Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 113

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

113. Reinstatement

After much deliberation, Sejong finally came to a decision.

“There’s no other way. I have to choose all three.”

Following Sejong’s decision, all three young ladies were chosen as the Crown Prince’s consorts. Once he had made up his mind, Sejong summoned Byeon Gye-ryang and Yoo Soon-do.

“Examine these women’s horoscopes to determine who is most suitable to be the Crown Princess. The other two will become the Crown Prince’s concubines.”

And so, Byeon Gye-ryang and Yoo Soon-do selected the most suitable lady to be the Crown Princess.

“This is the one, Your Majesty.”

* * *

With the Crown Prince’s consorts decided, Sejong summoned Hyang once more.

“The Crown Princess has been chosen.”

“Who is it, Your Majesty?”

“The daughter of the Vice Minister of War.”

“Is that so?”

“And the other two will become concubines.”

“Pardon? Father, I already said that I would only have one consort…”

Sejong immediately cut Hyang off.

“Having many children is also a king’s duty. I will not hear any objections.”

“But…”

As Hyang continued to object, Sejong revealed his true intentions.

“Do you want to take a Ming [Chinese dynasty] princess or noble lady as your consort? We must not give them an excuse!”

“Ah…”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang immediately understood.

If the Crown Prince had only one consort, Ming could use various pretexts to force a concubine upon them.

That would create another problem. Even if the woman pushed in by Ming was called a concubine, she wouldn’t truly be one.

However, if there were both a Crown Princess and concubines, Ming would not send a woman due to issues of pride, or even if they did, she would be diluted among the other concubines.

At Sejong’s firm words, Hyang bowed his head.

“It goes against my beliefs, but since it is Your Majesty’s command, I shall obey.”

Sejong, who had been silently watching Hyang’s face, opened his mouth.

“You rascal! Wipe that smile off your face before you speak! You look like your mouth is about to split open!”

The scribe diligently recorded the scene.

-Thus, the Crown Prince’s consorts were decided.

The scribe comments:

Whatever the reason, the Crown Prince was, after all, just a man.

* * *

After experiencing such a small commotion, Hyang’s wedding was set.

The rumor that ‘The Crown Prince is getting married!’ quickly spread throughout Hanseong [old name for Seoul, the capital], and people gathered to talk about it whenever they met.

“I heard they chose not only the Crown Princess but also the concubines all at once?”

“That’s what they say.”

“Heo-euh. The Crown Prince is going to have a headache.”

“Why?”

“Look at the houses of those who are somewhat well-off; have you ever seen harmony between wives and concubines?”

“Aha!”

“It might be good now, but just wait a few years.”

“But honestly, I’m a little envious. Three at once…”

“That’s true.”

The unusual wedding of taking a Crown Princess and concubines at the same time was the talk of the town every day.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, Danjong was the first, but in the changed history due to Hyang’s intervention, Hyang gained the title of ‘first’.

Most of those who heard the rumors talked about the unusual wedding of ‘one groom, three brides,’ but some were talking about other topics.

“Will there be another amnesty this time?”

“Well… it hasn’t been long since the last amnesty, has it? I don’t think it’ll be easy.”

“I wish there would be… Even though he’s like a nemesis, seeing my son locked up in prison makes my insides churn…”

As Hyang resolved the long-cherished desires of Joseon [Korean dynasty] and the royal family, including the Jonggye Byeonmu [a legal reform], Sejong issued a nationwide amnesty. However, since crime is inevitable wherever people live, there were still those who committed crimes and ended up in prison across the country.

While many were hoping for an amnesty, some officials submitted petitions to Sejong.

The subject of the petitions was the reinstatement of Sejong’s father-in-law, Shim On.

This happened a year earlier than in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

The reason they mentioned Shim On’s reinstatement was also related to Hyang’s wedding.

They had to record the lineage of the bride and groom for the wedding, and a problem arose with Queen Soheon, the Crown Prince’s mother.

“The daughter of a traitor is the Crown Prince’s mother… There may be talk.”

“That is correct.”

Because the matter was significant, the Chief State Councilor and the Six Ministers gathered at the State Council to hold a heated debate.

As a result of the debate, the officials completed the following reasoning and conclusion:

-King Taejong executed Kang Sang-in and other related individuals before Shim On returned in order to exile Shim On.

-Therefore, Shim On’s death without even being questioned had an unfair aspect to it.

The officials who reached the above conclusion submitted petitions.

However, Sejong’s response to the petitions was ambiguous.

“I will think about it carefully.”

With that answer, Sejong did not mention it again.

* * *

While stories about ‘Shim On’s reinstatement’ were circulating in the palace and government offices, Hyang called for Jeong Cho.

“Minister Jeong.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What’s been going on lately? You don’t look well.”

“It’s nothing.”

Although he denied it, Hyang quietly asked, seeing that his expression was not good.

“Is it because of a problem related to your maternal family?”

“Ah, no!”

Jeong Cho waved his hands, but Hyang’s face became even more stern.

“Minister Jeong, I will be getting married soon. I am past the age where it is better not to know. Although I was four years old at the time, I still clearly remember the tears of blood in people’s eyes. Minister Jeong, if you know anything, speak.”

At Hyang’s words, Jeong Cho sighed.

“Hoo~.”

‘I forgot that the Crown Prince’s memory is above average.’

“Minister Jeong!”

Jeong Cho, who was still silent, finally opened his mouth when Hyang’s voice grew louder.

“At the time, I was part of the Office of the Inspector General and participated in the interrogation of Minister Shim. At the time, Minister Shim tried to make excuses, even though the torture continued. Then, Minister Ryu Jeong-hyeon said to Minister Shim, ‘Considering the situation, there is no answer but to confess.’ After hearing these words, Minister Shim gave up further protest, confessed, and received his punishment.”

At Jeong Cho’s words, Hyang’s face hardened like never before.

Hyang asked Jeong Cho in a voice as stiff as his expression.

“What does ‘situation’ mean?”

Jeong Cho replied briefly to Hyang’s question.

“The royal will, I presume.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang, who was thinking while tapping the desk with his finger along with a groan, got up from his seat.

“Minister! Let’s go together!”

“Yes? Where to?”

“To Gangnyeongjeon [King’s residence]!”

* * *

Hyang, who arrived at Gangnyeongjeon with Jeong Cho, reported Jeong Cho’s words to Sejong.

“Minister Jeong, explain it again.”

At Hyang’s words, Jeong Cho repeated what he had said to Sejong.

“Heo…”

Sejong sighed deeply after listening to Jeong Cho’s explanation.

With a complex expression mixed with all sorts of emotions, Sejong finally opened his mouth.

“If we infer from Jeong Cho’s words now, Shim On’s confession must be seen as forced. But how could King Taejong have known that?”

Sejong desperately tried to give Taejong a clean slate.

If it came out that Taejong killed Shim On due to misjudgment or personal feelings, it would be a big problem.

“Minister Jeong, would you excuse us for a moment?”

“Yes? Yes. Your Majesty, may I leave now?”

“You may.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After receiving Hyang’s request followed by Sejong’s permission, Jeong Cho politely paid his respects and left Gangnyeongjeon.

“The scribes and recorders should also leave.”

“Your Highness.”

“I won’t say it twice.”

At Hyang’s firm command, the scribes and recorders looked at Sejong.

“It is my command. Leave.”

“Yes.”

When Sejong gave the same order, the scribes and recorders got up from their seats without a word.

They could have resisted if they had made up their minds, but they retreated immediately because of the last incident – the yellow robe.

To be precise, they immediately squatted next to the door as soon as they left and took out their golden brushes.

Anyway, as soon as the scribes and recorders disappeared from sight, Hyang brought up the main point.

“Father, it seems appropriate to reinstate my maternal grandfather. Everyone has already been reinstated except for my maternal grandfather, hasn’t it? It’s already been 10 years.”

“It’s only been 10 years. There are still many people in the palace who worked during the reigns of the late king and King Taejo. If we’re not careful, there will be those who use this as an excuse to oppress the royal authority.”

What Sejong was worried about was this part. Sejong was worried that if he acknowledged his father Taejong’s mistake, there would be those who would try to weaken the royal authority by using it as an excuse.

Hyang, who heard Sejong’s concerns, replied firmly.

“Father, you must face it head-on.”

“Face it head-on?”

“Acknowledge the possibility that it was Grandfather’s misjudgment.”

“You rascal!”

“Instead, sell out Ryu Jeong-hyeon and me.”

“You and Ryu Jeong-hyeon?”

“Yes.”

Hyang explained to Sejong a plan using himself and Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

-First, according to Jeong Cho’s words, Shim On gave up protesting after hearing Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s words. The problem is whether the ‘situation’ mentioned by Ryu Jeong-hyeon was truly Taejong’s will.

It is highly likely that Taejong was only suspicious, and it was a plot by Ryu Jeong-hyeon to get rid of Shim On, who could become Sejong’s pro-government force.

The basis for saying this is Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s actions. Until he was executed, Ryu Jeong-hyeon had been carrying out various plots to strengthen the power of the bureaucracy.

Therefore, Ryu Jeong-hyeon made Shim On confess through the implication of ‘Taejong’s will’.

“If this happens, Grandfather would have had no choice but to punish him because my maternal grandfather confessed. Rather, despite being Father’s father-in-law and the grandson’s maternal grandfather, he strictly dealt with him according to the national law.”

“That’s right!”

Sejong exclaimed at the solution Hyang had come up with.

According to Hyang’s solution, Shim On’s death was not what Taejong wanted. However, Shim On confessed, and Taejong had to punish him.

In this process, Taejong abandoned his personal feelings and strictly enforced the law according to national law.

“Then, what do you mean by selling you out?”

Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“I will be getting married soon. The fact that I have been safe until I reached the age to get married is all thanks to Father and Mother, isn’t it? Therefore, I, your son, petition you, Father. Please reinstate my maternal grandfather. Mother’s heart is very troubled. As a child, how can I simply ignore my mother suffering from heartache? I implore you, although it is insignificant, I have made contributions so far, so please acknowledge those contributions and grant my request!”

“Hmm…”

Sejong pondered at Hyang’s words.

The part about ‘using Ryu Jeong-hyeon’ was certainly highly likely.

The fact that Ryu Jeong-hyeon said such things to his father-in-law was something that those who were at the interrogation site at the time, apart from Jeong Cho, had also seen.

However, there was no solid evidence to make it clear that Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s words were Taejong’s will.

In addition, considering the things Ryu Jeong-hyeon had done after Taejong’s death to strengthen the power of the bureaucracy, there was a significant possibility that Ryu Jeong-hyeon had been working behind the scenes.

And, ‘Hyang’s filial piety’ was also a very good material to use.

In Joseon, where Confucianism was the state religion, few things were as praised as filial piety.

Finally, looking at the current situation, the biggest concern, the issue of royal authority, seemed to be almost nothing to worry about.

Sejong’s own power was solid, and the presence of the Crown Prince Hyang was not to be ignored.

In particular, in the case of the military, Sejong himself sometimes wondered, ‘Is our Joseon army my army or the Crown Prince’s army?’ showing such support.

Sejong, who had carefully considered the pros and cons, finally came to a conclusion.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

* * *

The next morning.

As the morning assembly began and the ministers were all in their places, Sejong ordered the eunuch.

“Go and summon Jeong Cho.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jeong Cho, who was summoned in this way, repeated the words he had said in front of Sejong last night.

As soon as Jeong Cho finished speaking, Sejong said to the ministers.

“After thinking about it, I wonder if the ‘situation’ that Ryu Jeong-hyeon spoke of was truly the will of the late King Taejong? Rather, considering Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s past behavior, it is highly likely that he used tricks behind the scenes for his own benefit. Therefore, I believe that Shim On’s death was a misjudgment by the late king due to Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s tricks. Therefore, I will reinstate Shim On. What do you think, gentlemen?”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers replied in unison.

“As Your Majesty wishes!”