The blue beauty is the idol of this era.
She set up a gyobang, a dormitory for courtesans, at the gilu and nurtured them herself, teaching them dance, music, poetry, calligraphy, and education. They are raised to easily provide enjoyment to any guest who visits.
For over a decade, men have derived pleasure from the blue beauties that have been cultivated, but there was one taboo they had to uphold.
“No singing for money, no selling the body.”
They could sell their songs, but not their bodies. They were flowers that could only be enjoyed with the eyes, not plucked. That was the blue beauties of this era.
Right before my eyes, there stood a man who had just plucked a flower nurtured with care for over a decade.
“Surely, you didn’t discuss the gilu beforehand…”
“The only permission I received was for Hong Ran’s external outings.”
So that courtesan’s name is Hong Ran. Inspector Jung Mun-won said to me, almost confessing a crime.
“You’ve really messed up.”
It’s not impossible to end up with one’s favorite idol.
If you negotiate with the gilu, take into account the money spent raising and educating her since childhood, and the earnings she will bring to the gilu in the future, you could buy a miracle.
Of course, Jung Mun-won had already acted before purchasing that miracle.
“The gilu wouldn’t have just stood by once they learned the truth.”
The blue beauties are properties of the gilu. If something they’ve nurtured for over a decade were to become tainted overnight, it wouldn’t simply be a matter of saying, “I’ll buy a miracle because I dirtied it.”
Think of it this way:
Suppose there’s an idol agency.
After investing years into growing an idol, just to have that idol hold a press conference and say, “I’m pregnant, so I’m retiring immediately.” Would the agency say, “Thanks for all your hard work. Good luck!”?
With several years left on the contract and the investment in advertising, there would definitely be a lawsuit.
This is ultimately a systemic issue.
The gilu provides enjoyment to its guests, not women to sell. When a man taints a courtesan, he ultimately sells her off.
If this structure is permitted, the entire gilu business model crumbles.
“They’ve said that the blue beauties have grown complacent, and they want to set a solid example. Originally, that arrow was meant for me, but it looks like that child is going to be harmed.”
“If it were an ordinary man, not an Inspector, who broke the taboo, it would be a matter of floating in the Yangtze River the next day.”
There’s a severe price to pay for both men and women who break the taboo.
If the man before me weren’t an inspector who had received an imperial decree and brought down the powerful head of the branch, there would surely have been retribution.
“I understand. So I’ll prepare the money you need, so please wait.”
So that’s why he came to me.
“Regardless of wanting to have the child of my favorite, you should have followed the procedure.”
“It was a mistake of a single night.”
The inspector hung his head, muttering in distress.
“Yes, a mistake, indeed. I was intoxicated, caught up in the atmosphere. The lips in front of me seemed soft, and after feeling the touch, we stripped down, got caught up in the moment, and after sweating and feeling satisfied, I woke up the next day, and thought, ‘Oh no! What a mistake.’ That’s the sort of mistake we’re talking about.”
“……”
A mistake is pondering whether to send a message to a friend you like and accidentally sending it instead, only to get completely ignored.
That’s the sort of mistake that has you banging your head in bed, and then avoiding the person at the next day’s lecture.
Having “accidentally slept with a friend” is frankly intentional. I wish I knew how to make such ‘mistakes’. Those filthy deceivers.
“It was really just a mistake.”
Jung Mun-won muttered again, looking genuinely wronged.
“My lady, right now it’s not about excuses…”
“I really have no recollection of it!”
“…Huh?”
What on earth does that mean?
—
“So you woke up to find it was morning?”
The circumstances explained by the inspector were quite intriguing.
“I was indeed drunk. It’s true we came to our senses naked in the morning. But really, I have no memory of the middle of the night.”
“Wasn’t there some misunderstanding between you two?”
“From the evidence this morning and the girl’s reaction, it seems there’s no doubt, but I truly have no memory of it.”
“Do you really not remember anything?”
I can’t believe one could engage in such complex activities without any memory of it. Could it be a defense mechanism? I pressed the inspector further.
“I swear, it’s the truth.”
Inspector Jung Mun-won’s expression held no trace of deceit; it really did seem like he was being honest.
What a tricky situation.
If the inspector is the one at fault, I can’t really intervene here.
Regardless of whether they were drunk or not, both actively participated in the gilu contract-breaking affair. It’s only fair that the inspector pays the compensation amount plus more.
The issue here is that if that happens, I won’t be able to get the money back from the inspector.
“…If I may ask…”
I spoke cautiously, looking up at the inspector.
There’s a significant gap in what Jung Mun-won said. Perhaps he didn’t realize, but I saw my opportunity to get my money back.
“Don’t even think about that.”
Jung Mun-won frowned at me.
“I know you’re called the famous Ho Pil. But there are thoughts one can entertain and thoughts one shouldn’t.”
“It’s the duty of a thief to explore all possibilities.”
I spoke in a determined voice as if to accuse the inspector of being the culprit.
“Then close it off.”
I shook my head at the inspector’s command.
This matter definitely needs to be addressed. For the inspector’s sake, and for the sake of my trial.
“No. Even if I have to be the bad guy, I must speak up. The courtesan might have been scheming.
It’s possible that nothing happened that night. The courtesan might have plotted something.
If my doubts turn out to be true, then this could be resolved quite easily.
“That’s impossible.”
The inspector’s voice rose slightly at my suggestion.
“My lady.”
“She was like a younger sister to me. Because of her, I even obtained decisive evidence. That evidence, along with the evidence from the Shadowless Thief, brought down the head of the branch. Now you’re telling me to suspect her?”
“There’s a saying in Joseon that you can know the depths of waters but not the depths of men.”
The courtesan could have tried to improve her situation against an innocent inspector, or perhaps the gilu might have wanted to make a solid profit.
“That child was completely cut off from the world.”
“Huh?”
“When I first met her, her eyes were lifeless. Though she smiled, she looked ready to die at any moment. She reminded me of my sister left behind in my hometown, which is why I asked to borrow her. I thought that perhaps allowing her some freedom would give her a glimmer of hope. After that, she truly started to regain her expression.”
“You seemed to have formed quite a deep bond.”
The affection that resonated from Inspector Jung Mun-won towards the courtesan was closer to familial love.
“How could I harbor lust for such a child? And how could she feel that way towards me? It was merely my mistake.”
Jung Mun-won’s faith was adamant. If I can’t delve into that right now, I might as well investigate other truths.
“Is the pregnancy confirmed?”
“It’s certain. We’ve checked without delay and even called a doctor.”
“What’s the gilu asking for?”
“Initially, they said they would buy a miracle. But once they learned of the pregnancy, they immediately doubled the money.”
“They’re trying to play hardball.”
“If I don’t bring the money, who knows what terrible things will befall Hong Ran and her child?”
Jung Mun-won lamented, holding his head in his hands, genuinely worried.
“You brought all the money you had, along with what you borrowed from Man Geum Battlefield?”
So this was the backstory behind the inspector’s name being recorded as a debtor. With a cherished courtesan pregnant, it was only natural for him to feel weak.
“Yes. Huh? How did you know that?”
“I’m the would-be son-in-law to Lord Man Geum. Recently, your well-known inspector fumbled about not paying back his debts, and he asked me to look into it.”
“Ah, that’s why I noticed the martial artists from Man Geum Battlefield guarding the entrance. You have an unpredictable background… Well, I borrowed with the intention of returning, but it seems I’ve passed the due date. My apologies.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me.”
“So, I was wondering… Could you lend me some money?”
The inspector looked at me endlessly apologetic.
“I can lend it to you, but they’re unlikely to sell already. With an incident like this occurring, their goal will likely to be to torment the inspector and the courtesan as much as possible.”
“I understand it’s a hopeless situation. However, it’s my fault. Shouldn’t I at least do my best?”
What should I do?
To gain favor with the inspector, it would be wise to lend him money. But that doesn’t guarantee the problem will resolve itself.
Moreover, my intention is to recover the loaned money, rather than just gain his favor.
I can’t just stand idly by.
“May I try solving that for you?”
“You? If you’re suggesting I should suspect that child…”
“You don’t need to suspect her. I can carry all the doubts myself.”
How could one suspect a beloved? At times, it’s necessary to have a thief take a cold look at the event. I gazed at the inspector imploringly.
“……”
The inspector’s gaze wavered.
In a situation where there’s no clear answer, it’s often difficult to reject someone else’s help. Let me persuade him a little more.
“Isn’t handling troublesome matters also the duty of a thief? Even if both sides bear some blame, I can help you strike a proper deal.”
Even if it’s true they were both at fault, I’ll mediate.
In this world, it’s not uncommon for thieves in positions of authority to play the judge in minor civil cases as well.
An appealing proposition for the inspector, I have to believe.
“Hmm…”
Jung Mun-won seemed on the verge of succumbing to the idea, hesitant.
Awesome. I’ll take this chance. From my belongings, I pulled out two familiar items before the inspector.
“Why are you holding the baton and the rope?”
I placed the symbols of a thief before Jung Mun-won, knelt, and looked up at him.
“Would you permit me to be a thief for you?”
Give me your name, and allow me to help you resolve your issue as a famous thief.
Inspector Jung Mun-won gazed at me for a while before lifting the rope in front of him.
“I beg you.”
—
Problems related to courtesans aren’t my specialty.
I needed guidance on the inspector’s case. Coincidentally, I had someone well-versed in gilu affairs around me, so I decided to seek his advice.
“Do you know the courtesan named Hong Ran? Who do you think I am? I’ve not left a single gilu unvisited in Wuhan, and if she’s famous, you bet I’ve met her.”
Jeon Gil-san proudly pointed a thumb at himself.
“That’s impressive.”
Should I be amused that he knows her, or feel pity for the suffering his mother would endure upon finding out her proud son? I smiled bitterly.
“If we say the high-ranking officials in Wuhan rent a big room to feast, they’d line up from Mae-hyang to Hong Ran, just barely getting in, right? He may not look impressive, but he’d at least sit at the back.”
“Is that so? That much, huh?”
He means, being associated with a top-tier girl group, even if it’s only a member of little standing.
“Why are you asking about Hong Ran?”
“You won’t believe this; the inspector made her pregnant without warning.”
I sighed lightly as I shared the facts.
“…Is he out of his mind?!”
Yeah, even the usually indulgent Jeon Gil-san would understandably react this way.
“He claims there were circumstances.”
I unraveled the story and my thoughts shared by the inspector.
“It’s not impossible…”
Jeon Gil-san rested his chin on one hand, pondering my words for a moment before nodding in agreement.
“For sure?”
“It could be that the gilu’s finances are poor, prompting a desperate gamble, or the courtesan could have gotten into trouble and blamed it on a rich man.”
“Indeed. That could be it.”
It seems the situation wasn’t hopelessly ridiculous. That would do.
“So what do we do? This is just a possibility. If the inspector truly got into trouble, it’s beyond our reach.”
“I don’t intend to invest too much in this issue.”
Time is pressing.
I have a month to resolve this. I’m already behind on the issue of the Three-Eyed Sword. Even if the courtesan or gilu were plotting something, I can’t wait indefinitely for evidence to materialize.
If the inspector’s fault is indisputable, there’s a high chance of wasted effort. Regardless, I need to buy the miracle and pay the compensation too.
“Then?”
I refuse to cling to low probabilities alone. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way.
No matter how complex the situation is, sometimes a single slice can disentangle the mess.
“I’ll punch through it. We’re heading to the gilu, so lead the way.”
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