Chapter Text
The Tang Family Meeting Hall. A quiet wide pavilion surrounded by water, where carp splash. The head of the Tang family sat surrounded by elders, waiting for the messenger to bring a guest.
There are two families at the table: Namgung and Tang, the heads gathered to discuss the possibility of marriage of the important people's children in order to strengthen the shaky alliance called the "The five great families".
- The head of the Tang family, of course I understand everything, but this matter is of a very delicate nature.
- Yes, The head of Namgung, what worries you?
The old man's gaze turns to the side where one of the elders, the Dark Saint, is sitting.
And his hands were holding the mooncake.
Which he pulls towards the Sword Saint's mouth to distract from conversations.
- TANG BO, YOU INSOLENT BASTARD, WHY DID YOU BRING HIM HERE!
A dagger flies at Tang Bo's head, which he deftly catches between his fingers.
- The head, he didn't want to get away from me! Hyung-nim gets bored at an adult meeting, so I try to distract him with sweets...
- HE'S IN HIS SEVENTIES! LET HIM COME OUT AND WAIT!!
Cheong Myeong scratched his ear with displeasure and nevertheless left the meeting, however, as he left, he whispered:
- Bo-ya, tell me later what was interesting there.
- GO ALREADY, YOU BASTARD!
The head of the Tang family can be heard shouting, accompanied by Elder Mount Hua's cheerful laugh. With a sigh, the man barely puts his thoughts in order:
- That bastard's always hanging around here, it's a nightmare.
- ... Lord Tang, did you really not notice him right away?
***
- Oh, no, seriously! Where have these scoundrels gone!!
A woman in dark green robes was running from side to side around the main square of the palace, trying to find someone. When two grown men approached her, she trembled, thinking they were guards or menacing and creepy elders.
"Ah, I don't.... I'm sorry-!
However, when she saw the combination of a slightly careless man in green and an even more careless man in a uniform with a pink plum blossom in front of her, she was able to catch her breath.
- Greetings, dear elders. I was looking for my three children, who had run away from me while I was distracted by a conversation with the head of the bureaucracy. I hope I haven't disturbed your peace.
- Don't worry, we'll help you find them, right, Hyung-nim?
- Ugh, okay, then you'll buy me a drink.
Before the woman could dissuade such noble persons, the elders had already scattered in different directions to the children's ringing noise.
Five minutes later, men were walking towards the lady: Tang Bo, gently and carefully holding the girl in his arms, who was playing with his strands of hair. And Cheong Myeong, who had two boys under his armpits, looking at the man's shiny silver sword on his belt. Several children, whom the woman did not recognize, also gathered around him.
- Oh, thank you very much, elders, I extend my gratitude to you to the heavens!
After returning her children, the woman scolded them severely, but as she was leaving, she heard a rather strange dialogue:
- Elder Tang Myeong! Are you staying with us for a long time?
- Don't call me that, I'm from Mount Hua. My name is Cheong Myeong.
- But I saw you in a green cape in the hall yesterday-..
Tang Bo abruptly rushed towards the chatty child, covering his mouth.
-Jopyung-ah, I just let him wear my cape, just don't tell the adults about it, okay?
***
Cheong Myeong sticks his head through the open door of the Tang family's money department.
- Good afternoon!
- Greetings to the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, please come in.
At the invitation of the head of finance, Cheong Myeong dives inside the room, looking around. Newcomers, on the other hand, begin to awkwardly observe a man from a completely different sect who has unceremoniously fallen into the "heart" of their family and is now swaggering around, inspecting the new decor.
- Your department moved to a new building, so I had to look for you for a long time.
- We apologize to the elder of Mount Hua. I would like to inquire about the purpose of your visit.
- I was kicked out of the Tang meeting, and there the most interesting thing began, so I came here to listen to the gossip.
The stunned faces of the young men turned towards the older generation, who sat quietly and went about their work, not paying any attention to the newcomer.
The head of the finance department gently distracted Cheong Myeong, who was already standing with a brush in his left hand, trying to correct the hieroglyph on one of the hanging scrolls so that its meaning became somewhat questionable.
- We would like to consult with you about one question.
Cheong Myeong approaches with childish interest and looks out from the man's back.
- Our department is currently calculating food, judging by these data, what do you think it would be better for us to export less?
- Alcohol.
- May I ask why?
- "That jerk" bothered me with his argument, and now that I've won, he owes me a huge amount of alcohol. I don't want to run back and forth looking for your wine.
The man with glasses smiled gently. Not a single muscle twitched on his face.
- Well, we will take your comment into account in this matter.
***
Tang Bo was sitting at a table in a small room, with a pretty girl in front of him. First-class silk flowed from her shoulders, hair was pulled into a perfect hairstyle, and hairpins shone with jade interspersed with expensive gems. Her cheeks were flushed scarlet and fingers were nervously moving each other.
- What do you want to talk to me about, young lady of Tang?
- Today... I-I was walking through the area where the merchants were selling jewelry. It was the first time I'd been in a place where I wasn't being watched by servants. And then...
The girl fussily began to fidget and breathe raggedly.
- Go on.
- So, I didn't know that just turning a corner would land me in that depraved place, the red light district. And do you know who I saw at one of the tables of literally the very first establishment?
The door of the room opens with a bang: a shocked swordsman stands in the doorway, holding bottles of alcohol and a bag of sweets.
- DID THAT NAMGUNG JERK TURN OUT TO BE A FUCKING CHEATER?
- EXACTLY!
The girl quickly moves over to make room at the table for a third person.
And Tang Bo is already deftly taking out three glasses for alcohol, thinking for a while: how long has it been since Cheong Myeong became a household advisor to the Tang family?
Anyway, where did he get this priceless expensive alcohol that the head of his family hid under his chair in the main hall?