Snow Light

 

The crows perched on the branches cawed with ravenous wings. Light snowflakes fluttered everywhere like silver dust.

 

The winters in the north were as harsh as they were rumored to be. The winds blew with such force that they stung the nose of everyone passing by, and blizzards raged day and night. The snow that had accumulated so lightly froze to the ground was like fine silk on the river. The palanquin bearers, walking slowly holding onto the poles, stopped abruptly and set the palanquin down on the road.

 

“What are you doing there now?”

 

Madam Choi, who was ahead of them, saw the stopped palanquin and scolded them sternly. The palanquin bearer replied curtly.

 

“I am tired and can’t go any further. Why don’t we take a break?”

 

”What do you mean you want to rest? You rested for a long time yesterday at the lodging. Moreover, didn’t you claim to be tired and delayed the start of work until the fifth hour?”

 

“Eh, are you implying that I’m lazy? You don’t know because you don’t have to carry the palanquin yourself. Hey, aren’t you guys tired too?”

 

One of the palanquin bearers winked at his fellow palanquin bearers, and they all chimed in with agreement. Madam Choi sighed heavily. It had been less than two hours since they had left the lodge, and already they were being difficult.

 

At least they hadn’t been drinking. Three days ago, they had gone out drinking as a group and spent the day with hangovers. Add to that the fact that they complained a lot, and there were many days when they couldn’t go half the distance while others went a hundred.

 

The wedding was just around the corner. Even though it was urgent to prepare for the ceremony, they still kept acting up, which was troublesome even for the seasoned matchmaker, Madam Choi.

 

“The soon-to-be bride doesn’t say much, does he? Ah, well, what can he say? He doesn’t even have to move his hands or feet, he just needs to sit quietly in the palanquin, he should be grateful.”

 

The bearer spoke in a loud voice towards the palaquin just to be heard. It was the kind of rudeness that would have been met with a scolding no matter how mild-mannered and gentle the bride is, but the inside of the palanquin was eerily quiet. If it weren’t for the faint reflection of the figure behind the silk curtain, one would have thought the palanquin was empty.

 

The crows circling overhead pecked and cawed ferociously. The sound of the crows was eerie and ominous in a landscape filled with barren trees, rocks, and snow. One of the bearers spat phlegm on the ground and wiped his lips with his sleeve and grumbled.

 

“I wouldn’t have come to this place if it weren’t for the wages, but how unlucky can you be to be married here?”

 

“I’m afraid that my good fortune will run away too, now that I’m carrying you.”

 

“Let’s have a drink later to ease your bad luck.”

 

The young palanquin bearer chuckled as he pretended to drink from his goblet. He walked with a loose grip on the pole, and the palanquin swayed as wildly as a sailboat with its silk and trimmings sweeping across the breeze. Inside the palanquin, wrapped in layers of five-color drapery, Yu Won heaved a small sigh.

 

In truth, it was easy to stop their bickering. Either with money, or with a valuable trinket like a bracelet or ring. A handful of silver coins in each hand would quickly soften their attitudes, and the matchmaker would be able to skillfully coax them into submission.

 

However, Yu Won had no silver to hand over to the bearer right away, and had no servants to speak up for him. If he had been a noble in the first place, he would not have been loaded onto a palanquin like this and traveled north. The palanquin would have been much bigger and grander, showing off his status to the north. His palanquin now looked more like a funeral pyre than a palanquin of flowers*.

 

Yu Won put his feet neatly in front of him. The thin silk of his shoes pressed tightly against the soles of his feet, and the cloth tied tightly around his waist made it difficult to breathe. The constant rattling of the palanquin as it climbed the slopes gave him a headache and nausea just from sitting still, but he couldn’t take them off despite the discomfort. Everyone dressed in fine gaiters, the palanquin and the bearers were out of his control.

 

The old palanquin shook and the foundation creaked beneath him. The sound of a folded fan slapping against flesh made his clenched hands tense.

 

Crack, a sharp breaking noise rang out. There was another shattering sound as a goblet ricocheted across his face. His cheeks immediately flushed brightly, and the inside of his mouth throbbed.

 

‘Try saying that again.’

 

The minister commanded, breathing heavily. His voice was thick with anger. Yu Won, who was prostrating on the floor with his forehead flat on the ground, stammered.

 

‘I, I don’t, I don’t want to go.’

 

He only said eight words, but his trembling didn’t stop as his lips twitched several times. The old lord snorted.

 

‘Is that the way you’re going to respond after I gave you a chance to answer properly?’

 

He didn’t answer this time. He’d repeated his answer three times already. It was just not what he wanted to hear.

 

Thud, thud! The minister stomped forward, grabbing Yu Won roughly by the hair and pulling him upright. Then he raised his hand and slapped him across the cheek. Yu Won’s body shook from the recoil.

 

‘How dare you say you won’t go, you lowly wretch! Even if you have no knowledge, you should have some sense of decency! Instead of throwing you and your mother out into the wilderness, I gave you a place to live. I even put up with the gossip that followed my household and gave you a home! And now you can’t repay me, acting like a dog that doesn’t recognize its owner?’

 

The raging lord threw his inkstone in anger. It missed Yu Won and slammed into the wall, snapping it in half.

 

‘If you don’t like it, should I send my sons who are already settled down in the north? Or should I send my daughter instead of you?’

 

Yu Won stifled the sobs that rose in his throat at this verbal assault. His breath caught in his throat like a giant pebble.

 

When he heard the call from the head of the family, he dropped everything he was doing and rushed over to visit. It was his birthday in a few days, so he thought maybe he’d say something different this time. Maybe he’d tell him that he’s been good and that he’d take him into the family now.

 

It was a futile hope. The lord had one purpose in mind. To become the replacement bride to be sent to the northern province. He wanted to send Yu Won as a replacement for his youngest daughter who was as precious as a jewel to him.

 

He slowly raised his head and locked eyes with the lord. His expression was like looking at a bug. There was no pity, not even the slightest hint of guilt. He wasn’t his family, he didn’t even consider him his child.

 

The sun that had been seeping through the window screen thinned. The sound of rain slowly faded. The only sound in the shadowed, stained room were ragged breathings. The minister unfolded his worn out fan to fan his face.

 

‘Yes, very well. If you don’t want to go, who am I to force you to go, so be it. Live your life as you please.’

 

His tone was gentle, as if he were offering a favor. He threw open the window. The rain came pouring down hard. The minister looked down at the servant waiting silently under the roof eaves and his mouth curved.

 

‘Go to the small house in the Houyuan Village right now, and drag that wench out and chase her far outside the city. She’s been complaining about how unfortunate she is, so there’s no need to look the other way now.’

 

A small house in Houyuan Village. Yu Won’s face quickly turned pale. It was the house where he lived with his blind mother. His mother had fallen ill a few years ago and could barely move around. To kick her out on this rainy day was like asking her to die.

 

Having said all he had to say, he began to walk out of the room.

 

‘My Lord!’

 

Yu Won crawled on all fours and clung to his feet. He could hear the click of his tongue as though he was ashamed of his humiliating prostration. But he couldn’t care less. He was more concerned with appeasing the fury of the minister. Yu Won bowed low and clasped his hands together in plea.

 

‘My Lord, I’ve made a mistake. Please forgive me. Please don’t throw my mother out of the house.’

 

His sobs grew louder and louder. The lord didn’t seem to care about his pleas, but he also didn’t walk away anymore. His silence was cold, as if he had something to say to Yu Won

 

‘I’ll, I’ll go.’

 

Biting down on his quivering lip, Yu Won laid his forehead against his foot.

 

‘I will do as you say, my lord. I will go as you say, so please, please.’

 

Please don’t abandon my mother. The small voice, mingled with sobs, broke down in the room.

 *Minister - In Korean it is "참판" (champan) which means a high ranking official in the central government. There are officials ("부제학" (bujehak)) below his rank, and the prime minister ("정승" (jeongseung)) above his rank.*Idk why but it seems this chapter disappeared before and now when I try to upload or restore the chapter it doubles.