Sung Tae forfended the wood beaded curtains and stepped inside along with his three friends- Chan Sul, Ro Sang Pil and Wang Wook. The Kisaengs stood up to greet the noblemen so was Hani. Sung Tae was shocked to see Hani there but, he acted as if he did not know her.
"Young master, please have a seat here," Hwa Young proclaimed, showing the tiny cushioned mattress placed at the front. The three other Kisaengs took their leave. "Where are you going, sisters?" Hani confusedly asked.
"Hani, we forgot that we have customers to handle in the House. We will see you some other day. Sister Hwa, how can we forget about that?" Ki Ara worriedly said. Hwa Young lightly slapped her forehead and spoke, "How could I forgot such an important matter?"
Hani anxiously looked at them. Hwa Young came towards Hani and grabbed Hani's both hands in hers. "Hani, we have to leave else the nobleman can get angry. You shall story tell them," stated Hwa Young. Sung Tae heard them and asked, "When you had already plans then why did you plan this?" He was furious at them.
"Forgive us, young master. The thing left my mind," Hwa Young immediately replied, bowing her head.
"Calm down, Sung Tae. You shall leave. Attending the nobleman is more important than this. Miss storyteller, since this is already planned and we have come with such high hopes then, I think you shall story tell us," Chan Sul suggested.
Hani wanted to refuse right away when Hwa Young grabbed Hani's hand. "Young master, please give us a few minutes," saying this Hwa Young took Hani aside and spoke, "Hani, please do not leave. Just story tell them as they are respected people of Joseon. The man at the center from left is the son of the Prime minister. Just now, he got furious so, you can see how dangerous he could be. So, please tell them a story and then you can leave," stated Hwa Young.
Hani refused plainly. "Sister, I do not tell stories to the men. I am afraid, I think you shall postpone this tiny meeting. We can do it some other day when you sisters will be free," asserted Hani.
"Hani, I understood. I will take the punishment later. Thank you for coming here," Hwa Young softly said and her eyes turned teary. Hani was worried seeing that. "What do you mean you will be punished?" Hani asked with an inquisitiveness.
Hwa Young took a deep sigh. "Did I not tell you as a Kisaeng I have no life except to follow the orders of my masters. I am born to do this. If I make them angry, it means I have to take the punishment from the head of the Kisaeng House," Hwa Young proclaimed and wiped the tears formed in her eyes. Hani furrowed her eyes.
"Sister Hwa, so, if I go away today without telling the story then, will you be punished? Can you not tell them that it was because I..." Hwa Young did not let Hani speak as she placed her palm over her lips.
"Hani, do not even think about this. I do not want you to get hurt. I have seen these kinds of things since my childhood time so, I will bear the punishment. But, if you will intervene then, it may affect your family. Forgive me, for involving you in such a difficult situation," asserted Hwa Young as she lowered her eyes.
Hani realized that there were no other way except agreeing to Sister Hwa request. Furthermore, she thought it was not like she was in the Kisaeng House and she did not want Hwa Young to be punished for such a petty reason. "Sister Hwa, I will do this," Hani proclaimed. Hwa Young got delighted and thanked Hani. "I will never forget your kindness," stated Hwa Young.
"Sister, don't make me embarrass. You shall leave without any worries. No one can punish you in my presence," Hani assured Hwa Young who again thanked her. They came towards the four upper-class men. "Master, Miss Hani will tell you stories. We sisters really enjoy her stories. So, I hope you all will like them as well. Please take your seats," Hwa Young proclaimed.
"Why not? We want to listen the stories by Miss Hani," Ro Sang Pil with a smirk said. The Kisaengs took their leave from there. Sung Tae took a seat at the corner. He was there because of those three and had no interest in listening to stories. "What kind of weird taste they have?" Sung Tae muttered as he sat on the mattress.
Hani smiled at the rest of the three. "Please take your seats," Hani told them, lowering her eyes. The trio took their seats when Chan Sul asked Hani if she could order drinks for them. Sung Tae looked at him and said, "Hey, Chan Sul. This is a tea house. Drinks aren't available here. Moreover, we are not allowed to drink during our stay in Sungkyunkwan except on some special occasions in the academy," stated Sung Tae in a fierce tone.
"Sung Tae, I am talking about tea. Nor alcohol drinks," Chan Sul asserted and smiled.
"Miss, you do not need to go. I will order tea for us," stated Ro Sang Pil. Hani seated on the center of the tiny room and was nervously moving her fingers up-down. Chan Sul initiated the talk. "Miss Hani, which family are you from?" Chan Sul questioned.
"Huh?" Hani raised a brow as she looked at him confusedly. Sung Tae from the corner end spoke, "Is it that important to know? Just tell her to start telling the story." Chan Sul gave a nod. Ro Sang Pil came there with a tea house servant who had a tray in her hand.
"Please serve the tea to everyone," stated Ro Sang Pil and took the seat beside Wang Wook who gestured something to him.
"May I ask what kind of story are you going to tell us, Miss?" Chan Sul asked.
"It is a story about three princes who fell for the daughter of a concubine," replied Hani, lowering her eyes. Hani was given the porcelain which she accepted and drank the tea. Putting the cup down at the floor beside her, she started narrating the story.
Sung Tae looked at Hani and found her story telling skills were indeed good. He picked the cup and drank the tea. "The young woman Bei Jao had caught the eyes of the first Prince when she served him the tea on the very first day of her appointment in the palace," Hani told them in her soft voice.
Wang Wook gestured something to Chan Sul and turn excused himself from there. As he was going Sung Tae stopped him and asked him where he was heading to in a low voice. "Washroom," replied Wang Wook.
"I am coming as well," Sung Tae said as he was getting bored there. The two walked out from there, leaving Hani, Chan Sul and Ro Sang Pil.
Hani felt her head was getting heavy and heavy. She shook her head and found the everything was getting blurred in front of her. Her voice stopped and her eyes got closed. She fell on the floor. Chan Sul and Ro Sang Pil looked at each other and smirked. "Yoon Shik has to pay for his attitude through his sister's dignity," stated Chan Sul and grinned. He stood up from his seat and went towards Hani who was lying on the floor.
Bending on his knees, he traced Hani's face. "His sister is charming. Do you not think so, Sang Pil?" Chan Sul asked with a smirk.
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