Two days after Hyunjin and Yeon-mi's tea house encounter, the tranquil air surrounding their budding connection was shattered by a storm of unforeseen consequences.

Hyunjin had returned home with a sense of euphoria, his mind still lingering on the warmth of Yeon-mi's hand in his and the laughter they had shared over tea. However, his blissful reverie was abruptly interrupted when his mother, Lady Hwang, stormed into his study with an expression of fury etched on her face.

"Hwang Hyunjin!" she exclaimed, her voice cutting through the silence like a thunderclap. "What in the name of our ancestors were you thinking?"

Hyunjin looked up from his desk, startled by his mother's sudden outburst. "Mother, what is the matter?"

"Do not play dumb with me!" Lady Hwang retorted; her anger barely contained. "Rumors are spreading like wildfire that you were seen in the market, holding hands and drinking tea with a servant girl!"

Hyunjin's heart sank. He had hoped to keep his meetings with Yeon-mi discreet, knowing the scandal it could cause if word got out. He bit his lip, choosing his words carefully. "Mother, I assure you, it was a misunderstanding..."

"No excuses, Hyunjin!" Lady Hwang interrupted, pacing back and forth in agitation. "You have put our family's reputation at risk. Who is this girl? Where does she come form?"

Hyunjin hesitated, torn between protecting Yeon-mi and the consequences of revealing her identity. "I... I do not know her name, Mother," he lied, his voice tinged with worry. "She is a servant I met briefly in the market."

Lady Hwang's eyes widened in disbelief. "A servant girl? You've been consorting with a servant girl?" Her voice dripped with disdain.

"I... I care for her, Mother," Hyunjin confessed, his tone pleading. "But I did not mean for this to become public knowledge."

Lady Hwang's expression softened slightly, replaced by a cold determination. "Well, it's too late for that now. I will not have our family dragged through the mud because of your reckless behavior."

Before Hyunjin could respond, Lady Hwang summoned a servant and gave orders in a clipped tone. "Find out everything you can about this girl. I want to know who she is, where she comes from, and how she dared to catch my son's eye."

As the servant hurried away, Hyunjin felt a wave of guilt and worry wash over him. He had hoped to shield Yeon-mi from his mother's scrutiny, but now she was in danger of being exposed to the harsh judgment of high society.

Two days later, chaos erupted at Lady Hwa-yeong's estate. A loud commotion at the gates drew the attention of both Yeon-mi and Lady Hwa-yeong as they tended to the gardens.

A frantic voice pierced the air, yelling for the servant girl who had been seen with Lord Hyunjin. Yeon-mi froze, her heart racing with fear and confusion.

Lady Hwa-yeong, ever composed under pressure, stepped forward with authority. "Who dares disturb the peace of my estate?" she demanded, her voice carrying the weight of noble authority.

The intruder, a messenger from another noble household, hesitated under Lady Hwa-yeong's piercing gaze. "My master demands the presence of the servant girl who was seen with Lord Hyunjin," he stammered, clearly unsettled by the noblewoman's formidable presence.

Lady Hwa-yeong's eyes narrowed slightly, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew she had to protect Yeon-mi from the potential repercussions of this encounter.

"Tell your master that if he wishes to address this matter, he must do so through formal channels," Lady Hwa-yeong declared firmly, her voice unwavering. "Violence and disruption have no place here."

The messenger hesitated, clearly taken aback by Lady Hwa-yeong's dignified response. After a moment, he bowed hastily and retreated, leaving behind a tense silence in his wake.

Yeon-mi looked at Lady Hwa-yeong with gratitude and admiration. "Thank you, my lady," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Lady Hwa-yeong placed a reassuring hand on Yeon-mi's shoulder. "Do not worry, Yeon-mi. We will handle this with dignity and honor. Trust me."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the estate grounds, Yeon-mi felt a sense of relief knowing that Lady Hwa-yeong stood by her side. But the challenges ahead loomed large, threatening to test the strength of their newfound bond in ways they had never imagined.