🌹 From Dynasty to Destiny
IN JOSEON – Gaeseong
Yun Yuhua and her brothers arrived in Gaeseong, Joseon. While Ruqi and Yun Yuhua set up tables at their new inn, Tian Ke and Qian'ai hurried to the market to gather meat and produce. They worked quickly, eager to establish their cover and start collecting information.
"Li'ai, go grab these for us," Ruqi called, handing him a list.
Qian'ai nodded and slipped out of the inn. To protect his identity, he spoke no Joseon, but the friendly commoners helped him find what he needed. He thanked them with a silent nod until a commotion caught his attention.
"Aigoo… that man again," someone muttered.
Just ahead, an older man towered over a young woman who had collapsed on the ground. Her cheek was swollen and bruised, but her eyes burned with defiance.
"I don't have any money for you! All you do is drink! Mom and I have nothing left!" she shouted. The man slapped her across the face. The crowd scattered, averting their eyes, and no one stepped in.
Qian'ai's stomach twisted.
"I brought you into this world!" the man spat. "I took you and your mother in! This is how you repay me?!"
The girl held her face and glared at him with all the hatred she could muster.
"You only ever think about yourself," she hissed.
The man raised his hand again, aiming for her head. Qian'ai couldn't stand it. He didn't know her. He didn't need to. The sight alone was enough. Before the strike could land, he stepped forward.
"Enough," he said sharply—in Ming. Gasps echoed around them.
"A foreigner?"
"A merchant?"
The man froze, startled. Qian'ai stood firm, his eyes cold and steady. The girl opened her eyes slowly, trembling—not from fear, but disbelief that someone had intervened. The man yanked his arm back and spat near Qian'ai's feet.
"How dare a foreigner lay hands on me!" he yelled.
Qian'ai didn't answer. He understood the threat but also understood that some things were worth the risk. He hadn't come to Joseon for this, but he wasn't about to walk away.
"I'll take her. Leave her alone," Qian'ai said, tossing a few coins at the drunkard. The man smirked and laughed.
"Hah! Aigoo… This? This isn't enough. I raised her all my life! You need to pay more!"
Qian'ai's expression soured. Behind him, the girl lowered her gaze, ashamed to be the cause of his trouble. She thought he'd give up. Instead, Qian'ai pulled out more coins and threw them at the man's face.
"Ah!" the man flinched.
"That'll cover your time," Qian'ai said coldly in Ming. "I'm taking her—and her mother. If you ever come near them again, you'll regret it."
The man, now distracted by the coins, didn't argue. Qian'ai turned to the girl, kneeling to wipe the dirt and blood from her mouth with his sleeve. She looked up at him—stunned. Grateful. A stranger had bought her freedom.
"…Thank you," she whispered, not expecting him to understand. Qian'ai gave a brief nod, then motioned for her to follow. She followed, her steps shaky but filled with something new—hope.
Back at the inn, Ruqi and Tian Ke stared in confusion as they entered with the girl.
"I… uh…" Qian'ai began awkwardly. The girl bowed respectfully.
"My name is Ae-shim… Ajusshi helped save me," she said softly. Yun Yuhua peeked out from behind the kitchen curtain. Her bright smile caught Ae-shim off guard. Yun Yuhua walked over, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"Li'ai Gege, is she a friend who will help us?" she asked. Ae-shim stood awkwardly, not understanding the Ming words.
"I just… didn't like what I saw," Qian'ai muttered. "She was being beaten in broad daylight."
Yun Yuhua's smile grew. She stepped forward and offered her hand to Ae-shim.
"Yun Yuhua," she introduced herself slowly.
Ae-shim hesitated, then smiled back. "Ae-shim."
Yun Yuhua pointed around the room.
"Li'ai," she said, pointing to Qian'ai. "Tian Ke," then to the other, "Ruqi."
Ae-shim gave a small bow to each, her eyes warming with the welcome she hadn't expected. But suddenly, her expression changed.
"Ah! My mother—"
"She's still at the house," Qian'ai said. "We might need to go back for her. I kind of… bought both of them."
Tian Ke and Ruqi both snapped their heads toward him.
"You what?!"
Yun Yuhua chuckled gently, then nodded to Ae-shim with kindness in her gaze.
"Ma—we'll get her for you," she promised, motioning to Tian Ke, Ruqi, and Qian'ai. Ae-shim looked at her, overwhelmed, tears welling in her eyes.
"…Thank you," Ae-shim whispered. Yun Yuhua nodded.
Qian'ai and Ruqi left the inn with Ae-shim to retrieve her mother. When they arrived at the small house, Ae-shim's mother looked up, startled and wary at the sight of strangers. Her eyes darted between her daughter and the unfamiliar faces.
"Ae-shim—what did you do this time? Did you get into trouble again?" she demanded. Ae-shim frowned, stung by the assumption.
"Mommy… He gave money… for both of us," she said quietly. Her mother blinked, stunned. Her gaze shifted to Qian'ai, who looked away, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Why would he?" her mother whispered. "He looks like a foreigner. He dresses like one too."
Qian'ai said nothing—but he understood every word.
Ae-shim stepped closer, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat. "He protected me… when Dad was hitting me. He was the only one who stood up for me. So don't say anything mean—he's like a savior."
Her mother stared at Qian'ai, her eyes softening as realization set in.
"He… is he saving us now?" she asked.
"Yes. So let's go before that drunkard returns," Ae-shim urged. Her mother hesitated for just a second, then nodded. She grabbed a small bundle of belongings, and together, they left.
Back at the inn, Yun Yuhua waited at a table near the hearth. The moment they entered, she stood up, relief flooding her face.
"There you are!" she said, reaching for Ae-shim's hand and gently pulling her over to the table. A neatly folded outfit sat atop it. "Here, change into these. I just bought them—don't know if they'll fit perfectly, but I think we're about the same size."
Ae-shim blinked down at the clothes—fine silk, rich colors—the kind of fabric no commoner could ever hope to touch, let alone wear. She looked back at Yun Yuhua, who offered a warm, reassuring smile.
Ae-shim bowed deeply, tears welling in her eyes. "Thank you…"
Yun Yuhua exhaled softly and smiled. "Come on. Let's take care of those wounds."
After changing, Ae-shim sat while Yun Yuhua gently applied ointment to her bruises. Her mother watched from the side, overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers. It made no sense—and yet, it did. These people, foreign or not, offered warmth without asking for anything in return.
In the days that followed, Ae-shim and her mother chose to stay. The inn, though modest, became a sanctuary, offering a warmth they had never felt in their old home. But even amid this comfort, Ae-shim's mother remained haunted by memories of their past. Her eyes occasionally drifted to the door as if waiting for the drunkard to return.
Tian Ke, eager to integrate into this new life, only knew how to cook Ming dishes. Ae-shim's mother began teaching him Joseon recipes. The kitchen became their battleground, the smells of both cultures intertwining as Tian Ke tried to perfect each dish. At first, Ae-shim's mother was critical, sharp in her teaching, but as the days passed, her tone softened, and her once-guarded smile began to emerge when Tian Ke successfully blended the two traditions. Their meals, a fusion of Ming and Joseon, became a local sensation, unlike anything the townspeople had tasted.
When the inn finally opened, it was an unexpected success. The blend of cultures attracted customers from all walks of life, including foreign merchants and the occasional politician. The young men and beautiful women who served as hosts became an attraction of their own—a reflection of the diverse histories they carried.
Yet despite the growing crowds and warm laughter, Ae-shim couldn't shake the feeling that they were still hiding. Hiding from the world. Hiding from themselves.
As months passed, the inn flourished. Meals blended Ming and Joseon traditions, drawing in both locals and travelers. Ae-shim taught the group the Joseon language—each lesson a quiet rebellion against fear. Though her heart—like the inn—was still under construction, she poured herself into helping them build something real.
Yun Yuhua, now of age, clung to Ae-shim like a younger sister. Despite the difference in years, their bond was forged through struggle. Ae-shim once feared Yun Yuhua's martial prowess, but now found comfort in it. That strength reminded her of Qian'ai—the one who had saved her without hesitation. In Yun Yuhua, Ae-shim saw not only a leader, but a protector. Someone who would fight for their family and the fragile, precious peace they had begun to build together.
But still, uncertainty pulled at her. She was safe, yes. But was she truly free? Would the past come to claim them, or would they finally find peace in this new life?
Only time would tell.
Despite the warmth of the inn and the familiar comfort of their new life, Yun Yuhua couldn't shake the feeling that the past wasn't done with them yet. It lingered in the air, like a storm cloud on the horizon, waiting to break. She glanced toward the door, a faint sense of foreboding tugging at her chest, as if something—or someone—was drawing nearer, just out of sight.
One evening, as the inn was settling into the quiet of the night, Yun Yuhua finished her bath and walked back to her quarters, the soft sound of her footsteps echoing in the hall. She stopped short when she saw a figure slumped by the door—bloody, breath labored. His clothes were torn, stained dark with crimson, and he looked like he'd barely escaped death.
Her heart lurched, but her expression didn't change. She stepped closer, cautious but calm. There was something familiar about the way he struggled to rise—something desperate in the way he looked at her.
He tried to speak, but only a rough breath escaped.
"Yuyu!" Qian'ai's voice cut through the stillness like a blade.
She turned quickly, eyes wide—not with fear for herself, but for the man on the floor. Her voice caught in her throat. She didn't want Qian'ai to see him. Not yet. Not like this.