Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 287

287. A Common Day in Hanseong (5)

287. A Common Day in Hanseong (5)

“Princess Jeongui has shown interest in learning mathematics and astronomy. I am considering having her study at the research institute. What are your opinions on this, gentlemen?”

As soon as the morning assembly began, Sejong brought up the matter, and the gazes of the officials turned to the head of the Board of Audit. Although he held the title of Head of the Board of Audit, he had previously served as Grand Censor [a high-ranking official responsible for monitoring the government].

Jeong Heum-ji, receiving the attention of Sejong and the officials, gathered his thoughts for a moment and immediately replied.

“While it may be considered a field outside the mainstream, her desire to learn is commendable. However, since she is still unmarried, it would be better to assign her a separate tutor for her studies.”

“Father, may I add something?”

“You may.”

Hyang quickly interjected after hearing Jeong Heum-ji’s statement, and Sejong immediately granted permission. Jeong Heum-ji became very nervous when Hyang joined the conversation.

“I am grateful that the Head of the Board of Audit views Jeongui’s studies favorably. However, having a separate tutor is not feasible.”

“Why is that? If the unmarried princess studies among men, rumors could easily spread.”

“Currently, all those capable of teaching mathematics and astronomy in the palace and the research institute are men. Are you suggesting isolating her with only two of them in a room? Even worse rumors will circulate. It would be better to have her study in a public setting to prevent such rumors.”

Jeong Heum-ji was speechless at Hyang’s point. After pondering for a moment, Jeong Heum-ji immediately withdrew his suggestion.

“It seems the Crown Prince’s opinion is correct. It would be better for her to study openly under the observation of many people.”

“Is that so? Hmm…. I will ask the Crown Prince.”

“Please do.”

“I heard that the level of mathematics and astronomy taught at the research institute is very high. Will Jeongui be able to keep up?”

“I have heard that Jeongui’s skills are considerable. And since she is doing it willingly, she will do her best.”

“Will she not be a hindrance to others?”

“She will not be a hindrance. In my opinion, it will provide a good stimulus.”

“A good stimulus?”

When Sejong expressed his doubt, Hyang smiled wryly and replied.

“What could be more embarrassing than being less skilled than a mere woman?”

Sejong and the officials simultaneously had the same thought at Hyang’s response.

‘That scary fellow! He never does anything that doesn’t benefit him!’

‘Scary, so scary! When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, there will be no end to mourning!’

Regardless, Hyang continued his explanation.

“The research institute is the only place in Joseon that intensively researches and teaches mathematics and astronomy. Since there is no competition, the atmosphere has become somewhat lax these days, so there is a need to instill a sense of urgency.”

“Is that so? Hmm….”

Sejong stroked his beard and came to a conclusion.

“Very well. Listen, gentlemen, it seems best to follow the Crown Prince’s opinion regarding Jeongui’s studies. ‘Cutting and polishing jade’ [a Korean proverb meaning to refine and improve oneself through effort]…. If it can be a good stimulus for those who study mathematics and astronomy, I think that would be a good thing.”

“We shall obey!”

Thus, it was decided that Princess Jeongui would learn mathematics and astronomy at the research institute.

* * *

When the news of Princess Jeongui reached the research institute, Jin-pyeong muttered with a worried face.

“Trouble is on the horizon.”

“Yes?”

A researcher nearby tilted his head, and Jin-pyeong continued.

“I know Jeongui noona [older sister] well. Jeongui noona will cling to something until she understands it.”

“Ah, is that so….”

Jin-pyeong picked up his report and concluded.

“Perhaps the person teaching Jeongui noona will break a sweat.”

As Jin-pyeong disappeared, the remaining researchers whispered in small voices.

“Is it because she is His Highness’s blood [related to the royal family]?”

* * *

A few days later, a eunuch came to Hyang, who was organizing his work in his study at Donggung Palace [the Crown Prince’s residence], and announced that a guest had arrived.

“Your Highness, Princess Jeongso has arrived.”

“Noona?”

Hyang pushed the documents aside and ordered the eunuch.

“Escort her in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Soon after, Hyang saw Princess Jeongso being led in by the eunuch and greeted her with a happy face.

“Noona, welcome.”

“Greetings to His Highness.”

“Haha! Why are you being so formal? We know each other well.”

Jeongso smiled at Hyang’s words and replied.

“Right?”

“That’s right. Come, sit down!”

Hyang offered Jeongso a seat and sat across from her, looking at Princess Jeongso.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I came to ask you for a favor.”

“A favor?”

Hyang’s face became troubled when Princess Jeongso mentioned the word ‘favor.’

Even after being reincarnated, Hyang had maintained a psychological boundary with his family for a while. Sejong and Queen Soheon were somewhat saddened by the sight of Hyang, who was just beginning to speak naturally and learn to read, being so polite to them.

The first to break down this psychological barrier was Princess Jeongso—initially, she was enfeoffed as Princess Jeonghye, but due to the overlap with her aunt, Princess Jeonghye, she was re-enfeoffed as Princess Jeongso.

Thanks to this, Jeongso was the closest to Hyang among Sejong’s legitimate children.

When Hyang made a troubled face, Princess Jeongso continued.

“Wow~. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my little brother make that face? Is it the first time since I went on a hunger strike in the old days? Don’t worry, it’s not a dangerous favor.”

“What would you like to ask of me?”

“I’m thinking of becoming a doctor.”

“Yes?”

Hyang’s face went blank at the unexpected words.

Princess Jeongso, seeing Hyang’s expression, explained the reason.

“Recently, our child suddenly developed a heat rash at night, and it was a disaster. Fortunately, we were able to send out servants to bring a doctor and get treatment, but there’s no guarantee that we’ll always be able to time it so well, right?”

“So you’re going to treat them yourself?”

“That too, but when I look at the maids in the house or the women in the neighborhood, there are quite a few who don’t receive proper treatment, and small illnesses become big illnesses. When I looked into why, it seems that it’s because all the doctors are men.”

“Ah….”

Hyang nodded unconsciously at Princess Jeongso’s words.

The diagnostic methods of Korean medicine mainly used observation (望), listening (聞), questioning (問), and palpation (切) [four diagnostic methods in traditional Korean medicine].

It involved observing the patient’s condition or changes in excrement (望), listening to the patient’s cough or speech, or the smell of excrement (聞), asking the patient or guardian various questions to understand the illness (問), taking the pulse (脈診) [pulse diagnosis], or pressing on the affected area (按診) in the method of palpation (切).

However, when examining women, most of the time, it was limited to asking the patient about their symptoms or taking their pulse. Touching a woman’s body without permission was a great discourtesy.

Of course, there was a solution to that.

“There are female doctors, aren’t there?”

“How many female doctors do you think are in the Hyeminseo (惠民局) [a Joseon-era medical institution for the common people] and Dongseohwalinwon (東西活人院) [another Joseon-era medical institution]?”

“….”

Hyang closed his mouth at Princess Jeongso’s question.

Among the female doctors, the number of those assigned to the Hyeminseo or Dongseohwalinwon was not large.

Seeing Hyang’s expression, Princess Jeongso repeatedly emphasized the need for her to learn medicine.

“As a child of His Majesty and a member of the royal family of this country, shouldn’t I at least take care of the health of the women in the neighborhood where I live?”

Hyang, who had a blank expression on his face at Jeongso’s words, muttered unconsciously.

“Noblesse oblige?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ah, never mind…. I understand. Since your intention is good, I will tell Father…. No, if it’s such a good intention, Father would immediately allow it, so why did you come to me?”

Princess Jeongso smiled mischievously at Hyang’s question.

“Do you think I don’t know? If I tell Father, everyone from Father to the officials will object, but if you say it, it’s not like that, right? It usually just passes. Why make things complicated? Annoying….”

“Annoying….”

Princess Jeongso delivered the final blow to Hyang’s bewildered expression.

“That’s why Jeongui is doing that, right?”

In the end, Hyang waved the white flag.

“I understand. I will tell Father. Since your intention is not bad, I think we will get a good result.”

“Really? Please do.”

Having finished her business, Princess Jeongso quickly disappeared to meet Queen Soheon and chat.

Hyang, watching Princess Jeongso disappear into the distance, grumbled softly.

“I was confused because I thought she was the same case as me…. So, I was taken advantage of by my noona and my younger sister? Then, am I the royal family’s pushover?”

In any case, although it was Princess Jeongso’s request, Hyang thought it was necessary.

“If we’re going to do it….”

Hyang spread out the paper and began to draft a plan.

* * *

Two days later, Hyang submitted a memorial to Sejong.

“Training female doctors for women?”

Sejong looked down at Hyang as soon as he saw the title of the memorial.

“The Crown Prince shall explain it directly.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hyang began by telling the story of Princess Jeongso’s visit to him.

“…So, she wants to learn medicine, how beautiful is that?”

Sejong and the officials nodded at Hyang’s words.

“Yes, it is truly a beautiful thing that Jeongso had such a thought.”

“That is right. Someone in a noble position reaches out to the lowly and cares for the people. It is truly a beautiful thing.”

While the officials praised it as a ‘beautiful thing’ in unison, Sejong got to the point.

“But how did that story develop into this memorial?”

“How many women throughout Joseon are suffering from illness?”

The Minister of General Affairs, Heo Jo, immediately raised an objection to Hyang’s question.

“Female doctors are already being dispatched.”

“How many female doctors have been deployed like that?”

Looking at the history before Hyang’s intervention, the female doctor system was created during the reign of Taejong as medical personnel for women living in the palace. Later, during the reign of Sejong, two female servants each from Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang provinces were sent to receive medical education and then sent back. However, this was literally ‘a drop in the bucket.’

Heo Jo closed his mouth at Hyang’s point. Hyang, who had silenced Heo Jo, explained to Sejong why it was necessary.

“Looking at the situation in Joseon, the number of doctors is not large, and there are no doctors who can only treat women. To properly understand and treat a patient’s illness, the first thing to do is to properly confirm the symptoms, but no matter how much of a doctor one is, one cannot arbitrarily touch the body of a woman from outside, so I think it is best to select women and train them as doctors. And the status of female doctors is also a problem.”

Hyang continued to point out the problems with the current female doctor system.

Most of the girls selected as female doctors were government slaves. The reason why female doctor candidates were selected from among these government slaves was because it was easy to fill the quota. However, due to their status, they were treated poorly and were often mobilized for tasks other than medical activities.

Having pointed out the problems with the female doctor system, Hyang came to a conclusion.

“Through the Samin Academy [a school that allowed commoners to learn], women of the common class have also come to learn. We must select bright girls from among them who wish to learn medicine and teach them medicine.”

Over the next few days, this issue was debated back and forth. The issue, which did not easily come to a conclusion and only sparked arguments, was immediately decided when Sejong stepped in.

“As a result of continued deliberation, I think the Crown Prince’s opinion is reasonable. I hope you will establish policies accordingly. Are there any objections?”

As soon as Sejong’s question ended, all the officials answered.

“There are none!”

“Huh?”

Sejong tilted his head for a moment and made a definite conclusion with an inscrutable smile.

“Since you all have no objections, make sure to establish policies as quickly as possible.”

“We shall obey!”

The historian who recorded all of this added the following.

-Thus, when the King made a decision, the officials created a policy to train female doctors for women.

The historian discusses.

Compared to the debate that took place over several days, the conclusion was determined too easily. This is not the case only for this matter. Even issues that would have been quite sensitive in the past are immediately passed once the King decides. Have the officials been caught doing something wrong?

* * *

That night, Sejong and Hyang had a conversation in Gangnyeong Hall [the King’s living quarters], after dismissing the historian.

“Women will show more and more prominence.”

“As Father said, Joseon has no people. We have no room to distinguish between men and women.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer.

“Anyway, I’m looking forward to the next 10 years, or even 20 years. People will break through the walls here and there, starting with the Samin Academy.”

“I just hope they don’t become another wall.”

“We must prevent that.”

Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]

Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]

BCJ, 블랙기업조선
Status: Completed Author: , Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Imagine a world where the brilliance of King Sejong the Great collides with the unbridled passion of a modern-day maniac obsessed with military strategy and steampunk innovation. Reborn as the king's son, our protagonist finds himself in the heart of Joseon, a land ripe for transformation. But progress comes at a price. Witness the dawn of a new era as the maniac-wise prince, alongside his father, pushes the boundaries of Joseon, sparking both innovation and exploitation. Prepare to be captivated by a dynasty on the brink, where the nights are illuminated not by stars, but by the relentless glow of overtime. Dive into a world of political intrigue, technological marvel, and the human cost of ambition. Will Joseon rise to unprecedented heights, or will it crumble under the weight of its own relentless drive? Discover the fate of the Black Corporation: Joseon.

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