Chapter 251: Lady Of White Flowers, Mi Hyoran (1)
Why?
What is this situation even?
I stopped rubbing my eyes, knelt down, and cautiously lifted my head.
Sip.
Before me sat a woman, calmly savoring her tea.
Seeing her poised posture and serene demeanor felt utterly surreal.
Was it because she was someone who shouldn’t belong in my room?
Probably so.
The person before me was none other than Mi Hyoran, the Lady of White Flowers—head of the renowned White Flowers merchant association, mother to Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo, and the current Lady of the Gu Clan. Yet, here she was, sipping tea in my room.
She looked remarkably youthful; her beauty clearly revealed where Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo inherited their looks.
At the same time, there was a slight fierceness in her gaze, reminding me that she was no pushover.
Tap.
The sound of her teacup landing on the table disrupted the silence, echoing more than it should due to the stillness of the room.
Mi Hyoran’s keen eyes turned towards me, causing me to flinch involuntarily.
“It has been a while.”
Her voice sounded surprisingly blunt.
Unlike my fiery sisters, Lady Mi maintained a cold and unyielding demeanor.
Father seems to share that vibe; I wonder who Gu Huibi takes after.
Not that I was one to judge.
If we were to compare our fiery tempers, Gu Huibi and I would certainly be on equal ground.
After what felt like an eternity of hesitation, I finally managed to speak.
“…It has been a while…”
Pause.
Upon hearing my greeting, Mi Hyoran suddenly froze. Her gaze on me seemed to sharpen.
That was an odd reaction. Why the sudden change?
“…Interesting.”
“Huh?”
“Interesting that you’re thanking me for the visit. How long has it been?”
…
Had it been that long?
To be fair, back when Lady Mi stayed with the clan, I’d muster the courage to salute her even when I was uncomfortable. But once my mother vanished, I didn’t even bother with that minimal gesture.
I was too engrossed in my own shattered existence to care about anyone else. Plus, Lady Mi had left the clan soon after.
This wasn’t the time to get lost in my thoughts, though. I gathered my courage and asked her, “…May I ask why you came to visit?”
Was there a specific reason for her sudden appearance? My curiosity piqued.
…Wait, was my question out of line?
Mi Hyoran’s gaze seemed to subtly shift, her expression hinting at a change.
“I heard you’ve changed significantly—it seems the whispers were true.”
“Well, it’s only natural to change after all this time.”
“I see. Perhaps it feels like a century for you…” Mi Hyoran took the last sip of her tea and rose gracefully.
“I simply came to see your face, having heard of your return. There’s no need to dwell on it too much.”
“…Pardon?”
“We shall have a proper reunion later. Your father will probably be looking for you by now.”
After saying that, Mi Hyoran turned and made her way towards the door, leaving me utterly confused.
Did she genuinely come here just to see me?
I was completely flabbergasted, unsure of how to react.
What the heck was that?
I wondered if Lady Mi had some ulterior motive for her visit. But her demeanor offered little clue.
To me, she wasn’t someone I hated or found scary, but rather someone who made my skin crawl with her intensity.
However, just as Mi Hyoran reached for the door…
Slide!
The door burst open, and someone barged into the room.
“Little Brother! You’re skipping your…”
It was Gu Huibi.
The instant Gu Huibi’s eyes met Mi Hyoran’s, her expression transitioned from bewilderment to sheer panic.
“Mo…ther?”
“…Interesting.”
Lady Mi replied to Gu Huibi’s trembling words in her signature calm manner, but I could see cold sweat trickling down Gu Huibi’s cheek.
“…I definitely told you to behave yourself…”
“It’s not like that… I just wanted to take care of my little brother…”
“Are you trying to justify your mistakes?”
…
With those icy words, Gu Huibi’s mouth snapped shut.
This had been the pattern for ages—Gu Huibi couldn’t stand against Lady Mi.
Or perhaps it was more accurate that she had become submissive.
In the presence of Lady Mi, she transformed from a fierce tiger into a compliant lamb.
“…I planned to visit you and Yeonseo later, but it seems I have much to discuss with you right now.”
“M-Mother… about that…”
“Follow me.”
Gu Huibi turned to me, silently pleading for assistance.
But how unfortunate. What could I possibly do?
I was entirely powerless to help her.
In the end, Lady Mi firmly grasped Gu Huibi’s arm and dragged her out without resistance. I could only watch, bewildered, as the two women exited, leaving behind a calm after the chaos.
In my past life, my relationship with Mi Hyoran wasn’t exactly ideal, nor was it extremely terrible.
To put it candidly, I did my best to avoid her because she intimidated me.
It just so happened that one day, while strolling through the garden with my mother, I accidentally ran into Mi Hyoran. Though, if I’m being honest, it was more accurate to say that Mi Hyoran had come there on purpose.
That garden belonged to the residence where my mother, Gu Ryunghwa, and I lived.
I believe it happened around the same time when I froze, captivated by Mi Hyoran’s gaze fixed on me.
As the child of a concubine, confronting the Lord’s legal wife was a daunting experience.
Not only did I not know how to behave, but even if I treated her with utmost respect, how could she maintain a favorable view of me?
How could she hold any positive feelings towards me, the offspring of a concubine who was destined to occupy the Lord’s seat in the future? I sincerely doubted it.
After my mother vanished, I began to harbor resentment towards everyone in the clan, and Mi Hyoran became one of the targets of that resentment.
You might wonder why I would harbor such animosity toward so many, but even I couldn’t provide a clear answer. Maybe it was just my youthful immaturity.
I resented the world, so even if Mi Hyoran was innocent, I longed to blame anything and everything.
Even in her rare appearances in the clan, she was usually bogged down with her own affairs. Because of this, Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo often visited my place, spending time with me.
Did she perhaps not like that?
It’s entirely plausible.
It made perfect sense for her to be displeased with her daughters spending time with me and my mother.
No matter how much I pondered, I couldn’t find a single reason for her to view me in a positive light.
That made it even harder for me to grasp.
During the chaos when I stumbled into becoming a Demonic Human, and the world was unraveling due to the rise of the Demonic Cult, there was a merchant association devotedly helping others and sacrificing their own interests.
That association was none other than the White Flowers Merchant Association.
While other merchant associations were preoccupied with their self-preservation, the White Flowers Merchant Association boldly chose to support those in need.
Everyone was curious about her motivation behind such selfless actions, and in response, the head of the merchant association, Mi Hyoran, calmly stated:
-My son has made mistakes, and it’s my duty as his mother to find a solution for it.
Mother and son, huh?
Hearing such words from her felt very peculiar.
…Why?
I considered the possibility that Mi Hyoran was simply managing her reputation because of the attention her merchant association was garnering.
Yet, knowing her character, it didn’t seem likely she’d do that just ‘for’ her merchant association.
Although I didn’t know her well, I knew she wasn’t the type to act solely for appearances.
She kept her promises, continuing to help others, even at great personal risk.
Despite losing her own children and facing the threat to her merchant association, she maintained her resolve.
Could it be that she genuinely doesn’t resent me at all?
Could that even be possible?
How could she not hold resentment towards me, the one responsible for her children and husband’s demise?
I wasn’t even blood-related to her, being merely the child of a concubine.
Even though the regression might have erased those events, my perception of her remained unchanged.
Is this guilt weighing upon me?
It’s hard to affirm or deny this feeling, but it lingered nonetheless.
That’s how it felt.
“…Right.”
The sudden voice broke my thoughts, causing me to lift my head.
I found myself surrounded by familiar faces in a modestly sized meeting hall.
Everyone here was a relative of the Gu Clan.
My father sat in the center, and to my surprise, Gu Yeonseo was also present—someone I hadn’t seen in quite some time.
Although this gathering was for celebrating our return, the mood was far from festive.
Honestly, we were never the kind to indulge in such frivolities.
I heard that Gu Ryunghwa and the Sword Queen had gone back to Mount Hua, and I noticed an unfamiliar but striking face besides Gu Ryunghwa.
It’s been a while.
I thought, glancing at the person sitting across from me.
I was, of course, referring to my second sister, Gu Yeonseo.
She appeared to be avoiding my eyes, as if she didn’t wish to be here. However, given that her mother was present, she had little choice but to attend.
What has she been up to all this time?
Taking a closer look, I noted that she had matured in both physical strength and Qi since we last met.
She seems to be around the third or fourth rank.
Based on my brief observation, that seemed about right.
She probably put in considerable effort to reach this level.
Throughout this tension, Gu Yeonseo and I made brief eye contact, but she would quickly turn away, making it evident there was unease between us.
“I heard you’re engaged to the Namgung Clan,” Lady Mi’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
Thump.
I could feel Gu Huibi next to me tense at that.
Shouldn’t I be the one surprised? Why was she reacting this way?
Did she get a good scolding?
Considering how she had just been dragged out by her mother, it was probable she heard something spicy.
“Not yet, but the engagement is forthcoming.”
If everything went smoothly, I would be heading to Anhui for the engagement shortly.
“The Namgung Clan, huh? Not a terrible family,” Lady Mi mused thoughtfully.
Her silence hinted at concern, which caught me off guard.
It was surprising for her to comment that the Namgung Clan was “not terrible,” especially considering they were one of the Four Noble Clans.
“Do you believe she’s a good match?”
“…Huh? Ah, yes… she’s… suitable.”
The unexpected question caught me flat-footed; I hadn’t anticipated her asking my opinion.
Mi Hyoran nodded, seemingly satisfied.
“…You mentioned that she is currently in the clan, correct?”
“Yes.”
She was probably asleep at this hour.
Given that this gathering was exclusive to blood relatives of the Gu Clan, Namgung Bi-ah didn’t attend.
It was a rather uncomfortable affair, especially since I could sense she would want to be here.
Not out of discomfort, but because I felt uneasy.
This wasn’t a typical celebratory gathering, as it felt eerily quiet.
Father was always reserved, but even Gu Huibi, who would normally liven things up, was unusually quiet, making the atmosphere quite awkward.
Sip.
As the silence lingered, Lady Mi took another sip of her tea before continuing.
“I’ve also heard about the Moyong Clan’s daughter.”
I glanced around, trying to figure out to whom she was addressing.
Hmm?
No one responded, but given how Mi Hyoran was staring at me, the conclusion was clear.
So she’s asking me, huh?
Suddenly, I felt nauseous; it felt like the first time after my regression.
“That’s correct.”
She must have already been informed, so I wondered what it was she wanted to know now.
“…I made several attempts, but all were declined. Yet, the Tang Clan and the Moyong Clan are collaborating in Shanxi, huh?”
Ah.
Was she possibly implying that I should be at fault?
The Moyong Clan was so competent that any merchant association would flourish when allied with them.
But the White Flowers Merchant Association was rejected, while the Gu Clan suddenly succeeded in forging a partnership with them.
It wasn’t hard to understand why she might feel disgruntled; after all, the White Flowers Merchant Association is not the Gu Clan.
Not that I have any reasons to apologize…
Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy as I glanced at Lady Mi, who nodded her head in acknowledgment.
“I’ve heard that you had a crucial role in it. Well done.”
“…Excuse me?”
Her sudden compliment left me flabbergasted, robbing me of words.
I hadn’t expected her to say that.
“Hmm…”
Lady Mi let out a pensive hum, her expression indicating that she was deep in thought.
She seemed conflicted, faced with something not going according to her wants, or maybe she had something else on her mind.
…I wish she wouldn’t focus on me too much.
Unfortunately, the discomfort lingered.
What could have brought her back?
Mi Hyoran left the clan shortly after my mother disappeared, and in my previous life, she didn’t return until I was in my twenties.
More precisely, it was right around…
The time I became Young Lord.
Yes, that approximately fits.
But why is she here now? Did something happen?
If she was experiencing issues with her merchant association, she wouldn’t have come to the Gu Clan for refuge.
Yet she certainly didn’t appear desperate or in distress over anything.
Of course, with her long-standing experience as a head, it wouldn’t be unusual to excel at concealing her true emotions.
I haven’t heard any disturbance involving the White Flowers Merchant Association, either.
…Even reflecting on the events of my past life, with so many factors shifting due to my intervention, it felt futile.
After enduring even more of this awkward silence, the meeting finally concluded, and everyone began to rise.
First was my father, who had remained quiet during the gathering, followed by Lady Mi and the Gu sisters.
By the way, Gu Huibi was practically dragged out by her mother.
As they exited, Lady Mi shot a glance in my direction, and the moment our eyes met, I almost choked on a dumpling I had been sneaking.
I gulped it down with some water, wearing a bewildered expression.
“What the hell…?”
I still had no clues regarding her intentions for being here.
It seemed like she wanted something from me, but since she hadn’t uttered a word more, I found myself utterly lost.
A little while later…
Swish!
Namgung Bi-ah swung her sword under the moonlit sky, the sound cutting through the quiet night. Deep in her training, she was startled by an unexpected visitor!
Namgung Bi-ah directed her gaze towards the newcomer—a person she had never met before.
“Nice to meet you.”
As soon as she recognized the visitor, her eyes widened in shock.
After a moment of silence, the guest spoke calmly, causing Namgung Bi-ah to tense up.
“May we have a brief conversation?”
Namgung Bi-ah pondered, wondering if there were any treats or tea to offer.
Alas, to her dismay, she realized that her home was devoid of such comforts, leaving her feeling somewhat hopeless.
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