Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 336

Chapter 336
‘What’s going on with Hwa-eun!?’
I demanded in a rush, and Hwa-eun quickly filled me in.
‘It’s still just trembling a little. Ah, I think one part is becoming thinner? One edge seems more delicate now. After I opened the window, the sunlight made it appear like you can almost see through to the inside. Is it starting to wake up?’
‘S-Seriously!? I’m coming right now, just wait a little bit longer.’
‘Alright, So-ryong.’
From what Hwa-eun described, it sounded like Moji and Soji’s transformation was beginning.
Her mention of a thinning area likely meant the inner silk was starting to break down.
It’s typical for a silkworm cocoon to weaken in one spot, as the moths inside dissolve the silk from within to chew their way out.
I pressed the four Gold Guard escorts to move faster.
At this speed, I risked missing the moment the kids finally emerged.
To me, as their father, this was like their adulthood ceremony—there was no way I could be absent for it.
“We need to move quicker!”
“Of course. Let’s go!”
“Right away, sir!”
Accompanied by the four Gold Guards, I hastened my pace toward the dock.
However, the moment we stepped into the market area that led to the port, I became acutely aware of people’s intense gazes.
Earlier, when we moved through the wealthy residential zone, a few people had looked our way, but now the stares were persistent—locked directly onto our party.
Their eyes tracked our every step.
One man, balancing food trays, was so distracted by looking at us that he walked into a tree and tumbled over, while another with baskets hanging from his shoulders stumbled and fell down the slope.
‘What in the world? Is it because I have Gold Guards with me?’
It had to be.
Their impressive presence was attracting everyone’s notice.
Wanting to avoid the attention, I tried to walk faster—but the skirt kept tangling around my feet, making it difficult.
Since the hem kept getting under my shoes, I finally gathered one side in my hand and complained to myself.
This thing was seriously impractical.
Of course, there was one benefit.
It was airy.
The kind of ventilation you could never experience in trousers—a unique advantage only a skirt could provide.
But that wasn’t my concern at the moment.
‘How do women manage to wear these every day? It’s so troublesome. Yes, it’s cool, but still. No, I shouldn’t be distracted. Right now, Moji and Soji are what’s important.’
Increasing my speed toward the ship, I eventually reached the riverbank and noticed the brothel that Eunuch Heo used to operate.
We had to go right past it.
Two Gold Guards were posted out front on watch.
They noticed our group, gave a brief nod, and inquired,
“What’s the hurry?”
“Ah, we’re taking the young lord to his vessel under directives from the Bureau of Suppression.”
“Young lord?”
“Ah, you’ve been on exterior duty recently, right? Just be aware that’s the current arrangement.”
“O-Oh, understood. Very well.”
As the Gold Guard members exchanged words and moved along, I took a moment to observe the brothel.
Just days ago, it was flashy and vibrant, but now the doors were shattered, the window paper was torn, and the foul smell of rotting food drifted from inside.
The Gold Guards had raided the place that night and arrested everyone—the condition it was in now told me everything about how it went.
I would need to confirm with the Beggars’ Guild if they rounded up every last person, but judging by the fact they struck during operating hours, it’s doubtful anyone got away.
‘They must be frantic. That was their most significant venture in the Central Plains, and it’s been completely eradicated.’
Smirking to myself, I continued on—then I saw the ship up ahead.
Now I truly began to run.
Seeing it so close made my pulse quicken—I had to run.
–Tap tap tap.
Holding my skirt up, I dashed directly from the port entrance straight to the ship.
At the prow, my older brother and sister-in-law had just come ashore—it looked like they were about to go somewhere.
“Senior! I’m back. Where are you two off to?”
“Oh, So-ryong. What!?”
“S-Sosukja?”
They exchanged glances, then looked at me—and my brother jolted back in surprise.
My sister-in-law’s eyes were wide with astonishment too.
“Huh?”
Maybe it was because of the Gold Guards following me?
Or perhaps Hwa-eun hadn’t informed them I was returning?
I swiftly jumped onto the deck and spoke to my brother.
“Ah, these people are just my escorts. Ah, Gold Guards, thank you for your service. You may head back now.”
“Yes, young lord. We will depart.”
Since I had sprinted ahead, they were catching up in their armor and seemed out of breath—I expressed my thanks and then asked my brother for a favor.
“Senior, I don’t have any money on me at the moment, but could you please give them a few silver coins for a drink on their return? I’ll repay you soon.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary…”
“No, I truly mean it. It’s a token of my appreciation.”
“O-Okay. So-ryong… Since when did my little brother become so thoughtful…”
After bidding the Gold Guards farewell and requesting my brother to provide them some silver for their trouble, I moved further onto the deck.
On the deck, the sailors were carrying out their tasks as usual, and, as ever, Geom-ryong was drilling with his sword.
He was the most committed among the Dragon Fangs when it came to practice.
Behind him, the other Dragon Fangs were seated in chairs, enjoying tea under the mast’s shade.
“Practicing again today?”
As I spoke, everyone on deck abruptly froze, and Geom-ryong turned to look at me, pretending to be startled.
“Who’s there?”
Always the joker.
Senior Geom-ryong was devoted to his martial arts, had a good heart, and was excellent in all aspects—except for his inability to resist playing tricks.
Whenever he saw an opportunity, he would crack a joke or pull a prank.
Even now—his younger brother had just returned after being taken away by the Gold Guards for days, and he was doing the “Who are you?” bit?
He had no idea what I had endured.
They believed I had been tortured by the Gold Guards, or seized by the eunuchs of Dongchang, and they were frightened.
And that wasn’t even the full extent of it.
“Haven’t I already suffered through the crown prince’s creepy, skin-crawling stare?”
‘What a chaotic series of events. So much happened in such a short time.’
With a resigned sigh, I responded,
“Ugh. Please, no jokes, Senior. Who else could it be? It’s me, So-ryong. Is everyone doing well? Ah, we can talk more later—there’s something urgent I need to attend to inside.”
–Pfffft!
Gungbong sprayed his tea all over Ji-ryong, who usually would have recoiled in disgust, but now just sat there stunned.
Yang Seong-hu and Geom-bong simply stared at one another, blinking.
The mood felt odd, but that wasn’t my priority right then.
Moji and Soji were awakening.
I yanked open the door to my cabin and bolted inside, shouting Hwa-eun’s name as loudly as I could.
The man who adores you, So-ryong, is back!
“Hwa-eun!”
“Ah! So-ryong! What—?”
“Rong! What in the—?”
Squeak? 『Daddy?』
Shiaa? 『So-ryong?』
Pii?
Hwa-eun and Sister Seol, who had been focused on the box where Moji and Soji were placed during the ship transfer, turned to look at me with cheerful expressions.
The kids, who were also watching the box, shifted their attention to me.
I hurried over, dropped to my knees by the box, and softly stroked the kids’ heads while assessing their state.
“How are they doing?”
Bathed in the sunlight entering the cabin, the silvery cocoons glimmered—one section had unmistakably become slightly see-through.
It seemed they were diligently working inside, dissolving their own silk.
I explained to the two of them.
“They’ll definitely be out soon. But if what Hwa-eun described occurred around half a shichen ago and they still haven’t appeared, then it might take a few more shichen.”
It wouldn’t have been shocking if they had already emerged. Although one area was translucent, no part had been fully dissolved yet.
They were probably struggling to break free from their own thread—the thread of a Silver Silkworm, which is likely the strongest and most resilient silk in existence—so it was naturally taking time.
Even though it was their own silk, dissolving it still required effort.
“Don’t give up, you two!”
I encouraged them, urging them to persevere.
Just then, I heard Hwa-eun and Sister Seol calling me from behind.
“…So-ryong?”
“So-ryong-ah?”
Their tone made me turn around, puzzled.
“Yes?”
Sister Seol was looking at me as if I had lost my mind.
“You came all the way here dressed like that?”
“Huh? Well, yes. How else would I get here? Why?”
Bewildered, I glanced at Hwa-eun, who approached, took my hand, and exclaimed with shining eyes,
“So-ryong, you look incredible—no, absolutely adorable!”
“?”
I could accept being called handsome, but adorable?
As I stood there confused, Dong-i popped out from between my chest and peeked his head out.
Squeek!
“Ah, Dong-i, you must have been struggling to brea—wait… what…?”
It was only then, seeing Dong-i’s head poking out from the collar, that I realized I was still wearing the court lady attire.
The slender, tightly cinched waist and the flowing fabric fit me perfectly.
‘You have got to be kidding me!’
Yesterday, after coming back from the Gold Guards with court maid Mirang, I had searched for my own clothes—but they were missing.
I assumed someone had stored them away, so I waited for the elders undergoing questioning, eventually fell asleep, and then, after speaking with them and getting Hwa-eun’s message, I ran straight back—still dressed as a court maid.
And now, like a vivid replay in my mind, I remembered everything:
Me, dashing out of the Gold Guard headquarters, skirt flying, sprinting through the capital all the way to the ship.
“Gyaaaaah!”
Overcome with humiliation, I let out a scream—and Hwa-eun and Sister Seol rushed over, embracing me from both sides.
“Isn’t he adorable, Hwa-eun?”
“So adorable, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» unni. Completely different from before, right?”
“Mm-hmm. Whoever did your styling really knew what they were doing. It’s like we’ve gained a little sister!”
They were overjoyed, but I was mortified.
I had run all the way across the capital… wearing a skirt.
***
“Wow, I honestly almost developed feelings for you just now, So-ryong. Goodness.”
“Even from a woman’s perspective, I have to say—you looked stunning. But, somehow… it was also a bit sad.”
“Yeah, it strangely felt like I had lost something.”
And so began another session of good-natured torment.
The Dragon Fangs rushed into the cabin at the sound of my scream—and the ribbing started in full force.
But what could I do?
It was my own fault.
At least they remained unaware of the incident with the Crown Prince.
“So-ryong, keep it on a little longer. This unni wants to appreciate the view a bit more.”
“Me too, So-ryong.”
They were actually asking me to keep wearing it now?!
After I shooed everyone out, I quickly removed the makeup that Mirang had applied and changed out of the court maid garments.
While Hwa-eun assisted me with the skirt, she asked,
“By the way, who does this outfit belong to, So-ryong?”
“Ah, it’s Unmirang’s, a court maid from the imperial palace. I should return it to her. She was the one who guided me to the Emperor’s quarters.”
“I’ll make sure to wash and dry it properly then. I was curious how you managed to infiltrate—I never imagined it would be through cross-dressing. Hehe.”
Was it because of the disguise?
Hwa-eun seemed to be in an particularly cheerful mood, beaming widely.
Well, if it made her happy, then at least some good came from it—but I made a solemn vow to myself:
‘If I ever put on women’s clothing again, I’m a dog. I swear it!’
And right as I made that promise, a sharp ray of light, like a laser, shot through the space between me and Hwa-eun.
“Whoa!?”
“Huh?”
We both turned toward the source of the light—and saw that a small hole had appeared in one of the cocoons.
From it, light was streaming out in a concentrated beam.
“The cocoon is opening!”
Hwa-eun’s exclamation echoed as the hole grew larger.
Then, the cocoon split open completely, and a burst of radiant light filled the cabin, so intense it was nearly blinding.
As the light subsided, a plump, silvery moth crawled out, its body quivering.
Its pure silver form shone so brilliantly it appeared almost white—an exquisitely beautiful, charming moth had made its entrance.
It was the most magnificent and precious moth I had ever laid eyes on.
A new member had just been added to the Ten Great Venomous Creatures of the Central Plains:
The Silver Silkworm Moth.
‘Silver Silkworm Moth, obtained! Added to collection!’