’d heard the story about Jong Ji-ji’s son nearly dying from a wasp sting.
“Haha, the young people of Xiangyang are certainly full of spirit. I saw the camaraderie you shared with Xiangyang’s talents the other day, and it gave me hope for the future.”
He tried to mediate, steering the conversation away from conflict.
Jong Ji-ji silently sipped his tea, his hand trembling.
Won Seung bowed his head even lower, behaving with utmost courtesy.
“I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”
Trying to change the subject, So Yeong-gwan glanced at the painting tube Won Seung had brought.
“You mentioned wanting to show us a painting? What kind of painting did you bring that you had to carry it yourself?”
“It was too precious to simply hang in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, so I brought it here.”
Won Seung pulled the painting from its tube. As he unrolled it, everyone gasped in awe.
It was a massive painting, large enough to cover the entire front wall of the hall, depicting ten thousand horses galloping across the plains. Every detail, from the horses’ expressions to the muscles in their legs, was rendered with exquisite care.
Won Seung had spent days laboring over this masterpiece.
“This is… isn’t this the Ten Thousand Horses Painting?”
So Yeong-gwan was awestruck by the grand style, but also regretted asking to see the painting in front of the family heads.
He hadn’t expected something like this.
The Ten Thousand Horses Painting is traditionally displayed before a military campaign to boost morale. Usually, the Emperor himself bestows it upon a general. It represents a commitment to decisive action and an all-out charge.
Because of its meaning, exchanging such a painting carelessly could be seen as plotting rebellion. So Yeong-gwan couldn’t help but look flustered for a moment.
‘You idiot, why would you bring this out here and now?’
Quickly masking his expression, So Yeong-gwan feigned admiration.
“Is this a reproduction?”
“Yes. Wind-Cloud Young Master painted a copy of Heo Yu’s Ten Thousand Horses Painting.”
“Oh, so this is the famous work of Heo Yu?”
Yang Woo-bo peered at the painting, nodding in recognition.
“I heard the original was lost long ago… What a magnificent piece.”
“It’s a copy, so who can say if it’s genuine or not. Ah, it’s already mealtime. Young Master Pung, let’s put the painting away for now.”
So Yeong-gwan wanted to remove the painting before the family heads could read too much into its meaning.
‘Tch! I went through several brushes painting ten thousand horses, and they barely gave it a glance.’
He’d poured his heart into this masterpiece, but they dismissed it so quickly that Won Seung couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
He rolled up the painting and put it back in the tube.
Meanwhile, the servants brought in food and set the table.
“Please, have a seat.”
Won Seung shook his head.
He had no intention of sitting down to eat with these snakes without knowing what they were plotting. He needed to figure out why they’d gathered.
“How could I share a table with the elders of Xiangyang? I’ll go join Miss San-san instead.”
So Yeong-gwan was also relieved that the Ten Thousand Horses Painting wouldn’t become a topic of conversation.
“Haha, San-san was just saying she was waiting for you. It’s good for the young people to eat together.”
He gently pushed Won Seung out.
As Won Seung left the guest hall, he saw So San-san hurrying toward him in the distance. She was walking so quickly that her maid, holding a sunshade, couldn’t keep up.
Won Seung hid behind a wall, and when So San-san passed by, he cleared his throat loudly.
Startled, So San-san turned and ran over.
“I heard you’d arrived, Brother Pung. Why are you out here alone?”
“The heads of the Four Great Families of Xiangyang are inside. At my age, I can’t exactly mingle with them, can I? I said I was going to see you and slipped out.”
“Oh…”
San-san lowered her head, looking delighted.
Having rushed over, her face was flushed even redder.
“Where’s your room, San-san?”
When Won Seung asked about her room, the maid shot him a glare, as if to say, ‘Why would you want to look into a maiden’s quarters?’
San-san looked flustered as well.
‘Ah!’
Won Seung realized his mistake. San-san looked so young and petite, like a little sister, that he’d spoken without thinking.
He laughed and smacked himself on the mouth.
“You fool! Why would you want to peek into a grown woman’s room? How shameless!”
San-san burst out laughing, and even the older maid joined in.
“I’ve prepared a meal.”
“Great. Let’s see what the prefecture’s chef can do.”
As he followed San-san, Won Seung asked quietly,
“Do the heads of the Four Great Families gather often?”
“No. The last time was two years ago, during the flood. They’re all so busy that it’s rare for them to all be here at once.”
San-san had arranged a meal in her own guest room.
It was a simpler meal than Won Seung expected—mostly vegetables and fruit, with only some cold chicken as meat.
“Do you eat like this every day? No wonder you’re so frail.”
“Should I have them bring more meat?”
“No, it’s fine. I can eat at home. By the way, do you know anyone from the Four Great Families?”
“Of course.”
As they ate, Won Seung asked San-san about the Four Great Families.
Since she interacted with the women of those families, she knew quite a bit, though most of it was about the inner quarters or back gardens. Still, kind-hearted San-san never spoke ill of anyone.
But Won Seung was able to glean two or three things from each of her comments.
“Senior Brother Jong will be going to the capital once he recovers. He’ll study under the Imperial Academy and probably become an official.”
From that, Won Seung realized that Jong Won-bo had fallen out of favor with his father, Jong Ji-ji.
As the eldest son, Jong Won-bo should have been learning to manage the family and eventually inherit the position of family head. But if he was being sent to the Central Government Officials, someone else would be taking over.
‘Well… If an idiot like Jong Won-bo became head, the family would be ruined in no time.’
After finishing their meal and tea, they toured San-san’s garden. It was lovingly tended, filled with all kinds of flowers.
When Won Seung left the mountains, it had been early spring and the plum blossoms were blooming. Now, in early summer, the garden was in full bloom.
The two of them strolled among the flowers and trees, chatting about the plants. They looked every bit the perfect couple.
San-san’s old nurse watched them, wiping away tears, thinking, ‘My little lady has grown up.’
“Your garden is so charming, San-san.”
“I wonder what your garden looks like, Brother.”
“My garden?”
“When I visit the capital, I’ll be sure to visit Won Manor.”
‘Won Manor?’
Won Seung stopped in his tracks, startled, and looked at So San-san.
She’d mentioned Won Manor… Did that mean she knew his true identity?
When he stared at her in shock, So San-san looked confused, as if she didn’t know what she’d done wrong.
“San-san… Do you know who I am?”
She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, realizing her mistake. Her big eyes filled with panic.
“It’s okay, you can tell me.”
“Wind-Cloud…”
“No, my real name.”
“Won Seung.”
Won Seung’s heart dropped. Hearing his name from San-san’s lips…
How did this happen?
“Where did you hear that name?”
He asked, his face unconsciously hardening. San-san, startled, clamped her mouth shut, her eyes brimming with tears. Won Seung quickly softened his expression and spoke gently.
“No, I’m not upset with you, San-san. I was just surprised, that’s all. You know how delicate my situation is.”
“I know. I’ll never mention it to anyone.”
San-san believed completely that Won Seung was on the run from his family’s enemies.
“But who told you about my identity?”
“My father told me.”
So Yeong-gwan had warned his daughter that Won Seung was the missing eldest son of the National Preceptor, and told her to keep her distance. But it had the opposite effect.
Now that San-san knew Won Seung’s tragic circumstances were real, she felt even more sympathy for him.
“How did your father know? I’ve never met him before.”
“I don’t know.”
San-san shook her head.
It was unsettling. If his identity could be uncovered this easily… it would reach Lady Ju’s ears in no time.
‘I’ve never been to Xiangyang before, so how could anyone here know me?’
Won Seung racked his brain. Had he met So Yeong-gwan as a child? He couldn’t remember.
Even if So Yeong-gwan had seen him back then, he’d only been six years old. Would he really recognize him after ten years? He was worried his own father, the National Preceptor, wouldn’t recognize him now.
It seemed unlikely.
It must be because of his actions in Xiangyang.
‘I only revealed my name at the Clear Water Sect… and I didn’t even give my family name.’
He regretted pretending to be from Seongwang House and revealing his name so carelessly.
He’d thought, living in the mountains, that the world had forgotten him.
But here he was, recognized immediately—over a thousand li from the capital, in Xiangyang…
He couldn’t make sense of it.
‘Jo Bang-un told Gu Ja-ang of the Sky-Gazing Pavilion that I was from Seongwang House. So Gu Ja-ang must have figured it out.’
Won Seung considered who else might have a reason to investigate his identity, but aside from the Clear Water Sect and the Sky-Gazing Pavilion, no one came to mind.
‘But Gu Ja-ang thought I was from Seongwang House.’
He’d used that to swindle two hundred thousand nyang.
Besides, Gu Ja-ang and Cheon Il-hae had bought the painting to meet the prefect, which meant they weren’t close with him. So they were out.
That left the Clear Water Sect.
‘Hwa Cheon-Woon?’