The Story Of A Small Fox Who Has A Star - Chapter 19
It was not easy for Ho-Chi to catch up to the crow who was walking fast.
Ho-Chi followed the crow for quiet some time when they heard a big explosive sound.
The sound came from the direction of JHo’s palace which was the place that Ho-Chi left JHo.
The crow who stopped because of the sound wiped away his cold sweat as he said,
“Well, well. I should be careful about where I walk at night. I didn’t think that he had such a temper until now.”
After tripping and falling for many times, Ho-Chi was able to reach Master Cheon-Ho’s palace.
Master Cheon-Ho’s subordinates who saw Ho-Chi’s muddied clothes laughed as they mocked Ho-Chi.
Without giving any instruction to follow, the crow left Ho-Chi in the courtyard and went inside the Master Cheon-Ho’s palace.
Ho-Chi stood in the middle of the courtyard, not sure what to do. Watching Ho-Chi fidget, the subordinates ridiculed Ho-Chi among themselves and they did so loudly.
Surrounded by not so friendly gazes, Ho-Chi became nervous.
Holding on to his muddied end of the clothes, Ho-Chi shrunk his shoulders to make himself smaller.
“Oh my god, what are we to do Master Ho-Chi.”
Couple of moments later, the crow came out from the palace, making a fuss.
Not matching his worried words, the crow’s eyes were smiling.
“Master Cheon-Ho is so busy that he doesn’t have time to see you. But don’t worry, I brought Master Cheon-Ho’s order.”
Saying this, the crow took out a small flowerpot from his bosom and handed it to Ho-Chi.
A small budding flower was planted in the flowerpot.
There was something special about the plant. The flower had a golden band around its bud.
“Because the palace is unsettled nowadays, the subordinates lack in help. So, Master Cheon-Ho bestowed some tasks for Master Ho-Chi to help the subordinates.”
“Uhm”
“Of course, you are not going to help out forever. You can’t possibly think that Master Cheon-Ho would be cold-hearted and merciless to treat you as a servant forever! No way.”
The crow tsked and shamed Ho-Chi for being presumptuous. To the crow’s words, Ho-Chi’s cheeks reddened in an embarrassment, so Ho-Chi lowered his head.
“Master Cheon-Ho said that Master Ho-Chi only have to help out only until the flower blooms. It’s going to be a breeze! Look at the flower bud, it looks as if it’s going to bloom any minute!”
“Thank youPlease let Master Cheon-Ho know how grateful I am for saving my life.”
When Ho-Chi said these words, the crow stifled a laugh as he pushed Ho-Chi’s back.
“Here, here, let us go~! It is very important for you to show your sincerity by doing your best in completing the tasks~!”
The first place that the crow lead Ho-Chi to was an outside privy.
The crow explained that because there are many subordinates the outside privy fills up quickly and that Ho-Chi needed to empty out the excretions from the place. After ordering Ho-Chi to clean up the outside privy, the crow flew away to the trees, avoiding the smell.
After placing the flowerpot somewhere nice and sunny, Ho-Chi rolled up his sleeves to get started on his first task.
The pungent smell of the outside privy made Ho-Chi dizzy, but he endured and continued his cleaning.
Just like that, two days has passed but the flower bud did not bloom.
On the contrary to what you might think, Ho-Chi was happy that the flower bud did not bloom.
Because Ho-Chi believed that he needed to do much more for Master Cheon-Ho, Ho-Chi happily followed the crow for the next task.
Followed by the first task, Ho-Chi had to make fertilizer for the greenhouse and take care of the farm. A week had passed very quickly for Ho-Chi.
Even though his body was aching with over use, Ho-Chi was happy.
Ho-Chi was happy because he was able to help Master Cheon-Ho in his own way.
However, Ho-Chi sometimes wondered about the guy. Whenever Ho-Chi thought of the guy, he would stare far in the distance where the palace walls are.
“Please stop, Master Cheon-Ho.”
“Ho~ look who came by. Come, sit beside me JHo. A precious pot of liquor just came in from Cheon-Yang*. I can’t seem to stop drinking it because of its deep and exquisite taste.”
*Cheon-Yang is the name of state, but in Korean translation it also means heaven and earth*
Master Cheon-Ho whispered sweat nothings to his concubines as he gestured JHo to come in.
However, JHo did not move to take even one step toward Master Cheon-Ho.
Usually, JHo volunteered to sit beside Master Cheon-Ho and unfold various stories to entertain Master Cheon-Ho.
Even noticing JHo’s unusual behavior, Master Cheon-Ho did not scold JHo. Rather than blaming JHo for being rude, Master Cheon-Ho had a smile on his lips as if he was having fun looking at JHo.
“Why are you in such a bad mood when the weather is so nice today?”
“How long are you planning to keep Ho-Chi? Ten days already passed!”
“I don’t understand why you are so upset. I did all these for your so you don’t lose face.”
“It would be much preferable if Master Cheon-Ho let Ho-Chi go. How long are you thinking to keep Ho-Chi in the palace?!”
Seeing that JHo showed no sign of cooling off, Master Cheon-Ho’s mischievous grin turned to a deep smile. Master Cheon-Ho ordered one of his subordinates to bring Ho-Chi.
About ten minutes later, Ho-Chi entered the room, sweating.
Because Ho-Chi had to work long hours under the sun, his skin was red. Also, as soon as Ho-Chi walked into the room everyone had to block their noses and cry out in disgust because of the stench emanating from Ho-Chi’s body.
Even without the smell, everyone could tell that Ho-Chi just came from the farm because of animal wastes sticking to his clothes here and there.
Looking at Ho-Chi’s dirty figure, the concubines ran away to their chambers and the subordinates hid themselves around the room worrying that the smell may transfer to their clothes.
Embarrassed, Ho-Chi’s face turned bright red and he couldn’t even lift his face to meet Master Cheon-Ho’s gaze.
Enjoying the reactions from the room, Master Cheon-Ho’s smile never left his face.
Realizing that Master Cheon-Ho purposefully brought Ho-Chi to make spectacle out of him, JHo bit down on his lower lip as he stared at Ho-Chi.
“I ordered you to come because JHo complained to me about your work. Is the work too hard for you to bear?”
“No. After all, it is to pay back my debt.”
“See, JHo. Ho-Chi is happy doing his work, so why are you trying to chase him out?”
Hearing Master Cheon-Ho’s words, surprised Ho-Chi looked up at JHo.
JHo turned his head away so to avoid Ho-Chi’s gaze.
Seeing that JHo doesn’t even want Ho-Chi’s gaze on his body, Ho-Chi lowered his head and deepened the bow.
“Let me see, is the flower blooming? If the flower blooms, you can leave the palace.”
“Not yet”
Master Cheon-Ho stared at Ho-Chi who fumbled as he took out the flowerpot from his bosom.
The flower bud had the golden band and seemed as if it was in the same condition as it was first given to Ho-Chi.
Noticing the flower in Ho-Chi’s hands, JHo’s eyes widened in shock.
“Okay then, off you go. I know you have lots to do. The next time I call for you, make sure to wash up though. Even if you had lived with humans in the past, you can’t forget your manners.”
“M..My apology”
Ho-Chi tightened his grip on the flowerpot as he blushed in shame. Even the insides of his fox ears were stained red. After saying goodbye, Ho-Chi nimbly made his way out of the room.
When JHo could no longer hear Ho-Chi’s light footsteps, JHo turned his angry red eyes on Master Cheon-Ho.
“Oh my god~ the smell! Hurry open the windows! No, no, it will be faster for me to go outside!”
“Master Cheon-Ho!!!”
JHo called Master Cheon-Ho who was preparing to leave with his outer clothes fluttering.
“How could you, how could you do such a thing?!!! That flower did not bloom for three hundred years!!! How could you possibly do this to Ho-Chi!”
TN: Shaming days are back for Ho-Chi. Three hundred years?! That flower must be something real special. What could it be
