Episode 219: The Tang Family Head
“Tang Mujin!”
Mok Wana couldn’t hide her delight as she stood up from her seat.
A smudge of soot marked her lips, and in her left hand, she held a half-peeled roasted chestnut and a taro.
Tang Mujin chuckled at the sight.
When they first met at the demonic cult, Mok Wana had been wary and hostile towards strangers. But somewhere along the way, she had become remarkably cheerful and optimistic.
It seemed as if she was finally experiencing the childhood she had missed, or perhaps she had rediscovered her naturally easygoing nature. Either way, it was a good change.
Tang Mujin approached Tang Jesun, who was sitting next to Mok Wana, and asked, “What have you been up to?”
“I’ve been keeping Wana company with some snacks. Or maybe it’s the other way around. She makes sure I don’t feel lonely.”
Tang Jesun’s voice was filled with affection for Mok Wana.
If Tang Mujin had a younger sister, he imagined Tang Jesun would treat her just like this.
“I’m glad to hear that. I was worried when we first brought her home.”
“Bringing her here was the best decision. Thanks to Wana, I haven’t felt your absence this past year. She’s been a great companion and incredibly diligent.”
Mok Wana puffed up with pride at the praise. Tang Jesun continued to commend her.
“She’s been a tremendous help with my medical work, and she’s a quick learner. She can even read medical texts now.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
When they first met, Mok Wana couldn’t read. She had been mimicking the work of a healer without understanding the research materials.
For someone who hadn’t started learning to read as a child, it was common to remain illiterate for life. Most people, except for officials, merchants, or healers, could live without reading.
The fact that she learned to read later in life was impressive enough, but being able to read medical texts was extraordinary. It wasn’t just intelligence; it was sheer determination and effort.
“She’s smart and kind. Even when she’s busy with her studies and work, she takes care of Yeong when Seolyeong is occupied. Yeong even thinks she has two mothers. She probably doesn’t even know what her father looks like.”
As Tang Jesun glanced at Tang Mujin, Mok Wana pointed behind him.
“Yeong is here!”
Turning around, Tang Mujin saw Tang Yeong.
The toddler’s chubby cheeks were particularly noticeable, with a clear imprint from where she had been sleeping.
A smile bloomed on Tang Jesun’s face at the sight of his granddaughter. Tang Yeong toddled over without fussing or whining.
However, she hesitated upon seeing Tang Mujin and then bypassed him to nestle into Mok Wana’s arms. It seemed Mok Wana’s care for her was no exaggeration.
“Looks like she prefers Wana over you.”
Tang Mujin felt a pang of sadness at Tang Jesun’s words.
“Seems like she’s forgotten my face.”
“That’s to be expected. But you can slowly close the gap. You’re not the first to return from the battlefield to a child who doesn’t remember you.”
Tang Yeong squirmed a bit in Mok Wana’s arms before settling comfortably. Both Mok Wana and Tang Yeong looked perfectly at ease.
“Is this a common occurrence?”
“When Yeong wanders off, people usually bring her back to Seolyeong or Wana. If Seolyeong is busy, they take her to Wana, and vice versa.”
It was a heartwarming scene. Tang Mujin felt a twinge of regret that his absence over the past year seemed hardly noticed.
After playing with Tang Yeong for a while, Mok Wana suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, I have something to show you.”
“What is it?”
“Wait a moment.”
Handing Tang Yeong to Tang Mujin, Mok Wana distributed the roasted chestnut and taro to Tang Jesun and Tang Mujin before disappearing somewhere.
Tang Mujin wondered if his daughter would start crying in his arms, but to his surprise, Tang Yeong remained calm. It seemed she trusted him as someone Mok Wana knew.
A short while later, Mok Wana returned, having changed her clothes.
She wore a simple green dress. It wasn’t expensive or rare, but it suited her well.
Women often wore green when they were happy. On the day of Tang Mujin’s wedding, Dan Seolyeong had worn an exquisite green dress.
Mok Wana twirled around with her arms outstretched.
“How do I look?”
“It suits you well. Who bought it for you?”
“I did. I saved up from the little I earned and the occasional pocket money. I didn’t waste a single penny.”
Tang Jesun’s expression turned a bit somber.
Tang Mujin understood the emotion behind his father’s expression. It was the look of a father watching his grown daughter prepare to leave the nest. Tang Jesun spoke.
“If you needed clothes, you could have asked. I could have easily provided for you.”
“It’s fine. Doesn’t it look good on me?”
“Yes, you look ready for a wedding.”
It was a typical conversation.
However, Mok Wana’s response to Tang Jesun’s comment was unexpected.
“I don’t need a wedding.”
Amused by her words, Tang Jesun burst into laughter.
“Haha. But someday, you’ll want to start a family of your own.”
“It’s not that. I recently read the ‘Baihu Tongyi.’ It said weddings are only for taking a primary wife.”
”…What?”
The ‘Baihu Tongyi’ is an ancient text from the Later Han period, covering various topics, including etiquette.
Of course, neither Tang Mujin nor Tang Jesun had read it. It wasn’t essential for their studies or medical work.
The issue wasn’t whether she had read the ‘Baihu Tongyi,’ but rather the context of her statement seemed a bit suspicious.
Tang Jesun pondered deeply.
Weddings are for taking a primary wife. And she said she didn’t need a wedding.
The implication was clear. She was suggesting she wanted to become a concubine.
Tang Jesun’s expression grew serious.
He had come to regard Mok Wana as a daughter.
The thought of her marrying was painful enough, but the idea of her becoming a concubine was unacceptable.
Tang Jesun thought it would be far better to provide her with a generous dowry and find her a decent husband. Tang Mujin shared this sentiment.
However, Tang Jesun believed it was crucial to understand the situation clearly. In matters as important as marriage, the individual’s wishes should not be ignored.
Tang Jesun asked Mok Wana, ”…Is there someone you have feelings for?”
Mok Wana nodded shyly, confirming his suspicion.
“Who is it?”
Both Tang Mujin and Tang Jesun listened intently.
But Mok Wana lowered her head, her ears turning red, and pointed at Tang Mujin.
”…?”
“Me?”
Mok Wana nodded slightly, still looking down.
“You’re joking, right?”
A small shake of her head.
Tang Jesun and Tang Mujin’s expressions grew more serious.
People usually learn a lot from interacting with friends and various people from a young age.
But Mok Wana had spent her childhood in a cave and later lived at the Tang family clinic.
Even after moving to the capital, her interactions weren’t enough to fill the gaps from her childhood.
In other words, Mok Wana often acted in ways that were out of sync with ordinary people. She was, in many ways, an awkward child.
People found her quirks endearing because they weren’t selfish or malicious.
But this was a matter that couldn’t be brushed aside so easily.
Tang Mujin stammered, “This is… a bit unexpected.”
He rubbed his temples, closing his eyes briefly before opening them again.
“You know who Yeong’s mother is, right?”
“Seolyeong.”
“And you know who her father is?”
“You.”
“You know I married Seolyeong, right?”
“Yes.”
She couldn’t not know. Their entire conversation had been based on that understanding.
Moreover, Mok Wana might be naive about some things, but she wasn’t foolish.
As Tang Mujin and Tang Jesun stared at her, Mok Wana lifted her head and spoke confidently.
“Master Im has a primary wife and two concubines. Other leaders and heads of families have concubines too. Now that you’re the head of the Tang family clinic…”
Tang Mujin felt a wave of dizziness.
He would have been less flustered if a notorious martial artist had appeared and held a sword to his throat.
Mok Wana took a step closer to Tang Mujin, her round eyes fixed on him.
“Do you dislike me?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just… we’re not on the same page. Do you understand what I mean?”
Tang Mujin tried to gently refuse, choosing his words carefully.
“Besides, such an important decision can’t be made lightly. For instance… yes, Dan Seolyeong’s opinion matters too.”
Of course, truly high-ranking and authoritative men often took concubines without consulting their wives.
Officials or heads of large martial families often did so, considering it their right and merely informing their primary wives.
But that had nothing to do with Tang Mujin.
First and foremost, Tang Mujin had no intention of taking a concubine, nor could he even if he wanted to. As Hyun Gong had astutely observed, the true power in the Tang family currently lay with Dan Seol-young.
Yet Mok Wana uttered something even more explosive.
“So, if I get Seol-young’s permission, it’s all good, right?”
Her casual demeanor suggested she might march off to find Seol-young at any moment. Instinctively, Tang Mujin reached out and grabbed Mok Wana’s shoulder.
“No. Absolutely not.”
That would be a death sentence—for both Mok Wana and himself.
Tang Mujin felt a chill of danger.
Mok Wana seemed to have anticipated that Tang Mujin wouldn’t easily accept her words.
Instead, she turned her gaze to Tang Jesun, silently pleading for his support.
A flood of memories washed over Tang Jesun.
The green dress she had painstakingly saved up for.
Her kindness to everyone, but especially warm towards him.
Her respectful demeanor, even more so than with other elders.
Her efforts to win over Dan Seol-young.
Her dedication to mastering difficult medical studies.
How she turned away from the advances of local men without hesitation.
All of it pointed to one thing.
Mok Wana was sincere.
“Uh…”
Tang Jesun genuinely cared for his daughter-in-law, Dan Seol-young. But he also thought highly of Mok Wana.
Yet this was something he couldn’t, and shouldn’t, help with.
Tang Jesun wobbled to his feet.
“I… I…”
He began to back away slowly.
“Well, this is quite a difficult matter, Wana. Perhaps we should discuss it another time?”
He forced an awkward smile at Mok Wana before hastily retreating, likely with no destination in mind. He simply wanted to escape this situation.
But Mok Wana wasn’t about to give up easily. She quickly followed after Tang Jesun.
Finally, Tang Yeongdo toddled along behind them.
Tang Mujin sat in a daze, staring at the small fire, lost in thought.
His marriage to Dan Seol-young was approaching its third year.
They had been apart for the past year, and just yesterday, he had been kicked out of the house. But aside from that, they had never fought or had any major issues. They were, in truth, a harmonious couple.
Yet the situation was rapidly changing.
Just then, a chestnut, still in its shell, burst loudly in the fire.
It was a profoundly symbolic sight.
Was it a sign that his relationship with Dan Seol-young might explode like that?
Suddenly, he recalled something Dan Seol-young had said about creating a hidden weapon more powerful than the Rainstorm Needle.
If things continued as they were, he might become the first test subject for that weapon. Tang Mujin shivered involuntarily.
‘I need to convince Mok Wana before it’s too late.’
With that thought, Tang Mujin set off in the direction Mok Wana had gone, using his light-footed martial arts technique.