After the long wedding ceremony ended and Meng Serling was just preparing to leave, she was summoned to the Three Yang Hall.

Since no officials had gathered, Cheonyeong received her in the reception room.

"Why did you come? I didn't call you."

"I was worried you might say something harsh again."

"What?"

"Please just have a conversation without worrying. And Meng sister, don't be too burdened either."

"Yes."

As Sanghui stood behind with her arms crossed as if taking on a protective role, Meng Serling smiled with dimples showing.

She still had a graceful bearing.

But somehow the atmosphere...

"Hey, which side do you really belong to?"

"The Tang Family."

"And you know me?"

"Affiliation and friendship aren't the same thing, are they?"

"What?"

"I told you not to worry and just have a conversation?"

As Sanghui made a sly expression, Meng Serling covered her mouth and laughed quietly, while Cheonyeong deeply frowned.

This really...

Ever since Meng Serling's arrival, Sanghui had been with her constantly.

Except for the wedding ceremony and the wedding night.

Hadn't Yongcheon complained that Sanghui was spending time with Meng Serling instead of him?

Well, he understood.

She had been alone until now.

Of course, there were women in the Tang Family. There were some in the Dokgak-gwi, and many girls in the Green Warrior Unit, the administrative division, and the academy.

Especially more in the Inner Hall.

Female servants who took care of work and handmaidens who managed each quarters.

But that wouldn't have been enough.

Especially before the wedding, she would have had nowhere to place her heart.

No matter how well he treated her, he couldn't fulfill the roles that a mother and sisters should have before the wedding.

Perhaps Meng Serling had played that role.

Like a sister, comforting a younger sister's melancholy as she went to her husband's house.

But no matter what, how could she take Meng Serling's side in such a situation?

The damage the Tang Family had suffered because of the Black Heaven Sect was considerable.

"Leave. I have things to discuss with Miss Meng."

"It's not something I can't hear, is it?"

"Hey! That's the Family Head's order!"

"Then drag me out."

As Sanghui stood firm with resolute eyes, Cheonyeong sighed.

"Miss Dang, please step back for a moment. The Family Head is quite stubborn."

"No way, sister! Our Family Head has a heart of silk, but his words and actions don't match. He'll definitely hurt her."

"If his heart is silk, shouldn't I be able to endure it?"

"Ugh, that's different. How well does he curse? He doesn't spare women. Someone raised as gently as you probably couldn't bear it."

"But..."

"Don't worry. I'll protect you, sister."

As Sanghui resisted, Meng Serling became troubled instead.

But these people...

Heart of silk, and then wounds? Harsh words and curses?

Really, go spread it around the neighborhood that the Family Head is trash.

"Sigh, fine. Fine. After all, other officials might need to know about this too."

Cheonyeong shook his head and sat down.

"Sit."

"Yes."

"Sanghui."

"What?"

"Bring tea, will you?"

"Ah! Yes!"

Sanghui hurriedly ordered a servant outside to bring tea.

"From the looks of it, you were preparing to leave?"

"Yes, the wedding ceremony has ended, but I stayed longer than expected due to my friendship with Miss Dang."

"You seemed satisfied."

"Miss Dang treated me well."

There was no artifice in the face that smiled with eyes curved like crescents.

It was genuine.

After all, Sanghui wouldn't give her heart to someone who was just "acting."

Meng Serling must have treated her sincerely, which is why she was being so stubborn.

Without even considering the Family Head.

"It seems you've actually been helpful to Sanghui."

"I'm grateful you see it that way."

"A good connection."

"Yes."

"But what about this?"

"Yes?"

As Cheonyeong's expression turned cold, confusion flickered in Meng Serling's eyes.

"From now on, you'll have to become a hostage of the Tang Family."

"That's..."

"What do you mean, a hostage?! What did Meng sister do wrong!"

Both Meng Serling's confusion and Sanghui's fierce objection erupted simultaneously.

But Cheonyeong didn't even glance at Sanghui and spoke while gazing at Meng Serling.

"The situation calls for it."

"The situation... perhaps?"

"Hmm? You seem to have some idea?"

At Cheonyeong's words, Meng Serling's brows furrowed delicately.

"There was pressure."

"You know well."

"..."

"And if pressure was applied this quickly, it would be the Yangtze River waterway, wouldn't it?"

"Hmm? You even know the direction of the pressure?"

"Roughly. Because I know his character."

Meng Serling answered with a deep sigh.

"Then you must understand the reason too."

"It's about the refusal of the political marriage, isn't it?"

"That's what I think too."

"It must be certain. That's his way."

Meng Serling didn't deny it even once.

Only.

"What are you talking about? What pressure? What Yangtze River waterway?"

Sanghui was even more upset.

"Miss Dang."

"Yes?"

"Would you step aside for a moment?"

"Sister!"

"This is official business. Something I need to discuss as the Tang Family Head and the daughter of the Black Heaven Sect."

"Ugh."

At Meng Serling's calm words, Sanghui gritted her teeth and stepped back.

"It seems Sanghui listens to you better than to me."

"That can't be. She loves the Tang Family. She's loyal to the Family Head more than anyone."

"Let's not worry about that. The important thing isn't that."

"Yes."

"Rather, if you predicted this, was there prior discussion? That if the political marriage was refused, pressure would be put on the Tang Family?"

"No."

"No?"

"Yes, I'm just a daughter. I'm merely a tool to be used for political purposes. All decisions about what comes after were made by him. I could only predict because I know his character."

Meng Serling was composed.

But there was an inexplicable sadness in her voice.

As if lamenting her own situation.

"Him? The Black Heaven Sect's system seems quite strict. Even if he's the sect leader, to refer to your older brother that way..."

"The person I'm referring to isn't my older brother."

"What?"

"It's the former Black Heaven Sect Leader, current Grand Elder Meng Sheguang. My father."

"Meng Sheguang?"

"Yes, both the political marriage and the pressure are probably all his decisions."

"He's not a good father."

Cheonyeong criticized bluntly, but Meng Serling didn't frown at all.

"Does it matter whether he's good or bad? It's simply my fate as the daughter of a martial family."

Meng Serling's voice was sorrowful.

"Sister..."

Worried about her, Sanghui looked at her with concern. Then, with a stern expression, she looked at Cheonyeong and spoke.

"Family Head, Meng sister probably knew nothing about this."

"..."

"We talked the whole time. She's been brainwashed since birth. As if the political marriage was her destiny. So even knowing she'd be used as a tool for the family, she had no choice but to accept it. Because it was the only choice available to her."

It seemed like she was speaking on Meng Serling's behalf.

Perhaps that's why Sanghui had grown closer to her.

The pain of her past, abandoned by her parents, overlapped with Meng Serling's helpless situation—born into a good family yet bound and living like a hothouse flower.

Nothing was better, and that pierced her heart.

It was the same for Cheonyeong.

His own past was projected onto her life.

Even if addicted to poison, the past where he had to live as an assassin, brainwashed that he could only survive by killing people.

If he had truly hated that life, he could have abandoned everything.

"You talk quite eloquently, so I thought you were smart, but you're just an idiot."

"...Yes?"

At Cheonyeong's words, Meng Serling lifted her bowed head sharply and opened her eyes wide.

"An idiot who was brainwashed by coercion and couldn't even find her own life."

"Family Head!"

At such cold and biting criticism, Cheonyeong smiled mockingly, and Sanghui cried out sharply.

But Cheonyeong continued to look only at Meng Serling.

"Have you ever thought of breaking free from the constraints?"

"..."

"You just complied. Because everyone else did."

"I..."

"Forced choice? That's funny. Your compliance was also your choice, wasn't it? If you truly hated it, you should have refused. You should have shown your will and determination, even if it meant taking your own life."

Cheonyeong's words were directed at Meng Serling, but the smile at his lips was like self-mockery ridiculing his own past.

Meng Serling couldn't say anything and just chewed her lips.

Had she made any effort to escape, as he said?

No, she hadn't.

Her mother had accepted it, and her two older sisters had accepted such a fate.

Though she knew it was wrong, she had naturally accepted it because she had heard about her destiny since childhood.

She thought it was custom and should be followed.

But then.

"A place called Minglun Chamber is openly blocking merchant ships that the Tang Family is escorting. Three days have already passed, and the damage is increasing exponentially."

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Why you?"

"Yes?"

"You didn't do it, did you?"

"But..."

"Didn't you say that the refusal of the political marriage and everything that happens afterward are ultimately the results of my choice?"

"That's..."

"Then I should accept it too. The consequences of my choice."

"..."

"I intend to visit Minglun Chamber."

"For negotiation?"

"No."

"No?"

"Of course not. I'm not the kind of person to let those who've harmed me go unpunished. When I hold a grudge, I always repay it. That's the law of the Tang Family I've established."

"Yes?"

Meng Serling's eyes widened.

He wouldn't let them go?

"Didn't you say the Black Heaven Sect is behind this?"

"So?"

"So what do you mean?"

"Why does it matter if the Black Heaven Sect is behind it?"

"What do you..."

"Whether it's the Black Heaven Sect or an even greater force, what does it matter?"

"..."

"They're now unjustly harming the Tang Family and threatening us. So we fight. I didn't do anything wrong first; they did. There's no need to bow my head."

"Then, why did you call me?"

"I told you. A hostage."

Cheonyeong opened his lips and smiled wickedly.

"Actually, it worked out well. Not an older brother, but a parent. No cold-blooded person, no matter what kind of parent, would sit idle while their child's life is threatened before their eyes."

"Family Head!"

Sanghui jumped up and glared at him.

"Sit."

"No, wait! Didn't you just say Meng sister did nothing wrong? Then how can you make her a hostage? Threaten her life!"

As Sanghui protested, Cheonyeong looked at her with cold eyes.

"Inner Hall Master."

"..."

"Sit."

At the cold voice, Sanghui couldn't speak.

Not a name, but a title.

She understood too well the meaning that difference carried.

"One more time, if you step forward without my permission, I'll punish you for insubordination, no matter who you are."

"...I'm sorry."

Sanghui gritted her teeth and sat down.

She wanted to defend Meng Serling, but before that, she was a member of the Tang Family.

"Miss Dang."

"Sister."

"Thank you."

Meng Serling patted Sanghui's shoulder and smiled warmly, then spoke to Cheonyeong.

"Since you'll use me as a hostage, I accept. This too is something that happened because of me. But I don't know what decision my father will make. He's not one to reveal his thoughts."

She seemed to accept her fate calmly.

"Kuh, you're still an idiot. Accepting even death so readily."

"Yes?"

"But, if. If your parent turns away from your death... then you abandon your parent too. They don't deserve it."

(End of Chapter)