Chapter 83

Banwol (Half Moon)

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With trembling hands, he took the caterpillar fungus he was holding and threw it directly into the wok.

It felt as if the silver coins in his hand were falling into the wok.

‘If Young-Young eats this alone, she’ll end up eating my entire inn...’

His hands were trembling so much he couldn’t even buy pepper, and cold sweat trickled down his back.

Although he had become the son-in-law of the Zhuge family, he was still a commoner at heart.

-Sizzle

After all the preparation was done and he walked out of the kitchen, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his aunt’s voice reached him.

“Qingyun, what is the name of this dish?”

“Oh, Aunt, it’s called Bagua Tang.”

“Aha, Bagua Tang! If it’s that, it must be the best among nourishing dishes.”

It seemed she had heard of this old dish before.

Bagua Tang originated from the time when Xiao Yan, the emperor of the Southern Qi Dynasty, caught a large and old turtle while training his army and shared the soup with his soldiers.

The aroma of the soup was said to have spread for ten li, a sentimentally rich dish steeped in the flavor of the Central Plains.

‘Ten li? That’s about 4 kilometers. If you cooked it at Gyeongbokgung, could the smell really reach Namyang Station?’

‘Even if you give a buff, you should give it in moderation...’

Always feeling the absurdity of the Central Plains buff.

At that moment, his aunt’s voice came again.

“Qingyun, since it’s a nourishing dish, shouldn’t you make it a few more times?”

Turning around, he saw his aunt filling a silk pouch with a handful of caterpillar fungus, which she had been very reluctant to part with earlier.

His stepfather and uncle were surprised and exclaimed.

“No, so many at once...”

“Huaying, the quantity...”

But their concerns were dispelled by his aunt’s words.

“It’s for our Young-Young. Why should I be stingy?”

After receiving enough caterpillar fungus to make Bagua Tang a few more times from his aunt, her voice came again.

[Qingyun, could you... share a little later? I’ve been getting more wrinkles lately...]

‘Is this... some kind of insider trading? Even within the family, it’s not bad to owe someone a favor.’

Now that I’ve secured the meat, I’m completely part of the family, but I can’t afford to neglect my relationships.

In a world where swords and fists come first, you need to manage your allies in advance. He smiled slyly and nodded slightly at his aunt.

Her eyes lit up with joy.

His aunt gestured for him to hurry and said,

“Go on, hurry. Young-Young might be starving.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

After boosting the old folks’ morale and receiving thanks from his aunt, it was time for the next step.

Walking into Tang Yingying’s quarters with the Bagua Tang, he found his wife already awake and talking with Tang Yingying.

[Tonight. I want to try it.]

[Oh, that’s good...]

‘What are they talking about?’

“Miss, Young Master Liu Qingyun has arrived.”

As the servant announced his arrival, their conversation immediately ceased. He walked in with the wok, and the two greeted him with awkward smiles, like they had been caught in a conspiracy.

‘What’s going on?’

Although curious about what they were discussing, he knew it was inappropriate for a man to get involved in girls’ talk.

He pretended not to notice and offered them the meal.

“Old Master.”

“Liu family.”

“So, Madam, you’re already up?”

“Yes, Old Master.”

“Tang Meimei, I’ve made a nourishing dish. Eat it and regain your strength.”

“Thank you, Master.”

He ladled a bowl of Bagua Tang for Tang Yingying.

And another for his wife.

“Me? This is a nourishing dish for Sister, and I’m not sick?”

His wife looked surprised as she took the bowl.

“I made enough for both of you. Don’t worry, eat it.”

‘Stepfather, Uncle, Aunt, I’m sorry. Enjoy the broth from the chicken.’

Yes, even though the turtle had very little meat, he had prepared enough for both of them to be full and have a little left over.

But the person to receive it was already decided.

The two smiled and began their meal.

-Slurp

“The broth is rich and fragrant, really delicious, Master.”

“Old Master, what kind of meat is this, and what is the name of the dish? It’s so tender and delicious.”

He explained the dish in response to his wife’s question.

“Oh, the dish is called Bagua Tang. It originated when Xiao Yan, the emperor of the Southern Qi Dynasty, caught a large and old turtle while training his army and shared the soup with his soldiers.”

Upon hearing his answer, the two nodded and said,

“I didn’t know turtle meat could be so delicious.”

“I could believe it was lamb.”

Thinking about his mention of the turtle, his wife seemed to recall a childhood memory and began to tell him about it.

“Speaking of turtles, Sister, it reminds me of something.”

“Oh! Banwol, you mean?”

“Yes, the one we found in the river and released into the pond in the back garden.”

“Banwol?”

Feeling a bit uneasy about the name, he repeated it, and Tang Yingying responded.

“There was a drought when we were young, and we found a turtle on its back, dying, by the river. We brought it back and released it into the pond in the back garden. The turtle had a crescent moon pattern on its shell, so we named it Banwol.”

“And, Sister, we swore that as long as the turtle lived, our hearts would never change.”

Looking at each other and smiling warmly, Tang Yingying and his wife, Zhuge Qing.

A cold sweat trickled down his spine.

He pressed the turtle’s severed head back into the pot with his ladle, worried they might recognize it.

‘Sorry, I couldn’t protect your friendship...’

Hoping this wouldn’t ruin their friendship, he quickly refilled their bowls with Banwol Tang, not Bagua Tang.

“It’s so delicious, Sister.”

“Indeed, Master’s cooking is the best.”

The two kept praising the dish.

***

Zhuge Qing returned to her quarters earlier than Liu Qingyun, the wild rat.

To try what she had prepared herself for.

After taking a clean bath and drying her damp hair, Zhuge Qing received a bundle from her servant.

Opening the bundle, she found clothing made of black gauze.

Her face turned red again at the sight of the sheer black fabric.

“Miss, are you sure?”

“Old Master cares for me so much, I should be prepared for this.”

“But what if it damages your meridians...”

“Rather than that, I won’t hurt Old Master, so it’s fine...”

“Miss...”

The servant looked at Zhuge Qing with concern.

“And it’s a gift from the Poison King. It won’t damage my meridians, so don’t worry. Besides, if anything happens, the Poison King will take care of it. This is the right place to try it. Where else could I even attempt it?”

Convinced by Zhuge Qing’s explanation, the servants nodded and poured her a cup of cold tea.

-Sigh

Taking a deep breath, Zhuge Qing carefully took something from her bosom and showed it to her servant.

“Think about it, you should leave. If the medicine’s effect spreads, it won’t be good.”

“I understand, Miss.”

The servant answered with a worried voice, placed the teacup on the table, and left. Zhuge Qing began to change into the black gauze clothing.

The black gauze clothing was a gift from her aunt when she went to Dongjing.

Her aunt said it was the best-selling item among the young ladies in Dongjing, as she hadn’t consummated her marriage yet.

This was the invincible clothing that would prevent her from losing to Old Master.

Though she didn’t understand the meaning, the sight of Old Master’s flustered reaction when she wore it confirmed her aunt’s words.

After changing into the clothing, she quickly put the remaining medicine aside, checked the bed, and extinguished all but one lamp.

With a pounding heart, she waited for Old Master, and soon,

She began to hear the sound of Old Master approaching.

‘Strange, I can hear so clearly...’

A moment later, Old Master, who had been caught by Tang Yingying at his aunt’s request, entered the quarters with a tired face and slumped shoulders.

“Oh, how tiring. What is it about wanting to be sick at this late hour... Huh?!”

Wiping his forehead and entering the quarters, he was startled to see Zhuge Qing in the dim light, lying on the bed.

He seemed particularly surprised by her black gauze clothing.

-Swallow

“M-Madam, why are you wearing that again?”

Old Master’s flustered voice.

Zhuge Qing shared the good news with the flustered Old Master.

“O-Old Master, don’t be surprised. I drank the Scattering Power Poison today.”

“Scattering Power Poison?! W-Will your meridians be damaged?”

‘Such a caring person...’

Zhuge Qing answered the Old Master, who was worried about her body.

“The Poison King gave me one that wouldn’t damage my meridians, so it’s fine.”

“R-Really?!”

Old Master’s delighted voice.

He rushed to the bed.

And...

The Old Master’s face, which had been joyful as he ran to the bed, suddenly twisted.

His nostrils began to twitch, and he seemed to be trying to hold back something.

-Loud laugh

A loud laugh burst out.

“Hahaha!”

“Why?”