***
At the same time.
Yeon Hwi-cheon was walking through the corridor behind the medical academy.
Since morning classes had just ended, many physician trainees were gathered in small groups throughout the courtyard and corridors, chatting among themselves.
Normally, the moment he appeared, everyone would have fallen silent and stepped aside.
But today was different.
The young trainees were so absorbed in one piece of news that they didn’t even notice Yeon Hwi-cheon approaching.
“Is it really true that Little Lady Ryeonghwa is taking the Ip-gwan Examination this time?”
One physician trainee asked with a face that still couldn’t quite believe it.
“I heard the Family Head personally gave her permission. Apparently, she even showed the medicinal pills she made herself before the Elders?”
“Little Lady made medicinal pills? Didn’t they say she could barely walk until recently?”
A low laugh followed.
But one of them lowered his voice excitedly.
“But I heard they weren’t ordinary medicinal pills. Apparently, all four Elders were surprised. Elder Ju Yeonseok even told her to continue researching them at Je-yak Hall.”
Yeon Hwi-cheon’s footsteps came to an abrupt stop.
He hid himself in the shadow of a pillar and listened to the children’s conversation.
“That Elder Ju Yeonseok who’s like a tiger?”
“I heard Elder Dam Uhyeon praised her too, saying it was a prescription that put the patient first. The people at Je-yak Hall have been talking about those medicinal pills all morning.”
“Then does she really have talent?”
At someone’s offhand remark, the corners of Yeon Hwi-cheon’s eyes trembled faintly.
Talent.
That word had always belonged to him.
Whenever he memorized the locations of the meridians at a young age or distinguished medicinal herbs faster than anyone else, people called Yeon Hwi-cheon the future of the family.
But today, the owner of that word had changed.
To Yeon Ryeonghwa, who until recently had supposedly been lying in bed waiting for the day she would die.
“The atmosphere has completely changed since the Young Family Head returned. If Little Lady Ryeonghwa even passes the Ip-gwan Examination, won’t the line of succession change as well?”
Another boy looked around before lowering his voice even further.
“Then what happens to Young Master Hwi-cheon?”
A brief silence followed.
The children looked at one another as though they had said something they shouldn’t have spoken aloud.
“Even so, Little Lady Ryeonghwa is frail.”
“I heard her condition has improved a lot after taking the medicinal pills. The Family Head personally allowed her to take the examination, so things are different from before.”
“More importantly, she’s the Young Family Head’s biological daughter.”
At those words, Yeon Hwi-cheon’s fingers slowly curled inward.
His nails dug into his palm, but the words echoing in his ears were even sharper.
The Young Family Head’s biological daughter.
No matter how much talent he displayed, he could never take away the position of the Young Family Head’s only daughter.
Until now, it hadn’t been a problem because Ryeonghwa had been so frail.
Yeon Baekgang had been away from the family, and his only daughter couldn’t even leave her room, let alone learn medicine.
If things had continued that way, eventually Yeon Baekgang would have lost his qualifications as the Young Family Head as well.
That was why Yeon Hwi-cheon had never doubted that the position of successor would eventually fall to him.
“You will definitely become the next Young Family Head. So even while I am away from the family, you must not neglect your training.”
That was what his mother, who was always in the Imperial Palace, had told him.
But Yeon Baekgang had returned, and Yeon Ryeonghwa was going to take the Ip-gwan Examination.
Could it be…?
Yeon Hwi-cheon’s mouth went dry.
Could he really end up being pushed out of the center of the family, just like Yeon Dopyeong?
Just then, the attendant following behind him carefully called out to him.
“Young Master.”
Yeon Hwi-cheon quickly composed his expression and turned around.
The twisted expression from moments ago had vanished without a trace, replaced by his usual neat smile.
“What is it?”
“A letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
The attendant held out a letter sealed with red wax in both hands.
The moment Yeon Hwi-cheon recognized the emblem stamped on the seal, his smile faded slightly.
It was from his mother.
Aware of the gazes around him, Yeon Hwi-cheon slipped the letter into his sleeve.
“Let’s go to my room.”
He passed the corridor where the physician trainees were gathered as though nothing had happened.
Only then did the children notice Yeon Hwi-cheon and hurriedly fall silent.
“Young, Young Master Hwi-cheon.”
Yeon Hwi-cheon smiled gently at them.
“It seems you were having an interesting conversation.”
“No. We were just…”
The children could only exchange glances, unable to continue.
Yeon Hwi-cheon slowly swept his gaze over their flustered faces before leaving with a smile.
But the hand hidden inside his sleeve was clenched so tightly it looked as though it might crumple the letter.
Once he returned to his room, Yeon Hwi-cheon dismissed all his attendants before finally taking out the letter.
When he closed the paper doors, the commotion outside faded away.
The only sound remaining in the quiet room was the rustle of paper unfolding.
Yeon Hwi-cheon sat before his desk and broke the wax seal.
Neat, forceful handwriting came into view.
[To Hwi-cheon.
Even while I remain in the Imperial Palace, I hear everything about how you are doing.
I heard your recent examination scores have not been as good as before. I would like to regard it as a minor slump, but for someone who seeks to become the successor of the family, there is no such thing as a minor mistake.]
Yeon Hwi-cheon’s brows slowly furrowed.
Without even a single line asking after his well-being, the letter immediately pointed out his shortcomings.
With his jaw clenched, he lowered his gaze to the next line.
[Furthermore, I hear that the Young Family Head has returned.
I trust you did not take it lightly simply because Ryeonghwa was frail.
The world does not divide positions based on ability alone. Ryeonghwa is the Young Family Head’s biological daughter.
Now that the girl has begun appearing before people again, you must not assume that you will continue to enjoy the same position as before.]
Yeon Hwi-cheon’s gaze following the words stopped at the final sentence.
[If Ryeonghwa gains the Family Head’s trust while you hesitate, do you think the position of successor will wait for you?]
Yeon Hwi-cheon’s hand trembled.
Crinkle.
The dry paper groaned as the letter was crushed in his fist.
Clenching his teeth, he read the letter again from the beginning.
If Yeon Ryeonghwa passes the Ip-gwan Examination at this rate…
The whispers he had heard moments ago resurfaced in his mind.
“Won’t the line of succession change as well?”
“She’s the Young Family Head’s biological daughter, too.”
Yeon Hwi-cheon abruptly rose from his seat and slammed his fist against the inkstone on the desk.
Bang!
Black ink splattered across the white paper.
The attendant outside the door asked in surprise,
“Young Master, are you all right?”
“Don’t come in.”
Yeon Hwi-cheon answered briefly through clenched teeth.
His voice, however, was astonishingly calm.
He slowly calmed his ragged breathing.
At the very least, he didn’t want to show any sign of wavering in front of other people.
Yeon Hwi-cheon threw the crumpled letter into the brazier.
As the writing curled black within the flames, his agitated heart gradually settled as well.
Yeon Hwi-cheon stared at the burning paper for a long while.
The Ip-gwan Examination…
Yeon Ryeonghwa was not a physician trainee yet.
She had merely been given the opportunity to take the examination.
Then.
I just have to make sure she doesn’t pass.
Yeon Hwi-cheon’s gaze slowly darkened.
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